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Gaza death toll in Israeli air strikes reaches 100

Roy Siemens
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Gaza death toll in Israeli air strikes reaches 100

According to Palestinian sources, the death toll from Israeli air strikes on Gaza has risen to 100.

The latest deaths were of two people in a car in the Bureij area on Friday, they said.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes since launching its operation on Tuesday to stop rocket fire from Gaza. Militants there continue to fire on Israel, causing damage and injuries.

The US earlier offered to help with a truce in a call to Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Egypt and Turkey have both criticized Israel’s use of force.

The Palestinian health ministry says in addition to those killed, 675 people – mainly civilians – have been injured in Israel’s Operation Protective Edge.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes since launching its operation to stop rocket fire from Gaza
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes since launching its operation to stop rocket fire from Gaza

Israel says “dozens of terrorists” are among the dead.

Overnight in Gaza, an Israeli air strike on a house in Rafah killed five people – three men and two women – the health ministry said.

A second strike, it added, killed a girl in Rafah, while one militant was killed when his motorcycle was hit north of Gaza City.

In Israel, one person was seriously injured when a rocket hit a petrol station in Ashdod on Friday morning, Israeli officials say.

Three rockets were also shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system over Tel Aviv, the Israeli military said.

Lebanon’s military also confirmed that militants in the south of the country had fired three rockets into northern Israel in the early hours of Friday and that Israel had shelled the area in response. No injuries were reported.

One Israeli soldier was injured by mortar fire in Eshkol on Thursday.

In his telephone conversation with PM Benjamin Netanyahu, President Barack Obama said: “The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement.”

Condemning rocket fire by Hamas, Barack Obama also “expressed concern about the risk of further escalation and emphasized the need for all sides to do everything they can to protect the lives of civilians and restore calm”.

Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair said on Friday it was necessary to tackle the “longer-term questions at the heart of this violence and conflict”.

“Without that long-term solution in place I think it’s going to be very difficult to create any short-term peace,” he said.

Some 20,000 Israeli army reservists have been mobilized amid speculation of a ground offensive into Gaza.

Israel says its targets in Gaza have been militant fighters and facilities, but the Palestinian health ministry says many women and children have been killed.

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Barack Obama’s Austin speech interrupted by Hispanic hecklers

Nancy Clayson
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Barack Obama’s Austin speech interrupted by Hispanic hecklers

President Barack Obama was interrupted by two people while delivering a speech on the economy on Thursday at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas.

The two Hispanic hecklers interrupted the president’s speech with shouts about illegal immigration.

“I’m sorry, what are you yelling about now?” Barack Obama said amid the sudden yelling.

“Sit down, guys. I’m almost done.

Barack Obama was interrupted by two people while delivering a speech on the economy at the Paramount Theater in Austin
Barack Obama was interrupted by two people while delivering a speech on the economy at the Paramount Theater in Austin (photo Daily Texas)

“Come on, sit down. I’ll talk to you afterwards, I promise. I’ll bring you back. I’m wrapping things up here.”

The White House’s transcript of Barack Obama’s remarks in Austin omits what the protesters said, but the president replied: “I understand. See, everybody is going to start – I’m on your side, man. Sit down, guys, we’ll talk about it later, I promise.”

They were invited after the event to meet with Barack Obama about their concerns on immigration reform.

According to a White House press pool report, its staff escorted the protesters behind the stage immediately after Barack Obama’s speech was over and he “began glad-handing with folks in front”.

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John Kerry plays guitar during Beijing visit

Nancy Clayson
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John Kerry plays guitar during Beijing visit

US Secretary of State John Kerry played a musician’s guitar following a lunch at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.

John Kerry played a musician's guitar following a lunch at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
John Kerry played a musician’s guitar following a lunch at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (photo tumblr)

John Kerry and Chinese Vice-PM Liu Yandong co-chaired the fifth annual US-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE).

The CPE aims to enhance and strengthen ties between the citizens of the United States and China and has done so over the past four years in the areas of culture, education, science and technology, sports, and women’s issues. This year, the two sides agreed to add a sixth area of people-to-people exchange: health.

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Afghanistan elections 2014: Ashraf Ghani calls for vote audit

Diane A. Wade
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Afghanistan elections 2014: Ashraf Ghani calls for vote audit

Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani has called for an “extensive audit” of votes.

Ashraf Ghani made the appeal before meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrived in Kabul to try to resolve a growing political crisis.

John Kerry is also meeting Ashraf Ghani’s rival Abdullah Abdullah.

Ashraf Ghani came out ahead in preliminary results from the second round, but both candidates allege fraud.

The audit would help ensure the “integrity and the legitimacy that the people of Afghanistan and the world will believe in,” Ashraf Ghani said.

The announcement was welcomed by John Kerry, who arrived in Afghanistan on Friday in a hastily arranged visit.

Ashraf Ghani came out ahead in preliminary results from the second round of Afghanistan’s presidential election
Ashraf Ghani came out ahead in preliminary results from the second round of Afghanistan’s presidential election (photo CNN)

“No one is declaring victory at this time. The results have yet to be finalized and so those questions have to be resolved and I’m very appreciative that Dr. Ghani respects that” he said.

Current President Hamid Karzai, who took power after the US-led overthrow of the Taliban, is stepping down after more than 10 years.

The US has been concerned at reports that Abdullah Abdullah, who preliminary results suggest lost the election, is planning a “parallel government”.

Results announced by Afghanistan’s election officials give Ashraf Ghani 56.44% of votes in the June 14 run-off, with Abdullah Abdullah gaining 43.45%.

The results were markedly different from those achieved in the first round of voting, held in April.

In that round, Abdullah Abdullah fell just short of an outright majority, with 44.9%, with Ashraf Ghani second at 31.5%.

Votes are already being re-checked at more than 7,000 polling stations – nearly a third of the total number.

Correspondents say recounts could significantly alter the final result, due on July 22.

The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan has warned it will be “premature” for either side to claim victory.

There are also concerns about a further deterioration in the security situation.

Taliban militants have been testing the limits of the Afghan army in recent weeks, with a major offensive in the southern province of Helmand.

The withdrawal of foreign troops by the end of this year will be the litmus test of whether more than a decade of training and investment in building up Afghanistan’s own security forces has paid off, correspondents say.

President Barack Obama has said the US remained committed to Afghanistan provided the incoming president signed a security agreement.

Both Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani have said they are committed to signing the deal with the US that would allow a small force to stay on.

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Rosemary Murphy dies from esophageal cancer aged 89

Sonia Pantiss
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Rosemary Murphy dies from esophageal cancer aged 89

German-born actress Rosemary Murphy has died aged 89.

Rosemary Murphy passed away on July 5 at her home in New York after a battle with esophageal cancer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

She made her Broadway debut in 1950 play The Tower Beyond Tragedy, and went on to star in 15 more productions on the Great White Way.

Rosemary Murphy made her Broadway debut in 1950 play The Tower Beyond Tragedy
Rosemary Murphy made her Broadway debut in 1950 play The Tower Beyond Tragedy

Rosemary Murphy stared in the Oscar-winning film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as That Night and Julia.

She won an Emmy Award in 1976 for playing President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s mother, Sara, in the TV movie Eleanor and Franklin.

Rosemary Murphy was nominated for another Emmy for the sequel the following year.

Emmy Nominations 2014: Full List

Sonia Pantiss
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Drama series:

Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
House of Cards
Mad Men
True Detective

Comedy series:
The Big Bang Theory
Louie
Modern Family
Orange Is the New Black
Silicon Valley
Veep

Actor, drama series:
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective’
Kevin Spacey, ‘House of Cards’

Actress, drama series:
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Actor, comedy series:
Louis C.K., Louie
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Ricky Gervais, Derek
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
William H. Macy, Shameless
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Emmy 2014 winners will be announced in a ceremony in Los Angeles on August 25
Emmy 2014 winners will be announced in a ceremony in Los Angeles on August 25

Actress, comedy series:
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black

Supporting actor, drama series:
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
Josh Charles, The Good Wife

Supporting actress, drama series:
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Dame Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Joanna Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

Supporting actor, comedy series:
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Adam Driver, Girls
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Fred Armisen, Portlandia
Tony Hale, Veep

Supporting actress, comedy:
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Allison Janney, Mom
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Actor, miniseries or movie:
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge
Idris Elba, Luther
Martin Freeman, Fargo
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart
Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo

Actress, miniseries or movie:
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor
Minnie Driver, Return to Zero
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Coven
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful
Kristen Wiig, Spoils of Babylon

Variety:
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Saturday Night Live
Real Time With Bill Maher
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Reality competition:
The Amazing Race
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
So You Think You Can Dance
Top Chef
The Voice

Miniseries:
American Horror Story: Coven
Fargo
Luther
Bonnie & Clyde
Treme
The White Queen

Movie:
Killing Kennedy
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight
The Normal Heart
Sherlock: His Last Vow
Trip to Bountiful

Guest actor, drama series:
Paul Giamatti, Downton Abbey
Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards
Robert Morse, Mad Men
Beau Bridges, Masters of Sex
Joe Morton, Scandal
Dylan Baker, The Good Wife

Guest actress, drama series:
Dianna Rigg, Game of Thrones
Kate Mara, House of Cards
Allison Janney, Masters of Sex
Kate Burton, Scandal
Margo Martindale, The Americans
Jane Fonda, The Newsroom

Guest actor, comedy series:
Nathan Lane, Modern Family
Steve Buscemi, Portlandia
Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live
Louis C.K., Saturday Night Live
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory
Gary Cole, Veep

Guest actress, comedy series:
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black
Natasha Lyonne, Orange Is the New Black
Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live
Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live
Joan Cusack, Shameless
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Amazon sued by FTC over child in-app purchases

Nancy Clayson
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Amazon sued by FTC over child in-app purchases

Amazon has been sued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allowing millions of dollars of unauthorized purchases by children in its mobile app store.

The FTC is seeking refunds for parents who were charged.

Amazon resisted a settlement offer from the FTC, and wrote in a letter to the regulator earlier this month that it would not accept tighter controls.

In January, Apple settled with the FTC over similar charges.

Amazon has been sued by the FTC for allowing millions of dollars of unauthorized purchases by children in its mobile app store
Amazon has been sued by the FTC for allowing millions of dollars of unauthorized purchases by children in its mobile app store

“Amazon’s in-app system allowed children to incur unlimited charges on their parents’ accounts without permission,” said FTC chair Edith Ramirez in a statement.

“Even Amazon’s own employees recognized the serious problem its process created,” she added.

In response to the allegations, an Amazon spokesperson cited a letter the company sent to the FTC on July 1 in which it wrote it was “deeply disappointed” by the FTC’s demands.

“The [FTC]’s unwillingness to depart from the precedent it set with Apple despite our very different facts leaves us no choice but to defend our approach in court,” wrote Amazon.

In its complaint, the FTC used the example of an app called “Ice Age Village”, a game designed for children.

The FTC alleged the game “blurred the lines between what costs virtual currency and what costs real money”, with “acorns” and “coins” both serving a purpose within the game as well as being available for purchase. The largest quantity purchase available in the app would cost $99.99.

In its complaint, the FTC also alleges that Amazon employees had warned in December 2011 that “allowing unlimited in-app charges without any password was <<…clearly causing problems for a large percentage of our customers>>, adding that the situation was a <<near house on fire>>”.

In January, Apple offered refunds of up to $32.5 million to parents who had been impacted by unauthorized charges and said it would change its billing practices to prevent future unauthorized charges.

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Patrice Hyvert: Frozen climber found in French Alps after 32 years

Nancy Clayson
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Patrice Hyvert: Frozen climber found in French Alps after 32 years

The frozen body of a young climber who disappeared 32 years ago in the French Alps has been discovered by mountain climbers, French media reports say.

Patrice Hyvert was last seen alive on March 1, 1982, when he took a solitary climb in the Mont Blanc mountain range on the French-Italian border.

The 23-year-old did not return after the weather took a bad turn.

Patrice Hyvert was last seen alive on March 1, 1982, when he took a solitary climb in the Mont Blanc mountain range on the French-Italian border
Patrice Hyvert was last seen alive on March 1, 1982, when he took a solitary climb in the Mont Blanc mountain range on the French-Italian border

Rescue officials say the mountaineer’s frozen body was found with his ID and all of his ski equipment still on him.

His body was found by two climbers on July 3 on the Talefre glacier at an altitude of 2,687 metres, local newspaper Dauphine Libere reported.

Patrice Hyvert’s father, Gerard, told RTL radio that he had given up hope of finding his son’s body.

“I’m a mountain man, and I would have preferred him to stay up there…He was better on a mountain than in a coffin. He was in his element,” he said.

Donald Sterling calls wife a pig during heated exchanges in Clippers sale court case

Clyde K. Valle
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Donald Sterling calls wife a pig during heated exchanges in Clippers sale court case

Donald Sterling has said he will never sell LA Clippers basketball team during heated exchanges in court.

Donald Sterling, 80, is contesting in court his wife Shelly’s decision to sell the basketball team franchise to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Steve Ballmer wants the judge to confirm she can do so.

The NBA said it wanted to force Donald Sterling to sell after he was recorded making racist remarks in April.

The court case in Los Angeles deals with allegations that Shelly Sterling used medical tests of his mental capacity to remove him as a trustee and deceive him into selling.

In May, Shelly Sterling told her husband to seek an evaluation by two doctors, who declared him “mentally incapacitated” and unfit to administer his duties as trustee of the Sterling Family Trust.

This in effect handed her control of the Clippers.

Donald Sterling is contesting in court his wife Shelly's decision to sell the basketball team franchise to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer
Donald Sterling is contesting in court his wife Shelly’s decision to sell the basketball team franchise to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (photo AP)

Shelly Sterling told the court she had sent her husband for medical tests after seeing “frightening changes”.

She was eventually told he had early signs of Alzheimer’s, she said.

There were sharp exchanges in court as Donald Sterling insulted his estranged wife.

“Get away from me, you pig,” he said, adding: “Shelly, how could you lie?”

From the witness box Donald Sterling then shouted: “I will never ever sell this team, and until I die I will be suing the NBA for this terrible violation.”

Donald Sterling argues he could raise more money than Steve Ballmer’s $2 billion offer by selling TV rights and winning an anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA.

If the judge in Los Angeles rules Shelly Sterling acted unlawfully, the deal with Steve Ballmer could be invalidated and the sale of the franchise revoked.

The racism allegations led to the NBA fining Donald Sterling $2.5 million and banning him from basketball for life.

In a 10-minute audio recording published on celebrity website TMZ in April, Donald Sterling was heard telling a woman, subsequently identified as his girlfriend V Stiviano, not to associate in public with black people nor bring them to Clippers games.

The remarks drew widespread condemnation from fans, retired basketball stars and President Barack Obama.

Donald Sterling is suing the NBA, alleging it violated his constitutional rights by relying on information from an “illegal” recording.

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Houston shooting: Ronald Lee Haskell charged with murder of six family members

Nancy Clayson
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Houston shooting: Ronald Lee Haskell charged with murder of six family members

Ronald Lee Haskell, who is accused of shooting dead a family of six, including four children, near Houston, Texas, has been charged with multiple counts of murder.

Ronald Lee Haskell, 33, gave himself up to police late Wednesday following a chase and a three-hour stand-off.

A 15-year-old girl is also in a critical condition after being shot in the head, but was able to direct police to him.

Police earlier identified Ronald Lee Haskell as the father of the children, but have corrected that report.

Harris County Constable Ron Hickman said the adults killed were the children’s parents and Roland Lee Haskell was estranged from a woman related to the couple.

“I have not personally in 40 years seen a tragedy in one family that is this horrific,” he said.

Ronald Lee Haskell is accused of shooting dead a family of six near Houston
Ronald Lee Haskell is accused of shooting dead a family of six near Houston (photo KNXV TV)

Police had been called to a house about 6 PM and found three children and two adults dead, a Harris County Sheriff’s Office statement said.

A fourth child died in hospital. Those killed were two boys ages 4 and 14, two girls 7 and 9 and their parents. They have not yet been identified.

Ron Hickman said Roland Lee Haskell had allegedly persuaded the children he was a FedEx parcel delivery man to gain access to their home in Spring, Texas. He was wearing a shirt with the company’s logo.

He then “gathered up the children that were here and awaited the arrival of the parents”, Ron Hickman told reporters.

In a statement, the parcel firm said Roland Lee Haskell “formerly provided service” for the company, but had not done so since January.

The injured 15-year-old daughter of the couple then called police, telling them the gunman was en route to shoot other members of their family.

She was in a critical condition in hospital on Thursday.

Police earlier described the shooting suspect as a man in his 30s with a beard who was “cool as a cucumber”.

When approached by officers he was “just sitting in his car looking out at us,” said Sgt. Thomas Gilliland.

There followed “hours of constant talking with a man armed with a pistol to his head and who had just killed six people”, he added.

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Womad 2014: Sinead O’Connor to replace Bobby Womack

Sonia Pantiss
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Sinead O’Connor will replace late soul legend Bobby Womack as the closing act at this year’s Womad festival in Wiltshire, UK.

Bobby Womack died aged 70 two weeks ago.

Sinead O’Connor achieved worldwide success in 1990 with her version of Prince’s song Nothing Compares 2 U. She more recently made headlines after she publicly criticized Miley Cyrus on Twitter.

Sinead O'Connor will replace late soul legend Bobby Womack as the closing act at this year's Womad festival
Sinead O’Connor will replace late soul legend Bobby Womack as the closing act at this year’s Womad festival

Youssou N’Dour, Manu Dibango and Richard Thompson also headline.

Up to 40,000 people are expected to attend each of the festival’s four days, from July 24.

A festival spokesman said: “Just when you thought that no more remarkable names could be squeezed on to this year’s cracking line-up… another one comes along, the compulsive and uncompromising performer Sinead O’Connor.”

The full Womad Festival line-up features about 100 artists from 40 countries, on the Charlton Park Estate near Malmesbury.

HIV reappears in cured Mississippi baby

Kathryn R. Bown
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HIV reappears in cured Mississippi baby

A Mississippi girl born with HIV and believed cured after very early treatment has now been found to still harbor the virus.

Tests last week on the 4-year-old child indicate she is no longer in remission, say doctors.

She had appeared free of HIV as recently as March, without receiving treatment for nearly two years.

The news represents a setback for hopes that very early treatment of drugs may reverse permanent infection.

The Mississippi girl had appeared free of HIV as recently as March, without receiving treatment for nearly two years
The Mississippi girl had appeared free of HIV as recently as March, without receiving treatment for nearly two years

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told US media the new results were “obviously disappointing” and had possible implications on an upcoming federal HIV study.

“We’re going to take a good hard look at the study and see if it needs any modifications,” he said.

The Mississippi baby did not receive any pre-natal HIV care prior to birth.

Because of a greater risk of infection, she was started on a powerful HIV treatment just hours after labor.

She continued to receive treatment until 18 months old, when doctors could not locate her. When she returned 10 months later, no sign of infection was evident though her mother had not given her HIV medication in the interim.

Repeated tests showed no detectable HIV virus until last week. Doctors do not yet know why the virus re-emerged.

A second child with HIV was given early treatment just hours after birth in Los Angeles in April 2013.

Subsequent tests indicate she completely cleared the virus, but that child also received ongoing treatment.

Only one adult is currently believed to have been cured of HIV.

In 2007, Timothy Ray Brown received a bone marrow transplant from a donor with a rare genetic mutation that resists HIV. He has shown no signs of infection for more than five years.

Bowe Bergdahl captivity photo emerges to media

Roy Siemens
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Bowe Bergdahl captivity photo emerges to media

A picture of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl appearing to pose with a Taliban leader during his captivity in Afghanistan has been dismissed as “propaganda” by the US.

After being held for five years, Bowe Bergdahl was released in May in a swap for five Guantanamo detainees.

A Pentagon spokesman said the US had no reason to believe the photo, which appeared on social media and has not been verified, was not authentic.

Bowe Bergdahl is shown with Badruddin Haqqani, a militant commander killed in 2012.

He has been undergoing what the US military calls a “reintegration process” in Texas since his return.

Bowe Bergdahl is shown with Badruddin Haqqani, Taliban commander killed in 2012
Bowe Bergdahl is shown with Badruddin Haqqani, Taliban commander killed in 2012

The photo appeared on a Taliban-supporting Facebook page and Twitter account, but was undated.

Bowe Bergdahl was held captive, reportedly by both the Taliban and the affiliated Haqqani network, since 2009.

Defense department spokesman Colonel Steven Warren told reporters on Thursday any photos released by the Taliban or Badruddin Haqqani network “are 100% propaganda and should be viewed that way”.

Bowe Bergdahl has not spoken about his ordeal publicly since his release on May 31.

The move to release five Guantanamo detainees after Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was transferred to US special forces sparked a heated political row in the US.

Fellow soldiers have also argued Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl knowingly wandered away from his unit while deployed in Afghanistan in June 2009.

The US has opened an investigation into his disappearance, but has said they will not interview Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl until he is finished with the reintegration process.

Cooling babies with birth asphyxia stops brain damage

Kathryn R. Bown
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Cooling babies with birth asphyxia stops brain damage

A new research suggests that cooling babies deprived of oxygen at birth improves their chances of growing up without disabilities such as cerebral palsy.

The study, published in New England Journal of Medicine, showed newborns given the treatment were more likely to have higher IQs at school age.

Babies were placed on a special mat and cooled at 33C for three days to help reduce brain injury.

Experts say the study confirms the therapy has long-lasting effects.

It can set off a cascade of processes in the body resulting in the gradual death of brain cells, leaving babies at risk of brain damage and even death.

Until recently there has been no approved treatment to help reduce the aftershocks of low oxygen at birth.

Cooling babies deprived of oxygen at birth improves their chances of growing up without disabilities such as cerebral palsy
Cooling babies deprived of oxygen at birth improves their chances of growing up without disabilities such as cerebral palsy

However, a 2009 study of more than 300 newborns showed cooling treatment – known as therapeutic hypothermia – could help reduce brain damage at 18 months.

Researchers think the therapy works by slowing the production of harmful substances in the brain and the rate of brain cell death. But how long these improvements may last has been unclear.

Led by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, a team of scientists revisited these children at six or seven years of age.

They examined the children’s:

  • IQ scores
  • memory power
  • attention spans
  • signs of disability

Children who had been cooled as babies were less likely than those who had received standard treatment to have neurological abnormalities and performed better in tests of manual ability.

About 45% of cooled children had no brain abnormalities, compared with 28% of those who had had standard treatment

And some 21% in the cooling group had cerebral palsy, compared with 36% in the control group.

Babies in the hypothermia group were also more likely to have IQ scores above 85.

The simple and relatively inexpensive treatment has been adopted in many countries across the globe.

The cooling treatment showed no influence on survival rates though – a similar proportion (about 30%) of babies in both groups did not survive to school age.

Researchers say the next steps will be to look at therapies that can work in conjunction with therapeutic hypothermia and increase the chances of normal survival.

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Luis Suarez bite: FIFA rejects appeal against four-month ban

Clyde K. Valle
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Luis Suarez bite: FIFA rejects appeal against four-month ban

Soccer’s global governing body FIFA has rejected Luis Suarez’s appeal against a four-month ban from all football-related activities for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.

Uruguay’s Luis Suarez was also banned for nine international matches after the incident at the World Cup in Brazil.

The Uruguayan FA had described FIFA’s ruling as an “excessive decision” for which “there was not enough evidence”.

Luis Suarez can now make a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

FIFA also imposed a fine of 100,000 Swiss Francs ($105,000) on Luis Suarez, who has apologized for his behavior.

FIFA rejects Luis Suarez's appeal against bite ban
FIFA rejects Luis Suarez’s appeal against bite ban

Under the terms of the suspension, Luis Suarez cannot train with his club and is prohibited from entering the confines of any stadium, although players’ union FIFpro argue the details “lack clarity”.

Should Luis Suarez and the Uruguayan FA decide to appeal further, ordinarily the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) would sit and hear the matter while the player adheres to the terms of his ban.

However, as the World Cup is still ongoing, they could apply to the CAS “ad-hoc” division, which exists for the duration of the tournament to hear matters such as this.

The ad-hoc division could suspend the sanctions pending a full hearing later in the year, allowing Suarez to play and take part in “football related activities” in the meantime.

Since Luis Suarez was suspended, Liverpool has been in transfer negotiations with Spanish giants Barcelona, who have told the Anfield club they are willing to meet a buy-out clause of $120 million to sign the 27-year-old.

He has now been found guilty of biting three opponents in his career.

Luis Suarez was banned for 10 games for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League match in 2013 and was also suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in 2010.

Including this latest punishment, Luis Suarez will have missed 32 games through four separate bans since arriving at Liverpool in 2011.

The ban is the biggest in World Cup history, beating the eight games given to Italy’s Mauro Tassotti for elbowing Spain’s Luis Enrique in 1994.

Banco Espirito Santo: European and US stock markets fall over Portugal’s bank concerns

Clyde K. Valle
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Banco Espirito Santo: European and US stock markets fall over Portugal’s bank concerns

US and European stock markets have fallen over concerns about the health of one of Portugal’s biggest banks.

Shares in Banco Espirito Santo were suspended after falling 17% following concerns about accounting irregularities at its parent group.

As a result, the Lisbon stock exchange fell more than 4%, Madrid’s IBEX was down 2.7%, while the Paris CAC 40 and Frankfurt’s DAX were both 1.8% lower.

Wall Street also opened sharply lower, with the Dow Jones falling 150 points.

This took the index well below 17,000, the level breached for the first time earlier this month.

US and European stock markets have fallen over concerns about the health of Portugal's Banco Espirito Santo
US and European stock markets have fallen over concerns about the health of Portugal’s Banco Espirito Santo

Media reports highlighting concerns about certain financial practices at the Espirito Santo group surfaced at the end of last year.

Portugal’s central bank then ordered an audit into the group’s accounts, which uncovered “serious” accounting irregularities.

The Portuguese government has said that Banco Espirito is isolated from problems at its parent, which is registered in Luxembourg, and that public finances are not at risk.

At the height of the financial crisis, Portugal was forced to take a 78 billion euro ($106 billion) bailout from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Portugal exited the bailout program last month as confidence in the country’s economy returned.

Government borrowing costs fell to an eight-year low of 3.58% in April this year, but renewed concerns about the health of the country’s financial sector pushed these back up towards 4% on Thursday.

Some commentators suggested the specific concerns about Banco Espirito fed into wider fears about the health of the eurozone economy.

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Botticelli drawing Study for a Seated St Joseph sells for record $2 million at London auction

Sonia Pantiss
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Botticelli drawing Study for a Seated St Joseph sells for record $2 million at London auction

A rare Botticelli drawing – titled Study for a Seated St Joseph, his head resting on his right hand – has sold for a record £1.3 million ($2.1 million) at Sotheby’s auction in London.

Created in the 1480s, the piece was the first drawing by the artist to be sold for a century.

Sotheby’s said it was highest price ever paid for a work on paper by the Renaissance master.

Botticelli’s Study for a Seated St Joseph, his head resting on his right hand has sold for a record $2.1 million at Sotheby’s auction in London
Botticelli’s Study for a Seated St Joseph, his head resting on his right hand has sold for a record $2.1 million at Sotheby’s auction in London (photo Sotheby’s)

The work was also believed to be the last of his drawings that remained in private hands.

The drawing came from the collection of late philanthropist Barbara Piasecka Johnson, the wife of Johnson and Johnson heir John Seward Johnson, who bought the artwork for $88,000 at a New York auction in 1988.

Study for a Seated St Joseph is believed to be the only drawing which can be clearly linked to one of Sandro Botticelli’s painted compositions.

The man depicted is a study for The Nativity with adoring St John the Baptist – a circular painting dating from the late 1480s which is at Buscot Park near Faringdon, Oxfordshire.

Aside from an album of illustrations for Dante’s Divine Comedy, there are only 12 surviving drawings by Botticelli – all but Study for a Seated St Joseph are in museums.

Germany orders expulsion of CIA representative in US spy row

Diane A. Wade
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Germany orders expulsion of CIA representative in US spy row

Germany has expelled a CIA official in Berlin in response to two cases of alleged spying by the US.

The official is said to have acted as a CIA contact at the US embassy, reports say, in a scandal that has infuriated German politicians.

A 31-year-old German intelligence official was arrested last week on suspicion of spying.

Reports on Wednesday said an inquiry had also begun into a German soldier.

“The representative of the US intelligence services at the embassy of the United States of America has been told to leave Germany,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert said.

The chairman of the Bundestag (German parliament) committee overseeing the German secret service said the action was taken because of American spying on German politicians and its failure to co-operate and provide adequate responses.

Angela Merkel has tried to maintain a balance between condemning the US spying, but also maintaining cordial relations
Angela Merkel has tried to maintain a balance between condemning the US spying, but also maintaining cordial relations

The US has not denied allegations that a German intelligence agency employee arrested last week was passing secret documents to the US National Security Agency (NSA).

However, the latest reports that a soldier within the defense ministry was also spying for the US were considered more serious. Although no arrest was made, searches were carried out on Wednesday at the ministry and elsewhere.

The US and Germany have been close allies for decades but relations were hit last year when it emerged that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone had been monitored by the NSA.

On Thursday, Angela Merkel said spying on allies was a “waste of energy”.

“We have so many problems, we should focus on the important things,” she said at a news conference with visiting Moldovan PM Iurie Leanca.

Angela Merkel has tried to maintain a balance between condemning the US actions but also maintaining cordial relations. However, each revelation has made that balance harder to achieve, he adds.

The scale of the US agency’s surveillance was revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who fled the US and is now a fugitive in Russia.

The German intelligence official arrested last week was alleged to have been trying to gather details about a German parliamentary committee investigating the NSA spying scandal.

China’s trade surplus narrows to $32 billion in June 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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China’s trade surplus narrows to $32 billion in June 2014

China’s trade surplus narrowed to $32 billion in June 2014 after export growth slowed and imports increased, showing the economy is still stabilizing after a weak start to the year.

Exports rose by 7.2% from a year earlier, which was below market expectations for a 10.6% increase.

Imports also missed forecasts, rising by 5.5% due to sluggish demand.

Asian stocks fell in reaction to the data, while the Australian dollar lost some of its gains before recovering.

China's trade surplus narrowed to $32 billion in June 2014 after export growth slowed and imports increased
China’s trade surplus narrowed to $32 billion in June 2014 after export growth slowed and imports increased

Economists say unless more stimulus measures are taken, they doubt China will be able to achieve its annual growth target of 7.5% this year.

China released its latest inflation figures on Wednesday, showing that price pressures have diminished amid lower food prices.

Low inflation is good news because the value of consumers’ incomes is preserved, allowing their money to go further. It also gives the authorities more room to maneuver when setting policy.

Consumer prices rose by 2.3% in June from a year ago, which was an improvement from May’s increase of 2.5%.

Producer prices fell by 1.1% from a year earlier in June after energy prices fell.

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Burberry announces strong rise in sales for Q2 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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Burberry announces strong rise in sales for Q2 2014

Luxury fashion brand Burberry has announced a strong rise in sales but warned that profits could be hit by unfavorable exchange rates.

Retail revenues for Q2 2014 were $592 million, up almost 10% from a year earlier, while like-for-like sales increased by 12%.

Sales were particularly strong in China and Hong Kong.

Burberry has announced a strong rise in sales but warned that profits could be hit by unfavorable exchange rates
Burberry has announced a strong rise in sales but warned that profits could be hit by unfavorable exchange rates (photo Wikipedia)

But it warned that if exchange rates remained at current levels, retail and wholesale profit could be cut by $88 million.

Burberry added that, given movements in the sterling-yen exchange rate, it expected licensing revenue to be down by about $16 million.

“The first quarter performance reflects our focus on striving to give customers the best possible experience of the Burberry brand through ongoing investment in retail, digital and service, both on and offline,” said chief executive Christopher Bailey.

“With great brand momentum and a focused vision, we remain confident of delivering sustainable, profitable growth into the future.”

Burberry said it had seen double-digit sales growth in American and Asia Pacific markets. Europe, the Middle East and Africa saw “low single-digit” sales growth.

The retailer also highlighted the strong performance of its online business.

Clinton: The Musical to open at New York Music Theater Festival on July 18

Sonia Pantiss
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Clinton: The Musical to open at New York Music Theater Festival on July 18

Clinton: The Musical will make its US debut at the New York Music Theater Festival.

Written and directed by Australian brothers Paul and Michael Hodge, the musical offers a satirical take on President Bill Clinton’s time in the White House.

Clinton: The Musical, a satire about scandals of the 1990s, will make its US premiere on July 18 as part of the New York Musical Theater Festival. It portrays two sides of President Bill Clinton: the jovial id who cannot control himself and the pensive policy wonk who cannot stop talking about the intricacies of health care reform.

Hillary Clinton is the struggling-to-be-stabilizing force, grappling with the Lewinsky scandal while slyly eyeing her own Senate run.

Clinton: The Musical will make his US debut at the New York Music Theater Festival
Clinton: The Musical will make its US debut at the New York Music Theater Festival

Paul Hodge said his inspiration was Bill Clinton’s 2004 autobiography, My Life, in which the former president explored his “outside life” and his “internal life”.

Dick Morris, the former Bill Clinton aide-turned-enemy, called these parallel lives “Saturday Night Bill” and “Sunday Morning President Clinton”.

There are 21 songs in the show and the character of Bill Clinton is played by two different actors, aiming to show the “two sides” to the former US President.

“He’s so complex that it seemed like an appropriate device,” Paul Hodge said.

The Clintons have already left a big mark on pop culture, from the 1998 movie Primary Colors, based on the roman à clef by Joe Klein, to The Special Relationship, a 2010 HBO movie about Bill Clinton and Tony Blair.

The USA Network’s political drama Political Animals, with Sigourney Weaver as a fictional version of Hillary Clinton, lasted a single season.

In Clinton: The Musical, Duke Lafoon portrays Billy Clinton, the fun-loving side to the serious W. J. Clinton (Karl Kenzler). Duke Lafoon had previously played Bill Clinton in Monica! The Musical, a 2005 Off Broadway show that featured Hillary Clinton as a scheming strategist.

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Edward Snowden leaks: FBI and NSA spied on five high-profile Muslim Americans

Diane A. Wade
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Edward Snowden leaks: FBI and NSA spied on five high-profile Muslim Americans

The FBI and NSA spied on the emails of five high-profile Muslim Americans in an effort to identify security threats, documents leaked by fugitive ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden show.

The targets include a lawyer, professor and a political operative, according to a report published in the Intercept.

The Intercept is an online news site overseen by Glenn Greenwald, who helped publish many of Edward Snowden’s leaks.

The FBI and NSA said they only spied on Americans when they had probable cause.

“The National Security Agency and FBI have covertly monitored the emails of prominent Muslim-Americans… under secretive procedures intended to target terrorists and foreign spies,” according to The Intercept report.

According to the report – the result of a three-month investigation using classified documents obtained from Edward Snowden – all five individuals have denied involvement in terrorist activities.

The NSA and Department of Justice quickly responded to the report, saying emails of Americans are only accessed if there is probable cause.

“It is entirely false that US intelligence agencies conduct electronic surveillance of political, religious or activist figures solely because they disagree with public policies or criticize the government, or for exercising constitutional rights,” the agencies wrote in a joint statement.

The White House has ordered a review of national security agencies in the wake of the allegations, however.

Faisal Gill is a Pakistani-born lawyer, a Republican Party operative and former Department of Homeland Security employee
Faisal Gill is a Pakistani-born lawyer, a Republican Party operative and former Department of Homeland Security employee (photo ABC News)

“Upon learning of this matter, the White House immediately requested that the Director of National Intelligence undertake an assessment of Intelligence Community policies, training standards or directives that promote diversity and tolerance,” White House national security spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said on Wednesday.

“The use of racial or ethnic stereotypes, slurs, or other similar language” is not acceptable, she added.

Several dozen civil liberties groups have also spoken out against the allegations made in The Intercept report, urging President Barack Obama to provide a full public accounting of domestic surveillance.

It is not the first time US agencies have been accused of snooping on Americans. Previous documents leaked by Edward Snowden indicate the electronic files of thousands of citizens were scanned by the NSA.

Last year, Edward Snowden – a former NSA contractor now residing in Russia – fed a trove of secret NSA documents to news outlets including the Washington Post and the Guardian, where Glenn Greenwald worked.

The Congress has attempted to curb online snooping in the wake of the snooping revelations, with the House of Representatives passing legislation to that effect in mid-June.

The measure, added to a $570 billion defense spending bill, would bar the NSA from collecting Americans’ personal online information without a warrant.

Earlier this year the House also passed the USA Freedom Act that would limit the NSA’s bulk data collection and storage of some American landline telephone call records.

Those allegedly spied on include:

  • Faisal Gill, a Pakistani-born lawyer, a Republican Party operative and former Department of Homeland Security employee
  • Asim Ghafoor, a lawyer who represented clients in terrorism-related cases
  • Hooshang Amirahmadi, an Iranian-American professor at Rutgers University
  • Agha Saeed, a former political science professor at California State University
  • Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations [youtube J3hsr3q69eU 650] [youtube Hzkqz5fsp18 650]

Justin Bieber sentenced to two years probation for egging neighbor’s house

Lisa.Felice
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Justin Bieber sentenced to two years probation for egging neighbor’s house

Justin Bieber has been sentenced to two years’ probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor vandalism in connection with the egging of his neighbor’s home.

California’s court also ordered him to pay $80,900 in damages, serve five days of community service and complete an anger management program.

Justin Bieber, 20, was not present in court for the arraignment.

He faces two other criminal cases in Florida and Toronto.

Justin Bieber has been sentenced to two years' probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor vandalism in connection with the egging of his neighbor's home
Justin Bieber has been sentenced to two years’ probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor vandalism in connection with the egging of his neighbor’s home (photo Getty Images)

“Justin is glad to get this matter resolved and behind him,” Justin Bieber’s representatives said in a statement after the verdict by Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys.

“He will continue to move forward focusing on his career and his music.”

Investigators searched Justin Bieber’s Calabasas home in California in January for evidence after the egging apparently caused serious damage.

One of Justin Bieber’s friends was arrested on drug possession charges after that search.

The LA County Sheriff’s Office says they were looking for surveillance video tapes when they spotted the drugs “in plain view”.

Surveillance footage seized from the home appears to show Justin Bieber high-fiving friends and celebrating after throwing eggs at his neighbor’s home, police said.

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Houston shooting leaves at least six dead

Nancy Clayson
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Houston shooting leaves at least six dead

Texas police have detained a gunman after allegedly shooting dead six people, including four of his own children in Spring, near Houston.

One of the suspect’s daughters is in a critical condition after being shot in the head, but she was able to direct police to him.

After a 20-minute chase, the man’s car was surrounded and he gave himself up following a two-hour stand-off.

Police said the incident appeared to have started over a domestic dispute.

A father is suspected of shooting six dead near Houston
A father is suspected of shooting six dead near Houston

“It appears this stems from a domestic issue with a breakup in the family, from what our witness has told us,” a police press spokesman said.

The gunman and his wife were estranged and she was not in the state of Texas at the time, police said.

Police described the suspect as a man in his 30s with a beard who was “cool as a cucumber”.

When approached by officers he was “just sitting in his car looking out at us,” said Sgt Thomas Gilliland.

There followed “two hours of constant talking with a man armed with a pistol to his head and who had just killed six people”.

Police had been called to a house about 18:00 and found three children and two adults dead, a Harris County Sheriff’s Office statement said.

A fourth child died in hospital. The children ranged in age from 4 to 13. The two adults are also believed to be related to the suspect.

Two of the children who died had been adopted.

The suspect’s 15-year old daughter, who alerted police to the shooting, is currently in critical condition in hospital.

She warned police that her father was heading for her grandparents’ home, allowing them to intercept him on the way.

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Frontier Airlines pilot Gerhard Brandner orders pizza for a plane full of passengers

Nancy Clayson
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Frontier Airlines pilot Gerhard Brandner orders pizza for a plane full of passengers

Frontier Airlines pilot Gerhard Brandner ordered pizzas for a plane full of passengers as they were stuck on tarmac for two hours in Wyoming.

The flight from Washington D.C. to the Mile High city was expected to last three hours. But that eventually morphed into a seven-hour exercise in patience with a diversion to Cheyenne, Wyoming for two and a half hours Monday night.

That’s when Gerhard Brandner got hungry. But rather than order something only for himself, the pilot called in and paid for 50 pizzas for the all passengers on board his Airbus A320 aircraft.

Passengers said the entire cabin burst into applause after the pilot announced the delivery on the loudspeaker.

Frontier Airlines pilot Gerhard Brandner ordered pizzas for a plane full of passengers as they were stuck on tarmac for two hours in Wyoming
Frontier Airlines pilot Gerhard Brandner ordered pizzas for a plane full of passengers as they were stuck on tarmac for two hours in Wyoming (photo KDVR.com)

“Ladies and gentleman, Frontier Airlines is known for being one of the cheapest airlines in the US, but your captain is not cheap. I just ordered pizza for the entire plane,” recalled passenger Logan Torres, quoting Gerhard Brandner, in an interview with Fox affiliate KDVR.

Andrew Ritchie, the manager of the Cheyenne Domino’s Pizza in Cheyenne, Wyoming, told the Associated Press he got a call from Gerhard Brandner around 10 p.m with an order enough to feed 160 people.

Pizza for that number of people usually takes an hour, but Andrew Ritchie said it had to be done and delivered in 30 minutes.

The Washington DC to Denver flight, with 160 people, finally flew on to its destination in Colorado.

Gerhard Brandner said he ordered the pizzas as he landed in Cheyenne.

He told a Washington broadcaster he was hungry as well, but he ordered the food because he believed in treating his passengers like family.

“They are my responsibility the moment they step on the aircraft until they get off the aircraft,” Gerhard Brandner said.

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