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Oscar Pistorius psychiatric evaluator suffers heart attack

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius psychiatric evaluator suffers heart attack

The psychiatrist evaluating Oscar Pistorius in the trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, has suffered a heart attack.

However, this is not expected to delay the trial, which resumes on June 30, the prosecution say.

Oscar Pistorius, 27, is due to complete a 30-day psychiatric assessment on Friday.

The judge in his trial ordered the tests after a defense witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius denies intentionally killing his girlfriend and says he accidentally shot her through the toilet door on Valentine’s Day last year in a state of panic, mistaking the 29-year-old model and law graduate for an intruder.

The South African Paralympic champion checked in as a day patient to Pretoria’s Weskoppies psychiatric hospital on May 26, where he has been assessed by a team of health experts for seven hours a day.

Three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist were tasked to determine whether his state of mind and disability had an effect on him when he shot Reeva Steenkamp.

South Africa’s eNCA broadcaster earlier reported that the psychiatrist’s heart attack may have caused a delay in the handing over of Oscar Pistorius’ psychiatric evaluation report.

The psychiatrist in question, Dr. Leon Fine, had not yet signed the report, according to eNCA’s website.

The prosecution had argued the tests were essential after forensic psychiatrist Merryll Vorster, who diagnosed the athlete with GAD, told the court he was “a danger to society”.

The defense vigorously opposed the move.

The court in Pretoria is expected to hear the outcome of Oscar Pistorius’ medical tests when the trial resumes on Monday.

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BNP Paribas expected to pay $8.9 billion fine in US

Clyde K. Valle
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BNP Paribas expected to pay $8.9 billion fine in US

French banking giant BNP Paribas has agreed to pay an $8.9 billion fine for allegedly violating US sanctions rules, reports suggest.

The bank will also, unusually, admit guilt, Financial Times and The New York Times reported.

According to the Wall Street Journal, BNP plans to slash its dividends and issue billions of euros of bonds to pay the fine.

The bank is accused of breaking sanctions against Iran, Sudan and Cuba.

This is alleged to have taken place between 2002 and 2009.

BNP Paribas has agreed to pay an $8.9 billion fine for allegedly violating US sanctions rules
BNP Paribas has agreed to pay an $8.9 billion fine for allegedly violating US sanctions rules

The reported size of the fine could almost wipe out BNP’s entire 2013 pre-tax income of about $11.2 billion.

In April, BNP Paribas said it had set aside $1.1 billion to cover the cost of US penalties, but warned that the “amount of the fines could be far in excess of the amount of the provision”.

Earlier this month, one of the EU’s top officials intervened in the controversy.

Michel Barnier, the EU’s internal markets commissioner, said any penalty on the giant French bank must be “fair and objective”. Reports at the time suggested the fine would be in the region of $10 billion.

France’s President Francois Hollande has raised the matter with President Barack Obama, while French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius recently warned that such a fine could hurt EU-US trade treaty talks.

As part of the deal with US authorities, BNP may be suspended from converting foreign currencies into dollars, reports suggest, which would hit its ability to operate in international wholesale banking markets.

US authorities are keen to make an announcement on the settlement on Monday afternoon.

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Luis Suarez biting: FIFA urges Uruguay striker to seek treatment

Clyde K. Valle
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Luis Suarez biting: FIFA urges Uruguay striker to seek treatment

Luis Suarez has been urged by FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke to seek treatment after being found guilty of biting an opponent for a third time.

Luis Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Italy on Tuesday and has been banned from all football-related activity for four months by world football’s governing body.

“He should go for treatment,” Jerome Valcke said.

Luis Suarez has been urged by FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke to seek treatment after being found guilty of biting an opponent for a third time
Luis Suarez has been urged by FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke to seek treatment after being found guilty of biting an opponent for a third time

“It’s definitely wrong.

“The first time, it’s an incident. More than once, it is not.”

International players’ union FIFPro called for Luis Suarez to “receive all the support he needs”.

“The focus should be on the rehabilitation and serious treatment of the player. FIFPro believes that treatment must be a part of any sanction,” a statement read.

FIFPro said Luis Suarez’s prolonged absence from the game “must be addressed as it directly infringes his right to work”.

Luis Suarez was banned for 10 matches for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013 and seven matches for doing similar to PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in 2010.

“That is why the sanction has to be exemplary,” Jerome Valcke added.

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Diego Maradona defends Luis Suarez as Giorgio Chiellini brands his ban excessive

Clyde K. Valle
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Diego Maradona defends Luis Suarez as Giorgio Chiellini brands his ban excessive

Luis Suarez has received support from World Cup winner Diego Maradona, while his biting victim, Giorgio Chiellini, branded the ban “excessive”.

The Uruguayan is not allowed to train with his club or enter a football stadium yet Spanish side Barcelona remains interested in signing the player from Liverpool.

For their part, Liverpool are seeking legal advice after being denied the services of last season’s leading Premier League scorer until the end of October.

Meanwhile, online gambling firm 888poker says it has terminated its relationship with Suarez with immediate effect.

Suarez, who flew back to the Uruguayan capital Montevideo in the early hours of Friday morning, denied the allegations following his clash with Giorgio Chiellini, claiming the centre-back had bumped into him.

However, FIFA decided he was guilty and gave him the longest ban in World Cup history.

Luis Suarez has received support from World Cup winner Diego Maradona
Luis Suarez has received support from World Cup winner Diego Maradona (photo Telesur)

Luis Suarez also received a nine-match international suspension and a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs.

Writing on his personal website, Giorgio Chiellini, 29, said: “I have always considered unequivocal the disciplinary interventions by the competent bodies but, at the same time, I believe that the proposed formula is excessive.

“Now inside me there’s no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that’s done. There only remains the anger and the disappointment about the match.

“At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period.”

Former Argentina captain and coach Diego Maradona declared his support for Luis Suarez on his television show De Zurda on Thursday night.

“The FIFA sanction is shameful, they have no sensitivity towards the fans, they might as well handcuff him and throw him in Guantanamo,” said Diego Maradona, who was wearing a T-shirt bearing the message, “Luis, we are with you”.

“It hurts that they have cut short the career of a lad who is a winner. It’s an excessive suspension, FIFA cannot talk about morals to anyone.

“Suarez didn’t kill anyone. This is an unjust punishment, the act of an incredible mafia.”

Diego Maradona interviewed Uruguay’s president Jose Mujica during the program, broadcast on Telesur TV.

“We Uruguayans are full of anger, those coming from below do not understand anything,” said Jose Mujica.

“We kicked out Italy and England, no doubt they lost a lot of money.”

Jose Mujica claimed FIFA used “a different standard” to judge certain countries.

“That’s what hurts and angers us the most,” he added.

Uruguay will play Colombia in the last 16 on Saturday after qualifying from Group D behind Costa Rica.

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Smartphone reflects owner’s personal microbial world

Kathryn R. Bown
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Smartphone reflects owner’s personal microbial world

According to US scientists, smartphones reflect the personal microbial world of their owners.

A new study suggests that more than 80% of the common bacteria that make up our personal bacterial “fingerprints” end up on their screens.

Personal possessions, such as phones, might be useful for tracking the spread of bacteria, they report in PeerJ.

They reflect our microbiome – the trillions of different micro-organisms that live in and on our bodies.

Mobile phone users have been found to touch their devices on average 150 times a day.

Scientists have found an overlap between the collection of micro-organisms naturally present on our bodies and those on the screens of smartphones.

They say this could one day be used to track people’s exposure to bacteria.

In the study, biologists from the University of Oregon sequenced the DNA of microbes found on the index fingers and thumbs of 17 people.

More than 80 percent of the common bacteria that make up our personal bacterial fingerprints end up on smartphones screens
More than 80 percent of the common bacteria that make up our personal bacterial fingerprints end up on smartphones screens

They also took swabs of the subjects’ smartphones.

A total of 7,000 different types of bacteria were found in 51 samples.

On average, 22% of bacterial families overlapped on fingers and phones.

Some 82% of the most common bacteria present on participants’ fingers were also found on their phones.

They included three families that are commonly found on the skin or in the mouth – Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium.

Men and women both shared bacteria with their phones, but the connection was stronger in women.

Lead researcher Dr. James Meadow said while the sample size was small, the findings were “revealing”.

“This project was a proof-of-concept to see if our favorite and most closely held possessions microbially resemble us,” he said.

“We are ultimately interested in the possibility of using personal effects as a non-invasive way to monitor our health and our contact with the surrounding environment.”

The researchers say there is no evidence that mobile phones present any more infection risk than any other possession.

However, they say our phones might one day be used to study whether people have been exposed to certain bacteria, particularly healthcare workers.

The study confirms that “we share more than an emotional connection with our phones – they carry our personal microbiome”, Dr. James Meadow added.

There is increasing scientific interest in the human microbiome – the population of trillions of micro-organisms that live in our gut, mouth, skin and elsewhere on our bodies.

Bacteria can be harmful but they can also have beneficial effects, particularly in the gut, by digesting food and making essential nutrients and vitamins.

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EU signs partnership agreements with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia

Diane A. Wade
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EU signs partnership agreements with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia

Ex-USSR states Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have signed partnership agreements with the EU, in a move strongly opposed by Russia.

The pact – which would bind the three countries more closely to the West both economically and politically – is at the heart of the crisis in Ukraine.

Russia said that while the signing of the deal was the right of any state there could be grave consequences.

A ceasefire with pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine is due to end on Friday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed the signing as Ukraine’s most historic day since independence in 1991, describing it as a “symbol of faith and unbreakable will”.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed the signing of the partnership agreement with the EU
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed the signing of the partnership agreement with the EU (photo Reuters)

Petro Poroshenko also said he saw the signing as the start of preparations for joining the bloc.

“Ukraine is underlining its sovereign choice in favor of membership of the EU,” he said.

Meanwhile European Council President Herman van Rompuy described it as a “great day for Europe”.

“The EU stands by your side, today more than ever before,” he told leaders of the three countries, adding that there was nothing in the agreements that might harm Russia in any way.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told Interfax news agency that the move was fraught with difficulties.

“The signing of this serious document is, certainly, a sovereign right of each state,” he said.

“[But] the consequences of the signing by Ukraine and Moldova no doubt, will be serious.”

Earlier senior Kremlin adviser Sergei Glazyev described Petro Poroshenko as a “Nazi” and said his presidency was illegitimate because parts of Ukraine did not vote in the May elections.

Sergei Glazyev also said that Petro Poroshenko had no constitutional right to sign the treaty, which would damage the Ukrainian economy.

However, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that Sergei Glazyev’s comments did not reflect the official Kremlin position.

Petro Poroshenko’s predecessor Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign the deal under pressure from Russia and protests led to his overthrow.

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EU Summit 2014: Jean-Claude Juncker expected to be confirmed as next president of European Commission

Diane A. Wade
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EU Summit 2014: Jean-Claude Juncker expected to be confirmed as next president of European Commission

EU Summit in Brussels is expected to confirm former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission.

The move comes despite strong opposition from the UK.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron believes Jean-Claude Juncker is too much in favor of closer political union and might block EU reform.

He also objects to the way Jean-Claude Juncker, a 59-year-old veteran of Brussels deal-making, was put forward.

EU Summit in Brussels is expected to confirm former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission
EU Summit in Brussels is expected to confirm former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission

Jean-Claude Juncker was lead candidate of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), which won last month’s European elections.

The UK Conservatives – who pulled out of the EPP – suspect that the Commission is being politicized in a power grab by the European Parliament.

However, Jean-Claude Juncker’s supporters value his record of consensus-building and commitment to EU integration.

Under new EU treaty rules the leaders have to take account of the European election result when nominating a Commission chief. The parliament will vote on the nominee next month.

David Cameron is seeking an unprecedented vote on the appointment, which is usually made by consensus.

But his bid to block Jean-Claude Juncker suffered a major setback this week when his allies changed tack.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had given David Cameron hope after agreeing to a vote on the issue if there was no consensus.

But both the Netherlands and Sweden – normally close to UK positions in Europe – have since said they will back Jean-Claude Juncker.

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Courteney Cox engaged to Snow Patrol guitarist Johnny McDaid

Lisa.Felice
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Courteney Cox engaged to Snow Patrol guitarist Johnny McDaid

Courteney Cox is engaged to Snow Patrol’s guitarist Johnny McDaid, the couple reveled on their Twitter accounts.

Johnny McDaid and Courteney Cox posted an announcement simultaneously on their individual Twitter accounts, using the same picture and the captions: “I’m engaged to her” and “I’m engaged to him”.

Johnny McDaid and Courteney Cox posted an engagement announcement simultaneously on their individual Twitter accounts
Johnny McDaid and Courteney Cox posted an engagement announcement simultaneously on their individual Twitter accounts (photo Twitter)

An engagement was first rumored in April.

Courteney Cox was spotted wearing a diamond ring on her engagement finger at the premiere of Just Before I Go.

Johnny McDaid, 37, met Courteney Cox last year through mutual friend Ed Sheeran.

The singer predicted that the couple would marry after they moved in together.

Former Friends actress Courteney Cox, who has just celebrated her 50th birthday, is 13 year older than her new fiancé.

Courteney Cox finalized her divorce from ex-husband David Arquette in May 2013 just before their 14th wedding anniversary. The former couple share custody of their 10-year-old daughter Coco.

Glastonbury 2014: Kaiser Chiefs to open festival

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2014: Kaiser Chiefs to open festival

This year’s Glastonbury festival is kicked off by Kaiser Chiefs on Friday.

The Leeds band plays an unadvertised set on The Other Stage at 11:00 BST, 12 hours before their main show on the John Peel Stage.

Blondie, Lily Allen, Rudimental and Paolo Nutini are also on Friday’s line-up.

Canadian band Arcade Fire tops the bill, playing the main Pyramid Stage at the end of the day.

Revelers have been gathering on Somerset’s Worthy Farm since Tuesday. About 85,000 had arrived by Thursday evening, with 75,000 more due by Friday night.

Tragedy hit the site on Wednesday when a 67-year-old woman died in her sleep.

This year’s Glastonbury festival is kicked off by Kaiser Chiefs
This year’s Glastonbury festival is kicked off by Kaiser Chiefs (photo Getty Images)

Police said the festival-goer died in her tent overnight, from what they believed to be natural causes.

The 900-acre site saw its first drop of rain on Thursday afternoon. By early evening, the paths and fields were muddy underfoot, but worse is to come.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Saturday, with thunder and lightning predicted in the south-west of England.

However, festival organizer Michael Eavis was more optimistic.

The 78-year-old, who established the festival on his dairy farm in 1970, is now a celebrity in his own right – constantly asked to shake hands and pose for photographs as he inspects the site.

Arcade Fire take to the stage at 22:00 BST.

Ahead of the show, guitarist Richard Reed-Parry said the band “may have Somerset artists” on stage with them.

The annals of rock history do not list Somerset as a source of tremendous inspiration – leaving Arcade Fire to choose from the likes of Kula Shaker, Reef and, perhaps most excitingly of all, The Wurzels.

But Glastonbury is, as ever, a hotbed of rumors. Whispers are circulating that David Bowie and Jonathan Ross, who both appear on Arcade Fire’s new album, will take to the stage on Friday.

Fans are also speculating that Coldplay, The Libertines and Radiohead could make impromptu appearances.

And in the Tipi field, one reveler swore blind that Metallica’s place at the top of the bill on Saturday was an impressive bluff – with funk-rock superstar Prince destined to take their place.

Back in the real world, Mumford and Sons – who closed the festival last year – have announced a special “mini-festival” in the Avalon Cafe, situated in the remote Avalon field, on Saturday.

Other acts confirmed for the rest of the weekend include Dolly Parton, Lana Del Rey, Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding.

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Shia LaBeouf arrested at New York’s Studio 54 theater

Lisa.Felice
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Shia LaBeouf arrested at New York’s Studio 54 theater

Shia LaBeouf has been arrested at a performance of the musical Cabaret in New York.

Shia LaBeouf, 28, was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass following a disturbance at New York’s Studio 54 theater on Thursday.

The actor was escorted out of the theatre and taken into custody by New York police after refusing to go when asked to do so by security guards.

A police spokesman said: “The incident occurred at Studio 54 during Cabaret at around 9pm [ET]. He was acting disorderly, yelling and being loud, and is currently being held at the Midtown North police station.”

Shia LaBeouf was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass following a disturbance at New York's Studio 54 theater
Shia LaBeouf was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass following a disturbance at New York’s Studio 54 theater (photo Getty Images)

“He will be taken to jail tonight and will then have to appear in court.”

Broadway songwriter Benj Pasek tweeted that he saw Shia LaBeouf “in handcuffs in tears surrounded by 6 police officers outside of CABARET the musical”.

“He was being rather difficult and combative, verbally… to the point where security guards asked him to please leave the premises and he refused,” NYPD’s George Tsourovakas said.

“Police were called and he was detained and arrested.”

Shia LaBeouf – whose films include Transformers, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps – walked out of a news conference for Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

He later appeared on the red carpet with a paper bag on his head, on which was written: “I am not famous anymore.”

A month previously the actor had tweeted that he was quitting “public life”.

“In light of the recent attacks against my artistic integrity, I am retiring from all public life,” Shia LaBeouf wrote in January.

The latest incident comes ahead of the release of Transformers: Age of Extinction, the first in the Michael Bay robot series not to star Shia LaBeouf.

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Japan inflation rate hits 32-year high in May 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan inflation rate hits 32-year high in May 2014

Japan’s inflation rose at an annual rate of 3.4% in May 2014, the fastest pace in 32 years, as the effect of the sales tax hike started to be felt.

Japan raised its sales tax rate from 5% to 8% on April 1.

The price growth in May follows a 3.2% jump in April and is a big boost for Japan’s attempt to trigger inflation.

Japan has been battling deflation, or falling prices, for best part of the past two decades and that has hurt domestic demand and stifled growth.

Japan’s inflation rose at an annual rate of 3.4 percent in May 2014, the fastest pace in 32 years
Japan’s inflation rose at an annual rate of 3.4 percent in May 2014, the fastest pace in 32 years (photo Getty Images)

The Japanese government has taken various steps over the past few months to try and reverse this trend, and the country’s central bank has set a target of a 2% inflation rate.

The measures, which include boosting the country’s money supply, have started to have an impact and consumer prices in the country have now risen for 12 months in a row.

Policymakers have been hoping that once prices start to rise, consumers and business will be encouraged to start spending and not hold back on purchases, as they may have to pay more later on.

The tax hike in April was the first in 17 years.

The increase comes as Japan is facing rising social welfare costs due to an ageing population.

At the same time, Japan is trying to rein in its public debt – which at nearly 230% of its gross domestic product (GDP) is the highest among industrialized nations.

The tax hike is expected to help ease some of the financial burden of the government.

At the same time, the increase may also help to trigger inflation as businesses pass on the hike to consumers, resulting in increased prices of goods.

Some analysts said that the inflation data of the past two months indicated that so far businesses had been doing that.

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India: GAIL pipeline explosion kills at least 14 in Andhra Pradesh

Nancy Clayson
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India: GAIL pipeline explosion kills at least 14 in Andhra Pradesh

A pipeline carrying gas exploded in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh killing at least 14 people, a senior minister has said.

Flames could be seen erupting from a pipeline of the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) in East Godavari district early on Friday.

At least 10 people were injured. It is not clear what caused the blast.

Flames could be seen erupting from a pipeline of the Gas Authority of India Limited in East Godavari district
Flames could be seen erupting from a pipeline of the Gas Authority of India Limited in East Godavari district (photo TV9)

GAIL is India’s largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company.

The company chairman BC Tripathi told the Press Trust of India that the fire occurred in an 18-inch pipeline of the company near a refinery run by the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Commission in Nagaram village.

“The reasons for the accident are not known yet. We are currently focused on rescue and relief operations,” he said.

Neetu Kumari Prasad, a senior official of the East Godavari district, said the fire, which has also gutted scores of houses, had been brought under control and the death toll could rise.

GAIL operates a 6,840-mile natural gas pipeline network and seven gas processing units across India. The company is also involved in petrochemicals, exploration, city gas distribution and wind and solar power.

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Mariam Ibrahim freed again from Sudan jail

Diane A. Wade
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Mariam Ibrahim freed again from Sudan jail

Mariam Ibrahim, whose death sentence for renouncing Islam was overturned in Sudan, has been released from jail again, after she was detained at Khartoum airport on Tuesday.

Mariam Ibrahim’s lawyer, Muhannad Mustafa, said that she was currently in the US embassy with her family.

She had been detained on charges of falsifying ID documents.

Mariam Ibrahim was first released on June 23 when an appeals court lifted her death sentence for renouncing Islam.

Her sentencing in May to hang for apostasy sparked an outcry at home and around the world.

Mariam Ibrahim has been charged with forgery relating to the South Sudanese travel document she was carrying
Mariam Ibrahim has been charged with forgery relating to the South Sudanese travel document she was carrying

Mariam Ibrahim, 27, had been held at a police station in the capital, since Tuesday, when she was prevented from leaving the country along with her husband, Daniel Wani, and their two children.

Daniel Wani is a Christian from South Sudan and is a US citizen.

She had reportedly planned to travel to the US with her family.

According to Reuters news agency, quoting her lawyer, Mariam Ibrahim was released on the condition that she remains in Sudan.

“Mariam was released after a guarantor was found, but, of course, she would not be able to leave the country,” Muhannad Mustafa said.

Asked about her plans following her release, she said: “I will leave it to God. I didn’t even have a chance to see my family after I got out of prison.”

Mariam Ibrahim has been charged with forgery relating to the South Sudanese travel document she was carrying, and accused of providing false information.

South Sudan’s embassy in Khartoum says the emergency travel documents were issued by the South Sudan authorities and are genuine.

However, Sudanese officials say she should have used a Sudanese passport and on Wednesday Sudan’s foreign ministry summoned the US and South Sudan charges d’affaires over the issue.

The ministry criticized South Sudan for issuing travel documents “despite their knowledge that she is a Sudanese national” and condemned the US for trying to help the woman leave Sudan using an “illegal [false] travel document”, the Suna news agency reports.

Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Authority are reported to have lodged the complaint against Mariam Ibrahim.

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Barack Obama asks Congress for $500 million to fund Syrian rebels

Roy Siemens
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Barack Obama asks Congress for $500 million to fund Syrian rebels

President Barack Obama has asked the Congress to approve $500 million to fund training and equipment for what he described as “moderate” Syrian opposition forces.

The funds would help Syrians defend against forces aligned with President Bashar al-Assad, the White House said.

The aid would also counter Islamist militants such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), it added.

ISIS’s advance in neighboring Iraq has led some in Congress to press Barack Obama to take action.

Barack Obama has asked the Congress to approve $500 million to fund training and equipment for Syrian opposition forces
Barack Obama has asked the Congress to approve $500 million to fund training and equipment for Syrian opposition forces

Tens of thousands of people have died and millions more have been displaced in three years of civil war in Syria, as rebels fight troops loyal to Bashar al-Assad.

“This funding request would build on the administration’s longstanding efforts to empower the moderate Syrian opposition, both civilian and armed,” the White House said.

It will also “enable the Department of Defense to increase our support to vetted elements of the armed opposition”.

The money will help stabilize areas under opposition control and counter terrorist threats, the White House said.

The rebels that would receive the funds would be vetted beforehand in order to alleviate concerns of equipment falling into the hands of militants hostile to the US and its allies, the White House said.

President Barack Obama has been under strong pressure from some members of Congress to increase assistance in the area, although it is unclear whether and when Congress would act on his request.

Last month Barack Obama hinted at increased help for the Syrian opposition in a speech at the military academy at West Point.

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Serena Williams falls into spectator’s lap at Wimbledon 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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Serena Williams falls into spectator’s lap at Wimbledon 2014

Serena Williams went out of space during her Wimbledon double match on June 25 and fell into the lap of a spectator.

Serena Williams ran out of space during her Wimbledon double match and fell into the lap of a spectator
Serena Williams ran out of space during her Wimbledon double match and fell into the lap of a spectator

The world number one was playing with her sister Venus in their first round match against Olga Kalashnikova and Oksana Savchuk on court three.

Serena Williams laughed off her fall and got back up to carry on with the game, which they won 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

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Si and Willie Robertson face off in wood chipper competition

Sonia Pantiss
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Si and Willie Robertson face off in wood chipper competition

Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si and his nephew Willie Robertson faced off in the ultimate competition to win a wood chipper.

The June 25 episode of Duck Dynasty proved who was the manliest of men when Si and Willie Robertson faced off in a competition to win the ultimate prize: a wood chipper.

Uncle Si and his nephew Willie Robertson faced off in the ultimate competition to win a wood chipper
Uncle Si and his nephew Willie Robertson faced off in the ultimate competition to win a wood chipper (photo A&E TV)

For some reason, Mountain Man came up with the genius idea to host his own contest – “Hands on a Hardbody” – on his radio show. However, he didn’t think his plan through all the way because there was only one problem: he did not have the money to purchase a truck for the competition.

Mountain Man stopped by Willie Robertson’s office to ask for a donation, which Willie was apprehensive about at first until his wife, Korie, convinced him to hand over $1,000 to help out a friend.

The next day, Si and Willie Robertson head over to Mountain Man’s house, which unbeknownst to them was the site of the competition. To their surprise, Mountain Man decided to swap the truck in for a wood chipper as the grand prize.

When no one else showed up for the competition, Si and Willie Robertson ended up facing off with each other.

The competition came to an all time high when Uncle Si tried to psych Willie out.

Jase Robertson joined in the fun when he began to provide a running commentary about something “magical” – Willie’s tinkle dance.

In the end, Si Robertson won the wood chipper.

Jep Robertson’s daughter Lily goes on her first date

Sonia Pantiss
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Jep Robertson’s daughter Lily goes on her first date

Duck Dynasty’s Jep Robertson assumed the role of bad cop when his daughter, Lily, went on her first date with a boy from her class.

The June 25 episode of Duck Dynasty showed how Jep Robertson went into over-protective dad mode after his wife broke the news that their daughter, Lily, 11, had plans to go on her very first date.

Jep Robertson’s daughter, Lily, went on her first date with a boy from her class
Jep Robertson’s daughter, Lily, went on her first date with a boy from her class (photo A&E TV)

Jep Robertson’s wife, Jessica, told him that their daughter, Lily, had her first official boyfriend and they planned to go out on their first date, at mini golf. Jep insisted that he chaperone the date, and he quickly turned the situation into a good cop/bad cop scenario.

He joked that Lily would have to be 5′ 8″ tall before she was allowed to go on a date with any boy.

When the day of the date came, Jep Robertson complained when Lily’s date, John Daniel, arrived late. However, he made up for it later on when he bought Lily flowers, gave her his jacket when she was cold, and said that he enjoyed hunting.

By the end of the date, Jep Robertson and John Daniel seemed to have hit it off pretty well despite Jep’s premature opinions.

Ebola outbreak out of control in West Africa

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola outbreak out of control in West Africa

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “drastic action” is needed to contain the spread of deadly Ebola in West Africa.

Nearly 400 people have died in the Ebola outbreak which started in Guinea and has spread to neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia.

It is the largest outbreak in terms of cases, deaths and geographical spread.

The WHO said it was “gravely concerned” and there was potential for “further international spread”.

Nearly 400 people have died in the Ebola outbreak which started in Guinea and has spread to neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia
Nearly 400 people have died in the Ebola outbreak which started in Guinea and has spread to neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia

The Ebola outbreak started four months ago and is continuing to spread.

So far there have been more than 600 cases and around 60% of those infected with the virus have died.

Ebola, a hemorrhagic fever, has no cure and is spread by contact with the fluids of infected people or animals, such as urine, sweat and blood.

Most of the deaths have been centered in the southern Guekedou region of Guinea.

The WHO has sent 150 experts to the region to help prevent the spread of the virus but admits “there has been significant increase in the number of daily reported cases and deaths”.

Dr. Luis Sambo, the WHO’s regional director for Africa, said: “This is no longer a country-specific outbreak, but a sub-regional crisis that requires firm action.

“WHO is gravely concerned of the on-going cross-border transmission into neighboring countries as well as the potential for further international spread.

“There is an urgent need to intensify response efforts…this is the only way that the outbreak will be effectively addressed.”

The charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has already warned that the Ebola outbreak is out of control.

Ebola virus disease (EVD):

  • Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
  • Fatality rate can reach 90%
  • Incubation period is two to 21 days
  • There is no vaccine or cure
  • Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhea and vomiting can help recovery
  • Fruit bats are considered to be the natural host of the virus [youtube 2l9ung-07qU 650]

Lindsay Lohan to make stage debut in West End

Sonia Pantiss
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Lindsay Lohan to make stage debut in West End

Lindsay Lohan will make her stage debut in the West End later this year in a revival of David Mamet’s Speed-The-Plow.

Lindsay Lohan told the New York Times last week she had been in London preparing for a potential role and was “nervous but excited”.

Lindsay Lohan will make her stage debut in the West End later this year
Lindsay Lohan will make her stage debut in the West End later this year (photo Getty Images)

David Mamet’s play, which first opened on Broadway in 1988 starring Madonna, satirizes the Hollywood film industry.

It will run at the Playhouse Theatre from September 24 to November 29.

Lindsay Lohan will play the role of Karen, a temporary secretary who puts the relationship of two Hollywood producers under strain.

It will be directed by Lindsay Posner, who previously directed other David Mamet plays including Oleanna and A Life in the Theatre.

The West End production is being brought to the stage by Theatre Royal Bath, which was also behind recent West End productions Relative Values, Relatively Speaking and Fences.

Further casting will be announced later.

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Oscars 2015: New rules for music categories announced

Sonia Pantiss
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Oscars 2015: New rules for music categories announced

Academy Awards organizers have put new rules in place to ensure fair campaigning in Oscar’s music categories.

Academy members are no longer allowed to contact voters via any means to promote their song for nomination.

Members will also not be allowed to attend a live performance of eligible songs unless attached to a screening.

It comes following the disqualification in the original song category this year after it emerged a songwriter had emailed voters to consider his song.

Oscar organizers have outlined new regulations for music categories
Oscar organizers have outlined new regulations for music categories

Alone Yet Not Alone, the title track from an independent Christian-faith film, beat other high-profile contenders to secure a surprise place on the shortlist.

It was later discovered Bruce Broughton – a former Academy governor and current executive committee member – emailed at least 70 of the 240-member music branch during the nomination period to bring his song to their attention.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said at the time Broughton had undermined “the integrity of the voting process”, adding he “took advantage of information that few other potential nominees are privy to”.

Bruce Broughton denied any wrongdoing and said he was “devastated” at the disqualification of his song, which he co-wrote with Dennis Spiegel.

Four compositions were left competing for the award, which was eventually won by Let It Go – written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez – from Disney animation Frozen.

The second rule change involving the attendance of live performances is understood to address the number of concert events which were held this year to highlight songs and scores.

Such events featured Idina Menzel singing Let It Go, Pharrell Williams performing Happy and the music from Inside Llewyn Davis.

Although the events will still be permitted to take place, music branch members will not be allowed to attend.

The next Oscars will be held on February, 22 2015 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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US GDP in surprise slump in Q1 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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US GDP in surprise slump in Q1 2014

According to latest figures, the US economy suffered its worst performance for five years in Q1 2014.

The US economy shrank at an annualized rate of 2.9% in Q1 2014, the third estimate from the US Commerce Department showed.

This was worse than the previous estimate of a 1% contraction, and also worse than economists’ expectations.

However, the US economy is expected to have recorded a sharp recovery during the second quarter of the year.

The White House said the figures showed the economic recovery was still in progress, but added other indicators for April and May suggest a rebound in the second quarter.

The US economy shrank at an annualized rate of 2.9 percent in Q1 2014
The US economy shrank at an annualized rate of 2.9 percent in Q1 2014

The unusually cold weather in the first quarter of 2014 has been blamed for the poor performance of the economy.

However, the gap between the second and third estimates of US growth for the quarter was the largest on record.

The latest revision came as a result of a weaker pace of healthcare spending than previously assumed, which caused a downgrading of the consumer spending estimate.

Consumer spending – which is responsible for more than two-thirds of US economic growth – increased by 1% in the quarter, rather than the 3.1% rate as first estimated.

Trade was also a bigger drag on the economy than previously thought, with exports falling by 8.9% rather than a previously estimated 6%.

Q1 2014 figures are all the more startling as the economy grew by 2.6% in Q4 2013.

However, economists said more recent unemployment, manufacturing and service sector data all pointed to a sharp turnaround in the second quarter.

Analysts have forecast the economy could bounce back by as much as 4% in the second quarter.

Last week, the Federal Reserve cut its growth forecast for 2014 because of the harsh winter weather.

The Fed is now predicting growth of between 2.1% and 2.3% for this year, down from its March forecast of 2.8% to 3%.

However, in its accompanying statement, the central bank noted that economic activity had “rebounded in recent months”.

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Costa Rica: Luis Guillermo Solis bans cult of personality

Diane A. Wade
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Costa Rica: Luis Guillermo Solis bans cult of personality

Costa Rica’s newly elected President Luis Guillermo Solis has passed a decree banning his name being put on plaques at public works.

Luis Guillermo Solis, who was sworn in last month, also said he did not want his portrait hung in public offices, which was until now a common practice.

“The worship of the image of the president is over, at least under my government,” Luis Guillermo Solis said.

His victory made him the first third-party candidate to govern Costa Rica in more than 50 years.

Costa Rica's newly elected President Luis Guillermo Solis has passed a decree banning his name being put on plaques at public works
Costa Rica’s newly elected President Luis Guillermo Solis has passed a decree banning his name being put on plaques at public works

Luis Guillermo Solis told reporters he thought having his name on plaques marking the inauguration of construction projects such as bridges and roads gave people the wrong idea.

“The works are from the country and not from a government or a particular official,” he told reporters after signing the decree.

In future, commemorative plaques will only bear the year the project was inaugurated rather than the name of the administration, as was usual until now.

Luis Guillermo Solis – of the centre-left Citizen Action Party (PAC) – surprised everyone by taking 31% of the vote in the first round of the presidential election in February.

In the opinion polls which followed, Luis Guillermo Solis got so much support, his main rival decided to stop campaigning and effectively drop out of the race.

Nevertheless, Luis Guillermo Solis continued to campaign until the last minute on a promise to bring transparency to the presidency and eliminate unnecessary spending.

Luis Guillermo Solis won with almost 78% of the vote.

World Cup 2014: Ghana kicks out Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng for indiscipline

Clyde K. Valle
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World Cup 2014: Ghana kicks out Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng for indiscipline

Ghana’s World Cup squad has expelled players Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng for alleged indiscipline.

A statement on the Ghana Football Association website said both players had “been suspended indefinitely”.

The statement added Kevin-Prince Boateng had used “insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah” and said Sulley Muntari was guilty of an “unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member”.

The news comes just hours before Ghana take on Portugal on Thursday.

Ghana's World Cup squad has expelled Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng for alleged indiscipline
Ghana’s World Cup squad has expelled Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng for alleged indiscipline

Ghana still has an outside chance of qualifying for the knockout phase of the tournament.

The Ghana FA statement said the incident involving AC Milan’s Sulley Muntari took place on Tuesday and named Moses Armah, a member of the team management, as the man said to have been assaulted by the 29-year-old.

And Schalke 04 player Kevin-Prince Boateng, 27, was said by the Ghana FA to have shown “no remorse for his actions”, which took place during the team’s training session in Maceio on Tuesday.

Ghana’s World Cup campaign has already been blighted by a dispute over players’ appearance fees.

On Wednesday, the national government sent in excess of $3 million in a chartered plane to Brazil to pay the squad following their threat to boycott their final group match against Portugal if they did not receive their money.

To reach the last 16, Ghana need to beat Portugal and hope there is a winner of the match between Germany and US – although Ghana would also need to overtake their rivals’ superior goal difference.

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Luis Suarez biting: Four months worldwide ban and $111,000 fine

Clyde K. Valle
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Luis Suarez biting: Four months worldwide ban and $111,000 fine

FIFA has banned Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for nine matches after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.

FIFA has banned Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for nine matches after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini
FIFA has banned Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for nine matches after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini

Luis Suarez was also suspended from any football-related activity for four months and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($111,000).

The ban means Luis Suarez will not play in Uruguay’s game on Saturday.

FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer made the announcement at a news briefing in Rio de Janeiro.

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Iraq: Syria carried out air strikes on ISIS militants

Roy Siemens
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Iraq: Syria carried out air strikes on ISIS militants

Iraq’s PM Nouri al-Maliki has confirmed that Syria carried out air strikes on ISIS militants inside Iraqi territory this week.

Nouri al-Maliki said Syrian fighter jets had bombed militant positions around the border town of Qaim on Tuesday.

Syria carried out air strikes on ISIS militants inside Iraqi territory
Syria carried out air strikes on ISIS militants inside Iraqi territory

While Iraq did not ask for the raid, the prime minister added, it “welcomed” any such strike against the Islamist group ISIS.

ISIS and its Sunni Muslim allies have seized large parts of Iraq this month including the second city, Mosul.

The Iraqi government has struggled to hold back the militants’ advance from the north and west and has also been receiving support from Iran, with whom its Shia Muslim majority has close links.

The US, which also backs the government, has stressed that the militants can only be defeated by Iraq’s own forces.

Nouri al-Maliki will seek to form a new government in an effort to maintain national unity when parliament assembles again next week in Baghdad.

In another development, reports say that a unit of al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, the Nusra Front, pledged allegiance to Isis in the Syrian town of Albu Kamal, near the Iraqi border.

Until recently, the Nusra Front had been fighting in Syria against Isis, which it sees as harming its cause with its brutality and extremism.

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