Minggu, 21 Mei 2017
Venezuela protests: Man set alight as death toll rises
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused opposition protesters of setting alight a government supporter in Caracas on the 50th day of protests.
Orlando José Figuera suffered burns to 80% of his body after he was engulfed in flames. Officials said he was also stabbed in Saturday's protests.
Witnesses said the crowd had accused the man of being a thief.
On the same day, an opposition activist was shot dead, bringing the total number killed in recent protests to 48.
The attorney general's office said gunmen allegedly opened fire on the demonstrators in the western city of Valera.
Edy Alejandro Teran Aguilar died from a gunshot wound to the chest, while two others were wounded.
Protesters demanding President Maduro step down and hold elections took to the streets across the country on Saturday to mark the 50th day of the increasingly violent demonstrations which have overwhelmed the country in recent weeks.
"A person was set on fire, beaten up, stabbed... They nearly lynched him, just because he shouted out that he was a 'Chavista'," President Maduro said, referring to the ruling Socialist movement set up by his predecessor Hugo Chavez.
Speaking on his weekly TV programme, Mr Maduro described it as "a hate crime and a crime against humanity".
It is thought 46 people were injured in the demonstration in eastern Caracas where Mr Figuera, 21, was hurt.
Journalist and politician Earle Herrera said the man had been accused of being a thief, according to AFP news agency.
Venezuelan Information Minister Ernesto Villegas tweeted it was "growing insanity".
"A human being is set on fire at a 'peaceful demonstration' by the opposition in Caracas," he wrote, posting a video of the incident.
Protests have been taking place across Venezuela for seven weeks, as anger towards Mr Maduro and his government rises.
Seven in 10 people are said to oppose Mr Maduro, according to private surveys.
Despite having the world's largest known oil reserves, Venezuela is facing a shortage of many basic items, including food and medicines.
Its economy has collapsed, with inflation expected to top 700% this year, and crime is rampant.
The opposition is calling for early elections and the release of opposition politicians jailed in recent years, saying the socialist governments of Mr Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, have mismanaged the economy since coming to power in 1999.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39994965
Orlando José Figuera suffered burns to 80% of his body after he was engulfed in flames. Officials said he was also stabbed in Saturday's protests.
Witnesses said the crowd had accused the man of being a thief.
On the same day, an opposition activist was shot dead, bringing the total number killed in recent protests to 48.
The attorney general's office said gunmen allegedly opened fire on the demonstrators in the western city of Valera.
Edy Alejandro Teran Aguilar died from a gunshot wound to the chest, while two others were wounded.
Protesters demanding President Maduro step down and hold elections took to the streets across the country on Saturday to mark the 50th day of the increasingly violent demonstrations which have overwhelmed the country in recent weeks.
"A person was set on fire, beaten up, stabbed... They nearly lynched him, just because he shouted out that he was a 'Chavista'," President Maduro said, referring to the ruling Socialist movement set up by his predecessor Hugo Chavez.
Speaking on his weekly TV programme, Mr Maduro described it as "a hate crime and a crime against humanity".
It is thought 46 people were injured in the demonstration in eastern Caracas where Mr Figuera, 21, was hurt.
Journalist and politician Earle Herrera said the man had been accused of being a thief, according to AFP news agency.
Venezuelan Information Minister Ernesto Villegas tweeted it was "growing insanity".
"A human being is set on fire at a 'peaceful demonstration' by the opposition in Caracas," he wrote, posting a video of the incident.
Protests have been taking place across Venezuela for seven weeks, as anger towards Mr Maduro and his government rises.
Seven in 10 people are said to oppose Mr Maduro, according to private surveys.
Despite having the world's largest known oil reserves, Venezuela is facing a shortage of many basic items, including food and medicines.
Its economy has collapsed, with inflation expected to top 700% this year, and crime is rampant.
The opposition is calling for early elections and the release of opposition politicians jailed in recent years, saying the socialist governments of Mr Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, have mismanaged the economy since coming to power in 1999.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39994965
Label: doctor, family, health, news, politic, protest
Sydney siege: Families criticise 'outrageous' police tactics
Relatives of two hostages who died in the Sydney siege have criticised police over their handling of the incident.
In December 2014, self-styled Islamist Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage inside a Lindt cafe in the city centre.
Heavily armed police stormed the building 17 hours later after Monis shot cafe manager Tori Johnson.
A subsequent inquest was on Sunday labelled a "witch hunt" by the police union, but victims' families said police tactics had put lives in danger.
The relatives said they were shocked by revelations that police had planned to intervene only if the gunman killed or injured someone.
"I'll never be able understand how you can make a calculated decision that you wait for someone to die," Mr Johnson's mother, Rosie Connellan, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) in a programme to be broadcast on Monday.
New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes will hand down his findings into the 18-month inquest on Wednesday.
Monis was shot dead by police during the raid, while another hostage, Katrina Dawson, was killed by stray bullet fragments fired by police.
The inquest aimed to establish whether deaths were avoidable and if it should have been treated as a terrorist event.
How the Sydney siege unfolded
A gunman enters the cafe early on 15 December 2014 and has a coffee before holding a gun to manager Tori Johnson's head.
The gunman is identified as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian self-styled Muslim cleric given asylum in Australia.
Monis already faces a string of criminal charges, including sexual assault and being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
Several hostages manage to escape the cafe which is surrounded by hundreds of armed police.
Police commandos storm the cafe in the early hours of 16 December, after Monis shoots Mr Johnson dead.
Monis and cafe customer Katrina Dawson die in the police operation.
Relatives of Ms Dawson, a barrister and cafe customer, said the police tactics were "outrageous".
"The idea that we had to wait for somebody to be killed or seriously injured before the police would act was staggering," her brother, Angus Dawson, told the ABC.
The barrister's mother, Jane Dawson, said: "They should be saving them from death or serious injury."
Mr Johnson's partner, Thomas Zinn, said he had lost faith in police because of their "great level of incompetence" during the incident.
It is the first time the families have publicly criticised police, aside from when Mr Johnson's parents stormed out of the inquest during one testimony.
However, New South Wales Police Association acting chief Tony King said the inquest had scrutinised police officers "as if they were on trial".
"For some lawyers the focus appeared to be not just to attribute blame but moral culpability, twisting words to belittle experienced officers," he wrote in a long post on Medium.
Mr King said they should instead be thanked for putting their lives on the line.
Questions about why police snipers did not attempt to shoot Monis were heavily discussed during the inquest.
A police commander in charge of the operation had previously said the siege had the hallmarks of a domestic incident rather than terrorism, despite the fact that Monis asked to be given a flag of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group.
He said he had been advised by a psychiatrist that the siege was "final posturing" by Monis in order to gain some "street cred" before a likely jail sentence.
Monis had been facing dozens of sexual assault charges plus charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39971237
In December 2014, self-styled Islamist Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage inside a Lindt cafe in the city centre.
Heavily armed police stormed the building 17 hours later after Monis shot cafe manager Tori Johnson.
A subsequent inquest was on Sunday labelled a "witch hunt" by the police union, but victims' families said police tactics had put lives in danger.
The relatives said they were shocked by revelations that police had planned to intervene only if the gunman killed or injured someone.
"I'll never be able understand how you can make a calculated decision that you wait for someone to die," Mr Johnson's mother, Rosie Connellan, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) in a programme to be broadcast on Monday.
New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes will hand down his findings into the 18-month inquest on Wednesday.
Monis was shot dead by police during the raid, while another hostage, Katrina Dawson, was killed by stray bullet fragments fired by police.
The inquest aimed to establish whether deaths were avoidable and if it should have been treated as a terrorist event.
How the Sydney siege unfolded
A gunman enters the cafe early on 15 December 2014 and has a coffee before holding a gun to manager Tori Johnson's head.
The gunman is identified as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian self-styled Muslim cleric given asylum in Australia.
Monis already faces a string of criminal charges, including sexual assault and being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
Several hostages manage to escape the cafe which is surrounded by hundreds of armed police.
Police commandos storm the cafe in the early hours of 16 December, after Monis shoots Mr Johnson dead.
Monis and cafe customer Katrina Dawson die in the police operation.
Relatives of Ms Dawson, a barrister and cafe customer, said the police tactics were "outrageous".
"The idea that we had to wait for somebody to be killed or seriously injured before the police would act was staggering," her brother, Angus Dawson, told the ABC.
The barrister's mother, Jane Dawson, said: "They should be saving them from death or serious injury."
Mr Johnson's partner, Thomas Zinn, said he had lost faith in police because of their "great level of incompetence" during the incident.
It is the first time the families have publicly criticised police, aside from when Mr Johnson's parents stormed out of the inquest during one testimony.
However, New South Wales Police Association acting chief Tony King said the inquest had scrutinised police officers "as if they were on trial".
"For some lawyers the focus appeared to be not just to attribute blame but moral culpability, twisting words to belittle experienced officers," he wrote in a long post on Medium.
Mr King said they should instead be thanked for putting their lives on the line.
Questions about why police snipers did not attempt to shoot Monis were heavily discussed during the inquest.
A police commander in charge of the operation had previously said the siege had the hallmarks of a domestic incident rather than terrorism, despite the fact that Monis asked to be given a flag of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group.
He said he had been advised by a psychiatrist that the siege was "final posturing" by Monis in order to gain some "street cred" before a likely jail sentence.
Monis had been facing dozens of sexual assault charges plus charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39971237
Label: crime, doctor, family, health, law, news
Billionaire makes 'biggest philanthropic gift' by living Australian
Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest and his wife, Nicola, have announced they will give A$400m (£229m; $298m) to charity.
PM Malcolm Turnbull said the donation was "the biggest single philanthropic gift" in the nation's history, and the largest by a living Australian.
The money will fund causes including cancer research, university education and ending indigenous disadvantage.
The Fortescue Metals chairman has a history of philanthropy.
"I have been very fortunate, with my wife, Nicola, to be able to accumulate capital, and then as soon as we can to commence giving it away," said Mr Forrest, who is estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of almost A$5.8bn.
"We had a slightly unsustainable business model previously, where we would actually borrow money to give it away. Fortunately, we don't have to do that now, thanks to the strength of the iron ore sector."
Who is Andrew Forrest?
A 55-year-old entrepreneur, Mr Forrest graduated from the University of Western Australia with an economics degree in 1983.
Known by his schoolboy nickname "Twiggy", he started his first mining business in 1994 and founded iron ore company Fortescue nine years later.
Mr Forrest was once Australia's richest man, with his wealth peaking in 2008 during the nation's mining boom.
In 2013, he pledged at least 50% of his wealth to charity after joining the Giving Pledge campaign launched by US billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
How will the donations be spent?
Mr Turnbull described the donation as an "extraordinary act", and said it would be spent in various ways:
PM Malcolm Turnbull said the donation was "the biggest single philanthropic gift" in the nation's history, and the largest by a living Australian.
The money will fund causes including cancer research, university education and ending indigenous disadvantage.
The Fortescue Metals chairman has a history of philanthropy.
"I have been very fortunate, with my wife, Nicola, to be able to accumulate capital, and then as soon as we can to commence giving it away," said Mr Forrest, who is estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of almost A$5.8bn.
"We had a slightly unsustainable business model previously, where we would actually borrow money to give it away. Fortunately, we don't have to do that now, thanks to the strength of the iron ore sector."
Who is Andrew Forrest?
A 55-year-old entrepreneur, Mr Forrest graduated from the University of Western Australia with an economics degree in 1983.
Known by his schoolboy nickname "Twiggy", he started his first mining business in 1994 and founded iron ore company Fortescue nine years later.
Mr Forrest was once Australia's richest man, with his wealth peaking in 2008 during the nation's mining boom.
In 2013, he pledged at least 50% of his wealth to charity after joining the Giving Pledge campaign launched by US billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
How will the donations be spent?
Mr Turnbull described the donation as an "extraordinary act", and said it would be spent in various ways:
- A$75m would go to international cancer institutes;
- A$75m to end modern slavery;
- A$75m to university education and research;
- A$75m to childhood education;
- A$50m to "create equal opportunities for all Australians";
- A$50m to "build stronger communities".
"It will change the lives of thousands of people here in Australia and around the world," Mr Turnbull said at a briefing in Canberra.
"All of us should seek to do as much as we can with what we have. So, this is real leadership and leading by example."
Others who have made large philanthropic offers include Indian tech billionaire Azim Premji, Irish-American businessman Chuck Feeney and Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39971238
Sabtu, 20 Mei 2017
General election 2017: Two million apply to register to vote
More than two million people have applied to register to vote in the month since Theresa May announced plans for a snap general election on 8 June.
The highest number of applications so far was on 18 April, the day the prime minister made her announcement, when just over 150,000 people applied.
The number of young people registering is the highest of any age group.
The deadline to register online through the official website is 23.59 GMT on Monday 22 May.
The latest official figures published in March, before the election was called, showed that 45.7 million people were registered to vote in a general election as of 1 December 2016.
The Electoral Commission have warned that approximately seven million people across Britain who are eligible to vote are not registered, including 30% of under 34s while only 28% of home movers in the past year have registered.
Anyone wanting to vote on 8 June who is not already on the electoral register needs to sign up. It takes five minutes to register online if you live in England, Wales or Scotland. Alternatively, people can fill out and return a written form by post.
Spike expected
People are advised they may need their National Insurance number or their passport if they are a British citizen living abroad.
If you live in Northern Ireland you must fill in a form and take it to your local electoral office.
Since 18 April, 2.014 million people have signed up to vote although it has yet to be confirmed how many have been added to the electoral register.
Although the number of people applying has dropped off a little after an initial flurry in mid-April, there are still significant numbers of voters making sure they can have their say at the ballot box.
In six out of the past seven days, applications have exceeded 100,000. Of those applying to vote each day, nearly 40% have been under-25s, although people of all ages have been signing up.
The 150,364 people who applied to register on 18 April was the biggest total recorded for a single day since the EU referendum campaign in 2016.
There is expected to be a spike of applications in the run-up to Monday's deadline.
In 2015, 500,000 people applied to vote on deadline day while registration for the EU referendum in 2016 had to be extended by 48 hours after the website crashed in the final few hours.
Both Instagram and Snapchat will be carrying prominent reminders of the deadline on Monday in order to encourage their users to sign up.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/39987278
The highest number of applications so far was on 18 April, the day the prime minister made her announcement, when just over 150,000 people applied.
The number of young people registering is the highest of any age group.
The deadline to register online through the official website is 23.59 GMT on Monday 22 May.
The latest official figures published in March, before the election was called, showed that 45.7 million people were registered to vote in a general election as of 1 December 2016.
The Electoral Commission have warned that approximately seven million people across Britain who are eligible to vote are not registered, including 30% of under 34s while only 28% of home movers in the past year have registered.
Anyone wanting to vote on 8 June who is not already on the electoral register needs to sign up. It takes five minutes to register online if you live in England, Wales or Scotland. Alternatively, people can fill out and return a written form by post.
Spike expected
People are advised they may need their National Insurance number or their passport if they are a British citizen living abroad.
If you live in Northern Ireland you must fill in a form and take it to your local electoral office.
Since 18 April, 2.014 million people have signed up to vote although it has yet to be confirmed how many have been added to the electoral register.
Although the number of people applying has dropped off a little after an initial flurry in mid-April, there are still significant numbers of voters making sure they can have their say at the ballot box.
In six out of the past seven days, applications have exceeded 100,000. Of those applying to vote each day, nearly 40% have been under-25s, although people of all ages have been signing up.
The 150,364 people who applied to register on 18 April was the biggest total recorded for a single day since the EU referendum campaign in 2016.
There is expected to be a spike of applications in the run-up to Monday's deadline.
In 2015, 500,000 people applied to vote on deadline day while registration for the EU referendum in 2016 had to be extended by 48 hours after the website crashed in the final few hours.
Both Instagram and Snapchat will be carrying prominent reminders of the deadline on Monday in order to encourage their users to sign up.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/39987278
Label: family, health, law, news, politic
Chibok girls: 82 reunited with families in Nigeria
A group of the "Chibok girls" freed from Nigeria's Boko Haram militants have been reunited with their families.
The 82 girls, who were part of a huge group kidnapped from their school in 2014, are in the care of security services in the capital, Abuja.
Their parents travelled by bus through the night to meet their daughters.
More than 100 of the 276 girls, taken from the town of Chibok, are still being held by the militant group. Their whereabouts are unknown.
The reunion in Abuja had a celebratory atmosphere, with music and dance.
The BBC's Alistair Leithead says the girls were already dancing when their parents got off the bus and raced towards them, in an emotional reunion.
The 82 young women were only freed two weeks earlier in exchange for five Boko Haram militants.
The most recent group freed was supposed to have 83 girls - but one refused to leave, saying she was happy and had found a husband, a Nigerian government spokesman said.
The freed girls remain in government care - under the eye of security services who are questioning them about their time spent as captives.
After the girls were abducted from their school in April 2014, a massive global awareness campaign began, using the Twitter hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.
The Chibok girls represent a fraction of the women captured by the militant group, estimates for which number in the thousands.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39987271
Label: child, crime, family, health, news
Pippa Middleton wedding: Royals and celebrities at ceremony
Guests including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews.
Miss Middleton, 33, who is the younger sister of the duchess, married 41-year-old Mr Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire.
The bride was accompanied by her father, Michael, as they arrived shortly after 11:15 BST for the 45-minute ceremony.
The church is a few miles from the Middleton family home in Bucklebury.
There was strict security in place on the estate, with villagers being asked to carry ID on the day, and asked not to speak to the press.
But the bride received a rousing cheer from around 100 royal fans and residents as she arrived.
Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie, and Roger Federer and his wife Mirka were among the guests at the church.
The heavy downpour that started minutes after the beginning of the service ended a few moments before the church doors opened.
Wedding bells rang out just before 12.30 BST as the new husband and wife walked hand in hand along the church path.
Guests filed out and walked to nearby Englefield House, where it is believed a champagne reception is being held.
Miss Middleton wore a bespoke Giles Deacon dress, said to be crafted to create the impression of being seamless.
The dress was teamed with a Stephen Jones veil, a Maidenhair Fern tiara, and Manolo Blahnik ivory satin shoes.
David Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana's wedding dress and hosts Say Yes to the Dress UK, called the gown "simple and pretty".
"I predicted it would be soft and pretty and very English, which it is," he said.
The bride's nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were page boy and flower girl.
Actress Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's girlfriend, is also reportedly in the UK but was not seen among the guests at the church.
The BBC's Adele Tobe in Englefield
Pippa Middleton was driven to St Mark's Church alongside her father in a vintage 1951 Jaguar car. They shared a few words and then walked up to the church door to be greeted by the very excited bridesmaids and pageboys which included Princess Charlotte and Prince George.
A group of local well-wishers were allowed to come close to the church and were able to see all the guests arrive - including tennis star, Roger Federer.
Less than an hour later, the pair left the church as husband and wife.
They posed for photographs before leading their guests - by foot - through the park back to Englefield House for a reception, before carrying on to their party at Pippa's parents' house in Bucklebury.
The best man was reality TV star Spencer Matthews, the groom's 28-year-old younger brother.
Miss Middleton's diamond engagement ring is reported to have cost £250,000 - nearly 10 times the budget for the average wedding day.
But details of the couple's wedding bands have not been revealed.
Englefield resident Elizabeth Mary Reeves sported a silver wristband with the wedding date 20.05.17 printed on, given exclusively to locals who were let into the private church grounds to get a better look.
She said of the bride: "She stood and waved and looked just lovely. As all brides do, they glow, no matter how expensive their dress is.
"She looked absolutely beautiful."
The 68-year-old, whose daughter and son married at the same church, said the bride and groom looked "very happy" as they waved to the small crowd gathered on the church green.
"(Prince) George was waving, (Princess) Charlotte was waving and Kate stooped next to them.
"I just love it. I think it's so good for the village, so good for the country, and it just gives it a happy mood and we need a happy mood."
After the ceremony, guests will celebrate the marriage in a large glass marquee, erected on the Middleton family's property.
Among the members of the public who gathered in the village was Meryl Elizabeth Evans, from south Wales.
"It's a nice atmosphere, everybody's friendly, it's just a nice country feel to it," she said.
"We've met people from around the world, and the camera crews are from everywhere. It is the wedding of the year, isn't it?"
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39984752
Miss Middleton, 33, who is the younger sister of the duchess, married 41-year-old Mr Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire.
The bride was accompanied by her father, Michael, as they arrived shortly after 11:15 BST for the 45-minute ceremony.
The church is a few miles from the Middleton family home in Bucklebury.
There was strict security in place on the estate, with villagers being asked to carry ID on the day, and asked not to speak to the press.
But the bride received a rousing cheer from around 100 royal fans and residents as she arrived.
Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie, and Roger Federer and his wife Mirka were among the guests at the church.
The heavy downpour that started minutes after the beginning of the service ended a few moments before the church doors opened.
Wedding bells rang out just before 12.30 BST as the new husband and wife walked hand in hand along the church path.
Guests filed out and walked to nearby Englefield House, where it is believed a champagne reception is being held.
Miss Middleton wore a bespoke Giles Deacon dress, said to be crafted to create the impression of being seamless.
The dress was teamed with a Stephen Jones veil, a Maidenhair Fern tiara, and Manolo Blahnik ivory satin shoes.
David Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana's wedding dress and hosts Say Yes to the Dress UK, called the gown "simple and pretty".
"I predicted it would be soft and pretty and very English, which it is," he said.
The bride's nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were page boy and flower girl.
Actress Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's girlfriend, is also reportedly in the UK but was not seen among the guests at the church.
The BBC's Adele Tobe in Englefield
Pippa Middleton was driven to St Mark's Church alongside her father in a vintage 1951 Jaguar car. They shared a few words and then walked up to the church door to be greeted by the very excited bridesmaids and pageboys which included Princess Charlotte and Prince George.
A group of local well-wishers were allowed to come close to the church and were able to see all the guests arrive - including tennis star, Roger Federer.
Less than an hour later, the pair left the church as husband and wife.
They posed for photographs before leading their guests - by foot - through the park back to Englefield House for a reception, before carrying on to their party at Pippa's parents' house in Bucklebury.
The best man was reality TV star Spencer Matthews, the groom's 28-year-old younger brother.
Miss Middleton's diamond engagement ring is reported to have cost £250,000 - nearly 10 times the budget for the average wedding day.
But details of the couple's wedding bands have not been revealed.
Englefield resident Elizabeth Mary Reeves sported a silver wristband with the wedding date 20.05.17 printed on, given exclusively to locals who were let into the private church grounds to get a better look.
She said of the bride: "She stood and waved and looked just lovely. As all brides do, they glow, no matter how expensive their dress is.
"She looked absolutely beautiful."
The 68-year-old, whose daughter and son married at the same church, said the bride and groom looked "very happy" as they waved to the small crowd gathered on the church green.
"(Prince) George was waving, (Princess) Charlotte was waving and Kate stooped next to them.
"I just love it. I think it's so good for the village, so good for the country, and it just gives it a happy mood and we need a happy mood."
After the ceremony, guests will celebrate the marriage in a large glass marquee, erected on the Middleton family's property.
Among the members of the public who gathered in the village was Meryl Elizabeth Evans, from south Wales.
"It's a nice atmosphere, everybody's friendly, it's just a nice country feel to it," she said.
"We've met people from around the world, and the camera crews are from everywhere. It is the wedding of the year, isn't it?"
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39984752
Kamis, 18 Mei 2017
Roger Ailes: Fox News founder dies at 77
The ex-chairman and founder of Fox News Roger Ailes has died aged 77, his family says.
A statement from his wife Elizabeth said she was "profoundly sad and heartbroken", calling him a "patriot".
Mr Ailes ran Fox News for two decades and is credited with transforming it into arguably the most powerful voice in conservative media.
But he stepped down last year after a number of female employees accused him of sexual harassment.
At the time he said he was resigning because he had become a "distraction".
Mrs Ailes' statement said: "During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions.
"And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life."
The cause of his death has not been made public but CNN said he suffered a fall last week before slipping in to a coma, citing a family friend.
Rupert Murdoch, the head of Fox News' parent company 21st Century Fox, said Mr Ailes played a "huge role in shaping America's media over the last thirty years.
"Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs," he added.
End of a kingmaker, by Amol Rajan, BBC News media editor
It would be hard to overstate the impact of Roger Ailes on American politics and culture over the past two decades.
As his bête noire the New York Times put it last year, he was kingmaker in a democracy that is meant to be king-proof, courted by presidential candidates and a confidante of Donald Trump.
Indeed, Trump's election owes a huge debt to the crusading, aggressive, and often conspiratorial agenda of Ailes' network.
Yet last summer he left amid huge controversy, earning tens of millions of dollars in a payout after allegations of sexual harassment were launched against him by former employees.
Ailes always denied the allegations against him. His death denies the rest of us the chance to hear his side of that particularly salacious story.
Born in Warren, Ohio, his big break came in 1967 when Richard Nixon appeared as a guest on a talk show he was working on, persuading the future US president about the power of television.
He played a role in Mr Nixon's successful campaign, as well as for other Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush Snr.
Mr Ailes became the founding boss of Fox News in 1996, turning it into a profits and ratings powerhouse.
It soon became a favourite of right-wing viewers, outpacing liberal-leaning rivals like CNN.
The channel used the slogan "fair and balanced", but its critics saw it as anything but, accusing it of bias and of favouring the Republican Party.
Such was his influence, his biographer Gabriel Sherman quoted him as saying "I want to elect the next president" to a group of Fox executives at a 2010 meeting.
After leaving the company he reportedly helped Donald Trump prepare for the debates during his presidential campaign.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39963887
A statement from his wife Elizabeth said she was "profoundly sad and heartbroken", calling him a "patriot".
Mr Ailes ran Fox News for two decades and is credited with transforming it into arguably the most powerful voice in conservative media.
But he stepped down last year after a number of female employees accused him of sexual harassment.
At the time he said he was resigning because he had become a "distraction".
Mrs Ailes' statement said: "During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions.
"And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life."
The cause of his death has not been made public but CNN said he suffered a fall last week before slipping in to a coma, citing a family friend.
Rupert Murdoch, the head of Fox News' parent company 21st Century Fox, said Mr Ailes played a "huge role in shaping America's media over the last thirty years.
"Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs," he added.
End of a kingmaker, by Amol Rajan, BBC News media editor
It would be hard to overstate the impact of Roger Ailes on American politics and culture over the past two decades.
As his bête noire the New York Times put it last year, he was kingmaker in a democracy that is meant to be king-proof, courted by presidential candidates and a confidante of Donald Trump.
Indeed, Trump's election owes a huge debt to the crusading, aggressive, and often conspiratorial agenda of Ailes' network.
Yet last summer he left amid huge controversy, earning tens of millions of dollars in a payout after allegations of sexual harassment were launched against him by former employees.
Ailes always denied the allegations against him. His death denies the rest of us the chance to hear his side of that particularly salacious story.
Born in Warren, Ohio, his big break came in 1967 when Richard Nixon appeared as a guest on a talk show he was working on, persuading the future US president about the power of television.
He played a role in Mr Nixon's successful campaign, as well as for other Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush Snr.
Mr Ailes became the founding boss of Fox News in 1996, turning it into a profits and ratings powerhouse.
It soon became a favourite of right-wing viewers, outpacing liberal-leaning rivals like CNN.
The channel used the slogan "fair and balanced", but its critics saw it as anything but, accusing it of bias and of favouring the Republican Party.
Such was his influence, his biographer Gabriel Sherman quoted him as saying "I want to elect the next president" to a group of Fox executives at a 2010 meeting.
After leaving the company he reportedly helped Donald Trump prepare for the debates during his presidential campaign.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39963887
Chris Cornell: Soundgarden star dies of 'hanging by suicide'
Singer Chris Cornell died as a result of "hanging by suicide", US officials have confirmed.
Cornell, 52, was found dead after performing in a concert with his band, Soundgarden, in Detroit on Wednesday evening.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the cause of the frontman's death on Thursday.
In a statement, Cornell's representative Brian Bumbery had said his death was "sudden and unexpected".
It also said the family would be working closely with the medical examiner and asked for privacy.
A spokesperson for Detroit Police confirmed to the BBC they received a call just after midnight (05:00 BST) on Wednesday.
"He was found on the bathroom floor, our medical unit were called and he was pronounced dead on scene," a spokesperson said.
"A family friend went to go check on him and observed him on the bathroom floor. The body was transferred to the medical examiner's office."
The show was part of a wider tour and the group had a number of live dates scheduled for later this month.
Sir Elton John led the tributes, tweeting: "Shocked and saddened by the sudden death of @chriscornell. A great singer, songwriter and the loveliest man."
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page added: "RIP Chris Cornell. Incredibly talented, incredibly young, incredibly missed."
BBC 6 Music's Matt Everitt said he was taken aback by Cornell's death.
"This is a hell of a shock, he'd been gigging frequently despite having a life that was quite extreme, and he was certainly in extremely good health, performing concerts and seemingly pretty much at the top of his game," he said.
Cornell was born on 20 July, 1964.
As a solo artist, he released four studio albums - most recently 2015's Higher Truth.
His biggest single in the UK was 2006's You Know My Name, which was the theme song to Casino Royale, which starred Daniel Craig.
The track made him the first male American artist to write and perform the theme song for a James Bond movie.
But he was perhaps most famous as the lead singer of Seattle band Soundgarden, which formed in 1984 and went on to release six studio albums.
Last year, the band confirmed they were returning to the studio to record new material and a tour was announced for this year.
On Wednesday evening, the Fox Theatre in Detroit tweeted pictures of the band while they were live on stage.
Cornell himself tweeted about the show on Wednesday evening, writing: "Finally back to Rock City!"
Soundgarden's most successful album in the UK was 1994's Superunknown, which reached number four in the chart.
In 2001, he joined rock supergroup Audioslave, which consisted of Cornell on lead vocals, together with Rage Against The Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk (drums).
The group released three albums - all of which reached the top 20 in the UK - but disbanded in 2007.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39960066
Cornell, 52, was found dead after performing in a concert with his band, Soundgarden, in Detroit on Wednesday evening.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the cause of the frontman's death on Thursday.
In a statement, Cornell's representative Brian Bumbery had said his death was "sudden and unexpected".
It also said the family would be working closely with the medical examiner and asked for privacy.
A spokesperson for Detroit Police confirmed to the BBC they received a call just after midnight (05:00 BST) on Wednesday.
"He was found on the bathroom floor, our medical unit were called and he was pronounced dead on scene," a spokesperson said.
"A family friend went to go check on him and observed him on the bathroom floor. The body was transferred to the medical examiner's office."
The show was part of a wider tour and the group had a number of live dates scheduled for later this month.
Sir Elton John led the tributes, tweeting: "Shocked and saddened by the sudden death of @chriscornell. A great singer, songwriter and the loveliest man."
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page added: "RIP Chris Cornell. Incredibly talented, incredibly young, incredibly missed."
BBC 6 Music's Matt Everitt said he was taken aback by Cornell's death.
"This is a hell of a shock, he'd been gigging frequently despite having a life that was quite extreme, and he was certainly in extremely good health, performing concerts and seemingly pretty much at the top of his game," he said.
Cornell was born on 20 July, 1964.
As a solo artist, he released four studio albums - most recently 2015's Higher Truth.
His biggest single in the UK was 2006's You Know My Name, which was the theme song to Casino Royale, which starred Daniel Craig.
The track made him the first male American artist to write and perform the theme song for a James Bond movie.
But he was perhaps most famous as the lead singer of Seattle band Soundgarden, which formed in 1984 and went on to release six studio albums.
Last year, the band confirmed they were returning to the studio to record new material and a tour was announced for this year.
On Wednesday evening, the Fox Theatre in Detroit tweeted pictures of the band while they were live on stage.
Cornell himself tweeted about the show on Wednesday evening, writing: "Finally back to Rock City!"
Soundgarden's most successful album in the UK was 1994's Superunknown, which reached number four in the chart.
In 2001, he joined rock supergroup Audioslave, which consisted of Cornell on lead vocals, together with Rage Against The Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk (drums).
The group released three albums - all of which reached the top 20 in the UK - but disbanded in 2007.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39960066
Woman killed and 22 injured as car hits Times Square crowd
A woman is dead and 22 other people injured after a car sped on to a pavement in New York City's Times Square, the fire department says.
The 26-year-old driver, a US Navy veteran and US citizen, is in custody.
"There is no indication that this was an act of terrorism," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The maroon Honda jumped the kerb and travelled for three blocks before crashing.
Photos showed the sedan partially on its side on the pavement with smoke and flames spewing from the bonnet.
The crash follows recent deadly car-ramming attacks in London, Berlin and the French city of Nice.
The FBI is investigating the incident at the Midtown Manhattan tourist venue, but so far officials say there is no terror link.
NYPD said the suspect, Richard Rojas, is a Bronx resident who was arrested in 2008 and 2015 for drunk driving.
"It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation," the New York Police Department said on Twitter.
City authorities said they would nevertheless deploy extra police from anti-terror units to key locations around the city as a precaution.
The vehicle jumped the kerb at 45th Street and Broadway at 1155 local time (1655 GMT) and drove at high speed before crashing into a pole.
Witness Annie Donahey, 24, told the New York Times: "It was going at a fast rate of speed and to me it looked it was trying to hit as many people as possible.
"People were trying to jump out of the way."
Police said an 18-year-old woman died and her 13-year-old sister was among the injured.
"People were being hit and rolling off the car," said witness Josh Duboff, who jumped out of the way to avoid being struck.
Twitter user Michael Rickerby wrote: "just witnessed a car running people over in times square. scariest moment of my life. what is wrong with some people?!"
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement the event was "nothing short of horrific".
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump had been informed about the incident.
Times Square was the target of an attempted attack in May 2010 when a Pakistani immigrant planted a car bomb at an intersection.
The device failed to detonate and he was arrested shortly after boarding a flight to the Middle East.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39968710
The 26-year-old driver, a US Navy veteran and US citizen, is in custody.
"There is no indication that this was an act of terrorism," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The maroon Honda jumped the kerb and travelled for three blocks before crashing.
Photos showed the sedan partially on its side on the pavement with smoke and flames spewing from the bonnet.
The crash follows recent deadly car-ramming attacks in London, Berlin and the French city of Nice.
The FBI is investigating the incident at the Midtown Manhattan tourist venue, but so far officials say there is no terror link.
NYPD said the suspect, Richard Rojas, is a Bronx resident who was arrested in 2008 and 2015 for drunk driving.
"It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation," the New York Police Department said on Twitter.
City authorities said they would nevertheless deploy extra police from anti-terror units to key locations around the city as a precaution.
The vehicle jumped the kerb at 45th Street and Broadway at 1155 local time (1655 GMT) and drove at high speed before crashing into a pole.
Witness Annie Donahey, 24, told the New York Times: "It was going at a fast rate of speed and to me it looked it was trying to hit as many people as possible.
"People were trying to jump out of the way."
Police said an 18-year-old woman died and her 13-year-old sister was among the injured.
"People were being hit and rolling off the car," said witness Josh Duboff, who jumped out of the way to avoid being struck.
Twitter user Michael Rickerby wrote: "just witnessed a car running people over in times square. scariest moment of my life. what is wrong with some people?!"
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement the event was "nothing short of horrific".
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump had been informed about the incident.
Times Square was the target of an attempted attack in May 2010 when a Pakistani immigrant planted a car bomb at an intersection.
The device failed to detonate and he was arrested shortly after boarding a flight to the Middle East.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39968710
Rabu, 17 Mei 2017
Cockfighting: California seizure 'largest in US history'
More than 7,000 birds have been seized during what is believed to be the largest cockfighting bust in US history, officials have said.
Ten people were arrested after police officers and other personnel surrounded the remote property in a canyon in northern Los Angeles County.
As well as the birds, firearms and drugs were found in the area.
Cockfighting, which is illegal in every state in the US, involves two birds fighting each other to the death.
Captain Jeff Parry, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, told a press conference: "This, according to the experts here, is the largest seizure in US history of illegal cockfighting roosters."
Most of those detained by his officers were "at the lower level, the caretakers, entrusted with feeding and caring for the animals", while the property owner was the main suspect.
More arrests are expected, with some of those already detained caught after being chased through the canyon by mounted police officers.
Video of the raid shows officers discovering bodies of birds which Cpt Parry said bore "wounds consistent with cockfighting".
As well as the birds, a number of mobile fighting pit and "hundreds of slashers" - which are attached to the animals feet during fights - were discovered on the site, along with syringes and steroids.
This is not the first time the property has been raided.
Eric Sakach, of the Humane Society of the United States, told the press conference that about 2,700 birds were seized in 2007.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39948241
Ten people were arrested after police officers and other personnel surrounded the remote property in a canyon in northern Los Angeles County.
As well as the birds, firearms and drugs were found in the area.
Cockfighting, which is illegal in every state in the US, involves two birds fighting each other to the death.
Captain Jeff Parry, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, told a press conference: "This, according to the experts here, is the largest seizure in US history of illegal cockfighting roosters."
Most of those detained by his officers were "at the lower level, the caretakers, entrusted with feeding and caring for the animals", while the property owner was the main suspect.
More arrests are expected, with some of those already detained caught after being chased through the canyon by mounted police officers.
Video of the raid shows officers discovering bodies of birds which Cpt Parry said bore "wounds consistent with cockfighting".
As well as the birds, a number of mobile fighting pit and "hundreds of slashers" - which are attached to the animals feet during fights - were discovered on the site, along with syringes and steroids.
This is not the first time the property has been raided.
Eric Sakach, of the Humane Society of the United States, told the press conference that about 2,700 birds were seized in 2007.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39948241
Dutch King Willem-Alexander reveals secret flights as co-pilot
For 21 years, the king of the Netherlands has flown twice a month as co-pilot while his passengers were in the dark, he has told a Dutch newspaper.
Willem-Alexander acceded to the throne in 2013 but his other role, in the cockpit, has continued.
"I find flying simply fantastic," he told De Telegraaf newspaper.
He intends to carry on as co-pilot but will spend the coming months learning how to fly Boeing 737s.
Until now Willem-Alexander has worked behind the joystick of a Fokker and it was already known that he had appeared as a "guest pilot" before being crowned king, in order to maintain his pilot's licence.
What was not clear was that he was co-piloting passenger flights incognito, twice a month as king, often with KLM Captain Maarten Putman.
The Dutch government said last month that he had flown Fokker 70 aircraft for both the government and KLM Cityhopper service, and that the plane was being replaced this year with a 737. Cityhopper flights are aimed mainly at business travellers in dozens of European destinations, particularly in the UK, Germany and Norway.
Rarely recognised on board
Willem-Alexander once said that if he had not been born in a palace, his dream would have been to fly a big passenger plane such as a Boeing 747, so it is no surprise that he intends to retrain for the updated plane.
He told De Telegraaf that he never used his name when addressing passengers and was rarely recognised in uniform and wearing his KLM cap. However, he admitted that some passengers had recognised his voice.
"The advantage is that I can always say that I warmly welcome passengers on behalf of the captain and crew," he said. "Then I don't have to give my name."
Passengers were more likely to realise they were being flown by royalty before the 11 September attacks on the US in 2001 as the cockpit door was unlocked. But there was now less contact with the cabin, he said.
Not the only flying royal
The Dutch king's appetite for flying was apparently encouraged by his mother, Beatrix, who abdicated as queen in 2013. And he is on a long list of royal pilots:
Willem-Alexander acceded to the throne in 2013 but his other role, in the cockpit, has continued.
"I find flying simply fantastic," he told De Telegraaf newspaper.
He intends to carry on as co-pilot but will spend the coming months learning how to fly Boeing 737s.
Until now Willem-Alexander has worked behind the joystick of a Fokker and it was already known that he had appeared as a "guest pilot" before being crowned king, in order to maintain his pilot's licence.
What was not clear was that he was co-piloting passenger flights incognito, twice a month as king, often with KLM Captain Maarten Putman.
The Dutch government said last month that he had flown Fokker 70 aircraft for both the government and KLM Cityhopper service, and that the plane was being replaced this year with a 737. Cityhopper flights are aimed mainly at business travellers in dozens of European destinations, particularly in the UK, Germany and Norway.
Rarely recognised on board
Willem-Alexander once said that if he had not been born in a palace, his dream would have been to fly a big passenger plane such as a Boeing 747, so it is no surprise that he intends to retrain for the updated plane.
He told De Telegraaf that he never used his name when addressing passengers and was rarely recognised in uniform and wearing his KLM cap. However, he admitted that some passengers had recognised his voice.
"The advantage is that I can always say that I warmly welcome passengers on behalf of the captain and crew," he said. "Then I don't have to give my name."
Passengers were more likely to realise they were being flown by royalty before the 11 September attacks on the US in 2001 as the cockpit door was unlocked. But there was now less contact with the cabin, he said.
Not the only flying royal
The Dutch king's appetite for flying was apparently encouraged by his mother, Beatrix, who abdicated as queen in 2013. And he is on a long list of royal pilots:
- The Sultan of Brunei is known to fly his own Boeing 747
- Prince Charles is a qualified pilot as are both his sons
- Prince William gives up his role as RAF air ambulance helicopter pilot this year
- Prince Harry served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter co-pilot
- Jordan's King Abdullah is a trained pilot
Leaving problems on the ground
In his interview, King Willem-Alexander appeared enthusiastic about his future prospects as a co-pilot.
"It also seemed nice to fly to other destinations one day, with more passengers and bigger distances. That was the real motive for training on the 737," he said.
The king explained that the most important thing for him was to have a hobby he could fully concentrate on and that flying was his biggest way of relaxing.
"You have a plane, passengers and crew and you are responsible for them. You can't take your problems with you off the ground. You can completely switch off for a while and focus on something else."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39946532
Label: actor, family, health, news, tech
Indonesia's Aceh: Two gay men sentenced to 85 lashes
A Sharia court in Indonesia's Aceh province has sentenced two men to be caned in public for having gay sex.
The men were found guilty of violating strict Islamic laws in conservative Aceh and will receive 85 lashes each.
The pair, aged 20 and 23, were found in bed together by vigilantes in March. They have not been identified.
Gay sex is not illegal in the rest of Muslim-majority Indonesia and this is its first such conviction. Aceh is the only province where Sharia is in force.
The sentence is due to be carried out next week.
While the judges did not give the maximum punishment of 100 lashes, the sentence is heavier than the 80 lashes asked for by the prosecution.
Public caning sentences have been handed down previously only for gambling and drinking alcohol.
Aceh has become increasingly conservative in recent years. Strict laws against homosexuality were passed in 2014 and came into effect the following year.
Judge Khairil Jamal told the court that the men had been "proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing gay sex", according to the AFP news agency.
When the sentence was being read out, the two men covered their faces with their shirt and hands.
What's in Aceh Sharia law? By BBC Indonesian's Mohamad Susilo
Local officials claim that Sharia law is in line with Aceh's long Islamic tradition. Munawar, an official in charge of overseeing the implementation of the law, says "people want to implement comprehensive Islamic teachings including the enacting of its criminal code".
He also says the Qanun Jinayat - as the Islamic criminal law enacted in Aceh in 2015 is known locally - is an effective deterrent.
The law covers the consumption, production and distribution of alcohol; gambling; adultery; extra-marital sex and homosexual acts.
Punishments include caning and imprisonment, but not stoning.
Rights activists tried last year to repeal some provisions in the Qanun Jinayat, arguing that it was against human rights and Indonesia's national criminal code - but that was rejected by the Supreme Court.
The caning sentence handed down on Wednesday has been condemned by human rights groups and activists.
"I see this as a criminalisation, a step back for Indonesia and violation to human rights," Dede Oetomo, founder of Gaya Nusantara, an organisation advocating LGBT rights said after the verdict.
Ahead of the ruling, Human Rights Watch had called on Indonesia to release the two men, saying that "the verdict will increase fear among LGBT people not only in Aceh but also in many other, especially conservative provinces" in Indonesia.
The men will be caned during a public ceremony on 23 May in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh - where they were found by vigilantes.
The neighbourhood group filmed themselves kicking and beating the pair and the video was shared widely in Indonesia. Rights groups say anti-gay sentiment is growing in the country.
Aceh was granted special rights to introduce its own stricter Islamic laws more than a decade ago.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39945651
The men were found guilty of violating strict Islamic laws in conservative Aceh and will receive 85 lashes each.
The pair, aged 20 and 23, were found in bed together by vigilantes in March. They have not been identified.
Gay sex is not illegal in the rest of Muslim-majority Indonesia and this is its first such conviction. Aceh is the only province where Sharia is in force.
The sentence is due to be carried out next week.
While the judges did not give the maximum punishment of 100 lashes, the sentence is heavier than the 80 lashes asked for by the prosecution.
Public caning sentences have been handed down previously only for gambling and drinking alcohol.
Aceh has become increasingly conservative in recent years. Strict laws against homosexuality were passed in 2014 and came into effect the following year.
Judge Khairil Jamal told the court that the men had been "proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing gay sex", according to the AFP news agency.
When the sentence was being read out, the two men covered their faces with their shirt and hands.
What's in Aceh Sharia law? By BBC Indonesian's Mohamad Susilo
Local officials claim that Sharia law is in line with Aceh's long Islamic tradition. Munawar, an official in charge of overseeing the implementation of the law, says "people want to implement comprehensive Islamic teachings including the enacting of its criminal code".
He also says the Qanun Jinayat - as the Islamic criminal law enacted in Aceh in 2015 is known locally - is an effective deterrent.
The law covers the consumption, production and distribution of alcohol; gambling; adultery; extra-marital sex and homosexual acts.
Punishments include caning and imprisonment, but not stoning.
Rights activists tried last year to repeal some provisions in the Qanun Jinayat, arguing that it was against human rights and Indonesia's national criminal code - but that was rejected by the Supreme Court.
The caning sentence handed down on Wednesday has been condemned by human rights groups and activists.
"I see this as a criminalisation, a step back for Indonesia and violation to human rights," Dede Oetomo, founder of Gaya Nusantara, an organisation advocating LGBT rights said after the verdict.
Ahead of the ruling, Human Rights Watch had called on Indonesia to release the two men, saying that "the verdict will increase fear among LGBT people not only in Aceh but also in many other, especially conservative provinces" in Indonesia.
The men will be caned during a public ceremony on 23 May in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh - where they were found by vigilantes.
The neighbourhood group filmed themselves kicking and beating the pair and the video was shared widely in Indonesia. Rights groups say anti-gay sentiment is growing in the country.
Aceh was granted special rights to introduce its own stricter Islamic laws more than a decade ago.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39945651
Nigeria Chibok girls: Lone schoolgirl escapes Boko Haram captivity
A schoolgirl who was abducted by Nigeria's militant Islamists in 2014 has escaped from captivity, a presidential aide has told the BBC.
The girl was found by government troops while she was escaping, Femi Adesina said, without giving details.
She was among 276 girls seized by Boko Haram from north-eastern Chibok town in 2014, sparking global outrage.
A total of 103 of the girls have been released so far, including 82 earlier this month in a prisoner swap.
The 82 girls, who met Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on 7 May, are expected to be reunited with their families later this week.
They were escorted to a reception in the capital Abuja by armed soldiers, after a check-up at a medical centre.
"I cannot express in a few words how happy I am to welcome our dear girls back to freedom," Mr Buhari told the girls in Abuja, according to his office.
"On behalf of all Nigerians, I will like to share my joy with you."
The number of Boko Haram suspects released by the authorities in exchange for the girls remains unknown.
Last month, President Buhari said the government remained "in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence, to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed".
Aside from the Chibok girls, Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of other people during its eight-year insurgency, which is aimed at creating an Islamic caliphate in north-eastern Nigeria.
The government says more than 30,000 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39954433
The girl was found by government troops while she was escaping, Femi Adesina said, without giving details.
She was among 276 girls seized by Boko Haram from north-eastern Chibok town in 2014, sparking global outrage.
A total of 103 of the girls have been released so far, including 82 earlier this month in a prisoner swap.
The 82 girls, who met Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on 7 May, are expected to be reunited with their families later this week.
They were escorted to a reception in the capital Abuja by armed soldiers, after a check-up at a medical centre.
"I cannot express in a few words how happy I am to welcome our dear girls back to freedom," Mr Buhari told the girls in Abuja, according to his office.
"On behalf of all Nigerians, I will like to share my joy with you."
The number of Boko Haram suspects released by the authorities in exchange for the girls remains unknown.
Last month, President Buhari said the government remained "in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence, to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed".
Aside from the Chibok girls, Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of other people during its eight-year insurgency, which is aimed at creating an Islamic caliphate in north-eastern Nigeria.
The government says more than 30,000 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39954433
Label: child, crime, film, health, news
Trump-Russia row: Putin offers to release meeting record
Vladimir Putin has waded into the growing row surrounding US President Donald Trump and his links to Russia.
US media say Mr Trump passed on classified information to Russian officials last week, but Mr Putin says this is not the case.
He said he would release a record of the meeting to the US Congress if they requested it.
The news comes amid reports Mr Trump tried to influence an investigation into his team's dealings with Russia.
US media have quoted a memo by former FBI director James Comey that reportedly says Mr Trump asked him to drop an inquiry into links between his ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Moscow.
The fallout from both issues continues to consume Washington, with moves by Democrats to launch an independent commission starting to gather momentum.
As for Mr Trump, he told US Coast Guard Academy graduates in Connecticut: "No politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly."
Issue one: The Russian meeting
Mr Trump met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak at the White House last Wednesday.
The meeting came amid an ongoing FBI inquiry and congressional hearings into possible Russian influence in the 2016 US election.
It also came a day after Mr Trump dismissed Mr Comey from his post.
On Monday, the Washington Post, followed by a number of other US outlets, said Mr Trump had given the Russian officials information relating to the Islamic State group (IS) that could have endangered the source of the information.
The information was reportedly deemed so sensitive it had not been shared with key US partners, let alone Russia.
Mr Trump later defended his right to share the information, and his national security adviser HR McMaster said the president's actions were "wholly appropriate".
On Wednesday, Mr Putin joked that the meeting did not unfold as had been portrayed.
"I spoke to him [Lavrov] today," he said. "I'll be forced to issue him with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us."
Issue two: The Comey memo reports
While in charge at the FBI, Mr Comey was heading an investigation into possible Russian influence on the US election.
The Russia story has already claimed one victim - Mr Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn, who was fired after misleading the government over his meetings with Mr Kislyak.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Mr Comey wrote a memo following a meeting with the president on 14 February, saying that Mr Trump had asked him to close an investigation into Mr Flynn's actions.
He reportedly shared this memo with top FBI associates.
"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," the president told Mr Comey, according to accounts of the memo. "He is a good guy."
Mr Comey did not respond to his request, according to this account, but replied: "I agree he is a good guy."
The FBI chief was later fired by Mr Trump. The official reason was over his handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while at the state department.
But Mr Trump said in an interview last week that "this Russian thing" was on his mind as he made the decision.
The White House denied the allegation that Mr Trump had tried to influence Mr Comey.
"The president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," it said.
A White House official also pointed out that acting FBI director Andrew McCabe had testified last week that there had been "no effort to impede our investigation to date".
The fallout
The Senate's Intelligence Committee said it had asked Mr Comey to appear before the panel to testify, and had asked the FBI for all relevant documents, including the memo.
House Oversight Committee chair Jason Chaffetz, a senior Republican, said the memo and related documents "raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation".
On Wednesday, the Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, said it was crucial to let investigations run their course before rushing to judgment.
But Democratic members of the House of Representatives said they would try and force a vote to create an independent commission into the Russia ties. Two Republicans backed the move, they said.
Has Trump obstructed justice?
Adam Schiff, the highest-ranked Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said this intervention by Mr Trump, if confirmed, amounted to "interference or obstruction of the investigation".
The key legal statute is 18 US Code Section 1512, which contains a broad definition allowing charges to be brought against someone who "obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so".
It has been pointed out that Mr Trump did have the legal authority to fire Mr Comey, but there is a legal precedent for otherwise lawful acts to be considered an obstruction of justice if done with corrupt intentions, the New York Times says.
Legal experts have told the Washington Post that that is not clear in this case as intent is difficult to prove.
However, former federal prosecutor Samuel Buell told the Times: "The evidence of improper purpose has gotten much stronger since the day of Comey's firing.
"Trump has made admissions about that. And we now have evidence that he may have indicated an improper purpose previously in his communications with Comey about the Russia investigation."
The view from Washington: Anthony Zurcher
The "i" word - impeachment - has already been broached. If this were a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, articles of impeachment would likely be in the drafting process.
Republicans still call the shots in Congress, however, and it's a significant leap to get them to abandon the Trump presidency and any hope of advancing their agenda for the foreseeable future.
For the rank-and-file to turn on the president will require them to admit their complicity in a failed presidency.
...and from Moscow: Steve Rosenberg
You can't help feeling that the Kremlin is loving this. As the US administration - and the US superpower - staggers from one crisis to the next, Russia is watching and revelling in a political rival tearing itself apart.
President Putin's comments today on America were full of sarcasm and patronising put-downs. He said he was ready to provide the US Congress with a transcript of Foreign Minister Lavrov's conversation with President Trump. But that was surely just another dig at America. He will know that it will take more than a transcript on Kremlin-headed notepaper to make this crisis go away.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39948870
US media say Mr Trump passed on classified information to Russian officials last week, but Mr Putin says this is not the case.
He said he would release a record of the meeting to the US Congress if they requested it.
The news comes amid reports Mr Trump tried to influence an investigation into his team's dealings with Russia.
US media have quoted a memo by former FBI director James Comey that reportedly says Mr Trump asked him to drop an inquiry into links between his ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Moscow.
The fallout from both issues continues to consume Washington, with moves by Democrats to launch an independent commission starting to gather momentum.
As for Mr Trump, he told US Coast Guard Academy graduates in Connecticut: "No politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly."
Issue one: The Russian meeting
Mr Trump met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak at the White House last Wednesday.
The meeting came amid an ongoing FBI inquiry and congressional hearings into possible Russian influence in the 2016 US election.
It also came a day after Mr Trump dismissed Mr Comey from his post.
On Monday, the Washington Post, followed by a number of other US outlets, said Mr Trump had given the Russian officials information relating to the Islamic State group (IS) that could have endangered the source of the information.
The information was reportedly deemed so sensitive it had not been shared with key US partners, let alone Russia.
Mr Trump later defended his right to share the information, and his national security adviser HR McMaster said the president's actions were "wholly appropriate".
On Wednesday, Mr Putin joked that the meeting did not unfold as had been portrayed.
"I spoke to him [Lavrov] today," he said. "I'll be forced to issue him with a reprimand because he did not share these secrets with us."
Issue two: The Comey memo reports
While in charge at the FBI, Mr Comey was heading an investigation into possible Russian influence on the US election.
The Russia story has already claimed one victim - Mr Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn, who was fired after misleading the government over his meetings with Mr Kislyak.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Mr Comey wrote a memo following a meeting with the president on 14 February, saying that Mr Trump had asked him to close an investigation into Mr Flynn's actions.
He reportedly shared this memo with top FBI associates.
"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," the president told Mr Comey, according to accounts of the memo. "He is a good guy."
Mr Comey did not respond to his request, according to this account, but replied: "I agree he is a good guy."
The FBI chief was later fired by Mr Trump. The official reason was over his handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while at the state department.
But Mr Trump said in an interview last week that "this Russian thing" was on his mind as he made the decision.
The White House denied the allegation that Mr Trump had tried to influence Mr Comey.
"The president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," it said.
A White House official also pointed out that acting FBI director Andrew McCabe had testified last week that there had been "no effort to impede our investigation to date".
The fallout
The Senate's Intelligence Committee said it had asked Mr Comey to appear before the panel to testify, and had asked the FBI for all relevant documents, including the memo.
House Oversight Committee chair Jason Chaffetz, a senior Republican, said the memo and related documents "raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation".
On Wednesday, the Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, said it was crucial to let investigations run their course before rushing to judgment.
But Democratic members of the House of Representatives said they would try and force a vote to create an independent commission into the Russia ties. Two Republicans backed the move, they said.
Has Trump obstructed justice?
Adam Schiff, the highest-ranked Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said this intervention by Mr Trump, if confirmed, amounted to "interference or obstruction of the investigation".
The key legal statute is 18 US Code Section 1512, which contains a broad definition allowing charges to be brought against someone who "obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so".
It has been pointed out that Mr Trump did have the legal authority to fire Mr Comey, but there is a legal precedent for otherwise lawful acts to be considered an obstruction of justice if done with corrupt intentions, the New York Times says.
Legal experts have told the Washington Post that that is not clear in this case as intent is difficult to prove.
However, former federal prosecutor Samuel Buell told the Times: "The evidence of improper purpose has gotten much stronger since the day of Comey's firing.
"Trump has made admissions about that. And we now have evidence that he may have indicated an improper purpose previously in his communications with Comey about the Russia investigation."
The view from Washington: Anthony Zurcher
The "i" word - impeachment - has already been broached. If this were a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, articles of impeachment would likely be in the drafting process.
Republicans still call the shots in Congress, however, and it's a significant leap to get them to abandon the Trump presidency and any hope of advancing their agenda for the foreseeable future.
For the rank-and-file to turn on the president will require them to admit their complicity in a failed presidency.
...and from Moscow: Steve Rosenberg
You can't help feeling that the Kremlin is loving this. As the US administration - and the US superpower - staggers from one crisis to the next, Russia is watching and revelling in a political rival tearing itself apart.
President Putin's comments today on America were full of sarcasm and patronising put-downs. He said he was ready to provide the US Congress with a transcript of Foreign Minister Lavrov's conversation with President Trump. But that was surely just another dig at America. He will know that it will take more than a transcript on Kremlin-headed notepaper to make this crisis go away.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39948870
Label: college, family, health, news
Selasa, 16 Mei 2017
Remote island has 'world's worst' plastic rubbish density
An uninhabited island in the South Pacific is littered with the highest density of plastic waste anywhere in the world, according to a study.
Henderson Island, part of the UK's Pitcairn Islands group, has an estimated 37.7 million pieces of debris on its beaches.
The island is near the centre of an ocean current, meaning it collects much rubbish from boats and South America.
Researchers hope people will "rethink their relationship with plastic".
The joint Australian and British study said the rubbish amounted to 671 items per square metre and a total of 17 tonnes.
"A lot of the items on Henderson Island are what we wrongly refer to as disposable or single-use," said Dr Jennifer Lavers from the University of Tasmania.
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, described how remote islands act as a "sink" for the world's rubbish.
In addition to fishing items, Henderson Island was strewn with everyday things including toothbrushes, cigarette lighters and razors.
"Land crabs are making their homes inside bottle caps, containers and jars," Dr Lavers told the BBC.
"At first it looks a little bit cute, but it's not. This plastic is old, it's sharp, it's brittle and toxic."
A large number of hard hats of "every shape, colour and size" were also discovered, the marine scientist said.
Scale of waste
Henderson Island is listed by Unesco as a coral atoll with a relatively unique ecology, notable for 10 plant and four bird species.
It is 190km (120 miles) from Pitcairn Island, about 5,000km from Chile, and sits near the centre of the South Pacific Gyre - a massive rotating current.
The condition of the island highlighted how plastic debris has affected the environment on a global scale, Dr Lavers said.
"Almost every island in the world and almost every species in the ocean is now being shown to be impacted one way or another by our waste," she said.
"There's not really any one person or any one country that gets a free pass on this."
She said plastic was devastating to oceans because it was buoyant and durable.
The research was conducted by the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, and the Centre for Conservation Science at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39931042
Henderson Island, part of the UK's Pitcairn Islands group, has an estimated 37.7 million pieces of debris on its beaches.
The island is near the centre of an ocean current, meaning it collects much rubbish from boats and South America.
Researchers hope people will "rethink their relationship with plastic".
The joint Australian and British study said the rubbish amounted to 671 items per square metre and a total of 17 tonnes.
"A lot of the items on Henderson Island are what we wrongly refer to as disposable or single-use," said Dr Jennifer Lavers from the University of Tasmania.
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, described how remote islands act as a "sink" for the world's rubbish.
In addition to fishing items, Henderson Island was strewn with everyday things including toothbrushes, cigarette lighters and razors.
"Land crabs are making their homes inside bottle caps, containers and jars," Dr Lavers told the BBC.
"At first it looks a little bit cute, but it's not. This plastic is old, it's sharp, it's brittle and toxic."
A large number of hard hats of "every shape, colour and size" were also discovered, the marine scientist said.
Scale of waste
Henderson Island is listed by Unesco as a coral atoll with a relatively unique ecology, notable for 10 plant and four bird species.
It is 190km (120 miles) from Pitcairn Island, about 5,000km from Chile, and sits near the centre of the South Pacific Gyre - a massive rotating current.
The condition of the island highlighted how plastic debris has affected the environment on a global scale, Dr Lavers said.
"Almost every island in the world and almost every species in the ocean is now being shown to be impacted one way or another by our waste," she said.
"There's not really any one person or any one country that gets a free pass on this."
She said plastic was devastating to oceans because it was buoyant and durable.
The research was conducted by the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, and the Centre for Conservation Science at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39931042
selected US teen died after drinking caffeine too quickly, coroner says
A healthy teenager in the US state of South Carolina died from drinking several highly-caffeinated drinks too quickly, a coroner has ruled.
Davis Allen Cripe collapsed at a high school in April after drinking a McDonald's latte, a large Mountain Dew soft drink and an energy drink in just under two hours, Gary Watts said.
The 16-year-old died from a "caffeine-induced cardiac event causing a probable arrhythmia".
He had no pre-existing heart condition.
The teenager weighed 90kg (200 lbs) but would not have been considered morbidly obese, Mr Watts said.
"This is not a caffeine overdose," Mr Watts told Reuters news agency.
"We're not saying that it was the total amount of caffeine in the system, it was just the way that it was ingested over that short period of time, and the chugging of the energy drink at the end was what the issue was with the cardiac arrhythmia."
Caffeine would probably not have been seen as a factor in the teenager's death if witnesses had not been able to tell officials what he had been drinking before his death, the Richland County coroner said.
The main witness could not say which brand of energy drink Davis drank but said it was from a container the size of a large soft drink.
"We're not trying to speak out totally against caffeine," Mr Watts said. "We believe people need to pay attention to their caffeine intake and how they do it, just as they do with alcohol or cigarettes."
The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) has warned against children and teenagers consuming energy drinks, saying their ingredients have not been tested on children and "no-one can ensure they are safe".
It says they have side-effects including irregular heartbeats and blood pressure changes.
Most energy drinks contain a caffeine equivalent of three cups of coffee and as much as 14 teaspoons of sugar, the AAP says.
Davis may have consumed about 470mg of caffeine in just under two hours, based on statistics from the website caffeineinformer.com.
It says a McDonald's latte has 142mg of caffeine, a 570ml (20oz) Mountain Dew has 90mg, and a 450ml (16oz) energy drink can have as much as 240mg.
In 2015, the European Food Safety Authority said drinking more than 400mg could lead to increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, tremors, nervousness, insomnia and panic attacks.
How can caffeine kill? Michelle Roberts, BBC News Online Health Editor
Caffeine is a stimulant. It acts on the body's central nervous system within minutes, increasing alertness and reducing sleepiness.
But it has other effects too. It can raise your heart rate and make you feel jittery or anxious.
And once you've drunk it, it will take hours to clear it from your system.
Having a few cups of coffee or other caffeinated drinks a day is considered perfectly safe. But drinking too much or lots in a short space of time is risky.
You can overdose on caffeine and it is possible to die if you ingest too much.
Up to 400mg of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That's roughly the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of Coca-Cola or two "energy shot" drinks (although check the caffeine content of the beverage as it can vary).
Adolescents and pregnant women are advised to have less than this, though. Caffeinated drinks are unsuitable for toddlers and young children.
Caffeine warning signs
You may want to cut back on caffeine if you experience side effects such as:
Davis Allen Cripe collapsed at a high school in April after drinking a McDonald's latte, a large Mountain Dew soft drink and an energy drink in just under two hours, Gary Watts said.
The 16-year-old died from a "caffeine-induced cardiac event causing a probable arrhythmia".
He had no pre-existing heart condition.
The teenager weighed 90kg (200 lbs) but would not have been considered morbidly obese, Mr Watts said.
"This is not a caffeine overdose," Mr Watts told Reuters news agency.
"We're not saying that it was the total amount of caffeine in the system, it was just the way that it was ingested over that short period of time, and the chugging of the energy drink at the end was what the issue was with the cardiac arrhythmia."
Caffeine would probably not have been seen as a factor in the teenager's death if witnesses had not been able to tell officials what he had been drinking before his death, the Richland County coroner said.
The main witness could not say which brand of energy drink Davis drank but said it was from a container the size of a large soft drink.
"We're not trying to speak out totally against caffeine," Mr Watts said. "We believe people need to pay attention to their caffeine intake and how they do it, just as they do with alcohol or cigarettes."
The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) has warned against children and teenagers consuming energy drinks, saying their ingredients have not been tested on children and "no-one can ensure they are safe".
It says they have side-effects including irregular heartbeats and blood pressure changes.
Most energy drinks contain a caffeine equivalent of three cups of coffee and as much as 14 teaspoons of sugar, the AAP says.
Davis may have consumed about 470mg of caffeine in just under two hours, based on statistics from the website caffeineinformer.com.
It says a McDonald's latte has 142mg of caffeine, a 570ml (20oz) Mountain Dew has 90mg, and a 450ml (16oz) energy drink can have as much as 240mg.
In 2015, the European Food Safety Authority said drinking more than 400mg could lead to increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, tremors, nervousness, insomnia and panic attacks.
How can caffeine kill? Michelle Roberts, BBC News Online Health Editor
Caffeine is a stimulant. It acts on the body's central nervous system within minutes, increasing alertness and reducing sleepiness.
But it has other effects too. It can raise your heart rate and make you feel jittery or anxious.
And once you've drunk it, it will take hours to clear it from your system.
Having a few cups of coffee or other caffeinated drinks a day is considered perfectly safe. But drinking too much or lots in a short space of time is risky.
You can overdose on caffeine and it is possible to die if you ingest too much.
Up to 400mg of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That's roughly the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of Coca-Cola or two "energy shot" drinks (although check the caffeine content of the beverage as it can vary).
Adolescents and pregnant women are advised to have less than this, though. Caffeinated drinks are unsuitable for toddlers and young children.
Caffeine warning signs
You may want to cut back on caffeine if you experience side effects such as:
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Stomach upset
- Fast heartbeat
- Muscle tremors
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39932366
Label: child, college, family, health, news
Everest permit-dodger Ryan Sean Davy arrested in Nepal
A man who tried to climb Everest in Nepal without paying the $11,000 permit fee has been arrested in Kathmandu after walking most of the 154km journey from the mountain's base camp.
A Nepalese friend of Ryan Sean Davy said that the climber was being questioned by tourism officials.
He is due to appear in court on Wednesday where he is expected to receive a heavy fine.
Friends say Mr Davy has no cash, which is why he mostly travelled on foot.
"He is in good heart although worried about his finances and the scale of the punishment he will receive," Mr Davy's Nepalese friend Mohan Gyawali told the BBC.
US-based South African Mr Davy, 43, says he climbed alone to a height of 7,300m (24,000ft) before being found hiding in a cave by officials who confiscated his passport because he did not have a permit to climb Everest.
He has apologised but complained of being treated harshly by officials. It is extremely rare for someone to attempt climbing Everest by themselves.
The overwhelming majority of climbers only tackle the highest mountain in the world with the help of at least one guide and a well-equipped support team at base camp.
"I have no idea of the outcome regarding my Everest no-permit climb," Mr Davy posted on Facebook on Tuesday
Mr Gyawali said that the climber made his way back to Kathmandu using the same route from the base camp that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay followed in 1953 when they became the first people to climb the mountain. The route goes through the small mid-hill town of Jiri.
Nepal relies heavily on income generated from Everest expeditions and some believe the authorities will want to make an example out of Mr Davy to deter other climbers from dodging the permit fee.
Mr Davy said on Facebook: "Expedition companies have no time for wannabe Everesters with no money so someone turned me in."
The climber said he could expect to spend time in jail in addition to a fine of $22,000.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39940772
A Nepalese friend of Ryan Sean Davy said that the climber was being questioned by tourism officials.
He is due to appear in court on Wednesday where he is expected to receive a heavy fine.
Friends say Mr Davy has no cash, which is why he mostly travelled on foot.
"He is in good heart although worried about his finances and the scale of the punishment he will receive," Mr Davy's Nepalese friend Mohan Gyawali told the BBC.
US-based South African Mr Davy, 43, says he climbed alone to a height of 7,300m (24,000ft) before being found hiding in a cave by officials who confiscated his passport because he did not have a permit to climb Everest.
He has apologised but complained of being treated harshly by officials. It is extremely rare for someone to attempt climbing Everest by themselves.
The overwhelming majority of climbers only tackle the highest mountain in the world with the help of at least one guide and a well-equipped support team at base camp.
"I have no idea of the outcome regarding my Everest no-permit climb," Mr Davy posted on Facebook on Tuesday
Mr Gyawali said that the climber made his way back to Kathmandu using the same route from the base camp that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay followed in 1953 when they became the first people to climb the mountain. The route goes through the small mid-hill town of Jiri.
Nepal relies heavily on income generated from Everest expeditions and some believe the authorities will want to make an example out of Mr Davy to deter other climbers from dodging the permit fee.
Mr Davy said on Facebook: "Expedition companies have no time for wannabe Everesters with no money so someone turned me in."
The climber said he could expect to spend time in jail in addition to a fine of $22,000.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39940772
Label: actor, family, health, news
Minggu, 14 Mei 2017
Pope Francis canonises two children at Portugal's Fatima shrine
Pope Francis was greeted by crowds of hundreds of thousands as he made saints of two shepherd children at the Fatima shrine complex in Portugal.
"We declare the blissful Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto saints," the pontiff said to loud applause.
It is 100 years since the two - and a third child - reported seeing the Virgin Mary while tending sheep. The third is also on the way to sainthood.
Portugal boosted security and re-imposed border controls temporarily.
Some 500,000 worshippers gathered in the town of Fatima, north of Lisbon, for the ceremony on Saturday, the Vatican said in a statement.
Roman Catholic pilgrims converged on the Fatima Sanctuary from countries as far away as China, Venezuela and East Timor.
The town's local bishop first read out the request for the two "little shepherds" to be canonised before the Pope declared them both saints of the Catholic Church.
Earlier on Saturday, the official Twitter account of the Pope posted a message with reference to the Virgin Mary.
"Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness," it said.
The pontiff also met Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa for a private meeting ahead of the ceremony.
Plea for harmony
On Friday, Pope Francis flew into Fatima in a helicopter and travelled through the town in his "Popemobile".
At a candle-lit vigil he called for harmony between all people at the Chapel of the Apparitions and spoke of wars "tearing our world apart".
The chapel is built on the very spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.
Two of the children - Jacinta and Francisco Marto - have been canonised for the miracles attributed to them. They died in the 1918-1919 European influenza pandemic.
The so-called three secrets of Fatima were written down by their cousin, Lucia dos Santos, who died in 2005 aged 97. The beatification process for her began in 2008.
The Church attaches great value to their visions, as Mary is believed to have revealed truths to help mankind. The Church says the first vision came on 13 May 1917.
In a video message to the people of Portugal, the Pope said he was going to present himself to Mary "and I need to feel you close, physically and spiritually, so that we are one heart and one mind".
What are the three secrets?
They are prophecies written down by Lucia, years after the apparitions that the three said they had witnessed. She spent her adult life as a nun at a convent in Coimbra.
The first two secrets in Lucia's account were revealed in 1942.
The first described a terrifying vision of hell, with a "great sea of fire", demons and human souls
The second is interpreted as Mary's prediction that World War One would end and that World War Two would start during the papacy of Pius XI
Mary also called for the "consecration" of Russia, saying: "If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church"
Lucia sealed the third secret in an envelope, which was handed to the Vatican in 1957 and only revealed in 2000
It described an angel demanding "penance!", then the Pope and other clergy climbing a mountain, only to be killed by soldiers firing bullets and arrows.
What does the Vatican say about them?
According to Pope Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI, the visions described in the three secrets are "meant to mobilise the forces of change in the right direction".
They are not like the Bible - a text he describes as a "public revelation".
The Fatima visions are "private revelations", he writes. Their purpose is "to help live more fully" in accordance with Christ's teaching.
The late Pope John Paul II was shot by a Turkish gunman on 13 May 1981.
He believed that his survival was due to Mary's divine intervention, and that the third secret had predicted the attack on him.
John Paul donated the bullet to Fatima, and it was inserted into the crown adorning a statue of Mary there.
What about Pope Francis's visit?
He follows John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who also made pilgrimages to the Fatima Sanctuary.
Security was high at the site, with Portugal deploying 6,000 police and emergency workers. Concrete blocks were placed on approach roads, to stop any terrorist "ramming" attack with a vehicle.
Only nine border crossings remained open, with systematic checks, as Portugal temporarily suspended the Schengen open borders pact.
Local accommodation over the weekend was far more expensive than usual, as hotels and residents cashed in on the papal visit.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39904846
"We declare the blissful Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto saints," the pontiff said to loud applause.
It is 100 years since the two - and a third child - reported seeing the Virgin Mary while tending sheep. The third is also on the way to sainthood.
Portugal boosted security and re-imposed border controls temporarily.
Some 500,000 worshippers gathered in the town of Fatima, north of Lisbon, for the ceremony on Saturday, the Vatican said in a statement.
Roman Catholic pilgrims converged on the Fatima Sanctuary from countries as far away as China, Venezuela and East Timor.
The town's local bishop first read out the request for the two "little shepherds" to be canonised before the Pope declared them both saints of the Catholic Church.
Earlier on Saturday, the official Twitter account of the Pope posted a message with reference to the Virgin Mary.
"Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness," it said.
The pontiff also met Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa for a private meeting ahead of the ceremony.
Plea for harmony
On Friday, Pope Francis flew into Fatima in a helicopter and travelled through the town in his "Popemobile".
At a candle-lit vigil he called for harmony between all people at the Chapel of the Apparitions and spoke of wars "tearing our world apart".
The chapel is built on the very spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.
Two of the children - Jacinta and Francisco Marto - have been canonised for the miracles attributed to them. They died in the 1918-1919 European influenza pandemic.
The so-called three secrets of Fatima were written down by their cousin, Lucia dos Santos, who died in 2005 aged 97. The beatification process for her began in 2008.
The Church attaches great value to their visions, as Mary is believed to have revealed truths to help mankind. The Church says the first vision came on 13 May 1917.
In a video message to the people of Portugal, the Pope said he was going to present himself to Mary "and I need to feel you close, physically and spiritually, so that we are one heart and one mind".
What are the three secrets?
They are prophecies written down by Lucia, years after the apparitions that the three said they had witnessed. She spent her adult life as a nun at a convent in Coimbra.
The first two secrets in Lucia's account were revealed in 1942.
The first described a terrifying vision of hell, with a "great sea of fire", demons and human souls
The second is interpreted as Mary's prediction that World War One would end and that World War Two would start during the papacy of Pius XI
Mary also called for the "consecration" of Russia, saying: "If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church"
Lucia sealed the third secret in an envelope, which was handed to the Vatican in 1957 and only revealed in 2000
It described an angel demanding "penance!", then the Pope and other clergy climbing a mountain, only to be killed by soldiers firing bullets and arrows.
What does the Vatican say about them?
According to Pope Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI, the visions described in the three secrets are "meant to mobilise the forces of change in the right direction".
They are not like the Bible - a text he describes as a "public revelation".
The Fatima visions are "private revelations", he writes. Their purpose is "to help live more fully" in accordance with Christ's teaching.
The late Pope John Paul II was shot by a Turkish gunman on 13 May 1981.
He believed that his survival was due to Mary's divine intervention, and that the third secret had predicted the attack on him.
John Paul donated the bullet to Fatima, and it was inserted into the crown adorning a statue of Mary there.
What about Pope Francis's visit?
He follows John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who also made pilgrimages to the Fatima Sanctuary.
Security was high at the site, with Portugal deploying 6,000 police and emergency workers. Concrete blocks were placed on approach roads, to stop any terrorist "ramming" attack with a vehicle.
Only nine border crossings remained open, with systematic checks, as Portugal temporarily suspended the Schengen open borders pact.
Local accommodation over the weekend was far more expensive than usual, as hotels and residents cashed in on the papal visit.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39904846
Label: actor, family, freedom, health, religion
Angela Merkel faces key test in German state election
Voters in Germany's most populous state are going to the polls in an election seen as a crucial test for Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Polls show Mrs Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) could unseat the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The SPD has run the state for most of the post-war period.
A CDU victory would be a boost for Mrs Merkel as she seeks a fourth term in national elections in September.
SPD leader Martin Schulz has predicted that if they win in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) he will become Germany's next chancellor. The SPD are currently junior partners in Germany's governing coalition.
But the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin says the party has been slipping in opinion polls and Mr Schulz may live to regret his forecast.
Polls ahead of Sunday's vote put the two parties neck-and-neck.
The CDU's campaign has targeted voters' frustration on issues such as traffic congestion, rising crime and education.
"Being stuck in traffic is time from people's lives," Mrs Merkel said while campaigning recently.
"When you add all the time up over a year, it has become a huge amount of time for commuters."
The CDU has also promised to beef up security with longer prison terms for offenders and more funds for the police.
But state Premier Hannelore Kraft accused Mrs Merkel of ignoring the SPD's achievements on security, telling the broadcaster WDR: "She is an unworthy chancellor."
Mrs Kraft has governed NRW since 2010 in coalition with the Greens. But the Greens have seen their support more than halve, making it difficult for the SPD to muster a coalition.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39912344
Polls show Mrs Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) could unseat the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The SPD has run the state for most of the post-war period.
A CDU victory would be a boost for Mrs Merkel as she seeks a fourth term in national elections in September.
SPD leader Martin Schulz has predicted that if they win in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) he will become Germany's next chancellor. The SPD are currently junior partners in Germany's governing coalition.
But the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin says the party has been slipping in opinion polls and Mr Schulz may live to regret his forecast.
Polls ahead of Sunday's vote put the two parties neck-and-neck.
The CDU's campaign has targeted voters' frustration on issues such as traffic congestion, rising crime and education.
"Being stuck in traffic is time from people's lives," Mrs Merkel said while campaigning recently.
"When you add all the time up over a year, it has become a huge amount of time for commuters."
The CDU has also promised to beef up security with longer prison terms for offenders and more funds for the police.
But state Premier Hannelore Kraft accused Mrs Merkel of ignoring the SPD's achievements on security, telling the broadcaster WDR: "She is an unworthy chancellor."
Mrs Kraft has governed NRW since 2010 in coalition with the Greens. But the Greens have seen their support more than halve, making it difficult for the SPD to muster a coalition.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39912344
Label: actor, family, health, politic
Jumat, 12 Mei 2017
Ebola: WHO declares outbreak in DR Congo
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At least one person has died after contracting the virus in the country's north-east, the WHO says.
The Congolese health ministry had notified the WHO of a "lab-confirmed case" of Ebola, it added on Twitter.
More than 11,000 people died in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2015, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The last outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo was in 2014 and killed more than 40 people.
Of the nine people suspected to have contracted the deadly virus, three died, with one case of Ebola confirmed through tests at the national laboratory in the capital Kinshasa, WHO Congo representative Allarangar Yokouide said in a statement.
People began to get sick on or after 22 April in Bas-Uele province in the country's far north, he added.
The region affected lies 1,300km (800 miles) north-east of Kinshasa, close to the border with the Central African Republic.
"It is in a very remote zone, very forested, so we are a little lucky. But we always take this very seriously," WHO Congo spokesman Eric Kabambi told Reuters news agency.
The WHO described the outbreak as "a public health crisis of international importance".
It said the first teams of experts, including epidemiologists, biologists and hygiene specialists had been dispatched and were due to arrive in the affected region by Friday or Saturday.
No need to panic: Tulip Mazumdar, BBC Global Health correspondent
While this outbreak will be extremely worrying for communities in this remote part of northern DR Congo, it is important to remember that the country has stamped out more Ebola outbreaks than any other place on earth. It is well practiced in fighting the deadly virus.
Ebola was first identified in DR Congo (then Zaire) in 1976. Since then, there have been at least nine outbreaks in the country. The last was in 2014, when - at the same time - parts of West Africa were fighting a separate outbreak, the worst in history.
DR Congo was able to bring an end to its epidemic within four months. In West Africa, which had never experienced an Ebola outbreak before, it took two years.
Authorities in the DR Congo will need to act quickly to contain the virus, and ensure it doesn't spread to more populated areas.
This time, for the first time, health officials have another weapon they can use. The world has an experimental vaccine that could be deployed if needed.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39899406
Label: doctor, health, news, virus
