Popular News From Popular Sites: April 2014

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Cost pressures mount as Malaysia Airlines search drags on

By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - With the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 entering a new, much longer phase, the countries involved must decide how much they are prepared to spend on the operation and what they stand to lose if they hold back. The search is already set to be the most costly in aviation history and spending will rise significantly as underwater drones focus on a larger area of the seabed that Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Monday could take six to eight months to search. But despite U.S. President Barack Obama publicly promising to commit more assets, the United States appears keen to begin passing on the costs of providing sophisticated sonar equipment that will form the backbone of the expanded hunt. That means Australia, China and Malaysia - the countries most closely involved in the operation - look set to bear the financial and logistical burden of a potentially lengthy and expensive search.

Virginia Volcanoes Linked to East Atlantic Islands

The new findings could explain the enigmatic origin of the 48-million-year-old volcanoes, which punched through Virginia's fractured crust long after other fiery eruptions ceased along the East Coast. The surprisingly young volcanoes also offer clues into the tectonic forces molding eastern North America's mountains and hidden underbelly. "These young volcanoes are in an area where no one would expect to see volcanic activity," said lead study author Sarah Mazza, a geologist at Virginia Tech. "These rocks are our only physical window into processes that helped shape Virginia and even the whole southeastern Appalachia as well."

Universe Expanding Symmetrically, Real-Time Analysis Shows

The universe is expanding — and it is doing so at the same rate in all directions, according to new measurements that appear to confirm the standard model of cosmology. Astrophysicist Jeremy Darling of the University of Colorado Boulder came to this conclusion after employing a research strategy known as "real-time cosmology," which seeks out the tiny changes in the universe that occur over human timescales. The idea of "real-time cosmology" was proposed in two separate papers by Alan Sandage in 1962 and by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loebin 1998. Scientists don't know much about dark energy, except that it may be a property of the vacuum.

Okla. botches execution, raising questions on death penalty in U.S.

By Heide Brandes OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Oklahoma inmate Clayton Lockett died during a botched execution on Tuesday, minutes after a doctor had called a halt to the procedure, raising more questions about new death penalty cocktails used by the state and others. Thirteen minutes after a doctor administered a lethal injection at the state's death chamber in McAlester, Lockett lifted his head and started mumbling. The troubled execution was expected to have national implications, with lawyers for death row inmates having argued that new lethal injection cocktails used in Oklahoma and other states could cause undue suffering and violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. "This could be a real turning point in the whole debate as people get disgusted by this sort of thing," said Richard Dieter, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, which monitors capital punishment.

Girl charged with murder in shooting death of another girl over a boy

CHICAGO - A 14-year-old Chicago girl accused of killing another girl in a dispute over a boy tried unsuccessfully to fire a gun before someone fixed it for her and handed it back to her so she could open fire, prosecutors said Tuesday. That detail emerged during a hearing in juvenile court on the latest incident of violence grabbing headlines in Chicago. Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy told reporters earlier in the day that the girls were fighting over a boy. A visibly upset McCarthy told reporters that the shooting illustrates a point he's long made: It is far too easy to get a gun in Chicago.

Oregon man who vanished 88 years ago remains active missing-person case

PORTLAND, Ore. - Marvin Clark vanished during a short trip to Portland on Halloween weekend 1926, but the search to find out what happened to him may finally be drawing to a close nearly 90 years later. Despite the age of the remains, investigators were able to get a good DNA profile, said Dr. Nici Vance of the Oregon state medical examiner's office.

Off-duty captain warned of stability problems on South Korean ferry; death toll at 212

MOKPO, South Korea - An off-duty captain of the sunken South Korean ferry has told investigators that the owners ignored his warning that the ship shouldn't carry too much cargo because it wasn't very stable, a prosecutor said Wednesday. The captain, who was identified only by his surname, Shin, was on vacation on the day of the accident two weeks ago that has left more than 300 people, mostly high school students, dead or missing and has caused widespread grief and shame. A stability test report on Jan. 24 from the Korean Register of Shipping showed that the ferry became top-heavy and less stable after modifications were made from October 2012 to February 2013 that involved adding more cabins on some of its floors. Senior prosecutor Ahn Sang-don, also part of the investigation team, said Wednesday that authorities detained two employees of Chonghaejin Marine Co. Ltd., the ferry's owner, on suspicion of accidental homicide stemming from professional negligence in connection with the sinking.

Beijing targets kebab vendors' grills in war on pollution

Alarmed by pollution in the Chinese capital, authorities in Beijing will crack down on smoky outdoor grills from May 1, in a move that will hit the city's popular kebab stalls, state media reported on Wednesday. During Beijing's sweltering summers, many residents gather round sidewalk tables, drinking beer and eating food cooked in the street, and the ban is bound to make an impact coming into effect on a labour day holiday. The new rules, which also target eateries serving popular cold dishes, are intended to help preserve food safety and control smog, state-owned China News Service reported on its website. Popular snacks like garlic cucumber salad and cold tofu skin will likely no longer be sold outdoors, the news report said.

Masked gunmen tighten grip on eastern Ukraine

By Marko Djurica HORLIVKA, Ukraine (Reuters) - Masked gunmen in military fatigues took control of a government building in another Ukrainian town on Wednesday, as pro-Russian separatists tightened their grip on a swathe of the country's industrial east largely unopposed by police. The heavily armed men wore the same military uniforms without insignia as other so-called "green men" who have joined pro-Russian protesters with clubs and chains in seizing control of a string of towns across Ukraine's Donbass coal and steel belt abutting the border with Russia. A police official in nearby Donetsk, the provincial capital where separatists have declared a "People's Republic of Donetsk", said separatists were also in control of the Horlivka police division, having seized the regional police HQ earlier in April. Wednesday's takeover followed the fall of government buildings on Tuesday further east in Luhansk, capital of Ukraine's easternmost province, driving home just how far control over the densely populated region has slipped from the pro-Western central government in Kiev.

Indonesia looks at changing palm oil export tax structure -govt official

Indonesia's industry ministry is considering changes to the country's palm oil export tax system, a government official said on Wednesday, as the top producer and exporter of the edible oil looks to further promote downstream industries. Southeast Asia's biggest economy - forecast to produce between 28 million and 30 million tonnes of crude palm oil and export around 21 million tonnes this year - introduced a monthly export tax in 1998 on palm oil and its products to guarantee domestic supplies and develop local processing industries. But with palm refining capacity set to jump almost 50 percent to 45 million tonnes in 2014, the industry ministry is looking at offering tax breaks to higher value-added palm products, Panggah Susanto, director general of agricultural industries told reporters. "The government is assessing and evaluating the existing palm oil export tax structure," Susanto said. Read More http://ift.tt/1o2WzDy

Ukraine crisis showcases Russian military revamp

By Peter Apps LONDON (Reuters) - Holding drills on Ukraine's border and sending bombers to the edge of NATO airspace, Russia's newly reformed military is in just the kind of regional confrontation it was redesigned for, experts say. Moscow has increased defence spending by about 30 percent since its 2008 war with Georgia, and those who study it say the money has been spent not just on hardware but on a much more flexible military structure. The result, they say, is a more streamlined force that can mobilise key units in a matter of days and support President Vladimir Putin's goal to reassert Russian influence over countries it once controlled within the former Soviet Union. Earlier this month, NATO's top military leader U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove said the forces currently arrayed along Ukraine's border could overwhelm the troubled state's forces in as little as five days. Read More http://ift.tt/1fscJGL

Protesters in Indian Kashmir try to block vote, police crack down

By Fayaz Bukhari SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Police fired teargas in India's Kashmir region on Wednesday to break up small groups of young men protesting against a general election as voters largely stayed away from polling stations in the troubled valley. More than 1,000 people including separatist leaders who called for an election boycott were taken into custody or placed under house arrest ahead of the vote in Srinagar, the region's main city and hotbed of a nearly 25-year-old rebellion. We want independence for Kashmir," said Hilal Ahmad, a 22-year-old protester at a deserted street crossing. India has long struggled to bring Kashmiris into the democratic mainstream and elections in the past have been marred by violence and low turn-out. Read More http://ift.tt/1o2WyPS

Turkish prosecutors investigate into Erdogan rival Gulen: minister

Turkish prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen based on allegations he attempted to overthrow the government, broadcaster CNN Turk and other media reports said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he would ask the United States to extradite former ally Gulen, whom he accuses of plotting to topple him and undermine Turkey with concocted graft accusations and secret wire taps.

ICJR: Meninggalnya Tersangka Sodomi Karena Polisi Lalai

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Informasi menyebutkan bahwa Kepolisian menduga perbuatan nekat AZ diduga karena tertekan dan merasa malu

Universe Expanding Symmetrically, Real-Time Analysis Shows

Leaders' personal power struggle destroying South Sudan - U.N. rights chief

By Carl Odera JUBA (Reuters) - A personal power struggle between South Sudan's leaders is driving Africa's newest nation to "catastrophe", the U.N. rights chief said on Wednesday. The visit by U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay was prompted by a rebel attack on the South Sudanese oil hub of Bentiu this month that left hundreds dead and a revenge assault by rivals on people sheltering in a U.N. base. The U.N. Security Council has called for an investigation into the killings and is considering sanctions against both sides, one led by President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and the other commanded by his sacked deputy, Riek Machar, a Nuer. “The country’s leaders, instead of seizing their chance to steer their impoverished and war-battered young nation to stability and greater prosperity, have instead embarked on a personal power struggle that has brought their people to the verge of catastrophe,” Pillay told a news conference in Juba.

Leaders' personal power struggle destroying South Sudan - U.N. rights chief

Jubilant Modi votes, India's ruling party fights to deny him majority

By Aditi Shah VADODARA, India (Reuters) - India's Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi looked triumphant after voting on Wednesday in the eighth stage of the world's largest election, but the man tipped to be the next prime minister is still not assured of winning an outright majority. Some 139 million people were registered in the 89 constituencies that polled on Wednesday in a race pitting Modi against the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty-led ruling Congress party and a pantheon of satraps. Casting his vote in his home state of Gujarat, the leader whose pro-business policies have delighted investors brandished his party's lotus symbol and taunted Congress heavyweights for shying away from the fight. The finance minister is not fighting the election.

Swiss allow Croatian workers access despite vote for immigration curb

Switzerland will grant workers from Croatia access to its labor market in a bid to kickstart treaty negotiations with the European Union that were frozen after Swiss voters approved curbs on immigration. Free movement of people and jobs within its borders is one of the fundamental policies of the EU, and Switzerland, while not a member of the 28-nation bloc despite being a major trading partner, has participated under a pact with Brussels. Wednesday's move by the Swiss government is part of planned measures aimed at limiting any EU backlash including on issues such as power supply, research and education. "Today's decisions demonstrate that the Federal Council is pursuing its strategy to push ahead with and coordinate current and future negotiations on various European policy dossiers to achieve the best possible outcome for Switzerland," the government said in a statement. Read More http://ift.tt/S9wMQ5

Firm says finds plane debris in Bay of Bengal: CNN

(Reuters) - A private company said it had found what it believes is wreckage of a plane in the Bay of Bengal that should be investigated as possible debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, CNN reported. The Joint Agency Coordination Center managing the multinational search for the missing plane dismissed the possibility, saying it continued to believe that the plane came down in the southern Indian Ocean off Australia. The Bay of Bengal is located between India and Myanmar, thousands of miles from the current search area.

Iraqis begin voting as violence grips a divided country

By Ned Parker and Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqis headed to the polls on Wednesday in their first national election since U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq in 2011, with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki seeking a third term amid rising violence. Iraq's western province of Anbar is torn by fighting as Sunni Muslim militants battle the Iraqi military. Its economy is struggling and Maliki faces criticism that he is aggravating sectarian splits and trying to consolidate power. Voters will choose from among 9,012 candidates and the parliamentary election will effectively serve as a referendum on Maliki, a Shi'ite Muslim who has governed for eight years.

Scientists Find Young Galaxy Rotating Like the Milky Way

Scientists from Arizona State University have discovered a young galaxy that exhibits features like more developed galaxies. The galaxy, called S0901, is rotating in a calm manner typical of more developed galaxies like the spiral Milky Way, according to scientists. "This galaxy is the equivalent of a 10-year-old. The discovery was made using the Herschel space observatory, a European Space Agency mission with important participation by Nasa.

Exelon Corp to buy Pepco Holdings for $6.83 bln

(Reuters) - Nuclear power producer Exelon Corp said it would buy Pepco Holdings Inc for $6.83 billion (4.06 billion pounds) to create the biggest Mid-Atlantic electric and gas utility. The $27.25 per share offer represents a near 20 percent premium to Pepco Holdings' Tuesday close of $22.79 on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Swetha Gopinath in Bangalore; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty) Read More http://ift.tt/R2f5Aw

Scientists Find Young Galaxy Rotating Like the Milky Way

Polresta Palembang amankan 3 Kg sabu dari tangan tukang ojek

MERDEKA.COM. Jajaran Satuan Reskrim Polresta Palembang menggagalkan peredaran narkoba jenis sabu-sabu sebanyak 3 kilogram senilai Rp 5 miliar. Sabu tersebut diamankan dari tangan bandar yang berprofesi sebagai tukang ojek bernama Soni (39).

China says premier's Africa visit about more than just oil deals

By Ben Blanchard BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is to visit four African countries, including oil-rich Angola and Nigeria, but will not be going simply for energy deals as China increasingly aims to boost African living standards, officials said on Wednesday. Trips by Chinese leaders to Africa are often marked by big natural resource deals, triggering criticism from some that China is only interested in the continent's mineral and energy wealth. Africans broadly see China as a healthy counterbalance to Western influence but, as ties mature, there are growing calls from policymakers and economists for more balanced trade relations. China is also keen not to be perceived as an imperial master.

SE Asia Stocks-All up; Malaysia hits 4-month high

SINGAPORE, April 30 (Reuters) - All stock markets in Southeast Asia rose on Wednesday on solid corporate earnings, with Malaysia scaling to its four-month peak on foreign investment inflows. Gains eclipsed ... Read More http://ift.tt/1ly459D

Spesialis Pencuri Ban Serep Gentayangan di Grand Indonesia

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Pencuri spesialis ban serep mobil yang biasa beroperasi di parkiran West Mall Grand Indonesia akhirnya tertangkap

NBA gives lifetime ban to Clippers owner Donald Sterling

NEW YORK, N.Y. - NBA commissioner Adam Silver delivered the swiftest, strongest penalty he could, then called on NBA owners to force Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell the team for making racist comments that hurt the league. "We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views. They simply have no place in the NBA," Silver said at a news conference. Sterling, 80, is banned for life from any association with the league or the Clippers, and was fined $2.5 million — the maximum allowable under the NBA constitution.

Fukushima operator TEPCO books $4.3 bn profit

Members of the media and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) employees wearing protective suits and masks walk towards No. 1 reactor building at TEPCO's tsunami-crippled Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima ...

UN official 'appalled' by S Sudan leaders' apathy

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The rainy season is about to start in South Sudan, but war in the world's newest country has forced more than 1 million people to flee their homes, leaving few people to plant or harvest crops. The U.N.'s top official for human rights said Wednesday she is appalled by the apparent lack of concern by the country's two warring leaders that a catastrophic famine looms. Read More http://ift.tt/1fxlMpR

VEGOILS-Palm slips to near 3-week low on weak soy, prices fall for 2nd straight month

* Palm prices down 0.4 pct in April * Strong possibility of selling to push prices to 2,600 ringgit - trader * Malaysia's March palm exports up 1.3 pct - ITS * Palm oil still targets 2,612 ringgit - technicals ... Read More http://ift.tt/1jgV3gl

Ukraine separatists seize second provincial capital, fire on police

By Vasily Fedosenko LUHANSK Ukraine (Reuters) - Hundreds of pro-Russian separatists stormed government buildings across one of Ukraine's provincial capitals on Tuesday and opened fire on police holed up in a regional headquarters, a major escalation of the rebellion in defiance of new Western sanctions. Meanwhile Russian share prices rose in relief at the mildness of the newly announced U.S. and European sanctions over Moscow's involvement in the crisis, which amounted mainly to adding a small number of names to existing blacklists while putting off threats to take more serious measures. Demonstrators smashed their way into the provincial government headquarters in Luhansk, Ukraine's easternmost province, which abuts the Russian border, and raised separatist flags over the building, while police did nothing to interfere. "The regional leadership does not control its police force," said Stanislav Rechynsky, an aide to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, referring to events in Luhansk.

Six hurt, suspect dead in Georgia FedEx facility shooting

By Tami Chappell KENNESAW, Georgia (Reuters) - A FedEx Corp package handler armed with a shotgun opened fire at a shipping facility in suburban Atlanta early on Tuesday, injuring six people before killing himself, apparently with his own weapon, police and hospital officials said. Three people were in critical condition, two of them with life-threatening injuries, after being shot by the 19-year-old gunman just before 6 a.m. EDT at a FedEx warehouse near the airport in Kennesaw, Georgia, about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta, police and hospital officials said. The shooter, identified as Geddy L. Kramer of Acworth, Georgia, drove up to the security guard shack at the warehouse and shot the guard before entering the warehouse where he shot the other five people, according to police. FedEx employee Liza Aiken told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution she was correcting addresses on packages when she saw a colleague dressed in black and armed with a knife, gun and a cartridge belt strapped across this chest.

Malaysia Airlines 370: Looking in all the wrong places?

The hunt for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 is now an underwater search. An Australian company, GeoResonance, says that it has found the wreckage of an aircraft on the sea floor - and that it might be MH370. But the catch is that this alleged aircraft wreckage is about 100 miles south of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal. That's about 3,500 miles away from where the current Australian-led underwater search is being conducted.

Italy court says Knox murdered flatmate over argument, not orgy

By Silvia Ognibene FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - The Italian court that found American student Amanda Knox guilty of murder in January, said on Tuesday she had killed her British flatmate because of a domestic argument, rather than during a sex game, and that she herself had wielded the knife. Knox spent four years in an Italian jail after a court found that she and her then boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, had murdered 21-year-old British student Meredith Kercher in 2007. Knox and Sollecito both proclaim their innocence. A third person, Ivory Coast-born Rudy Guede, who was tried separately, is serving a 16-year sentence for his part in Kercher's murder at the university town of Perugia.

In the aftermath of devastating tornadoes, tales of heroism emerge

A chain of deadly tornadoes that have been tearing through the American south since Sunday have forced thousands of residents to take cover, and left many of them homeless or without power. The death toll now stands at 28. As … Continue reading →

Ukraine says military on full alert for possible Russian attack

Ukraine's armed forces are on full military alert in case of a Russian invasion, the country's acting president said on Wednesday, reiterating concern over Russian troops massed on the border. "I once again return to the real danger of the Russian Federation beginning a land war against Ukraine," Oleksander Turchinov told a meeting of regional governors in Kiev, Interfax-Ukraine reported. "Our armed forces have been put on full military readiness," he said. Read More http://ift.tt/1iBTWU1

Colorado Symphony Orchestra links up with pot industry for series of fundraising concerts

DENVER - The Colorado Symphony Orchestra said Tuesday it will play a series of "cannabis-friendly" fundraising concerts sponsored by the state's burgeoning pot industry. "The cannabis industry obviously opens the door even further to a younger, more diverse audience," symphony CEO Jerome Kern told The Associated Press. In return for sponsorship, marijuana-related companies get "the legitimacy of being associated with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra." he said. Richard Yost of Ideal 420 Soil, which sells soil and other cultivation products to marijuana growers, sees sponsoring the concerts is a chance to link his company to one of the best orchestras in the nation and to make the point that pot consumers can be clean-cut and sophisticated. Read More http://ift.tt/1pLCRRp

Malaysia's March broad money up 5.9 pct on year - c.bank

* March broad money, M3, up 5.9 pct yr/yr, unchanged from Feb * March net financing up 9.6 pct yr/yr * March net impaired loans ratio 1.3 pct KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Reuters) - Malaysia's money supply ... Read More http://ift.tt/1jgP7nL

Korban Salah Tangkap Mengaku Didukung Mantan Wakapolri

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Andro Suprianto (18) dan Nurdin Prianto (23), kini telah menghirup udara bebas setelah ditahan sekitar 10 bulan

Bawa Narkoba Perangkat Desa Ditangkap Polisi

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Seorang oknum perangkat desa Bontobiraeng Utara, Kecamatan Bontonompo, Mustafa Khalil alias Lili (34) ditangkap Satuan Narkoba

Polisi tembak komplotan perampok spesialis penumpang taksi

MERDEKA.COM. Anggota Sub Direktorat Reserse Mobil Polda Metro Jaya menangkap empat orang anggota kelompok perampok spesialis penumpang taksi. Salah seorang tersangka diketahui sebagai residivis dengan kasus yang sama."Sasaran diutamakan kaum perempuan, dianggap makhluk lemah," kata Kepala Bidang Humas Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Pol Rikwanto, Rabu (30/4).Keempat tersangka, Sugeng Supriyatno, 45 tahun, Nofa Hendra (38), Adel Saputra (32) dan Asmardhi (38) ditangkap di lokasi yang berbeda, yakni di Bekasi dan Jakarta Barat pada 18 April 2014. ...

At least 54 killed in Syria as attacks hit pro-government areas in Damascus and Homs

DAMASCUS, Syria - A massive double car bombing and a mortar strike targeted pro-government neighbourhoods Tuesday in two of Syria's largest cities, killing at least 54 people a day after President Bashar Assad declared his candidacy for re-election. The attacks in Damascus and Homs heightened fears of an escalation ahead of the contentious June 3 vote and showed that despite a series of battlefield setbacks, the rebels remain capable of hitting the government and its core of support. Now in its fourth year, Syria's conflict has left the country a chaotic tableau of localized battles whose front lines shift back and forth, but have little impact on the wider war. The map of control has remained largely unaltered: Assad holds sway in Damascus and the corridor that runs up to the Mediterranean coast, while the rebels control most of the north along the Turkish border and the Kurdish minority controls a corner in the northeast.

Thai PM, Election Commission agree to hold new vote in July

Thailand's prime minister and the country's Election Commission agreed on Wednesday to hold an election in July despite the opposition's reluctance to say whether it will take part after boycotting a February poll that was later annulled. "The prime minister and the Election Commission agree on a July 20 election," Puchong Nutrawong, secretary-general of the commission, told reporters. Thailand has been in crisis since November and protesters disrupted the February election, which acting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's party had been expected to win.

Philippines says U.S. obligated to help in case of attack

The United States has a treaty obligation to help the Philippines in case of an attack on its territory or armed forces in the South China Sea, the Philippine foreign minister said on Wednesday, rejecting questioning of a security pact. The United States and the Philippines on Monday signed a 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement allowing U.S. forces wider access to Philippine bases and to position ships, aircraft, equipment and troops for maritime security. The deal was testimony to an "ironclad" U.S. commitment to defend its oldest Southeast Asian ally, U.S. President Barack Obama told troops from both countries this week while on a visit to Manila. But Obama did not say categorically the United States would defend the Philippines in its territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, leading to some questions in the Philippines about the scope of the pact. Read More http://ift.tt/1knfars

Ukraine's richest man says has faith in industrial east

Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, said on Wednesday he had no plans to sell his businesses in the country's industrial east and his faith was unshaken in a region increasingly in the hands of pro-Russian separatists. The 47-year-old tycoon said he would continue to invest in Ukraine, which must find a way to unite again as rebels seized more buildings across the Donbass coal and steel belt around the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk. Most of Akhmetov's Ukrainian business empire, which runs from steel and metals to media and telecoms, is based in the Donbass area, where members of the self-declared "People's Republic of Donetsk" have called for a referendum on independence on May 11. "I am not selling my business nor am I going to leave Ukraine. Read More http://ift.tt/1rNtQ7W

Wreckage in Bay of Bengal not from MH370: searchers

REUTERS - A private company said it had found what it believes is wreckage of a plane in the Bay of Bengal that should be investigated as potential debris from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, but the possibility was dismissed by search coordinators. The Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) managing the multinational search for the missing plane said it continued to believe that the plane came down in the southern Indian Ocean off Australia. The Bay of Bengal is located between India and Myanmar, thousands of miles from the current search area. "The company is not declaring this is MH370, however it should be investigated," GeoResonance said in a statement.

Mabes Polri Bantu Ungkap Kematian Azwar

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Dikatakannya, upaya pengusutan tersebut dilakukan untuk memastikan apakah korban dengan sengaja melakukan bunuh diri

Escalating Ukraine violence caps FTSE 100 despite Shell boost

An escalation of violence in Ukraine put a lid on British blue chips on Wednesday, offsetting sharp gains in the energy sector, where results for oil major Royal Dutch Shell beat expectations. Pro-Russian separatists seized control of state buildings in the town of Horlivka, tightening their grip on swathes of Ukraine's industrial east, in a major escalation of their revolt despite new Western sanctions on Russia. While Britain's top 100 companies make only 0.3 percent of their sales to eastern Europe, Thomson Reuters Datastream shows, tensions between Russia and the West and the prospect of costly sanctions dented appetite for assets which depend on economic growth, such as shares. "Positive corporate and economic data in recent weeks have unfortunately more or less been neutralised by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Read More http://ift.tt/PQcby4

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Pengacara: Banding Rusli Zainal Sudah Dilimpahkan

Pekanbaru (Antara) - Seorang pengacara yang merupakan tim dari penasehat hukum mantan Gubernur Riau Rusli Zainal yang mendapatkan vonis 14 tahun penjara menyatakan berkas serta memori banding sudah dilimpahkan pada Pengadilan Tinggi (PT) Riau. "Berkas sudah kita serahkan kepada Pengadilan Tipikor (Tindak Pidana Korupsi) Pekanbaru pekan lalu. Sedangkan memori menyusul beberapa hari, setelah berkas itu dilimpahkan ke PT," ujar Penasehat Hukum Rusli Zainal, Eva Nora SH di Pekanbaru, Selasa. ...

China's Rich and Poor Gap Surpasses US

The income gap between China's haves and have-nots has surpassed that of the US and is among the widest in the world, according to a report. A common gauge of income inequality almost doubled in China between 1980 and 2010 and now highlights a "severe" disparity, according to researchers at the University of Michigan. Social unrest could turn the clock back on Beijing's plan to reform the world's second-largest economy -- the Chinese government engineered the growth slowdown to below 8% to deal with credit risks, and pollution that has stifled the nation's biggest cities. Using data from six surveys conducted by five universities in China, the University of Michigan researchers worked out a measure of income inequality, the Gini coefficient, and compared it to previous estimates.

Mayor in eastern Ukraine shot in the back; US hits Russia with more sanctions

KIEV, Ukraine - The mayor of Ukraine's second-largest city was shot in the back Monday and hundreds of men attacked a peaceful pro-Ukraine rally with batons, bricks and stun grenades, wounding dozens as tensions soared in Ukraine's volatile east. One presidential candidate said the mayor was deliberately targeted in an effort to destabilize the entire city of Kharkiv, a hub of 1.5 million people. Russia's defence chief meanwhile assured U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel in a telephone call that Russia would not invade Ukraine, the Pentagon said. Armed insurgents tacitly backed by Moscow are seeking more autonomy in eastern Ukraine — and possibly even independence or annexation with Russia.

Russia diplomat says U.S. high-tech export curbs will be a blow

U.S. restrictions on high-tech exports to Russia under its latest Ukraine-related sanctions will be a blow to Russian companies in the sector, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday. The White House said on Monday the United States would deny export licences for any high-technology items that could contribute to Russian military capabilities and revoke existing licences. Washington, locked in a Cold War-style conflict with Russia over Ukraine, and Moscow are still cooperating on space exploration. Russian rockets are the only way astronauts around the world can get to the International Space Station since NASA ended shuttle flights in 2012. Read More http://ift.tt/1k9GIPG

Malaysia names leader for MH370 international investigation team

Malaysia has hired Kok Soo Chon, a former director-general at the department of civil aviation, to lead the international investigation team tasked to find the cause of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the government said on Tuesday. Other team members are from the U.S. National Transport Safety Board, Britain's Air Accidents Investigations Branch, China's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, France's Land Transport Accident Investigation Bureau, the Australia Transport Safety Bureau, aircraft manufacturer Boeing and British satellite communications company Inmarsat. "The main purpose of the international investigation team is to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the incident so similar incidents could be avoided in the future," Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

Gold down ahead of Fed meeting, Ukraine tensions cap losses

By Clara Denina LONDON (Reuters) - Gold fell below $1,300 an ounce on Tuesday as the market focused on the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting and expectations for strong U.S. data, though losses were limited by uncertainty over the situation in Ukraine. The Fed starts a two-day policy meeting later on Tuesday and is expected to reduce its monthly bond purchase programme for the fourth time in a row and to provide guidance on when it might raise interest rates. Spot gold fell 0.4 percent to $1,290.10 an ounce by 1019 GMT. U.S. gold futures for June delivery fell 0.7 percent to $1,290.60 an ounce.

Israeli forces demolish West Bank mosque as peace talks deadline passes

By Ali Sawafta KHIRBET AL-TAWEEL, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli forces demolished several structures, including a mosque, in a Palestinian village on Tuesday, the day a deadline for a deal in now-frozen peace talks expired. A Reuters correspondent saw several hundred soldiers deployed in Khirbet al-Taweel, in the occupied West Bank, around daybreak. Israel has also drawn Palestinian anger by continuing to expand settlements on land they seek for a state. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read More http://ift.tt/1pJxlOW

FTSE hits seven-week high, led by Shire

By Tricia Wright LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's top shares hit a seven-week high on Tuesday, bolstered by more deal news in the pharmaceuticals sector alongside upbeat corporate earnings reports from BP and wealth manager St. James's Place. Shire SHP.L climbed 4 percent, the top percentage gainer on the blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE, after Reuters reported that Botox-maker Allergan Inc AGN.N was preparing a fresh takeover approach. An upbeat results statement lifted BP BP.L 0.7 percent and, along with Shire, the oil major was one of the biggest points contributors to the UK benchmark as it raised its quarterly dividend for the second time in six months and said more share buy-backs were on the cards. Any sign of a positive momentum is likely to support share prices," James Butterfill, global equity strategist at Coutts, said.

Frenchman Desailly 'unsuitable' for Vietnam coach job

By Nguyen Phuong Linh HANOI (Reuters) - World Cup winner Marcel Desailly is unlikely to become Vietnam's national coach because he is unsuitable for the job, a top official said on Tuesday, the latest setback in the Frenchman's bid to launch his coaching career. The former AC Milan and Chelsea player approached Vietnam after their manager quit on April 4, but the former France captain was not the candidate the Vietnam Football Federation is looking for. Soccer is hugely popular in Vietnam, largely because of the country's passion for illicit gambling, but with funds limited, the national side has struggled to win trophies or hire big-name coaches. Vietnam are 116th in FIFA's world rankings and their biggest win was the 2008 Suzuki Cup, the South-east Asian championship.

U.S. sanctions Putin allies as Ukraine violence goes on

By Maria Tsvetkova and Thomas Grove DONETSK/SLAVIANSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - The United States imposed new sanctions on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, prompting Moscow to denounce "Cold War" tactics amid more violence in eastern Ukraine. The move to ban visas and freeze assets of the likes of Putin's friend Igor Sechin, head of oil giant Rosneft, also drew fire from President Barack Obama's domestic critics, who called it a "slap on the wrist." EU states added 15 more Russians and Ukrainians to their blacklist and will reveal them on Tuesday. The new round of U.S. sanctions, following those imposed last month when Russia annexed Crimea, barely registered in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Moscow rebels were holding a group of German and other OSCE military observers for a fourth day.

Korean ferry operator relied on cargo as budget airlines took off

By Hyunjoo Jin and Meeyoung Cho SEOUL (Reuters) - The operator of the South Korean ferry that capsized and sank this month with the loss of about 300 lives was apparently being squeezed by competition from budget airlines and had to increasingly rely on its cargo business. Prosecutors have said determining the weight of the cargo is a key part of their investigation because of suspicion of overloading. Financial records of the operator, Chonghaejin Marine Co., show cargo had become an increasingly important part of its income in the years since budget airlines stated winning over large numbers of travelers. "Chonghaejin faced an uphill battle against budget carriers, which led to an shrinking number of ferry passengers," said Kim Gilsoo, a professor in shipping management at Korea Maritime University.

Doomed Space Cloud Nears Milky Way's Black Hole as Scientists Watch

Scientists around the world are tracking a doomed cloud of gas as it makes a daring approach toward the monster black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, a cosmic encounter that might reveal new secrets on how such supermassive black holes evolve. The G2 space cloud, and its ultimate death by black hole, have been under close scrutiny since the cloud's fate was first identified in 2011. Now, the cloud is destined to be shredded by a supermassive black hole. For scientists Stefan Gillessen and Daryl Haggard, the excitement is mounting over the impending death of G2.

Dark Matter Could Send Asteroids Crashing into Earth: New Theory

Dark matter could sling lethal meteors at Earth, potentially causing mass extinctions like the cataclysm that ended the Age of Dinosaurs, Harvard scientists say. Scientists have recently suggested that a thin, dense disk of dark matter about 35 light-years thick lies along the central plane of the Milky Way, cutting through the galaxy's disk of stars. Researchers suggest this disk of clouds and clumps made of dark matter might disturb the orbits of comets in the outer solar system, hurling them inward. This could lead to catastrophic asteroid impacts on Earth, of the kind that likely ended the Age of Dinosaurs, said theoretical physicists Lisa Randall and Matthew Reece at Harvard University.

Doomed Space Cloud Nears Milky Way's Black Hole as Scientists Watch

First Solar Eclipse of 2014 Thrills Skywatchers in Australia (Photos)

The moon took a bite out of the sun in the first solar eclipse of the year on Tuesday (April 29), a celestial ballet visible from Australia that captivated stargazers despite cloudy weather. Tuesday's solar eclipse was a "ring of fire" annular eclipse, but only for an uninhabited swath of Antarctica. For observers in Australia, the moon appeared to covered about 65 percent of the sun, resulting in a striking partial solar eclipse at sunset. I hope the penguins of Antarctica enjoyed their view of the 'Ring of Fire.'" [Amazing Photos of the April 29 Solar Eclipse (Gallery)]

Main Judi Koprok Buat Bayar Cicilan Rumah

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - MR (42), rela datang dari rumahnya di Karawang, Jawa Barat ke bilangan Mangga Besar hanya untuk berjudi koprok

Dark Matter Could Send Asteroids Crashing into Earth: New Theory

Doomed Space Cloud Nears Milky Way's Black Hole as Scientists Watch

Turkey to seek extradition of U.S.-based cleric Gulen: Erdogan

ANKARA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday Turkey will begin a legal process for the extradition of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally and now arch-foe whom Erdogan accuses of orchestrating a campaign to unseat him. Asked by a reporter in parliament if a legal process would be launched for the extradition from the United States of Gulen, Erdogan said: "yes, it will begin." (Reporting by Gulsen Solaker; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Nick Tattersall/Jeremy Gaunt)

First Solar Eclipse of 2014 Thrills Skywatchers in Australia (Photos)

Russia says EU should be 'ashamed' over sanctions

Russia suggested on Tuesday the European Union should be ashamed of itself for "doing Washington's bidding" by punishing Moscow with sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine. The Foreign Ministry said the EU sanctions imposed on 15 Russian and pro-Moscow Ukrainian officials would not ease tension in Ukraine, where the government is struggling to rein in pro-Russian separatists in southeastern regions who it says are backed by Moscow. "Instead of forcing the Kiev clique to sit at the table with southeastern Ukraine to negotiate the future structure of the country, our partners are doing Washington's bidding with new unfriendly gestures aimed at Russia," the Foreign Ministry said.