Popular News From Popular Sites: August 2014

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Libyan militia fighters enter U.S. embassy annex in Tripoli: U.S. source

Members of a Libyan rebel militia have entered an annex of the U.S. Libya has been rocked by the worst factional violence since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi. Read More http://ift.tt/VYmHH0

Scottish nationalist leader dismisses claim of sinister campaign tactics

By William James LONDON (Reuters) - The leader of Scotland's pro-independence campaign Alex Salmond on Sunday dismissed an accusation that grassroots supporters had used "organized street mobbery" to try to silence a series of street debates hosted by an opposition lawmaker. The two sides in debate over Scotland's future have been trading barbs ahead of a Sept. 18 vote on whether to become an independent state, or to keep the country's 307-year-old union with England and Wales intact. A poll last week showed that support for independence had risen after a televised debate, although surveys still show a lead for the 'Better Together' anti-independence campaign. The accusations of intimidation came from Jim Murphy, a member of the British parliament who last week suspended a tour of Scottish towns designed to promote the case for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

France arrests suspected jihadist minor before departure to Syria

A 16-year-old girl suspected of trying to reach Syria to join Islamist rebels has been arrested in the southeastern city of Nice, France's interior minister said on Sunday. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a statement that border police at Nice airport arrested the girl on Saturday, before her departure "for jihad". A man around the age of 20 was later arrested on suspicion of being her recruiter and of purchasing her airline ticket to Turkey, in order to reach Syria. Thousands of foreign fighters, many from Western Europe, have joined extremist Islamist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq, according to U.S. Read More http://ift.tt/1qgHEZK

U.S. Senator Menendez calls for arming Ukraine

Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on Sunday for the United States to arm Ukraine in its effort to repel what he called a Russian invasion. "We ... should be providing the Ukrainians with the types of defensive weapons that will impose a cost upon (Russian President Vladimir) Putin for further aggression," the New Jersey Democrat told CNN's "State of the Union" program from Kiev. He said the European Union, NATO and the United States should work together to arm Kiev, which has been fighting Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine for several month. Read More http://ift.tt/1qgFN76

Somali warlord agrees to talks, boosts government peace efforts

By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - A Somali clan leader who fought for years to retake a strategic southern port city he once controlled has laid down arms and joined talks, bolstering government efforts to show it can restore order to a chaotic nation. The fate of the city of Kismayu and the surrounding region of Jubbaland is seen as a test of Mogadishu's skill in building a federal system of government and pacifying a nation fought over for more than two decades by warlords and Islamist rebels. Dozens of people were killed in clashes last year when Barre Hirale's forces battled to regain control of Kismayu from the Ras Kamboni militia loyal to Ahmed Madobe, who had been chosen in May by a regional assembly to preside over Jubbaland. The African Union force AMISOM, which has been involved in reconciliation efforts, said Hirale and nearly 100 members of his militia gave up their weapons on Saturday after discussions with clan elders and Somali federal government delegations. Read More http://ift.tt/1qYCGRe

Gagal Jenguk Putrinya, Orangtua Florence Sihombing Kecewa

Kedua orangtua Florence Sihombing yang ditemani kuasa hukumnya, Wibowo Malik, tidak bisa bertemu dengan putrinya yang ditahan di Markas Polda Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY). Mereka gagal menjenguk putrinya karena terbentur dengan jadwal besuk tahanan.Orangtua mahasiswi S2 Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) itu pun kecewa tidak bisa mengetahui keadaan putrinya yang ditahan di Mapolda DIY, Kota Yogyakarta sejak kemarin."Pagi saya sudah ke sana tapi tidak bisa bertemu Floren. Tidak bisa bertemu karena memang bukan jadwal besuk tahanan. ...

U.S., foreign fighters in Syria pose 'very serious threat' to U.S.: lawmaker

Hundreds of U.S., British and Canadian citizens who have trained with Islamic State fighters trying to carve out their own state in Iraq and Syria pose a "very serious threat" to the United States, a top Republican lawmaker said Sunday. Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, urged the Obama administration to aggressively prosecute U.S. He said an attack on the Jewish museum in Brussels in May had shown a new push by extremist groups to carry out attacks on Western targets, and growing efforts to recruit backers on social media. "I'm very concerned because we don't know every single person who has gone and trained and learned how to fight," Rogers told "Fox News Sunday." The United States carried out three air strikes on Saturday against Islamic State fighters near the besieged Shi'ite town of Amerli in northern Iraq and airdropped more than hundred additional bundles of humanitarian aid to civilians trapped there, the Pentagon said. Read More http://ift.tt/1Cg9r1j

U.S., foreign fighters in Syria pose 'very serious threat' to U.S.: lawmaker

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of U.S., British and Canadian citizens who have trained with Islamic State fighters trying to carve out their own state in Iraq and Syria pose a "very serious threat" to the United States, a top Republican lawmaker said Sunday. Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, urged the Obama administration to aggressively prosecute U.S. citizens who had trained overseas as it weighed options for how to respond to escalating violence by Islamic State militants in Iraq. ... Read More http://ift.tt/1Cg9r1j

Is too much time in office bad for a politician?

Do some of our elected representatives spend too much time in office? Do they eventually lose touch with the wider world? Does this loss of touch occur somewhere around the 12-year mark?

Dorm room gift registries on the rise

Before 19-year-old Meaghan Vital moved away from home and into a dorm at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ont., she attended a baby shower for her cousin’s wife. As the soon-to-be-mom was opening blankets and onesies from her registry, she turned to Vital with a tip. “She told me there was one for dorms now, too,” says the hairstyling student. Vital headed immediately to TheBay.com and created her own.

Austrian conservatives pick Schelling as finance minister

By Michael Shields VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria's conservative People's Party (OVP) on Sunday chose as finance minister Hans Joerg Schelling, a politically connected millionaire lauded by supporters for whipping the social security network into shape. The OVP, the junior partner in a government coalition with the Social Democrats, said the party leadership unanimously picked Schelling, 60, head of the national social security system, to replace Michael Spindelegger, who quit last week in a row over tax reform. Read More http://ift.tt/1Cg3Bgt

Chefs, breeders pair up to produce tastier veggies

VERONA, Wis. (AP) — There's a good chance that many of the suddenly trendy vegetables that foodies latch on to in the next decade will benefit from research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Polda DIY Pertimbangkan Penangguhan Penahanan Florence Sihombing

Pihak kepolisian masih melihat pengajuan penangguhan penahanan yang rencananya diajukan kuasa hukum dari Florence Sihombing pada hari ini. Kabid Humas Polda Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) Anny Pudjiastuti mengatakan, pengajuan penangguhan penahanan menjadi hak dari kuasa hukum tersangka. Namun pihak kepolisian akan menganalisa terlebih dahulu pengajuan tersebut. ...

14 detained trying to prevent Faroe Island dolphin hunt

Fourteen animal rights activists have been detained on the Faroe island of Sandoy in the North Atlantic while trying to stop a controversial dolphin hunt, their organisation said Sunday.

Six soldiers dead in suspected al Qaeda bombings in south Yemen

At least six Yemeni soldiers were killed in two separate suicide bombings by suspected al Qaeda militants in southern Yemen on Sunday, local officials said. The Yemeni army launched a major campaign earlier this year to flush out militants of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) from their strongholds in southern Yemen, but militants have still been attacking state and military targets. One local official said a suicide car bomber blew himself up at a military checkpoint in Gol al-Rayda district in Shabwa province, killing three soldiers. Read More http://ift.tt/1pgRKEN

Islamists attack intelligence site in Somalia, leaving 11 dead

By Abdi Sheikh and Abdirahman Hussein MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Islamist rebels blew up a car bomb and gunmen attacked a national intelligence site in Somalia's capital where suspected militants are held, in an assault on Sunday that left 11 people dead, government officials and the rebel group said. Three soldiers and one civilian were killed along with seven militants, including the suicide bomber who detonated the vehicle packed with explosives, Security Ministry spokesman Mohamed Yusuf told reporters at the site. One intelligence officer, who identified himself only as Nur, told Reuters the gunmen had entered one building, forcing security personnel to fight room-to-room to clear them out. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's spokesman for military operations, told Reuters the group was behind the attack, the latest in a series of raids in Mogadishu in recent months, including a July assault on the presidential compound.

14 detained trying to prevent Faroe Island dolphin hunt

Fourteen animal rights activists have been detained on the Faroe island of Sandoy in the North Atlantic while trying to stop a controversial dolphin hunt, their organisation said Sunday.

Pakistani opposition to press on with protests until Sharif resigns

By Syed Raza Hassan ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan called on his supporters on Sunday to take to the streets across the country after at least three people were killed in clashes between protesters and police in the capital overnight. The violence erupted late on Saturday after thousands of protesters tried to march on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's residence, prompting police to fire tear gas to stop them. Demonstrators demanding his resignation have camped outside government offices for more than two weeks but it was the first time violence broke out as protesters, some armed with sticks and wearing gas masks, tried to break through police lines. Small skirmishes continued into Sunday and protesters were also expected to rally in the streets of Karachi later in the day but no major acts of violence were reported on Sunday.

Six soldiers dead in suspected al Qaeda bombings in south Yemen

Israel says shoots down drone over Golan Heights

Israel's military said it shot down a drone that flew from Syria into Israeli-controlled airspace over the Golan Heights on Sunday. It was not immediately clear who dispatched the unmanned aircraft or the nature of its mission, in an area where fighting from Syria's civil war has occasionally spilled over into Israeli-held territory. In a statement, the military said the drone was downed by a Patriot missile near the Quneitra border crossing between the Israeli-held Golan Heights and Syria. Rebels of al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front have been battling the Syrian army in the area and have wrested control of the crossing at Quneitra, which is operated by the United Nations.

Men march on at US Open but more upsets in women's draw

By Steve Keating New YORK (Reuters) - World number ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams advanced safely to the next round of the U.S. Open on Saturday but the women's draw saw yet another big upset as Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova was sent packing by a 145th-ranked qualifier. Third-seed Kvitova fell victim to 21-year-old Serbian Aleksandra Krunic, leaving only three of the top eight women's seeds still in the tournament. Simona Halep (2nd), Agnieszka Radwanska (4th), Angelique Kerber (6th) and Ana Ivanovic (8th) have already been shown the door. Read More http://ift.tt/1qXTzeM

Ashya King Case: What is Proton Beam Therapy?

In a video released shortly before his arrest the father of five-year-old Ashya King said that he took his son out of hospital because he wanted him to receive proton beam therapy, which he claims that doctors denied Ashya in the UK.

Top Asian News at 12:30 p.m. GMT

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — It's pretty hard to find a novel way to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now, but two-time Grammy-winning rapper Pras Michel, a founding member of the Fugees, has done it — getting his dousing in the center of North Korea's capital on Sunday. Pras had two buckets of ice water dumped on his head along Pyongyang's Taedong River, much to the surprise and bewilderment — and laughter — of North Koreans out for a stroll or some fishing on their day off. Read More http://ift.tt/1lqxGRx

U.S. military launches airstrikes to help beleaguered town in Iraq

Aircraft from the United States, Australia, France and Britain dropped food and water to the beleaguered Iraqi town of Amirli, which has been under siege by Islamic State militants for nearly two months, the Pentagon said Saturday night. Thousands of Shiite Turkmen have been stranded in the farming community about 105 miles (170 kilometres) north of Baghdad. The aid came at the request of the Iraqi government, Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement. Military operations will be limited in scope and duration as needed to address the humanitarian crisis in Amirli and protect the civilians trapped in the town, Kirby said.

Putin urges talks on 'political organization and statehood' in east Ukraine

MOSCOW/CHELYABINSK Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin called on Sunday for meaningful talks between pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine and the Kiev government on issues including "political organization and statehood" to protect people living there. Asked about Putin's remarks quoted by Tass news agency, a Kremlin spokesman said the president was not calling for a separate state in the region, adding it should remain part of Ukraine and calling the crisis there a domestic conflict. "Substantive, meaningful talks should begin immediately ... related to the issues of society's political organization and statehood in southeastern Ukraine to protect legitimate interests of people living there," Tass quoted Putin as saying. Read More http://ift.tt/1qXISZK

Top Asian News at 12:00 p.m. GMT

Kitchen science experiments urged

Parents should encourage children to cut up organs bought at the butchers and conduct chemistry experiments in the kitchen to spark their interest in science, according to a headmistress.

Israel says shoots down drone on Golan Heights

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's military said it shot down a drone that flew from Syria into Israeli-controlled airspace over the Golan Heights on Sunday. In a statement, the military said the unmanned aircraft was downed by a Patriot missile near the Quneitra border crossing with Syria. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Jeffrey Heller) Read More http://ift.tt/1B7q79L

Top Asian News at 11:30 a.m. GMT

Kitchen science experiments urged

Parents should encourage children to cut up organs bought at the butchers and conduct chemistry experiments in the kitchen to spark their interest in science, according to a headmistress.

Israel appropriates West Bank land for possible settlement use

Israel announced on Sunday a land appropriation in the occupied West Bank that an anti-settlement group termed the biggest in 30 years and a Palestinian official said would cause only more friction after the Gaza war. Israel Radio said the step was taken in response to the kidnapping and killing of three Jewish teens by Hamas militants in the area in June. Peace Now, which opposes Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank - territory Palestinians seek for a state, said the appropriation was meant to turn a site where 10 families now live adjacent to a Jewish seminary into a permanent settlement. Construction of a major settlement at the location, known as "Gevaot", has been mooted by Israel since 2000.

Iraqi forces, militias enter besieged northern town: officials

Iraqi security forces backed by Shi'ite militias entered on Sunday the northern town of Amerli, which had been besieged by the Islamic State for around two months, officials said. The mayor of Amerli and army officers said troops backed by militias defeated fighters from the Islamic State to the east of the town. Read More http://ift.tt/1wVN29x

Moscow, Kiev swap troops as Ukraine port girds for pro-Russian assault

By Mark Trevelyan and Aleksandar Vasovic MOSCOW/MARIUPOL Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia swapped soldiers who had entered each other's territory near the battlefield in eastern Ukraine, where Kiev says Moscow's forces have come to the aid of pro-Russian insurgents advancing for an assault on a major port. Ukrainian troops and local residents were reinforcing the port of Mariupol on Sunday, the next big city in the path of pro-Russian fighters who pushed back government forces along the Azov Sea this past week in an offensive on a new front. The new rebel advance has drawn increasing concern from Ukraine's Western allies, who say its success is a result of reinforcement by armoured columns of Russian troops. European Union leaders agreed on Saturday to draw up new economic sanctions against Moscow, a move hailed by the United States, which is planning tighter sanctions of its own and wants to act jointly with Europe.

Australia to join multinational weapons drop into Iraq

Australia will drop military equipment and aid to Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants in northern Iraq in response to a request from the United States, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Sunday. Australia will join Canada, Italy, France, Britain and the United States in providing arms and humanitarian relief as part of a multinational effort to be coordinated by Iraq and other countries in the region, Abbott said. Read More http://ift.tt/1nMz8Nm

Australia to join multinational weapons drop into Iraq

New fissure eruption at Iceland volcano prompts highest aviation warning

A new fissure eruption in an ice-free area of Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano system prompted authorities to raise their warning level for the risk of ash to aviation to the highest level of red on Sunday. Iceland's largest volcanic system, which cuts a 190 km long and up to 25 km wide (118 miles by 15.5 miles) swathe across the North Atlantic island, has been hit by thousands of earthquakes over the last two weeks and scientists have been on high alert. In 2010, an ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, in a different region of Iceland, closed much of Europe's air space for six days. "The Icelandic Met Office has raised the aviation color code to red for Bardarbunga/Holuhraun." Red is the highest level on a five-color scale and indicates that an eruption is imminent or under way, with a risk of spewing ash.

Investors' eyes pinned on ECB as Europe's health deteriorates

By Martin Santa BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Central Bank meeting on Thursday is the prime event for markets seeking clarity on the bank's response to a stalled recovery, disappearing inflation and the sluggish pace of reform in the euro zone. "Pressure for the ECB to do more has returned, not only because of weak output/inflation data, but mostly following (ECB's President Mario) Draghi's speech in Jackson Hole," said Frederik Ducrozet, senior euro zone economist at Credit Agricole. So the ECB may have to reach deeper into its policy toolbox, with some analysts even betting on an interest rate cut at the bank's meeting on Thursday. "We expect the ECB to cut all key interest rates by a further 10 basis points, thereby delivering a larger negative deposit rate (-0.20 pct) as well as a refi rate even closer to zero (0.05 pct)," Nomura wrote in its global market research.

China slams door shut on full Hong Kong democracy in 2017 vote

By Michael Martina and James Pomfret BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's parliament said on Sunday it will tightly control the nomination of candidates for a landmark election in Hong Kong in 2017, a move likely to trigger mass protests in the city's Central business district by disappointed democracy activists. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) said it had endorsed a framework to let only two or three candidates run in a 2017 vote for Hong Kong's next leader. All candidates must first obtain majority backing from a nominating committee likely to be stacked with Beijing loyalists. The relatively tough decision by the NPC - China's final arbiter on the city's democratic affairs - makes it almost impossible for opposition democrats to get on the ballot.

Polls say Scotland will spurn independence, but are they right?

By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) - Opinion polls, financial markets and bookmakers are unanimous - Scotland will reject independence in a historic referendum next month and the United Kingdom will endure. "Pollsters are particularly nervous given the disparity between them," John Curtice, a professor at Strathclyde University and a leading authority on polling, told Reuters. This is a pretty tough call for the polling industry." Scots pollsters recall 2011, when the pro-independence Scottish National Party confounded expectations to win its first overall majority in the Scottish parliament. "The dates are etched on pollsters' hearts," said Curtice.

Jika Terbukti, AKBP Idha Terancam Dihukum Mati

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Kepala Sub-direktorat Narkoba Kepolisian Daerah Kalimantan Barat Ajun Komisaris Besar Idha Endi Prasetyono dan penyidik di Reserse Narkoba, Brigadir Kepala Harahap, dicokok Polisi Diraja Malaysia di Bandara Kuching, Serawak, Malaysia, Sabtu, 30 Agustus 2014. Mereka tertangkap tangan membawa narkoba seberat 6 kilogram. (Baca: Polri Cek Kebenaran Perwira Polisi Bawa Narkoba)

China slams door shut on full Hong Kong democracy in 2017 vote

BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's parliament said on Sunday it will tightly control the nomination of candidates for a landmark election in Hong Kong in 2017, a move likely to trigger mass protests in the city's Central business district by disappointed democracy activists. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) said it had endorsed a framework to let only two or three candidates run in a 2017 vote for Hong Kong's next leader. Read More http://ift.tt/1ueqIlW

Florence Sudah Dapat Hukuman Sosial, Tidak Perlu Dipidana

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Diketahui, Florence resmi ditahan Polda DIY Sabtu (30/8/2014) pukul 14.00 WIB

Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil: Penahanan Florence Sihombing Berlebihan

Kepolisian Daerah (Polda) Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) menahan Florence Sihombing. Perempuan 26 tahun itu ditahan akibat umpatannya di media sosial mengenai antrean di Stasiun Pengisiuan Bahan Bakar Umum (SPBU) Lempuyangan, Yogyakarta.Menanggapi hal itu, Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil yang terdiri dari sejumlah LSM mengecam tindakan Polda DIY yang menahan Florence. Koalisi menilai, Polda DIY tak seharusnya menahan mahasiswa pendidikan notariat, Fakultas Hukum Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM) tersebut. ...

Russia and Ukraine trade soldiers at border: Russian news agencies

By Mark Trevelyan MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ukraine has handed over a group of captured Russian paratroops and Russia has returned 63 Ukrainian soldiers who crossed into its territory last week, Russian news agencies quoted a paratroop commander as saying. RIA news agency quoted Russian Major-General Alexei Ragozin as saying the paratroops had been handed back after "very difficult" negotiations and after what he called an unacceptable delay. Ukraine said last week it had captured 10 paratroops and presented them to the press as evidence that the Russian military is fighting alongside pro-Moscow separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russia said the men had crossed an unmarked section of the border by accident. Read More http://ift.tt/1ovn1Uq

Lesotho's deputy premier 'takes reins' in absence of PM: minister

Lesotho's deputy prime minister, Mothetjoa Metsing, is in charge of government in the absence of the premier, a government minister said on Sunday, a day after Prime Minister Thomas Thabane accused the military of staging a coup. "Constitutionally, in the absence of the prime minister, the deputy prime minister takes the reins," Selibe Mochoboroane, Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, told Reuters. "For now there hasn't been any arrangement, but it goes without saying the deputy prime minister will still oversee other issues that need to be taken care of until the prime minister returns." Thabane fled to neighboring South Africa on Saturday after the army surrounded his official residence and police stations in Lesotho's capital, Maseru. The Lesotho Defense Force has denied attempting a coup.

Kasus Florence, Harusnya Polisi Tempatkan Diri Sebagai Mediator, Bukan Perkeruh Suasana

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Kasus Florence Sihombing, polisi seharusnya tempatkan diri sebagai mediator, bukan memperkeruh suasana dengan menahan dia.

Lesotho's deputy premier 'takes reins' in absence of PM - minister

Lesotho's deputy prime minister, Mothetjoa Metsing, is in charge of government in the absence of the premier, a government minister said on Sunday, a day after Prime Minister Thomas Thabane accused the military of staging a coup. "Constitutionally, in the absence of the prime minister, the deputy prime minister takes the reins," Selibe Mochoboroane, Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, told Reuters. "For now there hasn't been any arrangement, but it goes without saying the deputy prime minister will still oversee other issues that need to be taken care of until the prime minister returns." Thabane fled to neighbouring South Africa on Saturday after the army surrounded his official residence and police stations in Lesotho's capital, Maseru. The Lesotho Defence Force has denied attempting a coup.

Delek Group eyes London listing, moves to loss on one-off items

Israeli energy company Delek Group is considering issuing its shares for trading on the London Stock Exchange in addition to its Tel Aviv listing. Delek's board has instructed management to assess the possibility of such a listing in lieu of splitting up the company in two, Delek said on Sunday. Separately, the company said it swung to a loss in the second quarter due to significant write-downs to the value of various holdings the company intends to sell as it refocuses its business on gas exploration In December the company, controlled by Israeli billionaire Yitzhak Tshuva, said it was considering a split of its holdings that would involve its oil and gas activities being concentrated in a new company. "We are very pleased that our strategy to move our group's full focus on the oil and gas exploration and production assets is happening ahead of our schedule," Delek's chief executive, Asaf Bartfeld, said in a statement. Read More http://ift.tt/Y2Mxeu

Turkish deputy PM Babacan to maintain oversight of economy: officials

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan will retain overall responsibility for the economy in the new government, senior officials told Reuters late on Saturday, a move likely to ease concerns of a turf war within the cabinet. Babacan, and more recently Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, have been part of a well-respected economics team that has helped steer Turkey through a decade of growth and stability. The announcement of new Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's cabinet on Friday saw both men retain their posts. "Babacan will be in charge of economic affairs.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Periksa kasus Florence, polisi undang psikolog dan ahli bahasa

MERDEKA.COM. Setelah Florence resmi ditahan Polda DIY, pihak penyidik berencana akan melakukan penyelidikan lebih lanjut dengan mendatangkan psikolog dan juga ahli bahasa.Menurut Direskrimsus Polda DIY, Kombes Pol Kokot Indarto, pihak masih perlu melakukan pemeriksaan terhadap kasus Florence ini secara lebih mendalam."Senin nanti kami akan periksa lagi, dengan ahli bahasan dan psikolog," kata Kokot di Polda DIY, Sabtu (30/08).Menurutnya pemeriksaan dengan melibatkan psikolog karena Kokot melihat profil Florence dijejaring sosial dan juga komunikasi yang tidak sinkron saat dilakukan ...

Iran says new U.S. sanctions 'inconsistent' with nuclear negotiations

Iran said on Saturday that new U.S. "These actions are inconsistent with the current process of nuclear negotiations," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said in remarks quoted by the state news agency IRNA, referring to measure announced by Washington on Friday. "At a time when the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken confidence building measures based on the agreements, as was reflected by the IAEA reports in Tehran, Iran is expecting the same actions by the U.S. Read More http://ift.tt/1zXfEva

At least ten dead in clashes as Yemen's Houthi rebels try to seize key road

At least ten men from local militias and from the Yemeni army were killed on Saturday in clashes with Houthi fighters who were trying to seize a road that links the capital Sanaa with oil-rich provinces, local government officials said. The Houthis have fought against the Yemeni government for years, demanding more power for their Zaydi Shi'ite Muslim sect in the predominantly Sunni country. Starting two weeks ago, the Houthis massed tens of thousands of supporters on the outskirts of Sanaa to press the government to quit and to restore fuel subsidies. The standoff has raised fears for the stability of Yemen, an ally of the United States and neighbour of major oil exporter Saudi Arabia. Read More http://ift.tt/1zXEriC

Russia effectively at war with EU: Lithuanian president

Russia is at war with Ukraine and so effectively at war with Europe, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said on Saturday, calling on Europe to supply Kiev with military equipment. "It is the fact that Russia is in a war state against Ukraine. Practically Russia is in a state of war against Europe," she told reporters in English as she arrived for an EU summit. Read More http://ift.tt/1vx6xDv

Islamic State militants behead captive Lebanese soldier: video

Islamic State militants beheaded a Lebanese soldier who was one of 19 captured by hardline Syrian Islamists when they seized a Lebanese border town for few days this month, a video posted on social media showed on Saturday. The soldier, recognizable as Ali al-Sayyed, a Sunni Muslim from north Lebanon, was shown blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back, writhing and kicking the dusty ground while a militant announces he will be killed. Islamic State, which declared a "caliphate" in June in parts of Iraq and Syria under its control, has been cited as a major security threat by Western governments since posting a video in August of the beheading of U.S journalist James Foley. The Lebanese army declined to comment but security and Islamic State sources confirmed the latest beheading. Read More http://ift.tt/1B4tjCZ

Lawan Burnley, Manchester United Belum Bisa Raih Kemenangan

Enam menit kemudian, Van Persie melepaskan tendangan dengan kaki kirinya dari dalam kotak penalti Burnley. Bola mengarah ke pojok kanan bawah gawang. Untungnya gelandang Burnley, Dean Marney, memblok bola tepat di depan garis gawang.Burnley bermain sabar. Pada menit ke-68, Matthew Taylor melepaskan tendangan mendatar dari dalam kotak penalti Setan Merah. Tapi bola hasil sepakannya masih bisa ditangkap David De Gea dengan mudah.Taylor kembali mengancam gawang MU. Pada menit ke-74, dia mengeksekusi tendangan bebas di luar kotak penalti MU. ...

South Africa condemns apparent coup by army in Lesotho

PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africa said on Saturday Lesotho's army appeared to have staged a coup d'etat and added that an unconstitutional change of government would not be tolerated by the region. "By all accounts the actions of the Lesotho defense force bear the hallmarks of a coup d'etat," South African Foreign Ministry Spokesman Clayson Monyela told reporters. (Reporting by Helen Nyambura; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Pascal Fletcher) Read More http://ift.tt/1tXqK2k

Ukraine says Russian tanks flatten town; EU ready to prepare sanctions

By Richard Balmforth and Adrian Croft KIEV/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Saturday Russian tanks had flattened a small border town and pro-Russian rebels had made fresh gains in its east, as EU leaders signalled they were ready to prepare more sanctions on Moscow over the crisis. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, speaking ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, said he was still holding out hope for a political solution but told journalists there were now thousands of foreign troops and hundreds of foreign tanks in his country. Russia has repeatedly dismissed accusations from Kiev and Western powers that it has sent soldiers across the border into its neighbour, or supported pro-Russian rebels fighting a five-month-old separatist war in Ukraine's east.

Labor Day Weekend Stargazing: See Moon, Mars and Saturn Meet Up

The yellowish-white object to the moon's right is the planet Saturn, while the one below and slightly to the moon's left is Mars. In April, Mars was 57.6 million miles (92.7 million kilometers) away from Earth, the Red Planet's closest pass with Earth for the year.

Large Earthquake Shakes Iceland Bardarbunga Volcano Site

A 5.4 magnitude tremor has hit the Bardarbunga volcano early on Saturday, but there were no signs of a fresh eruption. The quake was recorded at 0703 GMT, said Icelandic Met Office seismologist Martin Hensch. The latest quake comes a day after a small eruption along a fissure in a glacier about 40km from the main crater in Iceland's largest volcano system. The Icelandic Met Office had raised its aviation warning to red, its highest level on Friday, then downgraded it to orange.

Labor Day Weekend Stargazing: See Moon, Mars and Saturn Meet Up

EU to slap new sanctions on Russia

A top European Union official said Saturday that the 28-nation bloc is set to decide new sanctions against Russia as Ukraine's president warned the conflict with Moscow threatens peace and stability for Europe as a whole. Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko said a strong EU response is needed because his country is subject to "military aggression and terror" with thousands of Russian troops and hundreds of tanks in eastern Ukraine. EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said before an EU leaders' summit in Brussels that "sanctions are not and end in themselves" but a means to dissuade Russia from further destabilizing Ukraine.

First-of-a-kind Novartis heart failure drug saves lives, cuts hospitalizations

A new study reports one of the biggest potential advances against heart failure in more than a decade — a first-of-a-kind, experimental drug that lowered the chances of death or hospitalization by about 20 per cent. Doctors say the Novartis drug — which doesn't have a name yet — seems like one of those rare, breakthrough therapies that could quickly change care for more than half of the 6 million Americans and 24 million people worldwide with heart failure. "This is a new day" for patients, said Dr. Clyde Yancy, cardiology chief at Northwestern University in Chicago and a former American Heart Association president. It involved nearly 8,500 people in 47 countries and was the largest experiment ever done in heart failure.

President says hundreds of foreign tanks in Ukraine

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, condemning Russian intervention in his country, said on Saturday that there were now thousands of foreign troops and hundreds of foreign tanks in Ukraine. He was speaking at a news conference in Brussels ahead of a summit meeting with European Union leaders. (Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Alastair Macdonald)

At least ten dead in clashes as Yemen's Houthi rebels try to seize key road

At least ten men from local militias and from the Yemeni army were killed on Saturday in clashes with Houthi fighters who were trying to seize a road that links the capital Sanaa with oil-rich provinces, local government officials said. The Houthis have fought against the Yemeni government for years, demanding more power for their Zaydi Shi'ite Muslim sect in the predominantly Sunni country. Starting two weeks ago, the Houthis massed tens of thousands of supporters on the outskirts of Sanaa to press the government to quit and to restore fuel subsidies. The standoff has raised fears for the stability of Yemen, an ally of the United States and neighbor of major oil exporter Saudi Arabia. Read More http://ift.tt/1lnueL3

Hollande says EU will step up sanctions if no change by Russia

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders will be forced to step up sanctions on Russia if Moscow continues to intervene militarily in eastern Ukraine, French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday. ... Read More http://ift.tt/1n8TVe6

Puluhan narapidana kabur, Kemenkum HAM terjunkan tim investigasi

MERDEKA.COM. Kementerian hukum dan HAM (Kemenkumham) melakukan investigasi bersama tim gabungan Dirjen Pemasyarakatan dan Divisi Pemasyarakatan Kanwil melakukan investigasi terkait kaburnya puluhan tahanan dan nara pidana penghuni Lapas Kelas II B Timika.Direktur Bina Kamtib Ditjenpas Kemenkumham, Bambang Sumartyono mengatakan, kegiatan investigasi sekaligus klarifikasi ke Lapas Kelas II B Timika merupakan perintah langsung dari Menteri Hukum dan HAM, Amir Syamsuddin. ...

China's Xi urges army to create strategy for information warfare

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said China will spur military innovation and called on the army to create a new strategy for "information warfare" as the country embarks on military reform, state media said on Saturday. Xi heads the Central Military Commission, which controls the 2.3-million-strong armed forces, the world's largest, and is stepping up efforts to modernize forces that are projecting power across disputed waters in the East and South China Seas. During a meeting with the ruling Chinese Communist Party's Politburo, Xi said China "must vigorously promote military innovation" but warned it will be difficult.

Komunitas Yogya: Florence Sihombing Hina Polisi di Twitter-Path

Sebelum ditangkap mahasiswi S2 di Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Florence Sihombing sempat kembali melakukan aktivitas atau mem-posting yang menghina salah satu lembaga di media sosial. Florence Sihombing mengeluarkan sejumlah tweet baru. Bahkan sejumlah kicauan terbaru itu dikeluarkan Florence dengan menghina atau mengumpat Kepolisian Yogyakarta. Hal itu dilakukan Florence di media sosial Path dan Twitter."Malamnya kita lihat ada tweet-an baru dari Florence. Yang intinya: "Kok saya dipanggil polisi. ...

China's Xi urges army to create strategy for information warfare

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping has said China will spur military innovation and called on the army to create a new strategy for "information warfare" as the country embarks on military reform, state media said on Saturday. Xi heads the Central Military Commission, which controls the 2.3-million-strong armed forces, the world's largest, and is stepping up efforts to modernize forces that are projecting power across disputed waters in the East and South China Seas. ...

Suicide bomber kills at least 11 people south of Baghdad

A suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives killed at least 11 people and wounded 30 on Saturday in a town just south of Baghdad, police and medical sources said. The attacker approached a major checkpoint at a northern entrance to the town of Yusifiya, 15 km (8 miles) from the capital, a police officer said on condition of anonymity. “The suicide bomber drove his car into the checkpoint and blew up the car in middle of vehicles waiting to be searched,” the officer said. Read More http://ift.tt/1n8HjmY

Suicide bomber kills at least 11 people south of Baghdad

Blue Eyes Are More Common Than Any Other Colour in Britain

Blue eyes are now more common in Britain that any other colour, scientists have revealed. The Blue Eyes Project has found that although all eyes in Britain were once brown, they are now 48% blue, 30% green and just 22% brown. Although there are no direct physical advantages to having blue eyes, such as better eyesight, the overwhelming change of eye colour from brown to blue has been a cross-Europe phenomenon. Alistair Moffat, managing director of ScotlandsDNA, which carried out the research, told The Times: "A lot of people think blue eyes are much rarer than they are."

EU says could send over 1 billion euros more aid to Ukraine

The European Union may disburse more than one billion euros in loans to Ukraine over the coming months and could consider further aid beyond that, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Saturday. In March, the EU offered an 11 billion euro ($14.45 billion) package of loans and grants to Ukraine over the next several years to help get the shattered economy back on its feet. Ukraine has been caught in a geopolitical tug of war between the EU and Russia. "More than half a billion euros in loans and 250 million euros in grants have already been mobilized by the European Commission as part of this package," Barroso told reporters after talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Brussels. Read More http://ift.tt/1rFSafw

Polls show wide support in France for changes in 35-hour week

Nearly two thirds of the French believe companies should be allowed exemptions to the country's 35-hour working week if they reach agreements with trade unions, two polls showed on Saturday. France's new pro-business Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron caused a stir this week - in an interview made before his appointment on Tuesday - for floating the idea as a measure that could help companies gain in confidence and competitiveness. The comments drew immediate fire from trade unions and the government was quick to stamp out speculation there could be a change in the law. Introduced by a previous Socialist-led government in 2000 in a bid to redistribute work and create jobs, the 35-hour week is fiercely protected by the French left - despite the fact that many French in reality work much longer hours than that.

Ukraine's Poroshenko expects progress on peace in coming week

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Saturday he expected to see progress toward peace in the east of the country in the coming days. At a news conference in Brussels ahead of a European Union summit, he said in English: "We are waiting that in the very next days, starting from Monday, we can demonstrate the real progress in the peace negotiations. Because we are too close to the border where from it would be no return to the peace plan." (Reporting by Adrian Croft; Read More http://ift.tt/1CcGDqt

Leave that iguana in the jungle, expert tells Costa Rica

Thousands of parrots, monkeys, iguanas, toucans, turtles and other rainforest animals are kept as exotic pets in Costa Rica, a practice putting some species at risk, according to experts.

Leave that iguana in the jungle, expert tells Costa Rica

Thousands of parrots, monkeys, iguanas, toucans, turtles and other rainforest animals are kept as exotic pets in Costa Rica, a practice putting some species at risk, according to experts.

Leave that iguana in the jungle, expert tells Costa Rica

Thousands of parrots, monkeys, iguanas, toucans, turtles and other rainforest animals are kept as exotic pets in Costa Rica, a practice putting some species at risk, according to experts.

Lesotho leader says army attempted military coup: TV

Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane on Saturday accused the country's army of attempting a coup against him, he told South African ENCA television station. "It is a military coup because it is led by the military. He added that he would meet South African leaders, representing the regional Southern African Development Community later on Saturday. Read More http://ift.tt/1vWeKib

Indian defense minister says Pakistan border clashes 'extremely serious'

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A series of clashes along India's border with Pakistan are extremely serious, provocative and not conclusive to talks, Defense Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday. The nuclear-armed arch rivals recently called off top level diplomatic talks after Pakistan held talks with separatists from the disputed region of Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he was disappointed that Pakistan had made a "spectacle" of the peace efforts. ... Read More http://ift.tt/1CcEWcL

EU leaders to threaten extra Russia sanctions, agree new team

By Alastair Macdonald and Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders are likely to threaten Russia with new economic sanctions over its action in Ukraine on Saturday but officials and diplomats said the bloc was not yet ready to order additional penalties. At a summit in Brussels that may hand one of the Union's top jobs to Poland's prime minister, giving Vladimir Putin's critics in ex-communist Eastern Europe new influence over EU policy, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko received a demonstrative welcome from senior officials whom he urged to set new sanctions. Those include Germany, Britain and France, as well as Italy, which is heavily dependent on Russian gas and expects to secure the post of EU foreign affairs chief.

President says hundreds of foreign tanks in Ukraine

Turkish president Erdogan appoints divisive aide as economic adviser

Newly inaugurated Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan has appointed his close aide Yigit Bulut to be his chief economics adviser, his office said on Saturday, a move likely to alarm investors already concerned over the management of the country's finances. Bulut, an influential but divisive figure, was a key voice in the ear of Erdogan when he was still prime minister. He appears to support his master on issues such as the existence of an "interest lobby", a shadowy group Erdogan has accused of trying to sabotage Turkey's economy through higher rates. Erdogan, who had held sway over politics as prime minister since 2003, was sworn in on Thursday as Turkey's first popularly-elected president, cementing his position as its most powerful leader of recent times. Read More http://ift.tt/1zWJIqS

Barroso warns Russia not to underestimate EU resolve

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Russia on Saturday that the EU was ready to defend its principles in the confrontation over Ukraine and called for a political solution before the crisis reached a "point of no-return". "Russia should not underestimate the European Union's will and resolve to stand by its principles and values," Barroso told a joint news conference in Brussels with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. He said it was not too late for a political solution. (Reporting by Adrian Croft; and Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Foo Yun Chee) Read More http://ift.tt/1qRd8FF

Pro-Ukraine fighters escape encirclement, others still trapped: Kiev, militia

A group of pro-Ukrainian fighters broke out of encirclement by Russian-backed separatists near the eastern city of Donetsk early on Saturday, Ukraine's interior minister said, but other reports suggested many were still trapped. Kiev and Western countries say the reversal is the result of the arrival of armored columns of Russian troops, sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin to prop up the five-month-old separatist revolt in eastern Ukraine which had been near collapse. A senior U.N. human rights official said on Friday nearly 2,600 civilians, Ukrainian government forces and rebels have been killed in a conflict which has led to the biggest Russia-West crisis since the Cold War. EU foreign ministers were due to meet in Brussels on Saturday to discuss the possibility of imposing new sanctions on Moscow over the crisis. Read More http://ift.tt/1u9nJeK

Ukrainian cargo plane with seven on board crashes in Algeria: ministry

ALGIERS (Reuters) - A cargo plane with six Ukrainians and one Russian on board crashed in Algeria's far south early on Saturday, an Algerian transport ministry official said. The Ukrainian Antonov-12 plane en route to Equatorial Guinea could have crashed for technical reasons, the official said. It came down at 0240 local time (0140 GMT) after taking off from Algeria's Tamanrasset airport and three burned bodies were found at the crash site, the official added. (Reporting by Lamine Chikhi; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Read More http://ift.tt/1tWwOs4

Jadi Model Toko Busana Online, Tiga WNA Cantik Ditangkap

TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Ketiganya ditangkap karena diketahui telah menyalahi izin tinggal yang diberikan

Quake hits Iceland volcano, no sign of fresh eruption: Met office

A large earthquake hit Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano system early on Saturday, but there was no sign of a fresh eruption, the country's Meteorological Office said. Authorities have been on alert since a surge of small quakes there this month triggered memories of the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed out ash and shut down much of Europe's airspace. A magnitude 5.4 quake was recorded under Bardarbunga's main volcano at 0703 GMT, said Icelandic Met Office seismologist Martin Hensch. It came a day after a small eruption in a fissure in a glacier about 40km (25 miles) from the main crater in Iceland's largest volcano system.

EU not to decide new Russia sanctions on Saturday: Finland's Stubb

Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb said European Union leaders would not decide on new sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis at an EU summit in Brussels on Saturday. "It is clear we will discuss new sanctions as the situation has changed in the last few days ... but we will not decide on any new sanctions today," Stubb said in an interview with YLE public radio. "If Russia continues with its destabilizing efforts (in eastern Ukraine), I think it is right that sanctions will be toughened, but I hope that will not happen. Read More http://ift.tt/1CcpzRr

Russia demands publication of recordings from downed flight MH17

By Mark Trevelyan MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is demanding to know why international investigators have yet to publish the black box data from a Malaysian airliner that was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July, a deputy defense minister said in an interview published on Saturday. Moscow blames Ukraine for the disaster, in which all 298 passengers and crew were killed. In a version of events widely believed in the West, Ukraine says the Boeing 777 was shot down by pro-Russian separatists with a surface-to-air missile. Who doesn't want this to happen?" The interview marked the latest example of Moscow's attempts to go on the media offensive at a time when it faces intense international pressure over mounting evidence of its military support for the rebels, something it continues to deny. Read More http://ift.tt/1n85oul

Somali and AU forces in al-Shabab offensive

Somali and African Union forces launch "Operation Indian Ocean" to capture remaining ports held by armed group.

Experimental Ebola drug ZMapp cures 100 percent of lab monkeys

By Sharon Begley NEW YORK (Reuters) - The experimental Ebola drug ZMapp cured all 18 of the lab monkeys infected with the deadly virus, including those suffering the fever and hemorrhaging characteristic of the disease and just hours from death, scientists reported on Friday. No other experimental Ebola therapy has ever shown success in primates when given that long after infection; ZMapp, produced by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical, has never been scientifically tested in people, and the current study was the first in primates. The success is therefore a "monumental achievement," virologist Thomas Geisbert of the University of Texas Medical Branch wrote in a commentary on the paper, published online in Nature.

Karena sabu-sabu, suami sering pukuli istri

MERDEKA.COM. Sabu-sabu sering menjadi pemicu hancurnya rumah tangga. Narkotika itu ditengarai bisa membuat suami menjadi beringas dan memukuli istri.Penganiayaan akibat pengaruh narkoba ini kerap dialami Irma Juliana Nasution (29), warga Jalan Pasar VII Tembung, Percut Sei Tuan, Deli Serdang, Sumut. Ibu tiga anak ini menduga IL (34), sang suami, dipengaruhi sabu-sabu sehingga bertindak di luar batas.Tak tahan lagi dengan penganiayaan itu, Irma melaporkan IL ke Polsek Percut Sei Tuan. ...

Saudi king warns of terrorism threat to U.S., Europe

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah said terrorism would soon spread to Europe and the United States unless it is quickly dealt with in the Middle East, the Saudi state news agency reported late on Friday. "I ask you to convey this message to your leaders... Terrorism at this time is an evil force that must be fought with wisdom and speed," said King Abdullah. "And if neglected I'm sure after a month it will arrive in Europe and a month after that in America." The world's top oil exporter shares an 800-km (500-mile) border with Iraq, where Islamic State militants and other Sunni Islamist groups have seized towns and cities. Britain raised its terrorism alert on Friday and Prime Minister David Cameron said Islamic State posed the greatest ever security risk to the country.