May 4, 2016

Top News Stories –

Instagram hacked by 10-year-old boy –
A 10-year-old Finnish boy named Jani has been given $10,000 (£7,000) after he found a security flaw in image-sharing social network Instagram. The boy, who technically is not allowed to even join the site for another three years, discovered a bug that allowed him to delete comments made by other users. The issue was “quickly” fixed after being discovered, said Facebook, which owns Instagram. Jani was paid soon after – making him the youngest ever recipient of the firm’s “bug bounty” prize. After discovering the flaw in February, he emailed Facebook. Security engineers at the company set up a test account for Jani to prove his theory – which he did. The boy, from Helsinki, told Finnish newspaper Iltalehti he planned to use the money to buy a new bike, football equipment and computers for his brothers. Facebook told the BBC it had paid $4.3m to bug bounty recipients since 2011. [BBC]

Apple loses trademark fight over ‘iPhone’ name in China –
Apple has lost a trademark fight in China, meaning a firm which sells handbags and other leather goods can continue to use the name “IPHONE”. The Beijing Municipal High People’s Court ruled in favour of Xintong Tiandi Technology, said the official Legal Daily newspaper. Xintong Tiandi trademarked “IPHONE” for leather products in China in 2010. Apple filed a trademark bid for the name for electronic goods in 2002, but it was not approved until 2013. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

7 Tips To Wake Up Without Coffee – ASAP Science

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Moro conflict
- The Abu Sayyaf militant group threatens to behead a Canadian hostage, a Filipina hostage, and a Norwegian hostage. (The Guardian)
Syrian Civil War
- Dozens of people have died in heavy fighting between Syrian government and opposition forces in the western Aleppo Governorate. (Reuters)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
- Suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants launch a car bomb attack on a military installation in Turkey, killing one soldier; Turkey’s army destroyes PKK targets in air strikes and kills more than 20. (Reuters)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- Assailants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed with machetes hacked at least 16 civilians to death in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. (FOX News) (Leadership)
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- Hamas says it has reached a truce with the Israeli military following hostilities today along the Gaza–Israel border. There were no casualties. (The Jerusalem Post) (Reuters)

Business and economy

Philippine presidential election, 2016
- The Philippine stock market continues to fall for the fifth straight day due to fears about the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. He continues to lead in opinion polls. (The Philippine Star), (Rappler)
British publisher Trinity Mirror announces that its daily newspaper, The New Day, will close after just two months since its launch, after sales fell to around 30,000 copies per day. The last edition will be printed on May 6. (The Guardian)

Disasters and accidents

2016 Fort McMurray wildfire
- Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says the wildfire has destroyed about 1,600 structures in Fort McMurray, which is in Canada’s oil sands region. No major oil sands facilities are in the fire’s path, though twoRoyal Dutch Shell mines are closing, and a Suncor Energy facility is reducing crude production. The fire is threatening the Alberta Highway 63 bridge across the Athabasca River, the sole route south. TheCanadian Red Cross is encouraging people to donate funds rather than clothing. (Reuters) (USA Today) (Métro)
At least 13 people are killed and 53 injured after a bus skids off a bridge while travelling between India‘s Jharkhand state to Raipur, capital of Chhattisgarh state. (AFP via Daily Mail)

International relations

European migrant crisis, EU-Turkey relations
- The European Union proposes visa-free travel for Turkish citizens within Europe’s Schengen Area and invites member states and EU lawmakers to endorse the move by June 30. The EU says Turkey has met all but five of the 72 criteria included in the agreement in exchange for its efforts to stop asylum seekers from reaching Europe. This visa deal also needs approval from the European Parliament.(AP) (UPI)

Law and crime

North Carolina Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act
- The U.S. Justice Department notifies North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory that the state’s new law which limits restroom access for transgender people violates the U.S. Civil Rights Act, and asks for a response by May 9 whether the state will correct “these violations of Title VII.” The Governor’s statement in response does not specifically say what the state will do. (Reuters) (CNN)

Politics and elections

The Nepalese Maoist Party says that they will withdraw support from Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and form a new government. (Reuters)
United States presidential election, 2016
- Ohio Governor John Kasich suspends his campaign. He was the last Republican Party challenger to Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination. (VICE)(CNN)

Science and technology

IBM allows the public to access a five-qubit quantum computer its researchers have developed in Yorktown Heights, New York. (Wired)

Sport

2015–16 UEFA Champions League
- Real Madrid beat Manchester City 1–0 to set-up a UEFA Champions League Final against city rivals Atlético Madrid on May 28, in Milan, Italy. It will be a repeat of the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final.(UEFA Champions League)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 5, 2016

Top News Stories –

Tunisian mobile gamers win a cow –
A couple in Tunisia have walked away with an unusual prize – a cow – after they recorded the top score in a locally developed mobile phone game, it’s reported.
Pamela the cow spent two weeks at the game developer’s headquarters in Tunis before being awarded to the unnamed couple at the beginning of May, the Tuniscope news website says.
The pair triumphed in a strategy game called Bagra – literally “cow” – which consists of keeping a herd of cows and preventing other players from stealing them, while trying to pinch as many as possible from other herds. [BBC]

Canadian wildfire edges south, leaves thousands stranded –
The 88,000 residents who fled a wildfire that has ravaged the Canadian oil town of Fort McMurray in Alberta will not be able to return home anytime soon, officials warned on Thursday, even as the inferno edged slowly south. The out-of-control blaze has consumed entire neighborhoods of Fort McMurray in Canada’s energy heartland and officials warn its spread now threatens two oil sands sites south of the city. The wildfire has already forced precautionary production cuts or shutdowns at about a dozen major facilities, eating into a global crude surplus and supporting oil prices this week. [Reuters] See Video of the Day

Facebook Live tab is now on the Android app –
It’s taken a month, but the Live tab on Facebook has now started appearing for Android app users. Back in April, the social network announced that video was going to be even more of priority for the company, with users being offered a dedicated page to find live streams. Android users are starting to see the Live tab in the centre of the screen, pushing out Messenger from its spot. Clicking on the Live option brings up a scrolling stream of video.Anyone watching the feed can then react and comment in real time. [BBC Newsbeat]

Video of the Day –

Fire ‘rains’ down in Fort McMurray neighbourhood during escape

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and atttacks

Syrian Civil War
- At least 12 people are killed and many are wounded in twin blasts in central Syria. (USA Today)
- Airstrikes on a camp for war refugees in Syria near the Syria–Turkey border kills 28 people, including women and children. (Reuters) (BBC)
Terrorism in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi security forces shoot dead two alleged Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants while two others blew themselves up near Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
Gaza–Israel conflict
- A Palestinian woman is killed and another person is injured in the Gaza Strip by tank fire from Israel. Israel said it responded to mortar rounds and the discovery of another tunnel by Hamas. (BBC) (The Times of Israel)

Business and economy

Philippine presidential election, 2016
- The Philippine peso fell 0.3% continuing its drop three weeks in a row. (Bloomberg)
- The stock exchange in Manila slid 1.2%, set for its lowest close in two months, before Monday’s presidential elections. (Bloomberg) (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

2016 Fort McMurray wildfire
- The western Canadian province of Alberta declares a state of emergency as devastating wildfires, fed by unseasonably hot temperatures and dry conditions, grow to five times their initial size. The mandatory evacuation order expands to include the communities of Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates, and Fort McMurray First Nation, forcing thousands who had just resettled to move again. (CTV) (USA Today) (Reuters)
- Since the fire has intermittently blocked the only route south toward Alberta’s major cities, evacuees have had to go north toward oil camps and a few small settlements. The province has airlifted 4,000 people to Edmonton and Calgary as of late Thursday. Roughly 20 percent of Canada’s crude oil production, around 680,000 barrels per day, is offline and is expected to increase. There are no known casualties from the fire, which today has grown to 210,000 acres (85,000 hectares), but fatalities are reported in at least one vehicle crash along the evacuation route. (Daily Mail)
- Reuters reports that Alberta Province, which projects a C$10 billion deficit this fiscal year as the prolonged slump in oil prices has reduced tax revenue, last month cut funding for wildfire prevention, including millions for programs created in response to the province’s Slave Lake wildfire in 2011, which destroyed more than 300 homes. (Reuters via Voice of America)
At least 12 people are killed and 30 others injured after a bus plunges into a ravine in Bolivia‘s eastern Santa Cruz province. (Agencia EFE)

International relations

Spain–United Kingdom relations, Disputed status of Gibraltar
- The Royal Navy‘s HMS Sabre fires warning shots at a Spanish Guardia Civil vessel after it twice attempted to cut across the path of United States Navy submarine USS Florida during an incursion intoGibraltar‘s territorial waters. Gibraltar officials say Spanish vessels regularly stray deep into its territorial waters and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has attacked the incursions as provocative. (The Telegraph)

Law and crime

Operation Car Wash, Impeachment process against Dilma Rousseff
- Acting on a request from Brazil’s top prosecutor, Supreme Court Justice Teori Zavascki suspends President of the Deputies Chamber Eduardo Cunha for obstructing the Petrobras corruption investigation. The full court confirms this action, Cunha is eliminated from the line of succession to President Dilma Rousseff, who may be suspended from office next week. (Reuters) (Globo)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, agrees to pay people who were sent to jail because they couldn’t afford to pay fines for minor offenses like panhandling and jaywalking. The city will pay $125 for each day the person spent behind bars, an estimated total of $103,000 for the 66 people identified. In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that people cannot be jailed if they do not have the money to pay. (AP via The Washington Post) (The Colorado Independent)
California court finds “Grim Sleeper” serial killer guilty. (The Los Angeles Times)
Hackers attack millions of users of Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo Mail, forcing users to make password changes. (Forbes)

Politics and elections

Justice and Development Party leadership election, 2016
- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announces his resignation effective 22 May amid conflict with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian rule. Davutoğlu said he would step down following an extraordinary meeting of AKP party leaders scheduled for May 22. (The New York Times) (The Guardian)
Philippine general election, 2016
- Philippine candidate Grace Poe denies she will give way in favor of administration bet Mar Roxas (Rappler)
- Philippine senator and former coup plotter Antonio Trillanes warns that a coup d’etat may occur if Rodrigo Duterte wins the presidential elections. (ABC Online), (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
- The sect Iglesia ni Cristo conducts a “silent war” against the senatorial candidacy of justice secretary Leila de Lima. (Rappler)
- Philippine presidential candidate Grace Poe releases her full statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth. (GMA News)
United Kingdom local elections, 2016
- Members of the British public head to local polling stations to cast their vote for various governmental positions, including the Mayor of London. (The Daily Telegraph)
United States presidential election, 2016
- Former Governor of Texas and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry endorses Donald Trump for president and says he is open to being Trump’s vice-presidential running mate. (CNN)

Sport

Zika virus outbreak
- Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says the decision whether the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates two-game series scheduled for later this month will be moved from Puerto Ricobecause of concerns about the Zika virus, will be announced Monday “at the latest.” (AP)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 6, 2016

Top News Stories –

Labour’s Sadiq Khan elected London mayor –
Sadiq Khan has been elected the new Mayor of London – boosting Labour after it slumped in Scotland’s elections. Mr Khan is the city’s first Muslim mayor, after beating Tory Zac Goldsmith by 1,310,143 votes to 994,614. The result bolsters leader Jeremy Corbyn after Labour was beaten into third in Scotland by the Tories and lost some English councillors.
In Scotland, the SNP said it would form a minority government after winning its third election in a row. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is celebrating what she said was an “emphatic” victory, her first as party leader, after the SNP emerged as the largest party at Holyrood with 63 seats, ahead of the Conservatives on 31 and Labour on 24. But she played down talk of another independence referendum after falling short by two seats of an overall majority. In Wales, Labour remains as the largest party, with 29 out of 60 seats, but was denied a majority as Plaid Cymru and UKIP both made notable gains. [BBC]
Sadiq_Khan

China bans ‘erotic’ banana-eating live streams –
Chinese live-streaming services have banned people filming themselves eating bananas in a “seductive” fashion. New regulations mean that live-streaming sites must monitor all their output round-the-clock to ensure nothing untoward is going on, keeping an eye out for any “erotic” banana-eating, according to New Express Daily. It’s not just fruit that’s on their radar though – the paper adds that wearing stockings and suspenders while hosting a live stream is now also forbidden. The move is the authorities’ latest attempt to clamp down on “inappropriate and erotic” online content, state-controlled CCTV reports. In April, the Ministry of Culture announced it was investigating a number of popular live-streaming platforms for allegedly hosting pornographic or violent content that “harms social morality”. Despite the government’s concerns, such sites are attracting more and more users in China. Particularly popular are webcam sessions where young women – and sometimes girls under 18 – entertain a predominantly male audience, often singing Chinese songs or chatting to their viewers. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Inside a 6ft Air Balloon – 4K – The Slow Mo Guys

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War
- Aleppo offensive (May 2016)
  - More than 72 are killed in clashes between Al-Nusra Front and Syrian government forces in Khan Tuman south of Aleppo, Syria. (i24 News) (VOA News)

Law and crime

A man is killed, and two others are injured (a man in critical condition and a woman with non-life-threatening injuries), in the parking lot of Westfield Montgomery Mall in Potomac in Montgomery County, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. Soon after, a woman is killed at a grocery store some miles away. Police suspect that the same shooter may be behind both crime scene incidents. Police in both Montgomery County and neighboring Prince George’s County are also examining whether this person is the same as the male involved in the fatal shooting the previous day of a woman, Gladys Tordil, who was allegedly shot (a bystander who tried to help was also wounded) by her estranged abusive husband, tentatively identified as Eulalio Tordil, 62, a former Federal Protective Service officer. (MSN) (CNN)

Politics and elections

Philippine presidential election, 2016
- The supporters of presidential candidates Grace Poe and Mar Roxas post petitions and counter-petitions on Change.org urging either candidate to drop-out and give way for the other. (The Manila Standard)
- Vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo thanks supporters for the “Poe-Robredo tandem” pairing her with presidential candidate Grace Poe but insists she is loyal to her running-mate Mar Roxas.(Philippine Daily Inquirer), (GMA News)
- Mar Roxas and current President Benigno Aquino III call on political rivals Jejomar Binay, Miriam Defensor Santiago, and Grace Poe to unite and form a unity coalition in the upcoming elections. (CNN Philippines), (Channel News Asia)
- Grace Poe rejects Mar Roxas‘ offer saying she is not willing to withdraw. Jejomar Binay also rejects calls for him to withdraw. (Rappler), (The Philippine Star), (ABC News Go)
- Leni Robredo thanks a group of activist-farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon for their support promising to continue their reforms. (Rappler)
Head of Australia’s Department of Immigration Mike Pezzullo denies that the detention centre for asylum seekers on Manus Island must be closed. He said there was no crisis that required any closure of the centre despite Papua New Guinea’s Supreme Court ruling it to be unconstitutional and ordering the release of the detainees. (Radio New Zealand)
The Workers’ Party of Korea, the ruling party of North Korea, holds its first party congress in nearly 40 years. The meeting comes as the country is facing tougher sanctions for its recent missile launches.(BBC)
United Kingdom local elections, 2016
- London votes Sadiq Khan to succeed Boris Johnson as Mayor of London; Khan is the first Muslim to be elected to such an authoritative position. (BBC)

Science and technology

SpaceX successfully lands another Falcon 9 First stage onto a floating barge for the second time. It was carrying a Japanese communications satellite JCSAT-14, which was successfully put into geostationary orbit. (Wired)

Sports

Cameroonian footballer Patrick Ekeng of Romanian club FC Dinamo București dies after collapsing during a match. (Guardian)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 7, 2016

Top News Stories –

Nyquist Unrelenting in Kentucky Derby Victory –
Whatever has been thrown at Reddam Racing’s Nyquist, he has been able to handle. And May 7 at Churchill Downs he added the Kentucky Derby to his already impressive résumé. The son of Uncle Mo broke like a champion from post 13 and was out front in the early strides, but was able to settle into position just off the pace set by Danzing Candy, who broke poorly from the outside post and needed to be rushed up entering the first turn. And for the immediate future of Nyquist, who pushed his earnings to $4,954,200 with the Derby score, up next is a walk of the shedrow May 8 and a trip to Baltimore May 9. And beyond that, O’Neill might be looking toward a higher power. [The Blood Horse]

Video of the Day –

Sky Magic Live at Mt.Fuji : Drone Ballet Show by MicroAd, Inc. from Sky Magic on Vimeo.

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
- Resolute Support Mission
  - Two Romanian soldiers are killed along with assailants in an insider attack in Afghanistan. (Washington Post)
Syrian Civil War
- Aleppo offensive (May 2016)
  - At least 13 Iranian soldiers are killed in a battle with Islamist militants in a village near Aleppo, Syria. The largest single day loss for the Iranians since the start of the conflict. (Retuers) (Business Insider) (NDTV)

Law and crime

Indonesia-Philippines relations
- Filipina convict Mary Jane Veloso gets a reprieve from Indonesian executions. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Politics and elections

Sarawak state election, 2016
- In Malaysia, Sarawak voters go to the polls for a state election. (Channel NewsAsia)
Bukit Batok by-election, 2016
- Singapore‘s Bukit Batok by-elections conclude with more than 24,000 voters casting ballots. Murali Pillai of the People’s Action Party emerged as the winner with 61.21% of the valid votes cast. This was the first Singaporean by-election following the 2015 general elections. (Channel NewsAsia) (The Straits Times)
United States presidential election, 2016, United States presidential election in Guam, 2016
- Voters in Guam head to the polls to vote in the Democratic presidential caucus. (Guam Daily Post)
Iran’s elected Parliament member from Maragheh and Ajabshir district, Mohammad-Ali Hosseinzadeh, dies in a car crash in Zanjan. He was set to take office on 28 May. (yjc.ir)

Sports

Nyquist wins the 2016 Kentucky Derby, extending his race record to eight wins in eight races.(The Blood-Horse)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 8, 2016

Top News Stories –

Flight delayed after passenger becomes suspicious of equation –
An Italian economist says his flight was delayed after a fellow passenger saw him working on a differential equation and alerted the cabin crew. Guido Menzio was taken off and questioned by agents who did not identify themselves, after the woman next to him said she felt ill. He showed them what he had been writing and the flight eventually took off – more than two hours late. The University of Pennsylvania associate professor boarded the Philadelphia-Syracuse flight on Thursday on his way to Ontario, where he was due to give a lecture. Before the flight took off, the woman sitting next to him passed a note to a member of the cabin crew. She initially told them she was feeling unwell but then voiced her suspicions about Mr Menzio’s scribblings. He wrote: “It’s a bit funny. It’s a bit worrisome. “The lady just looked at me, looked at my writing of mysterious formulae, and concluded I was up to no good. “Because of that an entire flight was delayed.” [BBC]

BAFTA Awards 2016 –
TV Baftas: Double win for Wolf Hall –
Wolf Hall won two awards at this year’s Bafta Television Awards, on a night which contained several speeches that defended the independence of the BBC. Mark Rylance received the leading actor award for his role as Thomas Cromwell in the BBC Two historical drama, which also picked up the drama prize. C4’s This is England ’90 and Peter Kay’s Car Share also won two prizes. The leading actress prize went to Suranne Jones for her role in the BBC One marital drama Doctor Foster. [BBC]
Mark Rylance

Video of the Day –

TRASHONAUTS from Jack Corpening on Vimeo.

List of the Day –

Bafta TV Awards 2016: Winners list – BBC News

Leading actor

Winner: Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Idris Elba, Luther

Stephen Graham, This is England '90

Ben Whishaw, London Spy

Leading actress

Winner: Suranne Jones, Doctor Foster

Claire Foy, Wolf Hall

Ruth Madeley, Don't Take My Baby

Sheridan Smith, The C-Word

Supporting actor

Winner: Tom Courtenay, Unforgotten

Anton Lesser, Wolf Hall

Ian McKellen, The Dresser

Cyril Nri, Cucumber

Supporting actress

Winner: Chanel Cresswell, This is England '90

Michelle Gomez, Doctor Who

Lesley Manville, River

Eleanor Worthington-Cox, The Enfield Haunting

Entertainment performance

Winner: Leigh Francis, Celebrity Juice

Stephen Fry, QI

Graham Norton, The Graham Norton Show

Romesh Ranganathan, Asian Provocateur

Male performance in a comedy programme

Winner: Peter Kay, Peter Kay's Car Share

Hugh Bonneville, W1A

Toby Jones, Detectorists

Javone Prince, The Javone Prince Show

Female performance in a comedy programme

Winner: Michaela Coel, Chewing Gum

Sian Gibson, Peter Kay's Car Share

Miranda Hart, Miranda

Sharon Horgan, Catastrophe

Drama series

Winner: Wolf Hall

Humans

The Last Panthers

No Offence

Single drama

Winner: Don't Take My Baby

The C-Word

Cyberbully

The Go-Between

Mini-series

Winner: This is England '90

Doctor Foster

The Enfield Haunting

London Spy

Soap and continuing drama

Winner: EastEnders

Coronation Street

Emmerdale

Holby City

International

Winner: Transparent

The Good Wife

Narcos

Spiral

Entertainment programme

Winner: Strictly Come Dancing

Adele at the BBC

Britain's Got Talent

TFI Friday Anniversary Special

Comedy and comedy entertainment programme

Winner: Have I Got News For You

Charlie Brooker's Election Wipe

Would I Lie to You

Scripted comedy

Winner: Peter Kay's Car Share

Chewing Gum

Peep Show

People Just Do Nothing

Features

Winner: The Great British Bake Off

Back in Time for Dinner

Kevin McCloud: Escape to the Wild

Travel Man

Radio Times Audience Award

Winner: Poldark

Doctor Foster

The Great British Bake Off

Humans

Making a Murderer

Peter Kay's Car Share

Current affairs

Winner: Outbreak: The Truth about Ebola

Jihad: A British Story

Children of the Gaza War

Escape from Isis (Dispatches)

Single documentary

Winner: My Son the Jihadi

Bitter Lake

Life After Suicide

Louis Theroux: Transgender Kids

Factual series

Winner: The Murder Detectives

The Detectives

Great Ormond Street

The Tribe

Reality and constructed factual

Winner: First Dates

Gogglebox

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

The Secret Life of 5 Year Olds

Specialist factual

Winner: Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

Grayson Perry's Dream House

The Hunt

Rudolf Nureyev: Dance to Freedom

News coverage

Winner: Channel 4 News: Paris Massacre

BBC News at Six: Paris Attacks Special

ITV News at Ten: Refugee Crisis

Sky News: From Turkey to Greece

Sport

Winner: The Ashes (Sky Sports)

The Grand National (Channel 4)

MOTD Live: FA Cup Final (BBC One)

Six Nations: Final Day (BBC One)

Live event

Winner: Big Blue Live (BBC One)

The Sound of Music Live! (ITV)

Stargazing Live: Brit in Space, Tim Peake Special (BBC Two)

The Vote (More4)

Other News Stories -

News from Wikipedia - please support this valuable resource

May 9, 2016

Top News Stories –

Michel Platini: Uefa president to resign after ban appeal fails –
Uefa president Michel Platini will resign from European football’s governing body after failing to have a six-year ban from football overturned. A Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) panel reduced the ban to four years on Monday. Following the judgement, the 60-year-old said he would be stepping down. Platini and former Fifa counterpart Sepp Blatter, were last year found guilty of ethics breaches over a 2m Swiss Franc (£1.3m) “disloyal payment”. The pair, who deny wrongdoing, had their original bans reduced from eight to six years by the Fifa appeals committee. Platini had taken his case to Cas seeking to get the ban overturned, but a three-man panel said it “was not convinced by the legitimacy of the payment”. [BBC]
Michel Platini

Japan vagina artist cleared over kayak model but fined for data distribution –
A Japanese court has found an artist not guilty for displaying a kayak based on the shape of her vagina. The judge ruled that Megumi Igarashi‘s brightly-coloured kayak sculpture did not immediately suggest female anatomy. However, she was fined 400,000 yen ($3,700) after a judge ruled that she broke the law by sharing data from 3D scans of her genitalia, which could be used to recreate the shape of a vagina. Japan’s strict obscenity laws prohibit public displays of genitalia. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

TRIAL by The Brothers Lynch from The Brothers Lynch on Vimeo.

How the “Through the mirror shot” was done

ANATOMY OF A MIRROR SHOT – TRIAL short film from The Brothers Lynch on Vimeo.

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Somalia (2009–present)
- A suicide car bomb targeting Mogadishu’s traffic police headquarters kills at least four. Al-Shabaab claims responsibility. (NY Times) (Reuters)
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
- Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
  - Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition kill at least 10 in Yemen. (NY Times)
Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)
- The Pentagon announces the death of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIL) leader Abu Waheeb and three other militants in an airstrike near the town of Rutba, Iraq. (FOX News) (Reuters)
- An ISIL car bomb kills at least 50 and injures 54 people in the eastern Iraq city of Baquba. (AAP via News Limited)

Business and economy

Panama Papers
- The Panama Papers go online at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists website. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

At least seven people are killed and 30 injured in a bus accident in Ranchi, the capital of the Indian state of Jharkand. (NDTV)
The death toll from yesterday’s landslide in Taining County in China’s Fujian province rises to 14 with 25 still missing, (AP via Daily Mail)

International relations

North Korea–United Kingdom relations
- Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, the BBC‘s Tokyo correspondent, was detained in North Korea before being expelled by the government for “speaking very ill of the system”. (BBC)

Politics and elections

Philippine general election, 2016
- Filipino voters head to the polls for a presidential election with unofficial counts showing Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte with a commanding lead. (CNN), (AP)
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann resigns after seven and a half years in office; says he lost the backing of his Social Democrats party. (USA Today)
Impeachment process against Dilma Rousseff
- Waldir Maranhão, the acting President of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, says that the impeachment vote in that chamber should be annulled due to procedural irregularities and the voting process be held again. The Federal Senate is due to start voting on whether to impeach President Rousseff later this week. (Al-Jazeera)

Science

A transit of Mercury occurs, visible from Africa, the Americas, Europe and most of Asia. (BBC), (Daily Mail), (New York Times)

Sport

2015 FIFA corruption case
- UEFA President Michel Platini, who had been suspended by the FIFA Ethics Committee last fall, announces his resignation following the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision that let stand his ban, shortened to four years which corresponds to the duration of his remaining time in office. The court ruled that Platini was guilty of conflict of interest for taking a $2 million payment from FIFA approved bySepp Blatter in 2011. (USA Today)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 10, 2016

Top News Stories –

West Ham bid farewell to the Boleyn Ground –
West Ham United fans packed Upton Park for the final time for their Premier League game with Manchester United which they won 3-1. [Daily Telegraph]

Video of the Day –

Farewell Boleyn 2015/16

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
- Ali Haider Gilani, the son of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gilani, is rescued in a joint operation by U.S. and Afghan forces three years after he was kidnapped by suspected Talibanmilitants. (AFP via ABC News Australia)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
- At least three are killed in a car bomb targeting a Turkish police vehicle in Diyarbakır, Turkey. (FOX News)

Business and economics

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan blocks the $6.3 billion merger of major office supply companies Staples and Office Depot, finding it would result in reduced competition and higher prices. The companies announce they are abandoning the deal. (The Washington Post)

Disasters

At least 50 are killed in flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ethiopia. (FOX News)
2016 Fort McMurray wildfire
- Alberta authorities update information about the fire. About 2,400 homes and buildings were destroyed, but firefighters saved 25,000 others in the city, including the hospital, municipal buildings, and every functioning school. They expect most of the 88,000 evacuees will return to their homes within two weeks. The fire, which has merged with another blaze, is about 884 square miles (2,090 square kilometers) in size. The majority of Canada’s oil sands industry, and a third of the country’s total oil output, is offline, though Shell Canada has restarted its Albian Sands mining operations. (AP)

Law and crime

Munich knife attack
- One person is killed and several others injured in a knife attack at the Grafing station, a station of the Munich S-Bahn system in Germany. (Sky News)
An assailant stabs four people, killing two, at a home and a mall in Taunton, Massachusetts. A third victim is being treated for life-threatening injuries. The suspect was shot and killed by an off-duty deputy sheriff at the second scene. (CNN) (The Boston Globe)
Death of Freddie Gray
- Officer Edward Nero waives his right to a jury trial on misdemeanor charges of second-degree assault, two counts of misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment. (Reuters)

Politics and election

Philippine presidential election, 2016
- Rodrigo Duterte continues to lead in the presidential race, while Leni Robredo leads Bongbong Marcos by a small margin in the vice presidential race. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
United States presidential election, 2016, United States presidential election in West Virginia, 2016, United States presidential election in Nebraska, 2016
- Voters in the state of West Virginia head to the polls to vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries. Voters in the state of Nebraska vote in the Republican presidential primary with Donald Trump just 169 delegates short of securing the nomination. (New York Daily News) (Lincoln Journal Star)
- Trump is projected as the winner in the Republican primary in West Virginia while Bernie Sanders is projected to win the Democratic Primary. (New York Times), (BBC)
- Trump is projected to win Nebraska. (Washington Examiner)
Impeachment process against Dilma Rousseff
- Brazil’s Federal Senate unanimously votes to strip Delcídio do Amaral of his senate seat. Amaral, one of Rousseff’s biggest foes, was arrested last November for allegedly taking kickbacks from Petrobras.(AP)
- The Supreme Federal Court rejects the government’s request to rule on the merits of last month’s Chamber of Deputies impeachment vote. (AP)

Science

NASA confirms that 1,284 objects discovered by its Kepler spacecraft are in fact exoplanets. (The Verge)

Sports

In basketball, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is named NBA MVP for the second straight season. Curry is the first player ever to receive all possible first-place votes. (ESPN)
London football club West Ham United F.C. play the final match of their 112-year stay at the Boleyn Ground, before moving to the city’s Olympic Stadium. (BBC)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 11, 2016

Top News Stories –

Queen filmed calling Chinese officials ‘very rude’ –
The Queen has been filmed saying Chinese officials were “very rude” during last year’s state visit by President Xi Jinping. She was discussing their treatment of Britain’s ambassador to China with a senior police officer at a Buckingham Palace garden party on Tuesday. It came after David Cameron was overheard saying Afghanistan and Nigeria were “fantastically corrupt“. The Queen’s remarks were filmed as she was introduced to Metropolitan Police Commander Lucy D’Orsi, who the monarch is told had overseen security during President Xi’s visit to the UK in October. [BBC]
The Queen

Video of the Day –

Nightlife from Wriggles & Robins on Vimeo.

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)
- 11 May 2016 Baghdad bombings
  - At least 64 people are killed and 87 injured in a bomb attack on a market in Sadr City, Baghdad. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) claims responsibility. (CNN) (NY Times)
- ISIS bury alive 45 of their own fighters in Qayyarah for fleeing a battle. (Mirror) (Armen Press)
Dissident Irish Republican campaign
- MI5 raises the threat level for dissident Northern Ireland militants from “moderate” to “substantial”, meaning there is a strong possibility of an attack on the British mainland. (NY Times) (Reuters) (BBC)

Arts and culture

A fragment of the world’s oldest ground-edge axe dated at between 45,000 and 49,000 years old is found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. (ABC News Australia)

International relations

Israeli–Palestinian conflict (2015–present)
- Israel seals off the West Bank and Gaza Strip for two days while Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s remembrance day and independence day) is celebrated. (Haaretz)

Law and crime

The head of Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Motiur Rahman Nizami, is executed for his alleged role in acts of genocide and war crimes 45 years ago during the independence war against Pakistan in 1971. Nizami is the fifth senior opposition leader to be executed in connection with the war; a total of 17 people have received the death penalty. Authorities prepare for possibly violent protests. (AP via The Washington Post) (Vice News) (The New York Times)
Amnesty International reports that this year at least 149 have died, including children, in a military detention center, Giwa barracks, in Maiduguri, Nigeria. (VOA News) (Amnesty)
West Fertilizer Company explosion
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives finds that a 2013 fire at a fertilizer plant in the American town of West, Texas, that killed 15 people was arson and begins the search for suspects.(Fox News)
German Justice Minister Heiko Maas says he will propose legislation to annul homosexuality convictions, and create a “right to compensation.” A 19th-century law outlawed sexual relations between men. Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969, but the law itself was not rescinded until 1994. (AP via The Washington Post) (Deutsche Welle)

Politics and elections

Impeachment process against Dilma Rousseff
- The Federal Senate of Brazil debates whether to suspend and impeach President Dilma Rousseff for allegedly breaching budget rules. The President’s allies are not optimistic about the Senate vote. (New York Times) (India.Com)
Recognition of same-sex unions in Italy
- The Italian Parliament gives final approval to legislation recognizing civil unions of same-sex couples. (The New York Times)
Ugandan general election, 2016
- Uganda arrests opposition leader Kizza Besigye as he addressed a crowd of supporters in the capital Kampala, and shuts down access to social media within the country prior to President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration tomorrow. (The New York Times) (Global Voices)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 11, 2016

May 12, 2016

Top News Stories –

High heels row: Firm accused of sexism changes policy –
A firm that sent home a temp without pay for refusing to wear high heels has changed its policy. London receptionist Nicola Thorp, 27, says she was told to wear shoes with a “2in to 4in heel” when she arrived at finance company PwC in December. When she refused and was sent home she set up a petition calling for the law on dress code to be changed. Outsourcing firm Portico said “with immediate effect all our female colleagues can wear plain flat shoes”. The company initially said Ms Thorp, from Hackney, had signed its “appearance guidelines” but said it would review them. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Nightmare in the Morning from Yonatan Tal on Vimeo.

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Yemeni Crisis (2011–present)
- Al Qaeda militants kill at least 13 Yemeni government troops near the city of Mukalla. (AFP via Daily Mail)
Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)
- A twin suicide bombing attack at a police station in Baghdad kills five people. Yesterday 93 people had been killed and 165 injured in the deadliest day of attacks in Iraq this year. (AP via Fox News)

Business and economy

Nissan announces that it will buy 34% of fellow Japanese car manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors for 237.4 billion yen ($2.2 billion). (The Independent)
The Bank of England issues an unusually sharp warning about the possible economic consequences of an “Out” vote in the upcoming Brexit referendum. (Reuters)

Disasters

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
- The Government of Malaysia confirms that two more pieces of debris found in South Africa and Rodrigues Island off the coast of Mauritius are “almost certainly” from Malaysia Airlines 370 that disappeared two years ago. (AP via New York Times)

International relations

Syrian Civil War
- Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan threatens unilateral action against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria inside Syria. (Hurriyet Daily) (WSJ)

Law and crime

A criminal investigation is launched by the New Hampshire attorney general against law enforcement officials after news footage showed Massachusetts/New Hampshire police appear to beat a man who was surrendering at the end of a bi-state car chase. (Washington Post via MSN)

Politics and elections

Impeachment process against Dilma Rousseff
- The Brazilian Senate votes (55-22) to begin the impeachment process against the President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff and suspend her from office while the trial takes place. (BBC)
Baltimore, Maryland, primary election, 2016
- Maryland state elections officials decertify the results of Baltimore’s April 26, 2016, primary election because, for example, the number of ballots cast was hundreds more than the number of voters who checked in at polling places. (The Washington Post)

Science

Longevity claims
- A 120-year old woman is found living in the Astrakhan Oblast of Russia, which would make her the world’s oldest living person. However, her birth year remains internationally unverified. Thus, 116-year old Italian Emma Morano is still listed as the oldest verified living person. (TASS)
- The world’s oldest person, American Susannah Mushatt Jones, dies at the age of 116. (Wave 3)
Researchers from Konkoly Observatory in Budapest, Hungary, reveal that (225088) 2007 OR10 is the third largest dwarf planet in the solar system. (Gizmodo)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 13, 2016

Top News Stories –

Fifa appoints Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura as its first woman secretary general –
Fifa appointed its first female and non-European secretary general on Friday night after announcing that United Nations humanitarian co-ordinator Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura would replace the disgraced Jérôme Valcke. New president Gianni Infantino confirmed that the Senegalese, a 21-year veteran of UN programmes, would become the most powerful official in world football during Fifa’s annual congress in Mexico City. Infantino had previously promised to consider both a woman and an African for the role – and he delivered on both counts. [Daily Telegraph]
Fatma Samoura (R) in 2008 with George Clooney (L) and Marie-Sophie Reck (C)

Video of the Day –

EYES WIDE OPEN from Vitùc on Vimeo.

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)
- An Australian security contractor is killed outside the Australian embassy in Baghdad. There are unconfirmed reports that he was shot. (ABC News Australia)
- Three gunmen open fire on a Real Madrid supporters club meeting in a cafe in Samarra northern Iraq, killing at least 14 and wounding 25. Islamic State of Iraq and Syria claims responsibility for attack.(ABC News) (Reuters) (Irish Independent)
Syrian Civil War
- Hezbollah says Mustafa Badreddine, one of Hezbollah’s highest ranking officials believed responsible for military operations in Syria, has been killed by artillery fire from the Syrian rebels. (Al-Jazeera)
Kurdish-Turkish conflict (2015–present)
- Eight Turkish soldiers and 21 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants are killed in clashes and in a subsequent helicopter crash near Turkey’s border with Iraq. (VOA News) (Reuters) (Washington Post)

Disasters

A massive fire breaks out at a tire dump in Seseña, near Madrid in Spain. The illegal dump contains 100,000 tons of used vehicle tires. The smoke from the fire is visible for at least 30km. (ABC News)
At least one person is dead as a shopping mall being built in the Nigerian city of Abeokuta collapses. Unconfirmed reports indicate that ten people may have died. (BBC)

International relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatens to “neutralize” a new ballistic missile defense system which the United States has activated in Europe. (Reuters) (US News) (BBC)

Law and crime

Former President of Argentina Cristina Fernández is indicted on fraud charges in relation to alleged irregularities in the sale of United States dollars by the Central Bank during her term in office. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

The United States Education and Justice Departments advise U.S. public school districts across the country to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity, rather than their gender at birth. The new guidance comes as Justice and North Carolina battle in federal court over the state’s new so-called bathroom bill. (AP) (Reuters)
Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff
- Vice President of Brazil, Michel Temer, assumes the presidential powers and duties as Acting President of Brazil. (Huffington Post) (NBC News)
2016 state of emergency in Venezuela
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declares a sixty-day state of emergency. (BBC), (Guardian), (Reuters)

Sport

Association football
- Fatma Samoura, a Senegalese United Nations official, is appointed as the Secretary General of FIFA. She is the first woman and first person from outside Europe to be appointed to the position. (AP viDaily Mail)
- Kosovo and Gibraltar are elected as new members of FIFA. (BBC)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 14, 2016

Top News Stories –

Barcelona pip rivals Real Madrid to the La Liga title on last day –
Barcelona pipped bitter rivals Real Madrid to the La Liga title thanks to a Luis Suarez hat-trick at Granada. Barca’s fifth victory in a row ensured they won the league by one point from Real, who beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0. Suarez tapped in, powered home a header and slotted Neymar’s pass to give him La Liga’s golden boot with 40 goals. [BBC]
Luis_Suarez

Eurovision Song Contest: Ukraine’s Jamala wins competition –
Ukraine’s Jamala has won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, held in Stockholm, Sweden.
The country scored 534 points with its song 1944, about the deportation of Crimean Tatars under Josef Stalin. Australia finished second with 511 points, while Russia – which was the favourite going into the competition – was third with 491 points. Jamala is the first ever Crimean Tatar to perform at the contest and caused controversy ahead of the show over her political song. The song references the year when Stalin deported almost all of the ethnic group from its native region of Crimea in what was then Soviet Russia (later to become part of Ukraine). [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Recap of all the Eurovision Song Contest finalists

List of the Day –

Spanish BBVA La Liga Table 2015-16

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Barcelona	38	29	4	5	112	29	+83	91
2	Real Madrid	38	28	6	4	110	34	+76	90
3	Atlético Madrid	38	28	4	6	63	18	+45	88
4	Villarreal	37	18	10	9	44	33	+11	64
5	Athletic Bilbao	38	18	8	12	58	45	+13	62
6	Celta Vigo	38	17	9	12	50	58	−8	60
7	Sevilla	38	14	10	14	51	50	+1	52
8	Real Sociedad	38	13	9	16	45	48	−3	48
9	Málaga	37	11	12	14	34	34	0	45
10	Las Palmas	37	12	8	17	44	49	−5	44
11	Valencia	38	11	11	16	46	48	−2	44
12	Eibar	37	11	10	16	47	57	−10	43
13	Deportivo La Coruña	38	8	18	12	45	62	−17	42
14	Real Betis	37	10	12	15	31	50	−19	42
15	Espanyol	37	11	7	19	36	72	−36	40
16	Granada	38	10	9	19	46	68	−22	39
17	Getafe	37	9	9	19	36	65	−29	36
18	Sporting Gijón	37	9	9	19	38	62	−24	36
19	Rayo Vallecano	37	8	11	18	49	72	−23	35
20	Levante	37	8	8	21	36	67	−31	32

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
- At least two people are killed and 12 injured after a suicide bomb attack on a police training center in Helmand Province. (Stars and Stripes)
Syrian Civil War
- Turkey‘s Anadolu Agency reports that 45 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants have been killed by a combination of Turkish Army shelling and a U.S. air strike north of Aleppo. (Reuters vs Trust)
- U.S. officials believe the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has declared a state of emergency in its self-declared capital, Al-Raqqah. (CNN) (FOX News) (CBS News)
Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)
- At least 14 suicide bombers attack a complex, killing themselves and at least 6 people. (AP via FOX News)

Arts and culture

Eurovision Song Contest 2016, Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016
- Ukraine‘s Jamala, performing the song “1944“, wins the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden. This is Ukraine’s second win in the Eurovision Song Contest; their previous victory was in2004. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

More than 50 have been killed by lightning strikes in Bangladesh over the past two days. (BBC)
A bus crashes on U.S. Route 83 in Texas about 46 miles north of the city of Laredo resulting in eight deaths and 44 injured. (AP)

Law and crime

Attacks on secularists in Bangladesh
- A Buddhist monk is hacked to death in Bangladesh. (VOA News) (CNN)
At least three people are killed and dozens are wounded after a mass brawl, involving around 200 people, mostly North Caucasusian migrants, breaks out in Khovanskoye Cemetery in southwest Moscow. The Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin said that none of those responsible would go unpunished. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2016 state of emergency in Venezuela
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro orders the seizure of factories that have stopped production and the jailing of their owners amid a nationwide state of emergency. During a speech to pro-government supporters in Caracas, he said the country had to recover the means of production, to counter its deep economic crisis. He also said military exercises would take place next weekend to counter “foreign threats”. (BBC)

Sport

2015–16 La Liga
- In football, FC Barcelona wins La Liga for the 24th time. It is FC Barcelona’s second straight title and sixth in the last eight years. (Sports Illustrated)
FA Women’s Cup
- Arsenal LFC defeats Chelsea LFC 1-0 to win their 14th title before a record match for this fixture at Wembley Stadium. (Eurosport)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 15, 2016

Top News Stories –

Max Verstappen becomes youngest F1 winner in history at Spanish Grand Prix –
The delivery of the prodigy Max Verstappen, who became the youngest winner of a Formula One race when he triumphed in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, brought an iridescence to a sport that for too long has laboured in the single colour of the silver Mercedes. When Verstappen made his F1 debut for Toro Rosso as a 17-year-old last year he was so young that the concerned people at the FIA changed the rules; now you have to be 18. Verstappen was actually only 16 in 2014, when it was first announced that he would be driving in F1. Many sagacious voices said he was too young but there can be no doubts now. He crossed the winning line aged 18 years and 228 days, beating Sebastian Vettel’s previous record by two and a half years – Vettel was 21 and 73 days when he won in Italy in 2008. [Guardian]
Max Verstappen

Magnetic Hyperloop pod unveiled at MIT –
A people-carrying pod designed to levitate and travel at extremely high speeds has been unveiled in Boston. A 30-strong team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of several groups and companies working on making the Hyperloop concept a reality. The idea, first envisioned by Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, is to create a transport system that propels pods through airtight tubes. The MIT team said its pod design paved the way for “a mode of transportation that could change how we think about travel”. Critics of Hyperloop say it is unlikely to succeed because of prohibitive costs. A white paper by Mr Musk published in 2013 proposed a Hyperloop tube connection from San Francisco to Los Angeles. At speeds of around 700mph (1,127km/h), Mr Musk predicted the journey time would be around 30 minutes. [BBC] See Video of the Day

Video of the Day –

MIT Hyperloop Intro

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi civil war (2014–present)
- Suicide bomb attacks in a state owned cooking gas plant in Taji, north of Baghdad, kill at least 18 people, while 11 others die in attacks across the country. (Al-Jazeera) (Reuters via Daily Mail)
Yemeni civil war (2015–present)
- A suicide bombing kills at least 30 and injures 70 others in the southern city of Mukalla, Yemen. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claims responsibility for attack. (Xinhua) (Reuters) (Canadian Press via Chronicle-Herald)

Disasters and accidents

A truck collides with a motorised rickshaw in the Adilabad district of India‘s Telangana state resulting in 16 deaths. (AP via Washington Post)

Law and crime

Capital punishment in the Philippines
- President-elect of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, vows to reintroduce capital punishment and give security forces permission to shoot to kill for organized crime figures and people resisting arrest. Duterte is due to take office on June 30, 2016. (BBC)
A released report from an interview with former U.S. diplomat Donald Rickard reveals that he provided intelligence that led to the arrest of Nelson Mandela. (The Telegraph)

Politics and elections

Dominican Republic general election, 2016
- Voters in the Dominican Republic go to the polls for a general election. (AP)

Sports

2016 Formula One season
- 18-year old Max Verstappen becomes the youngest ever driver and the first Dutchman to win a Formula One race by winning the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. (The Guardian)
2015–16 Premier League, 2015–16 Manchester United F.C. season
- Tens of thousands of people are evacuated from Old Trafford shortly before kick-off between Manchester United F.C. and A.F.C. Bournemouth after a suspect package was found. A controlled explosion was then carried out within the stadium. The package is discovered to be an explosives training device left behind earlier in the week by a private company following a training exercise involving explosive search dogs. (BBC)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 16, 2016

Top News Stories –

First penis transplant in U.S. performed in Boston –
Surgeons in Boston have performed the first penile transplant in the United States, a procedure that soon could help severely wounded troops, surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital said Monday. Thomas Manning, 64, whose penis was removed in 2012 due to penile cancer, is recovering well and showing no signs of rejecting the transplant, his surgeons said. [USA Today]

Crimeans told to stop stealing sand from beaches –
Officials in Crimea are warning people to stop stealing sand from tourist beaches, or else face a prison sentence. The peninsula’s beaches are being targeted by people who remove the sand for use as free building material, the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper reports. At more remote beaches it’s being taken away by the lorry-load, the paper says. Sand theft can hit local authorities finances hard. In February, a group of builders were charged with illegally removing more than 1bn roubles-worth ($15.4m; £10.6m) near Moscow. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

World Record Edition | Dude Perfect

Other News Stories –

Arts and culture

The Vegetarian, written by Han Kang and translated by Deborah Smith, wins the Man Booker International Prize. (BBC News), (The Independent), (The Telegraph)

Business and economy

Pfizer Inc. announces plans to buy Anacor for $5.2 billion. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

At least 15 students are killed and 6 are missing after heavy rains and flash flooding trigger a landslide at a popular tourist resort in Deli Serdang Regency, Indonesia. (The Star Online)

Law and crime

Colombian conflict (1964–present)
- Colombian police announce the seizure of about 8 tonnes (18,000 lb) of cocaine in an operation targeting the Clan Úsuga gang. This would make it the biggest seizure of drugs in the history of Colombia.(UPI) (BBC) (NBC News)
Rwandan genocide
- A Swedish court sentences Claver Berinkindi, a 61-year-old Swedish citizen originally from Rwanda, to life in prison for participation in the Rwandan genocide in 1994. (Reuters) (THE LOCAL)

Politics and elections

The Afghan capital Kabul is locked down as members of the Hazara community protest the proposed route of a power line. (AP)

Science and technology

The first penis transplant in the United States is performed successfully at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, Massachusetts. Doctors call the operation “a surgical milestone”. The patient, 64-year-old Thomas Manning from Halifax, Massachusetts, is the third man worldwide to have had the experimental surgery performed. (USA Today) (BBC)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 17, 2016

Top News Stories –

British Premier League finishes late with Leicester City as 5000-1 Champions –
The final match of the Barclays Premier League saw Manchester United beat Bournemouth 3-1 in a rescheduled match after a suspect package was found at Old Trafford two days earlier. Leicester City were the surprise of the season. Following their narrow escape from relegation in the previous season many pundits had predicted that they would be relegated and bookmakers gave 5,000–1 odds on them winning the title which they achieved with two matches to spare. After the dismissal of manager Nigel Pearson, they began the new season with Italian Claudio Ranieri in charge. The Golden Boot (for the most goals scored by a player) went to Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane. Norwich City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa were relegated. [Wikipedia] See List of the Day
Harry Kane

Hackers’ website breached by hacker –
The email addresses and private messages of more than 470,000 members of a hacking website have been leaked online following a huge data breach. The Nulled website was a popular marketplace for stolen account details and hacking tips. The leaked data contained more than 5,000 purchase records relating to the exchange of stolen information. The site has been taken offline, stating it is undergoing “routine maintenance”. [BBC]

Fireball captured on US traffic police officer’s dashcam –
A bright fireball shot across the sky early Tuesday around 0500 GMT (0100 EDT), lighting up several north-eastern US states and parts of Canada. The bright flash was apparently left by a meteor burning up as it passed through Earth’s atmosphere. The incident was caught on camera, including the dashcam of an officer from the Plattsburgh Police Department, which you can see here. [BBC] See Video of the Day

Video of the Day –

List of the Day –

Barclays Premier League 2015-16 [Wikipedia]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Leicester City (C)	38	23	12	3	68	36	+32	81
2	Arsenal	38	20	11	7	65	36	+29	71
3	Tottenham Hotspur	38	19	13	6	69	35	+34	70
4	Manchester City	38	19	9	10	71	41	+30	66
5	Manchester United	38	19	9	10	49	35	+14	66
6	Southampton	38	18	9	11	59	41	+18	63
7	West Ham United	38	16	14	8	65	51	+14	62
8	Liverpool	38	16	12	10	63	50	+13	60
9	Stoke City	38	14	9	15	41	55	−14	51
10	Chelsea	38	12	14	12	59	53	+6	50
11	Everton	38	11	14	13	59	55	+4	47
12	Swansea City	38	12	11	15	42	52	−10	47
13	Watford	38	12	9	17	40	50	−10	45
14	West Bromwich Albion	38	10	13	15	34	48	−14	43
15	Crystal Palace	38	11	9	18	39	51	−12	42
16	AFC Bournemouth	38	11	9	18	45	67	−22	42
17	Sunderland	38	9	12	17	48	62	−14	39
18	Newcastle United (R)	38	9	10	19	44	65	−21	37
19	Norwich City (R)	38	9	7	22	39	67	−28	34
20	Aston Villa (R)	38	3	8	27	27	76	−49	17

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi civil war (2014–present)
- At least 69 people are killed and 230 injured in a series of bomb attacks targeting Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad, Iraq. Islamic State of Iraq and Syria claims responsibility for some of the attacks. (NY Times) (Reuters) (Press TV)

Disasters and accidents

Heavy rainfall leads to threats of flooding in Sri Lanka and southern India. (AccuWeather)
2016 Fort McMurray wildfire
- A flare up of wildfires around Fort McMurray has caused the evacuation of 8,000 workers. (Reuters/AFP via ABC News Australia)

International relations

North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
- Amid growing concern about North Korea‘s ballistic missile capability, South Korea, Japan and the U.S. are to hold their first ever joint anti-missile exercise next month, according to South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense. The three countries will practice “detecting and tracing a hypothetical North Korean missile,” said a ministry official. (CNN)
Nepal–United Kingdom relations
- British national Martin Travers is detained in Nepal for allegedly taking part in protests against the Nepalese government. (AP via The Telegraph)

Politics and elections

United States presidential election, 2016
- Voters in the American state of Oregon have their mail-in ballots counted for a Democratic Party and Republican Party primary. Donald Trump is the projected winner on the Republican winner while Bernie Sanders is projected to win the Democratic Party race. (ABC News America), (NBC News), (AP via Chicago Tribune)
- Voters in the American state of Kentucky go to the polls for a Democratic Party primary with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders winning an equal number of delegates and Clinton winning the popular vote narrowly.. (AFP via Yahoo! 7) (Courier-Journal), (CNN)
The U.S. Senate passes a legislation that would allow victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to file lawsuits seeking damages from Saudi Arabia despite Saudi threats to pull billions of dollars from the U.S. economy.(LA Times) (Reuters) (NY Times)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 18, 2016

Top News Stories –

Sevilla beat Liverpool 3-1 to win the Europa League for fifth time –
Liverpool suffered a dramatic second-half collapse as Sevilla claimed the Europa League for the third season in succession with a superb comeback. Jurgen Klopp’s side looked on course to secure the prize of Champions League football – on offer to the winners of the competition – when Daniel Sturridge’s magnificent strike with the outside of his left foot gave them the interval lead. The good work was wrecked in the first 17 seconds of the second half when Kevin Gameiro turned in Mariano Ferreira’s cross to put Sevilla level. Coke’s fine 64th-minute finish confirmed Sevilla’s superiority and he added a contentious third from close range, which was initially disallowed but was then given as Liverpool slumped to their second final defeat this season after losing to Manchester City in the Capital One Cup. [BBC]
Coke

Google’s conversation-based Assistant takes on Amazon –
Google has announced a conversation-based tool to control smartphones, smartwatches and other devices. Google Assistant can be used to find information, play media and carry out tasks – such as booking cinema tickets – via a back-and-forth chat between the user and the software. The firm also announced a voice-activated device with a built-in speaker called Google Home to deliver the tech to living rooms. It will compete with Amazon’s Echo. Amazon launched its own dialogue-based smart home device in 2014, which is powered by the firm’s proprietary virtual assistant Alexa. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Google App: Ok, Google…

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in North-West Pakistan
- Twin bombings kill a police officer and wound nine people in Peshawar, Pakistan. (FOX News)
Use of chemical weapons in the Iraqi civil war
- Iraqi police claim ISIL militants fired chemical weapons, suspected to be mustard gas or chlorine, in the May 8 attacks on Bashir near Kirkuk, Iraq. (Time)
Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping
- One of the girls kidnapped in 2014 by Boko Haram in Nigeria is found and reunited with her family. (BBC) (CNN)

Business and economy

Suzuki says it used improper fuel economy tests for Japan in a widening of a scandal that hit Mitsubishi Motors. (Reuters)

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, met with a group of prominent U.S. conservatives, over allegations that the company censors conservative content. (Reuters).

Disasters and accidents

More than 150 people are feared dead by two landslides triggered by more than three days of heavy rain in central Sri Lanka. (Reuters) (The New York Times)
A powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake hits Ecuador near the town of Muisne, one person is killed. (Reuters) (AP)
A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashes at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. All seven aircrew members escaped. No injuries have been reported. (Pacific Daily News)

International relations

Cross-Strait relations
- China stages joint war games featuring mock beach landing, helicopter assaults and tank battles along its east coast, just days before the inauguration of Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-Wen. (AP via Daily Mail)

Law and crime

Michelle Lodzinski is convicted of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 25 years ago in New Jersey. (AP via Chicago Tribune), (USA Today), (The New York Times)

Politics and elections

2014–16 Venezuelan protests
- Amid a state of emergency, Venezuelan police clash and fire tear gas at protesters calling for the downfall of socialist president Nicolás Maduro in central Caracas. The protests come a day after Maduro warned that the opposition-controlled National Assembly may soon “disappear”. (The Guardian)

Sport

2016 UEFA Europa League Final
- Spanish side Sevilla FC beats English opponent Liverpool F.C., 3-1, at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, to win the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League. It is their third straight UEFA Europa League title win. (Radio New Zealand)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 19, 2016

Top News Stories –

Google Patents Sticky Car Hood to Trap Pedestrians in a Collision –
Google has a solution to help mitigate injuries in the event a pedestrian and a self-driving car collide: human flypaper. In a patent issued this week, the search giant describes a “system for protecting a colliding object from a secondary impact, after an initial impact with a vehicle.” The patent calls for a giant sticker to be placed on the front end of a vehicle, with a special coating over the layer that is only broken when something collides with the vehicle, exposing the adhesive and helping the colliding object to remain on the vehicle. [ABC]
Google car fly paper patent diagram

German churches to get wi-fi ‘Godspots’ –
Worshippers at Protestant churches in central Germany will soon be able to access the internet via free wi-fi hotspots – billed as “Godspots” by the church. Wi-fi is being installed at 220 churches across the Berlin and Brandenberg region, with plans to expand coverage to all 3,000 churches in the region, the RBB broadcaster reports. Among the first to get connected will be Berlin’s French Cathedral on the central Gendarmenmarkt square, and the city’s iconic Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. People will be able to access the “Godspots” both inside and outside, and the church is promising a secure network with no advertising. Users will first be greeted by a home page with information about the building, community and faith-related material, but then they’ll be free to browse the wider web. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

These Lizards Have Been Playing Rock-Paper-Scissors for 15 Million Years

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- Syrian government forces and allies, including Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, retake a large area southeast of Damascus, including the key town of Deir al-Asafir. (BBC) (Al Arabiya)
- Fighting between Jaysh al-Islam and rival factions led by al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front in Ghouta, near Damascus, leaves more than 50 people dead. (Swiss Info) (Ara News)

Iraqi civil war (2014–present)
- At least three civilians are killed and 10 others wounded in a bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq. (Rudaw)

Arts and culture

Oppenheimer Blue, a large and rare blue diamond, is sold for $57.6 million USD, the most expensive jewel ever sold at an auction. (Reuters) (Swiss Info)

Business and economics

German chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer bids to merge with American agrochemical and agricultural firm Monsanto. (Forbes) (Bloomberg)
Google honors Asian American civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama who held controversial views about racial harmony, terrorism and American power with a doodle. (Democracy Now) (The Washington Post)

Disasters and accidents

EgyptAir Flight 804
- EgyptAir Flight 804 between Paris and Cairo disappears with 56 passengers and 10 crew onboard. The plane was at 37,000 feet when it disappeared ten minutes before entering Egyptian airspace over the Mediterranean Sea. It is later reported to have crashed off the Greek island of Karpathos. Locals reported seeing a fireball. (Reuters) (The Telegraph) (The Guardian)
2016 Silk Way Airlines Antonov An-12 crash
- An Azerbaijani cargo airplane crashes during landing in southern Afghanistan, killing seven out of its nine crew members. (Washington Post) (Daily Sabah)

Law and Crime

A unanimous opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court finds that the constitutional guarantee of a speedy trial does not guarantee a speedy sentencing hearing. (CNS)
San Francisco Police Department Chief Greg Suhr resigns from his position several hours after a black woman is shot by police in San Francisco. (ABC News)

International relations

Accession of Montenegro to NATO
- Montenegro and NATO sign an accession agreement, paving the way for the country’s future entry into the military alliance. All of NATO’s members must now ratify the agreement, with Prime Minister Milo Đukanović expecting Montenegro to join by mid 2017. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Politics and election

Decommunization in Ukraine:
- Ukraine‘s Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, decides that the country’s third largest city, Dnipropetrovsk, be renamed Dnipro as part of the decommunization drive. (Kyiv Post), (Radio Free Europe)
Philippine general election, 2016
- In the Philippine general election, the Liberal Party emerges as the party with a plurality of seats in the Philippine Senate election, 2016 and Philippine House of Representatives elections, 2016. (Xinhua)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asks Yisrael Beiteinu party leader and former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to be Defense Minister. Current defense minister and former army chief of staffMoshe Ya’alon’s role in the future government is unclear. Leiberman is known for his hawkish and uncompromising views. (The Guardian) (Israel Hayom)

Science

A new species of horned dinosaur, Machairoceratops cronusi, thought to have lived about 77 million years ago, is discovered in southern Utah. (Huffington Post) (FOX News) (PLOS One)
Google receives a United States patent for an adhesive for its self-driving cars, so-called human flypaper, designed to minimize injuries in a pedestrian accident by holding the person to the car rather than being thrown after impact. (The Verge) (ABC News)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 20, 2016

Top News Stories –

Mum in Chewbacca mask shatters Facebook Live record –
A braying Chewbacca mask found “on clearance” has shot a Texas mother to internet stardom. Candace Payne was not expecting to purchase the mask when she went to her local Kohls department store, just outside of Dallas, Texas. She doesn’t even consider herself a huge Star Wars fan. On Thursday, the 37-year-old mother of two was returning some items and was going to spend her birthday money on some exercise clothes or something “for the kids”. The Facebook Live video she broadcast from the store’s car park – immediately after purchasing the Chewbacca mask – has broken the record as the most-watched Facebook Live video – ever. “That’s just crazy,” Mrs Payne told the BBC. “I’m just laughing – in all honesty, that is ridiculous. I’ve looked at the number of views and it just seems like someone is just playing with a calculator.” It’s a big number: So far, more than 48 million people have watched Payne laugh hysterically as she shows Facebook her new purchase. [BBC] See Video of the Day [Also see 24 May – Video of the Day]
Candace Payne – Chewbacca

India records its hottest day ever –
A city in India’s Rajasthan state has broken the country’s temperature records after registering 51C, the highest since records began, the weather office says. The new record in Phalodi in the desert state comes amid a heatwave across India. The previous record for the hottest temperature stood at 50.6C in 1956. The heatwave has hit much of northern India, where temperatures have exceeded 40C for weeks. The run-up to the Indian monsoon season is always characterised by weeks of strong sunshine and increasing heat but life-threatening temperature levels topping 50C are unusual. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Candace Payne Chewbacca video

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi civil war (2014–present)
- Ar-Rutbah offensive (2016)
  - Iraqi Army forces helped by U.S. airstrikes recapture the southwestern city of Ar-Rutbah from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group. The victory will allow for the re-opening of the Baghdad–Amman highway. (Al Jazeera)
Abkhaz–Georgian conflict
- Georgia‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses “shock and deep concern” after a Georgian citizen, 31-year-old Giga Otkhozoria, was shot dead by Russian Armed Forces troops patrolling areas near the administrative boundary with Abkhazia. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Business and economy

Shortages in Venezuela
- Coca-Cola FEMSA suspends all production in Venezuela due to a sugar shortage. (Fortune) (Sputnik)

Disasters and accidents

2016 Sri Lankan floods
- Two hundred thousand people flee the Sri Lankan capital Colombo as floods caused by several days of heavy rain worsen. (AFP via Yahoo)
EgyptAir Flight 804
- Egyptian Armed Forces claim that passenger luggage and part of the aircraft have been found in the Mediterranean Sea 290 kilometers north of Alexandria. (CNN)
Temperatures soar to a record 51 °C (124 °F) in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The heatwave has claimed 300 lives since April 2016. (BBC)
At least four National Gendarmerie officers are killed in a helicopter crash in Hautes-Pyrénées, in southwestern France. (THE LOCAL)
List of earthquakes in Australia
- The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports a magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. It is the strongest earthquake in the Northern Territory region since the Tennant Creek earthquakes on 22 January 1988. No damage or injuries are reported. (The Sydney Morning Herald) (RT)

Health

Zika virus outbreak (2015 – present)
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports at that least 270 pregnant women in the United States are infected with the Zika virus. (NBC News) (NPR)

International relations

Accession of Montenegro to NATO
- The Kremlin condemns NATO’s membership invitation to Montenegro, warning the step risks fueling geopolitical tensions in Europe. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
- NATO foreign ministers, meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, agree to extend the alliance’s Resolute Support Mission, that trains, advises and assists Afghanistan‘s military beyond 2016.(AP via Daily Mail) (NATO)

Law and crime

Efforts to impeach Barack Obama
- The Oklahoma Legislature files a measure asking for Congress to impeach Barack Obama over his decision to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity.(KOCO)
The Mexican government approves the extradition of drug boss Joaquín Guzmán to the United States following assurances that he will not face the death penalty. (Reuters)
A United States Secret Service officer shoots an armed man on a street near the White House after the man allegedly approached the officer and refused to drop his weapon. The White House is locked down.(AP via Yahoo! News) (CNN)

Politics and elections

Tsai Ing-wen is sworn in as the first female President of Taiwan. (BBC)
Israeli Defense minister Moshe Ya’alon announces his resignation. (NY Times) (BBC) (FOX News)
The Oklahoma legislature passes a bill that would make it a felony for doctors to perform abortions and revokes the medical license of assisting physicians. The governor then vetoes the bill. (NY Times)(Washington Post)(CNN)
2015–16 Iraqi protests
- Iraqi security forces fire tear gas and water cannon on protesters attempting to storm the Green Zone in Baghdad, injuring at least 33. (Bloomberg) (WSJ)
- The Iraqi government imposes a curfew in Baghdad. (Reuters)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 21, 2016

Top News Stories –

Manchester United win FA Cup and replace their manager –
Manchester United came from behind and survived Chris Smalling’s sending-off to beat Crystal Palace and win the FA Cup at Wembley through Jesse Lingard’s extra-time strike. As Wembley was awash with growing speculation this this would be Louis van Gaal’s final match as United manager – with BBC Sport understanding he will be replaced by Jose Mourinho next week – he was able to add English football’s most glamorous cup to his honours list. United looked on course to end the season empty-handed as well as missing out on Champions League football when substitute Jason Puncheon’s powerful far-post finish put Palace ahead with 12 minutes left. It was harsh on United, who had hit the woodwork through Marouane Fellaini and Antony Martial, but they responded within four minutes with a brilliant run from Wayne Rooney that ended with Juan Mata scoring from close range. United lost Smalling to a second yellow card for hauling back Yannick Bolasie in extra time – but Lingard took the trophy to Old Trafford when he lashed home a first-time strike from Damien Delaney’s half-clearance after 110 minutes. [BBC]
Louis van Gaal

Video of the Day –

Cruising with Tesla’s Autopilot in Houston traffic

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Attacks on secularists in Bangladesh
- A homeopathic doctor is hacked to death in Bangladesh. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claim responsibility. (Reuters) (CNN)
War in Afghanistan
- Six police officers are killed in an insider attack in Uruzgan province. (NY Times)
- A suicide bomber attacks a NATO convoy in Parwan province, wounding two civilians. (Stripes) (VOA News)
- The United States kills Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour in an air strike along the Afghan Pakistan border near the town of Ahmad Wal. (Fox News) (CNN), (The Guardian)

Disasters and accidents

Cyclone Roanu
- At least 21 are killed and more than 500,000 are displaced by cyclone Roanu in Bangladesh. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera), (The Daily Star)
- The toll from landslides and heavy flooding in Sri Lanka rises to at least 73. (The Guardian) (bd24new.com) (Washington Post) (Press Trust of India via Business Standard)
At least 37 people have been killed and 22 injured in a bus crash in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (ABC News)

Health

2015-16 Zika virus epidemic
- The World Health Organization confirms that the Zika virus strain spreading in Cape Verde is the same as the one in the Americas. (Daily Mail) (CIDRAP)

International relations

Syrian Civil War, War on Terrorism
- The Pentagon rejects a Russian proposal to stage joint airstrikes against Al-Qaeda linked groups in Syria. (VOA News) (Reuters) (Huffington Post)
War in Afghanistan
- Norway Foreign Minister Børge Brende says his government is doubling humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to around 200 million kroner (US$24 million). (AP)

Politics and elections

2015–16 Iraqi protests
- At least four are killed and 90 injured among protesters who stormed the Green Zone in Baghdad. (Reuters)
Kazakhstan police detain dozens of protesters during rallies against proposed land reforms in the former Central Asian Soviet Republic. (AP) (Al Jazeera)
2014–16 Venezuelan protests
- The Venezuelan Army holds the biggest military exercise in its history, citing threats to national security, amidst opposition demands of a recall referendum on President Nicolas Maduro. (Bloomberg)(Stratis Times)
At least one person is dead in protests that have turned violent in Chile. (FOX News)

Science

Lake Mead in Mohave County, Arizona, the largest reservoir in the United States, drops to its lowest level in history, declining to its lowest level since it was filled in the 1930s. The reservoir serves water to the states of Arizona, Nevada and California. (WFAA)

Sport

2016 Preakness Stakes
- Exaggerator wins the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. (Courier-Journal via USA Today), (CBS Sports)
- Two horses die during a rainy Preakness Day’s early races. A 9-year-old gelding apparently suffered cardiovascular collapse. A 4-year-old filly broke her left front cannon bone during her race and waseuthanized, while her jockey broke his right collarbone as he was thrown to the turf. (AP)
2016 FA Cup Final
- Manchester United F.C. beat Crystal Palace F.C. 2-1 at Wembley Stadium in London to win the 2015–16 FA Cup. (BBC)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 22, 2016

Top News Stories –

Naked sleepwalker helped back to Manchester hotel –
A man was helped back to his hotel after sleepwalking into the street in Manchester city centre without any clothes on, police have said. The naked man was spotted outside his hotel on Chorlton Street, at about 04:30 BST. Greater Manchester Police said it was a “genuine case of sleepwalking”. GMP tweeted: “We checked with officers; was proper somnambulism, not a dare. Person grateful for our help + saw the funny side themselves.” The man’s identity has not been revealed by police. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Everything is a Remix: The Force Awakens from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that over 60,000 people have died in Syrian government jails during the five year civil war. (Reuters)
Insurgency in Northeast India
- Insurgency in Manipur
  - Rebels ambush and kill six Indian paramilitary soldiers in the state of Manipur, near the northeastern border with Myanmar. (The New York Times) (Hindustan Times)
Iraqi civil war (2014–present)
- Siege of Fallujah (2016)
  - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announces the start of a military operation to recapture Falluja from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. (CBS News) (BBC)

Arts and culture

2016 Cannes Film Festival
- British film I, Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach, wins the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. (The Guardian)
The 12th Festival of Pacific Arts opens at Paseo Stadium in Guam. (Guam Daily Post)(Pacific Daily News)

Disasters and accidents

Indonesia‘s Mount Sinabung erupts, killing at least six people in Sumatra. (AFP via ABC News Australia)

International relations

China-Taiwan Relations
- China threatens to cut off regular communication with Taiwan unless it acknowledges the “One China principle“. (CNBC) (Business Insider)

Law and crime

2016 Nenzing shooting
- A man kills two and wounds 11 in an attack on a concert in the Austrian town of Nenzing. (AP via 9News)
At least six people are killed in shootings at two nightclubs in the Mexican state of Veracruz. (FOX News)

Politics and elections

Austrian presidential election, 2016
- The second round of voting takes place to elect either Norbert Hofer or Alexander Van der Bellen as President of Austria. (USA Today), (BBC)
Vietnamese legislative election, 2016
- Voters in Vietnam go to the polls to choose legislators for its Parliament. The only legal party in the country is the Communist Party, which has already chosen its members. (AP)
Tajikistani constitutional referendum, 2016
- Voters in Tajikistan go to the polls for a referendum to make various amendments to the constitution which include, among other things, the elimination of term limits to allow President Emomali Rahmonand only him to run again for office and lowering the presidential age limit from 35 to 30, which observers believe will position Rahmon’s son Rustam Emomali for future succession. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Science

NASA projects that 2016 will have the warmest global temperature average on record, breaking the previous record high set in 2015. This year would be the third record-breaking year in a row. Per NOAAannals, April marked the 12th record warmest month in a row. (Scientific American)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 23, 2016

Top News Stories –

Barack Obama eats $6 dinner in Vietnam with chef Anthony Bourdain –
Barack Obama didn’t want to miss out Monday night in Hanoi, so he hit the town with renowned chef-turned-television host Anthony Bourdain. The pair dined together at Huong Lien, a bún chả restaurant that serves the grilled pork and noodle dish thought to originate in Vietnam’s capital city. The US reporters in the White House press pool that was accompanying Obama in the presidential motorcade were not allowed to follow the pair inside the restaurant, which was crowded with local patrons. But social media lit up with photos from those who were present for the surprise visit, which was not listed on the president’s public schedule. [The Independent]
Anthony Bourdain tweet

Video of the Day –

If Meat Eaters Acted Like Vegans – Ultra Spiritual Life episode 35

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- Reuters reports nearly 150 people are killed and at least 200 wounded in a series of car bomb and suicide attacks in the Syrian cities of Jableh and Tartus in government-controlled territory that hostsRussian military bases. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group claims responsibility. (Al Jazeera) (USA Today) (Reuters)
Yemeni civil war (2015–present)
- At least 41 army recruits are killed and 60 others injured in a suicide car bomb attack in Aden, Yemen. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group claims responsibility. (Reuters)
- At least 13 suspected Al-Qaeda militants and two soldiers are killed in a raid in Aden, Yemen. (VOA News) (National Yemen)
Iraqi civil war (2014–present)
- The Iraqi government begins Operation Breaking Terrorism, aimed at retaking the city of Fallujah, which has been under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group since early 2014. (Al Jazeera)
Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
- Three policemen are killed in Srinagar, India. Hizbul Mujahideen claims responsibility. (News 18) (The New York Times)
War in Afghanistan
- The Taliban leadership council reportedly meets to determine a successor to Mullah Akhtar Mansour, killed this weekend during an American drone strike in Pakistan. (Reuters)

Business and economy

Germany‘s Bayer AG makes an unsolicited bid valued at $62 billion cash to takeover American company Monsanto to create the world’s largest agricultural chemical company. (Bloomberg) (The Wall Street Journal)

Disasters and accidents

An overnight fire at Pitakiatwittaya Christian elementary school’s dormitory in the northern Chiang Rai Province in Thailand kills 18 girls between the ages of 5 and 12. The other 20 girls sleeping in the dorm are rescued, though five are injured. (CNN) (Facebook)
Cyclone Roanu
- Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre reports 92 people are confirmed dead with 109 people still missing from landslides and floods resulting from Roanu. More than 500,000 have been driven from their homes. (EconomyNext)
- Bangladesh reports at least 26 deaths caused by drowning or homes collapsing with 500,000 evacuated during the storm. Maheshkhali Island officials are monitoring a badly damaged 17-mile stretch of mud embankment in danger of collapsing, allowing seawater to flood the communities. (The Weather Channel) (The Navhind Times)
At least five people are killed after a Cessna 182 light-aircraft crashes near Port Allen Airport on Hawaii‘s Kauai island. (CBS News)

Health and medicine

2015–16 Zika virus epidemic
- Health officials are concerned about the spread of the Zika virus in Haiti, which suffered the worst epidemic of cholera in recent history following the deadly 2010 Haiti earthquake. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there are 2,214 suspected cases as of April 23. But new research indicates the virus has been present since 2014. The actual infection rate remains unknown since the poor, densely populated nation lacks routine data systems that can track and document disease outbreaks. (AP)

International relations

United States–Vietnam relations
- United States President Barack Obama ends the American arms embargo with Vietnam during his visit in the country. (Washington Post) (USA Today)
World Humanitarian Summit
- The first-ever United Nations humanitarian summit opens in Istanbul, Turkey, to address the 125-million people crisis, the worst since World War II. (AP via Deseret News) (Reuters)
Pope Francis meets with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb in the Vatican. (Al Jazeera) (ABC News) (US News)

Law and crime

Death of Freddie Gray
- Judge Barry Williams finds Baltimore, Maryland, Police Officer Edward Nero not guilty of all charges. Nero was accused of second-degree intentional assault, two counts of misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment. Community leaders and elected officials appeal for calm. (CNN)
- The Baltimore Police Department says Nero remains on administrative duty while an internal investigation continues. (AP via Daily Mail)
- Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says the city is prepared to respond to any disturbance after today’s acquittal. (AP via Salon)
Threatening robocalls lead to mass evacuation of students in the United States and United Kingdom. None of the threats were found to be credible but disrupted General Certificate of Secondary Educationtests in the UK. (NBC News)
Democratic Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe is being investigated by federal prosecutors over campaign contributions, including a foreign contribution from a Chinese businessman, and what they consider to be “suspicious personal finances”, as part of a public integrity probe that has lasted for more than a year, according to officials. The United States Department of Justice would not confirm or deny the investigation. (The Washington Post)

Politics and elections

Tajikistani constitutional referendum, 2016
- The Tajikistani constitutional referendum results in the removal of term limits of incumbent President Emomali Rahmon. (TASS), (ABC News)
Binali Yıldırım is appointed Prime Minister of Turkey after the resignation of Ahmet Davutoğlu amid disagreements with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (ABC New), (BBC), (VOA)
Austrian presidential election, 2016
- Independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen, a member of The Greens, is elected President of Austria in a tight contest that was decided by mail-in votes. (CNN) (USA Today)
Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines presumptive president-elect, says he will allow the immediate burial of former kleptocratic dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes’ Cemetery in metropolitan Manila. (AP)
Cypriot legislative election, 2016
- The Democratic Rally wins the legislative election. (Daily Sabah) (TASS) (EU Observer)

Science

ISRO successfully launched India‘s Reusable Launch Vehicle demonstrator mission (RLV-TD).(NASA Spaceflight)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 24, 2016

Top News Stories –

Facebook to update Trending Topics –
Facebook has announced changes to the way it runs its Trending Topics feed, following an internal investigation. There will be more training for staff and the feed will no longer rely on a list of news organisations, including the BBC, Washington Post and Buzzfeed News, to validate subjects. The feed, which lists popular headlines along with a brief description, has been accused of political bias. However, Facebook’s report found no evidence of this. Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch said the investigation analysed 3,000 reviewer decisions following allegations that conservative issues were being suppressed. [BBC]

Google’s Paris HQ raided in tax probe –
French finance officials have raided the Paris offices of US internet giant Google as part of a tax fraud investigation. Reports say about 100 tax officials entered Google’s offices in central Paris early in the morning. Police sources confirmed the raid. Google said: “We comply with French law and are co-operating fully with the authorities to answer their questions.” Google is accused of owing €1.6bn ($1.8bn; £1.3bn) in unpaid taxes. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Chewbacca Mom Takes James Corden to Work

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
- Jaish-e-Mohammed operations chief is killed in a gun battle with police. (ABC News)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
- At least six Turkish soldiers are killed and four others are wounded in a PKK attack in Turkey‘s eastern Van Province. (Daily Sabah)
Syrian civil war
- New satellite imagery from Stratfor appears to reveal the destruction of four Russian attack helicopters and 20 lorries at the Tiyas military airbase after a reported attack which was conducted last week by the ISIL. (BBC)
- U.S. backed Syrian Democratic Forces, led by Kurdish forces, launch an operation to capture Al-Raqqah, the de-facto capital of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The force is reported to be more than 50,000 strong. (Reuters)
War in Donbass
- Seven Ukrainian servicemen are killed in suspected attacks by pro-Russian rebels. (Reuters)

Business and economy

American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology company Monsanto rejects an unsolicited $62 billion takeover bid by German pharmaceutical giant Bayer, saying the price was too low but adding that it remained “open to further talks.” (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Eleven people are dead and many are missing after a jade mine collapses in the Myanmar town of Hpakant. (AFP via New Straits Times)
EgyptAir Flight 804
- Reports claim that an Egyptian forensic official says that body parts recovered from EgyptAir flight 804 indicate that the crash was caused by an explosion. (Daily Mail)

International relations

European migrant crisis
- Greek authorities begin operations to clear the Idomeni refugee camp on the border with Macedonia. (AP via ABC News)

Law and crime

A court in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania finds that there is enough evidence to hold entertainer Bill Cosby on felony indecent assault charges in relation to the case of Andrea Constand v. William H. Cosby, Jr.. (CNN)
Google‘s offices in central Paris are raided by French finance officials as part of a tax fraud investigation. Google is accused of owing €1.6bn ($1.8bn; £1.3bn) in unpaid taxes. (BBC)
Loretta Lynch, the Attorney General of the United States, advises that the US government will seek the death penalty against Dylann Roof accused of conducting the 2015 Charleston massacre. (Post and Courier)

Politics and elections

Iran‘s Assembly of Experts new session is opened which elects Ahmad Jannati as its chairman. (Mehr)
The President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan formally approves his ally Binali Yıldırım as the Prime Minister. (AP via ABC News America)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 25, 2016

Top News Stories –

‘Beauty and the Beast’ Teaser Tops ‘Star Wars: Force Awakens’ in First Day –
The first teaser trailer for Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast was viewed a record 91.8 million times in its first 24 hours — besting previous champ Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as well as Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Age of Ultron (each of them Disney films as well). The second teaser trailer for Force Awakens garnered 88 million views, followed by 61 million views for Captain America: Civil War, 55 million views for the second teaser for Force Awakens, and 34 million views for Avengers: Age of Ultron, according to Disney. [Hollywood Reporter] See Video of the Day

Norway consumer body stages live app terms reading –
Norwegians have spent more than 30 hours reading out terms and conditions from smartphone apps in a campaign by the country’s consumer agency. The average Norwegian has 33 apps, the Norwegian Consumer Council says, whose terms and conditions together run longer than the New Testament. To prove the “absurd” length, the council got Norwegians to read each of them out in real time on their website. The reading finished on Wednesday, clocking in at 31:49:11. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Beauty and the Beast Official US Teaser Trailer

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
- The Afghan Taliban announces that Haibatullah Akhundzada will be its new leader replacing Akhtar Mansour who died recently in a drone strike. Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mullah Yaqoob are named as deputy leaders. (Al-Jazeera)
- A suicide bomb attack kills at least 10 people and injures four people travelling on a bus for appeals court staff travelling west of Kabul. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Business and economy

Greek financial crisis
- The Eurozone agrees to a €10.3 billion ($11.48 billion) bailout package for Greece. (The Guardian)

International relations

Russia–Ukraine relations, War in Donbass
- Ukrainian pilot and parliamentarian Nadiya Savchenko, who has been detained in Russia since 2014, arrives home following a dramatic prisoner swap with Russia. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

In the United States, Hillary Clinton is criticized by the State Department’s inspector general for her usage of a private email server while she was secretary of state. The finding also concluded though that former secretary of state Colin Powell also had a private email server, as did former ambassador to Kenya Scott Gration. The inspector referred to the email server usage as “longstanding systemic weaknesses”. (New York Times)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 26, 2016

Top News Stories –

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in marriage split –
Film star Johnny Depp and his actress wife Amber Heard are to divorce, US court documents have revealed. Heard, 30, filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court citing irreconcilable differences. They married 15 months ago and have no children. They have recently been embroiled in a legal case in Australia after Heard took two dogs into the country illegally. She pleaded guilty in April to a charge of falsifying documents. Depp, 52, and Heard met while co-starring in the 2011 film The Rum Diary. [BBC]
Amber Heard

Trump sews up delegates to seal GOP nomination –
Triumphantly armed with a majority of his party’s delegates, Republican Donald Trump unleashed a broadside attack Thursday on Hillary Clinton’s prescriptions for energy, guns, the economy and international affairs, shifting abruptly toward the general election with his likely Democratic opponent locked in a divisive primary contest. The New York billionaire shrugged off signs of discord in his party hours after sewing up the number of delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination, a feat that completed an unlikely rise that has upended the political landscape and set the stage for a bitter fall campaign. [AP]
Donald Trump

Python in Thai toilet gives man nasty shock –
A Thai man is recovering in hospital after a 3m (10ft) python emerged from a squat toilet and sank its fangs into his penis. Attaporn Boonmakchuay said the python was “yanking very hard” as he and his wife tried to wrestle it off. Doctors said Mr Attaporn, who lost a lot of blood in the ordeal, was making a good recovery. Workers dismantled the toilet and extracted the python which had slithered through domestic plumbing. It was released back into the wild. The incident happened as Mr Attaporn, 38, went to the toilet at his home in Chachoengsao province, east of Bangkok, before leaving for work on Wednesday. As he used the toilet he said he suddenly felt a sharp pain. “I felt as though my penis had been severed. The snake was yanking very hard,” he said, according to the Bangkok Post. As the python tried to pull him down, he called for his wife and neighbours to help him, the post reported. Mr Attaporn told Thai TV that his wife tied a rope around the snake and he pried its jaws open before passing out. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

THE SIMPSONS | Build Your Own Couch Gag by Michal Socha | ANIMATION on FOX

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi civil war
- Operation Breaking Terrorism
  - Iraqi security forces and Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces recapture Al-Karmah, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Fallujah. (CNN)

Arts and culture

Archaeologists announce the discovery of a 2,400-year-old tomb which they believe to be that of Aristotle based on its grandiosity, and its location atop a hill in Stagira, the city of his birth. (UPI) (The New York Times)
89th Scripps National Spelling Bee
- The Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States finishes with a tie between Jairam Hathwar and Nihar Janga. This is the third successive year the event has finished in a tie. (The Guardian)

Disasters and accidents

Two United States Navy FA-18‘s crash in the Atlantic Ocean near the Outer Banks off the coast of the US state of North Carolina. The four pilots safely ejected from the planes and are being examined inSentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia. (Virginian Pilot) (UPI)
European migrant crisis
- At least 20 people drown in the southern Mediterranean Sea when a repurposed fishing boat sinks 35 nautical miles north of Zuwara, Libya. (The Guardian)

Health and medicine

Researchers at the United States Department of Defense report, in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, the discovery in the United States of a strain of E. coli that includes the new gene MCR-1, which is resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic. (National Geographic) (The Washington Post) (Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy)

International relations

Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency criticizes Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen as politically extreme and lacking emotional balance because she is unmarried and does not have children. (BBC) (The New York Times)
South Korea plans to import arms worth about 3.5 trillion won (US$3 billion) this year to enhance its defense capabilities. (UPI) (Yonhap)
Ethiopia–South Korea relations
- South Korean President Park Geun-hye, during her state visit to Ethiopia to work toward full-scale defense cooperation, pledges $1 million in aid for drought recovery. Park is expected to continue toUganda and Kenya after this visit. (UPI)

Law and crime

Indonesian President Joko Widodo issues an executive order (Perppu) making child sexual abuse punishable by chemical castration and extends the maximum penalty to death. (UPI) (Time)
Ken Starr, the president of Baylor University, is stripped of his title after an investigation revealed the university mishandled accusations of sexual assault against its football players. The university’s football coach, Art Briles, is also fired. (The New York Times)
A lawsuit brought against Google by Oracle Corporation accusing Google of using copyrighted code for the Android operating system is decided in Google’s favor. (The New York Times)
A bill that punishes hate crimes against law enforcement is signed by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. It is the first state to pass such a law. (The New York Times)
A Muslim mob is found to have attacked Coptic homes and stripped a woman in public in Minya Governorate, Egypt, on 20 May 2016. (U.S. News & World Report)

Politics and elections

French labor unions, led by the CGT, implement a strike in protest of proposed reforms to labor laws. (BBC)
United States presidential election, 2016
- The Associated Press reports that Donald Trump has secured enough delegates to secure the Republican Party nomination for President. (AP)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 27, 2016

Top News Stories –

UK Royal Mail unveils stamps to mark 50 years of Pink Floyd –
A set of stamps celebrating 50 years of British rock group Pink Floyd have been unveiled by Royal Mail. Ten stamps will be on sale on 7 July, marking five decades since the band turned professional. The collection include the band’s most famous album covers as well as live performance shots. Pink Floyd became known for its innovative album covers, which were made in collaboration with leading graphic designers and photographers. [BBC]
Royal Mail Pink Floyd stamps

Jose Mourinho: Man Utd confirm former Chelsea boss as new manager –
Jose Mourinho has been officially confirmed as Manchester United manager and has signed a three-year contract. He replaces Dutchman Louis van Gaal, who was dismissed on Monday, two days after the club’s FA Cup win. “Jose is quite simply the best manager in the game today,” said United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. Mourinho, 53, said: “To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game. It is a club known and admired throughout the world.” Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked as boss of Premier League rivals Chelsea in December. [BBC]
Jose Mourinho

Video of the Day –

Does Having A “Wingman” Actually Help You Get A Date?

Other News Stories –

Health and medicine

Zika virus epidemic
- More than 150 prominent scientists worldwide send a letter to World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan calling for the postponement or relocation of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics because of the widening Zika virus outbreak in Brazil, despite U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden’s statement yesterday that “there is no public health reason to cancel or delay the Olympics.” (CNN) (Rio Olympics Later) (Reuters)
A preliminary study by the National Toxicology Program finds that cellphone radiation has the potential to increase the risk of tumor growth in male rats. (The New York Times) (biorXiv)

International relations

42nd G7 summit
- The 42nd G7 summit held at Ise-Shima in Japan‘s Mie Prefecture concludes with a declaration that the United Kingdom leaving the European Union would pose a “serious threat to world growth”. (BBC)
- Following the summit, Barack Obama becomes the first sitting President of the United States to visit Hiroshima, the site of the first use of an atomic bomb by the U.S. during World War II. Obama calls for nations to reconsider the development of nuclear weapons and eventually eliminate them. (CNN) (The Washington Post) (The New York Times)
North Korea–South Korea relations
- South Korea fires warning shots after a North Korean patrol boat and a fishing boat cross the disputed west coast Northern Limit Line. The two vessels retreated. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Human rights in Argentina
- Reynaldo Bignone, the last military President of Argentina, is sentenced to twenty years imprisonment for his role in the forced disappearance of more than 100 people in Operation Condor. (AP)
In the U.S., the Iowa Supreme Court rules juveniles, even those convicted of first-degree murder, can not be sentenced to life without parole, becoming the 19th state to ban such sentences. As of January, about 2,300 American juveniles were serving life-without-parole sentences. (The Des Moines Register) (The New York Times) (The Christian Science Monitor)
Over 30 college students in Iran were arrested and punished with 99 lashes each for attending a co-ed graduation party. (The New York Times)
The legal team of Joaquín Guzmán, the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, has challenged the foreign ministry of Mexico’s decision to extradite him to the United States. (The New York Times)

Politics and elections

Philippine presidential election, 2016
- Rodrigo Duterte is officially elected as President and Leni Robredo as Vice President. (Al Jazeera)
United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016
- As of this day, local and central government are prohibited from making announcements in a way that could affect the outcome of the referendum. (Guardian)
Republican candidate for U.S. President Donald Trump urges U.S. senator Marco Rubio to run for re-election after Rubio stated he would speak on Trump’s behalf at the Republican Convention, if asked.(Business Insider)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 28, 2016

Top News Stories –

Real Madrid lift Champions League on penalties –
Real Madrid were crowned champions of Europe for the 11th time after beating Atletico Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout in Milan. Sergio Ramos’ controversial finish put Zinedine Zidane’s side ahead before Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty. However, substitute Yannick Carrasco sent the Champions League final into extra-time with a close-range finish. Cristiano Ronaldo struck the winning penalty after Juanfran had missed. Zidane, a Champions League winner with Real as a player in 2002, replaced Rafael Benitez as manager at the Bernabeu in January, with Real still reeling from a bruising 4-0 hammering by Barcelona earlier in the season and facing the prospect of a second successive campaign without major silverware. The 43-year-old finishes it as the seventh different manager to deliver a European Cup to Real. [BBC]
Zinadine Zidane

Video of the Day –

First and last Appearance of Quentin Tarantino films. from Room 237 on Vimeo.

List of the Day –

Winners of the Champions League since 2000 [from Wikipedia]

2000–01	Germany	Bayern Munich	1–1*^[G]	Valencia	Spain	San Siro, Milan	71,500
2001–02	Spain	Real Madrid	2–1	Bayer Leverkusen	Germany	Hampden Park, Glasgow	50,499
2002–03	Italy	Milan	0–0*^[H]	Juventus	Italy	Old Trafford, Manchester	62,315
2003–04	Portugal	Porto	3–0	AS Monaco	France	Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen	53,053
2004–05	England	Liverpool	3–3*^[I]	Milan	Italy	Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul	69,000
2005–06	Spain	Barcelona	2–1	Arsenal	England	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	79,610
2006–07	Italy	Milan	2–1	Liverpool	England	Olympic Stadium, Athens	63,000
2007–08	England	Manchester United	1–1*^[J]	Chelsea	England	Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow	67,310
2008–09	Spain	Barcelona	2–0	Manchester United	England	Stadio Olimpico, Rome	62,467
2009–10	Italy	Internazionale	2–0	Bayern Munich	Germany	Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid	73,490
2010–11	Spain	Barcelona	3–1	Manchester United	England	Wembley Stadium, London	87,695
2011–12	England	Chelsea	1–1*^[K]	Bayern Munich	Germany	Allianz Arena, Munich	62,500
2012–13	Germany	Bayern Munich	2–1	Borussia Dortmund	Germany	Wembley Stadium, London	86,298
2013–14	Spain	Real Madrid	4–1	Atlético Madrid	Spain	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon	60,976
2014–15	Spain	Barcelona	3–1	Juventus	Italy	Olympiastadion, Berlin	70,442
2015–16	Spain	Real Madrid	1–1*^[L]	Atlético Madrid	Spain	San Siro, Milan	71,942

Key
	Match was won during extra time
*	Match was won on a penalty shoot-out

G. Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes and extra time. Bayern Munich won the penalty-shootout 5–4.

H. Score was 0–0 after 90 minutes and extra time. Milan won the penalty-shootout 3–2.

I. Score was 3–3 after 90 minutes and extra time. Liverpool won the penalty-shootout 3–2.

J. Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes and extra time. Manchester United won the penalty-shootout 6–5.

K. Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes and extra time. Chelsea won the penalty-shootout 4–3.

L. Score was 1–1 after 90 minutes and extra time. Real Madrid won the penalty-shootout 5–3.

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Spillover of the Syrian Civil War
- Turkey claims that its artillery fire together with U.S. air strikes killed more than 104 ISIL militants after rockets fired from northern Syria killed several people in the Turkish town of Kilis. (AP via The Olympian) (The New York Times)
Conflict in the Niger Delta
- The Niger Delta Avengers militant group destroy gas and oil pipelines belonging to Shell and Agip in Nigeria. (The New York Times)

Disasters and accidents

Lightning strikes across Europe kill one person and injure at least 14 more. (BBC) (CNN)
2016 Atlantic hurricane season
- The United States National Hurricane Center issues a tropical storm warning for parts of South Carolina as the newly upgraded Tropical Storm Bonnie, at 5 p.m. EDT about 125 miles from Charleston, South Carolina, moves northwest toward the Atlantic Coast. (NBC News) (National Hurricane Center) (AP via The Washington Post)
A Rutan VariEze experimental aircraft crashes north of Ventura, California, killing the two people aboard. (UPI)

International Relations

The U.S. military restricts off-base alcohol consumption in Okinawa until July 24 after the arrest of a former Marine suspected of murder. (The New York Times)
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, warns Romania and Poland against hosting parts of the U.S. missile defense shield. (FOX News) (CNN)

Law and crime

Bryce Dejean-Jones, a National Basketball Association player with the New Orleans Pelicans, is shot dead in Dallas, Texas, after breaking down an apartment bedroom door. (Bleacher Report) (ESPN)
Brazilian Police say they have identified and are searching for four of the more than 30 men suspected in last Saturday’s gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Rio de Janeiro. The assault came to light after several men posted about the attack online. (AP via New York Daily News)
The Chilean government says President Michelle Bachelet voluntarily testified this week as part of a probe into alleged tax crimes by her daughter-in-law Natalia Compagnon. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

Iran’s newly elected parliament, officially called the Islamic Consultative Assembly, is opened and new members will be sworn-in during the first session. (ibtimes) (PressTV)
Former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen is named an advisor for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, a move described by a Russian deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee as a “hostile gesture”. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Anti-government protests erupt across Papua New Guinea against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, calling on him to resign. Papua New Guinea has been in a state of political turmoil since 2014 when the Prime Minister was accused of fraud and corruption. (Radio New Zealand)
United States presidential election, 2016
- Federal District Judge Gonzalo Curiel unseals documents requested by The Washington Post that had been filed with the court in connection with pending civil cases against Trump University, a former business of the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump. The judge noted that Mr. Trump’s candidacy has increased interest in these cases, and that Mr. Trump’s comments, “… (have) placed the integrity of these court proceedings at issue.” (The Washington Post) (Politico) (UPI) (Court Order)

Sports

Eight Russian Olympic athletes from three different sports have tested positive for banned substances during a re-examination of blood samples taken during the 2012 London Olympics, according to theRussian Olympic Committee. (The New York Times)
2015–16 UEFA Champions League
- In association football, Real Madrid C.F. defeats Atlético Madrid in a penalty shoot-out to win the final. (The Guardian) (Eurosport)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 29, 2016

Top News Stories –

Indy 500: Rookie Alexander Rossi wins 100th running –
Running on fumes on the final laps of the race, rookie Alexander Rossi ran out of fuel coming out of Turn 4 — and still managed to win the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Rossi, a 24-year-old native of California, coasted to the line ahead of Carlos Munoz, Josef Newgarden and Tony Kanaan as late-race fuel strategy led to a wild and tense finish. It was perhaps one of the more unlikely Indy 500 victories, as Rossi has almost no experience in racing on oval tracks after spending several years pursuing a career in Formula One. Rossi couldn’t quite believe it himself. “I have no idea how we pulled that off,” he said, in a television interview immediately after the race. [USA Today]
Alexander Rossi

Video of the Day –

The force is still strong for Boogie Storm | Grand Final | Britain’s Got Talent 2016

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Northern Mali conflict
- Five United Nations peacekeepers are killed in an attack in central Mali. (NY Times) (Reuters)
Boko Haram insurgency
- Niger security forces kill 12 Boko Haram militants in Bosso. (Reuters)
- An improvised explosive device kills four civilians and one soldier in Biu, Nigeria. (U.S. News)
Yemeni civil war (2015–present)
- At least 69 people are killed and 25 injured in fighting between the Houthis and government forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. (ABC News) (FOX News) (Daily Mail)

Disasters and accidents

At least three people are missing after heavy rains caused flooding in the U.S. states of Texas and Kansas. So far, four people have died in the flooding. (AP)
A fire at a home for elderly people near the Ukrainian capital Kiev kills at least 16 people. (BBC)
European migrant crisis
- The United Nations fears that approximately 700 migrants have drowned in three Mediterranean Sea shipwrecks over the past few days. (AP)
Tropical Storm Bonnie makes landfall on the East Coast of the United States, affecting mainly the city of Charleston, South Carolina. (AccuWeather)

International relations

Foreign relations of North Korea
- In compliance with recent UN Security Council resolutons, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda announces an end to security and military cooperation with North Korea. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Mexican international football player Alan Pulido, who plays for Olympiacos F.C., is kidnapped by masked men near his home in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. He is later rescued. (BBC), (AP via Sun MV)

Politics and elections

United States presidential election, 2016, Gary Johnson presidential campaign, 2016
- Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico, secures the nomination for the Libertarian Party in the U.S. presidential election. Johnson picks former Massachusetts governor, and former Republican,William Weld as his running mate. (Washington Post)

Sports

2016 Indianapolis 500
- In motor sport, rookie Alexander Rossi wins the 100th Indianapolis 500. (USA Today)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 30, 2016

Top News Stories –

Masked Gary Barlow stuns Bristol shoppers with surprise concert –
Take That star Gary Barlow surprised shoppers in Bristol with an impromptu concert – which started with him wearing a disguise… as himself. The star wore a Gary Barlow mask as he began playing Could It Be Magic on a piano at Cabot Circus shopping centre. Shoppers watching the mystery performer were astonished when he revealed his true identity and sang the hit song. [BBC]
Gary Barlow in Bristol (Tweet by Marjolein Nap)

Cheese-rolling spectators gather for Cooper’s Hill tradition –
Thousands of people lined a steep hill in Gloucestershire to watch crowds of thrill-seekers fling themselves down in pursuit of a wheel of cheese.The 8lb (3.6kg) Double Gloucester is chased 200 yards down the 1:2 gradient Cooper’s Hill at Brockworth every year. Chris Anderson, 28, won the first two downhill races – his 16th and 17th Cheese Rolling victories in total. “It’s brilliant, I’m really happy,” said the soldier from Brockworth who serves with 1 Rifles. Competitors travelled from across the world to take part in the races with TV crews from across Europe also in attendance. Warning signs are put up around the site warning spectators and competitors that they are attending entirely at their own risk. In 2010 the official event was cancelled over safety fears when more than 15,000 people turned up the previous year to watch the competition. Since then it has been held unofficially with roads closed up to 2.5 miles (4km) around the slope. [BBC] See Video of the Day

Video of the Day –

Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling 2016 – The Tumbles

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi civil war (2014–present)
- At least 24 people are killed in a series of attacks in and around Baghdad. ISIL has claimed responsibility. (ABC News), (AP)
- Operation Breaking Terrorism
  - Iraqi forces reportedly enter the city of Fallujah. Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped in the city. (USA Today), (The Guardian)
War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
- At least 11 Afghani policemen are killed in a suspected Taliban attack on security checkpoints in Helmand province. (The States Man)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
- Two Turkish police officers are killed in a suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bomb attack in the eastern province of Van. (Hurriyet Daily)
War in Donbass
- Three Ukrainian Army soldiers are killed and eight more are injured around separatist-controlled Donetsk and government-controlled Mariupol by Russian-backed separatists. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Disasters and accidents

Floods in Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany following heavy rain that started Sunday night kill at least four people. (Sky News)

Law and crime

Hissene Habre, ex president of Chad, is sentenced to life in prison for ordering rape, sexual slavery and killings during his rule from 1982 to 1990. (BBC)

Politics and elections

Philippine presidential election, 2016
- The Congress of the Philippines proclaims Rodrigo Duterte and Leni Robredo as President-elect and Vice President-elect of the Philippines, respectively. (CNN Philippines), (AP via The Olympian)
Syrian peace process
- Chief Syrian opposition negotiator of the High Negotiations Committee Mohammed Allush resigns over the failure of the UN-backed peace talks. Allush said that without any of the opposition demands met, peace talks were a “waste of time”. In April, the HNC suspended talks with the Syrian government’s delegation in Vienna. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Impeachment process against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
- Fabiano Silveira, Minister for Transparency, Supervision and Control, resigns after leaked recordings suggested he tried to derail the Petrobras corruption investigation. This anti-corruption ministry was created on May 12, 2016, when Vice President Michel Temer was sworn in as acting president. The same tapes led to the resignation of Planning Minister Romero Jucá last week. (BBC) (Reuters)
Haitian presidential election, 2015–16
- A special verification panel recommends throwing out the results of the Haiti presidential election on October 25 2015 because it appeared to be tainted by significant voter fraud. (AP via US News and World Report)

Science and technology

A new study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds opioid medicines can paradoxically cause an increase in chronic pain inlab rats. (EurekAlert!)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

May 31, 2016

Top News Stories –

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood becomes father to twins, aged 68 –
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has become a father again at the age of 68. His wife Sally, who is 38, gave birth to twin girls late on Monday evening, Wood’s publicist confirmed. A statement said: “Ronnie & Sally Wood are delighted to announce the birth of their twins Gracie Jane (6lb) & Alice Rose (5.7lb). “The girls arrived on 30 May at 22:30 and all are doing brilliantly. The babies are perfect.” The twins are Wood’s fifth and sixth children, but the first for him and his wife, who is a theatre producer. [BBC]
Ronnie Wood in 2012

MySpace and Tumblr hit by ‘mega breach’ –
Hundreds of millions of hacked account details from social networks MySpace and Tumblr have been advertised for sale online. In both cases, the logins appear to have been stolen several years ago but only recently came to light. The incident comes the same month it emerged that a four-year-old database containing more than 167 million LinkedIn IDs had been traded online. One expert said it was “intriguing” all had emerged in such a short period. Security researcher Troy Hunt also said millions of IDs from adult dating site Fling – which had been breached in 2011 – had been offered on a hacking forum at the start of the month. [BBC]

Video of the Day –

Giant Gator Walks Across Florida Golf Course –

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War
- At least 23 people are killed in overnight air strikes in Idlib, Syria. (CNN) (BBC)
War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
- Suspect Taliban militants kill nine and kidnap 170 in an attack on three passenger buses in Kunduz, Afghanistan. (Reuters) (CNN)

Business and economics

In the United States, a Delaware court rules Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners underpriced their 2013 $24.9 billion buyout of Dell Inc. by about 22 percent, and may have to pay tens of millions to investors who opposed the deal. (Financial Times) (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

At least 17 army personnel are killed in a fire in an ammunitions depot in the Indian town of Pulgaon, Maharashtra. (The New York Times) (NDTV) (AFP via ABC News Australia)
A five-storey apartment block collapses in Russian city of Mezhdurechensk, killing one man and injuring three. (RT)

Law and crime

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rules (12-3) a warrant is not required for police to obtain a person’s cellphone location data from wireless carriers. (Reuters)

International relations

In an interview with the German broadsheet Frankfurter Allgemeine, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama says that Germany has taken too many refugees and “from a moral standpoint” refugees should “only be accommodated temporarily” — with the goal of them returning home to rebuild their countries. (NBC News)
North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
- North Korea attempts again to launch a BM25 Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of striking South Korea or Japan but is unsuccessful. (The Guardian)
A recent Global Slavery Index report estimates the number of people born into servitude, trafficked for sex work, in debt bondage, or forced labour to be 45.8 million. India is reported to have the highest number at an estimated 18.4 million slaves, and North Korea the highest ratio, 4.4 percent of its population. (Reuters) (Bloomberg)

Politics and elections

Iranian legislative election, 2016
- Ali Larijani is reelected chairman of the Iranian Parliament for a one year term while Masoud Pezeshkian and Ali Motahari are elected deputy chairpersons. All three elected members were supported byList of Hope in the recent election. (Yahoo! news) (Xinhau net) (The New York Times)
Papua conflict
- Thousands of people take to the streets of Jayapura and other towns in Papua, Indonesia, in support of the Free Papua Movement and its effort to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Indonesia responded with a large police and military presence, with reports of police firing on demonstrators in Wamena and arresting dozens across the province. (Radio New Zealand)
Mohamed Abdelaziz, the leader of the Polisario Front which fought for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco, dies after leading the group since 1976. (Al Jazeera)
United States presidential election, 2016
- Conservative leaders seeking an alternative to the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump are urging Tennessee attorney and National Review writer David French to enter the 2016 presidential race as an independent candidate. (The Washington Post)

Sports

Association football icon Pelé announces that he will sell 1,500 lots of his possessions via Julien’s Auctions, which will include his medals, trophies, jerseys, and diplomatic gifts. (BBC)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

June 1, 2016

Top News Stories –

European leaders open world’s longest rail tunnel in Switzerland –
The world’s longest rail tunnel, running for 35 miles (57km) under the Swiss Alps, has officially opened. The Swiss president, Johann Schneider-Ammann, said the tunnel, which it is hoped will ease transit through the heart of the continent, would “join the people and the economies” of Europe at a time of rising nationalism and border closures. He spoke before European leaders made a ceremonial first journey through the Gotthard base tunnel. Passengers included the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, the French president, François Hollande, and the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi. While the tunnel was entirely funded by Switzerland, a non-EU member, the bloc’s transport commissioner, Violeta Bulc, hailed it as “a godsend” for the continent. It runs from Erstfeld in the central Swiss canton of Uri, to Bodio in the southern Ticino canton. [The Guardian]

Video of the Day –

Gotthard base tunnel

List of the Day –

World’s longest tunnels (in use) [Wikipedia]

Name	Location	Length	Type	Year	Comment
Delaware Aqueduct	New York state, United States	137,000 m (85.1 mi)	Water supply	1945	4.1 m wide. New York City‘s main water supply tunnel, drilled through solid rock.
Päijänne Water Tunnel	Southern Finland, Finland	120,000 m (74.6 mi)	Water supply	1982	16 m² cross section
Dahuofang Water Tunnel	Liaoning Province, China	85,320 m (53.0 mi)	Water supply	2009	8 m in diameter (50m² cross section)
Orange–Fish River Tunnel	South Africa	82,800 m (51.4 mi)	Water supply	1972	Longest continuous enclosed aqueduct in the southern hemisphere (22.5 m²cross section)
Bolmen Water Tunnel	Kronoberg/Scania, Sweden	82,000 m (51.0 mi)	Water supply	1987	8 m²
Tunel Emisor Oriente	Mexico City, Mexico	62,500 m (38.8 mi)	Waterwaste	2006-2012	Water management in Greater Mexico City. Longest waterwaste tunnel.
Guangzhou Metro Line 3	Guangzhou, China	60,400 m (37.5 mi)Excl. branch	Metro	2005-2010	Guangzhou Metro. Longest metro/rapid transit tunnel; longest railway tunnel
Beijing Subway Line 10	Beijing, China	57,100 m (35.5 mi)	Metro	2008-2012	Beijing Subway
Gotthard Base Tunnel	Lepontine Alps, Switzerland	57,091 m (35.5 mi) or 57,017 m (35.4 mi)	Railway Twin Tube	2016	The longest railway tunnel excluding urban metro lines with intermediate stations. Two tubes (East 57,091 m (35.5 mi), West 57,017 m (35.4 mi)), 8.8–9.5 m (29–31 ft) diameter, (71m² cross section)
Seikan Tunnel	Tsugaru Strait, Japan	53,850 m (33.5 mi)	Railway Single Tube	1988	74 m²

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War
- United States-backed Syrian Democratic Forces begin an offensive to regain control of the city of Manbij in the Aleppo Governorate from ISIL. (Reuters via Trust)
Northern Mali conflict
- Four UN peacekeepers are killed in a suspected Al-Qaeda attack in northern Mali. (News Week) (CBC)
War in Somalia (2009–present)
- At least 16 people are killed and 55 injured in an attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. Al-Shabaab claims responsibility. (Reuters) (CNN) (VOA News), (Reuters)
- The Pentagon announces the death of Abdullahi Haji Da’ud, a top Al-Shabaab commander, in an airstrike. (Washington Times) (FOX News)
Suspected Neo-Nazis attack people at a vegan cafe with slabs of meat in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Newsweek) (Miami Herald)

Business and economy

A committee of the United States House of Representatives is looking into the way the Federal Reserve Bank of New York investigated the theft of assets it was holding for the central bank of Bangladesh.(Reuters)
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund raises $3.5 billion for Uber. It is the largest single investment the company has ever received. (The New York Times)

Disasters and accidents

A gas explosion at a subway construction site near the South Korean capital Seoul kills four workers and injures ten more. (Yonhap)
EgyptAir Flight 804
- A French naval vessel detects a possible signal from the missing black box of EgyptAir Flight 804. (CNN) (The New York Times)
2016 Fort McMurray wildfire
- Residents return to Fort McMurray for the first time since May 1. A couple thousand firefighters, from as far away as South Africa, continue to battle the 5,800 square kilometer (3,603 square mile)Canadian blaze that has crossed the Alberta border into Saskatchewan. (Bloomberg)
Greg Abbott, the Governor of the US state of Texas, declares a disaster in 31 counties due to floods which have claimed several lives in recent days. (KVUE)
The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 6.5 magnitude earthquake 155 km (95 miles) from the West Sumatra port city of Padang in Indonesia at a depth of about 50 km (30 miles). There are no immediate reports of damage or injury. (Bloomberg) (Reuters)

International relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warns Germany against recognizing the Armenian Genocide. (Reuters)
According to the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, defense spending by European member states will grow for the first time in a decade. Stoltenberg went on to say that “we are faced with uncertainty. We are faced with more threats, more security challenges, than in a generation”. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Humanitarian aid during the Syrian Civil War
- A convoy carrying much-needed nutritional and medical aid reaches the besieged town Darayya, the first time since 2012. The only food delivered was baby milk. A 48-hour ceasefire for the town came into force today. (Reuters) (NPR) (BBC)
- The United Nations Security Council is exploring humanitarian air drops to besieged areas of Syria. (AP via The New York Times)
- Riad Hijab, coordinator of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposes a nationwide truce for the month of Ramadan which begins 6 June 2016. (Australian Associated Press via News.com.au)
The United Nations Security Council condemns North Korea’s failed ballistic missile test yesterday, as well as two other unsuccessful ones in April. (Reuters)

Law and crime

2016 UCLA shooting
- Two people are killed in a murder-suicide shooting at the University of California Los Angeles. Police report the campus is now safe. (USA Today) (LA Times) (The New York Times)
A man in Plano, Texas, stabs his girlfriend and posts her dead body to Facebook; the social media website does not remove the photograph for 36 hours. (The New York Times)
Thailand authorities discover the remains of 40 dead tiger cubs in a freezer at the Tiger Temple in the Sai Yok District of Kanchanaburi Province. The Theravada Buddhist temple is being investigated for wildlife trafficking. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is in the process of removing 137 tigers from the monks’ custody. (New York Daily News) (Bangkok Post)
German police are investigating 26 sexual assault reports from this weekend’s Schlossgrabenfest music festival near Darmstadt. In one case, three women reported being groped by groups of men Saturday. Police have detained three Pakistani immigrants, and expect more reports following this announcement. (CNN) (UPI) (The Independent)
Richard Huckle, dubbed “Britain’s worst ever paedophile” after being convicted of 71 cases of rape and other sexual offences against up to 200 children, is being sentenced at The Old Bailey in London in a hearing expected to last 3 days. Huckle is facing up to 22 life sentences once the hearing concludes.(Sky News)

Science and technology

The world’s longest and deepest rail tunnel, the 57 km (35 miles) Gotthard Base Tunnel, opens in Switzerland. (CNN) (The New York Times)

Sport

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board backs host Tokyo’s proposal to include baseball–softball, surfing, karate, sport climbing, and skateboarding in the 2020 Summer Olympics. The full IOC will vote on this in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August. (AP)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

June 2, 2016

Top News Stories –

Dagger in Tutankhamun’s tomb was made with iron from a meteorite –
A dagger entombed with King Tutankhamun was made with iron from a meteorite, a new analysis on the metal composition shows. In 1925, archaeologist Howard Carter found two daggers, one iron and one with a blade of gold, within the wrapping of the teenage king, who was mummified more than 3,300 years ago. The iron blade, which had a gold handle, rock crystal pommel and lily and jackal-decorated sheath, has puzzled researchers in the decades since Carter’s discovery: ironwork was rare in ancient Egypt, and the dagger’s metal had not rusted. Italian and Egyptian researchers analysed the metal with an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer to determine its chemical composition, and found its high nickel content, along with its levels of cobalt, “strongly suggests an extraterrestrial origin”. They compared the composition with known meteorites within 2,000km around the Red Sea coast of Egypt, and found similar levels in one meteorite. That meteorite, named Kharga, was found 150 miles (240km) west of Alexandria, at the seaport city of Mersa Matruh, which in the age of Alexander the Great – the fourth century BC – was known as Amunia. [Evening Standard]

Video of the Day –

How Is Your Phone Changing You? ASAP Science

Other News Stories –

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Somalia (2009–present)
- In a raid by Somali forces near Kismayo, at least 16 Al-Shabaab militants are killed, including the mastermind of the Garissa University College attack. (BBC) (Daily Caller)

Disasters and accidents

2016 European floods
- At least eleven people are killed in heavy flooding across Europe. (BBC) (Bloomberg)
- The Louvre will close briefly to move the artwork most at risk from flooding. (The New York Times)
A Romanian medical helicopter crashes near Cahul, Moldova, killing four people. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
2016 Oklahoma floods
- At least five United States Army soldiers are killed and four are missing after their Light Medium Tactical Vehicle overturns near Fort Hood in Texas. (KXAN)

International relations

Armenian Genocide recognition
- The German Bundestag passes a resolution classifying the Ottoman Empire’s killing of Armenians in 1915 as genocide, provoking a furious reaction in Turkey. (BBC)

Law and crime

An autopsy finds that American musician Prince died of an overdose of fentanyl, an opioid painkiller 50 times more powerful than heroin. (AP) (The New York Times)
2016 UCLA shooting
- A second victim of the UCLA shooter is found in Minnesota; the shooter is identified as a former Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering that claimed his first victim had “cleverly stolen his code.” (The New York Times)
Four Syrians who are suspected of traveling to Europe on behalf of the Islamic State to attack Düsseldorf are arrested. (The New York Times)
2016 Mathura clash
- 24 people are killed and 368 arrested in the Indian city of Mathura as police attempt to clear members of a radical religious group from land they are occupying. (The Times of India)
Violence breaks out in a rally supporting Donald Trump in San Jose, California. An officer and several demonstrators were assaulted, and a few people were arrested. (CNN)

Politics and elections

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan endorses Donald Trump for President of the United States. (CNN), (Washington Post)
The Supreme Court of the United States accepts a petition by five people from American Samoa arguing that people born in this U.S. territory are entitled to U.S citizenship under the United States Constitution. The State Department currently opposes this idea. (Radio New Zealand)

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource

June 3, 2016

Top News Stories –

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali dies aged 74 –
Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74, a family spokesman has said. The former world heavyweight boxing champion, one of the world’s best-known sportsmen, died at a hospital in the US city of Phoenix, Arizona, after being admitted on Thursday. He was suffering from a respiratory illness, a condition that was complicated by Parkinson’s disease. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Ali shot to fame by winning light-heavyweight gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Nicknamed “The Greatest”, the American beat Sonny Liston in 1964 to win his first world title and became the first boxer to capture a world heavyweight title on three separate occasions. He eventually retired in 1981, having won 56 of his 61 fights. Crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated and “Sports Personality of the Century” by the BBC, Ali was noted for his pre- and post-fight talk and bold fight predictions just as much as his boxing skills inside the ring. But he was also a civil rights campaigner and poet who transcended the bounds of sport, race and nationality. Asked how he would like to be remembered, he once said: “As a man who never sold out his people. But if that’s too much, then just a good boxer. I won’t even mind if you don’t mention how pretty I was.” [BBC] See Video of the Day and List of the Day
Muhammad Ali in 1967

Video of the Day –

Muhammad Ali & Greenlight from Studio Dialog on Vimeo.

List of the Day –

Muhammad Ali’s best quotes [Evening Standard]

“Hey Floyd – I seen you! Someday I’m gonna whup you! Don’t you forget, I am the greatest!” – To then-world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson during the 1960 Olympic Games.

“Why are all the angels white? Why ain’t there no black angels?” – In a sermon at apostolic church in 1983.

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” – The man who captured not only his boxing style but his attitude in life.

“Sonny Liston is nothing. The man can’t talk. The man can’t fight. The man needs talking lessons. The man needs boxing lessons. And since he’s gonna fight me, he needs falling lessons.” – Before fighting world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston in February 1964.

“I’m king of the world! I’m pretty! I’m a bad man! I shook up the world! I shook up the world! I shook up the world!” – February 25 1964, after defeating Sonny Liston.

“I had a good time boxing. I enjoyed it – and I may come back.” – On being crowned Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC in 1999.

“Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn’t choose it, and I didn’t want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name, and I insist people using it when speaking to me and of me.” – On his conversion to Islam.

“Man, I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Vietcong ever called me nigger.” – On his refusal to answer a call up to fight in Vietnam.

“It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.”

“They did what they thought was right, and I did what I thought was right.” – On the government’s long effort to send him to prison after his refusal to go to Vietnam.

“You serious? I got to stay here and lead my people to the right man – Elijah Muhammad” – When asked why he does not flee the country, in an interview by Robert Lipsyte of The New York Times on April 26 1967, two days before refusing induction into military service.

“I’ve done my celebrating already. I said a prayer to Allah” – June 28 1971, on being told his conviction for draft evasion was overturned by the US Supreme Court.

“I told you all, all of my critics, that I was the greatest of all time. Never make me the underdog until I’m about 50 years old” – October 1 1974, after knocking out George Foreman to become heavyweight champion for the second time, in Kinshasa, Zaire.

Other News Stories –

Disasters and accidents

2016 European floods
- The flood waters for the Seine River are expected to peak at six metres above its normal level. Flooding in France and Germany has so far claimed at least 11 lives. (BBC)
- A sixth body is recovered in Bavaria near the Austrian border. (AP)
European migrant crisis
- Bodies of 117 people, including 75 women, 36 men and six children, are recovered from a beach near Zuwarah, Libya, possibly from yesterday’s capsize in the Mediterranean Sea. (CNN)
- Greek authorities rescue 340 people from a boat carrying around 700 migrants that capsized 75 nautical miles off the Greek island of Crete. So far nine bodies have been recovered. (U.S. News & World Report) (CNN)
2016 Oklahoma floods
- The four missing Fort Hood soldiers from the overturned Light Medium Tactical Vehicle are found dead, bringing the death toll from the accident to nine. (AP via Los Angeles Times) (UPI)
2016 Union Pacific oil train fire
- Eleven cars from a 96-car Union Pacific oil train derail, and at least one catches fire, in the Columbia River Gorge near Mosier, Oregon, within about 20 feet of the city’s sewage plant. Coincidentally, aWasco County Planning Department public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday concerning a Union Pacific proposal to expand an existing railroad siding on either side of Mosier. (The Oregonian) (Wasco County Planning Commission)
At least eight people are hospitalized after lightning struck at the Rock am Ring music festival near Mendig, Germany. (AP)
A helicopter crashes in Nabire, Papua, Indonesia, killing a pilot and three passengers. (Detik.com)

Health and medicine

A study by researchers at the University of North Carolina, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, reports 26 percent of cancer patients can’t afford to pay for their treatment, and 18 percent can’t afford their prescriptions. (UPI) (ASCO) (Meeting)

Law and crime

2015 FIFA corruption case
- FIFA shares results of their investigation with legal authorities showing former president Sepp Blatter and two others gave themselves nearly $80 million over the past five years via annual raises and World Cup bonuses. (NPR)

Politics and elections

Venezuela’s National Election Council cancels a planned meeting to determine the validity of 1.85 million signatures on a petition for a referendum to oust President Nicolás Maduro. (UPI)

Sports

In boxing, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, dies of respiratory complications in a hospital in the American city of Phoenix, Arizona. (NBC News)
A ten person team of refugees will compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. (Al Jazeera)added

News from Wikipedia – please support this valuable resource