LIVE
Sat, 13 August 2016
Star Wars' Kenny 'R2-D2' Baker passes away

Timeline  Refresh

image
23:54   Star Wars' Kenny 'R2-D2' Baker passes away
Kenny Baker, the 3-foot, 8-inch actor who played beloved robot R2-D2 in six Star Wars films beginning with the 1977 original, has died following a lengthy illness. He was 81.

The news was first reported to The Guardian by Bakers niece Abigail Shield. It was expected, but its sad nonetheless, she said. He had a very long and fulfilled life. (Although the Guardian reported his age as 83, and other reports list him at 82, Baker wrote on his own website that his birth date was August 24, 1934).

Baker played R2-D2 in Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and the three prequels that kicked off in 1999.
image
23:11   US-backed Syrian force captures key IS stronghold
US-backed fighters have seized a key Islamic State stronghold in northern Syria after two months of heavy fighting and freed hundreds of civilians the extremists had used as human shields, Syrian Kurdish officials and an
opposition activist group said today.

Nasser Haj Mansour, of the predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces told The Associated Press that the town of Manbij "is under full control," adding that operations are ongoing to search for any IS militants who might have stayed behind.
The SDF launched its offensive in late May to capture Manbij under the cover of U.S.-led airstrikes. The town lies on a key supply route between the Turkish border and the city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the IS group's self-styled caliphate.
Amateur videos posted online showed that shortly after SDF fighters captured the town late Friday, scores of residents went down to celebrate in the streets. Some men were seen clipping their beards with scissors while women were able to uncover their faces. IS imposes a harsh and extreme version of Islam on the territory under its control, including a
mandatory dress code.
image
22:07   Man attacks Swiss train passengers with fire, knife, injures 6

A man set a train carriage in Switzerland on fire using a flammable liquid and also stabbed passengers today, injuring six people, including a six-year-old child, police said.

The man, a 27-year-old Swiss citizen, carried out the attack on a train travelling in Switzerland's far east, along its border with Liechtenstein, and was also injured, regional police in St Gallen said in a statement. 
image
20:38   Grenade blast in J&K's Poonch district; 10 injured
A blast has occurred in the main market of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 10 people are feared injured. 

Authorities suspect the blast was the result of a grenade explosion.

More details awaited.
image
19:38   Sonia likely to be discharged from hospital in a day or two
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is recovering well from her illness and is likely to be discharged in a day or two, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment, said today.
"Mrs Sonia Gandhi has shown progressive improvement in her condition and has no fever. She is likely to be discharged from the hospital in a day or two," said DS Rana, Chairman of Board of Management of the hospital.
69-year-old Gandhi has been undergoing treatment at the private hospital for the last 11 days after taking ill during a roadshow in Varanasi.
She had undergone a surgery on her left shoulder on August 3, the day she was admitted to the hospital, and doctors said she almost recovered from the injury. 
image
19:10   President Mukherjee's daughter faces online harassment, puts up texts on Facebook
Sharmishtha Mukherjee, Delhi Congress spokesperson and the daughter of President Pranab Mukherjee, claimed today that a man harassed her by sending lewd messages and put up screenshots of the texts on her
Facebook page.

"The person is completely unknown to me and he sent me dirty sexual messages last night. I first thought of ignoring him and blocking him but then (I) thought my silence will encourage him to find other victims," she said, identifying the man as Partha Mandal.
The Congress leader said she would lodge a complaint with the cyber cell of Delhi Police.
 
In her Facebook post, she said, "I strongly feel such ppl shd be publicly exposed & humiliated. I'm posting screenshots of his profile & messages he sent me. I'm also tagging him. Pls share this post & tag this rat as a msg that these pervert acts will not be taken lightly (sic)."
image
18:54   Chinese Foreign Minister meets Modi, Sushma
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also discussed "issues of mutual importance" with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here.

"A morning for neighbourly engagement," External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted after Wang called on Modi.

He later met Sushma Swaraj, after which the Indian and Chinese sides went into delegation-level talks.

Wang on Friday met Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and reviewed the logistics and security arrangements for Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the state in October for the BRICS summit.

Wang was among the first foreign ministers to be welcomed in India after the Modi government took office in May 2014.
image
18:52   Bulandshahr rape victims move SC for FIR against Azam Khan, cops
The mother-daughter duo, gang raped recently near a highway in Bulandshahar, has moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the case to Delhi besides registration of FIR against UP minister Azam Khan for his certain remarks as well as the erring policemen.
The brutal incident had happened on the night of July 29 when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida-based family and sexually assaulted the woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle which had four other occupants.
The Allahabad high court recently ordered CBI probe into the incident besides deciding to monitor the investigation.

In the plea filed in the Supreme through lawyer Kislay Pandey, the woman's husband has sought an order for "transfer the trial of the present case to Delhi from Bulandshahar in the interest of justice".
Unhappy over the probe by Uttar Pradesh police, the petitioner has said the investigation be conducted by "some other competent agency".
image
18:36   Islamic State claims Quetta attack in Pakistan
The Islamic State terror group today claimed responsibility for the roadside bomb attack in Quetta city in Pakistan's Balochistan province that injured 17 people.
The IS claimed the attack on social media and Twitter. 

But a senior police official said the IS claim could be another attempt to gain attention as they are struggling for a foothold in Pakistan where militant outfits like the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda have deeper roots in the tribal region and in urban areas.
Security officials have said in the past that the IS does not have a credible presence in Pakistan where several militant outfits operate.
image
18:17   Internet services suspended briefly in Kashmir, then restored
With unrest continuing, broadband internet services were today suspended briefly in Kashmir before being restored.
The broadband services were snapped at around 4.30 pm but  were restored at 5 pm, officials said without giving any reason.
However, some broadband subscribers said their connections had not been restored yet.

"I am subscribing to BSNL broadband services but so far my service has not been restored," said Mohammad Yousuf Shah, a resident of Hazratbal.
The mobile internet services were snapped across Kashmir last month as a precautionary measure to prevent rumour mongering following violent clashes in the wake of killing of Hibzul Mujahideen commander Burhan on July 8 in an encounter with security forces. 
image
18:16   Congress leader shot at in Secunderabad
A local Congress leader was shot at by a person known to him near his residence in Bowenpally area in Secunderabad here today, police said.

The victim, identified as D Yadgiri, is undergoing treatment at a hospital and is stated to be out of danger.

Hyderabad City Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy said as per the initial information given by Yadgiri, a person with whom he had a land dispute was involved in the firing.

The incident took place between 11 am and 11.30 am.

"Yadgiri said a person known to him was involved in the firing. We are investigating as to what the dispute is. We found that at least two rounds were fired at him. The victim ran into a nearby hospital to save himself. Later he came to the police station and registered a complaint," Reddy said.

"The assailant also tried to chase Yadgiri and entered that hospital, but later disappeared from the spot," he said.

Reddy said they found two weapons -- one in a dustbin at the hospital and the other with the victim. 

A senior police official added that apart from the two bullets, they have also recovered four empty shells from the crime scene.
image
17:46   ISIS losing control, may be seizing 'human shields,' US says
ISIS militants are losing control of the key Syrian city of Manbij to US-backed rebels and appear to be using civilians as human shields as they flee, the Pentagon said.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces, have battled to take control of Manbij in northern Syria since May and have claimed the city center, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Trowbridge told reporters Friday.

ISIS is "clearly on the ropes," he added.

ISIS seized control of Manbij city in Aleppo province about two years ago. Defeating the militants there essentially blocks a supply route ISIS has between its heartland of Raqqa and Turkey.

Read more HERE.
image
17:28   Farmers' children to observe fast on I-Day
Children of farmers will observe a day-long hunger strike at various places in Maharashtra on August 15 to seek repeal of `anti-farmer' laws.
     
"We have decided to hold `atmaklesh andolan' at Azad Maidan here on August 15, to demand that farmers be freed from the clutches of the legislations which have enslaved them," Bhumiputra Sangharsh Vahini president Abhijeet Patil Falke told reporters here.
     
"Government has cheated farmers and failed to resolve any of the issues affecting them," said Falke, a Pune-based IT entrepreneur.
     
Children of farmers will join in the agitation on I-Day in large numbers all over the state, he said. 

Vahini leader Amar Habib said the Government had failed to repeal three legislations -- land ceiling act, essential services act and land acquisition act. 
image
17:17   Putin wishes 'dear friend' Fidel Castro happy 90th birthday
Russian President Vladimir Putin today congratulated his "dear friend" Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on his 90th birthday.
"You enjoy deep respect in Russia as an outstanding statesman who devoted his entire life to serving the people of Cuba," Putin wrote in a telegram posted on the Kremlin's website.
"It is hard to overestimate your personal contribution to the development of friendship and cooperation between our countries," the Russian leader wrote. 

"I wish you good health, longevity, vitality and prosperity."
Both loved as a hero and hated as a dictator, Castro is one of the giant figures of modern history who defied the United States to turn his island nation into a firm ally of the Soviet Union.
image
17:07   Visa denial: UK mission to speak to Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan
The UK High Commission today said it will speak to Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, a day after his visa application was rejected.

"We don't comment on the detail of individual cases, but can confirm we will offer to speak to Mr Khan about how he should apply for the correct type of visa to do what he wishes to do in the UK," a British High Commission spokesperson said on refusal of visa to the internationally renowned musician. 

The 70-year-old artiste, who was to perform at the Royal Festival Hall next month, had said that he was "shocked and appalled" at the rejection of his visa application. 

Tagging Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in his tweet, Khan had written, "My UK visa rejected. Extremely sad for artists who are spreading the message of love & peace @HCI_London @MEAIndia @UKinIndia @SushmaSwaraj." 

"Shocked & appalled. #UK visa rejected. scheduled to perform at the #RoyalFestivalHall in Sep @HCI_London @MEAIndia @SushmaSwaraj @UKinIndia," he further wrote. 

"Performing almost every year in #UK  since the early 70s. Upset to have my visa rejected @HCI_London @MEAIndia @UKinIndia @SushmaSwaraj," he added. 

Expressing disappointment over the denial of the travel document, Amjad's son Amaan Ali said, "This has never happened before...He is someone who has worked all his life for the country and peace. The government should take interest why they (UK) are doing this." 
image
16:52   Pak cleric may be arrested in Qandeel murder
Pakistani police have declared a known cleric as a 'suspect' in the murder of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch and is likely to arrest him, a media report said today.

"Mufti Abdul Qawi's name has been made part of the Qandeel murder case on the statement of her father," senior police officer Azhar Akram told Dawn newspaper. 

"The cleric's suspected role in her murder cannot be ruled out," he said, adding police can arrest the cleric when sufficient evidence against him is available. 

Qandeel was killed soon after her controversial pictures with Qawi appeared on her Facebook account. She had received death threats from Qawi's followers for allegedly disgracing him. 

Qandeel was found dead in her house on July 16. Muhammad Waeem, her brother, confessed to have strangled her in a so-called 'honour killing'. 
image
16:50   Govt won't allow 'anti-national' elements to vitiate J-K atmosphere: BJP MP
Voicing concern over the spillover of the Kashmir unrest to various parts of Jammu region, BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma today said the government will take measures to prevent "anti-national" elements from vitiating the atmosphere in the region.

"The forces, which are trying to disrupt the peace in Jammu and Kashmir, get support from Pakistan and they don't want to see peace in the state. 

"Now they are trying to vitiate the atmosphere in Jammu region's Kishtwar, Doda, Poonch and Rajouri but the government will not allow them to succeed," Sharma, MP from Jammu-Poonch, said. 

Sharma hoped the ongoing unrest in Kashmir valley would end soon and that peace and normalcy would be restored in the region.

"The Centre and the state government are serious about restoring peace and normalcy in Kashmir and it was made clear in yesterdays All Party Meeting on Kashmir," he said. 

A magistrate, an SSP and three other police officers were among 47 people injured yesterday in stone pelting in Doda district of Jammu region.
image
15:52   CBI registers fresh case against Mallya
CBI has registered a fresh case against beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya for alleged irregularities in repayment of Rs 1,600 crore loan taken from State Bank of India.

CBI sources said a case has been registered against Mallya and others after receiving a complaint from State Bank of India, which is leading a consortium of 17 banks that have given loans to Kingfisher Airlines.

The sources said it was alleged that Mallya had sought to recast his loan repayment in which information was suppressed by the businessman. 

The agency has already filed a case of alleged loan default by the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines to IDBI Bank.

The airline, owned by Mallya, had taken Rs 6,900 crore from a consortium of 17 lenders in early 2010 after a second debt restructuring for the airline. SBI has an exposure of Rs 1,600 crore to the airline. Out of this, the bankers, which recalled the loan in February 2013, could recover only around Rs 1,100 crore after selling pledged shares of UB Group companies.
image
15:28   Reality check from Supreme Court for the PM, tweets Rahul
SC's observation on appointment of judges: Rahul targets PM
New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) 

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Supreme Court's scathing observation on appointment of judges, saying it was a reality check for the PM.

"Reality check from Supreme Court for the PM: No Govt of Modi, by Modi, for Modi," he said in a tweet. 

The Supreme Court had yesterday sent out a stern message to the Centre over non-execution of collegium's decision to transfer and appoint Chief Justices and judges in High Courts, saying it will not tolerate the "logjam" and would intervene to make it accountable. 

Observing that justice delivery system is "collapsing", a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur, who also heads the five-membered apex court collegium, had said, "We won't tolerate logjam in judges' appointment which is stifling its judicial work. We will fasten accountability.
image
14:12   Mahad bridge tragedy: Naval divers locate 2nd bus
Naval divers on Saturday located wreckage of the second MSRTC bus which was washed away in the turbulent Savitri river near Mahad in Raigad district after a British-era bridge collapsed on August 2.

"Continuing search operations on Day 10 at Savitri River, the naval divers located one more wreckage assessed to be part of the second bus (Jaigad-Mumbai). 

Post recovery of first bus on August 11, search was continued downstream. The wreckage is 400 meters from the bridge in an area where strong currents are observed. The wreckage is completely submerged in around 5 meters depth," a Defence spokesperson said. 

"It is assessed that the wreckage is recoverable. NDRF teams are being informed and a crane for recovery of the wreckage is being requested," spokesperson Commander Rahul Sinha said in a statement here.

On Thursday, wreckage of Rajapur-Borivali MSRTC bus was retrieved approximately 170 and 200 meters from the collapsed bridge.

After the Navy divers located the bus, braving strong currents and crocodiles in the river, NDRF teams were summoned to retrieve it. 

The Indian Navy team comprising personnel specialising in diving was searching for the wreckage and survivors since the morning of August 4, braving high water current and crocodile hotbeds in the river.
image
13:57   Taliban free Pakistani helicopter crew captured after crash
Afghan Taliban have released the crew members of a Pakistani helicopter which crash landed in Afghanistan last week, officials said on Saturday. 

An MI-17 transport helicopter was on its way to Russia for maintenance when it crash landed on August 4 in a Taliban controlled area of Logar province. The rebels made the crew members as hostages.

An official said that local tribal elders were tasked to release the captives and after successful negotiation, the Taliban released the crew. 

"All crew members were handed over to Pakistani in Kurram tribal region," an official said. 

He refused to give further details. 

Several private channels also reported that the crew was released and already in Pakistan. 

There has been confusion about exact numbers of the captives, as initially Punjab government which owned the chopper said that six Pakistanis and one Russian were on board, while officials of the federal government said there were only six crew members. 
image
13:44   US: 6 killed as plane crashes into trees in Virginia
At least six persons died when a small private aircraft crashed into trees while trying to abort landing at Shannon Airport in the US state of Virginia. 

The plane crashed into trees yesterday in Fredericksburg near the end of the airport's runway when it was attempting to land before pulling back up again, NBC Washington reported. 

"It attempted to abort the landing and take off again," Sgt. F L Tyler of the Virginia State Police said.

"It then went off the south end of the runway and then landed in the tree line," said Tyler. 

When the plane crashed into the trees, it immediately caught fire, officials said. 

All six bodies were recovered. The identities of the victims could not be confirmed, but police said they were not from Virginia. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. 
image
13:42  
Hiranandani kidney racket case: Hospital CEO & 4 other doctors sent to judicial custody till August 26 by Mumbai sessions court, reports ANI
image
13:33   Bulandshahr gangrape: Minor victim moves SC, seeks FIR against Azam Khan
The minor victim in the Bulandshahr gangrape has moved the Supreme Court seeking FIR against UP Minister Azam Khan and erring police officers. The victim has also asked that the case be transferred to Delhi and urged that it should be probed under the monitoring of a court.

The 14-year-old girl who was raped on July 30, has requested schooling for herself, and security and rehabilitation for her family.

The minor girl and her mother, who were on their way from Noida to Shahjahanpur with four other family members, were allegedly gangraped by a gang of dacoits in Bulandshahr district, on the Delhi-Kanpur highway, early on July 30 morning.

Earlier this month, as a group of BJP leaders headed to Ghaziabad to meet the family, Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan bizarrely suggested an "opposition conspiracy".

"We need to investigate whether this is a conspiracy by opponents who want to defame the government," said Mr Khan, who is known to invite trouble with his loose talk.

"For votes, people can stoop to any level. There can be a Muzaffarnagar, a Shamli and Kairana...why not this? For power, politicians can murder people, trigger riots, kill innocent people, so the truth has to be found out," he remarked.
image
13:18   BJP worker killed in police firing during protest to free 'cow smuggler'
A Bharatiya Janata Party supporter died when party workers clashed with police while protesting the arrest of five persons on charges of cow smuggling in Narhi area in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. 

While the protesters alleged that the worker died in police firing, police have denied the charge.

Heavy police force has been deployed to bring the situation under control and cases have been registered against BJP MLA Upendra Tiwari, 35 named and 300 unnamed accused under various sections of IPC and six persons have been arrested. 

Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Jha said the MLA and his supporters sat on dharna before Narhi police station and clashed with police last night in protest against the arrest and pelted stones when authorities tried to evict them. 

Police then lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the irate crowd, he said.

District BJP chief Binod Dubey alleged that police used batons and opened fire at the party workers leading to the death of Vinod Rai and injury to 50 others. 
image
13:03   Postal department to work on Sunday for sending rakhis
Sending rakhi to brothers will be more convenient this year as the Mumbai Postal Region has decided to arrange special delivery on August 14 (Sunday) to ensure rakhi mails reach people on time.

Saturday being semi-closed holiday, followed by Sunday and August 15, which is again holiday for Independence Day, entire Mumbai City, Thane/Navi Mumbai, and major post offices of Palghar and Raigad districts have decided to arrange special delivery on Sunday (August 14) in order to ensure that rakhi mail reaches to people well on time, assistant director, Mumbai Postal Region, V V Nayak, said in a statement today. 

"All efforts are being made to ensure delivery of mail on the same day of receipt. Apart from normal mail, we are special mails like rakhi envelopes and there is an increase in the volume of e-commerce articles," he said. 
image
11:52   I want nothing less than a gold: Boxer Vikas Krishan
Just one win away from winning an Olympic medal after a comprehensive victory over his opponent in his pre-quarterfinal bout, Indian boxer Vikas Krishan says he wants nothing less than a gold in the Rio Games.

Vikas stormed into the quarterfinals with a one-sided 3-0 win by unanimous decision against Onder Sipal of Turkey in the men's 75kg middleweight bout, and he now feels that Uzbek Bektemir Melikuziev, who is four years junior to him, stands on his way of an unprecedented boxing gold medal.

"He (Melikuziev) is the toughest in the group. Mark my words, if I am able to defeat him, I will return home with a gold. I won't take a silver or bronze. I will return empty-handed or the gold medal. Gold is assured if I get past him," the 24-year-old Indian said after his pre-quarterfinal fight at the Riocentro Pavillion 6.
image
11:01   Will bring jobs back to US: Trump
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump today said that he would bring jobs back to the US from countries like China by taking several strong steps and economic measures. 

"We're going to bring back our jobs to Pennsylvania. We're going to bring back our jobs to the United States. Going to bring back our jobs, folks," Trump said at an election rally in Erie in Pennsylvania, a key swing State. 

The States across the country, he said, manufacturing and jobs are way down. 

"You go to other countries, they're taking our companies, they're taking our jobs," he said. 

"I'll be your secretary of keeping companies in the United States," Trump said amidst applause from the audience. 

Trump said Americans are tired of lies from leaders of the Democratic party. 

"They're tired of losing their jobs, they're tired of seeing their companies being ripped out and going to other places. They're tired of China coming in and dropping steel all over the place to put your companies out of business, so we have to go to China to get our steel, which is happening very quickly," he said.
image
10:40   SRK should have returned, displaying patriotic credentials: Sena
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was detained at an American airport, should have displayed patriotic credentials and returned to India after another "insult" in the US, the Shiv Sena said on Saturday. 

Observing that the "tolerant actor" goes to the US repeatedly, the Sena said if he had decided to return, it would have been a slap on the face of the US. 

The Sena was reacting to Khan's detention at a US airport, the third time in seven years. The Bollywood actor was detained briefly at the Los Angeles International Airport yesterday.

"This has been a common occurrence with Shah Rukh at most big US airports. Still, this tolerant actor goes to the US repeatedly, only to get insulted," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said. 

"He should have returned, displaying patriotic credentials, and telling the US that 'I won't step into your country if you are going to insult me in this manner,' the Sena said.

"Had he done so, it would have been a slap on the face for America. The US views every Muslim as a terrorist," the Sena said.
image
10:25   Heavy rains continue in Uttarakhand; Kedarnath Yatra disrupted
Heavy rains continued to affect most parts of Uttarakhand damaging the trek to Kedarnath, officials said on Saturday.

Rudraprayag District Magistrate Raghav Langar informed reporters that repair work is underway and the trek is likely to be opened for pilgrims -- stranded on both sides -- by Monday. 

The State Disaster Response Force personnel have been pressed into service to take pilgrims of the Chaar Dhaam Yatra from Kedarnath and Linchauli to Soneprayag.
image
10:15   Curfew continues for 36th day in Kashmir, restrictions imposed in old Srinagar
Unrelenting curfew by the authorities and protest shutdown called by the separatists crippled Kashmir Valley for the 36th consecutive day on Saturday.

Authorities continued curfew and restrictions at ten district headquarters in the valley in addition to the trouble torn towns of Sopore, Handwara, Trehgam, Awantipora and some others, a senior police official said here.

Restrictions were imposed in old Srinagar city falling under the jurisdiction of seven police stations.
image
04:56   Texas, other states ask judge to halt Obama transgender policy
Texas and a dozen other states asked a United States judge on Friday to block Obama administration guidance to public schools that transgender students must be allowed to use bathrooms of their choice, saying it usurps the authority of school districts nationwide.

But at a hearing in Fort Worth in a lawsuit filed by the states against the US government, Justice Department lawyer Benjamin Berwick urged US District Judge Reed O'Connor to dismiss the injunction request because the federal guidelines issued in May were non-binding with no legal consequences.

Berwick also said the primarily Republican-governed states objecting had failed to show the guidelines would harm them.

image
04:54   US declares state of emergency in Puerto Rico over Zika
The United States Secretary for Health and Human Services on Friday declared a state of emergency in Puerto Rico because of the widespread transmission of the Zika virus, which poses a "significant threat" to public health.

The statement came at the request of Alejandro Garca Padilla, governor of the US commonwealth, where the Zika virus is spreading rapidly, threatening hundreds of pregnant women and their unborn babies and women of childbearing age.

The declaration will allow HHS to provide added support to the government of Puerto Rico to address the outbreak on the island.

Specifically, declaration allows the government of Puerto Rico to apply for funding to hire and train unemployed workers to assist in vector control and outreach and education efforts through the US Department of Labors National Dislocated Worker Grant program.

image
03:27   'Jihadist' planned Leaning Tower of Pisa attack: media
Italian authorities on Friday ordered the expulsion of a Tunisian national suspected of planning an attack at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, according to media reports.

Bilel Chiahoui, 26, was arrested on Thursday after posting messages on social media praising those behind the jihadist attacks in Europe and saying he would attack the Tuscan city's famous monument, a huge tourist attraction. 

His expulsion order was signed by a judge according to a police report, which said there was "evidence the Tunisian sympathised with jihadist extremism and IS," a reference to the Islamic State group. 

The police statement did not provide details on the target of the suspected attack. 

There has been mounting concern about the possibility of Italy being hit by "lone wolf" terror attacks of the kind seen in neighbouring France and Belgium. 

Recent weeks have seen a string of suspected Islamists expelled from the country on the order of Interior Minister Angelino Alfano.
image
02:58   Clinton leads Trump in White House race
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over her Republican rival Donald Trump in key battleground states, according to a latest opinion poll.
In Colorado, Clinton leads Trump by a whopping 14 points, while in Virginia Trump is trailing behind by 13 percentage points, said a new poll by Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist.
In North Carolina Clinton is leading Trump by nine points.
The survey was done between August 4 and 10.
However, in the critical State of Florida, which has 29 electoral college votes, the race is still tight with Clinton leading by five percentage points.
"These are supposed to be battleground states, but right now, they don't look that way," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.
"Trump still needs to unify Republicans and better position himself among traditional GOP groups in order to make the contest competitive in these must-win states," Lee was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal.
Even as the election is nearly three months away, The Hill reported that the Clinton Campaign has started sensing victory.
Grant Reeher, director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, told The Hill that the Clinton campaign is well positioned for the home stretch of the campaign after Labour Day.

image
02:44   Airstrikes in Syria's Aleppo hit hospital, market, kill 18
Airstrikes in opposition areas of Syria's northern Aleppo province struck a market, a hospital and a village on Friday, killing at least 18 people, including children and two hospital staffers, activists and rescue
workers said.
The air raids hit the only hospital for women and children in the town of Kafr Hamra before dawn, killing two staffers, including a nurse. The Syrian Civil Defence, a group of first responders, said it pulled 10 people alive from under the rubble.
Kafr Hamra is near the northern front line in the divided city of Aleppo, where government troops have sealed the main route into opposition areas, effectively trapping nearly 300,000 residents.
Mahmoud Barakat, a 34-year old anesthetic technician, was one of the two hospital staffers who was killed. He had moved his family out of the town, but decided to stay himself because his specialty was in demand in Aleppo.
His cousin, who recently fled to Turkey and asked not to be identified for fear of retribution, said Barakat, a father of three, was sleeping in the hospital when the airstrikes hit. "He never left the hospital because there is a shortage of doctors," he said.
The Syrian Civil Defence said one of its centres in the rebel-held part of Aleppo was hit. Pictures on the group's Facebook page showed serious damage to one of its vehicles and crumbling walls.
image
02:22   Here's what President Obama is reading this summer
When he isn't golfing with basketball stars or strolling along the beach, United States President Barack Obama is relaxing with a reading list as eclectic as his summer jams.
The White House on Friday unveiled the five books the president is tucking into during his two-week vacation, which range from a surfer's memoir to a sci-fi epic.
In the Pulitzer Prize-winning self-portrait "Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life" lifelong surfer William Finnegan chronicles his obsession with surfing and juggling life, work and relationships, a struggle Obama knows all too well.

As racially charged violence continues to plague the nation, America's first black president packed "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead, a novel recounting a young slave's harrowing journey toward freedom.
The list also includes the critically acclaimed bestseller "H is for Hawk" by Helen Macdonald, about a woman who tames a fierce predatory bird after her father's death.
The president will also tackle two page-turning novels: Paula Hawkins' dark psychological thriller "The Girl on the Train" and Neal Stephenson's "Seveneves," a sci-fi adventure about a post-apocalyptic world.
Though several memoirs are on the president's agenda, Donald Trump's famous "The Art of the Deal" did not make the cut.
image
02:07   Pope in surprise visit to ex-prostitutes
Pope Francis on Friday surprised 20 former prostitutes by knocking on their door in Rome and popping in for a chat.
The Argentine, who has repeatedly described the human trafficking behind much prostitution as "a crime against humanity", sat down with the group, including four women from Albania, seven from Nigeria and six from Romania.
The other three hailed from Italy, Tunisia and the Ukraine, according to a Vatican statement. The women, all aged around 30, are being sheltered by a Catholic association in an apartment in the Italian capital after being rescued from their pimps.
The 79-year old listened for over an hour to the stories of the former sex slaves, "all of whom suffered serious physical abuse and live under protection," the Vatican said.
The visit fell under what have been termed Francis's "Fridays of Mercy", whereby he carries out one unscheduled act of mercy a month on a Friday, mainly in or near Rome, throughout the pope's Jubilee year, which started in December and runs to November.
image
02:04   Syria rebels 'cut off IS escape route' through Manbij
Kurdish and Arab fighters say they have liberated the north Syrian town of Manbij from so-called Islamic State, cutting off its route to Europe.

The coalition of militias fought 73 days to drive out IS and say they freed 2,000 civilians being used as human shields on the final day.

IS captured Manbij, close to the Turkish border, two years ago.

Roads to Syria's embattled second city, Aleppo, and to the IS capital, Raqqa, pass through the town.

image
01:22   Revenue down 8.2 percent at Trump Taj Mahal amid strike
The first month of a strike against Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal casino helped push its revenue down by 8.2 per cent in July. 

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn owns the casino that Donald Trump opened in 1990. 

Icahn is shutting it down October 10, saying it is losing millions of dollars a month.

Figures released on Friday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show the Taj Mahal won $17.5 million from gamblers in July, down 8.2 per cent from the $19.1 million it won in July 2015 when there was no strike. 

The results likely would have been worse had there not been an extra Saturday and Sunday this July compared to last July. Overall, revenue at Atlantic City's eight casinos was up 6.9 per cent in July, to $275.2 million.
image
01:19   Uproar over burkini swimsuits ban on Cannes beaches
Anti-racism organisations and human rights groups vowed on Friday to overturn a "deeply worrying" ban on the wearing of burkinis, full-body swimsuits, on the beaches of Cannes, the French Riviera resort famous for its annual film festival.
Cannes' mayor David Lisnard signed off on the ruling that "access to beaches and for swimming is banned to anyone who does not have (bathing apparel) which respects good customs and secularism," which is a founding principle of the French republic.
SOS Racisme attacked what it said was the mayor's "strategy of tension".
An umbrella organisation of groups against Islamophobia, the CCIF, said it was "deeply worried" about the ban, which it viewed as "a new attack on the most basic principles of law".
It said it was planning to oppose the ban in the courts.
The ban also came under fire from the Socialist Party, who are in opposition to the centre-right Republicans who control Cannes. The local Socialist branch said the burkini ban was an attempt at grabbing headlines which would "play into the hands of religious fundamentalists".
Thierry Migoule, head of municipal services in Cannes, sought to clarify the intent of the burkini ban, which is in place until August 31.
"We are not talking about banning the wearing of religious symbols on the beach... but ostentatious clothing which refers to an allegiance to terrorist movements which are at war with us," he said.
image
00:42   Lionel Messi to come out of retirement
Here's a good news for football fans. 

Lionel Messi said that he will come out of international retirement and represent Argentina again. 

Messi had retired after the defeat in Copa America final against Chile in June.
image
00:38   Russia sends new missile to Crimea
The Russian military has announced the delivery of new air defence missiles to Crimea, in a move scheduled before the latest tension with Ukraine.

The S-400 Triumph missile systems were earmarked for troops in Crimea last month, Russian media said at the time.

Moscow also announced exercises in Crimea next week to simulate an attack by weapons of mass destruction.

Russia, which annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, said this week it had foiled a Ukrainian sabotage mission.

It accused the Ukrainian government in Kiev of trying to send saboteurs into Crimea and reported the deaths of a soldier and a secret police officer in an operation to foil the alleged plot.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow might be forced to cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine if the crisis worsened.

Denying the accusations, Ukraine placed its troops on alert along its de facto border with Crimea, and along its front line with Russian-backed rebels holding parts of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.
image
00:18   Clinton releases latest tax returns, asks Trump to do so
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Friday released her latest annual tax returns and that of her husband Bill Clinton as she pressurised her Republican rival Donald Trump to disclose his tax returns,
alleging that he is hiding behind fake excuses by not making them public.
According to the returns, in 2015 the Clintons paid an effective federal income tax rate of 34.2 per cent and an effective state and local income tax rate of nine per cent for a combined federal, state and local effective tax rate of 43.2 per cent.
They donated 9.8 per cent of their adjusted gross income to charity.
Clinton's vice presidential running mate Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia and his spouse also released their tax returns of the last 10 years.
"Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine continue to set the standard for financial transparency as she releases her 2015 personal tax return and builds on the Clintons' tradition of making their returns public since 1977 and Kaine releases 10 years of his returns," said Hillary for America communications director Jennifer Palmieri.
"In stark contrast, Donald Trump is hiding behind  fake excuses and backtracking on his previous promises to release his tax returns. He has failed to provide the public with the most basic financial information disclosed by every major candidate in the last 40 years. What is he trying to hide?" Palmieri said. 

TOP STORIES