Thursday, August 31, 2017

Turkey's Erdogan says U.S. indictment of guards from Washington brawl a 'scandal'

ANKARA (Reuters) – A U.S. decision to arrest Turkish security guards involved in a brawl in Washington in May is a scandal, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.

Japan Finance Minister Aso cancels U.S. trip due to North Korea situation

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Friday that he was cancelling a planned trip to the United States for preparatory economic talks because of national security uncertainties posed by North Korea.

Vietnam protests over Chinese military drill in South China Sea

HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam on Thursday opposed what it called a Chinese announcement of military exercises in the disputed South China Sea, disagreements over which have pushed tension between the neighbours to its highest in three years.

Guatemala political crisis may affect growth – central bank

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemalan economic growth may slow if a political crisis sparked by a dispute between President Jimmy Morales and the head of a U.N. anti-corruption body persists, the head of the central bank said on Thursday.

The key to targeting stubborn fat

 

A lot of people have a misconception about what exactly ‘stubborn fat’ is. Vision PT Master Trainer, Daniel Tramontana sets the record straight with his expert insights. 

The term ‘stubborn’ almost creates an unnecessary mental predisposition when it comes to fat loss. Clients are often too quick to assume they have ‘stubborn fat’, when most people simply have more fat to lose before they can start burning fat in those notorious areas, such as the belly and hips.

The average fat loss dieter should not be thinking they can strategically target specific areas of fat. When losing weight, your body wants to save calories, so areas such as the arms, neck, fingers, face and feet tend to lean out quicker than the belly, butt and thighs, as having fat in these areas will burn more calories. The body is always adapting to be more efficient.

Clients that have already been training and/or dieting for fat loss from anywhere between eight to 16 weeks and are close to their desired body fat percentage can consider some of their fat as ‘stubborn’. In this case, a little more strategy can be employed.

I find that, for women, the upper body often needs to be almost completely depleted of fat stores before the lower body really becomes active. We store excess energy as fat based on two types of cell receptors: alpha receptors and beta receptors. Alpha promotes fat storage, while beta metabolises fat and makes it available to ‘burn’ as energy. Generally, women have much higher densities of alpha sites in the legs, butt and thighs.

If you want to burn fat from stubborn areas, decreasing alphas and increasing betas is the goal. This could perhaps be related back to our external and internal hormonal environment – basically our oestrogen to progesterone ratios. There is a lot of current research on this matter, and protocols that can help with this hormonal balance include: cutting down on non-organic food and coffee, increasing consumption of cruciferous vegies, drinking lemon water, reducing use of plastics and dry brushing. A useful website is ewg.org and their app Skin Deep, which indicates the toxicity level, effect on the body and potential for harmful additives found in your primary cosmetic and cleaning products.

Another specialised practice that can shed some light on potential imbalances and obstacles to fat loss is Applied Muscle Testing (AMT). Muscle testing works in the same arena as kinesiology, by testing your body for feedback to identify deficiencies in nutrients, problematic foods, potential beneficial supplements and even helping provide information on specific training protocols that may suit you personally.

Three easy things you can do today to expedite stubborn fat loss:

1. Exercise two to three hours after your last meal or on an empty stomach. This may reduce alpha receptor activity. It also causes us to increase catecholamine hormone production (adrenaline/noradrenaline), which may increase beta receptor activity.

2. Train intensely: use compound multi-muscle, multi-joint movements. For lower body, try lunges, squats and deadlifts. Include some type of interval training into your cardio workouts and then cool down with a 30 minute walk: this can assist in dipping further into fat for fuel now it has been released into the blood stream during training.

3. Stay positive: what your mind believes, your body achieves. If you tell yourself you can’t get rid of that last little bit of fat over and over, you’ll convince your subconscious mind that it’s true and it will obey you. Keep an open mind, visualise the results you want and don’t settle for ‘almost there’.   

 

 

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Mexico, Canada to stay in NAFTA even if U.S. leaves – minister

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico and Canada would remain in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) even if the Trump administration abandoned the accord, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Thursday.

Mexican president likens leftist rival to Venezuela's Maduro

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – President Enrique Pena Nieto raised the spectre of Venezuela blighting Mexican politics in an interview published on Thursday, likening the early front-runner for next year's presidential election to the country's leftist leaders.

As Harvey gained fury, Home Depot raced to respond

(Reuters) – Almost three days before Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, hardware retailer Home Depot Inc <HD.N> received an alert from a weather service and activated its disaster-response plan to get supplies to those in the storm's path, while turning a profit, too.

Trump expected to rescind Obama Dreamer policy – senior official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to rescind an Obama-era policy that protects nearly 600,000 immigrants who entered the country illegally as children, but plans to let them stay until their work permits expire, a senior administration official said on Thursday.

South Sudan rebels, short on supplies, draw on determination

KAYA, South Sudan (Reuters) – Before the South Sudanese rebels attacked the town of Kaya, they handed out supplies – a ragged strip of red cloth to identify themselves to each other as friendly forces, a packet of biscuits, and two precious magazines of ammunition per fighter.

U.S. says Iran shows 'true colours' by restoring Hamas ties

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Thursday Iran had shown its "true colours" by restoring ties with Palestinian militant group Hamas and must be held to account by the international community.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Harvey weakens to a tropical depression – U.S. Hurricane Center

(Reuters) – Harvey, previously a tropical storm, has weakened into a depression, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday.

Argentina's Fernandez cries foul on government primary vote count

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina's former populist leader Cristina Fernandez criticized President Mauricio Macri's government at a rally on Wednesday, after it took more than two weeks to release final results in a Senate primary race that gave her a razor-thin win.

France's Macron says his job not 'cool', cites talks with Turkey's Erdogan

PARIS (Reuters) – France's young new president, Emmanuel Macron, said life as a world leader is less "cool" than it might seem, citing talks with Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan as an example.

New Russian ambassador to U.S. calls for resumed military contacts

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Moscow and Washington should re-establish direct contacts between their military and foreign policy chiefs, Russia's new ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, said on Wednesday.

Czech committee recommends letting police charge PM candidate Babis

PRAGUE (Reuters) – A Czech parliamentary committee recommended on Wednesday that lawmakers should lift the immunity of Andrej Babis, the leader of the most popular party and candidate for prime minister, and allow police to charge him with subsidy fraud.

Economic losses from Storm Harvey could total $70 billion – $90 billion – RMS

LONDON (Reuters) – Total economic losses from Tropical Storm Harvey could be as high as $70-90 billion (£54.1 billion – £69.6 billion), with the bulk of the losses coming from inland flooding in the Houston metropolitan area, risk modelling firm RMS said on Wednesday.

U.S.-led coalition hits Islamic State fighters on way to meet evacuees

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The U.S.-led coalition on Wednesday struck vehicles containing Islamic State fighters who were travelling towards the area of eastern Syria where a convoy of IS evacuees from the Syria-Lebanon border is standing, the coalition spokesman said.

U.S. says 195,000 people seek federal help after Harvey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some 195,000 people have registered with the U.S. government for financial assistance due to massive flooding in Texas caused by Tropical Storm Harvey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Wednesday.

May says Britain will be able to change trade deals after Brexit

KYOTO (Reuters) – Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday Britain would be able to change the terms of trade deals after Brexit even if it initially replicates trade deals that the European Union has with other countries.

Kremlin – no politics behind arrest of prominent director

MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Wednesday the arrest of prominent Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov, who has a history of criticising authority, was about embezzlement and had nothing to do with politics or censorship.

Storm-hit Houston reels from influx of evacuees, crime outbreak

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Houston strained under the arrival of tens of thousands of people fleeing submerged homes and flooded roads on Wednesday and faced an outbreak of looting and armed robberies that forced a midnight curfew.

Lebanon finds soldiers' bodies after retaking IS-held area

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon has identified the bodies of six of its soldiers found along the Syrian border in an area held by Islamic State until three days ago, sources in the president's office said.

Spanish PM challenges opposition to vote him out at graft hearing

MADRID (Reuters) – Spain's prime minister challenged lawmakers to table a no confidence vote in his government as he answered questions over alleged illegal financing of his conservative People's Party.

Exclusive: Japan seeks new U.S. missile radar as North Korea threat grows – sources

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan is worried the United States has so far declined to arm it with a powerful new radar, arguing the decision makes the U.S. missile defence system it plans to install much less capable of countering a growing North Korean threat, three sources said.

Islamic State claims attack on house of Afghan lawmaker

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Militant group Islamic State on Wednesday claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the home of a powerful member of parliament in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad that killed two security guards and both attackers.

Cops: No link to former A-G found in shooting case

KUALA LUMPUR: Police believe that the shooting of Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail's driver is not linked to the former attorney-general.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Sudan president pardons, frees rights activist – family

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has pardoned and released a prominent human rights activists who had been jailed since last year on spying and other charges, his family said.

China's sharing craze goes into overdrive with shared luxury cars

SHANGHAI: From umbrellas and stools to nap capsules and subway KTV booths, China's sharing craze has gone into overdrive over the past year.

Japan, South Korea agree to seek stronger U.N. resolution against North Korea

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed on Wednesday to seek stronger United Nations resolutions against North Korea following Pyongyang's missile launch a day earlier, a Japanese official said.

Guatemala top court sides with U.N. graft unit in fight with president

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemala's top court on Tuesday ruled definitively against President Jimmy Morales' internationally criticized push to expel the head of a U.N.-backed anti-corruption unit probing his campaign financing.

Transgender members in U.S. military may serve until study completed – Mattis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday current policy regarding transgender personnel serving in the military would remain in place until he advises President Donald Trump on how to implement his directive on a transgender ban.

Nineteen indicted over brawl during Turkish leader's U.S. visit

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A grand jury on Tuesday indicted 19 people, including 15 Turkish security officials, in connection with a brawl in Washington between protesters and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's security personnel in May, U.S. prosecutors said.

U.S. proposes U.N. statement condemning North Korea missile launch

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States has proposed that the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday agree on a statement condemning North Korea's ballistic missile launch and imploring "all states to strictly, fully and expeditiously implement" United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang.

Q&A: What made Harvey one of the wettest storms in U.S. history?

(Reuters) – Tropical Storm Harvey slammed into the Texas coast near Corpus Christi, producing rains that submerged parts of Houston, the fourth most-populous U.S. city, killed at least 11 people, displaced tens of thousands and wreaked havoc along the Gulf Coast.

Donald Trump Jr. to testify privately to Senate panel – CNN

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump's oldest son has agreed to testify privately to the Senate Judiciary Committee as it looks into allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. election, CNN reported on Tuesday, weeks after he was invited to testify in public at a hearing in July.

Iraq's Kirkuk province to vote in Kurdish independence referendum

KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq's oil-producing region of Kirkuk will vote in a referendum on Kurdish independence on Sept. 25, its provisional council decided on Tuesday, a move that could increase tension with Arab and Turkmen residents.

Germany's Merkel rules out coalition with far left, far right

BITTERFELD-WOLFEN, Germany (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday she would not form a government coalition after elections with either the far left or the far right.

Airline profits could feel squeeze from Tropical Storm Harvey

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Harvey has already caused thousands of flight cancellations around Houston and flooding could cripple regional aviation through the U.S. Labour Day holiday, taking a big bite out of airline profits during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Levee breaches due to Harvey at Houston suburb forcing evacuation

HOUSTON (Reuters) – A levee along the Brazos River south of Houston breached on Tuesday due to heavy rains from Tropical Storm Harvey, forcing officials to call for residents to evacuate low-lying areas.

Russia seeks to reassure over war games, denies invasion plans

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia tried to calm fears over war games it plans to hold next month, saying on Tuesday the large-scale exercise would rehearse a purely defensive scenario and that allegations it was a springboard to invade Poland, Lithuania or Ukraine were false.

Two Houston water reservoirs overflowing, nearby residents encouraged to leave

(Reuters) – Houston reservoirs that have contained heavy rains from Tropical Storm Harvey are starting to overflow, forcing authorities to release more water into the city's swollen drainage system to alleviate pressure on two dams, Harris County officials said on Tuesday.

Libyan coastguard rescues nearly 500 off Tripoli – official

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya's coastguard rescued nearly 500 migrants on Tuesday at sea west of the capital Tripoli, a spokesman said, underlining the challenge of trying to slow an exodus from Africa and the Middle East.

Yemen allies agree to end tensions after deadly clash – officials

DUBAI (Reuters) – Leaders of the Houthi group and loyalists of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, allies in Yemen's civil war, said on Tuesday they had had agreed to ease tensions between them after three people were killed in a clash.

North Korea accuses U.S. of driving peninsula to 'explosion'

GENEVA (Reuters) – North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of driving the Korean peninsula towards "an extreme level of explosion" and declared that it was justified in responding with "tough counter-measures".

France's Macron says new Syria contact group to meet at U.N. next month

PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday a contact group on Syria will meet at the United Nations in New York in September, as he called the fight against Islamist terrorism the priority of his foreign policy.

Selangor MB's officer questioned for five hours by MACC

PUTRAJAYA: The Selangor Mentri Besar's strategic communications director was questioned for five hours by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over a media statement he made on the Universiti Selangor (Unisel) corruption probe.

North Korea's 'reckless' missile launch over Japan sharply escalates tension

TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan's northern Hokkaido island into the sea early on Tuesday, prompting warnings to residents to take cover and drawing a sharp reaction from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Road closures in George Town irk motorists

GEORGE TOWN: Penangites saw red as they made their way here Tuesday morning, as traffic was bumper-to-bumper along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

Monday, August 28, 2017

SEA Games: 14-year-old Aaliyah wins gold in women’s jump

PUTRAJAYA: Teenage water skier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah finally got the better of her nemesis Rossi Amir to win the gold medal in the women's jump event at the SEA Games on Tuesday.

MACC calls up Azmin’s strategic director in Unisel probe

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has called up Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali's strategic director Yin Shao Loong over its corruption probe on Universiti Selangor (Unisel).

Leon Lai's ex-wife Gaile Lok remarries

HONG KONG: Hong Kong pop star Leon Lai's model ex-wife Gaile Lok has remarried, tying the knot in an intimate ceremony in California last weekend with businessman Ian Chu.

Japan PM Abe says agreed with Trump to increase pressure on North Korea

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday that he agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump in telephone talks to increase pressure on North Korea after the country's latest missile launch.

Two dead, four hospitalized in shooting at New Mexico library

(Reuters) – Two people were killed and four hospitalized Monday after a shooting at a library in the small city of Clovis, New Mexico, the city's fire chief said.

Need to put much more pressure on North Korea – Japan foreign minister

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said stronger pressure would be needed on North Korea after its latest missile launch, which flew over Japanese territory early on Tuesday.

North Korea missile flew over Japan, no threat to North America – Pentagon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea launched a missile that flew over Japan, but did not pose a threat to North America, the Pentagon said on Monday.

North Korea missile passes over northern Japan – Japan government

TOKYO (Reuters) – North Korea fired a missile that passed over northern Japan early on Tuesday, the Japanese government said.

Trump to talk with U.S. Congress on funding Hurricane Harvey recovery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Monday he would talk with Congress about how to fund what will be a very expensive recovery from Hurricane Harvey as deadlines loom on the U.S. budget and federal debt ceiling.

Eleven Hezbollah fighters, seven Syrian soldiers killed in border battle against IS – Nasrallah

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Eleven Hezbollah fighters and seven Syrian soldiers were killed in an offensive against Islamic State in Syria's western Qalamoun region, the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Monday.

How to Make A High Protein Veggie Grain Bowl

Ecuador sentences Chinese crew to jail for illegal fishing off Galapagos

QUITO (Reuters) – An Ecuadorean judge has sentenced 20 Chinese crew members to up to four years in prison for illegally fishing off the Galapagos Islands, where they were caught with 6,600 sharks aboard.

Houston handled a third of 6,000 calls for emergency help, more continuing

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said police in the nation's fourth most populous city have rescued 2,000 people in the last day amid widespread flooding from Tropical Storm Harvey.

Barcelona attackers evaded checks specially designed to prevent attacks -minister

MADRID (Reuters) – A jihadist cell that killed 16 people in a double attack in Catalonia earlier this month managed to evade controls specifically intended to detect potential threats, Spain's interior minister said on Monday, promising to review procedures.

How to Make A Buttermilk-Herb Egg Salad Sandwich

Two lawsuits challenge Trump transgender military service ban

(Reuters) – Two lawsuits were filed on Monday challenging U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on trangender people serving in the U.S. military.

Maria Chin, two others discharged over #KitaLawan rally

PETALING JAYA: Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah and two others were given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal over the #KitaLawan rally held in 2015.

CFM: Let's unite to care deeply for all our communities

PETALING JAYA: The Christian Federation of Malaysia has called on Malaysians to "rise above petty self-interests" and unite in order to seek the common good.

Hostility grows towards Syrian refugees in Lebanon

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Abu Yazan has rarely stepped out of his apartment in northern Lebanon since he was beaten up on the street in June.

Indian court sentences self-styled 'godman' to 10 years in prison

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian judge on Monday handed a 10-year jail sentence to self-styled 'godman' Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, whose followers went on a deadly rampage after he was convicted of rape on Friday.

Mountain collapses on township in China's remote southwest, killing two

BEIJING (Reuters) – A landslide caused part of a mountain to collapse on to a remote township in China's remote southwest on Monday, state media said, killing at least two people with 25 missing.

Touts selling final tickets for 10 times more

PETALING JAYA: Touts have started selling tickets for Tuesday’s highly- anticipated SEA Games football final between Malaysia and Thailand.

Finnish court names knife attack suspect

HELSINKI (Reuters) – The Moroccan asylum seeker who told a court he killed two women in a knife attack in Finland is called Abderrahman Bouanane, legal papers showed on Monday.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Whereabouts of former Thai PM Yingluck unknown, defence minister says

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand's defence minister on Monday said he did not know the whereabouts of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, days after she failed to show up for a verdict in her trial for negligence at which she faced up to 10 years in prison.

Philippines' Duterte says police can kill 'idiots' who resist arrest

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told police on Monday they could kill "idiots" who violently resist arrest, two days after hundreds of people turned the funeral of a slain teenager into a protest against his deadly war on drugs.

Houston residents flee Harvey floodwaters for safety at convention centre

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Shivering cold and soaking wet, Maria Davila collapsed on the floor of a downtown Houston shelter beside her two grandchildren on Sunday, exhausted after fighting through swirling floodwaters as Tropical Storm Harvey pounded the city.

Samsung scion Lee's counsel appeals against five-year jail term for bribery

SEOUL (Reuters) – Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee's defence lawyer has filed to appeal against a five-year jail term for bribery handed down by a lower court, the Seoul Central District Court's website said on Monday without giving details.

Man with knife assaults two police officers outside Buckingham Palace

LONDON: A man with a knife who assaulted two police officers outside Buckingham Palace on Friday night has been arrested, British police said.

Japan searches for crew after navy helicopter accident

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan's military and coastguard were searching Sunday for three navy personnel who went missing along with their helicopter in a night-time accident, a navy official said.

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Trump plans to visit Texas Tuesday to survey storm damage from Harvey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will visit Texas on Tuesday to survey storm damage caused by Harvey, the first major U.S. natural disaster since he took office in January, the White House said on Sunday.

An unlikely hurricane hero takes over chaotic Texas storm shelter

ROCKPORT, Texas (Reuters) – When state emergency authorities pulled into the storm shelter in the small city of Rockport, Texas on Saturday, they asked the obvious first question: Who’s in charge here?

Damage unknown to Shell's Perdido platform in U.S. Gulf

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc <RDSa.L> said on Sunday it has not yet been able to assess damage to its deepwater Perdido platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico after evacuating it ahead of Tropical Storm Harvey, which came ashore as a hurricane.

Dozens killed, wounded by car bomb in Afghan province

KABUL (Reuters) – As many as 13 people, including both Afghan army soldiers and civilians, were killed and 18 wounded by a car bomb in the southern province of Helmand on Sunday, officials said.

Stranded Texans turn to social media for help as flood waters rise

(Reuters) – Flood-stranded Texans in the Houston area took to social media on Sunday with desperate pleas to be rescued from their homes as Tropical Storm Harvey and its torrential rains slowly lumbered across the region.

Man seriously injured after plunging down telco tower in Tawau

KOTA KINABALU: A man was seriously injured after plunging down from a cellular telecommunications tower in the east coast town of Tawau on Sunday.

KOTA KINABALU: A man was seriously injured after plunging down from a cellular telecommunications tower in the east coast town of Tawau on Sunday.

Lebanese soldiers in Islamic State captivity most likely dead

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Eight Lebanese soldiers who have been in Islamic State captivity since 2014 are almost certainly dead, the head of Lebanon's internal security agency said on Sunday.

MEX users don't have to pay toll on Merdeka Day

KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with Merdeka Day, Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd (MESB) will not charge toll to all its highway users for all classes of vehicles.

MACC: Ramkarpal should be careful when making statements

BAHAU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has advised Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal to be careful when making statements.

Malaysian cosmetic surgeon charged with practising on suspended licence in Australia

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian cosmetic surgeon has been charged with practising on a suspended licence, reported an Australian newspaper.

Photo of George R. R. Martin and Quentin Tarantino in Kuching goes viral

PETALING JAYA: A photo of two American legends, novelist George R. R. Martin and movie director Quentin Tarantino, enjoying a drink aboard the Sarawak River Cruise in Kuching has sent fans into a frenzy.

MMEA detains Vietnamese trawler for encroaching into Malaysian waters

KOTA KINABALU: The crew of a Vietnamese fishing trawler was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for encroaching into Malaysian waters on Saturday.

Gunfire heard near Bangladesh border as Myanmar residents flee

YANGON/COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (Reuters) – Myanmar's government said it has evacuated at least 4,000 non-Muslim villagers amid ongoing clashes in northwestern Rakhine state, as thousands more Rohingya Muslims sought to flee across the border to Bangladesh on Sunday.

One killed, four others hurt in head-on collision along Jalan Batang Kali-Genting Highlands

KUALA KUBU BARU: A man was killed and four others were seriously injured in an accident involving two cars at Jalan Batang Kali-Genting Highlands near here.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Lebanese army begins talks with Islamic State – security source

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Lebanese army began mediated talks with Islamic State on Sunday as a ceasefire took effect in its offensive against the militants at the northeast border with Syria, a security source said.

Newborn rescued from death's door

KUANTAN: A newborn boy possibly escaped death after being rescued by a trader and a Pakistani man at around 10.15pm Saturday.

One dead in Texas as Harvey stalls, sparking flood fears

Rockport (United States) (AFP) – Hurricane Harvey lashed central Texas with torrential rains on Saturday, raising fears of "catastrophic" flooding after the megastorm — the most powerful to hit the United States since 2005 — left a deadly trail of devastation along the Gulf Coast.

Malaysians make #AnakAnakMalaysia walk a success

SHAH ALAM: Malaysians from all walks of life came together to make the 2017 #AnakAnakMalaysia Walk a resounding success on Sunday.

Venezuelan army, civil militias hold exercises after Trump threat

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela held nationwide armed forces exercises on Saturday, calling on civilians to join reserve units to defend against a possible attack after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that a "military option" was on the table for the crisis-hit country.

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Most French now dissatisfied with Macron, poll shows

PARIS (Reuters) – Most French voters are now dissatisfied with Emmanuel Macron's performance, a poll showed on Sunday, marking a dramatic turnaround for a president who basked in a landslide election victory less than four months ago.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Brussels stabbing – Amaq

CAIRO (Reuters) – Islamic State claimed responsibility for a knife attack on soldiers in the Belgian capital of Brussels on Friday, the group's Amaq news agency said on Saturday.

About 25 percent of U.S. Gulf oil output offline due to Harvey

HOUSTON (Reuters) – About 25 percent of U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil production is offline due to Tropical Storm Harvey, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said on Saturday.

U.S. journalist among 19 killed in South Sudan fighting – rebels

NAIROBI (Reuters) – A United States citizen working in South Sudan as a freelance journalist was among 19 people killed on Saturday during fighting between government troops and rebels in Yei River state, the rebels and the military said.

Harvey plays havoc to people living on the margins

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Reuters) – Craig Uggen stopped short in his white Ford truck as gusting winds from Hurricane Harvey pushed waves from Corpus Christi Bay over the road. His anxiety rose with the water, now covering half his front wheels.

Form Two student assaulted for refusing to be gang member

JOHOR BARU: A Form Two student was attacked by a group of 10 people using metal rods and wooden sticks after he apparently refused to join their gang.

Ongkili: Barisan committed to preserving religious freedom

KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional is committed to preserving religious freedom in Malaysia, said Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

MCA leaders pay respects to Genting tycoon's widow

Kuala Lumpur: MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan paid their last respects to Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua, the widow of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong.

Islamic State's stronghold Tal Afar about to fall -Iraqi military

TAL AFAR, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi forces are about to take full control of Tal Afar, Islamic State's stronghold in northwestern Iraq, in a swift campaign against the outnumbered, exhausted militants, an Iraqi military spokesman said on Saturday.

Three Indian police killed in Kashmir's biggest militant attack in a year

SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Militants killed three Indian policemen in the Kashmir valley after storming into a police camp on Saturday in their biggest strike on a government compound in the disputed region in nearly a year.

Russia's Alrosa abandons search for eight missing diamond miners

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian diamond producer Alrosa said on Saturday it had called off the search for eight miners who went missing three weeks ago when an underground mine flooded.

Rohingya flee for Bangladesh as fresh violence erupts in Myanmar

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh/YANGON (Reuters) – About 1,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing escalating violence in Myanmar had been halted at the border with Bangladesh, Bangladeshi security officials said on Saturday, as fresh fighting erupted in Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine state.

Thousands at boy's burial seek end to Philippine drug war

Manila (AFP) – Thousands of Filipinos Saturday called for an end to extrajudicial killings as the funeral of a boy killed by police turned into the largest single demonstration yet against President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal drug war.

Friday, August 25, 2017

Hisham: Cabinet approved further SAR operations for missing sailors

JOHOR BARU: The Cabinet has agreed for the Royal Malaysia Navy to continue its search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate the missing sailors following the collision between a US warship and a merchant vessel collided off Teluk Ramunia in Kota Tinggi.

Factbox – Deadliest hurricanes on record to hit United States

(Reuters) – Hurricane Harvey struck coastal Texas on Friday evening as the most powerful storm to hit the U.S. mainland in more than a decade, bringing the potential for record flooding from a storm surge and rainfall.

Prosecutors target Guatemala president over campaign financing

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemala's attorney general and a U.N-backed anti-graft body on Friday said they are seeking to investigate President Jimmy Morales over suspected illicit campaign financing.

North Korea fires several short-range missiles as South Korea, U.S. conduct drills

SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea fired several short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast early on Saturday, South Korea and the U.S. military said, as the two allies conducted annual joint military drills that the North denounces as preparation for war.

U.S. says North Korea missiles failed in flight, exploded on launch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea's three short-range missile launches appear to have either failed in flight or exploded almost immediately, the U.S. military said on Friday, adding they had posed no threat to North America or Guam.

U.N. official urges Mexico and U.S. to boost refugee protection

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The United States and other wealthy nations should do more to resettle migrants and refugees forced to flee their homelands, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Friday.

Belgian soldiers shoot dead knife attacker in Brussels

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian soldiers shot dead a man in the centre of Brussels on Friday evening after he came at them with a knife shouting Allahu Akbar (God is great), in a case authorities are treating as a terrorist attack.

'Makeupgate' stalks France's Macron a year after fuss over Hollande's haircut

PARIS (Reuters) – Social media commentators and political opponents of Emmanuel Macron tore into the French president on Friday after it emerged that he spent 26,000 euros ($30,901) on makeup during his first 100 days in office.

U.S. trying to promote crisis in Venezuela – foreign minister

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The United States is trying to promote a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela by imposing new sanctions, Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Friday after the sanctions were announced by the White House.

Trump imposes new sanctions on Venezuela 'dictatorship,' PDVSA debt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prohibits dealings in new Venezuelan government debt and state oil company debt in an effort to pressure President Nicolas Maduro's "dictatorship" to halt its "tyranny," the White House said on Friday.

The Best and Worst Foods for Your Thyroid

Thyroid problems can be helped (or hurt) by what you eat.

U.S. forces involved in raid in Somalia; 3 children among dead

MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somali forces supported by U.S. troops shot dead 10 Somalis, including three children, in a village near the capital Mogadishu on Friday, a witness and local officials told Reuters.

New mudslide hits barely recovering Swiss town

ZURICH (Reuters) – A fresh mudslide swept into a remote mountain town in eastern Switzerland on Friday where a massive landslide earlier this week left eight people missing.

Saudi cleric condemns inter-Muslim conflict ahead of pilgrimage

MECCA (Reuters) – The imam of Mecca's Grand Mosque denounced those who "cause conflict among Muslims" in his last Friday sermon before the annual haj pilgrimage, as rifts widen among Gulf neighbours and wars rage across the Middle East.

India court finds 'godman' guilty of rape, protests erupt

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A court in north India on Friday convicted a self-styled "godman" of raping two women, triggering angry protests by his supporters who had gathered in their thousands outside the court to protest his innocence, lawyers said.

PKR suspends former Kapar MP

PETALING JAYA: Former Kapar MP S. Manickavasagam has been suspended for two years by PKR for making false allegations against party de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Palestinians share appetite for traditional food

HEBRON, West Bank (Reuters) – For a people struggling to establish their own state, traditional food is an important part of the national heritage, and for Palestinians in the West Bank that goes well beyond the standard hummus (chickpea paste).

Turkish PM says further U.S. support to Kurdish YPG will cause problems: NTV

ANKARA (Reuters) – Any additional support given by the United States to Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters will cause problems for Turkey, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was quoted as saying on Friday.

U.S. Navy recovers second body in search for sailors missing after collision

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – U.S Navy and Marine Corps divers have recovered and identified a second body in the search for ten sailors missing after a collision between a guided-missile destroyer and merchant vessel near Singapore earlier this week, the U.S. Navy said on Friday.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Remand extended for three suspects in Kedah cop murder

JITRA: Three main suspects in the killing of sub-Inspector Abu Hashim Ismail were further remanded for seven days to assist with the investigations.

Trump meets Malaysian delegation to express thanks

PETALING JAYA: United States President Donald Trump met up with officials from Malaysia to thank them for their search and rescue efforts for its missing sailors after its warship the USS John S McCain collided with a merchant vessel.

Canada soon to allow gender-neutral passports

MONTREAL: Canadian citizens who do not identify as male or female will soon be able to mark "X" on their passports and other identity documents, the government said Thursday.

China says nothing will stop its long-range air force drills

BEIJING (Reuters) – No amount of interference or shadowing of its aircraft will stop the Chinese air force from carrying out long-range drills, the defence ministry said, announcing another round of exercises of the type that have unnerved Taiwan and Japan.

Trump tells Egypt's Sisi keen on developing U.S.-Egypt relations

CAIRO (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi late on Thursday and said he was keen on developing the relationship between their countries, and overcoming any obstacles that might affect it, Sisi's office said.

Guatemalan prosecutors to probe parties over campaign financing

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Guatemala's attorney general and a United Nations-backed anti-corruption body will investigate the nation's political parties on suspicion of illegal campaign financing during the 2015 presidential election campaign, the groups said on Thursday.

At least 16 Americans affected by 'incidents' in Cuba – State Department

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Mysterious "incidents" caused physical symptoms in at least 16 Americans linked to the U.S. embassy in Cuba, the State Department said on Thursday, in what media reports have described as an "acoustic attack."

Amazon Will Cut Whole Foods’ Prices, Immediately

Hezbollah says it's seized much of IS enclave on Syrian side of Lebanon border

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Thursday it had captured much of an Islamic State enclave on Syria's side of the border with Lebanon, in a joint offensive with the Syrian army.

U.S. holds powerful but risky tool to halt North Korea's nuclear progress

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government is turning the screws on companies that do business with North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions but has stopped short of taking the more aggressive, and riskier, move of targeting Chinese banks that facilitate Pyongyang's trade in arms and other banned goods.

Brazil ferry capsizes, at least 22 dead in second accident this week -media

BRASILIA (Reuters) – A ferry carrying 129 passengers capsized in Brazil's coastal state of Bahia on Thursday, killing at least 22 people, the country's second fatal maritime accident this week, according to local media reports.

4 Summer Food Safety Tips

 

As the weather heats up, follow these tips for proper food handling.

 

Eight people missing after Swiss landslide – police

ZURICH (Reuters) – Rescue crews are searching for eight people including Germans, Austrians and Swiss who have been missing for more than a day after a landslide struck a remote Swiss mountain valley near the Italian border, police said on Thursday.

Colombian TV channel Caracol says Venezuela pulled it from airways

CARACAS (Reuters) – President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government has pulled a Colombian television channel from Venezuela's airwaves, Caracol Television said on Thursday, slamming the move as a crackdown on media.

As guns fall silent, Benghazi residents return to battered homes

BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Two months after the dominant military force in eastern Libya declared victory in a campaign to retake Benghazi, Hassan al-Zawy is living rough in his home in the district that witnessed the city's last major battle.

'Let's get emotional' says German SPD, struggling to oust Merkel

BERLIN (Reuters) – One month away from a national election, Germany's Social Democrats are struggling in their efforts to narrow a yawning gap in support behind Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.

Women activists want Government to address issue of 'toxic politics'

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of women activists has urged the Government to address the issue of "toxic politics" to ensure political stability in the country.

Philippine police say teen was killed before drugs links known

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine police on Thursday told a Senate inquiry that a high school student killed last week by anti-drugs officers had been involved in narcotics, but officers only learnt of that the day after they shot him dead.

As votes counted, Angola's ruling party says victory 'inescapable'

LUANDA (Reuters) – Angola's ruling MPLA party said it would win an unequivocal victory in a parliamentary election as votes were tallied ahead of the expected release of partial results later on Thursday.

Clashes in Rome as police evict refugee squatters from square

ROME (Reuters) – Police using water canon and batons clashed on Thursday with refugees who had occupied a small Rome square in defiance of an order to leave a building where they had been squatting.

Pakistan's PM, military meet to respond to Trump's criticism

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will meet with powerful Pakistani generals on Thursday to formulate a response to the new U.S. policy on Afghanistan that includes greater pressure on Islamabad to do more to rein in militants.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Ex-CIA agent campaigns to block Trump from Twitter

WASHINGTON: Valerie Plame Wilson, a media savvy former undercover CIA agent, has launched an improbable crowdfunding campaign to buy Twitter, in order to take away Donald Trump's favorite communications tool.

Uncle Fatty is back in the wild and on a diet

BANGKOK: The unusually obese long-tailed macaque – nicknamed “Lung Ou-an” (Uncle Fatty) – is fully recovered from lung inflammation and was released back to its usual haunt in Bangkok’s Bang Khunthien district on Wednesday.

Two Singaporeans jailed in Abu Dhabi for wearing women's clothes

SINGAPORE: Two Singaporean men have been each sentenced to a year's jail in Abu Dhabi for wearing women's clothes.

Trump plans to meet Najib on Sept 12

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump plans to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sept 12 at the White House, two senior U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Civilians under greater threat as Raqqa fight intensifies: Amnesty

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Amnesty International said on Thursday a U.S.-led coalition campaign to oust Islamic State from Syria's Raqqa had killed hundreds of civilians, and those remaining face greater risk as the fight intensifies in its final stages.

Russian ambassador to Sudan found dead in swimming pool

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Russia's ambassador to Sudan, Mirgayas Shirinskiy, was found dead in the swimming pool at his home in Khartoum on Wednesday, the Sudanese police said.

Rotterdam mayor says bus with gas bottles found outside cancelled concert

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A bus with Spanish licence plates and containing gas bottles was found near a concert hall where earlier on Wednesday a rock concert was cancelled due to a threat, Rotterdam's mayor said.

Venezuela ex-prosecutor says she has evidence of Maduro corruption

BRASILIA/CARACAS (Reuters) – Dismissed Venezuelan prosecutor Luisa Ortega said on Wednesday she had evidence that President Nicolas Maduro was involved in corruption with construction company Odebrecht.

U.S. State Dept's science envoy resigns over Trump's Charlottesville response

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – One of the U.S. State Department's science envoys publicly resigned on Wednesday, the latest in a wave of defections over President Donald Trump's response to a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Boat sinks carrying 70 passengers in Brazil, at least 7 dead

SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) – A passenger boat carrying about 70 people sank in the northern Brazilian state of Pará, with at least seven people confirmed dead, authorities said on Wednesday.

France's Macron says 'posted worker' rules betray EU spirit

SALZBURG, Austria (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday decried European rules allowing firms in low-wage countries to post workers elsewhere as a "betrayal" of the European spirit, seeking to overcome eastern European resistance to curbing the practice.

Evacuation from Tai O village as streets turned to rivers after Typhoon Hato hits Hong Kong

Residents desperately try to stop water entering homes as floods reach waist height

Kenyan lawmakers oppose 'beggars' move to cut their salaries

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya's newly elected legislators, who can earn as much as $10,000 a month in salary and perks, will oppose cuts by the wage-setting body that will turn them into "beggars", a parliamentary service commission member said on Wednesday.

BNSC man sues Guan Eng for defamation

GEORGE TOWN: Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications (BNSC) deputy director Datuk Eric See-To has filed a defamation suit against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Philippine leader tells police to kill only if necessary in war on drugs

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday backed police on the front lines of a war on drugs that he said would not cease, but warned officers their duty was to arrest suspects and kill only if their lives were in danger.

As anger simmers over killings, Philippine police do house-to-house drug tests

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine police were knocking on doors in one of Manila's poorest neighbourhoods on Wednesday to encourage people to take on-the-spot drug tests, a campaign condemned by rights groups as harassment that could endanger lives.

Healthy Food and Drink Awards 2018


Feature

Aug 23, 2017

Win a Luxury Soho Spa Day

Blunt instrument? What a list of banned articles says about China's censors

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – An old review of an academic monograph on agrarian revolutionaries in 1930s China is hardly a political third rail in Beijing today, even by the increasingly sensitive standards of the ruling Communist Party.

Turkish foreign minister says to tell Iraqi Kurdish officials independence vote wrong

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday he would tell Iraqi Kurdish officials later in the day that their decision to hold an independence referendum was wrong and that Ankara expects it to cancel the vote.

Police fire pepper spray to disperse protesters outside Trump rally in Phoenix

PHOENIX (Reuters) – Police fired pepper spray to disperse protesters outside a rally by U.S. President Donald Trump in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday after being pelted with rocks and bottles, police said.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Musa Hitam: RCI on Memali is good, but must have right intentions

PETALING JAYA: Tun Musa Hitam has “no problem” with the proposal to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the Memali incident, as long as it is done with the right intention.

North Korea's Kim orders production of more rocket engines, warhead tips – KCNA

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the production of more solid-fuel rocket engines and rocket warhead tips, the North's official media said on Wednesday in a report otherwise lacking threats against Washington after weeks of heightened tension.

At Arizona rally, Trump defends response to Charlottesville violence

PHOENIX (Reuters) – President Donald Trump, surrounded by thousands of supporters on Tuesday, defended his response to the violence at a rally organized by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, and attacked the media for "giving a platform to hate groups."

US destroyer collision: Fiancée of missing sailor hopeful he will be home for their wedding

SINGAPORE: The fiancée of one of the 10 sailors missing from an American guided-missile destroyer is hopeful he will be safe and return home for their wedding next year.

A guilty verdict for Thailand's Yingluck may stoke anger but military firmly in charge

BANGKOK (Reuters) – A long-awaited verdict in the trial of former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra this week could inflame tension and would likely have far-reaching implications in the politically divided kingdom.

Two arrested in Morocco over suspected links to Barcelona attackers – report

RABAT (Reuters) – Moroccan authorities have arrested two people suspected of links to the alleged perpetrators of the van attack that killed 13 people in the Spanish city of Barcelona, state TV channel 2M reported on Tuesday.

Exclusive – Trump's Afghan decision may increase U.S. air power, training

ON BOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (Reuters) – The U.S. Air Force may intensify its strikes in Afghanistan and expand training of the Afghan air force following President Donald Trump's decision to forge ahead with the 16-year-old war, its top general told Reuters on Tuesday.

Tillerson sees possible pathway to North Korea dialogue 'in near future'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to make a peace overture to North Korea on Tuesday, welcoming what he called the restraint it had shown recently in its weapons programs and saying a path could be opening for dialogue "sometime in the near future.""We have had no missile launches or provocative acts on the part of North Korea since the unanimous adoption of the U.N. Security Council resolution," Tillerson told reporters, referring to U.N. sanctions on North Korea agreed on Aug. 5.

How to Make Quick and Easy Salmon Cakes

Move over crab cakes! This salmon cake is high in heart-healthy omega-3 fats. Plus the B12 vitamins are good for blood health

Argentina labour unions protest job losses, Macri policies

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina's main labour unions took to the streets of the capital on Tuesday demanding more jobs and protesting centre-right President Mauricio Macri's economic policies.

Venezuela-U.S. relations at lowest point ever – Maduro

CARACAS/BOGOTA (Reuters) – Relations between Caracas and Washington are at their lowest point ever, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday in a speech at the presidential palace for international media that was televised to the nation.

North Korea – Countdown to a standoff

(Reuters) – In North Korea's effort to become a nuclear power capable of striking the United States, leader Kim Jong Un has telegraphed what his scientists and weapons experts are achieving. Over the past two years, the country has moved from a fledgling nuclear programme to possessing the technology to at least strike the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.

Italy's latest deadly quake exposes inaction on illegal homes

ROME (Reuters) – A small but deadly earthquake on the Italian holiday island of Ischia exposed a deep political fault line on Tuesday over the country's proliferation of unsafe, illegal housing.

On eve of vote, Angola's Lourenco denies he'd be puppet president

LUANDA (Reuters) РJọo Louren̤o, Angola's ruling party candidate for president, said on Tuesday he would not be hamstrung by his powerful predecessor if he wins election as he pledged to revive Africa's third largest economy and tackle rampant corruption.

U.S. targets China, Russia entities and people for North Korea support

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States announced sanctions on Tuesday on Chinese and Russian companies and individuals for supporting North Korean weapons programs, including by dealing in Pyongyang's energy trade and helping sanctioned North Korean entities gain access to the U.S. and international finance system.

U.S., North Korea clash at U.N. forum over nuclear weapons

GENEVA (Reuters) – North Korea and the United States clashed at a U.N. forum on Tuesday over their military intentions towards one another, with Pyongyang's envoy declaring it would "never" put its nuclear deterrent on the negotiating table.

U.S. divers find body remains in hull of damaged destroyer

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – U.S. Navy and Marine Corps divers on Tuesday found some human remains inside sections of a U.S. guided-missile destroyer that collided with a merchant vessel near Singapore, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet said.

SA 911 plea for help, a Taser shot and the toll of stun guns

ONTARIO, California (Reuters) – As her husband stalked around the back yard, upending chairs and screaming about demons, Nancy Schrock knew he was unravelling fast. She dialled the police.

Amid outrage, Philippine opposition presses Duterte to stop killings

MANILA (Reuters) – Political opponents of Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday urged him to end a culture of impunity and quell a surge in drug-related killings, amid widespread anger at police over the death of a teenager.

Countering North Korean threat is Trump's 'top priority' – envoy

GENEVA (Reuters) – President Donald Trump's top priority is to protect the United States and its allies against the "growing threat" from North Korea, and America is ready to use "the full range of capabilities at our disposal," a U.S. envoy said on Tuesday.

Germany's Gabriel hits back at Erdogan with call to back Turkish democracy

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany's foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said Berlin and the rest of Europe should back the "democratically minded" majority of Turks who did not support President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a dramatic hardening of Germany's posture towards Ankara.

Finnish police request two knife attack suspects be detained for murder

HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finnish police have requested that two of five Moroccans arrested over last week's deadly knife attack in Turku be detained for murder with terrorist intent, a court said on Tuesday.

France's Macron, seeking to re-shape Europe, heads east

PARIS/WARSAW (Reuters) – While Britain toils over its messy divorce with the European Union, France's president Emmanuel Macron is embarking on a drive to deepen the economic integration of a bloc he says needs to be more protective of its citizens.

Monday, August 21, 2017

DAP preparations for CEC polls on hold until RoS letter received

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP may have to postpone its central executive committee (CEC) re-election if the official notice from the Registrar of Societies (RoS) approving the party's proposed date does not arrive in time.

Photo Gallery: #AnakAnakMalaysia Walk 2017 – part 5

Photos sent in by Malaysians from near and far.

Bruising debate brings a reluctant Trump around on Afghanistan war

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump came around to the decision to allow for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan only after a prolonged internal debate in which he frequently tangled with his top national security advisers.

Fire destroys files in Sibu police HQ

SIBU: All the files in a storeroom at the police headquarters here were destroyed in a fire on Tuesday morning.

US Secret Service says it is running out of money to protect Trump, his homes and family

WASHINGTON: The US Secret Service said Monday it is facing a crunch in meeting overtime payments for agents, as it struggles with the cost of protecting President Donald Trump, his many homes and large family.

Thais to deploy 4,000 police for ex-PM Yingluck verdict

Bangkok (AFP) – More than 4,000 police will guard Thailand's Supreme Court on Friday when judges announce a verdict in the case of ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, accused of negligence over a costly rice subsidy policy.

Hard Labour – NZ's Ardern takes tougher line on immigration

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – When Jacinda Ardern seized leadership of New Zealand's opposition Labour Party earlier this month, she quickly drew comparisons with youthful, cosmopolitan leaders like Canada's Justin Trudeau and France's Emmanuel Macron.

Car crashes into eclipse-watching Kentucky crowd, woman killed – report

(Reuters) – A woman was killed and two people were injured on Monday after a car crashed into a crowd watching the solar eclipse in Kentucky, local media reported.

Quake hits Italian island, buildings collapse

ROME (Reuters) – An earthquake measuring 3.6 magnitude hit the island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples, on Monday night, officials said, causing several buildings to collapse.

U.S. Navy chief says no sign USS McCain collision intentional

(Reuters) – There was no indication that the collision between a U.S. Navy ship and a tanker near Singapore on Monday was intentional, U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson told reporters at the Pentagon on Monday.

Lebanese army finds anti-aircraft missiles in Islamic State cache

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon's army found anti-aircraft missiles among with a cache of weapons in an area abandoned by Islamic State militants, it said on Monday.

4 Heart-Healthy Salmon Recipes to Make Now

Can't go wrong with salmon – it's good for your skin, your heart, and your brain! Here are four ways to keep it interesting

Congo Republic president reappoints PM after resignation

BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) – Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso reappointed Clement Mouamba as prime minister on Monday, four days after Mouamba and his cabinet resigned, the president's office said in a statement.

This Instagram-Worthy Vegan Cookie Dough Ice Cream Is So Easy to Make

Put down that store-bought pint and opt for this healthier version, which you can whip up yourself with real bananas.

Spanish police confirm Barcelona attack suspect Younes Abouyaaqoub shot dead

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Spanish police confirmed on Monday that Younes Abouyaaqoub, the man suspected of driving the van that killed 13 people in Barcelona last week, has been shot dead.

Philippines' Duterte says there could have been abuses in war on drugs

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said there could have been abuses in his government's war on drugs and ordered the police to take custody of officers who were involved in the killing of a high school student last week.

A Healthier Summer Snack: Mini-Blueberry Pies Filled With Frozen Yogurt

Sweet tooth? These mini pies get their sweetness from fruit and a touch of honey.

Your ultimate fitness holiday


Article

Aug 21, 2017

Bored of your fly-and-flop holiday and looking for something more special this year? Discover your ultimate fitness holiday with BodyHoliday

Healthiest Pizza Picks at Popular Delivery Chains

It's possible to order a pizza and keep calories in check. Find out which topping combinations are the healthiest options at three popular pizza chains.

Anwar Ibrahim told of forex losses in 1994, RCI hears

PUTRAJAYA: Former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) assistant governor Datuk Abdul Murad Khalid told the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the 1990s forex losses that he did explain the matter to then Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in early 1994.

Hong Kong leader says jailed activists are not political prisoners

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Monday three student activists jailed for their roles in 2014 pro-democracy protests were not political prisoners and unreasonable criticism of the city's judiciary could damage the rule of law.

Russia names replacement for Sergei Kislyak as envoy in Washington

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a replacement for Sergei Kislyak as Russian ambassador to the United States, the Kremlin said on Monday.

Ahmad Bashah: Proposed Memali RCI not meant to victimise Dr M

ALOR SETAR: The proposed setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the Memali incident was not aimed at victimising Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.

Raqqa families make daring escapes from Islamic State stronghold

RAQQA, Syria (Reuters) – As Shawakh al-Omar huddled with 16 relatives in a single room in house in Islamic State's Syrian stronghold Raqqa, a mortar round slammed into the home next door, killing four people and shaking the building.

U.S., South Korea begin computer-simulated drills amid North Korea tension

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean and U.S. forces began computer-simulated military exercises on Monday amid tension over North Korea's weapons programmes, while a report it has earned millions of dollars in exports is likely to raise doubt about the impact of sanctions.

DAP proposes Sept 10 re-election

PETALING JAYA: DAP has proposed to hold the re-election of its central executive committee (CEC) on Sept 10.

RCI dismisses request to hold closed-door proceedings

PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) has dismissed a request by Bank Negara Malaysia to hold the inquiry into foreign exchange losses in the 1990s behind closed doors.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

IGP: Bear with us on long SEA Games queues, it’s about security

KUALA LUMPUR: The police are aware that there have been complaints about long waiting lines to enter venues for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL2017), but have asked for patience.

Out-of-wedlock children’s names: NRD gets stay on order

PUTRAJAYA: The Apex Court here has granted an application by the National Registration Department (NRD) and two others to stay a Court of Appeal ruling that a Muslim child conceived out of wedlock can use his or her father's surname instead of “bin Abdullah.”

US Navy destroyer collision: Malaysia assisting in search for 10 sailors

PETALING JAYA: The Royal Malaysia Navy has despatched ships and a helicopter to help in search-and-rescue (SAR) operations after a US warship and a merchant vessel collided seven nautical miles off the coast of Johor.

Oil tanker hit by U.S. warship laden with fuel oil; no spill

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – An oil tanker involved in a collision with a U.S. warship to the east of Singapore early on Monday was carrying nearly 12,000 tonnes of fuel oil, but there was no oil spill, a crew member told Reuters via phone.

The victor, the spoils? Trump eyes Afghanistan's elusive mineral riches

KABUL (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump is eyeing Afghanistan's mineral wealth to help pay for a 16-year war and reconstruction efforts that have already cost $117 billion (90.89 billion pounds). Investors who have studied the country, one of the world's most dangerous, say that is a pipe dream.

US Navy destroyer collides with merchant ship off Singapore, search and rescue under way

SINGAPORE: Search and rescue efforts are under way after a US warship collided with a merchant vessel east of Singapore.

Norway government sees higher growth as election looms – report

OSLO (Reuters) – The Norwegian economy will grow more rapidly in 2017 than the government had previously expected, Finance Minister Siv Jensen told financial daily Dagens Naeringsliv late on Sunday, just three weeks ahead of parliamentary elections.

Trump to lay out U.S. strategy for Afghanistan on Monday night

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (Reuters) – President Donald Trump is to lay out the U.S. strategy for the war in Afghanistan in a prime-time television address to the American people on Monday night, the White House said on Sunday.

Elderly Swiss couple found murdered in Kenya's Mombasa city

MOMBASA (Reuters) – The bodies of an elderly Swiss couple were found dumped by a country road in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa with severe injuries on Sunday, police said, and the caretaker of a property where they had been due to stay was being sought for questioning.

Palestinian leader says tried to resume security ties with Israel – statement

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Israeli opposition lawmakers on Sunday that he had proposed rolling back his month-old suspension of security coordination with Israel, but that it did not respond to the overture, the delegation said.

Saudi plane for Qatari pilgrims waits on Doha for landing rights-airline

DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia's state carrier said on Sunday it had been unable to send planes to transport Qatari pilgrims to the kingdom because it had been unable to get permission to land at Doha airport, amid a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.

Pilot killed as helicopter crashes while fighting Portugal blaze

LISBON (Reuters) – A light helicopter that was taking part in firefighting efforts in northern Portugal crashed and exploded on Sunday, killing its pilot and further raising the death toll from the country's deadliest summer of wildfires, officials said.

Syria's Assad says Western plots against him foiled but war not yet won

AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday his country had foiled Western designs to topple him but his army had not yet won the fight to end Syria's six-year-old insurgency.

U.S. troop reduction in exercise not due to North Korea concerns – Mattis

AMMAN (Reuters) – A reduction in U.S. troops taking part in a joint exercise with South Korean forces this year simply reflects a need for fewer personnel and is not because of tensions with North Korea, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday.

Trump has made Afghanistan decision after 'rigorous' U.S. review – Mattis

AMMAN, Reuters – President Donald Trump had a made a decision on the United States' strategy for Afghanistan after a "sufficiently rigorous" review process, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday.

Express bus catches fire in Johor

BATU PAHAT: An express bus carrying 10 passengers burst into flames on the North-South Expressway heading towards Johor Baru.

Iran parliament clears oil, foreign ministers for Rouhani's new cabinet

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Iranian parliament voted on Sunday to keep the oil and foreign ministers, two of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani's key members of cabinet, in their posts.

New Zealand opposition leader launches campaign for 'brave' tackling of inequality

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s 37-year-old opposition leader, Jacinda Ardern, officially launched her election campaign on Sunday, pledging her government would be “bold”, “brave” and tackle rising inequality should it win next month’s election.

Cops investigating death of Bangladeshi man

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are investigating the death of a Bangladeshi man following a fight off Jalan Imbi here.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Upside-down flag flap in SEA Games booklet resolved

KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of the Indonesian flag being printed upside down in a souvenir booklet for the SEA Games here has been resolved, the youth and sports ministers of both countries said.

India investigates after fourth big train accident in past year kills 23

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India began investigating on Sunday a train crash in which 23 people were killed, the fourth major accident over the past year on the world's fourth biggest rail network which is grappling with chronic under-investment and over-crowding.

MMEA detains 24 Indonesians off Tawau

KOTA KINABALU: A group of Indonesians who tried sneaking out of the country via illegal sea routes off Tawau has been arrested.

Two suspects in killing of policeman remanded seven days

JITRA: Two men implicated in the killing of a policeman on the trail of smuggling and underworld activities in Bukit Kayu Hitam have been remanded for seven days.

Iraqi forces start offensive to take back IS-held city of Tal Afar

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi security forces launched on Sunday an offensive to take back the city of Tal Afar, their next objective in the U.S.-backed campaign to defeat Islamic State militants, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said.

Unwavering Trump voters say they will not miss Steve Bannon

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon's firing has been met with a collective shrug by some of President Donald Trump's most committed supporters who argue the controversial nationalist became an obstacle to the administration's agenda.

Mnuchin tells Yale classmates: Trump does not equate neo-Nazis with peaceful protesters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Urged by his Yale University classmates to resign as treasury secretary following President Donald Trump's response to a white nationalist protest, Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday he would stay in office and that Trump "in no way, shape or form" equates neo-Nazis with peaceful protesters.

Bannon's exit not seen to signal Trump shift to centre

WASHINGTON/BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (Reuters) – President Donald Trump's ouster of chief strategist Steve Bannon is unlikely to mark the abandonment of the administration's "America First" agenda that has unnerved investors and trade partners and split the White House into nationalist and globalist camps.

Syrian army pounds rebel areas near Damascus after Russian brokered truce

AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian jets and artillery struck rebel-held eastern Damascus suburbs on Saturday a day after a Russian sponsored ceasefire with a rebel group agreed a halt of fighting in the last opposition enclave in the capital, rebels and witnesses said.

Israel's Netanyahu to discuss Middle East with Putin – statement

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss the Middle East with Russian President Vladimir Putin when they meet in the Russian resort of Sochi next week, his office said on Saturday.

Venezuela 'congress in resistance' rejects new super-assembly

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela's opposition-controlled congress on Saturday rejected the self-proclaimed law-making authority of a new legislative superbody elected last month at the behest of President Nicolas Maduro.

Millions of Americans to gaze upon Monday's once-in-a-lifetime eclipse

(Reuters) – Twilight will fall at midday on Monday, stars will glimmer and birds will roost in an eerie stillness as millions of Americans and visitors witness the first total solar eclipse to traverse the United States from coast to coast in 99 years.

Nigeria's Buhari returns home after three-month sick leave in Britain

ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari returned home on Saturday after three months on medical leave in Britain, state television and a Reuters witness said.

At least 10 people killed in Indian train derailment, says official

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – At least 10 people were killed on Saturday and 150 injured when a train came off the tracks in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the chief medical officer in Muzaffarnagar, where the crash happened, told Reuters.

Islamic state claims responsibility for Russia stabbing attack

CAIRO (Reuters) – Islamic State claimed responsibility for a stabbing attack in the in the Siberian city of Surgut that injured eight people on Saturday, the group's AMAQ news agency said.

Zimbabwe's Grace Mugabe absent from regional summit after assault allegation

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe did not make an expected appearance at a summit of regional leaders in South Africa on Saturday, following allegations of assault against her by a 20-year-old model.

Pentagon's Mattis again seeks to reassure U.S. allies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis travels to the Middle East and eastern Europe next week to play the increasingly familiar role of reassuring allies that the United States is committed to them despite mixed messages from President Donald Trump.

Holidaying students rapped for bad behaviour in Japan

PETALING JAYA: Three Malaysian students on holiday in Japan have come under heavy criticism from netizens after a video of them displaying bad behaviour at a guesthouse in Osaka went viral online.

Pakistan holds state funeral for German nun who fought leprosy

KARACHI (Reuters) – Pakistani soldiers on Saturday carried the flag-draped coffin of German-born Catholic nun Ruth Pfau to a state funeral where she was honoured after devoting her life to eradicating leprosy in the country.

Finnish knife attacks investigated as terrorism-related crimes – police

HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finnish police are investigating Friday's knife attacks as crimes related to terrorism, it said on Saturday.

Friday, August 18, 2017

Seventh Australian senator referred to High Court as citizenship crisis deepens

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A crisis engulfing Australia's parliament has widened after a key independent senator became the seventh parliamentarian referred to the High Court to determine if his dual citizenship makes him ineligible to sit in parliament.

Man beats up 71-year-old father

YAN: A 71-year-old man was given seven stitches on his eyebrow after he was on the receiving end of a beating from his own son at a village in Sungai Limau here on Wednesday.

U.S. condemns 'power grab' by new Venezuelan assembly – State Department

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States strongly condemns the assumption of legislative powers by Venezuela's new Constituent Assembly, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

Factbox – What were ex-Trump adviser Bannon's policy wins and losses?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Friday fired his chief strategist Stephen Bannon, a right-wing political activist credited with driving parts of the Trump policy agenda, with mixed results.

Trump dumps controversial chief strategist Bannon in latest upheaval

WASHINGTON/HAGERSTOWN, Md. (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Friday fired his chief strategist Steve Bannon in the latest White House shake-up, removing a far-right architect of his 2016 election victory and a driving force behind his nationalist and anti-globalisation agenda.

Kenyan opposition files case at Supreme Court challenging election results

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya's opposition coalition went to the Supreme Court late on Friday to challenge the results of a presidential election which it says was rigged.

How to Make Banana Ice Cream That Tastes Like the Real Deal

Tillerson condemns racism, calls for national reconciliation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued a forceful condemnation of "bigotry in all its forms" on Friday and called for national reconciliation as he promised to work towards making the government more racially diverse.

Trump, top aides seek to overcome divisions delaying Afghan strategy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump huddled with his national security team on Friday to try to agree on a strategy for Afghanistan which includes options ranging from a pullout or reduction of U.S. forces to a modest troop increase.

Trump to push out adviser Bannon – New York Times

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump has decided to push out his chief strategist Steve Bannon, but White House officials were still discussing when and how, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing two unnamed administration officials.

Finnish police to reinforce security nationwide after stabbings

HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finnish police said on Friday they were reinforcing security nationwide, with additional patrols and boosted surveillance following stabbings in the city of Turku.

Germany bets on second time lucky with migrant workers

GESCHER, Germany (Reuters) – As Germany struggles to absorb more than a million migrants from the Middle East and Africa, the government is hoping to avoid the mistakes it made half a century ago when it brought in a generation of guest workers from Turkey.

Nigeria's freed Chibok girls to return home 'fully recovered'

ABUJA (Reuters) – More than 100 girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in the Nigerian town of Chibok in 2014 are ready to return to normal life after being released and receiving psychological and medical treatment, the government said on Friday.

Amid Spain attacks, Trump says U.S. ready and borders secure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States was prepared for any possible "trouble" and its borders were secure, as authorities in Spain grappled with an attempted attack near Barcelona one day after another attack left more than a dozen dead.

130 people injured in Catalonia attacks – emergency services

MADRID (Reuters) – The number of people injured in a van attack in Barcelona on Thursday afternoon and in a separate attack in the Catalan resort town of Cambrils stood at 130 on Friday, an emergency services spokesman said.

Death toll in attacks in Catalonia rises to 14 – emergency services

BARCELONA (Reuters) – The death toll in attacks in Catalonia rose to 14 on Friday when a woman injured in the town of Cambrils died, Catalan emergency services said.

Berlin – Thirteen Germans among those injured in Barcelona attack

BERLIN (Reuters) – A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said on Friday that he thought 13 German citizens were among those injured when a suspected Islamist militant drove a van into crowds in Barcelona on Thursday.

Klang hospital cafeteria shuts down after rat filmed in food cabinet

KLANG: The cafeteria at the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) here has been shut down after a video of a rodent feasting on food in a display cabinet went viral on social media, allegedly posted by an unhappy employee.

Stolen samurai-wielding swordsman targets Taiwan Presidential Office

TAIPEI (Reuters) – A man wielding a stolen samurai sword tried to break into Taiwan's presidential palace on Friday and wounded a military policeman who stopped him, the Presidential Office said.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Bonnie Tyler to sing Total Eclipse Of The Heart to mark Monday's solar eclipse

MIAMI: It is a pop culture moment for the ages.

Taiwan accepts resignation of gas supplier chief after blackout

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan on Friday said Premier Lin Chuan had accepted the resignation of Chen Chin-te, the chairman of gas supplier CPC Corp, three days after a massive power blackout hit businesses and homes across the island.

U.S. rights group rethinks defending hate groups protesting with guns – WSJ

(Reuters) – The American Civil Liberties Union will no longer defend hate groups seeking to march with firearms, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, a policy change that comes on the heels of protests by white nationalists and counter-protesters over the weekend in Virginia.

Catalan police say situation in Cambrils under control after killing attackers

MADRID (Reuters) – Catalan police said on Friday the situation in Cambrils, south of Barcelona, was under control after they killed four attackers and left another wounded in an operation that followed Thursday's van attack in Barcelona.

Venezuela's new chief prosecutor vows to jail protest leaders

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Venezuela will hunt down and jail leaders of violent protests that have rocked the country since April, its new top prosecutor said on Thursday, a day before a hate crimes law was expected to be approved despite fears that it will be used to crush dissent.

Residents of Catalan house where explosion killed one were preparing explosives – police source

MADRID (Reuters) – Residents of a house in Catalonia, where an explosion linked to Thursday's Barcelona van attack killed one person, were preparing explosives using gas cyclinders, a Catalan police source said.

Peru minister warns of new drug hotspot at border with Brazil, Colombia

LIMA (Reuters) – A new cocaine-producing hotspot is taking root in Peru near its border with Colombia and Brazil, and local authorities worry that dissident FARC guerrillas may join forces with drug traffickers there, Peru's defence minister said Thursday.

Two arrested over Barcelona attack not the van drivers – police

MADRID (Reuters) – Two men arrested after a van attack in Barcelona which killed at least 13 people on Thursday were connected to the incident but neither was the driver of the vehicle, police said.

Factbox – Deadly attacks in Western Europe

(Reuters) – Following are some of the deadly attacks in Western Europe in recent years:

Man arrested after van ploughs into crowd in Barcelona – police

MADRID (Reuters) – A man has been arrested after a van ploughed into a crowd in the centre of Barcelona, police in the Spanish region of Catalonia said in a statement on Twitter.

One person confirmed dead, at least 32 injured in Barcelona attack – police

MADRID (Reuters) – At least one person is confirmed to have died after a van mowed down pedestrians in Barcelona city centre and 32 people were injured, 10 of them seriously, Catalan police and the regional interior ministry said.

Two armed men entrenched in Barcelona bar after van crash – Spanish media

MADRID (Reuters) – Two armed men have entrenched themselves in a bar in Barcelona's city centre after a van mowed down dozens of people, El Periodico newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Hundreds still missing in Sierra Leone mudslide as search intensifies

FREETOWN (Reuters) – By Christo Johnson

72-year-old Ferrari driver found guilty of assaulting fellow motorist

SINGAPORE – A district court has found Ferrari driver Shi Ka Yee, 72, guilty of assaulting a fellow motorist in 2014.

Pakistan's Malala 'excited' after winning place at Oxford University

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) – Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize when she was 17, said on Thursday she was "excited" after winning a place to study at Oxford University.

Apple's Cook says he disagrees with Trump, vows donations to rights groups

(Reuters) – Apple Inc (AAPL.O) CEO Tim Cook has joined a chorus of business leaders who have voiced their opposition to President Donald Trump after he blamed white nationalists and anti-racism activists equally for violence in Virginia over the weekend.

Disabled puppy an inspiration to vocal coach

PETALING JAYA: When Derene Lee was asked if she could foster a disabled puppy in 2011, she thought it would only be for a few weeks.

Third suspect remanded over 10-year-old girl's alleged abduction

PORT DICKSON: A third suspect has been remanded over the alleged abduction of a 10-year-old girl from her home here.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

IGP: More people to be arrested over forum fracas

KOTA KINABALU: Police are looking for several more people believed to have been involved in the fracas at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum in Shah Alam last Sunday.

Barisan leaders in closed-door meeting with Najib in Penang

BUTTERWORTH: Barisan Nasional leaders gathered at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya to meet Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is on a one-day visit to Penang.

Thousands of Mexicans march to scrap NAFTA, as government fights to save it

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – While Mexican government negotiators fought tooth and nail to save the North American Free Trade Agreement during talks in Washington, thousands of Mexican farmers and workers took to the streets on Wednesday demanding the deal be scrapped.

Inside the mind of Hong Kong's first serial killer

The crimes of Hong Kong’s first serial killer were so shocking that a female forensic scientist was removed from the case and only men were allowed to serve on the jury

Phoenix mayor calls on Trump to postpone rally planned for next week

(Reuters) – The mayor of Phoenix on Wednesday called on President Donald Trump to postpone a rally he was scheduled to hold on Tuesday in the city, saying it was too soon after a violent white supremacist rally in Virginia.

Saudi Arabia to open Salwa border point to Qatari pilgrims for haj -SPA

CAIRO (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it would welcome Qatari pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform the haj this season, amidst a feud that has triggered tensions between the two nations since June.

U.N. inquiry finds Congolese militia likely killed U.N. monitors

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A United Nations inquiry found that two U.N. investigators were murdered by a group of Congolese, likely militia members from central Democratic Republic of Congo, but an absence of evidence "does not preclude the possibility that others are involved."

Israel says will revoke press credentials of Al Jazeera reporter

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel intends to cancel an Al Jazeera journalist's press accreditation on the grounds that he is biased towards the Palesinians, the director of the government press office said on Wednesday.

14 Roasted Vegetable Recipes You Have to Try This Fall

These healthy dishes star seasonal veggies roasted to perfection—and you'll want to make them all autumn long. 

Venezuela mulls 'law against intolerance,' aimed at dissenters

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelans who express "hate or intolerance" will be jailed for up to 25 years under a bill pending in the country's newly-formed constituent assembly, a measure the opposition fears will be used by the government to further crack down on dissent.

The Best Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes

These recipes are so delicious (and healthy!), you won't even notice they're missing the beef. 

Lebanon scraps law absolving rapists who marry victims

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon's parliament abolished on Wednesday a law that absolves rapists if they marry their victims, joining other Arab states that have repealed "marry-your-rapist" laws in recent weeks.

U.N. chief offers help to broker North Korea talks

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday it was time to "dial down rhetoric and dial up diplomacy" on North Korea and that he had told Russia, Japan, the United States, China and North and South Korea that he was available to help broker talks.

Trump to discuss Afghan strategy with security team on Friday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will meet with their national security team on Friday at Camp David to discuss U.S. strategy in South Asia, a White House spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

3 Energizing Breakfast Recipes Inspired by the Mediterranean Diet 

Start your day like a Greek islander.

Iran's military chief in rare visit to Turkey for Syria talks

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish and Iranian military leaders held talks on Wednesday over cooperation in the Syrian conflict and counter-terrorism, officials said, during a rare visit to NATO-member Turkey by the Islamic Republic's military chief of staff.

Pace of airstrikes, clashes in Yemen sharply higher in 2017 – report

DUBAI (Reuters) – Yemen suffered more airstrikes in the first half of this year than in the whole of 2016, increasing the number of civilian deaths and forcing more people to flee their homes, according to a report by international aid agencies.

Firefighters contain destructive wildfire near Athens

ATHENS (Reuters) – Firefighters on Wednesday contained a wildfire burning for nearly four days near Athens after it destroyed thousands of hectares of pine forest and dozens of homes.

Trump, in tweet, again blasts Amazon over taxes, jobs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized Amazon.com on Twitter over taxes and jobs and accused the global retailer, without evidence, of hurting U.S. localities and causing job losses.

Philippine police kills 32 in drugs war's bloodiest day

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine police killed 32 people in dozens of anti-drug operations in a province north of the capital, Manila, in the single deadliest day of President Rodrigo Duterte's unrelenting war on drugs.

Man sleeping by roadside killed after head crushed by vehicle

KOTA KINABALU: A 53-year-old man who was sleeping by the roadside in Ranau was killed after his head was crushed by a passing vehicle after midnight on Wednesday.

Kenyan police raid offices of pro-democracy organisation

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan police and tax authorities on Wednesday raided the office of a pro-democracy organisation that has raised questions over preparations for last week's disputed elections.

Australian agency believes it can locate MH370 with 'unprecedented precision'

SYDNEY/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Australia's main scientific agency said on Wednesday it believed with "unprecedented precision and certainty" that a missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft crashed into the sea northeast of an area scoured in a fruitless two-year underwater search.

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Tillerson raps some U.S. allies for religious freedom violations, slams IS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. allies including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain did not uphold principles of religious freedom in 2016, while Islamic State has carried out "genocide" against religious minorities, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday.

Indonesian president calls to safeguard pluralism from extremist threat

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia's president said on Wednesday that the world's most populous Muslim-majority country needed to pull together to meet the threat of extremism and safeguard a constitution that enshrines religious freedom and diversity.

Bridge collapse isolates 2,000 rural folks in northern Sarawak

MIRI: A timber bridge across Sungei Linei in the deep interior of northern Sarawak has collapsed after being battered by the swift-flowing waters of the swollen river.

Isa Samad arrives for remand proceedings

PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad has arrived at the court complex here for his remanded hearing.

India, China soldiers involved in border altercation – Indian sources

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) – Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in an altercation in the western Himalayas on Tuesday, Indian sources said, further raising tensions between the two countries which are already locked in a two-month standoff in another part of the disputed border.

Banish Bannon? Trump weighs his options as top aides feud

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – For months, U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser and his chief strategist have battled for influence behind the scenes, and their feud may force another shake-up at the White House.

U.N. chief Guterres condemns racism, xenophobia – Twitter post

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that "Racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia" were "poisoning our societies," after violence erupted between left- and right-wing groups in Virginia following a white supremacist rally on Saturday.

Lincoln Memorial in Washington defaced with expletive

(Editor's note: Please be advised that paragraph 2 contains language that some readers may find offensive)

No-Potato Cauliflower Hash Browns Are Your Favorite New Breakfast Side

These potato-free hash browns are healthy and delicious. 

Iran building long-range rocket factory in Syria – Israeli TV

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli television report said on Tuesday that Iran is building a facility in northwest Syria to manufacture long-range rockets, and showed satellite images it said were of the site under construction.

U.S. vice president speaks of 'peaceable' Venezuelan solution

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said in Buenos Aires on Tuesday he was confident about reaching a "peaceable" solution for Venezuela through economic and diplomatic pressure on the country's president, Nicolas Maduro.

Grace Mugabe back in Zimbabwe after being accused of assault in South Africa

HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe's first lady, Grace Mugabe, returned to her homeland on Tuesday from South Africa after failing to turn herself in to South African police to face charges of assaulting a woman in Johannesburg.

Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum will fuel instability, Turkey says

ANKARA (Reuters) – Next month's referendum on Iraqi Kurdish independence violates Iraq's constitution and will further destabilise the region, a Turkish government spokesman said on Tuesday.

Afghan Taliban warns Trump against sending in more troops

KABUL (Reuters) – The Taliban told U.S. President Donald Trump in an open letter on Tuesday that the military situation in Afghanistan was "far worse than you realise", and sending in more troops would be self-destructive.

Neo-Nazi site down after Google, GoDaddy cut registration

TORONTO (Reuters) – Neo-Nazi website the Daily Stormer went offline on Tuesday, after its domain registration was revoked by GoDaddy and Google, which said the site that helped organise the violent weekend rally in Virginia had violated their terms of service.

Indonesian man arrested for stabbing teen lover

KOTA KINABALU: A man's jealous rage not only led to his arrest for seriously injuring his teenage girlfriend – it also brought them both to the attention of Immigration authorities for not having valid documents.

In Iran, Islamic State seeks to fan militancy among minorities

LONDON/DUBAI (Reuters) – Islamic State is seeking to radicalise disaffected ethnic minorities in majority Shi'ite Iran to encourage attacks intended to avenge Tehran's offensive against the group across the Middle East.

Thai activist jailed for two and a half years for posting BBC article

BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Thai student activist was jailed for two and a half years on Tuesday for posting on Facebook a BBC article deemed offensive to Thailand's king, his lawyer said.

Undeterred, U.S. cities ramp up removal of Confederate statues

(Reuters) – Undeterred by the violence over the planned removal of a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, municipal leaders in cities across the United States said they would step up efforts to pull such monuments from public spaces.

Students sent home after school in Kedah hit by flash floods

ALOR SETAR: Students were sent home from a primary school in Pokok Sena near here due to flash floods following seven hours of continuous rain since early Tuesday.

Zookeeper jailed for supporting IS

KUALA LUMPUR: A zookeeper has been sentenced to a total of 13 years in jail for supporting the Islamic State (IS) militant group and possessing terrorism-related items.

Cops, suspects hurt as van collides with police car

BATU PAHAT: Seven officers and four suspects were injured when a van ferrying the suspects to court crashed into a police car in front of it on Tuesday morning.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Forum fracas: Dr M 'deserved it', says Nazri

SHAH ALAM: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad "deserved" what happened at Sunday's Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum, said Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

North Korea says now is not time to discuss U.S. detainees – KCNA

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea said on Tuesday now is not the right time to discuss U.S. citizens it has detained, given the state of relations between the two countries, its official KCNA news agency said citing a foreign ministry spokesman.

Policeman shot dead while taking daughter to school

MANILA: A policeman was shot dead while taking his daughter to school in Manila Tuesday morning.

Burglar dies following accidental glass cut

BANGKOK: A suspected burglar was found dead after massive bleeding from a deep cut to his ankle not far from the house that he had apparently broken into late on Sunday.

Trio jailed for raping Malaysian woman in Singapore hotel

SINGAPORE: Three British nationals who went on trial two weeks ago for taking turns to rape a Malaysian woman in Carlton Hotel here were sentenced to between five-and-a-half and six-and-a-half years' jail with caning on Tuesday.

Japan PM Abe sends ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine for war dead

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni shrine for war dead on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of Japan's World War Two surrender, but did not visit in person, an apparent effort to avoid upsetting China and South Korea.

U.S. soldiers in Iraq were killed by artillery 'mishap' – Pentagon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Army artillery "mishap" was responsible for the deaths of two U.S. service members in northern Iraq over the weekend, a Pentagon official said on Monday.

North Korea leader holds off on Guam plan, will watch U.S. bit longer – KCNA

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea's leader received a report from his army on its plans to fire missiles towards Guam and said he will watch the actions of the United States for a while longer before making a decision, the North's official news agency said on Tuesday.

China drone maker steps up security after U.S. Army ban

(Reuters) – Chinese drone maker SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd is tightening data security on its drones after the U.S. Army ordered its members to stop using DJI drones because of "cyber vulnerabilities," a company official told Reuters on Monday.

Mexican cop behind El Chapo's arrest sent to US for safety -sources

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A Mexican federal police officer who captured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in northwest Mexico last year was moved for his own safety to a posting at the Mexican embassy in Washington, DC, according to two Mexican law enforcement sources.

ABC Reality Chief on ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Controversy, Diversity and Franchise’s Future


Robert Mills breaks down the first two weeks of the ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ season 4, which includes interviews with Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson, and the reunion.

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U.N. panel urges end to detention of would-be immigrants in U.S.

GENEVA (Reuters) – A U.N. human rights panel urged the United States on Monday to end widespread detention of would-be immigrants including asylum-seekers, saying the practice has "grown exponentially" and violates international law.

HBO Hackers Leak ‘Curb’ Episodes


The hackers also released Sunday night’s episode of ‘Insecure’ and what appear to be episodes of ‘Ballers’ and other programming.

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Italy to return ambassador to Cairo, ending standoff over murdered student

ROME (Reuters) – Italy said on Monday it would return its ambassador to Cairo more than a year after the murder of an Italian graduate student led the Rome government to recall its previous envoy.

Trump condemns white supremacists, racism after Virginia rally

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump, under heavy political pressure from Democrats and Republicans alike, on Monday condemned white supremacists who rallied in Virginia over the weekend, sparking violence that claimed one life.

Emmys: Why the Documentary Category Suffers from “Meaninglessness” (Guest Column)


The film and TV academies have different ideas about what constitutes an eligible title, and Ezra Edelman’s ‘O.J.: Made in America’ is the latest to capitalize.

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These 8 To-Go Containers Will Upgrade Your Workday Lunch

Venezuela's Maduro seeks to capitalise on Trump's military threat

CARACAS (Reuters) – While U.S. Vice President Mike Pence travels to Latin America tamping down concern over his boss's threat of possible military action in Venezuela, the country's leader Nicolas Maduro sought to capitalise on local outrage by holding an "anti-imperialist" protest on Monday.

Hundreds killed in Sierra Leone mudslide – vice president

FREETOWN (Reuters) – By Christo Johnson

Weekend Box Office: ‘Annabelle: Creation’ Scares Off August Blues With $35M


Still, it’s another down weekend at the box office as ‘The Nut Job 2’ misses and holdovers like ‘The Dark Tower’ and ‘Detroit’ continue to flail.

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Kenya's president tells opposition to challenge vote in court

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta urged the opposition on Monday to avoid violent protests and take any complaints they have over last week's election to court.

What Is SoftBank’s Endgame in the U.S.?


With the world’s largest tech fund at his disposal (a cool $93 billion), the Japanese conglomerate’s brash CEO Masayoshi Son has spent big on everything from robotics to pharmaceuticals, and now he hopes to leverage his investment in Sprint for an aggressive push into pay TV.

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Indonesia graft witness worried about safety before his death

JAKARTA (Reuters) – A witness in a $170 million Indonesian graft investigation linked to a national electronic identity card system told a witness protection agency he was worried about his safety just weeks before his suspected suicide, officials said.

‘Game of Thrones’ Casually Dropped a Legitimate Jon Snow Shocker


The King in the North has a real argument to be the King of it All, given a quick aside in “Eastwatch.”

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