Kelly Craft: Congress confirms UN ambassador pick

Congress approved President Donald Trump's nominee for UN ambassador by 56 votes to 34.

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New top story on Hacker News: Mino Games (YC W11) Is Hiring Game Developers in Montreal, QC

Mino Games (YC W11) Is Hiring Game Developers in Montreal, QC
1 by joshbuckley | 0 comments on Hacker News.

US extends Iran nuke sanctions waivers but hits FM

The Trump administration on Wednesday extended waivers allowing foreign firms to work at Iranian nuclear facilities without U.S. penalties even as it hit Iran's foreign minister with sanctions. In a notice sent to Congress, the State Department said it had extended for 90 days waivers that permit European, Russian and Chinese companies to conduct civilian-nuclear cooperation at several Iranian sites. The waivers, which were due to expire on Thursday, had been the subject of heated internal debate with Iran hawks opposed to their extension but others arguing that more time was needed to allow companies to wind down their operations.

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Fears stoke backlash against Venezuelans in Peru

Why some Peruvians fear that the recent influx of Venezuelans migrants poses a risk to their jobs.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2yrF0Kf

VG Siddhartha: The man who brought coffee culture to India

The death of coffee chain owner VG Siddhartha has sent shockwaves through India's business community.

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US-China trade war: 'We're all paying for this'

The US-China trade war is costing jobs and pushing up prices, say firms on both sides of the Pacific.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2YBjugC

What are the US's intentions in Africa?

Can the US compete with China's huge investments in the continent?

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2MvASky

New top story on Hacker News: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered

Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
4 by Guereric | 0 comments on Hacker News.

One in three Australian MPs own an investment property

About 15% of lower house MPs have financial interests in mining, energy and resources, latest declarations show

More than one in three Australian lower house MPs own investment properties, sharing a lucrative portfolio of 90 homes and apartments between them.

The latest batch of financial interest declarations was released on Wednesday, showing a significant holding of investment properties among Coalition MPs, many of whom strongly opposed attempts to overhaul negative gearing.

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UPDATE 1-Bolton says N.Korea tests didn't violate pledge to Trump, but no word on talks

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday North Korea's recent missile tests did not violate a pledge its leader Kim Jong Un made to President Donald Trump, but Pyongyang had yet to say when working-level talks on denuclearization would resume. North Korea's tests of short-range missiles on Tuesday and last week came despite a meeting between Kim and Trump on June 30 at which they agreed to revive stalled talks. Bolton told Fox Business Network the U.S. side was still waiting to hear from North Korea about arranging the talks.

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New top story on Hacker News: ZRNA – Software-defined analog circuits

ZRNA – Software-defined analog circuits
3 by audionerd | 0 comments on Hacker News.

Bolton says North Korea tests didn't violate pledge to Trump, but no word on talks

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday North Korea's recent missile tests did not violate a pledge its leader Kim Jong Un made to President Donald Trump, but Pyongyang had yet to say when working-level talks on denuclearization would resume.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/313fMOo

New top story on Hacker News: A Transparent Display with Per-Pixel Color and Opacity Control

A Transparent Display with Per-Pixel Color and Opacity Control
2 by fezz | 0 comments on Hacker News.

North Korea says it tested new rocket system

State news agency says leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test firings and had expressed 'satisfaction' over the outcome.

from Al Jazeera English https://ift.tt/2Ku41dx

North Korean in custody after crossing heavily fortified border into South

A North Korean man has crossed the demilitarised zone into South Korea and was in Seoul’s custody early on Thursday. There was no immediate word on the man’s identity or the reasons for his apparent defection across the heavily fortified border. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the man was spotted moving towards the South near the Imjin River after crossing the Military Demarcation Line inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) late on Wednesday night. "The military has obtained custody of a person in accordance with procedures," the JCS said in a brief statement. "The unidentified person is a North Korean man and the relevant government agency is questioning him on how he crossed the border and his motives," it added. "No particular North Korean military movement is seen across the border," it continued. FAQ | North Korean defection More than 30,000 North Koreans have escaped from the reclusive state to the South since the two were separated by war more than 65 years ago, according to government data, many of them driven by prolonged economic hardship. Pyongyang is under heavy economic sanctions because of its multiple nuclear tests and missile launches, the latest of which came this week. It denounces defectors – who are an important source for accounts of the regime’s brutal treatment of its citizens – as "human scum". Contact between the North and South has been minimal since February, when a second summit between the US and Pyongyang collapsed without an agreement over possible denuclearisation and sanctions relief. South Korea returned three North Koreans on Monday who had crossed the maritime border aboard a fishing vessel. Officials from the South said they thought the fishermen may have wanted to defect but in the end the men chose to return to North Korea. Hundreds of North Koreans make their way to South Korea each year hoping to defect, but unauthorised crossings of the DMZ are rare. The zone is dotted with landmines, fences, guard posts, and other military equipment on both sides of the border. In November 2017, a North Korean soldier was shot multiple times by fellow soldiers as he fled across the border into South Korea, where he was treated by doctors. Another North Korean soldier crossed the border to defect a few weeks later in an incident that led to South Korean guards firing warning shots into North Korea. North and South Korea agreed last year to try to reduce tensions along their border by reducing the number of landmines and guard posts, disarming their guards at a truce village, and imposing a no-fly zone.  The border is the Cold War’s last frontier, separating the nuclear-armed North from the democratic and economically advanced South.

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Russian Embassy: Trump offers Putin help in fighting Siberian wildfires

The Russian Embassy said Putin was grateful for the offer.

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Minister: Keep suspects anonymous if there is a reputation to protect

Justice secretary floats idea of not naming some people accused of serious crimes

The new justice secretary has suggested that the anonymity of suspected sex offenders and others accused of serious crimes should be respected until they are charged if they have a reputation to protect.

Robert Buckland QC was asked if he supported a campaign to ban the naming of those arrested on suspicion of rape and other sexual offences, which has been led by Sir Cliff Richard and radio presenter Paul Gambaccini – both falsely accused of historical sex offences.

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New top story on Hacker News: Low-level is easy (2008)

Low-level is easy (2008)
17 by kotrunga | 1 comments on Hacker News.

UK PM Johnson faces first electoral test in vote for Welsh parliamentary seat

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson could see his working majority in parliament reduced to just one when voters in a rural Welsh parliamentary seat go to the polls on Thursday in his first electoral test as leader.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2Kgjxtb

New top story on Hacker News: LF: Fully Decentralized Fully Replicated Key/Value Store

LF: Fully Decentralized Fully Replicated Key/Value Store
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U.S. will extend sanctions waivers for Iran nuclear programs: Bolton

The United States will renew sanctions waivers for Iranian nuclear programs that allow Russia, China and European countries to continue their civilian nuclear cooperation with Tehran, White House national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2OuzOA4

North Korean missile tests didn't violate Kim pledge to Trump: Bolton

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday that Pyongyang's recent missile tests do not violate a pledge that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made to President Donald Trump, but he questioned when working-level talks on denuclearization would begin.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2YnZovn

South Korea detains North Korean man crossing the DMZ

The South Korean military detained a North Korean man who crossed the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two countries, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said on Thursday.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2ZnWDq5

Obscene texts and corruption: the downfall of Puerto Rico's governor - podcast

Mass protests triggered by leaked text messages have led to the resignation of Ricardo Rosselló. Oliver Laughland discusses his time on the island. And: Larry Elliott on why sterling is at a 28-month low

Hundreds of thousands of people have lined the streets of Puerto Rico over the past couple of weeks in some of the largest demonstrations in the US territory’s history. They began in response to hundreds of pages of leaked text messages between the governor, Ricardo Rosselló, and 11 members of his inner circle, which made homophobic and sexist jokes and mocked the victims of Hurricane Maria.

However, the problems go further back than July. The Rosselló administration has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement during the response to Hurricane Maria. Shortly before the messages were leaked, the FBI arrested five former government officials and contractors accused of misappropriating millions of dollars in federal funds given to the island after the disaster.

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New top story on Hacker News: ZeroCater (YC W11) Is Hiring Full-Stack Engineers in SF

ZeroCater (YC W11) Is Hiring Full-Stack Engineers in SF
1 by arram | 0 comments on Hacker News.

'Historic' day as India outlaws 'triple talaq' Islamic instant divorce

Minister says women now have justice but Muslim groups accuse Hindu-led government of community interference

India’s parliament has approved a bill outlawing the centuries-old right of a Muslim man to instantly divorce his wife, drawing accusations of government interference in a community matter.

Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist administration has been pushing to criminalise “triple talaq”, under which a man can divorce by uttering the word “talaq”, meaning divorce in Arabic, three times in his wife’s presence.

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Indian coffee tycoon Siddhartha's body found: police

Authorities on Wednesday confirmed they have located the body of Indian coffee baron VG Siddhartha from near Netravathi river, in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2ZgF4s1

Brazilian Prison Riot Leaves 57 Dead, 16 Decapitated

Daily Mail: Bloody prison battle between rival gangs in Brazil that lasted five hours leaves 52 people dead - including 16 who were decapitated

* At least 52 people are dead in prison riot between rival gangs in Brazil
* The riot broke out on Monday at 7am local time at Altamira Regional Recovery Center in the northern state of Pará and lasted for five bloody hours
* Gang members from one prison block invaded another and set a room on fire
* Several prisoners died of asphyxiation in the fire and 16 were decapitated in the conflict
* Two correctional officers were held hostage during the riot and later released
* Brazilian authorities have not named the two rival gangs involved in the attacks
* The prison has a capacity of 200 detainees but was occupied by 311 prisoners
* The bloody violence comes two months after a riot in Amazonas state jail left 55 inmates dead

At least 52 people have been killed in a jail in northern Brazil today in a bloody conflict between rival gangs that left 16 decapitated, an official has confirmed.

The 'rebellion' began at around 7am in the Altamira Regional Recovery Center, in the northern Pará state, where gang members from one prison block invaded the prison annex and reportedly set part of it on fire.

Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the bloody five-hour-long clash that ended around midday (3pm GMT), an official from the Para state government's penitentiary department said.

It was the latest violence to rock the country's overpopulated and deadly prison system.

Read more ....

Update #1: Brazil prison riot leaves 57 dead, 16 decapitated in "settling of accounts" between rival gangs (CBS/AP)
Update #2: At least 57 dead in Brazil prison riot (AFP)

WNU Editor: This is one case among many .... Deadly unrest in Latin America's prisons (AFP).

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Canada manhunt: suspects were let go after being stopped at checkpoint

Murder suspects Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky were pulled over and searched by First Nation safety officers checking for alcohol

The manhunt for accused killers Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky in northern Canada has taken another frustrating turn, with authorities confirming the duo was stopped at a checkpoint but then let go.

The pair, who are suspected of shooting dead Australian tourist Lucas Fowler and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese along with Canadian botanist Leonard Dyck, have been on the run in northern Canada for two weeks.

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Japan's PM says working with allies after North Korea missile launch

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that there was no impact on Japan's security following North Korea's latest launch of short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday and that Japan was working with its allies over the situation in the region.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/330YqUl

U.S. appeals court upholds ruling against Chinese banks in N.Korea sanctions probe

A U.S. appeals court said on Tuesday it had upheld a ruling by a U.S. judge who held three large Chinese banks in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas in a probe into violations of sanctions on North Korea, opening the way for heavy daily fines. In a ruling in May, Beryl Howell, Washington D.C.'s chief federal district judge, held the banks in contempt for refusing to comply with U.S. investigators' demands that they hand over records connected to the alleged movement of tens of millions of dollars in violation of international sanctions on North Korea.

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U.S. appeals court upholds ruling against Chinese banks in North Korea sanctions probe

A U.S. appeals court said on Tuesday it had upheld a ruling by a U.S. judge who held three large Chinese banks in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas in a probe into violations of sanctions on North Korea, opening the way for heavy daily fines.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2yojAO3

Labor senator urges tax on digital companies to stop them 'pillaging' Australian economy

Former TWU secretary Tony Sheldon says superannuation must be extended to workers in gig economy

Australia should tax digital companies based on their revenue and extend superannuation to all working Australians, new Labor senator Tony Sheldon has said.

In an interview ahead of his first speech on Wednesday, Sheldon said he would hold technology companies including Uber, Facebook, Amazon and Google accountable for “failing our economy and democracy” and “disrupt the disrupters” by calling for new rights for gig economy workers.

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Hong kong police officer threatens protesters with shotgun – video

Hong Kong police clashed with protesters outside Kwai Chung police station where dozens of protesters are being held. Protesters gathered outside the police station after authorities announced that 44 arrested protesters would appear in court. One officer was seen brandishing a shotgun at the protesters. On the other side of Hong Kong, at least 10 were injured after a vehicle launched fireworks at pro-democracy protesters in Tin Shui Wai. The crowd at Tin Shui Wai police station were also calling for the release of three protesters. A black Toyota reportedly shot fireworks at the crowd in the early hours of the morning.  

• Fresh unrest in Hong Kong after 44 protesters charged with rioting

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New top story on Hacker News: As crime dries up, Japan’s police hunt for things to do

As crime dries up, Japan’s police hunt for things to do
3 by tareqak | 0 comments on Hacker News.

Samoa's 'third gender' delicately balances sex and religion

Keyonce Lee Hang is busy finishing preparations for the to'ona'i, a traditional lunch served after Sunday church in Samoa, and attending to her elderly, bed-ridden grandmother.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2ypNGAY

Body of 1930s gangster John Dillinger to be exhumed at family's request

Digging up the remains could resolve conspiracy theories Dillinger isn’t buried in grave, though reason for request is unknown

The body of the notorious 1930s gangster John Dillinger is expected to be exhumed in September at an Indianapolis cemetery, more than 85 years after he was killed by FBI agents.

Digging up the remains could resolve conspiracy theories that the man some considered a hero during the Great Depression isn’t buried in his marked grave, said Susan Sutton, a historian with the Indiana Historical Society. Among the tales is that Dillinger’s family tricked the FBI into shooting the wrong man.

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Pompeo hopes to help patch up Japan-South Korea ties

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he would encourage Washington's two biggest Asian allies Japan and South Korea "to find a path forward" from their diplomatic row when he meets their foreign ministers in Bangkok this week.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2yocDwi

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles: South Korean military

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles early on Wednesday, the South Korean military said, only days after it launched two other missiles intended to pressure South Korea and the United States to stop upcoming military drills.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2LT6VeD