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Cuba jails Canadian executive

Written By Unknown on Senin, 29 September 2014 | 20.24

28 September 2014 Last updated at 02:42

A court in Cuba has sentenced the president of a Canadian transport company to 15 years in jail for bribery.

Cy Tokmakjian, 74, was detained in Cuba in 2011 as part an anti-corruption operation. He denies the charges.

The Tokmakjian Group said the court had seized its assets in Cuba, worth about $100m (£62m).

The company said the ruling was worrying development for potential investors on the Communist-run island.

"Lack of due process doesn't begin to describe the travesty of justice that is being suffered by foreign businessmen in Cuba," the company said in a statement.

Two other executives from the Tokmakjian Group - fellow Canadian citizens Claudio Vetere and Marco Puche - were sentenced to eight and 12 years in prison.

The Ontario-based company used to sell transportation, mining and construction equipment to Cuba.

There has been no comment on the case from the Cuban authorities.

Claims

Its offices in Havana were seized in 2011 when President Raul Castro launched a major drive against corruption in the Caribbean nation.

Canadian MP Peter Kent visited Mr Tokmakjian in jail last year.

"The trial was, from almost any measure, extraordinarily unfair and rigged," Mr Kent told the Financial Post newspaper.

The Tokmakjian Group was the sole representative of South Korean company Hyundai in Cuba, which has been making efforts to replace its ageing car and bus fleet.

The company has launched claims worth more than $200m (£123) against Cuba through the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris and Canada's Ontario Superior Court.


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Europe win the Ryder Cup against US

Europe completed their mission in the singles to win the 40th Ryder Cup 16½-11½ against the United States at Gleneagles.

Captain Paul McGinley's side led 10-6 going into the final day and reached the 14½ needed to win the Cup outright when Welsh rookie Jamie Donaldson beat Keegan Bradley 4&3.

Ryder Cup 2014: Day three in three minutes

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Ryder Cup final day in three minutes

Rory McIlroy struck first with a 5&4 win against Rickie Fowler before fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell came back from three down to beat Jordan Spieth 2&1.

Martin Kaymer chipped in on 16 to defeat Bubba Watson 4&2 and Justin Rose scrapped back from four down against Hunter Mahan to grab a half on the last and take Europe to within half a point.

The 38-year-old Donaldson, playing in the 10th match, sealed the win against Bradley with a stunning approach to the 15th green to spark scenes of euphoria in the Perthshire hills.

McGinley said: "I'm very proud of every one of these players. I couldn't have asked for an ounce more from them. I've been involved in so many Ryder Cups and seen mistakes we've made.

"I've changed things a bit, bringing in the fifth vice-captain has been a factor in helping to prepare the guys, especially in the afternoon sessions, but we have had 12 players who have been awesome."

Europe have now won eight of the last 10 Ryder Cups, while the US have not won an away match since 1993.

Europe's singles winners

Graeme McDowell beat Jordan Spieth 2&1

Rory McIlroy beat Rickie Fowler 5&4

Martin Kaymer beat Bubba Watson 4&2

Sergio Garcia beat Jim Furyk 1UP

Jamie Donaldson beat Keegan Bradley 4&3

"I can't say enough about our captain," said world number one McIlroy. "Paul McGinley has been immense. I'm so glad it's worked out for him."

US captain Tom Watson was seeking redemption for Medinah two years ago when Europe came back from 10-6 down to win 14½-13½ on the final day, but his side were unable to create their own sensation in Scotland.

"They have a wonderful team, but we came in here thinking we could beat them," said Watson, 65. "Turns out we couldn't."

United States' singles winners

Patrick Reed beat Henrik Stenson 1UP

Phil Mickelson beat Stephen Gallacher 3&1

Matt Kuchar beat Thomas Bjorn 4&3

Jimmy Walker beat Lee Westwood 3&2

Henrik Stenson earlier missed a short putt on the last that would have given him a half against Patrick Reed, while Stephen Gallacher lost 3&1 to Phil Mickelson and Thomas Bjorn went down 4&3 to Matt Kuchar.

After Donaldson had ensured Europe's win, Sergio Garcia beat Jim Furyk one up, Ian Poulter halved with Webb Simpson, Lee Westwood lost 3&2 to Jimmy Walker and Victor Dubuisson halved with Zach Johnson.

Europe lost Friday morning's fourballs 2½-1½ but dominated the foursomes to lead 5-3 going into Saturday.

McGinley's side dominated Saturday afternoon's foursomes 3½-½ - a 7-1 foursomes tally overall - to move to within four points of retaining the trophy.

Europe never looked in too much danger of squandering their lead and won the singles session 6½-5½ on a triumphant afternoon at Gleneagles.

Halved singles matches (Europe first)

Justin Rose v Hunter Mahan

Ian Poulter v Webb Simpson

Victor Dubuisson v Zach Johnson

Paul McGinley

Europe won seven out of eight points in the foursomes sessions

Jamie Donaldson

Jamie Donaldson won three out of four points on his Ryder Cup debut

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy was five up after six holes against Fowler

Graeme McDowell

McDowell was three down at one stage before coming back to win


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Sudan apostasy woman 'to campaign'

28 September 2014 Last updated at 08:05
Mariam Ibrahim

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Mariam Ibrahim said she believed her imprisonment in Sudan was ''a test''

Mariam Ibrahim, the Sudan woman who escaped a death sentence imposed for renouncing her faith, says she wants to campaign for others who face religious persecution.

Speaking to the BBC in the US, where she is seeking asylum, Ms Ibrahim said she hopes to return to Sudan one day.

Ms Ibrahim earlier received an award from a US Christian foundation.

Her sentencing - by a Sudanese court that did not recognise her Christian faith - sparked outrage this year.

Born to a Muslim father, she was raised a Christian by her mother and married a Christian man.

Under Sudan's version of Islamic law, however, her father's religion meant that she too was still technically a Muslim. A court found her guilty of apostasy, or renouncing one's faith.

Sentenced to hang, she gave birth to her daughter while shackled in prison. Under intense international pressure, her conviction was quashed and she was freed in June.

She told the BBC that she had been threatened by the guards while she was in court.

"The judge told me that I needed to convert to Islam," she said. "And so these warnings made me anticipate I would be sentenced to death."

"It wasn't easy, I can't describe it," she said, of her time in prison. "But there are others who are in worse conditions in Sudan than those I was in."

"Sadly, this was all under the guise of the law. So instead of protecting people, the law is harming them."

On Saturday night, Ms Ibrahim received an award from a gathering of evangelical Christian conservatives in Washington, who see her treatment in Sudan as an assault on their values.


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Chelsea Clinton gives birth to girl

27 September 2014 Last updated at 07:31

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has given birth to a baby girl.

"Marc and I are full of love, awe and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of our daughter, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky," Ms Clinton tweeted.

Ms Clinton, 34, married Marc Mezvinsky in 2010, and announced her pregnancy in April 2014.

The baby arrives as Hillary Clinton considers a presidential bid in 2016.

She is seen as the leading Democratic contender for nomination to succeed President Barack Obama, and has said that she will make a decision on whether to run from around the beginning of 2015.

Bill Clinton served as the 42nd US president, from January 1993 to January 2001.

The former first daughter has often been tipped to follow her parents into politics.

Chelsea Clinton, educated at Stanford, Columbia and Oxford Universities, runs the Clinton Foundation with her parents. Her husband Marc Mezvinsky is an investment banker.

Ms Clinton stepped down from a $600,000 (£370,000) a year position as NBC special correspondent in August to concentrate on her pregnancy, motherhood and philanthropic work.


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Postman 'hoarded' one tonne of mail

26 September 2014 Last updated at 21:56

A New York postman hoarded as many as 40,000 pieces of undelivered mail in his home, car and work locker over nine years, prosecutors have said.

Joseph Brucato, 67, was arrested on Wednesday after a supervisor saw undelivered post in his personal car, where it was forbidden by policy.

Postal investigators subsequently found 2,500lb (1.1 tonnes) of mail dated as far back as 2005.

Mr Brucato's lawyer said in court his client suffered from depression.

But the lawyer did not give a reason why Mr Brucato had allegedly taken the letters.

As a condition of his release pending a court hearing, Mr Brucato was ordered to "abstain from excessive alcohol consumption".

According to court records, Mr Brucato became a postman in 2001 and had been assigned a regular route in the New York borough of Brooklyn for the past 11 years.

When confronted by postal investigators about the undelivered mail in his vehicle, Mr Brucato said he had been keeping mail there for six months and "on some days... did not deliver the mail intended for his route for various personal reasons", according to a federal criminal complaint.

A search of Mr Brucato's residence, vehicle and locker at work found even more mail that investigators said was post marked as early as 2005.

The hoarded mail was bound for businesses and residents in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn.


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Air traffic fire 'set by employee'

27 September 2014 Last updated at 02:13

A fire in an air traffic control facility that grounded all flights in and out of Chicago's two major airports was set by an employee, officials say.

Brian Howard, 36, has been charged with one count of destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities in connection with the fire in the building's basement.

Mr Howard was found with burns and self-inflicted wounds. Investigators say he used petrol to light the blaze.

By Friday afternoon flights in and out of the airports were slowly resuming.

More than 850 flights were cancelled in Chicago alone and many already in the air were redirected.

In a statement, the FBI said Mr Howard was charged on Friday but remained in hospital recovering from his injuries. No court date has been scheduled.

"We believe he set the fire and he used some kind of accelerant," Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas said in a news conference on Friday.

The building was damaged by the fire and the water used to extinguish the blaze.

Officials said they did not yet have a possible motive for the act but said Mr Howard was a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was authorised to be in the building. He had no ties to terrorism.

The fire broke out just before 06:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Friday morning in the Aurora, Illinois, air traffic control building, 40 miles west (64km) of Chicago.

Air traffic control officials said the radio frequencies with which they worked went dead and the control system was immediately shifted to a back-up system, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Workers used the back-up system until they were forced to evacuate.

"The [radio] frequency failed," a unnamed controller told the newspaper. "Depending on how bad the fire was, it could be a real mess getting things back to normal."

One man was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene but no-one else was injured.

FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said management of the region's airspace was transferred to another facility as the Aurora centre was evacuated.

By Friday afternoon, flights already on their way to Chicago were allowed to continue but landed at a slower pace.

Flights were taking off at a slower rate as well and air safety officials said they did not know when full service would be restored.


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George Clooney marries in Venice

27 September 2014 Last updated at 22:16
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin

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George Clooney and his wife, Amal Alamuddin, took to Venice's canals on Sunday

Hollywood star George Clooney has married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in Venice, in one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the showbusiness year.

A host of fellow stars descended on the Italian city's canals for the union between the film world's most eligible bachelor, 53, and Ms Alamuddin, 36.

The ceremony was celebrated in a hotel overlooking the famous Grand Canal.

Clooney's agent broke the news to journalists in a brief statement.

According to AP news agency, that will be the only communication on the wedding.

Clooney and his friends had sipped champagne before gliding up the Grand Canal on Saturday evening to the luxury Aman Hotel, waving to hundreds of well-wishers.

Guests include Cindy Crawford, Bill Murray, Matt Damon and the U2 singer Bono.

Clooney's boat was momentarily blocked by a passing cruise liner and then by a water bus, giving time for dozens of boats carrying photographers to catch up, AP writes.

George Clooney on boat

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George Clooney waves as he travels to the wedding

A police boat swerved in vain to try to keep the paparazzi away.

Ms Alamuddin was last seen publicly on Friday riding in a water taxi down the Grand Canal with Clooney's arm round her.

Assange defender

The couple were engaged in April.

Clooney was previously married to Talia Balsam, who he divorced in 1993.

One of the world's most recognisable actors, the American has two Oscars to his name: for best supporting actor in Syriana (2006) and for best picture as producer of Argo (2013).

Other than his film work, he has embraced human rights causes such as the Darfur crisis in Sudan.

Lebanese-born British lawyer Amal Alamuddin has defended Julian Assange of Wikileaks and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko among others.

She met Clooney through her work.

People in her native village in Lebanon, Baakline in the Chouf district, welcomed news of her impending marriage, AP reports.

"We congratulate them and we hope that the happiness will be international," said shopkeeper Ghassan Bou Hatoum.

The couple's choice of Venice for the wedding is apt as Clooney is a frequent visitor to its film festival. He also owns a villa on Lake Como, north of Milan.

Despite the long build-up to the wedding, interest still abounded on social media at news of the knot being tied.

"George Clooney is married," wrote one tweeter. "Heterosexual men of earth release a collective sigh of relief. Everyone else mourns."


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US police officer shot in Ferguson

28 September 2014 Last updated at 05:53

A police officer has been shot in the strife-torn US town of Ferguson, Missouri, but the officer's condition is unclear, St Louis police say.

The officer was shot in the arm, according to local broadcaster KSDK, but the circumstances are not known.

Ferguson, a suburb of St Louis, has suffered outbreaks of violence since the shooting dead of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on 9 August.

He was shot by white policeman Darren Wilson, leading to protests.

St Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman told AP news agency that an officer had been shot but he had no further information.

There have been violent clashes between police and demonstrators since the shooting of Mr Brown, 18.

Last week, police in Ferguson said they would not tolerate further violence after protesters looted shops and harassed officers.

Also last week, a street memorial where Mr Brown was shot was burned down in suspicious circumstances.

Police said the cause of the blaze was under investigation, and local residents suspected arson.

A St Louis grand jury has yet to decide whether or not to charge Mr Wilson with Michael Brown's shooting.

It is unclear when they will make a decision. A separate investigation by the US justice department is continuing.


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Modi wows Madison Square Garden

28 September 2014 Last updated at 22:30
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at Madison Square Garden in New York

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The BBC's Nick Bryant: "What's missing from this event...is mention of Narendra Modi's controversial back story"

Indian PM Narendra Modi has received a rapturous welcome from thousands of Indian-Americans at New York's Madison Square Garden, on his visit to the US.

He told the crowd that the 21st Century was "Asia's century".

He is on his first trip to America since being elected this summer, when the US lifted a visa ban brought in on grounds of religious intolerance.

The former chief minister of Gujarat has always denied wrongdoing during deadly riots against Muslims in 2002.

He is due to meet President Barack Obama and top US business leaders.

Analysts say Mr Modi's visit has generated huge excitement among Indian-Americans who believe that he could help to portray India as a rising global power.

Analysis: Nick Bryant, BBC News, New York

In an arena which has hosted Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, it was Narendra Modi, a one-time pariah, who received the superstar welcome.

Until recently, he could not even have walked through American immigration. He was refused a visa. But now, as the Indian prime minister, he stepped on stage at Madison Square Garden to chants of his name.

This was a rebranding exercise, national and personal. He predicted this would be India's century because of his country's youthful population and spirit of innovation.

To his largely Indian-American audience, which packed out the stadium, he also promised a simplified immigration procedure so that they could all join hands to serve Mother India.

In an unusual display of glamour for a visiting foreign leader, Mr Modi took the stage at the New York venue made famous by the late rock star John Lennon and the boxer Muhammad Ali among others.

Mars mission

Flagging up modern India's achievements, he singled out its success in sending a satellite to orbit Mars - a considerable achievement, says BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos.

India, Mr Modi boasted, had travelled through space to Mars at a cost of "seven rupees [£0.07; $0.11; 0.09 euros] per kilometre, much cheaper than travelling a kilometre in Ahmedabad" (Gujarat's biggest city).

India, he said, should be proud of "three things - democracy, demographic dividend and demand".

Pushing his "Make In India" campaign, he said India offered human resources and low-cost production.

During his four-day visit, Mr Modi is expected to meet Mr Obama in Washington, and will see top leaders of Fortune 500 companies, including Google, IBM, GE and Boeing.

Delhi and Washington have strong security and trade ties, but relations deteriorated in recent months.

India's refusal to sign a global trade deal, a row over alleged American surveillance on the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a diplomatic spat involving an Indian envoy to the US are among some of the issues causing tension.

On the first day of his visit, Mr Modi used a speech to the UN to renew his country's call for reform of the Security Council.

India has long lobbied for a permanent seat on the Security Council.

Mr Modi also said he wanted peace talks with Pakistan but insisted it must create an "appropriate atmosphere".


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California adopts sex crime rule

29 September 2014 Last updated at 08:25

California has become the first US state to require students on state-funded campuses to have clear, active consent before all sexual activity.

Governor Jerry Brown signed the "yes means yes" bill, which advocates say will change the perception of rape.

The legislation stipulates that voluntary agreement, rather than lack of resistance, defines consent.

In January President Obama launched an initiative to combat sexual assault, particularly on college campuses.

"Yes means yes" is the first law in a US state to make the language of affirmative consent a central principle of school sexual assault policies.

The rule defines consent as "an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity."

Lawmakers say, however, that consent can be non-verbal, if it is unambiguous.

The aim is to improve the way that campuses deal with accusations of sexual assault, and to challenge the notion that victims of sexual crimes need to have resisted assault in order to have valid complaints.

The legislation also says that silence or a lack of resistance do not constitute consent. Under the bill, someone who is drunk, drugged, unconscious or asleep cannot grant consent.

Sofie Karasek, an activist from the University of California-Berkeley told San Jose Mercury News that she believed the bill would change the cultural perception of rape.

"There's this pervasive idea that if it's not super violent then it doesn't really count," she said.

However critics say that the new law dangerously expands the definition of assault.

The National Coalition For Men condemned the bill as "misandric" (man-hating), saying it "gives license to false accusations, denies the accused due process, will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in law suits and sets the stage for ruining innocent lives."

The Department of Education has named dozens of colleges and universities under investigation for mishandling sexual assault cases.

The US estimates one in five women is sexually assaulted while at university.


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Air traffic fire 'set by employee'

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 28 September 2014 | 20.24

27 September 2014 Last updated at 02:13

A fire in an air traffic control facility that grounded all flights in and out of Chicago's two major airports was set by an employee, officials say.

Brian Howard, 36, has been charged with one count of destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities in connection with the fire in the building's basement.

Mr Howard was found with burns and self-inflicted wounds. Investigators say he used petrol to light the blaze.

By Friday afternoon flights in and out of the airports were slowly resuming.

More than 850 flights were cancelled in Chicago alone and many already in the air were redirected.

In a statement, the FBI said Mr Howard was charged on Friday but remained in hospital recovering from his injuries. No court date has been scheduled.

"We believe he set the fire and he used some kind of accelerant," Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas said in a news conference on Friday.

The building was damaged by the fire and the water used to extinguish the blaze.

Officials said they did not yet have a possible motive for the act but said Mr Howard was a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was authorised to be in the building. He had no ties to terrorism.

The fire broke out just before 06:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Friday morning in the Aurora, Illinois, air traffic control building, 40 miles west (64km) of Chicago.

Air traffic control officials said the radio frequencies with which they worked went dead and the control system was immediately shifted to a back-up system, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Workers used the back-up system until they were forced to evacuate.

"The [radio] frequency failed," a unnamed controller told the newspaper. "Depending on how bad the fire was, it could be a real mess getting things back to normal."

One man was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene but no-one else was injured.

FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said management of the region's airspace was transferred to another facility as the Aurora centre was evacuated.

By Friday afternoon, flights already on their way to Chicago were allowed to continue but landed at a slower pace.

Flights were taking off at a slower rate as well and air safety officials said they did not know when full service would be restored.


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Fired US worker beheads colleague

26 September 2014 Last updated at 22:15
Vaughan Foods in Moore

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Sergeant Jeremy Lewis from Moore Police Department said the attack "did appear random"

A man in Oklahoma has beheaded one woman and wounded another after being fired from his job, police have said.

Alton Nolen, 30, attacked the two women at Vaughan Foods distribution plant in Moore, Oklahoma, on Thursday afternoon.

A manager who is also a reserve police officer stopped the attack by shooting and injuring Mr Nolen.

A police spokesman said the FBI was investigating Mr Nolen's background, after colleagues said he had recently tried to convert them to Islam.

But Sergeant Jeremy Lewis from Moore Police Department said the attack "did appear random".

Earlier in the afternoon Mr Nolen had been fired from his job in the plant.

Police said he was angry and immediately went to the parking lot, then drove his vehicle to the front of the business where he hit another vehicle.

Mr Nolen then entered the main entrance to the front office where he came across his first victim, Colleen Hufford, 54.

"During the attack, Nolen severed the victim's head," said Mr Lewis.

Mr Nolen then began assaulting his second victim, Traci Johnson, 43, with the same knife.

"It appears they were just in his way when he came in," the police spokesman said.

Mr Nolen's attack was stopped when the chief executive of the plant, Mark Vaughan, who is also a police reserve deputy, shot and injured him.

"The off-duty deputy definitely saved Traci's life," said Mr Lewis.

Mr Nolen and the second victim were taken to hospital where they are both said to be in a stable condition.

Co-workers told the police that Mr Nolen had recently started trying to convert several employees to Islam.

Mr Lewis said the FBI was called in to investigate Mr Nolen's background "due to the manner of death and the initial statements of co-workers and other initial information".

The FBI confirmed they were assisting the investigation but declined to comment further.

"The motive is undetermined at this time and until all the facts have been gathered, we are not in a position to comment further," the agency said in a statement.

Vaughan Foods said the firm's owners' "thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the team member we lost".


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US police officer shot in Ferguson

28 September 2014 Last updated at 05:53

A police officer has been shot in the strife-torn US town of Ferguson, Missouri, but the officer's condition is unclear, St Louis police say.

The officer was shot in the arm, according to local broadcaster KSDK, but the circumstances are not known.

Ferguson, a suburb of St Louis, has suffered outbreaks of violence since the shooting dead of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on 9 August.

He was shot by white policeman Darren Wilson, leading to protests.

St Louis County Police spokesman Brian Schellman told AP news agency that an officer had been shot but he had no further information.

There have been violent clashes between police and demonstrators since the shooting of Mr Brown, 18.

Last week, police in Ferguson said they would not tolerate further violence after protesters looted shops and harassed officers.

Also last week, a street memorial where Mr Brown was shot was burned down in suspicious circumstances.

Police said the cause of the blaze was under investigation, and local residents suspected arson.

A St Louis grand jury has yet to decide whether or not to charge Mr Wilson with Michael Brown's shooting.

It is unclear when they will make a decision. A separate investigation by the US justice department is continuing.


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US economic growth revised up again

26 September 2014 Last updated at 14:16

The US economy grew at an annual rate of 4.6% between April and June, faster than the previous estimate of 4.2%, according to revised figures from the US Department of Commerce.

The revision was due to larger rises in exports and business investment.

Growth estimates are revised as more information about economic performance becomes available.

The strong growth - the fastest since the end of 2011 - follows a 2.1% contraction in the first quarter.

This fall in economic output was blamed on harsh winter weather, which discouraged shoppers and hampered manufacturing.

'Strong rebound'

The revised figures for the second quarter showed that exports increased by 11.1% from the previous three months, while business spending rose by 9.7%.

Growth in consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, was 2.5%, unchanged from the previous estimate.

Analysts said the new figures suggested the US economy was in rude health.

"The data signals an even stronger rebound from the decline seen in the first quarter, when extreme weather battered many parts of the economy," said Chris Williamson at Markit Economics.

"However, the impressive gain in the second quarter looks to be far more than just a weather-related upturn, with evidence pointing to an underlying buoyant pace of economic expansion. Survey data in particular indicate that strong growth has persisted throughout the third quarter."


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Three 9/11 firemen die on same day

26 September 2014 Last updated at 15:33

Three firefighters who were on duty at Ground Zero during the 9/11 attacks have died on the same day from cancer, fire officials have said.

Lieutenant Howard Bischoff, 58, and firefighters Robert Leaver, 56, and Daniel Heglund, 58, died within hours of one another on Monday.

Thousands of people who helped the 9/11 rescue efforts have been diagnosed with illness, including cancer.

But doctors say it is unclear whether sickness can be linked to the attacks.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro described the three men's deaths as a "painful reminder that 13 years later we continue to pay a terrible price for the department's heroic efforts".

"On that day when first responders arrived, the air was toxic and remained toxic for many months afterward," said the president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, James Lemonda.

Some 1,000 deaths have been linked to illnesses caused by toxic dust issuing from wreckage at Ground Zero.

Many of those who were on the site have suffered from respiratory illnesses, and hundreds of first responders have also contracted cancer.

But despite these numbers, no clear link between the attacks and cancer has been made.

Medical studies have not reported evidence of a substantial surge in cancer rates to those connected to 9/11, though government reports have suggested that workers were exposed to a number of chemicals that could cause cancer.

The Fire Department of New York has said that in addition to the 343 firefighters who died on the day of the attacks, a further 89 have died from illness.

The US Congress has set aside $2.78bn (£1.7bn) to compensate those with illnesses that might be related to the attacks.

But legislation which provides medical treatment and compensation to 9/11 victims is due to expire in two years, and Congress has yet to vote to extend it.

"I'm asking [leaders in Washington] to be as brave as the people who responded on that day," said Mr Lemonda.

"This is not just a firefighter issue. This is an American issue."


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EU and Canada detail trade deal

26 September 2014 Last updated at 17:30

The European Commission and Canada have unveiled the details of a new trade liberalisation agreement.

Under the deal almost all customs tariffs will be eliminated and markets for services will be opened up.

But the agreement still needs approval from the EU parliament and faces particular opposition from Germany.

Critics say the deal restricts the power of democratic governments in relation to big business.

Business benefits

It's not just maple syrup. Traded products, in both directions, range from machinery, chemicals and transport equipment to services such as insurance and communications.

The European Commission has said the deal would boost bilateral trade by 23%. And a A joint EU-Canadian study has put the combined annual economic gains at about 20bn euros although those figures were published six years ago.

However a provision included in the deal to bolster the rights of foreign investors, known as Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) could still prevent the deal being approved.

Campaigners say it gives big business too much power in relation to democratically elected governments wishing to introduce new policies.

Analysis: economics correspondent, Andrew Walker

One thing could still derail the deal.

The Germans don't like the proposal that's included for a new system of tribunals, under what's knows as ISDS. If foreign investors feel they've been mistreated they can turn to these tribunals and even in some cases apply for compensation.

ISDS has actually been around for years. But recently campaigners have begun to argue that it is undemocratic because of the constraints it puts on elected governments.

For example the tobacco company Philip Morris is taking legal action against Australia over its plain packaging laws - there has been no ruling yet on this case.

Other cases have involved regulation of energy prices, disputes over patents and alleged wrongful criminal prosecution.

The German economy minister Sigmar Gabriel has said he would reject the Canada deal if the ISDS elements remain.

That has cast new doubt on whether the deal will ever come into force and it suggests an uphill struggle for other trade negotiations still being hammered out behind the scenes.

Campaigners have called the ISDS "a powerful corporate weapon to delay, weaken and kill regulation."

Nick Dearden, director for the World Development Movement says of the EU Canada deal: "If it is agreed, it will undermine the power of democratically elected governments to make decisions in the public interest".

Supporters of ISDS say it provides foreign investors with protection against discriminatory treatment and that means they are more likely to take the plunge and invest.

The EU's top trade official, Commissioner Karel de Gucht rejects the complaints against ISDS, although he has acknowledged concerns about some agreements.

He told the European Parliament: "On investment, the agreement establishes a system that sets a new standard for investor-to-state dispute settlement procedures". He said the deal with Canada "directly addresses all the concerns that have emerged so far".

The controversy about ISDS led the European Commission to launch a public consultation earlier this year about its inclusion in trade liberalisation negotiations with the US.


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Postman 'hoarded' one tonne of mail

26 September 2014 Last updated at 21:56

A New York postman hoarded as many as 40,000 pieces of undelivered mail in his home, car and work locker over nine years, prosecutors have said.

Joseph Brucato, 67, was arrested on Wednesday after a supervisor saw undelivered post in his personal car, where it was forbidden by policy.

Postal investigators subsequently found 2,500lb (1.1 tonnes) of mail dated as far back as 2005.

Mr Brucato's lawyer said in court his client suffered from depression.

But the lawyer did not give a reason why Mr Brucato had allegedly taken the letters.

As a condition of his release pending a court hearing, Mr Brucato was ordered to "abstain from excessive alcohol consumption".

According to court records, Mr Brucato became a postman in 2001 and had been assigned a regular route in the New York borough of Brooklyn for the past 11 years.

When confronted by postal investigators about the undelivered mail in his vehicle, Mr Brucato said he had been keeping mail there for six months and "on some days... did not deliver the mail intended for his route for various personal reasons", according to a federal criminal complaint.

A search of Mr Brucato's residence, vehicle and locker at work found even more mail that investigators said was post marked as early as 2005.

The hoarded mail was bound for businesses and residents in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn.


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Chelsea Clinton gives birth to girl

27 September 2014 Last updated at 07:31

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has given birth to a baby girl.

"Marc and I are full of love, awe and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of our daughter, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky," Ms Clinton tweeted.

Ms Clinton, 34, married Marc Mezvinsky in 2010, and announced her pregnancy in April 2014.

The baby arrives as Hillary Clinton considers a presidential bid in 2016.

She is seen as the leading Democratic contender for nomination to succeed President Barack Obama, and has said that she will make a decision on whether to run from around the beginning of 2015.

Bill Clinton served as the 42nd US president, from January 1993 to January 2001.

The former first daughter has often been tipped to follow her parents into politics.

Chelsea Clinton, educated at Stanford, Columbia and Oxford Universities, runs the Clinton Foundation with her parents. Her husband Marc Mezvinsky is an investment banker.

Ms Clinton stepped down from a $600,000 (£370,000) a year position as NBC special correspondent in August to concentrate on her pregnancy, motherhood and philanthropic work.


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George Clooney marries in Venice

27 September 2014 Last updated at 22:16
George Clooney on boat

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George Clooney waves as he travels to the wedding

Hollywood star George Clooney has married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in Venice, in one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the showbusiness year.

A host of fellow stars descended on the Italian city's canals for the union between the film world's most eligible bachelor, 53, and Ms Alamuddin, 36.

The ceremony was celebrated in a hotel overlooking the famous Grand Canal.

Clooney's agent broke the news to journalists in a brief statement.

According to AP news agency, that will be the only communication on the wedding.

Clooney and his friends had sipped champagne before gliding up the Grand Canal on Saturday evening to the luxury Aman Hotel, waving to hundreds of well-wishers.

Guests include Cindy Crawford, Bill Murray, Matt Damon and the U2 singer Bono.

Clooney's boat was momentarily blocked by a passing cruise liner and then by a water bus, giving time for dozens of boats carrying photographers to catch up, AP writes.

A police boat swerved in vain to try to keep the paparazzi away.

Ms Alamuddin was last seen publicly on Friday riding in a water taxi down the Grand Canal with Clooney's arm round her.

Assange defender

The couple were engaged in April.

Clooney was previously married to Talia Balsam, who he divorced in 1993.

One of the world's most recognisable actors, the American has two Oscars to his name: for best supporting actor in Syriana (2006) and for best picture as producer of Argo (2013).

Other than his film work, he has embraced human rights causes such as the Darfur crisis in Sudan.

Lebanese-born British lawyer Amal Alamuddin has defended Julian Assange of Wikileaks and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko among others.

She met Clooney through her work.

People in her native village in Lebanon, Baakline in the Chouf district, welcomed news of her impending marriage, AP reports.

"We congratulate them and we hope that the happiness will be international," said shopkeeper Ghassan Bou Hatoum.

The couple's choice of Venice for the wedding is apt as Clooney is a frequent visitor to its film festival. He also owns a villa on Lake Como, north of Milan.

Despite the long build-up to the wedding, interest still abounded on social media at news of the knot being tied.

"George Clooney is married," wrote one tweeter. "Heterosexual men of earth release a collective sigh of relief. Everyone else mourns."


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Sudan apostasy woman 'to campaign'

28 September 2014 Last updated at 08:05
Mariam Ibrahim

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Mariam Ibrahim said she believed her imprisonment in Sudan was ''a test''

Mariam Ibrahim, the Sudan woman who escaped a death sentence imposed for renouncing her faith, says she wants to campaign for others who face religious persecution.

Speaking to the BBC in the US, where she is seeking asylum, Ms Ibrahim said she hopes to return to Sudan one day.

Ms Ibrahim earlier received an award from a US Christian foundation.

Her sentencing - by a Sudanese court that did not recognise her Christian faith - sparked outrage this year.

Born to a Muslim father, she was raised a Christian by her mother and married a Christian man.

Under Sudan's version of Islamic law, however, her father's religion meant that she too was still technically a Muslim. A court found her guilty of apostasy, or renouncing one's faith.

Sentenced to hang, she gave birth to her daughter while shackled in prison. Under intense international pressure, her conviction was quashed and she was freed in June.

She told the BBC that she had been threatened by the guards while she was in court.

"The judge told me that I needed to convert to Islam," she said. "And so these warnings made me anticipate I would be sentenced to death."

"It wasn't easy, I can't describe it," she said, of her time in prison. "But there are others who are in worse conditions in Sudan than those I was in."

"Sadly, this was all under the guise of the law. So instead of protecting people, the law is harming them."

On Saturday night, Ms Ibrahim received an award from a gathering of evangelical Christian conservatives in Washington, who see her treatment in Sudan as an assault on their values.


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US-led air strikes 'damaging IS'

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 27 September 2014 | 20.24

27 September 2014 Last updated at 06:48

The US armed forces chief says Islamic State (IS) militants are being damaged by air strikes in Syria but air power alone is not enough to defeat them.

Gen Martin Dempsey said a political solution and a ground campaign would both be needed in Iraq and Syria.

Gen Dempsey said that up to 15,000 fighters - to be drawn from Syria's moderate opposition - would be needed for a ground force in Syria.

On Friday, the UK agreed to join US-led air strikes on IS in Iraq.

French fighter jets are already taking part in strikes in Iraq with Belgium and the Netherlands each pledging six F-16s planes and Denmark deploying seven.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Gen Dempsey said this week's strikes in Syria had disrupted IS's command, control and logistics capabilities.

He said it would take more than air power to recapture lost territory in Syria and neighbouring Iraq but a ground force did not need to involve US troops.

"In fact, ideally for the kind of issues we are confronting there, the only truly effective force that will actually be able to reject Isil (IS) from within its own population is a force comprised of Iraqis and Kurds and moderate Syrian opposition," he said.

About 40 countries, including several from the Middle East, have joined the US-led coalition against IS.

European countries have so far only agreed to strike targets in Iraq where the government has asked for help.

But US, Saudi and United Arab Emirates aircraft have also attacked IS targets in eastern Syria, including oil installations.

US-led air raids over Syria are now "near continuous", a US official told AFP news agency on Friday.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters: "Combined with our ongoing efforts in Iraq, these strikes will continue to deny Isil (IS) freedom of movement and challenge its ability to plan, direct, and sustain its operations."

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov questioned the legality of air strikes in Syria because they were carried out without the approval of Russia's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"It's very important that such co-operation with Syrian authorities is established, even now that it's an accomplished fact," he said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The Red Cross has also warned that air strikes in Iraq and Syria are adding to an already dire humanitarian situation.

In a statement from its headquarters in Geneva, the group called on all those involved in the conflict to spare the civilian population, and to allow aid agencies to bring relief.

IS controls large parts of north-east Syria and earlier this year seized swathes of northern Iraq including the second city, Mosul.

The Iraqi army, which initially crumbled, is now standing its ground and Kurdish fighters in the north of Iraq are also battling to stem the IS advance.

In Syria, militants are laying siege to the key northern town of Kobane and an estimated 140,000 civilians - mostly Kurds - have fled across the nearby Turkish border.

The view through a car windscreen

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The BBC's Paul Wood is one of the first western journalists to gain access to Kobane

The situation there remains tense, with Turkish troops trying to prevent Turkish and Syrian Kurds crossing the border to help defend the town.

After a lengthy debate in the UK parliament on Friday, MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of air strikes, and six RAF Tornados could be called into action over the weekend.

Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs: "This is about psychopathic terrorists that are trying to kill us and we do have to realise that, whether we like it or not, they have already declared war on us."

Earlier in the week, the UN Security Council adopted a binding resolution compelling states to prevent their nationals from joining jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

The European Union's anti-terrorism chief says about 3,000 Europeans have gone to join armed Islamist groups in the region.

IS has killed three Western hostages in recent weeks and French public support for the operation surged after the beheading of a French tourist in Algeria by captors who swore allegiance to the group.

Who are Islamic State (IS)?

Fighters belonging to Sunni-led militant group Isis

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In 60 seconds: What does Islamic State want?

  • Formed out of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2013, IS first captured Raqqa in eastern Syria
  • It captured broad swathes of Iraq in June, including Mosul, and declared a "caliphate" in areas it controls in Syria and Iraq
  • Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics
  • Known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings of soldiers, Western journalists and aid workers
  • The CIA says the group could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria

Have you been affected by the issues in this article? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk


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US economic growth revised up again

26 September 2014 Last updated at 14:16

The US economy grew at an annual rate of 4.6% between April and June, faster than the previous estimate of 4.2%, according to revised figures from the US Department of Commerce.

The revision was due to larger rises in exports and business investment.

Growth estimates are revised as more information about economic performance becomes available.

The strong growth - the fastest since the end of 2011 - follows a 2.1% contraction in the first quarter.

This fall in economic output was blamed on harsh winter weather, which discouraged shoppers and hampered manufacturing.

'Strong rebound'

The revised figures for the second quarter showed that exports increased by 11.1% from the previous three months, while business spending rose by 9.7%.

Growth in consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, was 2.5%, unchanged from the previous estimate.

Analysts said the new figures suggested the US economy was in rude health.

"The data signals an even stronger rebound from the decline seen in the first quarter, when extreme weather battered many parts of the economy," said Chris Williamson at Markit Economics.

"However, the impressive gain in the second quarter looks to be far more than just a weather-related upturn, with evidence pointing to an underlying buoyant pace of economic expansion. Survey data in particular indicate that strong growth has persisted throughout the third quarter."


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Three 9/11 firemen die on same day

26 September 2014 Last updated at 15:33

Three firefighters who were on duty at Ground Zero during the 9/11 attacks have died on the same day from cancer, fire officials have said.

Lieutenant Howard Bischoff, 58, and firefighters Robert Leaver, 56, and Daniel Heglund, 58, died within hours of one another on Monday.

Thousands of people who helped the 9/11 rescue efforts have been diagnosed with illness, including cancer.

But doctors say it is unclear whether sickness can be linked to the attacks.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro described the three men's deaths as a "painful reminder that 13 years later we continue to pay a terrible price for the department's heroic efforts".

"On that day when first responders arrived, the air was toxic and remained toxic for many months afterward," said the president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, James Lemonda.

Some 1,000 deaths have been linked to illnesses caused by toxic dust issuing from wreckage at Ground Zero.

Many of those who were on the site have suffered from respiratory illnesses, and hundreds of first responders have also contracted cancer.

But despite these numbers, no clear link between the attacks and cancer has been made.

Medical studies have not reported evidence of a substantial surge in cancer rates to those connected to 9/11, though government reports have suggested that workers were exposed to a number of chemicals that could cause cancer.

The Fire Department of New York has said that in addition to the 343 firefighters who died on the day of the attacks, a further 89 have died from illness.

The US Congress has set aside $2.78bn (£1.7bn) to compensate those with illnesses that might be related to the attacks.

But legislation which provides medical treatment and compensation to 9/11 victims is due to expire in two years, and Congress has yet to vote to extend it.

"I'm asking [leaders in Washington] to be as brave as the people who responded on that day," said Mr Lemonda.

"This is not just a firefighter issue. This is an American issue."


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EU and Canada detail trade deal

26 September 2014 Last updated at 17:30

The European Commission and Canada have unveiled the details of a new trade liberalisation agreement.

Under the deal almost all customs tariffs will be eliminated and markets for services will be opened up.

But the agreement still needs approval from the EU parliament and faces particular opposition from Germany.

Critics say the deal restricts the power of democratic governments in relation to big business.

Business benefits

It's not just maple syrup. Traded products, in both directions, range from machinery, chemicals and transport equipment to services such as insurance and communications.

The European Commission has said the deal would boost bilateral trade by 23%. And a A joint EU-Canadian study has put the combined annual economic gains at about 20bn euros although those figures were published six years ago.

However a provision included in the deal to bolster the rights of foreign investors, known as Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) could still prevent the deal being approved.

Campaigners say it gives big business too much power in relation to democratically elected governments wishing to introduce new policies.

Analysis: economics correspondent, Andrew Walker

One thing could still derail the deal.

The Germans don't like the proposal that's included for a new system of tribunals, under what's knows as ISDS. If foreign investors feel they've been mistreated they can turn to these tribunals and even in some cases apply for compensation.

ISDS has actually been around for years. But recently campaigners have begun to argue that it is undemocratic because of the constraints it puts on elected governments.

For example the tobacco company Philip Morris is taking legal action against Australia over its plain packaging laws - there has been no ruling yet on this case.

Other cases have involved regulation of energy prices, disputes over patents and alleged wrongful criminal prosecution.

The German economy minister Sigmar Gabriel has said he would reject the Canada deal if the ISDS elements remain.

That has cast new doubt on whether the deal will ever come into force and it suggests an uphill struggle for other trade negotiations still being hammered out behind the scenes.

Campaigners have called the ISDS "a powerful corporate weapon to delay, weaken and kill regulation."

Nick Dearden, director for the World Development Movement says of the EU Canada deal: "If it is agreed, it will undermine the power of democratically elected governments to make decisions in the public interest".

Supporters of ISDS say it provides foreign investors with protection against discriminatory treatment and that means they are more likely to take the plunge and invest.

The EU's top trade official, Commissioner Karel de Gucht rejects the complaints against ISDS, although he has acknowledged concerns about some agreements.

He told the European Parliament: "On investment, the agreement establishes a system that sets a new standard for investor-to-state dispute settlement procedures". He said the deal with Canada "directly addresses all the concerns that have emerged so far".

The controversy about ISDS led the European Commission to launch a public consultation earlier this year about its inclusion in trade liberalisation negotiations with the US.


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Ford recalls cars with airbag fault

26 September 2014 Last updated at 19:20

US car giant Ford says it is recalling about 850,000 cars in North America over a "potential issue" with airbags.

The carmaker said a glitch could cause a short circuit that may mean airbags do not deploy properly in the event of a crash.

The vehicles affected include some 2013-14 C-MAX, Fusion, Escape and Lincoln MKZ models.

Ford said it was not aware of any injuries caused by the problem, adding that dealers would fix it for free.

About 745,000 of the recalled vehicles are in the US, 82,000 are in Canada and 20,000 in Mexico.

Last weekend, rival General Motors recalled more than 220,000 cars over a brake defect, bringing the number of cars it has recalled this year to more than 15 million.


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Postman 'hoarded' one tonne of mail

26 September 2014 Last updated at 21:56

A New York postman hoarded as many as 40,000 pieces of undelivered mail in his home, car and work locker over nine years, prosecutors have said.

Joseph Brucato, 67, was arrested on Wednesday after a supervisor saw undelivered post in his personal car, where it was forbidden by policy.

Postal investigators subsequently found 2,500lb (1.1 tonnes) of mail dated as far back as 2005.

Mr Brucato's lawyer said in court his client suffered from depression.

But the lawyer did not give a reason why Mr Brucato had allegedly taken the letters.

As a condition of his release pending a court hearing, Mr Brucato was ordered to "abstain from excessive alcohol consumption".

According to court records, Mr Brucato became a postman in 2001 and had been assigned a regular route in the New York borough of Brooklyn for the past 11 years.

When confronted by postal investigators about the undelivered mail in his vehicle, Mr Brucato said he had been keeping mail there for six months and "on some days... did not deliver the mail intended for his route for various personal reasons", according to a federal criminal complaint.

A search of Mr Brucato's residence, vehicle and locker at work found even more mail that investigators said was post marked as early as 2005.

The hoarded mail was bound for businesses and residents in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn.


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Fired US worker beheads colleague

26 September 2014 Last updated at 22:15
Vaughan Foods in Moore

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Sergeant Jeremy Lewis from Moore Police Department said the attack "did appear random"

A man in Oklahoma has beheaded one woman and wounded another after being fired from his job, police have said.

Alton Nolen, 30, attacked the two women at Vaughan Foods distribution plant in Moore, Oklahoma, on Thursday afternoon.

A manager who is also a reserve police officer stopped the attack by shooting and injuring Mr Nolen.

A police spokesman said the FBI was investigating Mr Nolen's background, after colleagues said he had recently tried to convert them to Islam.

But Sergeant Jeremy Lewis from Moore Police Department said the attack "did appear random".

Earlier in the afternoon Mr Nolen had been fired from his job in the plant.

Police said he was angry and immediately went to the parking lot, then drove his vehicle to the front of the business where he hit another vehicle.

Mr Nolen then entered the main entrance to the front office where he came across his first victim, Colleen Hufford, 54.

"During the attack, Nolen severed the victim's head," said Mr Lewis.

Mr Nolen then began assaulting his second victim, Traci Johnson, 43, with the same knife.

"It appears they were just in his way when he came in," the police spokesman said.

Mr Nolen's attack was stopped when the chief executive of the plant, Mark Vaughan, who is also a police reserve deputy, shot and injured him.

"The off-duty deputy definitely saved Traci's life," said Mr Lewis.

Mr Nolen and the second victim were taken to hospital where they are both said to be in a stable condition.

Co-workers told the police that Mr Nolen had recently started trying to convert several employees to Islam.

Mr Lewis said the FBI was called in to investigate Mr Nolen's background "due to the manner of death and the initial statements of co-workers and other initial information".

The FBI confirmed they were assisting the investigation but declined to comment further.

"The motive is undetermined at this time and until all the facts have been gathered, we are not in a position to comment further," the agency said in a statement.

Vaughan Foods said the firm's owners' "thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the team member we lost".


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'Turtle smuggling' Canadian arrested

27 September 2014 Last updated at 00:12

A Canadian man has been charged with wildlife smuggling after guards at the US border found 51 turtles in his trousers, US authorities have said.

US fish and wildlife officers tracked Kai Xu across the border between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, after receiving a tip from a postal worker.

He was stopped by Canadian border guards who found the turtles taped to his legs, prosecutors said.

Mr Xu, 26, was released on a bond on Thursday but has not entered a plea.

He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

According to prosecutors, on 5 August a post office worker in Detroit called the US Fish and Wildlife Service about a parcel held for pick-up labelled "live fish keep cool".

Wildlife investigators later watched Mr Xu, who had crossed from Ontario earlier in the day, retrieve the parcel and transfer its contents into a bag, according to the federal criminal complaint.

He then disappeared between two large lorries with the bag and returned 10 minutes later.

"As he did so [an investigator] noticed irregularly shaped bulges under Xu's sweat pants on both his legs," authorities wrote.

Mr Xu drove into a tunnel linking the US and Canada at Detroit and was stopped by Canadian border guards when he left the tunnel on the Windsor, Ontario side.

The border guards searched Mr Xu's vehicle and person and found "41 turtles taped to his legs and 10 hidden between his legs", prosecutors said.

The turtles were all North American species - Eastern box turtles, Red-eared sliders and Diamondback Terrapins, according to court records.

Mr Xu was charged in a US federal court with smuggling goods from the US and trading in specimens contrary to an international convention on endangered species.

The turtles were turned over to the fish and wildlife agency.


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Air traffic fire 'set by employee'

27 September 2014 Last updated at 02:13

A fire in an air traffic control facility that grounded all flights in and out of Chicago's two major airports was set by an employee, officials say.

Brian Howard, 36, has been charged with one count of destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities in connection with the fire in the building's basement.

Mr Howard was found with burns and self-inflicted wounds. Investigators say he used petrol to light the blaze.

By Friday afternoon flights in and out of the airports were slowly resuming.

More than 850 flights were cancelled in Chicago alone and many already in the air were redirected.

In a statement, the FBI said Mr Howard was charged on Friday but remained in hospital recovering from his injuries. No court date has been scheduled.

"We believe he set the fire and he used some kind of accelerant," Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas said in a news conference on Friday.

The building was damaged by the fire and the water used to extinguish the blaze.

Officials said they did not yet have a possible motive for the act but said Mr Howard was a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was authorised to be in the building. He had no ties to terrorism.

The fire broke out just before 06:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Friday morning in the Aurora, Illinois, air traffic control building, 40 miles west (64km) of Chicago.

Air traffic control officials said the radio frequencies with which they worked went dead and the control system was immediately shifted to a back-up system, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Workers used the back-up system until they were forced to evacuate.

"The [radio] frequency failed," a unnamed controller told the newspaper. "Depending on how bad the fire was, it could be a real mess getting things back to normal."

One man was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene but no-one else was injured.

FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said management of the region's airspace was transferred to another facility as the Aurora centre was evacuated.

By Friday afternoon, flights already on their way to Chicago were allowed to continue but landed at a slower pace.

Flights were taking off at a slower rate as well and air safety officials said they did not know when full service would be restored.


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Chelsea Clinton gives birth to girl

27 September 2014 Last updated at 07:31

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has given birth to a baby girl.

"Marc and I are full of love, awe and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of our daughter, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky," Ms Clinton tweeted.

Ms Clinton, 34, married Marc Mezvinsky in 2010, and announced her pregnancy in April 2014.

The baby arrives as Hillary Clinton considers a presidential bid in 2016.

She is seen as the leading Democratic contender for nomination to succeed President Barack Obama, and has said that she will make a decision on whether to run from around the beginning of 2015.

Bill Clinton served as the 42nd US president, from January 1993 to January 2001.

The former first daughter has often been tipped to follow her parents into politics.

Chelsea Clinton, educated at Stanford, Columbia and Oxford Universities, runs the Clinton Foundation with her parents. Her husband Marc Mezvinsky is an investment banker.

Ms Clinton stepped down from a $600,000 (£370,000) a year position as NBC special correspondent in August to concentrate on her pregnancy, motherhood and philanthropic work.


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Groundhog dropped by NY mayor dies

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 26 September 2014 | 20.24

26 September 2014 Last updated at 00:00

A groundhog that leapt from the arms of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at a Groundhog Day celebration died about a week after the fall, zoo officials say.

The rodent, Charlotte, fell from the 6ft 6in (2m) mayor's arms in February.

Zoo officials said she died of internal injuries but do not believe her escape from the mayor's gloved hands caused her death, speculating she later suffered additional, fatal injuries.

Charlotte did not see her shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of winter.

'Staten Island Chuck'

First reported by the New York Post, Charlotte's untimely demise has become a popular topic on social media.

The New York event, held in the borough of Staten Island, is a spin-off of a Pennsylvania tradition in which ceremonial officials drag a groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil out of hibernation every 2 February.

If Phil sees his shadow, according to the tradition, the northern US will suffer six more weeks of winter. If not, spring is imminent.

Zookeepers at the Staten Island Zoo chose Charlotte, a 10-month-old groundhog, from among four potential "Staten Island Chucks" that morning.

This year Mr de Blasio held the groundhog with heavy work gloves, a precaution taken after a previous incarnation of Staten Island Chuck bit Mr de Blasio's predecessor Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2009.

He briefly held it before it squirmed from his hands and fell several feet.

Groundhog handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter

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Punxsutawney Phil predicts whether or not winter will end

'Bungle'

Zoo spokesman Brian Morris said Charlotte's handler "may not have been forceful enough" in placing the animal in Mr de Blasio's grip.

"It was a complete bungle," Mr Morris told the Associated Press news agency.

A medical examination in the hours after the 2 February mishap "revealed no evidence of trauma or pain", Mr Morris said, adding the groundhog had attended other events after the fall without incident.

Zoo officials believe Charlotte suffered other injuries in the hours before her death.

Mr Morris added the zoo did not immediately inform Mr de Blasio, who took office in January, of the death.

"There was no reason to do it," he said. "It's not like we were trying to spare the mayor's feelings."

In a statement, the mayor's spokesman Phil Walzak said the mayor's office was "unaware that Staten Island Chuck had passed but are sorry to hear of the loss".


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US: No evidence of IS subways plots

25 September 2014 Last updated at 18:17

US officials have said they have seen no evidence Islamic State militants were plotting to attack underground rail networks in the US and Paris.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said his intelligence officials had uncovered plans for such an attack.

Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, he said the details he received seemed credible.

But senior US sources have said they had no knowledge of a plot on any subway systems.

Mr Abadi said he had passed the information to President Barack Obama.

He added that he was not sure if the attack was imminent but said the information was gleaned from arrests of IS militants in Iraq.

An Iraqi official at the UN has told the BBC that several IS fighters had been captured and told Iraqi intelligence that French and American recruits had "an imminent plot" to hit the metro in Paris, and then hit the United States.

The official did not say where in the US.

US National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "We have not confirmed such a plot, and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making further determinations.

"We take any threat seriously and always work to corroborate information we receive from our partners.

"We're obviously very focused on the issue of foreign fighters, as you saw evidenced yesterday at the Security Council session the president chaired."

IS has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq in recent months and Western leaders have expressed concern that it could be hatching plots against the West.

The US has launched nearly 200 air strikes against the militants in Iraq since August and expanded the operation against IS to Syria on Monday.

France has also taken part in air strikes against IS in Iraq.


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$1.5m for US woman punched by police

25 September 2014 Last updated at 22:13
A California Highway Patrol officer straddles the woman on a Los Angeles freeway while punching her in the head

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The incident was filmed by a motorist

A US woman who was repeatedly punched in the face and head by a police officer at the side of the road will receive $1.5m (£0.9m) in compensation.

Footage posted on YouTube shows a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer straddling the woman, Marlene Pinnock, on 1 July and hitting her many times.

The settlement agreed on Wednesday came after nine hours of talks between lawyers in Los Angeles.

A CHP statement said the officer, on leave since the incident, has resigned.

"When this incident occurred, I promised that I would look into it and vowed a swift resolution," CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement.

"Today, we have worked constructively to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to all parties involved."

The bulk of the money will go into a special needs trust for 51-year-old Ms Pinnock, the CHP said.

She has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been off her medication for two to three months before the altercation, according to the Associated Press.

Her lawyer Caree Harper said the settlement secured the two things she wanted.

"One of the things we wanted to make sure of was that she was provided for in a manner that accommodated her unique situation in life, and that the officer was not going to be an officer anymore."

Police had said the woman was endangering herself and motorists by walking on the shoulder of a busy highway in the west of Los Angeles.

The incident was captured by passing motorist David Diaz, who said the officer arrived as the woman was walking off the highway, but he "agitated the situation".

The officer, Daniel Andrew, is seen on the video forcing her to the ground, briefly struggling with her before repeatedly punching her.

A few moments later, a plainclothes officer enters the picture and helps his colleague put the woman in handcuffs.

The officer could still face criminal charges. Ms Pinnock will be interviewed by the local prosecutor's office within a few weeks.

In a search warrant made public last month, police said Ms Pinnock had pushed Mr Andrew as he pulled her away from oncoming traffic.

But Ms Pinnock said during an interview with AP Mr Andrew "threw me down" and started beating her.

"I felt like he was trying to kill me, beat me to death."

Ms Pinnock told the news agency she had been homeless for the past few years and was on her way to a homeless camp accessible only via a motorway ramp.

The warrant also said Ms Pinnock suffered no signs of physical injury and refused medical treatment, but was placed in a psychiatric medical hold for two weeks.

Ms Harper has previously questioned the medical information on the warrant, saying two doctors who saw her in hospital gave inconsistent views of her injuries.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles declined to charge Ms Pinnock in the incident.


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US policeman arrested over shooting

26 September 2014 Last updated at 02:55
Sean Groubert, 31, who is white, is seen on dashboard video shooting Levar Jones, 35, who is black

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Dashboard video shows the moment Mr Groubert apparently opened fire on Mr Jones

A South Carolina state trooper has been sacked and arrested after shooting an unarmed man whom he had seconds earlier pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt.

Sean Groubert, 31, who is white, is seen on dashboard video shooting Levar Jones, 35, who is black.

Mr Jones was struck in the hip and has been released from hospital. Mr Groubert has been freed on bail.

The arrest comes soon after two high-profile incidents in which white US police killed unarmed black men.

Three seconds pass

In video shot from a camera on the dashboard of Mr Groubert's patrol car on 4 September, Mr Groubert pulls behind Mr Jones's truck in a Richland County petrol station, then asks, "Can I see your licence please?"

Mr Jones, who has just stepped out of the truck, turns and reaches into the cab, with no apparent aggression in his manner.

An instant later Mr Groubert shouts "get out of the car" and bursts into the frame with gun drawn, then opens fire before Mr Jones can react.

In the next three seconds, at least four shots can be heard as Mr Jones puts his hands over his head then crumples to the ground.

"You said get my licence," Mr Jones is heard moaning, out of vision, "I grabbed my licence."

Mr Groubert holsters his gun, orders Mr Jones to put his hands behind his back, then summons an ambulance and other police officers.

Mr Jones asks why Mr Groubert shot him. Mr Groubert responds, "You dove head first back into your car.''

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety fired Mr Groubert on 19 September.

"Mr Groubert's actions rose to such an extent that his employment with us must be terminated," director Leroy Smith said in a statement.

"The facts of this case are disturbing to me, but I believe this case was an isolated incident in which Mr Groubert reacted to a perceived threat where there was none."

'Without justification'

On Wednesday, prosecutors in Richland County, South Carolina, issued an arrest warrant charging Mr Groubert with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison.

The filing says Mr Groubert shot Mr Jones "without justification", and cites the video recording as evidence.

He has been released on a $75,000 (£46,000) bond.

In Mr Groubert's case, the arrest warrant was issued less than three weeks after the shooting.

But in two other cases since the beginning of August, white policemen were not charged, leading to widespread outrage.

In Missouri, a grand jury is weighing charges against Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in the middle of a street on 9 August.

Mr Wilson has said Mr Brown attacked him. Witnesses say Mr Brown had his hands up and was a considerable distance away when he was killed.

And in Ohio this week, a grand jury declined to prosecute police officers who shot and killed John Crawford III as he was strolling around a Walmart store while playing with a toy rifle he had taken from a shelf and talking on his mobile phone.


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