UN Security Council to vote Saturday on N. Korea sanctions

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will vote Saturday on a US-drafted resolution toughening sanctions on North Korea, diplomats said Friday. 

The vote is scheduled for 3 pm (1900 GMT) on the new measures that could deprive North Korea of $1 billion in annual revenue from exports of coal, iron, lead and seafood. 

US jobs report sends global stocks higher

NEW YORK: Rosy US jobs numbers sent Wall Street higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising to an eighth straight record finish. 

The beleaguered US dollar also got a shot in the arm from the strong July employment report, which showed the world's largest economy adding north of 200,000 new positions for the second straight month. 

Across the Atlantic, European equities also pushed higher amid unequivocal signs of American economic strength.

In New York, the Dow rose 0.3 percent, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each gained 0.2 percent. 

But Adam Sarhan, CEO of 50 Park Investments, told AFP the jobs numbers were a "double-edged sword." 

"On the one hand, it is good to see the economy growing, jobs coming in," he said. "At the same time, it is a hawkish data point for the Fed." 

The strong job creation and slowly rising wages could spur the Fed to raise the cost of borrowing a third time this year to keep a tight rein on inflation. 

But a rate increase would boost bank profits, and that fueled banking shares. Goldman Sachs jumped 2.6 percent, and JP Morgan Chase added 1.3 percent, leading the Dow higher. 

Meanwhile, the dollar jumped 0.8 percent against a basket of other major currencies, rising off a 15-month low. 

As Kenya elections draw near, country reveals an electorate divided by tribe

Residents of Mathare, a slum in Nairobi, prepare for Tuesday's presidential election. 

A concrete bridge and a narrow, garbage-filled river divide the slum of Mathare into two parts, a space between ethnic groups and voting blocs that are competing fiercely — and many say dangerously — over Kenya’s presidential elections scheduled for Tuesday.

Here in one of the most economically successful and stable countries in East Africa, Mathare is only a few miles away from Nairobi’s rising skyline. Tech firms have popped up on the city’s periphery. Every week, thousands of tourists pile into sleek safari trucks. This spring, the top U.N. humanitarian official here, Siddharth Chatterjee, called Kenya, “a beacon of hope in a region mired in fragility.”

But with the election approaching, Mathare feels far from stable. On one side of the rutted bridge is a community of ethnic Kikuyus, the tribe of incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta, 55. On the other side are the Luos, the tribe of opposition candidate Raila Odinga, 72.

Most days, those tribes peacefully coexist, as the slum is consumed by honking minibuses and a frenzy of commercial activity, with traffic moving across the bridge in both directions. But as the election approaches, it is a line not to be crossed.

FBI takes over probe of bombing of Minnesota mosque

Law enforcement officials investigate an explosion at the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, August 5, 2017. Time via Star Tribune/David Joles/AP

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Eight missing in flooded diamond mine

Eight miners are missing after a flood at Russia's largest diamond mine.

Water leaked into an underground shaft on Friday morning when more than 100 workers were inside.

Most have been rescued from Mir mine in eastern Siberia, according to diamond company Alrosa, which runs it.

However, the company said reports that those still missing had been located were not true and the search continues. Divers have reportedly arrived at the scene.

The town of Mirny in Yakutia has declared a state of emergency.

One man was rescued on Saturday morning.

He is in intensive care at a nearby hospital with a bruised lung, but his life is not in danger, Alrosa said.

Chief Executive Sergey Ivanov said every effort was being made to find the other workers.

The company said 142 people had been brought safely back to the surface so far.

Where speaking several languages is a given

Are you the kind of person who points at menus to be understood while you're abroad? If so, you're not alone and you'd fit in well in the UK suggested more than half of UK people do the same, and nearly as many are embarrassed by their lack of language skills.

Some 15% of people even admitted they had spoken English in a foreign accent in a vain attempt to be understood à la footballer Joey Barton a few years back.

But the Brits are in the minority in this regard. It's estimated that 60-75% of people around the world are at least bilingual, and in some places it's the norm to speak three or four languages without blinking an eye.

Trump administration approves sale of attack planes to Nigeria

The Trump administration approves attack planes to be used by the Nigerian military to counter the Boko Haram insurgency and illicit trafficking..View page

US Blackwater guard's murder conviction overturned

A US appeals court has overturned a murder conviction for a former Blackwater security guard over the killing of 14 Iraqi civilians in 2007.

The court ordered a retrial for Nicholas Slatten, saying he should not have been tried alongside three others.View post

Trump's 17-day holiday causes a stir

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US notifies UN of Paris climate deal pullout

he Trump administration has issued its first written notification that the US intends to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

But in the notice to the United Nations the US state department said Washington would remain in the talks process.

President Donald Trump drew international condemnation in June when he first announced the US intention to withdraw.

He said the deal "punished" the US and would cost millions of American jobs.

Friday's announcement is seen as largely symbolic as no nation seeking to leave the pact can officially announce an intention to withdraw until 4 November 2019.

Why the world has gone mad for a towel bra

Bum-enhancing leggings! Light-up phone cases for better selfies! A stick-on bra to "give your girls a lift!"

These are just a few of the products tech-savvy companies have launched into women's social media feeds in recent months, in pursuit of viral marketing campaigns.

Now we have the ta-ta towel, which at first glance is the most ridiculous yet. Variously described as "a bizarre boob hammock" and "the breast accessory you didn't know you needed," it's an absorbent towel for women that only covers their breasts.

It resembles a halter-neck bikini top that wraps around the wearer's neck - but made out of towel fabric.

Israeli PM Netanyahu's son in social media row over dog poo

A son of the Israeli prime minister is facing a public backlash amid an escalating row over his reported failure to pick up his dog's droppings.

Yair Netanyahu, 25, responded with an obscene gesture, a neighbour said on Facebook, after she told him to clear up the waste left in a Jerusalem park.

Mr Netanyahu hit back at critics, leading the son of a former Israeli PM to accuse him of racism and homophobia.

The Netanyahus say Israeli media often unfairly focuses on their family.

The spat began when Talila Amitai posted her account of the exchange with Yair Netanyahu, whom she said raised his middle finger when she asked him to pick up his dog Kaya's poo.

People think Neymar's Paris St-Germain move was motivated by money

Brazil forward Neymar quoted it is "sad" that people think his world record move from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain was motivated by money.

The 25-year-old joined the French club for a fee of 222m euros (£200m) and he will earn 45m euros (£40.7m) a year.

Neymar, who could play in PSG's first league match of the season on Saturday, said his price was "not a burden".

PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi added that Neymar could have earned more money at another club.

China holds drill to shut down

China has carried out an internet drill in order to closing down websites that are consider to be harmful.
State run media said Thursday's exercise was aimed also to force internet data centres to hand over contact details of website owners.

China already operates a strict internet censorship regime.

Analysts say it appears to be tightening controls ahead of an important political meeting later this year.

Beijing also recently began cracking down on VPNs (virtual private networks) which allow internet users to circumvent censorship and surveillance.

Thursday's exercise involved officers from the internet surveillance department at the public security ministry contacting internet data centres and asking them to target websites that host content deemed harmful, state media said.

Secret Service quits Trump Tower

The Secret Service has moved out of Trump Tower in New York City to a street-level trailer in a dispute with the Trump Organization over a lease.

The federal agency which protects US presidents has been renting office space in the Midtown Manhattan skyscraper since 2015.

But its representatives are baulking at the cost and other unspecified rental terms, reports the Washington Post.

The Trump Organization said the agency should look elsewhere.

Since Mr Trump became a front-runner in the presidential race two years ago, the Secret Service has stationed its command post in a unit one floor below his triplex residence.

Bear kills zookeeper at Sweden

A 19-year-old zookeeper was killed by a bear at a wildlife park in central Sweden.

The park said the zookeeper, who has not been named, was cleaning the enclosure ahead of a special activity when The bear was said to have dug its way back into its enclosure, which the zookeeper was cleaning. The park has been closed for the rest of the day.

Japan's historic Tsukiji fish market catches fire

The 80-year-old Tokyo market is known for its daily tuna auctions, which supply many of the capital's top sushi restaurants.

Smoke could be seen billowing from the market as dozens of fire engines tackled the flames on Thursday.

There are no reports of serious injuries at this stage.

The fire broke out at about 16:50 local time (07:50 GMT), Japanese broadcaster NHK said, in the outer region of the market and close to the surrounding area's narrow streets.

The area is home to many sushi restaurants and shops,Next page

Boeing jet makes plane outline over America on Dreamliner test flight

During the stunt, the 787 Dreamliner will have travelled further than any commercial route in operation around the world.

When it lands in Seattle, it will have travelled 9,755 miles - compared to the 9,021-mile distance between Auckland and Doha.

It will have also been in the air longer than any current route.

The Boeing test flight will have been in the air for 17 hours and 45 minutes compared to 16 hours, 10 minutes between New Zealand to Qatar.Next page

Trump 'pressed Mexico to stop talk of wall payments'

Mr Trump admonished Enrique Pena Nieto for publicly denouncing the wall during a 27 January phone call, transcripts obtained by the Washington Post show.

"You cannot say that to the press," he reportedly told him.

Transcripts of his first call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull were also published.

In a rancorous call, President Trump tells him it was the "worst" conversation he had that day, and one withNext page

Russian on-air attack sparks propaganda debate

Violence against opposition-minded journalists is nothing new in Russia, but this time around it was a correspondent working for one of the key pro-Kremlin channels, NTV.

The attack has been widely condemned, but some also noted that, having celebrated the use of military force in Ukraine, Russian TV now found itself on the receiving end - quite literally.Next Page

US-Russia relations are at 'dangerous low'

Mr Trump approved the measure on Wednesday, despite calling it "flawed".

Russia said the new sanctions were tantamount to declaring a "full-scale trade war".

The law aims to punish Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2016 US elections and its actions in Ukraine.

Mr Trump had opposed the bill, which also contains measures against Iran and North Korea, as it constrains his ability to ease the sanctions without the consent of Congress. Next page

US-wide manhunt after Chicago murder

Police are urging Prof Wyndham Lathem, 42, and Andrew Warren, 56, to "do the right thing and turn yourself in".

Arrests warrants were issued after Trenton Cornell-Duranleau, 25, was found dead in Prof Lathem's flat in Chicago on 27 July.

"The victim had several lacerations to the body," the police said.

Wyndham Lathem is a microbiology professor at Northwestern University in Illinois, who specialises in the bacteria that caused the bubonic plague.

Andrew Warren is a senior treasury assistant at Oxford's Somerville College.

The police warned that the suspects were believed to be "armed and dangerous", and were possibly driving a Hyundai sedan.

Mr Cornell-Duranleau, originally from Michigan, worked as a cosmetologist in Chicago.

Racist messages cause anger

Racist graffiti targeting Chinese students has prompted anger after it was found at two locations in an Australian university.

The words "kill Chinese" were inscribed above a swastika in restrooms at the University of Sydney.

The university condemned the graffiti and said "any and all remnants" would be removed.

Last week, racist flyers directed at Chinese students were posted at two universities in Melbourne.

"The University of Sydney is committed to ensuring that our community is a safe, inclusive and supportive one," it said in a statement.

"Any graffiti or posters placed around campus of a racist nature are immediately removed."

Australian nurse jailed for 18 months in Cambodia

Tammy Davis-Charles was arrested in Phnom Penh in November last year, shortly after the Cambodian government had banned commercial surrogacy.

During her trial the 49-year-old denied the charges and said she only provided medical care to the surrogates.

Commercial surrogacy has grown in South East Asia in recent years, prompting some countries to take action.

On Thursday Davis-Charles, who has already spent the past nine months in detention, was found guilty of acting as an intermediary between an adoptive parent and a pregnant woman.

She was also found guilty of fraudulently obtaining documents.

She had said in court she did not recruit the parents and only took care of the mothers to "make sure they were safe".

Two Cambodians said to have worked with her, Samrith Chakriy and Penh Rithy, were also found guilty and jailed over similar charges.

US sanctions are 'trade war' on Russia or what

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said new sanctions imposed by the US are tantamount to declaring a "full-scale trade war" against Moscow.
The law aims to punish Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2016 US elections and its actions in Ukraine
Mr Trump accused Congress of overreach on the legislation.
He said the measures, signed by Donald Trump, demonstrated the complete impotence of the US president, who he said had been humiliated by Congress.

In signing the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act on Wednesday, he attached a statement calling the measure "deeply flawed".

The legislation limits the amount of money Americans can invest in Russian energy projects, and makes it more difficult for US companies to do business with Russia.

It also imposes sanctions on Iran and North Korea.

DNA clue to origins of early Greek 's

esearchers analysed genetic data from skeletons dating to the Bronze Age, a period marked by the emergence of writing, complex urban planning and magnificent art and architecture.

These ancient Aegean people were mostly descended from farmers who had settled the region thousands of years earlier.

Dr Iosif Lazaridis, from Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts, and colleagues focussed on burials from the Minoan civilization, which flourished on the island of Crete from 2,600 to 1,100 BC, and the Mycenaean culture, which was existed across Greece from 1,600 -1,100 BC.

But they showed signs of genetic - and possibly cultural - contact with people to the north and to the east.