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  • Russia jails ‘Grand Robbery Auto’ killers who ambushed drivers

    Gang member Zafardzhon Gulyamov in court, 9 Aug 18 Image copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption Gang member Zafardzhon Gulyamov within the Moscow Nearby Courtroom

    Four gunmen who robbed and killed 17 drivers on motorways round Moscow were jailed for existence.

    Russian media nicknamed the killers – Relevant Asian migrants – the “Grand Robbery Automobile” gang, after a popular pc recreation mimicking gang violence.

    In the night attacks spikes have been scattered on roads, forcing drivers to stop and get out. the crowd then shot them and stole their belongings.

    4 different gang participants died ultimate yr at the same time as looking to flee from custody.

    On 1 August closing 12 months they overpowered two guards escorting them in a lift, and grabbed their guns, however the guards managed to alert colleagues who opened hearth whilst the carry doorways opened.

    Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Umar Khasanov (C) and 3 others got life phrases

    the primary arrests came about in November 2014, while the suspected gang chief from Uzbekistan, Ibaydullo Subkhanov, was once traced to Udelnaya village in Ramensky district south-east of Moscow. Police killed him in an change of hearth.

    Nine gang contributors were arrested in next days. But a number of remain at large.

    The violent video game Grand Theft Automobile units players demanding situations in response to gangland crime – through effectively completing missions they climb up the prison hierarchy.

    Despite some media stories linking the group to jihadists in another country, Russian investigators believe that they were cause most effective on enriching themselves.

  • Is Turkey heading for an financial predicament?

    Turkish President Erdogan Symbol copyright Reuters Symbol caption Monetary markets are uneasy approximately President Erdogan’s perspectives on economic coverage

    Is Turkey heading for an economic and monetary drawback?

    Contemporary traits within the country’s financial markets have definitely been alarming.

    The Turkish currency, the lira, has misplaced approximately 30% of its price towards the us buck for the reason that New Year.

    The inventory market has fallen 17%, or in the event you degree it in bucks as some overseas traders would do, the decline is FORTY%

    Another measure incessantly watched within the markets is executive borrowing costs.

    The important financial institution has an inflation aim of five%. A year in the past, inflation used to be well above that, at about 10%. Given That then the placement has deteriorated additional with prices now emerging at an annual fee of about 15%.

    Monetary marketplace buyers also are very uneasy about President Erdogan’s perspectives on economic coverage and the force he is noticed as exerting at the country’s central bank.

    there’s an glaring coverage choice open to a crucial financial institution that wants to endure down on inflation – raising interest rates.

    That can lower inflation in two ways. it may possibly weaken demand at house, and by way of expanding financial returns in Turkey encourage traders to buy lira – which strengthens the foreign money and decreases the cost of imports.

    Turkey’s significant financial institution has taken a couple of such moves, however with none lasting have an effect on at the problem.

    US family members

    What bothers the markets is the president’s well known – and most economists may say, ill-knowledgeable – competition to better charges. He has defined himself because the enemy of rates of interest.

    The result’s that traders are not yes that the significant bank will do what is had to stabilise the currency and bring inflation beneath keep an eye on. In turn, that makes them more cautious about the outlook for Turkish financial property.

    Confidence has been further undermined via Turkey’s strained relations with the United States.

    Turkey has detained an American evangelical pastor and there are variations over the way to Syria. in addition, the united states is reviewing Turkey’s eligibility for a programme that gives many exports from developing international locations accountability-unfastened get admission to to the u.s. market.

    Turkey is also in peril from trends in the US. The Federal Reserve keeps to boost interest rates, which encourages buyers to drag money out of rising markets. The have an effect on has been average, however it is potential tense issue for international locations similar to Turkey with different vulnerabilities.

    Symbol copyright EPA

    In a few respects the hot efficiency of the Turkish economic system seems reasonable. It has grown once a year this century except for 2001 (the country’s remaining financial obstacle when it received an IMF bailout) and 2009 (in the aftermath of the worldwide financial obstacle). In some years growth has been very sturdy.

    Unemployment is on the high side – the most latest figure is 9.9% – however it has been rather stable.

    One important distinction when compared with the country’s obstacle on the beginning of the century is that there’s now no change fee goal, not like in 2001.

    Back then, the force in the foreign money markets pressured Turkey to desert the targets. This time there’s no forex peg so the lira has merely been allowed to depreciate.

    That stated, credit standing agency Moody’s says that economic enlargement has been boosted to unsustainable ranges by spending and tax insurance policies. Insurance Policies for long-term growth have been sidelined, the company says, given the point of interest on election cycles.

    Fitch warns that the risk of a difficult landing for the economy, meaning a sharp slowdown or even a recession, has increased.

  • Turkey’s lira drawback defined

    Panoramic view from an island to a bay with luxury yachts and sailing boats on May 25, 2014 in the Gulf of Fethiye, Lycian Coast, South of Turkey Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Luxury yachts off the Lycian coast in southern Turkey

    Turkey’s currency, the lira, has hit report lows, making a headache for the country’s president and pushing up costs on on a regular basis items.

    However there may be one space reaping the advantages: tourism. Bookings to Turkey have gone up in recent months – even if the exact result in is, in fact, hard to say.

    A beneficial exchange fee regardless that cannot have harmed the location: on Friday, the united states greenback might buy virtually six Turkish lira; at the finish of January, it would have gotten you lower than four.

    So what has happened to send the lira on a downward spiral and will extra tourists take advantage?

    What’s came about?

    the value of Turkey’s foreign money has nosedived in view that January and has lost greater than 34% of its value in opposition to the greenback.

    The inventory market has additionally fallen 17%, while government borrowing costs have risen to 18% a yr, in line with Andrew Walker, the BBC World Service economics correspondent.

    Meanwhile, inflation in Turkey has hit 15%.

    What led to this nosedive?

    a mix of factors, in line with professionals, have resulted in fears the country is sliding into an financial challenge.

    For a get started, traders are worried that Turkish companies that borrowed closely to profit from a development growth might battle to pay off loans in greenbacks and euros, as the weakened lira method there’s now more to pay back.

    Then there are Turkey’s worsening family members with the us. Donald Trump’s management hit its justice and interior ministers with sanctions final week, a reaction to the detention of yankee pastor Andrew Brunson, who has has been held for almost years over alleged links to political groups.

    the us dealt Turkey and the lira an extra blow in a tweet on Friday, through which Mr Trump mentioned he had licensed the doubling of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium.

    Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption The Celsius Library within the Aegean region

    Nafez Zouk, an economist at Oxford Economics, instructed the BBC’s As Of Late programme earlier this week that those problems have been further compounded through a “political set-up that’s unconducive to right kind financial control”.

    Indeed, a lot of the recent concern has been fuelled through President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s financial policy.

    In many nations, including the united states and ECU states, the important financial institution is independent of government and no person can inform it what to do with interest rates. this implies it may possibly stay control of inflation by means of elevating them when necessary.

    Is Turkey heading for an economic difficulty? US hits Turkey with sanctions over jailed pastor How powerful will President Erdogan be?

    But in Turkey, Mr Erdogan has made certain he controls the reins. Early final month, he claimed the exclusive power to nominate the bankers that set rates of interest – and to cement his keep watch over he has put his son-in-legislation to blame of monetary policy.

    And if he’s flustered by the present state of affairs, he’s not showing it. On Thursday, he recommended supporters not to fear, pronouncing that whilst out of the country buyers had greenbacks, Turks had Allah.

    Can its fall be stopped?

    If the right insurance policies have been applied.

    But whilst Mr Erdogan – who vowed Turkey may win the “economic conflict” – favours lowering borrowing costs to fuel credit score growth and financial expansion, others might slightly see interest rates rise.

    Image copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption A view over the vintage the town of Kaleici, Antalya

    But Mr Erdogan is famously averse to interest rate rises, and there are fears he is also pressuring the valuable financial institution not to act.

    Meanwhile, ING economist Carsten Brzeski advised information company Reuters “some more or less… involvement” by way of the International Financial Fund (IMF) used to be “getting nearer”.

    Solving Turkey’s tensions with the united states might also most probably move a way to quell nerves. Alternatively, the Monetary Instances points to analysts who recommend Turkey will most probably just wait it out.

    So, is now the time to go to Turkey?

    Neatly, if you happen to want azure seas, historical temples and a vacation which perhaps prices lower than it did ultimate yr, then yes.

    Eagle-eyed Brits have already figured this out, it sort of feels, with trip dealers reporting a rise in bookings.

    Image copyright AFP Symbol caption A view across Istanbul

    Vacation company Thomas Prepare Dinner has observed a SIXTY THREE% upward thrust in bookings to Turkey, even as TUI stated it was their 3rd hottest vacation spot which means it used to be “well and actually again on the map as a best summer time holiday region”.

    Alternatively, the united kingdom International Administrative Center nonetheless recommends against all but very important commute to a host of areas, mainly alongside the border with Syria, and says not to shuttle inside of 10km (six miles) of the border in any respect, because of the continuing Syrian war.

    the u.s., meanwhile, rates Turkey at level three, urging other folks to reconsider go back and forth to the region.

  • Zimbabwe election: MDC’s Chamisa mounts felony problem towards result

    Nelson Chamisa Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Competition leader Nelson Chamisa believes he used to be cheated out of the presidential election

    Zimbabwe’s major competition chief, Nelson Chamisa, has filed a felony problem against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s up to date election victory.

    Mr Chamisa says he has proof to show that he was once cheated out of the 30 July presidential election.

    His MDC Alliance birthday party say the vote was once marred by “vast theft and fraud”, but the electoral commission has stated there was “no skulduggery”.

    Mr Mnangagwa received 50.8% of the vote when compared with Mr Chamisa’s 44.3%.

    The Constitutional Courtroom can have 14 days to make a ruling at the criminal problem.

    Image copyright Getty Images Image caption President Emmerson Mnangagwa narrowly won the new election

    Mr Mnangagwa has appealed for peace and promised an independent research into the put up-election violence.

    By narrowly profitable greater than 50% of the vote Mr Mnangagwa avoided a run-off election in opposition to Mr Chamisa.

    But the felony challenge to his victory is probably going to delay his inauguration that was once scheduled to happen on Sunday.

    Image copyright Alamy

  • BBC Trending

    Hala Shiha in 2005 Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption Photos of Hala Shiha before her 2005 retirement were circulating on social media

    An Egyptian actress who retired for spiritual reasons and commenced dressed in a hijab, has just lately introduced her comeback on social media.

    Hala Shiha, who starred in motion pictures corresponding to El-Selem We El-Teaban (The Ladder and the Snake) and Aris Min Geha Amneya (A Groom From A Security Body), retired in 2005 aged 26.

    She created a Twitter account on Thursday, gaining thousands of fans within the first few hours, describing herself on-line as “an Egyptian actress, shone again,” and tweeting she was a “robust impartial woman from the start”.

    Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Shiha retired for 13 years

    In defence of Shiha, London-primarily based media pupil Mohamed Magdeldin instructed folks to not pass judgement on the actress.

    Skip Twitter put up by way of @momagdeldin

    no person has the best to pass judgement on #حلا_شيحة. It was a private decision while she made up our minds to retire, and it is a private resolution now. we’re now not God. Go Away her by myself.

    — Mohamed Magdeldin (@momagdeldin) August 8, 2018

    Report

    Finish of Twitter submit by means of @momagdeldin

    Boris Johnson’s burka jibe: Why do some Muslim women put on the veil?

    Mekameleen TELEVISION presenter Osama Gawish, also primarily based in London, agreed the removal of the veil was a personal subject.

    Then Again, he warned folks who saw it as an indication of stepping out of “the caves of darkness” or “a slap on the face of the Muslim Brotherhood” were in reality expressing “a hateful racism against all veiled ladies”.

    Skip Twitter post through @osgaweesh

    خلع #حلا_شيحه للحجاب هو قرارها الشخصي يحاسبها عليه رب العباد ولا يملك أحد من عباده أن يحاسبها أو أن يطعن في دينها فهكذا تعلمنا
    ولكن تعليقات الجانب الآخر المرحب بخلعها للحجاب وأهلا بك من كهوف الظلام واحلى قفا عالاخوان وكل هذا الهراء هو محض عنصرية بغيضة ومرفوضة ضد كل المحجبات

    — أسامة جاويش (@osgaweesh) August EIGHT, 2018

    Document

    End of Twitter submit through @osgaweesh

  • Trump doubles metal price lists on Turkey as lira falls through 20%

    Trump and Erdogan Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Image caption The Two men spoke on the sidelines of a Nato summit in Brussels closing month

    President Trump has doubled US tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium, because the precipitous fall of the Turkish lira hurries up.

    In a tweet, Mr Trump stated the foreign money was once vulnerable towards “our very robust greenback”, including that “US relations with Turkey aren’t just right at this time”.

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned in a speech that the drop used to be a part of a “marketing campaign” led by way of overseas powers.

    The lira has lost round 20% of its price in the closing 24 hours.

    It had already fallen greater than 40% within the prior year.

    After he spoke, Mr Trump tweeted that aluminium price lists “with appreciate to Turkey” could be raised to 20% and metal to 50%.

    The reaction from global forex markets to the rift among Nato allies brought about the euro to stoop to a 13-month low and pushed the dollar to a one-year high.

    Shortly after Mr Trump’s tweet, Mr Erdogan spoke at the telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    A remark from the Kremlin stated the two leaders had discussed financial and trade ties.

    Image copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption Pastor Andrew Brunson used to be moved to deal with arrest final month as a result of health issues

    Officials from Mr Erdogan’s workplace mentioned the 2 men had “expressed excitement” that members of the family between Turkey and Russia were progressing “positively” amid joint defence and energy projects.

    Diplomatic members of the family between the us and Turkey have declined because the failed 2016 Turkish coup.

    An all-time diplomatic low

    Earlier this month, the Trump White House hit Turkey’s justice and interior ministers with sanctions over the country’s ongoing detention of an American pastor.

    Turkey is accusing Andrew Brunson – who operates a small church in Izmir – of getting hyperlinks to the outlawed Kurdistan Staff Birthday Celebration and the Gulenist movement, which Turkey blames for the failed coup.

    He have been held in jail for just about two years, however was once recently moved to house arrest as a result of well being issues.

    American evangelicals have rallied to his cause, triggering the recent reaction from the Trump White Space.

    Turkish officials had been in Washington this week for talks on his liberate however these looked as if it would collapse in latest days.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Symbol caption Turkey has instructed the us to extradite Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen

    The Us has also been refusing to extradite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric and former Erdogan best friend who has been dwelling within the US state of Pennsylvania, and that Turkey accuses of leading the tried “Gulenist” coup.

    Turkish politicians are also furious at American army enhance for Kurdish military preventing the so-known as Islamic State in northern Syria.

  • Germany lifts general ban on Nazi symbols in video games

    A pair of screenshots from Wolfenstein II: The new Colossus. On the left, a German solider is shown wearing his swastika armband. On the right, in the German release, the swastika has been replaced with a triangular icon Image copyright Bethesda Symbol caption In Germany, there aren’t any video game Nazis – and swastikas are banned from being proven

    Nazi symbols can now appear in games in Germany, finishing an extended-working and frequently ridiculed censorship.

    Germany bans symbols belonging to unconstitutional groups, which has brought about problems in video games the place the Nazis are a common adversary.

    In games like the Wolfenstein series, German variants might change Hitler’s title, put off his moustache, and change swastikas with some other shape.

    The modification means Nazi symbols used in a creative manner will probably be allowed.

    Until now, using banned symbols could save you a video game from being thought to be for a compulsory age ranking – necessarily banning it from being offered in stores.

    Image Copyright Censored Gaming Censored Gaming Symbol copyright Bethesda Image caption The trailer for upcoming sport Wolfenstein Youngblood options ominous triangles in its German adaptation

    However Bethesda’s Nazi-fighting collection isn’t the only recreation to have run into issues of the German censors.

    The builders of the television-tie-in South Park: The Stick of Reality faced an issue with their Nazi zombie characters – and selected to hide the symbols with crudely-drawn black packing containers, sticking to the rules while making fun of them at the similar time.

    Why we want to talk about video games Trump: Violent games form minds At E3, video gaming’s bigots have misplaced

    with the exception of the banned symbols, German games are sometimes a long way less violent than their counterparts in other Ecu countries. Blood is usually toned down, our bodies have a tendency to disappear, and often human characters are was robots for German variations – since “killing” robots is viewed as a much less violent act.

    Other international locations additionally censor violent or sexual content – notably Australia, which has rejected a couple of top titles in recent years unless changes were made.

    They come with South Park, which replaced its sexual scenes with an image of a crying koala and a written clarification of what the scene may have contained; and the Witcher 2, which used to be handiest launched after intercourse scenes have been edited.

  • Upward Push in wolf attacks alarms Dutch sheep farmers

    Grey wolf, file pic 2017 Symbol copyright Getty Images Image caption Hunters decimated wolf packs but now they are mostly protected and getting better

    Dutch sheep farmers are involved that a sharp rise in wolf assaults may drive them to put in pricey electric fencing to protect their flocks.

    In the first 1/2 this 12 months wolves killed 138 sheep in the Netherlands, but the total for 2017 used to be less than 20, a wolf skilled advised the BBC.

    It is a new downside for the Dutch – March 2015 used to be the first time for A HUNDRED AND FIFTY years that a wolf were confirmed roaming within the Netherlands.

    Dogs kill far more sheep every 12 months.

    Maurice L. A. Haye, a biologist at the Dutch Mammal Society, mentioned: “It’s Very tricky to protect towards a lone wolf – you’ll be able to position electrical fences around the sheep, however it’s dear.”

    Wolves usually prey on deer and wild boar, but the increasing attacks on sheep are being concerned farmers in different places in the EUROPEAN too.

    Mr La Haye said a minimum of six wolves were noticed within the Netherlands within the spring of 2018. “Farmers would really like to shoot them, but that’s inconceivable,” he said, adding that wolf-hunting was no longer beneath discussion.

    Six wolf cubs were spotted with adults in Meppen, a German the city near the Dutch border.

    Wolves are protected by way of the eu’s Eu Habitats Directive, which bans harm or destruction of endangered species. It has enabled wolf populations to recover from decimation in the previous on the fingers of hunters.

    The establishing of borders with the cave in of communism in 1989 additionally intended wolves may just roam extra freely.

    France now has an anticipated 430 wolves, principally in mountainous regions. the inside track web site France Info says the inhabitants is growing through just about 20% annually.

    Some international locations have exemptions permitting restricted culling in areas the place wolves are a confirmed risk to farm animals. In northern Scandinavia reindeer had been attacked by way of wolves.

    New wolf subsidies?

    Wolf hunts in Sweden have been debatable for years. This 12 months the government cancelled a wintry weather hunt as a result of a decline in numbers to 305, Sweden’s The Local information site reported.

    The Dutch govt is drafting a brand new handbook to present rural communities steering on wolves.

    Dutch sheep farmers interviewed by means of the daily De Volkskrant said it was time for the federal government to subsidise electrical fencing to maintain the wolves out.

    It already will pay compensation for sheep savaged via wolves, although a few farmers bitch that it is now not enough.

    Earlier this year Eise Boersma, a farmer in Benneveld near the German border, lost six sheep in a wolf assault. Because then he has installed 7,000-volt electric fencing.

    Another defensive measure is to coach a sheepdog, however for lowland farmers with small flocks that may be uneconomical, Mr L. A. Haye said.

    “It Is Very difficult to track a lone adult wolf. they can cross loads of kilometres in a couple of weeks,” he stated.

  • Casey Affleck sorry for ‘unprofessional’ behaviour on movie set

    Casey Affleck at the 2017 Oscars Image copyright AFP Symbol caption The actor gained an Oscar for his position in 2016 drama Manchester via the sea

    Actor Casey Affleck has apologised for the “unprofessional atmosphere” on the set of his 2010 film I Am Nonetheless Here.

    “I behaved in a way, and that i allowed others to behave in a way that was actually unprofessional, and that i’m sorry,” he informed the Related Press.

    The Oscar winner used to be sued by means of two feminine crew members who accused him of sexual harassment while working on the mockumentary film, which he directed.

    Affleck denied the allegations and the court cases have been settled out of court.

    Affleck settles harassment claim

    “That I Was ever occupied with a battle that resulted in a lawsuit is one thing that i actually be apologetic about,” he said.

    Image copyright Getty Pictures Image caption Jodie Foster and Jennifer Lawrence presented the most productive actress Oscar to Frances McDormand

    Affleck, the more youthful brother of Hollywood superstar Ben, also stated that turning down a presenting role at this year’s Oscars were “the right thing to do”.

    Having won the most efficient actor award in 2017 for Manchester by means of the ocean, the 42-yr-vintage were expected to look at this 12 months’s ceremony to offer the best actress prize.

    Following his withdrawal, the statuette was once as an alternative offered to Frances McDormand by means of Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster.

    “Given everything that was once happening in our tradition at the second… having incredible women go provide the best actress award felt like the correct factor,” he instructed AP’s Lindsey Bahr.

    Affleck pulls out of 2018 Oscars

    In his first extensive interview in view that pulling out of this year’s Oscars, Affleck addressed the worries of the #MeToo motion and said he “needed to keep his mouth close and concentrate”.

    “Girls have been underrepresented and underpaid and objectified and faded and humiliated and belittled in a bazillion ways,” he said.

    “No-one was in point of fact making too much of a fuss about it, myself included, till there were a couple of women with the type of braveness and knowledge to face up and say, ‘You realize what? Enough is enough.’”

    Affleck will subsequent be noticed in cinemas in the Antique Guy and the Gun with Robert Redford. Redford said this week that it would be his ultimate film as an actor.

    Apply us on Fb, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. if you happen to have a story recommendation electronic mail entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

  • Yemen war: Saudi-led coalition to probe air strike on bus

    Symbol copyright AFP/Getty Image caption Kid graves had been dug

    The Houthi-affiliated well being ministry now says the demise toll from the strike has risen to FIFTY ONE in general, including FORTY children, with a further 79 injured.

    UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres has called for an “impartial and advised investigation” into the strike, his spokesperson stated.

    Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, chief of the Houthi Ideal Revolutionary Council, tweeted that he was ready to co-perform with a global inquiry.

    What came about in Saada?

    The bus used to be hit as it passed through Dahyan marketplace, transporting native civilians, including many schoolchildren, Yemeni tribal elders told the Associated Press information agency.

    The kids were on their long ago to college from a picnic when the motive force of their bus stopped to get a drink, the charity Shop the youngsters said it have been informed by its body of workers.

    The car used to be desk bound whilst the assault took place, it added.

    Image copyright Reuters Image caption The Houthi health ministry says at least 40 youngsters have been killed in the assault Yemen difficulty: who is preventing whom? Yemen warfare: What existence is like for kids within the us of a

    Why is there a struggle in Yemen?

    Yemen has been devastated by way of a war that escalated in early 2015, when the Houthis seized keep watch over of so much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to escape out of the country.

    Media playback is unsupported for your software

    Media captionThe war in Yemen has been raging for years – however what is all of it about?

    Alarmed by the rise of a bunch they saw as an Iranian proxy, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and 7 different Arab states intervened in an try to restore the government.

    Almost 10,000 people – -thirds of them civilians – were killed and 55,000 others injured in the fighting, in line with the UN.

    The preventing and a partial blockade through the coalition have additionally left 22 million people in want of humanitarian assist, created the world’s largest food safety emergency, and led to a cholera outbreak that is idea to have affected 1,000,000 other people.

    (more…)