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  • Macron aide: French police raid disgraced Benalla’s administrative center

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Benalla and Mr Macron pictured in combination on Bastille Day this month

    “the one individual chargeable for this affair is me,” he stated. “If they are on the lookout for any individual to carry responsible, he is proper in front of you. they are able to come and get me.”

    Lawmakers have been not easy to understand why the presidency didn’t act quicker because the inner minister admitted he knew of the video on 2 Would Possibly.

    Mr Macron again criticised participants of the media on Wednesday, telling journalists from shops: “you’ve been saying a whole lot of nonsense over the previous few days.”

    Dismissive of the fourth estate

    By Lucy Williamson, BBC Paris correspondent

    Emmanuel Macron has been cautious of the media ever on account that he entered the Elysée Palace.

    His tightly managed operation may not stand for the kind of grubby insights given away through his predecessor, as an alternative preferring a more faraway, virtually regal symbol for the president, above the fray of media scrabble.

    But hardly has this champion of democratic values been so overtly dismissive of the fourth estate.

    The heavy-passed actions of Alexandre Benalla have turned up the heat on President Macron, because Le Monde published a video final week appearing the presidential bodyguard impersonating a police officer all over Might Day demonstrations, hauling off one protestor and beating every other one.

    Mr Benalla has considering the fact that been fired, however the scandal over his preliminary – allegedly lenient – treatment through the Elysée precipitated parliament to break its customary deliberations this week, and has led to the conservative opposition calling for a vote of no trust within the government.

    Its impact – a few are even calling it France’s Watergate – turns out overblown, most likely inflated by means of a dearth of stories prior to the summer season holiday, however Mr Macron’s obvious anger at being focused like this says as much about his sort of management because the media itself.

    Mr Macron pushed aside Mr Benalla from his position as assistant to the French president’s leader of workforce on Friday.

    On Sunday, charges were introduced in opposition to Mr Benalla, who’s accused of attack with an partner, interfering in police paintings, impersonating a police officer and illegally receiving surveillance footage.

    On Monday, the president’s most sensible bodyguard throughout closing year’s election marketing campaign defended his actions, claiming that he was once “lending a hand” to the rebellion officers at the scene after he was “invited to observe” their operations.

    He believes his behaviour was being exploited for “media and political ends”, his attorneys stated.

    (more…)

  • Imran Khan: Cricket hero who may well be Pakistan’s subsequent PM

    In this picture taken on June 30, 2018, Pakistan Symbol copyright AFP

    Imran Khan is a former international cricket star who promises a “new Pakistan” and an finish to corruption if he wins the overall election.

    The charismatic aristocrat who captained Pakistan to an international Cup victory in 1992 has lengthy shed his famous person playboy image and now styles himself as a pious, populist, anti-poverty reformer.

    Mr Khan, 65, struggled for years to turn popular make stronger into electoral gains. He launched his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 1996 however he used to be the one candidate in the birthday celebration to win a seat in 2002. The PTI boycotted the 2008 vote.

    Although he has long been one in every of Pakistan’s very best-identified faces the world over, he spent years on the political sidelines. That led to teasing – for a few Imran Khan become “Imran Khan’t”.

    It took till the ultimate general election in 2013 for his celebration to turn out to be a significant player, whilst it narrowly missed changing into the second largest nationally.

    If his long look ahead to the top process is finally to finish, he wishes an an electoral swing of epic proportions.

    The PTI currently holds just below one-10th of the 342 seats in the National Assembly and will wish to make massive profits within the an important province of Punjab, which has greater than half the 272 immediately-elected seats.

    it is also the facility base of the ousted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.

    ‘Playboy image’

    Oxford-trained Mr Khan had an illustrious profession in global cricket spanning twenty years from the nineteen seventies.

    Image copyright AFP Image caption Imran Khan was once at the helm for one in every of his u . s .’s nice triumphs

    He additionally advanced a name as one thing of a playboy at the London nightclub circuit, even though he denies that he ever drank alcohol or engaged in any activities that may be regarded as irrelevant for a conservative Pakistani Muslim.

    Many say his subsequent forays into the fields of philanthropy and politics have been fuelled by way of a want to positioned to make use of the leadership qualities and goodwill he received as a cricketer.

    His pin-up seems to be and private life have ensured he is been a favourite of the world’s media for decades.

    In 1995, at the age of 43, he married the 21-year-vintage British socialite, Jemima Goldsmith – the daughter of certainly one of the world’s richest men at the time, Sir James Goldsmith.

    The marriage produced boys but was once dissolved in 2004. The split used to be amicable, and Mr Khan seems to have maintained a pleasant courting together with his ex-spouse.

    Image copyright PA Image caption Imran Khan and Jemima Goldsmith’s union used to be dissolved in 2004

    A second marriage in 2015, to journalist Reham Khan, lasted not up to a year. the former BBC climate presenter alleges she was once bullied via his supporters and has written a tell-all memoir.

    It has been making waves in Pakistan, where its newsletter was placed on hold by way of the courts in the run-as much as the election.

    Mr Khan wed again in 2018 in a low-profile rite in Lahore.

    His 3rd spouse Bushra Watto, a mom of 5, was once defined as his religious adviser, and observers say the match plays neatly together with his public shows of devotion to Islam.

    Why Pakistan’s election matters Fears of ‘creeping coup’ in Pakistan Who’re the ‘angels’ and the ‘electables’?

    As a political candidate, Imran Khan’s views have continuously shifted or been imprecise. Many accuse him of U-turns. What he would truly do in energy is basically uncertain.

    Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Imran Khan supporters assume their time has come

    He upholds liberalism but at the similar time appeals to Islamic values and anti-West sentiment, especially when it comes to perceived interference in Pakistan’s inner affairs. He campaigned vocally in opposition to US drone moves in opposition to militants in Pakistan’s tribal spaces as part of the “warfare on terror”.

    He has criticised a few of the Taliban’s violence however last 12 months his celebration’s executive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province gave $3m (£2.3m) to the notorious Haqqania madrassa. Its head, Maulana Sami-ul Haq, is known as the “father of the Taliban”. Imran Khan has had to struggle off name callings he have to be referred to as “Taliban Khan”.

    However it’s his campaign towards corruption and dynastic politics in Pakistan, and a promise to boost a complete new magnificence of “blank” politicians, that turns out to have chimed with his supporters.

    He has sought to ride a wave of disillusionment at Pakistan’s antique political order, particularly a number of the city middle magnificence and young voters, who are tired of dwelling in a rustic with an financial system and foreign money at the slide, and water and tool supply in constant trouble.

    the primary aim of his anti-corruption campaign has been his arch-rival Nawaz Sharif.

    The Panama Papers leak in 2015 revealed a couple of of Mr Sharif’s kids had hyperlinks to offshore companies, which have been allegedly used to channel budget and buy foreign assets.

    That moment provided Imran Khan along with his big likelihood – and he seized it.

    His campaign towards the Sharifs saw him threaten to blockade the capital along with his supporters. Nawaz Sharif was ousted from the place of business of high minister in 2017 and is now behind bars, sentenced to 10 years in jail by way of an anti-corruption courtroom. The Sharifs maintain the costs are politically inspired.

    Imran Khan scents victory in Pakistan vote Point Of View: Pakistan’s dirtiest election in years

    together with his main rival down however now not out, Imran Khan redoubled his efforts to woo politicians with dependable vote banks to his camp. Critics say lots of the so-called “electables” were coerced into defecting, charges the army and PTI deny.

    Mr Khan rejects continual claims that the robust military has manipulated the poll in improve of his marketing campaign.

    He told the BBC in Would Possibly: “The Current military leader, Gen Bajwa, might be probably the most professional-democratic man we have now ever observed.”

    How he may get on with the army within the longer term if he makes it to energy remains an open question.

    If he actually wants to tackle a few of Pakistan’s root problems, he would possibly to find himself on a collision path with the status quo, as earlier governments have discovered.

  • Germany jails Vietnamese guy for ‘Cold War’ kidnapping

    This undated picture received on August 2, 2017 shows Vietnamese national Trinh Xuan Thanh sitting on a park bench in Berlin. Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Trinh Xuan Thanh vanished from Berlin and reappeared in Vietnam, in an alleged state-backed kidnapping

    A Vietnamese guy has been given nearly 4 years in prison for collaborating within the dramatic abduction of a businessman at the streets of Berlin remaining July.

    A Berlin courtroom ruled the FORTY SEVEN-year-antique was once accountable of collaborating in job for Vietnamese intelligence and hiring a automobile for the plot.

    Ex-oil govt Trinh Xuan Thanh, also Vietnamese, used to be looking for asylum in Germany while he used to be dragged right into a van.

    He then became up in Vietnam and was jailed for life on corruption charges.

    German prosecutors said the kidnapping was a “state-organised kidnapping” by way of Vietnam’s mystery provider and that it was once harking back to the Chilly Struggle.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Symbol caption Thanh’s confession and tv appearance were forced, his attorney claims

    Thanh sought political asylum in Germany, and Vietnam issued a world arrest warrant for him.

    On 23 July 2017 he was once walking in broad daylight via Berlin’s Tiergarten park with a woman, when both had been bundled right into a automobile.

    They had been then taken to the Vietnamese embassy and lively to Vietnam. Thanh gave a televised confession not up to fortnight later, which his lawyer stated were coerced. The state said he had decided voluntarily to face the charges.

    He used to be placed on trial along 21 other suspects in January and given life in prison.

    Germany drops Vietnam attache over kidnap ‘Kidnapped’ Vietnam oil exec stands trial

    a humiliation for Vietnam

    To have the workings of Vietnam’s intelligence uncovered throughout a protracted trial in Germany has been a serious blow to the police and Communist Party.

    The idea in the back of the kidnap operation was once to ship a robust message to officials seen as corrupt.

    Instead it shone a light on Vietnamese police and diplomats in Slovakia to boot as Germany, and especially at the man reputed to at the back of the abduction, mystery police common Duong Minh Hung.

    He had it seems that left traces far and wide Berlin prior to the abduction, making phone calls and sending textual content messages to operatives. And one in all the lads concerned in the plot has given a whole confession.

    Caught on camera

    At the beginning of his trial in April, Long NH, who also has Czech nationality, had stayed silent. But he then admitted to renting the kidnap car in Prague, bringing it to Berlin and returning it afterwards. He had also helped erase strains of the kidnapping, however he was once caught as a witness had taken an image of the automobile’s number plate.

    Long NH knew of the plans, the judgement stated, but was now not a part of the command construction. He was once discovered responsible of aiding the abduction and of aiding foreign intelligence process.

    The judge labelled all the affair “a flagrant violation of German sovereignty” and the case has soured relations among Germany and Vietnam at a time whilst Hanoi is attempting to improve family members with the EU.

    How Thanh was taken to Hanoi is unclear. consistent with one concept, he was once taken by means of automobile to Slovakia and put on a airplane. Stories in Germany recommend that a Slovak government plane used to be used that had been on mortgage to a visiting Vietnamese delegation.

  • Irishman on honeymoon dies in Greek fire, circle of relatives confirms

    A firefighting helicopter flies over an avenue during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a northeast suburb of Athens, Greece, 23 July 2018 Image copyright EPA Image caption Top Minister Alexis Tsipras mentioned that “all emergency forces were mobilised”

    A newly married Irishman is showed lifeless after being caught up in wildfires in Greece.

    Brian O’Callaghan-Westropp, who was on honeymoon along with his spouse Zoe Holohan, become separated seeking to get away the flames in the beach hotel of Mati.

    In a press release, the two families stated they have been “deeply saddened” by his loss of life.

    They also requested for privateness “as we grieve and as Zoe makes her recovery.”

    Demise of Irish citizen

    Orla O’Hanrahan, the Irish Ambassador to Greece, showed the death of Mr O’Callaghan-Westropp in an interview with RTÉ.

    Media playback is unsupported in your device

    Media captionIrishman on honeymoon is showed lifeless after Greek wildfires

    “Our sympathies and hearts exit to his circle of relatives at this time,” she said.

    greater than 70 folks have died within the wildfires which have devastated a host of Greek villages and holiday resorts.

    Irish Overseas Affairs Minister Simon Coveney showed one Irish citizen has been hospitalised with burns.

    Mr Coveney said his division may be providing consular help to the person’s circle of relatives.

    Devastating wildfires

    more than 70 other people have died in the wildfires that have devastated a host of Greek villages and vacation inns.

    Media playback is unsupported in your software

    Media captionWildfires lead to devastation in Greece

    Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has declared three days of mourning, even as Italy, Germany, Poland and France have all sent help in the type of planes, cars and hearth fighters.

    Spain and Cyprus have also offered assistance.

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  • China says there’ll be ‘no winner’ in global trade war

    Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Symbol copyright PHILL MAGAKOE Symbol caption Presidents Xi and Ramaphosa – rejecting protectionism

    China has instructed developing international locations there could be no winner in a global business war.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) to reject protectionism.

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa additionally warned of the have an effect on that tariff threats by US President Donald Trump could have on developing countries.

    They had been talking at a three-day assembly of BRICS leaders in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    The BRICS nations include more than FORTY% of the global population however have by no means worked as a co-ordinated financial bloc.

    “we should always be resolute in rejecting unilateralism,” Xi mentioned at the establishing ceremony. “a global industry struggle have to be rejected because there’ll be no winner.

    “Unilateralism and protectionism are mounting, dealing a severe blow to multilateralism. China will proceed to improve itself with its door wide open.”

    Collateral injury

    Xi additionally mentioned the collective upward push of emerging markets and creating nations “is unstoppable and will make global construction more balanced”.

    Last week, President Trump mentioned he used to be ready to impose tariffs on all items imported from China – worth $500bn (£380bn).

    Mr Ramaphosa mentioned: “we are involved through the upward thrust in unilateral measures which can be incompatible with Global Industry Group laws and are concerned in regards to the affect of those measures, particularly on creating international locations.”

    South African Industry Minister Rob Davies stated the rustic used to be struggling collateral harm from the u.s. tariffs on metal and aluminium. He mentioned 7,000 South Africans work in jobs affected by the metals price lists and makes an attempt to get an exemption from the united states executive have been unsuccessful.

    An additional 22 international locations are collaborating in this week’s summit, 19 of them from Africa.

    After the hole rite President Ramaphosa introduced that China had promised investments worth $14.7bn into South Africa.

  • Toronto taking pictures: Julianna Kozis , 10, identified as second victim

    Julianna Kozis Image copyright Courtesy Toronto Police Services And Products Symbol caption Julianna Kozis, of Markham, Ontario, died in the rampage

    Canadian government have released the title of the ten-12 months-old girl killed on Sunday in a mass shooting in Toronto.

    Julianna Kozis died while a gunman opened hearth within the city’s Greektown district. She was once the youngest sufferer of the attack.

    A 2nd sufferer, Reese Fallon, 18, an aspiring nurse, was once out with friends while she was additionally shot and killed.

    Toronto’s Faisal Hussain, 29, is the suspected gunman in the back of the rampage and died after a shootout with police.

    13 people, ranging in age among 17 and FIFTY NINE, have been injured within the assault.

    Symbol copyright Fb Image caption Reese Fallon “used to be very talked-about by way of body of workers and cherished by her buddies”

    Ms Fallon had recently graduated high school and was due to begin university. She was concerned in the youth wing of the federal Liberal celebration and used to be remembered as a tender girl who was “sensible, passionate and entire of power”.

    What can we learn about the suspected gunman?

    Hussain has been described by means of buddies and neighbours as shy and quiet, a young man observed steadily strolling via his Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood.

    Symbol copyright Courtesy Hussain circle of relatives Image caption Faisal Hussain

    Aamir Sukhera, a chum of Hussain’s, spoke to Canadian media on Monday night and described the suspect as somebody who used to be “humble” and “saved to himself”.

    Resident Saira Ahmed informed Reuters that Hussain hardly ever spoke with someone whilst he was once out in the vibrant community, that’s approximately 4km (2.5 miles) north of where the attack came about.

    The Hussain family released a statement during which they expressed their “deepest condolences” to the victims and their families for what they known as “our son’s horrific movements”.

    They said their son suffered from severe psychological health challenges and had struggled with psychosis and despair so much of his lifestyles, neither of which spoke back to treatment.

    “At The Same Time As we did our greatest to hunt help for him right through his lifetime of fight and ache, we could never imagine that this will likely be his devastating and harmful finish,” they mentioned.

    What used to be the reason in the back of the taking pictures?

    Toronto police say it’s too early in the investigation to invest on cause.

    Image copyright AFP/Getty Pictures Symbol caption Citizens of the Danforth house leave plants and light-weight candles for the sufferers

    Federal Public Protection Minister Ralph Goodale has stated there’s no present connection among Hussain and any nationwide security concerns.

    In an announcement on Wednesday, Toronto police said there is no evidence on the moment that supports any hyperlink to terrorism.

    On Monday evening, police executed a seek warrant on the condominium in a modest prime-upward push development that he shared along with his oldsters, and were observed finishing up boxes of proof.

    Police are working with other regulation enforcement businesses in Canada , facing historical past knowledge, Hussain’s experiences with mental well being, and his online job.

    What happened in Toronto?

    On Sunday evening in a while after 22:00 (02:00 GMT Monday) a gunman started firing at individuals who had been out enjoying warm summer time evening at the bustling Danforth Avenue.

    In widely circulated video, the gunman, clad in black, is noticed walking down the street prior to turning, lifting a handgun, and firing.

    in line with Ontario’s Unique Investigations Unit, which looks into incidents concerning police which result in demise, the gunman was tracked by officers to Bowden Street in the course of the capturing.

    cops positioned the man and an trade of gunfire came about. the person fled the realm and was found useless about 100m (330ft) away on Danforth Road.

    Witness Lenny Graf advised the BBC that he used to be out at a restaurant with friends whilst a few kids, including his son, went to play in a nearby park.

    “I heard what seemed like firecrackers,” he stated. “At that time I saw people beginning to run and panic and i realised it must be a capturing”

    He discovered his son crouching behind a fountain, hidden from the shooter who used to be about 10ft away. The gunman walked away and Mr Graf pulled his son into the protection of the restaurant.

    Sunday’s assault shocked citizens and makeshift memorials have considering the fact that sprung up alongside the avenue recognized through locals as “The Danforth”.

    Within The wake of a the shooting, calls are growing for the sale of handguns to be banned in city areas.

    A vigil for the victims is being held on Wednesday night.

  • Rédoine Faïd: Jailbreak gangster narrowly evades police

    A picture taken on July 25, 2018 in the northern Paris suburb of Sarcelles shows the parking where the car abandoned by French robber Redoine Faid was found. Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption Faïd abandoned a car with explosives in an underground parking north of Paris

    A French armed robber narrowly avoided capture more than three weeks after escaping from prison, police say.

    Convicted gangster Rédoine Faïd was once spotted through patrol officials near Paris on Tuesday, police resources advised AFP news agency.

    He fled the scene and abandoned a car with explosives and faux number plates in a shopping centre car park.

    On 1 July Faid, FORTY SIX, broke out of a prison with the help of armed accomplices who hijacked a helicopter.

    The Jailbird King, as he’s dubbed by French media, was once serving a 25-12 months sentence for a 2010 failed robbery during which a police officer was once killed.

    Image copyright IBO/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock Image caption This Is the second jail holiday pulled off by Redoine Faid (pictured in 2010)

    Whilst police discovered the deserted vehicle with plastic explosives in an underground car park, government sealed off the buying groceries centre and bomb disposal mavens have been called in.

    “We do not yet recognise the place the explosives were being taken,” a senior prosecutor advised AFP.

    This Is the primary sighting of the escaped convict because 1 July, after which a few 2,900 law enforcement officials have joined a national manhunt.

    Media playback is unsupported to your software

    Media captionA local man describes listening to explosions all the way through first jailbreak

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  • US pastor Andrew Brunson leaves prison in Turkey

    US pastor Andrew Brunson Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption US pastor Andrew Brunson can’t depart the rustic and must put on an ankle bracelet

    A US pastor detained in Turkey for almost two years is to leave prison and transfer to accommodate arrest till his trial, a courtroom has ruled.

    Andrew Brunson was once arrested in October 2016 for helping an corporation led by means of exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen – which Turkey regards as a terrorist group.

    Turkey blames Mr Gulen for a failed coup try in opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that yr.

    The pastor faces 35 years in prison if found guilty of the fees.

    State media report that almost all of the proof for the case has been amassed.

    Turkey and US lock horns as family members sour Erdogan’s Turkey in depth

    US toughen for Kurdish forces combating the Syrian civil warfare and its refusal to extradite Mr Gulen have angered President Erdogan, whilst Turkey’s determination remaining 12 months to shop for Russian anti-airplane missiles drew controversy.

    State media say the court docket within the western city of Izmir determined that he should be launched on health grounds.

    Cem Halavurt, a lawyer for Mr Brunson, showed he used to be to be placed under space arrest, and may have to wear an electronic ankle bracelet.

    He referred to as the charges against his shopper “utterly unfounded”.

    Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Cem Halavurt showed his shopper was once to be moved to accommodate arrest

    Mr Brunon has lived in Turkey for 23 years and labored as a Protestant pastor on the Izmir Resurrection Church.

    He became considered one of more than 50,000 other folks arrested as a part of President Erdogan’s large crackdown following the coup strive.

    Turkey put up-coup purge convulses society Who used to be at the back of attempted Turkey coup?

    Prosecutors say Mr Brunson worked with a gaggle led by Mr Gulen, who is dwelling in exile in Pennsylvania, as well as with the Kurdistan Workers’ Birthday Celebration (PKK).

    Mr Gulen has denied any involvement in the tried coup. The Eu Union has said it doesn’t proportion Turkey’s view that his community is an apprehension service provider.

  • Porn web site confirmed men ‘tricked into gay sex’

    Bryan Deneumostier Image copyright Miami-Dade Police

    A Person accused of dressing as a girl to trick men into having intercourse with him, and uploading movies of them to the web, has pleaded now not guilty.

    Bryan Deneumostier, from Florida, had uploaded “non-consensual recordings” to a pornography web site known as StraightBoyz, the u.s. Division of Justice alleged.

    The site presented its subscribers videos of “actual instantly men” in sexual eventualities with different males.

    Prosecutors said Mr Deneumostier could be detained until the tip of the trial.

    According to the Miami Herald, a number of victims had come forward with allegations.

    It said Mr Deneumostier had posed as a heterosexual girl on web sites similar to Craigslist so as to lure men to his house.

    He then “allegedly recorded his sexual encounters with them, after which caused those movies to be posted on one or extra web pages” without their consent, according to the us Department of Justice.

    More than 500 movies had been posted to the StraightBoyz web page over a duration of four years. it’s now offline.

    Internet searches for the username he is accused of the usage of on Craigslist reveal social media money owed opting for as “a lovely go dresser lady” from Miami, Florida.

    Many of the boys in the movies had been blindfolded or dressed in darkish goggles at the same time as another guy performed sex acts on them.

    Mr Deneumostier faces 5 fees – two of which the dep. of Justice defined as “surreptitious-recording charges”.

    He Is also accused of three “report-holding violations” because he didn’t “verify the performers’ identification or age, as required via federal legislation”, in step with the department of Justice.

    Separately, Mr Deneumostier has also been charged with illegal sex with a minor.