Samsung Heir Lee Jae-yong Jailed for Five Years for Corruption

The billionaire heir-apparent to South Korean electronics giant Samsung has been jailed for five years as part of a whopping corruption scandal that also prompted the impeachment of the East Asian nation’s former President Park Geun-hye late last year

Lee Jae-yong, 49, who effectively ran the world’s biggest cellphone maker in place of his ailing father, stood accused of bribery and embezzlement relating to payoffs to a confidante of Park who lobbied on the $250 billion company’s behalf.

French President Emmanuel Macron Spends €26,000 On Makeup In Three Months

It has been revealed that french president Emmanuel Macron had spent 26,000€ on makeup during his first three months in office.

French magazine Le Point reported on Thursday that his makeup artist, Natacha M., has billed the executive arm once for €10,000, and for a second time €16,000 since he resumed office.

The presidency released a statement clarifying the issue. They had “called in a contractor as a matter of urgency,” they said, causing the cost to be higher than usual.

The issue is particularly infuriating as Macron had implemented severe budget cuts that has head of the French armed forces to resign, and plunged his approval ratings to below 40%.

Whitehouse.gov petition to label antifa as a 'terror group' generates more than 290,000 signatures

A new petition calling on the Trump administration to formally recognize the so-called antifa as a “terrorist organization” has generated nearly 300,000 signatures in a week — well beyond the threshold that is supposed to trigger a formal response from the White House. But there’s been no indication under President Trump that it will.

The petition, created by last week in the wake of the violent clashes between white supremacists and antifascists in Charlottesville, Va., argues that the group’s tactics are akin to ISIS:

Terrorism is defined as “the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims”. This definition is the same definition used to declare ISIS and other groups, as terrorist organizations. AntiFa has earned this title due to its violent actions in multiple cities and their influence in the killings of multiple police officers throughout the United States. It is time for the pentagon to be consistent in its actions – and just as they rightfully declared ISIS a terror group, they must declare AntiFa a terror group – on the grounds of principle, integrity, morality, and safety.

At a campaign rally in Phoenix earlier this week, Trump himself referred to the masked antifascist protesters by name.

“You know, they show up in the helmets and the black masks and they’ve got clubs and they’ve got everything,” the president told the crowd. “Antifa!”

The State Department maintains a list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) that are designated by the secretary of state. There are currently 61, including ISIS, al-Qaida and Boko Haram.

The petition to add antifa to that list has more than 290,000 signatures — nearly triple the number it needed by Sept. 16 to get “an official response.”

The digital platform, which was created in 2011 under President Barack Obama, drew nearly half a million petitions during his presidency. And the Obama White House answered many of them, including a petition to forgive student loan debt, a call for Obama to pardon Edward Snowden and, most memorably, a plea for the federal government to begin construction on a Death Star, the galactic superweapon featured in the “Star Wars” film franchise.

“The Administration does not support blowing up planets,” Paul Shawcross, a White House science and technology adviser, replied in a statement. “Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?”

But the Trump administration has yet to respond to any of the 10 other petitions that have crossed the 100,000 threshold.

A petition calling on the Trump administration to immediately release the president’s tax returns, launched on the day of Trump’s inauguration, crossed that mark a day later. It now has more than a million signatures.

Russian ambassadors keep dying in mysterious ways

Russia's ambassador to Sudan was found floating dead in a swimming pool in his Khartoum home on Wednesday.

Mirgayas Shirinskiy, 63, "was found in his residence with evidence of an acute heart attack," Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, told BBC on Thursday.

While the cause of death is initially being considered natural, since Shirinskiy suffered from high blood pressure, seven Russian ambassadors have died in mysterious ways over the last two years.

Two of them died from heart attacks, and Shirinsky would be the third.

Most notable was former Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, who died of a heart attack in February in New York. The US State Department asked the New York City medical examiner's office to not release his autopsy.

Roman Skrynikov, the former Russian ambassador to Kazakhstan, also died of an apparent heart attack in December 2016.

Police gun down husband of slain "Nairobi's prettiest thug"

Months after his wife and partner in crime met her death in the hands of the police, notorious thug Mwaniki aka Mwanii Sparta has been gunned down.

Mwanii, one of the most wanted criminals in Nairobi, was killed by police last weekend at Witeithie Estate in Juja.

Actress Eucharia Anunobi's son passes on at age 15 from sickle cell anemia

The 15-year old son of Nollywood actress and Evangelist, Eucharia Anunobi, Raymond Ekwu, has passed on. Raymond who she had by her ex-husband, Charles Ekwu, in 2002, has been living with Sickle Cell Anemia since birth. He died from complications associated with the disease on Tuesday, August 22nd.  

May his soul rest in peace...Amen.

Anatoly Antonov named new Russian ambassador to US

Antonov takes the job at a time when US-Russia relations are badly strained [File: AP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has named Anatoly Antonov, a career diplomat who is on the European Union's sanctions list because of Moscow's role in the Ukraine, as Russia's new ambassador to the United States.

Antonov, whose appointment was announced on Monday, takes the job at a time when US-Russia relations are badly strained following the approval of a new wave of US sanctions against Moscow, and the Kremlin's decision to sharply cut American diplomatic personnel in Russia.

Antonov succeeds Sergei Kislyak, who found himself in the centre of controversy amid claims of Russia's interference in the US presidential vote.

Kislyak's contacts with members of Trump's team have been part of congressional and FBI investigations into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Russia has denied any interference in the US election.

Tensions in Togo as anti-Gnassingbe rally turns deadly

Togolese forces used tear gas to disperse protesters in Lome [Photo courtesy Emmanuelle Sodji]

Tensions have erupted in Togo after protests against the ruling Gnassingbe family dynasty over the weekend turned deadly. 

Two protesters were killed and 12 gendarmes were wounded in Sokode, 338km north of the capital, Lome, when security forces opened fire to break up demonstrations, the security ministry said on Saturday. 

Tikpi Atchadam, Togo's opposition leader and president of the PNP party, put the death toll at seven on Saturday night. 

President Faure Gnassingbe has been in power in the West African country since the 2005 death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had been at the helm for 38 years.

BLAC CHYNA Sure, She Gave Rob Lambo and Ferrari THEY WERE LEASED!!!

Blac Chyna was so incensed Rob Kardashian kept the Range Rover she gave him, some eyewitnesses say she tried to steal it ... but we've learned none of the whips in question were owned by either of them.

We broke the story ... Chyna and Rob met at a Century City office building to try and hash out their custody dispute, Rob called the valet to get the Rover but stayed back until Chyna left.

10 New Artists You Need to Know: August 2017

Once again, we talked to 10 of the hottest artists who are climbing the charts, breaking the Internet or just dominating our office stereos. This month: "Everyday We Lit" hitmaker YFN Lucci, Chicago producer Knox Fortune, genre-blurring Argentinean trio Fémina and more.

YFN Lucci

Terrence Navalta

Sounds Like: The next sing-song Atlanta rapper to take over the radio

For Fans of: Future, Fetty Wap, Rich Homie Quan

Why You Should Pay Attention: YFN Lucci was a success story this summer, earning a radio hit with "Everyday We Lit" featuring PnB Rock, working in the tradition of melodic Atlanta MCs like collaborator and former labelmate Rich Homie Quan. Though the single peaked at Number 33, it spent weeks in the Top 40, accumulating 45 million Spotify streams and earning a remix featuring Wiz Khalifa and Lil Yachty. Last year he teamed with Migos and Trouble for "Key to the Streets," another warm weather radio staple.

He Says: "I have my own style," he says. "A bunch of people from Atlanta don't really rap about what I rap about: I rap about things that happened. I'm talking about what I been through. I ain't just talkin' 'bout the money I have. I talk about how I grew up. I grew up in the struggle. A lot of people can relate to the struggle."

"Everybody tryin' to make the same-sounding beats, same type of shit – Metro Boomin and shit," Lucci adds. "June [James, producer of many of Lucci's recent songs] give me another sound."

Hear for Yourself: In "Everyday We Lit," the piano stays serene while the drums communicate exuberance. "I got the hottest 16, one of the best you've ever seen," Lucci boasts. "But she like it when I sing on it." Elias Leight

Suspected driver in Barcelona attack shot and killed, appeared to be wearing explosive belt: Police

Spanish authorities announced that Younes Abouyaaqoub, the suspected driver in a deadly vehicle attack in Barcelona that killed 13 people, was shot and killed Monday. He was wearing what appeared to be an explosive belt at the time, police said.

Earlier this morning, police named Abouyaaqoub as the driver of a van that plowed down Barcelona's crowded Las Ramblas promenade Thursday, killing 13 and injuring many more.

7 home remedies for getting fair skin naturally

Dark spots, age spots, acne -- all of these imperfections can get to you. Looking at your reflection, you may wish you could simply get rid of the uneven tones.

Fair skin can't be gotten overnight, but with a little bit of patience and some TLC, you may be able to lighten some of the blemishes and get the tones you desire. Try the 7 home remedies for fair skin below and see what a difference they can make.

A scientist reveals the secrets to beating jet lag

• Jet lag is the disruption of your body clock.
• Your body or circadian clock regulates a host of different functions including your sleep, metabolism, and digestion.
• Before and during your flight, shift your activity pattern to match that of your destination.

Jet lag.

That dreaded side effect of international travel hell bent on ruining a great time.

After all, days of insomnia, nausea, constipation, and general discomfort can quickly throw a wrench in any vacation or business trip.

Unfortunately, most travelers don't have a great understanding of what really is this thing we call "jet lag." As a result, we are woefully under equipped to beat it. 

That is why we asked a world-renowned biologist for an explanation and some tips.

Republican lawmakers' support for Trump tumbles after his response to Charlottesville

President Donald Trump's racially fraught comments about a deadly neo-Nazi rally have thrust into the open some Republicans' deeply held doubts about his competency and temperament, in an extraordinary public airing of worries and grievances about a sitting president by his own party.

Behind the high-profile denunciations voiced this week by GOP senators once considered Trump allies, scores of other, influential Republicans began to express grave concerns about the state of the Trump presidency. In interviews with Associated Press reporters across nine states, 25 Republican politicians, party officials, advisers and donors expressed worries about whether Trump has the self-discipline and capability to govern successfully.

Eric Cantor, the former House majority leader from Virginia, said Republicans signaled this week that Trump's handling of the Charlottesville protests was "beyond just a distraction."

"It was a turning point in terms of Republicans being able to say, we're not even going to get close to that," Cantor said.

Chip Lake, a Georgia-based GOP operative who did not vote for Trump in the general election, raised the prospect of the president leaving office before his term is up.

Hong Kong protest: Thousands march for jailed activists

Thousands of people have marched through the streets of Hong Kong in protest at the jailing of three pro-democracy activists last week.

Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow were initially given non-custodial sentences for their involvement in mass protests in 2014.

But on Thursday the court of appeal gave the activists jail terms of between six and eight months.

Their supporters say the process was politically motivated.

On Sunday, protesters braved sweltering temperatures to march to the Court of Final Appeal, where all three men are expected to take their case.

They chanted "Release all political prisoners" while some carried a large banner reading: "It's not a crime to fight against totalitarianism."

"This shows that the Hong Kong government, the Chinese communist regime and the department of justice's conspiracy to deter Hong Kong people from continuing to participate in politics and to protest using harsh laws and punishments has completely failed," said protest organiser and former student leader Lester Shum.

Controversy trails death of Nigerian man who was stabbed to death in India

The cause of death of a Nigerian man named Eze residing in India, is currently a puzzle as different versions of what may have led to his death have sprung up. Some say Eze was stabbed to death in the early hours of today allegedly by his girlfriend, an Igbo lady residing in India, while others are alleging that a man whom he had a fall out with stabbed Him. Facebook user, Blacgold who shared the story online wrote:

"A humble fellow who left Nigeria to India in search of a better life and then
Later fall in love with one runs girl who came to India to hustle on a street level. This early morning announced death ? by stab. The girlfriend send him to early grave. What a life? The picture is the victim and girlfriend".

A Nigerian came on the comment section to insist that the deceased was killed by a man. See another photo of the deceased and their comments below

'Free speech rally' cut short after massive counterprotest

Thousands of demonstrators chanting anti-Nazi slogans converged Saturday on downtown Boston in a boisterous repudiation of white nationalism, dwarfing a small group of conservatives who cut short their planned "free speech rally" a week after a gathering of hate groups led to bloodshed in Virginia.

An estimated 15,000 counterprotesters marched through the city to historic Boston Common, where many gathered near a bandstand abandoned early by conservatives who had planned to deliver a series of speeches. Police vans later escorted the conservatives out of the area, and angry counterprotesters scuffled with armed officers trying to maintain order.

Organizers of the midday event, billed as a "Free Speech Rally," have publicly distanced themselves from the neo-Nazis, white supremacists and others who fomented violence in Charlottesville on Aug. 12. A woman was killed at that Unite the Right rally, and scores of others were injured, when a car plowed into counterdemonstrators.

Opponents feared that white nationalists might show up in Boston anyway, raising the specter of ugly confrontations in the first potentially large and racially charged gathering in a major U.S. city since Charlottesville. But only a few dozen conservatives turned out for the rally on historic Boston Common — in stark contrast to the estimated 15,000 counterprotesters — and the conservatives abruptly left early.

One of the planned speakers of the conservative activist rally said the event "fell apart."

Siberia Stabbing Attack Suspect Fatally Shot After Wounding 7

A knife-wielding man went on a stabbing rampage Saturday in a Siberian city, wounding seven people before police shot and killed him.

The Islamic State's Aamaq news agency hours later claimed the attacker was "an Islamic State soldier." There was no immediate Russian comment and it was unclear if the IS claim was opportunistic.

A statement from Russia's Investigative Committee said the mid-day attack on a central street in Surgut said the suspect had been identified as a resident in his early 20s. It said information was being sought on his psychiatric condition, suggesting authorities did not suspect terrorism as the likely motive.

Former neo-Nazi: Trump’s message parrots my old propaganda

A reformed neo-Nazi says President Trump is partly to blame for legitimizing the white nationalism that exploded in Virginia last weekend.

Chuck Leek, 49, of San Diego, was involved in a number of racist skinhead groups, including the White Aryan Resistance and the Hammerskins, from roughly 1987 until 2001, and spent time in prison for assault with a deadly weapon.

In the aftermath of the violence in Charlottesville, Va., Yahoo News spoke to Leek about his history with white supremacy, the rise of the alt-right and what he thinks caused it.

“The message [Trump] was putting out during the election cycle absolutely parroted in a lot ways the message that we were putting out when we were Nazi skinheads trying to recruit people to that cause,” he said.

Leek’s old talking points included blaming immigrants for the problems of native-born Americans, pushing for the construction of a border wall and singling out Muslims.

“It was a thinly veiled appeal to that white nationalist sentiment. It’s something that I felt until recently was on the decline,” Leek said.

Barcelona terror gang planned to murder thousands of people using explosive known as the Mother of Satan

The Barcelona terror gang planned to murder thousands of people using an explosive known as the Mother of Satan.

It is thought they intended to simultaneously detonate bombs in vans at three locations in the Spanish city.

Targets included the Sagrada Familia church, a Unesco World Heritage Site, which is one of the most visited attractions in Europe.

The other two locations were the port area of the city and the Ramblas, where a van was deliberately driven into crowds on Thursday afternoon, killing 13 and injuring 130.

ECLIPSE 2017 (Why Scientists Are So Excited About This Solar Eclipse)

On Monday, Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible from a narrow strip of land that stretches all the way across the U.S., from Oregon to South Carolina. It will be the first total solar eclipse since 1918 to cross the nation from coast to coast.

Breaking News: Turku, Finland Stabbing Attack Leaves Several Wounded: Police

Several people have been wounded in a stabbing in the city of Turku, western Finland, police said Friday, and a hunt was underway for potential attackers.

One suspected attacker was shot, according to police who urged citizens to leave the immediate area in the center of the city while they searched for "possible more perpetrators."The Turun Sanomat newspaper reported that at least one person was killed in the attack.

Runaway Father Allegedly Impregnates 14-Year Old Daughter

The police in Delta State have launched a manhunt for one Mr. Orutebe, who allegedly impregnated his 14-year-old daughter in Ugboroke, in the Uvwie council area of the state. Orutebe, who was said to be in his mid 40s, allegedly fled his home after initially claiming responsibility for the pregnancy. It was learnt that the suspect, who hails from Ogulagha kingdom, in the Burutu Local Government Area of the state, had two wives.

Bipolar disorder: Brain mechanism could be key for prevention

Siblings of bipolar people are resilient to the disorder thanks to hyperconnectivity of the default mode network in the brain, a recent study suggests.

Scientists have found that many siblings of people with bipolar disorder, who should themselves be susceptible to it, are made resilient by an adaptive brain mechanism, characterized by higher levels of activity in a cerebral network linked with cognition.

People with bipolar disorder are subject to extreme mood shifts, from feeling "high" to feeling absolutely "down." They also experience abnormal fluctuations in their energy levels, which can lead to disrupted activity patterns.

In the United States, the yearly prevalence of bipolar disorder among adults is approximately 2.6 percent, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

10 home remedies for getting rid of bed bugs

Bed bugs like to travel from place to place just as much as people. Reader's Digest reports that most of them are transported on people's luggage, clothing and furniture.

Rather than refusing to buy used furniture, stay in a hotel, or fly on an airplane ever again, you can implement these 10 home remedies for getting rid of them if you find you have a few hitchhikers.