The Chancellor Urges More Russian Action to Halt Ukraine Fighting
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russia Sunday to do more to urge pro-Russian separatists to abide by a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine and end fighting with Kyiv's forces.
"Unfortunately we still do not have a cease-fire today," the German leader said after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. She was in Moscow to pay tribute to Russian troops killed in World War Two, the only prominent European leader to visit over the weekend to mark the 70th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany.
Merkel said that in Ukraine there have been "a lot of violations (of the cease-fire) on the part of the separatists." She called Moscow's annexation last year of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula a "severe setback" to German-Russian relations and described it as "a violation of the basis of the common peaceful order of Europe."
Putin said Kyiv's forces were as much to blame for violations of the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine as the separatists. But he said, "Despite all the problems in eastern Ukraine it has become calmer."
The Russian leader said Russia would "bring to bear all the influence we have" on the separatists to end the fighting, which has now extended more than a year and killed more than 6,100 people.
Earlier this month, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk urged Russia to fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreement, which calls for a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine and a de-escalation of military involvement.
The Minsk agreement calls for the withdrawal of all heavy weapons and foreign fighters from eastern Ukraine, the release of all prisoners in Russian custody, and allowing Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe election monitors to begin preparations for local elections.
Source-VOA
Typhoon Noul levels Coastal Areas in the Philippines
Heavy rains and strong winds flattened houses on coastal areas as typhoon Noul crashed into the northeastern tip of the Philippines, killing two people and prompting more than 3,000 residents to move to shelters.
The typhoon weakened slightly after hitting land, with winds of 160 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 195 kilometers per hour as of Monday. It is expected to move north at 19 kilometers per hour and head to southern Japan by Tuesday, the weather bureau said.
British-based Tropical Storm Risk downgraded Noul on Monday to a category four typhoon from category five.
Noul made landfall on Sunday in the rice- and corn-producing province of Cagayan about 400 kilometers north of the capital, Manila, toppling trees and cutting power in wide areas of the province. It is now hovering 185 kilometers north of the town of Aparri in Cagayan.
"The typhoon has moved away, but our problem so far is how to fix what was destroyed. The small houses of our poor townmates in coastal areas were badly hit," Darwin Tobias, mayor of Santa Ana town in Cagayan, said in a radio interview.
The national disaster agency said two men died from electrocution as they were strapping down a tin roof on a house during the height of the typhoon in Aparri.
More than 3,400 residents from Cagayan and Isabela provinces were moved to evacuation centers in schools, gymnasiums and town halls before the typhoon, officials said.
Tobias said some residents from his town started returning to their homes early on Monday when the rains stopped. Despite the destruction wrought by Noul, it also brought much needed rains to rice and corn farms that had been hit by intense summer heat.
"The rains brought by Dodong (local name of Noul) helped our farmers greatly," said James Geronimo, public information officer of Isabela, the country's top corn producer and the second biggest rice-growing province.
An average of 20 typhoons cross the Philippines annually, with the storms becoming fiercer in recent years. More than 8,000 people died or went missing and about a million were made homeless by Haiyan, another category 5 typhoon that struck the central Philippines in 2013, bringing 5-meter high storm surges.
Source-VOA
Beyonce Signs Three Aspiring Singers for $1.5M
Beyonce Knowles has signed three aspiring singers to her Parkwood Entertainment company. According to the New York Post, the diva offered sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey, 17 and 15 years old respectively, a $1 million recording deal after her manager found their viral cover of "Pretty Hurts" on YouTube.
The 33-year-old songbird has requested approval of the deals from a Manhattan judge because the girls are minors. The Bailey sisters' contract covers up to six albums over five years, with Beyonce taking 15 percent of their gross earnings.
"We cannot think of a better person to help guide the girls," the girls' father Douglas said in court documents, adding that his daughters "worship" the former Destiny's Child member.
Another lucky young star Bey has signed to her Parkwood Entertainment is Sophie Beem, a 14-year-old girl from New York. Finishing in the top 40 on "The X Factor (US)" in 2012, she's inked a $560,000 deal.
Source-AceShowbiz
Sam Smith Cancels More Tour Dates
Sam Smith has axed more dates on his tour because of his illness. After canceling a handful of Australian shows last week due to a hemorrhage on his vocal chords, the British singer wrote in an Instagram post sent out on Monday, April 5 that concerts scheduled to take place in Japan and the Philippines wouldn't be happening either.
In the post, he also told his fans that he's seeking treatment in the U.S. "Very upset about Japan and Manilla dates. I've just left Australia and I'm on my way to the states to see a specialist to see what to do from there... This is f**king horrid," he said, captioning a photo of him sitting against a view of the sea.
When announcing the cancellation of his Australian tour last Tuesday, Smith said that he made the decision on doctor's orders to prevent his condition from getting worse. "The doctors have told me I need to fully rest until my vocal chords have healed otherwise this could become a long-term issue," he explained in an Instagram post before adding in another post the affected shows had all been rescheduled for December.
A few days later, he took to the photo-sharing site again to assure fans he was okay. "I am insanely relaxed and am somewhere in the middle of Australia with no phone, no laptop and I haven't spoken a word in three days," he wrote.
"Trying my absolute best to be back on my feet and singing for next week. So amazing to have this time to turn off, but it does make me realize how much I love what I do, and how much I miss you all when I'm not on stage," he added.
Mariah Carey Added to Line-Up of Performers for 2015 Billboard Music Awards
Mariah Carey is another name announced as a performer for the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. Between her shows at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace, the diva will be taking the BMA stage at the MGM Grand on May 17.
This will be Carey's first time to appear at the annual event in 17 years. She joins previously-announced performers including Britney Spears, Iggy Azalea, Ed Sheeran, Meghan Trainor, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Wiz Khalifa and Sam Smith.
Carey's residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace starts on May 6 and will run through July 26. "#1 to Infinity", a compilation album to accompany her shows, is coming out on May 18 via Epic Records.
The set includes her 18 singles that have all hit No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100. There'll also be an original song called "Infinity" which was debuted last month and has been rumored to be a diss aimed at her soon-to-be-ex-husband Nick Cannon.
However, the 45-year-old songbird has explained that it's actually a song about "loving yourself first." She recently told EXTRA, "There's a section of the song where it's like a chant - 'You're leaving, you're leaving, you're out the door infinity loving me more and more' - meaning you have to love yourself first, it can't be all about somebody else's thing or their issues, it has to be you and then you can deal with the rest of the things in your life."
Source-AceShowbiz
Manny Pacquiao and Promoters Hit With $5 Million-Plus Lawsuit
Manny Pacquiao is hit with $5 million-plus consumer fraud lawsuit filed by two watchers of May 2 fight between the Filipino boxer against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. The plaintiffs also name the event's promoters that included Top Rank, the boxer's adviser Michael Koncz, promoter Robert Arum and Todd Duboef in the suit.
The plaintiffs, Stephane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, May 5 in U.S. District Court in Nevada. In the lawsuit, they claim that the defendants didn't disclose shoulder injury suffered by the boxer in a pre-fight questionnaire on May 1.
"Upon information and belief Pacquiao and other(s) assisting him checked 'No' on the NAC (Nevada Athletic Commission) questionnaire, which asked if he had a shoulder injury," so the suit reads. It is also mentioned in the lawsuit that "all members of the class relied upon the misrepresentations and the non-disclosures in purchasing tickets; purchasing pay per view showings; and in making wagers on the event."
Vanel and Rahbaran now are seeking for $5 million in the name of "potentially hundreds of thousands of ticket purchasers; pay per view purchasers and persons who wagered on the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight... which were victimized by Defendants' failure to disclose and to cover up the injuries of Defendant Pacquiao."
Nevada authorities are now investigating the case. It is said that Pacquiao has been scheduled to have shoulder surgery some time this week to decide whether the claim is valid or not. If the claim is proven to be true, the defendants can be hit with perjury charges or other legal issues.
"Disclosure is a big thing for us, and honesty," Cisco Aguilar, the NAC chairman, said of the claim. "The commission at some point will have to discuss (Pacquiao's medical questionnaire). I've got to run through the process with the (Nevada) Attorney General (Adam Laxalt). But they do sign that document under the penalty of perjury."
Source-AceShowbiz
BMW's quarterly earnings beat forecasts
Strong sales of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in Europe and the US helped German carmaker BMW to beat forecasts with its first-quarter results.
Underlying earnings rose more than 20% to €2.52bn ($2.84bn; £1.85bn), beating analysts' forecasts.
Revenues in the January-to-March period rose 14.7% to €20.9bn.
Growth in North America as well as Europe powered results, with the Munich-based firm citing strong demand for luxury SUVs, such as its X5 model.
"We have got off to a good start in 2015," said Norbert Reithofer, the chairman of BMW's board of management.
BMW also reaffirmed its guidance for solid growth this year.
Sales of luxury vehicles and motorcycles will stay strong, the company says, helped by continued demand for new BMW models.
"We are aiming to achieve solid growth in 2015, and hence new record figures for sales volume and profit before tax," said Mr Reithofer.
BMW's Mini unit also saw robust demand in the period: sales of three and five door Minis doubled during the first quarter.
Motorcycle sales reached a new high in the first quarter, and BMW forecasts the unit will continue to grow this year.
However, the carmaker said some markets, including Russia, would present challenging conditions this year.
BMW also expects growth in the Chinese car market to slow this year.
After rising in the morning, shares in BMW finished down 2.25% in Frankfurt.
Source-BBC
Kerry, Saudis to Discuss Yemen Crisis
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said talks about a "humanitarian pause" in Yemen will be a focal point of his upcoming meetings with Saudi officials.
Kerry said he will discuss the nature of a pause and how it might be implemented when he arrives in Riyadh late Wednesday.
He spoke from Djibouti Wednesday, where he held meetings with President Ismail Omar Guelleh and other officials. Kerry said Somalia and Yemen’s unrest were among the issues they discussed.
Djibouti has played a key role in hosting Americans and other foreigners fleeing from violence in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels who have taken control of some parts of the country.
Kerry said there are indications that parties involved in Yemen’s conflict are ready to consider a humanitarian pause.
“In my conversation yesterday with another foreign minister from another country, there was an indication that others, the Houthi, might be willing to engage in a pause,” he said.
Kerry made his remarks during a joint appearance with Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
During the appearance, he also announced the U.S. would provide another $68 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen. The money will be used to provide food, water, shelter, medical care and other aid.
“Millions of vulnerable people urgently need help,” the secretary said.
The State Department said the money would help humanitarian organizations, which have been hampered by fuel shortages in the country, meet the needs of nearly 16 million people in Yemen affected by the country’s crisis, including about 300,000 who have been internally displaced.
Ahead of Kerry’s arrival in Djibouti, a senior State Department official said more than 500 American citizens evacuated from Yemen have come through Djibouti along with an equal number of family members. The official said the number of foreigners leaving Yemen has been “steady.”
US Approves Ferry Service to Cuba
The Obama administration took another step forward in its efforts to normalize relations with Cuba by restoring commercial ferry services between the former Cold War rivals.
The U.S. Treasury Department Tuesday issued licenses to at least four companies to ferry passengers and cargo along the 150-kilometer (90-mile) route from the southern tip of Florida to Havana. Three of the companies are based in Florida.
In a related story, U.S.-based airliner Jet Blue announced Tuesday it would provide charter flights between New York City and Havana beginning in July.
Ferry service between the U.S. and Cuba was commonplace in the years before the 1959 communist revolution led by Fidel Castro that overthrew the regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
U.S. citizens who wish to travel to Cuba can only do so under limited guidelines, including educational and cultural tours.
Washington and Havana have held a number of high-level talks since U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced last December the two countries were renewing diplomatic ties after more than five decades.
Obama and Castro held face-to-face talks at last month's Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama.
Puerto Rico rejects smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes
Smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes will not be allowed in Puerto Rico, but cannabis derivatives could be consumed in other ways, government officials said Tuesday as they provided more details on the governor's weekend executive order on cannabis use.
Justice Secretary Cesar Miranda told The Associated Press that the government would allow patients access to cannabis derivatives that would be inhaled or used orally, such as potions or pills.
"Smoking marijuana is not being contemplated as part of a medical treatment," he said.
Advocates say marijuana helps with conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, anxiety, and nausea from chemotherapy or drugs to combat HIV.
Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla issued an order late Sunday directing the island's health department to authorize the use of some or all controlled substances or derivatives of the cannabis plant for medical use. Health Secretary Ana Rius has three months to submit a report that details how the order will be implemented, the impact it will have and what future steps could be taken.
It is unclear whether Garcia supports smoking pot to treat illnesses. He did not specify in his executive order what type of medical marijuana uses he supports, and his office said he had no plans to comment on the issue.
Rius told reporters Tuesday that smoking marijuana regardless of its purpose would still be considered a crime.
The general use of medical marijuana is legal in 23 U.S. states, and a group of U.S. legislators is seeking to remove federal prohibitions on it. In the Caribbean, Jamaicarecently passed a law that partially decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of pot and paves the way for a legal medical marijuana sector.
Of the 23 states permitting medicinal uses of marijuana, only New York bars people from smoking pot for such purposes, said Amanda Reiman at the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, which supports marijuana legalization.
"A lot of patients prefer to inhale the cannabis than take it orally," she said in a phone interview. "If they have to take it only through a pill, it can be very difficult to tell what the right dose is ... It's pretty short-sighted to take away that method that most patients rely on to figure out how cannabis affects them."
Some patients might opt for a tea or an edible form of marijuana if they are having trouble sleeping, said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. Others dealing with spasms from multiple sclerosis or nausea from chemotherapy will likely want an immediate effect, he said.
"Smoking brings on the pain relief in less than a minute," he said. "You want them to take the medication in the form that works best for them."
Puerto Rico's justice secretary said that once the health department's report is finalized, it can go into effect without further approval from the governor.
Rius added that the University of Puerto Rico is collaborating with two U.S. companies to launch a clinical investigation into the use and production of medicinal cannabis. She identified the companies as Chicago-based Quantum 9 and Las Vegas-based GrowBlox Sciences.