Rome: Italian police has arrested 11 suspects linked to fugitive head of the Sicilian Mafia, Matteo Messina Denaro; one of them, a former boss who ran a sheep-based code secret message system for the mobster. The arrests come after an investigation that followed passing of messages between 2011 and 2014, using hidden cameras and microphones around a farm near Trapani in Western Sicily. Matteo Messina Denaro, 53, who has been on the run since 1993, used a farm in Mazara del Vallo to communicate with his henchmen via the aged-old method of “pizzini”, bits of paper containing messages often written in cipher, police said. “The sheep need shearing ... the shears need sharpening” and “the hay is ready”, were among code phrases used to alert the gang to a new message, written on tightly folded bits of paper wrapped in sellotape and then hidden in the dirt. Three of the arrested are over the age of 70.
Mullah Omar's family disapproves of new Taliban chief
Peshawar: Family of late Taliban leader Mullah Omar has said they do not back his successor Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, and wants a new chief to be chosen by Islamic scholars and veterans of the movement. In an audio statement by Omar's younger brother Abdul Manan, the family said they had not given their baiyat, or pledge of allegiance, to Akhtar Mohammad Mansour and did not want to make a choice amid differences. “Mullah Omar during his life had always stressed unity among the mujahideen,” said the statement. His comments were aimed at averting a factional split at a time of growing discord over the direction of peace talks with the Afghan government. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced Mansour as the new leader, a day after confirming that Mullah Omar was dead.
Malaysia seeks help to find MH370 debris
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian officials have sought help from territories near the area where a suspected piece of a Malaysia Airlines jet was discovered. A wing flap suspected to be from the missing Malaysia Airlines was found on Reunion, which was later taken to a French military testing facility to be analysed by experts. Air safety investigators have identified the piece of debris as a flaperon from the trailing edge of a Boeing 777 wing. Malaysian government officials will ask territories near Reunion to alert them if they find any debris that could be from a plane, as informed by a transport ministry official. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said in a statement Sunday that representatives from Malaysia, the U.S., China, France and Boeing would take part in the verification of the flaperon.
UN to end poverty in next 15 years
United Nations: In a draft agreement that outlines 17 goals with 169 specific targets on issues ranging from ending poverty to ensuring quality education, the 193 member states of the United Nations have concluded on a new development agenda for the next 15 years. The agenda calls for eradicating poverty and hunger, achieve gender equality, improve living standards and take urgent actions to combat climate change. Secretary Ban Ki-moon said, “We can be the first generation that ends global poverty, and the last generation to prevent the worst impacts of global warming before it is too late.” The document called “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” will be adopted at a U.N. summit just before the annual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly.
US spied on ally Japan: Wikileaks
Tokyo: Anti-secrecy group Wikileaks has dropped yet another bomb on the United States with the release of a cache of cables that prove the US has been intercepting calls between Japanese officials on sensitive issues including trade, climate change and bilateral relations, for years. In the cache called, “Target Tokyo”, Wikileaks has alleged that the National Security Agency has 35 targets in Japan, going back to 2006, when Shinzo Abe started his period as prime minister. The targets included the switchboard for the Japanese Cabinet office, the official workplace of the prime minister, and the line of the executive secretary to Abe's chief cabinet secretary. Officials from the central bank and the finance and trade ministries also had their phones tapped, as did the natural gas division of Mitsubishi and the petroleum division of Mitsui.
Myanmar appeals aid for flood relief
Yangon: Flood hit Myanmar has appealed for international assistance to help provide food, shelter and clothing to more than 210,000 people affected by weeks of heavy rainfall. The government has reported at least 47 deaths until now. “We are cooperating and inviting international assistance. We have started contacting possible donor organisations and countries,” said Minister of Information and spokeman for the President's office, Ye Htut. He said international assistance was also needed to relocate people and rebuild communities after the flood waters retreat. The minister informed that the flood waters have begun to recede in Rakhine state on the west coast, which suffered some of the worst flooding after being lashed by the tail of Cyclone Komen, which made landfall in Bangladesh late last weeky. With a per capita GDP of $1,105, Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in East Asia and the Pacific.
Turk CEO gives staff £ 150K each
Turkey: Owner of Turkey's biggest online food ordering service Yemeksepeti, Nevzat Aydin is officially the best boss in the world after he pushed for bonuses for over £ 150,000 per employee, following a £ 375 million acquisition by German Delivery Hero. Aydin said, “If there is a success, we have accomplished it together. Some employees cried, some screamed, some wrote letters of thanks. There were emotions because you affect the lives of the people. People can buy homes, cars.” He will continue to stay at Yemeksepeti after the take over, as a member of the Delivery Hero management team. A spokesperson from the other company said the bonuses had been decided before the acquisition and approved by the new parent company. This is not the first case of profit-sharing payouts, no matter how rare. US entrepreneur Bob Thompson gave 550 workers at Grand Rapids Asphalt in Michigan, $128 million in bonuses, in 1999.
World's finest Opal to go on display
Sydney: An Australian museum has announced it would exhibit what it believes is the best opal stone ever found, a multi-coloured gem, named the Virgin Rainbow. It said the stone valued at more than Aus $1.0 million would go on public display for the first time in September to mark the centenary of opal mining in the country. “It's of unequalled quality, it's a fully crystal opal,” museum director Brian Oldman said. “It's almost as if there's a fire in there; you see all different colours. As the light changes, the opal itself changes. It's quite an amazing trick of nature.” Dug up in Coober Pedy in 2003 by local miners, the Virgin Rainbow came into the museum's possession about 18 months ago and will now be part of an exhibition opening in Adelaide next month. “I think this exhibition will have the finest collection of precious opals that we believe have been brought to one place in the world,” Oldman added.
Giant minion takes over Dublin
Santry: A giant 40 foot inflatable Minion fell down, causing traffic problems in Ireland. The famous animated character reportedly advertising a fairground nearby, knocked off a car's wing mirror and brought traffic to a standstill when it came crashing down on Swords Road. No injuries were reported but Dublin City Councillor Paul McAuliffe said the incident was a “despicable” breach in health and safety and could have had “far more serious consequences”. “I don’t want to sound like a killjoy, but if that had landed on a cyclist, for instance, it could have been serious. If you take the Minion part of it out, if this was a large inflatable weather balloon that had not been properly tethered, there would be no humour in this story at all.” He added, “It seems like one of those innocent silly season stories but I am very concerned that such a large object was allowed escape onto a busy main road. There could have been far more serious consequences.”
Over 100 children rescued in Nigeria
Nigeria: Nigeria's military has released a statement to confirm they had succeeded in freeing captives from the jihadist group. “During the offensive operations, 178 people held captive by the terrorists were rescued,” military spokesman Colonel Tukur Gusau said. “They include 101 children, 67 women and 10 men. They were found “in bad condition caused by maltreatment,” he explained, without stating exactly when they were released. Gusau also confirmed the arrest of a high-ranking Boko Haram commander near the town of Bama in northeastern Borno state. Soldiers also succeeded in closing down numerous Boko Haram camps during their offensive.