George Martin, producer of the Beatles, dies aged 90
Ringo Starr announces death of revered producer who signed the band to Parlophone and collaborated on almost all of their records
Martin signed the Beatles to Parlophone records when others had turned them down and produced all but one of their albums. He became and remained one of the most influential producers in popular music history and was often described as the “fifth Beatle”. His reputation stretched well beyond his 23 US and 30 UK No 1 singles.
The news first emerged in a tweet from Ringo Starr and was later confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter by Universal Music Group and by Martin’s management.
Adam Sharp, who represented both Martin and his son Giles, said in a statement: “We can confirm that Sir George Martin passed away peacefully at home yesterday evening, Tuesday 8 March. The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and messages of support …
Total eclipse: Indonesia witnesses totality as Sun is blocked by the Moon
- 9 March 2016
- Science & Environment
Millions of people across Indonesia and the Pacific have experienced a total solar eclipse, with parts of the region falling into complete darkness.
The eclipse began at 06:19 local time (23:19 GMT Tuesday) as the Moon started to pass directly in front of the Sun.
As the eclipse reached totality, the Moon blocked all direct sunlight, turning day into night.
In Indonesia's Belitung province, a crowd gathered on a beach and witnesses spoke of a "magical" experience.
The eclipse was total in much of Indonesia and the Central Pacific, while parts of Australia and Asia experienced a partial one.
Astronomers reiterated advice not to look directly at the Sun with the naked eye, or through a telescope. Experts recommended using either a professional solar filter in front of a telescope or camera, or special eclipse-viewing glasses.
EU-Turkey refugee deal: UN and Amnesty attack ‘short-sighted and inhumane’ plan
The agreement is intended to control the chaotic influx of illegal migrants, but critics say sending vulnerable people back could violate international law
The United Nations has voiced grave concerns about plans for “blanket returns” of refugees to Turkey as part of a radical deal aimed at saving the European Union’s commitment to open borders.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Donald Tusk, head of the European Council, emerged after 12 hours of talks with EU leaders in Brussels to announce a “breakthrough” in tackling Europe’s refugee crisis. “The days of irregular migration to Europe are over,” he said.
That boldness appeared premature, as Hungary threatened a veto while the UN and human rights groups warned that the proposed deal with Turkey could be both illegal and immoral.
Leaked 'Islamic State' files shed light on 'underlying structures,' says de Maiziere
The interior minister claimed that a trove of confidential "Islamic State" files will aid authorities in understanding the group. The cache provides personal information on foreign fighters, including German citizens.
Germany's Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Tuesday said that a trove of confidential "Islamic State" files will facilitate "speedier, clearer investigations and stricter prison sentences" for returnees.
The documents contain personal information about foreign fighters, including those from Germany, who joined the militant group in Iraq and Syria.
The material is based on "entrance interviews" aimed at determining the incoming fighter's status in the "Islamic State," according to a report by Munich-based newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung," which broke the story on Monday with public broadcasters WDR and NDR.
The report stated that those who freely volunteer themselves to join the "Islamic State" had to answer 23 questions that included information on their residence, religion, family status, education and "so-called jihadist experience."
Fears Russia, North Korea collaborating in 'crime against humanity'
March 9, 2016 - 1:29PM
Helen Womack
Budapest: Two isolated regimes, North Korea and Russia, are helping each other with a trade in labour that critics say amounts to state-sponsored human trafficking.
Under a bilateral deal, North Korea earns hard currency by sending labourers to work in Russia's logging and building industries. The trade has grown in recent years, as Pyongyang and Moscow have found themselves shunned over their respective policies of missile testing and bullying Ukraine.
Last month, Moscow signed an extradition treaty with Pyongyang, promising to return any North Koreans who used their chance of working in Russia to defect. Under Vladimir Putin, Russia is merely authoritarian while Kim Jong-un maintains a Stalinist dictatorship back home.
The treaty prompted a protest from the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea, Marzuki Darusman, who said he feared for those who might be forcibly repatriated.
Women fight back against sexual harassment in Mexico
Group takes novel approach in country where distrust of police makes it hard to get victims to report their experience.
Mexico City - A group of Mexican women have taken a novel approach to deal with sexual harassment here in the country's capital.
For the last three years, the women have been fighting back with a song called Sexista Punk and a confetti gun, confronting their harassers through performance.
"We live in a world, where everything revolves around men. We're not interested in educating men. Our idea is the opposite, to educate women," Ana Beatriz, of the Daughters of Violence group, said
A few of the men the group confronted have apologised to the women, and the women say they are seeing some results.
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