Kashmir protests: Another person succumbs to injuries, death toll reaches 37

(indianexpress.com) - After one more injured succumbed at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Medical College Hospital (SKIMS), the death toll in Kashmir has reached 37. Meanwhile, restrictions and curfew continue in most parts of the Valley for the sixth consecutive day on Thursday.

Irfan Ahmad Dar from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district died in the morning at SKIMS, he was admitted in the hospital on Monday. A senior doctor at SKIMS confirmed the death of Dar in the morning.

“It was a critical case of assault and was brought to hospital on Monday, today morning he succumbed to his injuries,” he said.

Meanwhile, restrictions and curfew continue in place across Kashmir, the South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam district are under curfew. In the old city areas curfew like restrictions are in place.

So far more than 1600 persons including security force personnel suffered injuries since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani on Friday. More than 100 civilians have received eye pellet injuries and many of them have lost their vision.

CM Mehbooba Mufti appealed for peace and said, “We have to jointly safeguard our state and our people from further bloodshed and destruction.”

Japanese Emperor Akihito 'wishes to abdicate'

(BBC) - Japan's Emperor Akihito has expressed his desire to abdicate in the next few years, public broadcaster NHK reports.

The 82-year-old, who has had health problems in recent years, reportedly does not wish to remain emperor if he has to reduce his official duties.

But a palace spokesman denied that there is any official plan for the monarch to abdicate in what would be an unprecedented move in modern Japan.

Crown Prince Naruhito, 56, is next in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

An unnamed government source told Japan's Kyodo news agency that the emperor, who plays a largely ceremonial role but is respected deeply by many Japanese, has been contemplating the move for about a year.

His family had accepted his decision, an unnamed palace source told NHK.

However, both palace and government sources say the Imperial Household Law would have to revised to allow for the abdication to take place.

A change to the Imperial Household Law, which stipulates the rules of succession, would require approval by Japan's parliament.

Despite a categorical denial of the reports by imperial palace spokesman Shinichiro Yamamoto, the emperor's reported wishes are being given prominent attention in the Japanese media.

Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Can't Pass a Basic Test of Financial Literacy

According to a FINRA study.

(fortune,com) - Quick: If you take out a $1000 loan that has a 20% rate, how much will you owe a year in interest?

Answer: $200. But if you got that wrong, you’re not alone. Nearly two thirds of Americans can’t calculate interest payments correctly, according to a new study. About a third said they didn’t even know how.

One of the silver linings of the financial crisis was that it was supposed to have taught many Americans a lesson, albeit painful, about the dangers of debt, and financial issues in general. Apparently, the message, though, didn’t get across.

All told, a new study, which was released today, estimated that nearly two-thirds of Americans couldn’t pass a basic financial literacy test, meaning they got fewer than four answers correct on a five-question quiz. Worse, the percentage of those who can pass the test has fallen consistently since the financial crisis to 37% last year, from 42% in 2009.

These findings come from the National Capability Study by the FINRA Foundation, which surveyed 27,564 Americans, from June through October of last year. FINRA in an quasi-government organization that regulates brokers and Wall Street.

Bonds presented one of the biggest problems for respondents of the survey. Just 28% knew what happens to bond prices when interest rates fall. (They rise.) And less than half of all Americans appear to be able to answer basic questions about financial risk.

Beyond financial literacy, the study found that many Americans have recovered from the financial crisis. Respondents to the survey who reported no difficulty in covering monthly expenses and bills increased 12 percentage points, to 48% in 2015 from 36% in 2009. The percentage of respondents with emergency funds has increased to 46% from 35% in the same years. Additionally, more than half of those using credit cards reported that they pay off their balance each month—the highest percentage since the survey began, the study found.

David Cameron to resign July 13 as Theresa May to become British PM

London (CNN) British Prime Minister David Cameron is to resign Wednesday, paving the way for Home Secretary Theresa May to take the reins.

May was officially named Conservative Party leader and successor to Cameron "with immediate effect" Monday, said Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, a collection of Conservative members of Parliament key to electing the party leader. She will replace Cameron on Wednesday evening.

In remarks shortly after her leadership was affirmed, May said her priorities will be to administer Britain's exit from the European Union, a move approved by voters last month, to unite the country and to create a "strong, new, positive vision for the future," not just for the privileged few, but for everyone.

Cameron had already announced he would step down by October after failing to convince the country to remain in the EU in the divisive June 23 referendum that sent shockwaves through Britain's political establishment.

But Monday, May's only remaining rival to replace Cameron -- Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom -- pulled out of the race following controversy over comments she made about motherhood and leadership.

"Obviously, with these changes, we now don't need to have a prolonged period of transition. And so tomorrow I will chair my last Cabinet meeting. On Wednesday I will attend the House of Commons for Prime Minister's questions," Cameron told reporters Monday outside 10 Downing Street.
"And then after that I expect to go to the palace and offer my resignation. So we will have a new prime minister in that building behind me by Wednesday evening."

The vote between May and Leadsom was supposed to go to the wider Conservative Party of 150,000 people, but being the sole candidate, May sidestepped the party rule.

Cameron welcomed Leadsom's decision to drop out of the race and said he was confident May would steer the country in the right direction, calling her strong and competent, and offering her his full support.

Italian baby kept on vegan diet taken into care after being found malnourished

(Telegraph) - A 14-month-old Italian baby, who was reportedly fed a vegan diet, has been removed from his parents after arriving at a Milan hospital seriously malnourished.

The baby, whose name has not been released, was taken to a hospital by his grandparents a week ago and doctors were shocked to see the poor state of the baby’s health and a body weight only just slightly higher than a newborn.

Blood tests revealed the child, who was born in May 2015, was severely malnourished with calcium levels barely adequate to survive. The baby was also suffering from a congenital heart condition which required emergency surgery. He is now recovering in hospital.

Diversity is our strength: U.N. chief urges US to deal with racial disparity in law enforcement

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday the United States needed to comprehensively address discrimination, including racial disparities in law enforcement, after police killed two black men in the Louisiana and Minnesota.

Ban also condemned the killing of five police officers in Dallas, his spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement.

"There is no justification for such violence," Haq said. "Those responsible compounded the suffering that many in the United States feel following the killing of two African-American men over two days."

At least one sniper killed five Dallas police officers and wounded another seven at the end of a protest on Thursday night over this week's pair of fatal shootings of black men by police in Louisiana and Minnesota.

Ban called for a "thorough and impartial" investigation into the deaths of the black men, Haq said.

"They once again put the focus on the need to address discrimination, including racial disparities in law enforcement, in a comprehensive manner," he said.

A long string of killings of black men by police in cities including Ferguson, Missouri, New York, Baltimore and Chicago has given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement against excessive police force. The killings have spurred almost two years of mostly peaceful street protests in the United States.

Texas: Dallas sniper attack: 5 officers killed, suspect identified

inside job..

(CNN) - The ambush began with gunshots that killed five officers and sent screaming crowds scrambling for cover. It ended when a Dallas police bomb squad robot killed a gunman after negotiations failed.

Investigators have identified the dead suspect: 25-year-old Micah Xavier Johnson of Mesquite, Texas. But they're still trying to answer key questions. Chief among them: Are any other suspects on the loose?

Federal law enforcement officials believe Johnson was the only shooter in the ambush that began Thursday night, according to law enforcement officials briefed by the Dallas police.
Dallas police Chief David Brown earlier suggested that other suspects played a role, too.

"Through our investigation of some of the suspects, it's revealed to us that this was a well-planned, well-thought-out, evil tragedy by these suspects," Brown said at a prayer vigil for the victims Friday afternoon. "We won't rest until we bring everyone involved to justice."

The deadly gunfire erupted in Dallas as videos showing two African-American men shot by police in Louisiana and Minnesota spurred protests and debate over police use of force across the country.