The leader of the Philippines has expressed regret after insulting Barack Obama by calling him the "son of a whore".
President Rodrigo Duterte said he regretted that his comments came across as a personal attack on the US president.
The two men were due to meet for the first time on Tuesday afternoon at the ASEAN summit in Laos.
But a White House spokesman said the talks had been scrapped after Mr Duterte insulted Mr Obama.
On Monday, the Filipino leader called Mr Obama "a son of a whore" as he warned him not to raise questions about extrajudicial killings.
Mr Duterte made the comment when asked by a reporter at a press conference how he would explain himself if Mr Obama did raise the issue.
Monday, September 5, 2016
British Airways: Passengers Face Delays After Check-In Glitch
British Airways passengers have been hit by delays after an IT glitch affected worldwide check-in systems - including Heathrow and Gatwick.
Travellers have complained of long queues at airports, with the systems problem reported at Toronto Airport and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
Responding to passengers on Twitter, the airline wrote: "We apologise to our customers for the delay and we appreciate their patience as our IT teams work to resolve this issue."
It added: "Our colleagues are doing everything possible to check in customers for their journey."
Travellers have complained of long queues at airports, with the systems problem reported at Toronto Airport and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
Responding to passengers on Twitter, the airline wrote: "We apologise to our customers for the delay and we appreciate their patience as our IT teams work to resolve this issue."
It added: "Our colleagues are doing everything possible to check in customers for their journey."
Syria Rocked By Bombings Claimed By Islamic State As US-Russia Talks Stall
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for five co-ordinated suicide bombings and other attacks that have killed at least 48 people in Syria.
The wave of attacks came as Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin held discussions about the Syrian conflict on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China, but failed to finalise a deal on stemming the bloodshed.
IS-run Aamaq news agency said the militant group was behind the "simultaneous" blasts that were timed to coincide with Monday's morning rush hour.
Syrian state TV said 48 people were killed, but British-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the toll at 53 people.
The blasts targeted government-controlled areas and Kurdish forces. The cities hit were:
:: Tartus
At least 35 people died in a double bombing on a bridge leading to this coastal city, a stronghold of President Bashar al Assad and home to a Russian naval base. Another 43 people were injured.
The city had been largely spared the worst violence of Syria's conflict and had become a refuge for Syrians fleeing the fighting.
:: Hasakeh
In this northeastern city 80km (49 miles) from the Turkish border and controlled mainly by Kurdish forces, six members of the Kurds' Asayesh security forces and two civilians were killed by a bomber on a motorcycle who blew up an Kurdish checkpoint.
The attack follows advances by Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels at the weekend that repelled IS militants from the last stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border the group controlled.
Turkey began an operation inside Syria on 24 August targetting not only IS but also Syrian Kurdish forces that have been a key US partner in the fight against the jihadist group in Syria.
IS also said it detonated an explosive device in Qamishli, in the Hasakeh province, targetting a group of Kurdish fighters. No casualty figures were available.
:: Homs
Three soldiers and a civilian were killed by a car bomb in Homs' Al Zahraa neighbourhood, whose residents mostly belong to the same Alawite sect as Assad.
Another 10 people were wounded in the blast, state-run media reported.
:: Damascus
A bombing was reported in the heavily guarded Damascus suburb of Sabbourah. State media said one person had been killed and another three wounded.
IS described it as suicide car bomb that targeted a military checkpoint in the area west of the capital.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the dead in both the Homs and Damascus road attacks were government security forces manning checkpoints.
Meanwhile, the US President described his talks with Mr Putin in China as "productive", but said the rival powers were challenged by "gaps of trust".
The world leaders had a longer-than-expected 90-minute discussion about whether, and how, they could agree on a ceasefire deal in the war-torn country.
"Given the gaps of trust that exist, that's a tough negotiation," Mr Obama said after the meeting.
"We haven't yet closed the gaps."
Mr Putin insisted a Syrian deal with Washington could be firmed up in the "coming days" but refused to give specific details.
"I believe that we are on the right track and could, at least for some period of time, agree to carry out mutual energetic attempts to make the situation in Syria more healthy," he said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov have been trying to reach a deal for weeks that would curb the violence between the Russian-backed Assad's government forces and moderate rebels backed by the US.
Talks are expected to resume later this week.
More than 290,000 people have been killed in Syria since its conflict erupted in March 2011 and millions more have been displaced by the fighting.
Junior Doctors Suspend Next Week's Five-Day Strike
Junior doctors have suspended their plans for a five-day walkout next week in a dispute over contracts.
The announcement follows warnings by the General Medical Council that industrial action at such a scale was unjustified at such short notice.
In a statement, the British Medical Association (BMA) said the abandoned strike does not absolve Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and warned remaining walkouts later in the year will go ahead as planned.
Ellen McCourt, chairwoman of the BMA's junior doctors committee, said: "Over the past few days we have been described as radical, we have been described as militant, we have been described as prioritising ourselves over our patient's safety. This is not true.
"Patient safety remains doctors' primary concern. For the first time in this dispute, NHS England have told us that a service under such pressure cannot cope with the notice period for industrial action given.
"Our hospitals are chronically understaffed. Our NHS is desperately underfunded. We have to listen to our colleagues when they tell us that they need more time to keep patients safe."
A Number 10 spokesperson has welcomed the BMA's decision to suspend the planned walkout from 12 to 16 September, adding: "We would urge that junior doctors suspend all other planned strikes."
Further industrial action is planned on 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11 October, 14 to 18 November and 5 to 9 December between the hours of 8am and 5pm.
The rolling action, which is the first of its kind in the history of the NHS, will see junior medics withdraw labour - including emergency care.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "If the BMA were really serious about patient safety, they would immediately cancel their remaining plans for industrial action which, as the GMC says, will only cause patients to suffer."
The junior doctors committee warned further strikes will not be suspended because Mr Hunt "continues to ignore our request to stop the imposition" - and said the contract being imposed is discriminatory and disincentivises careers.
Dr McCourt added: "(Jeremy Hunt) continues to strive towards an uncosted, unfunded, unstaffed extended seven-day service. He continues to disregard the concerns junior doctors have about staffing shortages and patient safety.
"Further action is, however, still avoidable ... There are four weeks until October. The Secretary of State must use this time to listen and act."
Six strikes have already taken place in the long-running dispute, disrupting hundreds of thousands of patients who have had their appointments and operations cancelled.
In July, junior doctors and medical students voted to reject the contract brokered between health leaders and the BMA - scuppering hopes of a breakthrough.
The announcement follows warnings by the General Medical Council that industrial action at such a scale was unjustified at such short notice.
In a statement, the British Medical Association (BMA) said the abandoned strike does not absolve Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and warned remaining walkouts later in the year will go ahead as planned.
Ellen McCourt, chairwoman of the BMA's junior doctors committee, said: "Over the past few days we have been described as radical, we have been described as militant, we have been described as prioritising ourselves over our patient's safety. This is not true.
"Patient safety remains doctors' primary concern. For the first time in this dispute, NHS England have told us that a service under such pressure cannot cope with the notice period for industrial action given.
"Our hospitals are chronically understaffed. Our NHS is desperately underfunded. We have to listen to our colleagues when they tell us that they need more time to keep patients safe."
A Number 10 spokesperson has welcomed the BMA's decision to suspend the planned walkout from 12 to 16 September, adding: "We would urge that junior doctors suspend all other planned strikes."
Further industrial action is planned on 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11 October, 14 to 18 November and 5 to 9 December between the hours of 8am and 5pm.
The rolling action, which is the first of its kind in the history of the NHS, will see junior medics withdraw labour - including emergency care.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "If the BMA were really serious about patient safety, they would immediately cancel their remaining plans for industrial action which, as the GMC says, will only cause patients to suffer."
The junior doctors committee warned further strikes will not be suspended because Mr Hunt "continues to ignore our request to stop the imposition" - and said the contract being imposed is discriminatory and disincentivises careers.
Dr McCourt added: "(Jeremy Hunt) continues to strive towards an uncosted, unfunded, unstaffed extended seven-day service. He continues to disregard the concerns junior doctors have about staffing shortages and patient safety.
"Further action is, however, still avoidable ... There are four weeks until October. The Secretary of State must use this time to listen and act."
Six strikes have already taken place in the long-running dispute, disrupting hundreds of thousands of patients who have had their appointments and operations cancelled.
In July, junior doctors and medical students voted to reject the contract brokered between health leaders and the BMA - scuppering hopes of a breakthrough.
Child Dies In Blue Cheese E.coli Outbreak In Scotland
A child has died in Scotland after becoming infected with E.coli linked to a brand of blue cheese.
Health officials have investigated the outbreak of the E.coli 0157 strain in which 20 people were infected in July.
The investigation found all those who became ill had eaten Dunsyre Blue, made by Lanarkshire-based Errington Cheese.
Eleven of those infected were treated in hospital.
A multi-agency incident management team (IMT) chaired by Health Protection Scotland investigated the outbreak.
IMT chair Dr Alison Smith-Palmer said: "On behalf of the IMT, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the child who has died.
"Our thoughts are with them at this time and we ask that their privacy be respected.
"All confirmed cases became unwell prior to the end of July.
"As there have been no new cases since then, the IMT will now stand down and work to produce its final report."
Health officials have investigated the outbreak of the E.coli 0157 strain in which 20 people were infected in July.
The investigation found all those who became ill had eaten Dunsyre Blue, made by Lanarkshire-based Errington Cheese.
Eleven of those infected were treated in hospital.
A multi-agency incident management team (IMT) chaired by Health Protection Scotland investigated the outbreak.
IMT chair Dr Alison Smith-Palmer said: "On behalf of the IMT, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the child who has died.
"Our thoughts are with them at this time and we ask that their privacy be respected.
"All confirmed cases became unwell prior to the end of July.
"As there have been no new cases since then, the IMT will now stand down and work to produce its final report."
Bridget Jones: Has The Everywoman's Character Moved With The Times?
The scrutiny that Bridget Jones star Renee Zellweger has experienced has been absolutely "bonkers", according to her co-star Sally Phillips.
There has been huge speculation about the 47-year-old's appearance in the run up to her latest film Bridget Jones' Baby - as there has been throughout her time as the hapless heroine.
Sally, who plays Shazza in the movie, says she wishes she had complained more about such treatment earlier in her career.
She said: "It's obviously bonkers, the scrutiny that Renee has had to go through has been completely insane.
"What's great is the 20-year-olds like Jennifer Lawrence are just standing up and saying so - they do have more power, and we've been a bit useless as a generation for complaining about it.
"I certainly have been so worried about being seen to be difficult that I haven't made any big feminist stands which in a way I regret."
Just 22% of leads in the top 110 highest grossing Hollywood films are female, so whether you love Bridget or not her significance cannot be underestimated.
Sally says change will take time, but it will happen.
She said: "Film is basically lots of rich people, often men gambling on what's going to be a successful formulae.
"So they put a lot of money in and they gamble on formulae that work, that they know work because it's a lot of money.
"And because women have not been allowed to be involved and women were traditionally there to be beautiful they're really reluctant to move from the tried and tested formulae, so it's very slow to turn the tank around. It'll happen."
Twenty years ago Bridget Jones became a cultural phenomenon reflecting the everywoman's worries.
She inspired devotion but also proved divisive, something she continues to be.
Critics say she is seriously out of touch, perpetuating a dated portrayal of the modern woman and generally doing us all a great disservice.
Freelance arts writer Fiona Sturgess says she's never been a fan of the character.
She said: "The great answer to her woes seems to be if I could just get married and get a man in my life then all would be wonderful.
"And I just think no, that isn't the great answer and I don't know many women my age and certainly not women 10-15 years younger who think that - she just seems very out of step and conservative in her world view."
So Bridget maybe somewhat of a charicature, downing Chardonnay in her enormous pants, but journalist Laura Snapes points out this is entertainment and Bridget has been a trailblazer.
She said: "She is a comic creation, a fantasy. I'm not watching it to have my horrible life reflected back at me.
"Bridget was this really potent character in 2001 - you can see her effect in an indirect way by the way that Girls and Broadcity have become so popular, which do also depict that messier version of girlhood.
"So I think we can look at her as a trailblazer whose time might have come, the baton might have been passed to the next generation but that doesn't mean that we should write off the character because of the choices that she's making in her life."
41% Of Businesses Say EU Employees Worried By Brexit
More than two-fifths of British businesses say that their EU employees in the UK have expressed concerns over the uncertainty of their position post-Brexit, according to research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
41% of the more than 800 businesses surveyed said that staff are worried about their ongoing residency status, with 5% having already had EU workers resign following the referendum result.
A further 10% have had employees state their intentions to leave the UK.
In response, the BCC is calling for the Government to provide clarity on the residence rights of existing EU nationals in Britain - a move which 60% of firms said would have a positive impact on their business.
Adam Marshall, BCC Acting Director General, said: "Since the referendum many firms have expressed concern over the future status of their existing EU workforce.
These ardworking people are absolutely vital to the success of businesses, and must be retained - we cannot afford to lose talented and skilled workers.
"Theresa May should reassure them as soon as possible that they will have the right to remain in the UK, to provide much-needed certainty both for EU employees and UK employers."
The BCC have also raised concerns over how businesses should approach hiring new employees from EU countries during the Brexit transition period.
"The Government must also clarify how new EU hires will be treated, as many businesses also say they are uncertain about whether the people they wish to recruit will be able to continue working with them in future," said Mr Marshall.
"A sensible immigration policy that allows businesses to plug difficult skills gaps should go hand in hand with sustained investment in training UK workers for the jobs of the present and the future."
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