Dylann Roof Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charges in Charleston Church Massacre - Read more

A federal magistrate entered not guilty pleas on 33 federal charges, including for hate crimes, for a white man accused of gunning down nine parishioners at a black church in Charleston.

During Friday's hearing for 21-year-old Dylann Roof, his attorney told U.S. Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant that his client wanted to enter a plea of guilty to all the counts. But the lawyer said that because the government hasn't decided whether to seek the death penalty on some of the counts, attorneys could not advise Roof on the issue.

Marchant then entered the not-guilty plea on all counts.

Roof appeared in a gray striped prison jumpsuit, his hands in shackles. He answered yes several times in response to the judge's questions but otherwise didn't speak.

Marchant also heard briefly from family members of victims of the June 17 attack.

CHARLESTON, S.C.

www.dmdfountainmedia.com

BEIJING TO HOST 2022 WINTER OLYMPICS

The International Olympic committee has picked Beijing for 2022 Winter Olympics

Kylie Jenner Celebrating 18th Birthday

Legal to party... in Canada! Kylie Jenner is celebrating her upcoming 18th birthday with a massive party at a beach club in Montreal, Canada, the venue confirmed on its website on Thursday, July 29.

Beachclub Montreal blasted a promotional poster from the event, featuring Kris Jenner's youngest daughter lounging by the pool in a black bikini, polarized aviators, and distressed denim.

Kylie Jenner

3 Nigeria Refineries resume production

Abuja (AFP) - Three of Nigeria's four refineries have resumed production and are performing at between 60 and 80 percent of their installed capacities, state-run oil firm NNPC said Wednesday.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said in a statement that the refineries -- largely moribund for several years -- have commenced preliminary production of petroleum products after test runs in the southern oil cities of Port Harcourt and Warri.

While the two joint refineries in Port Harcourt are ramping up operation to about 60 percent of their 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity, their Warri counterpart is projected to hit 80 percent of its installed 125,000 bpd capacity, the statement said.

The NNPC said that the phased rehabilitation of the refineries started last October, adding that a fourth, the 110,000 bpd capacity Kaduna refinery, was expected to come on stream "soon".

The nation's four refineries have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 bpd.

Nigeria produces a massive two million barrels of crude oil a day, but has to export it due to a lack of working refineries.

It then imports fuel back into the country at international market prices -- a situation blamed on corruption and mismanagement.

To cushion the blow on the general population, the government sells fuel on the streets at subsidised prices, and makes up for the higher amounts spent by importers by reimbursing them the difference -- a system seen as rife with false claims and overpayments.

In January 2012, the government tried to end the subsidies, causing petrol prices to more than double.

It was ultimately forced to reinstate the payments after tens of thousands of people took to the streets in violent protests that left more than a dozen dead.

It is hoped that the resumption of refinery activity will improve the supply of fuel in Africa's largest oil producer and allow the country to make savings on refined fuel and other petroleum products.

Man U V PSG

ManU will look to maintain their perfect preseason record with a win over PSG on Wednesday.

Manchester United's sprinkling of summer signings haven't needed long to become accustomed to Louis van Gaal's famed philosophy, with the Red Devils turning in an impressive 3-1 win over Barcelona last time out. A change of personnel and a tweak in formation have them looking like an uncharacteristically steely team in midfield, and they've now got plenty of creativity in their fluid attack.

They'll look to further establish their credentials as Premier League contenders by beating French domestic champions Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Laurent Blanc's side have enjoyed victories over Benfica and Fiorentina in the International Champions Cup so far, but succumbed to a penalty shootout defeat to Chelsea in their last match. They're a pretty close match for United on paper, and will be looking to get back on track with a win.

Fun Manchester United fringe player to watch: Adnan Januzaj

Perhaps the only good thing to emerge from David Moyes' time as Manchester United manager was Adnan Januzaj establishing himself as one of the most talented youngsters plying his trade in England. He took a step back in his limited game time in van Gaal's debut season, though scored a wonderful goal in an unfamiliar role as striker in the win over Barcelona on Saturday. Perhaps that tweak of position is all he needs to achieve wonderkid status again.

Fun Paris Saint-Germain fringe player to watch: Jean-Kévin Augustin

PSG's 18-year-old striker Jean-Kévin Augustin scored three times in his hometown club's first couple of friendlies, and impressed to the extent that he started from the first whistle in a very strong lineup against Chelsea. Coach Blanc is clearly evaluating whether he's ready for a first team berth already, which hints at a very bright future indeed.

WHICH OF THESE KIDS IS THE CUTEST?

WHICH OF THESE KIDS IS THE CUTEST?

html5 video by Amazing Studio

Your move, Tom Brady. The NFL didn't budge. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, five weeks after hearing Brady's appeal over the deflate-gate issue, has decided to keep his suspension at four games. That's the same suspension for Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy in his domestic violence case. The NFLPA, via reports, has been planning to take the NFL to federal court if Brady's suspension wasn't completely overturned. Brady destroying his cell phone before he met with investigator Ted Wells was the crux of Goodell's ruling. Here's the NFL's statement in the ruling: "In the opinion informing Brady that his appeal had been denied, Commissioner Goodell emphasized important new information disclosed by Brady and his representatives in connection with the hearing. "On or shortly before March 6, the day that Tom Brady met with independent investigator Ted Wells and his colleagues, Brady directed that the cell phone he had used for the prior four months be destroyed. He did so even though he was aware that the investigators had requested access to text messages and other electronic information that had been stored on that phone. ‎During the four months that the cell phone was in use, Brady had exchanged nearly 10,000 text messages, none of which can now be retrieved from that device. The destruction of the cell phone was not disclosed until June 18, almost four months after the investigators had first sought electronic information from Brady. "Based on the Wells Report and the evidence presented at the hearing, Commissioner Goodell concluded in his decision that Brady was aware of, and took steps to support‎, the actions of other team employees to deflate game footballs below the levels called for by the NFL's Official Playing Rules. The commissioner found that Brady’s deliberate destruction of potentially relevant evidence went beyond a mere failure to cooperate in the investigation and supported a finding that he had sought to hide evidence of his own participation in the underlying scheme to alter the footballs." The NFLPA presented its case during a lengthy appeal on June 23 at the NFL offices. According to reports more than 40 people were at the hearing. There was more than 10 hours of testimony. [Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football: Sign up and join a league today!l] While few details of the appeal hearing were leaked, it was expected that the NFLPA's attorneys would attack holes in investigator Ted Wells' report, specifically the lack of evidence tying Brady to any specific wrongdoing, and the union's lawyers would also attack the scientific findings found in the Wells Report. The drama started shortly after the AFC championship game, when a report said the Colts claimed the Patriots were using footballs that were under the 12.5 pounds per square inch (psi) requirement set forth by NFL rules. Many of the Patriots' footballs were found to be under-inflated when the officials inspected them at halftime of that game. In a press conference before the Super Bowl, Brady said he didn't alter the ball in any way. The NFL tabbed Wells to investigate, and his 243-page report famously and ambiguously said it was "more probable than not" that Brady was "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of" two Patriots employees, equipment assistant John Jastremski and officials locker room attendant Jim McNally. The report never said specifically what Brady knew or how it figured he was a part of any conspiracy. Brady was suspended four games by the NFL, the Patriots were fined $1 million and were stripped of two draft picks, including a 2016 first-round pick. Brady appealed the suspension, and although the NFLPA objected, Goodell decided he would oversee the appeal and rule on it. On May 19, Patriots owner Robert Kraft accepted the punishment by the NFL, saying it was best for the league as a whole if everyone moved on from deflate-gate. The entire ordeal has spawned plenty of conversations about Brady's legacy. Brady strengthened his case as the greatest quarterback in NFL history when he won his fourth Super Bowl last season, winning Super Bowl MVP honors after a fantastic fourth-quarter comeback against the Seattle Seahawks' top-ranked defense. When Brady was asked, in his only public comments on the matter immediately after the Wells Report was released, if the controversy tainted the Patriots' latest Super Bowl win, he replied, "No, absolutely not." The Patriots start their Super Bowl defense on Thursday, Sept. 10 at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL's regular-season opener. - - - - - - - Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab

CITY VIBES BREAKER

BOBBI KRISTINA BROWN FINALLY AT PEACE - Read more

A representative for the Houston family has said Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of the late entertainer Whitney Houston and R&B singer Bobby Brown, has died, about 7 months after she was found face-down and unresponsive in a bathtub. She was 22 years old.

Kristen Foster said Sunday, "Bobbi Kristina Brown passed away July, 26 2015, surrounded by her family. She is finally at peace in the arms of God. We want to again thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months."

Police said she was found Jan. 31 in the suburban Atlanta townhome she shared with Nick Gordon, the man she called her husband. A police report described it as a "drowning."

Bobbi Kristina was the only child between Houston and Brown.

FALCONETS RULE OVER LIBERIA AGAIN - Read more

The U-20 Women National Team, Falconets, on Saturday completed a handsome home-and-away dismissal of their Liberia counterparts, beating the visitors 7-0 at the National Stadium, Abuja for a 14-1 aggregate win.

In the first leg of their second round fixture in the race for the 2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals, the Nigerian girls had beaten their hosts 7-1 in Liberia two weeks ago.

In Monrovia, a hat –trick from Yetunde Adeboyejo was aided by a brace by Amarachi Ojinma and one each by Juliet Sunday and Chinwendu Ihezuo.

On Saturday in Abuja, Chinaza Uchendu got the Nigerian girls on the way in the 23rd minute, before Ojinma netted the second in the 26th minute nd Aminat Yakubu got on the scoresheet nine minutes later.

The prolific Adeboyejo got the fourth goal from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, and that was how the first half ended.

In the second half, substitute Joy Bokiri got the fifth in the 71st minute, before additions by Aminat Yakubu in the 74th minute and Bokiri again six minutes from the end.

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CHRIS FINALLY ALLOWED PASSED OUT OF PHILIPPINES

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration on Friday afternoon allowed American R&B artist Chris Brown to leave the country after being stuck in Manila for two days due to a fraud complaint against him.

BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison said the agency has given the go signal for Brown after he obtained a document clearing him from the Department of Justice's lookout bulletin order, according to a report from the STAR.

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2 PEOPLE REPORTEDLY KILLED IN MOVIE THEATER

A lone gunman sitting in a packed movie theater stood up about 20 minutes into the showing of "Trainwreck" and began firing into the crowd, killing two and wounding at least nine others Thursday night before fatally shooting himself, authorities said.

The gunman initially tried escaping by blending into the fleeing crowd, but turned back when he saw police heading inside from the parking lot, authorities said. Officers tailing him back into the theater then heard a single gunshot and found him dead inside, police said.

They described the shooter as a 58-year-old "lone white male" with a criminal history but did not immediately disclose his name. Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft said the gunman was by himself and started the rampage by shooting the two people sitting in front of him.

At least one theatergoer described the attack, saying an older man stood up about 20 minutes into the 7:10 p.m. showing of the movie "Trainwreck" at the Grand 16 theater in Lafayette and began shooting.

CHRIS Brown stranded in Philippine

Manila (AFP) - In a desperate appeal punctuated with a backflip, stranded Grammy-winning star Chris Brown got down on his knees Friday begging to be allowed to leave the Philippines and resume his world tour.

The 26-year-old American has been stuck in the Southeast Asian nation for two days after a politically influential sect filed a fraud complaint, saying it is owed a million-dollar-plus refund after he skipped a concert last year.

"Please, please, let us leave, please," Brown said in a video posted on his official Instagram account, showing him on his knees inside what appeared to be his hotel room. The post was later taken down.

He ended the plea with his signature backflip.

He also appeared to send a thinly veiled distress signal to US President Barack Obama as he captioned the post: "OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!"

In two subsequent Twitter posts Brown said: "This is a very serious situation and someone needs to be held accountable for mixing my name up in all this. I've done nothing wrong!!!"

He added: "I have nothing to do with anything going on right now. I came back to Manila to do a make-up show for New Years. I did the show three days ago."

Brown performed to a packed crowd at a Manila arena on Tuesday.

But he failed to show up on December 31 last year for a concert sponsored by the Christian group Iglesia ni Cristo at its mammoth 55,000-seater indoor stadium on Manila's outskirts.

He has reportedly said he lost his passport at the time so he could not travel.

The justice department barred him from leaving Wednesday unless he produces a government document certifying he has no legal obligations in the country.

-- World tour in peril --

The immigration bureau has said Brown has not applied for such a document, and the justice department on Thursday appointed a state prosecutor to prepare the filing of fraud charges against him.

Brown's Twitter posts were re-tweeted close to 2,000 times just minutes after the hip hop star uploaded them.

He has more than 14 million followers on the micro-blogging site, and 12 million on the photo-sharing platform Instagram.

A playful, bewildered Brown posted a foul-mouthed rant on his Instagram on Thursday as he break-danced apparently to make light of his predicament.

But his tone was more serious on Friday as the upcoming stops of his world tour drew nearer.

Brown is scheduled to perform in Israel and Cyprus next week before returning to the US for more concert dates, according to his website.

Asked about Brown's case, US embassy spokesman Kurt Hoyer told AFP on Friday: "The embassy assists its citizens who are in need."

Filipino immigration officials as well as Brown's promoter and spokeswoman were unavailable for comment Friday.

Brown and his promoter were paid more than $1 million by a production outfit identified with the Iglesia to perform at the sect's Philippine Arena, according to the Iglesia complaint.

The outfit demanded a refund, but both Brown and his promoter refused to pay, it alleged.

The sect is a minority in the Philippines -- where 80 percent of its 100 million people are Catholics -- but wields considerable political clout.

It has between two and three million members according to media and votes as a bloc during elections.

The Brown saga was the latest case of Western entertainers riling Filipino groups and politicians.

The Beatles were stripped of police escorts at the end of their 1966 Manila tour after they snubbed a party invite from the then Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos' flamboyant wife Imelda Marcos.

The Fab Four were forced to run a gauntlet of angry fans as they boarded their plane.

Michael Jackson was forced to move his concert venue in 1996 after the mayor of Manila refused to host his show due to child molestation charges against the US star.

In 2012, flamboyant American pop star Lady Gaga's show was closely monitored by state censors for blasphemous imagery.

Last March, two members of British boyband One Direction who were known to have smoked marijuana each paid a safety bond before they could perform.

PRE-SEASON Fixtures & Results

Fixtures & Results

Mon 20th July

• FRAdelaide United02LiverpoolFT

Tue 21st July

• ICCRoma22Man CityAETManchester City win 5-4 on penalties.
• FRBay Munich10InterFT
• UCLQCrusaders32SkenderbeuFT(Agg 4 - 6)

Wed 22nd July

• ICCPSG01:30Fiorentina
• ICCBarcelona04:00LA GalaxySS1
• ICCMan Utd04:00SJ E'Quakes
• UCLQUMF Stjarnan20:15Celtic(Agg 0 - 2)

Thu 23rd July

• ICCNY Red Bulls01:00Chelsea
• ELQOdd Grenland18:00Shamrock(Agg 2 - 0)
• ELQAberdeen19:45Rijeka(Agg 3 - 0)
• ELQBirkirkara19:45West Ham(Agg 0 - 1)

MAN U TO SIGN A STRIKER - VAN GAL; CHELSEA REQUIRED NOT BIG SIGNINGS - MOURHINO Read more Transfer Story

Jose Mourinho is confident Chelsea can defend their Premier League title without significant additions in the transfer market.

Louis van Gaal says Man Utd "are in the process" of signing a striker not previously linked with the club. Who could it be?

• United to sign striker?
• Rooney to have central role

Muller to Utd 'possible'

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm admits he cannot guarantee that Thomas Muller will not follow Bastian Schweinsteiger to Man Utd.

• Rooney sets 20-goal target

• 
  

• 
  

EID DAY BOMB EXPLOSION

TWIN BOMB EXPLOSION REPORTED IN DAMATURU, YOBE STATE IN NIGERIA CLOSE TO EID_ PRAYER GROUND.   CASUALTIES ARE MOSTLY CHILDREN

TRANSFER BREAKING NEWS

Raheem Sterling undergoing medical check up at Manchester city.

PRISON SENTENCES CUT DOWN_ OBAMA

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is cutting the prison sentences of 46 convicts as part of a broader effort to make the criminal justice fairer and ease the punishment of those serving more time than their crimes warranted.

The president has now issued nearly 90 commutations, most of them to non-violent offenders sentenced for drug crimes under outdated sentencing rules. A commutation leaves the conviction in place, but ends the punishment. Several of those granted clemency Monday had been sentenced to life in prison.

Obama this week is devoting considerable attention to the criminal justice system. He'll lay out ideas for how to improve the fairness of the system during a speech on Tuesday. And on Thursday he'll become the first siting president to visit a federal prison.

SERVICE CHIEFS SACK, APPOINTS NEW SECURITY CHIEFS - PRESIDENT M BUHARI

Hours after sacking the Service Chiefs and National Security Adviser of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has named new officials for the country.

Their appointments, which was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, followed Buhari’s sacking of the former occupants of the offices earlier in the day.

The new appointments, according to the statement are:

1. Maj.-Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin – Chief of Defence Staff
2. Maj.-Gen. T.Y. Buratai – Chief of Army Staff
3. Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff
4. Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff
5. Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku  Morgan – Chief of Defence Intelligence
6. Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) – National Security Adviser

The new Chief of Defence Staff,  Olonishakin (N/6901) hails from Ekiti State.

Until his new appointment, he was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State.

The new Chief of Army Staff, Buratai hails from Borno State.

He was, until his new appointment, the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force which has its headquarters in Ndjamena.

He has previously served as Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Brigade in Port Harcourt and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State.

The new Chief of Naval Staff, Ibas (NN/0746) hails from Cross River State.

He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as  a member of the 26th Regular Course in 1979 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983.

His previous appointments include Naval Provost Marshal, Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command and Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited.

The new Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar (NAF/1433) hails from Bauchi State.

His previous appointments include Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF Headquarters; Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command. Until his new appointment today as Chief of Air Staff, he was the Chief of Administration, NAF Headquarters.

Adesina said the new service chiefs will hold their appointments in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Senate.

He quoted the President as  thanking the outgoing Service Chiefs and National Security Adviser for their services to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours

SERENA WILLIAMS 21ST GRAND SLAM

Serena Williams on d verge of her 21st Grand slam

Dylann Roof should not have been able to purchase the gun

South Carolina shooting suspect Dylann Roof should not have been able to purchase the gun used in the massacre, the FBI reportedly said Friday.

FBI Director James B. Comey said that Roof was able to obtain the weapon, which was used to kill nine African-Americans in a racially motivated attack on a historically black church in Charleston, because of shortcomings in the screening system for gun purchases, The Washington Post reported.

“This case rips all of our hearts out, but the thought that an error on our part is connected to a gun this person used to slaughter these people is very painful to us,” he said, according to the D.C. paper.

He says an FBI examiner who looked into Roof's background when he tried to purchase a gun never saw an arrest report in which police say he admitted to possessing drugs. The arresting agency was listed erroneously on the rap sheet that the examiner reviewed.

Under FBI rules, that admission should have disqualified Roof from being able to buy a gun.

The transaction went through after three days because the examiner didn't have enough information to authorize or deny it

Director Katherine Archuleta resigned

The head of the government's personnel office has resigned in the wake of a massive data breach on her watch.

A White House official says President Barack Obama accepted the resignation of Office of Personnel Management

Director Katherine Archuleta on Friday morning. She'll stay on the job through the end of the day.

The official says deputy director Beth Cobert will become acting director starting Saturday.

Archuleta's resignation comes the day after her agency disclosed that hackers stole the personal information of more than 21 million people. Previous government estimates of how many were affected by the breach were far smaller.

Members of Congress in both parties had demanded Archuleta's resignation.

WAR FLAG REMOVED PERMANENTLY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA - Details here

South Carolina on Friday permanently removed the Confederate battle flag from the state capitol grounds, sending away the rebel banner that is a symbol of slavery and racism to many but of Southern heritage and pride to others. The banner, which went up on the State House grounds more than half a century ago at the height of the U.S. civil rights movement, was removed shortly after 10 a.m. before a large crowd and live TV cameras. The relocation of the flag came a little over three weeks after the racially motivated massacre of nine black worshippers during a Bible study session on June 17 at a landmark black church in Charleston. The banner's new home will be the "relic room" of the state military museum in Columbia, South Carolina's capital, where the flag will reside with other artifacts carried by Southern Confederate soldiers 150 years ago in the Civil War. South Carolina Republican Governor Nikki Haley, who had pledged a day earlier to "bring it down with dignity," called Friday a great day for the state in an interview with NBC's "Today" television show. "I'm thinking of those nine people today," Haley said, referring to the nine men and women gunned down at Charleston's African Methodist Episcopal church. 

By Harriet McLeod COLUMBIA, S.C.

Actor Omar Sharif Has of a Heart Attack

Sharif, best known for his role in Lawrence of Arabia, suffered a heart attack in a Cairo hospital at 83

MIGRANTS DROWN IN MEDITERRANEAN - Read more

The Italy on Friday in Rome confirmed the death of 12 migrants on Thursday when their overcrowded rubber dinghy sank off the coast of Libya.

It said no fewer than 500 others were rescued in the latest episodes in the Mediterranean migrant crisis.

Italian coast guards said the corpses of the victims were found in the sea by the Coast Guard ship, Dattilo, some 40 miles north of Libya.

The organisation said Dattilo saved 106 people from the same dinghy, which was half submerged when help arrived.

No details were available on the nationalities of the victims or those rescued.

It said Dattilo was still involved in other rescue operations involving boats in difficulty.

A total of 393 other migrants were saved in four different operations carried out by the Dattilo on Thursday.

Similarly, while another 106 migrants were saved by two Coast Guard frigates operating off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.

Tens of thousands of migrants fleeing war and hunger in Africa and the Middle East have crossed the Mediterranean to Italy and Greece in 2015.
Reports say investigation revealed that the vast majority of them are departing from the coast of Libya and no fewer than 2,000 migrants are estimated to have drowned.