Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Ecuador curbs Assange's internet to halt US election 'interference'


WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange addresses journalists in Berlin via video link on 4 October 2016Image copyrightAFP
Image captionJulian Assange has been claiming asylum at London's Ecuadorean embassy since 2012

Ecuador has acknowledged it partly restricted internet access for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is taking refuge at its London embassy.
It said Mr Assange had in recent weeks released material that could have an impact on the US presidential election.
Ecuador also said its move was not the result of pressure from Washington.
The US denied WikiLeaks accusations that it had asked Ecuador to stop the site publishing documents about presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Transparency activist Julian Assange has sought asylum at London's Ecuadorean embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex assault allegations.

'No pressure'

In a statement (in Spanish), the Ecuadorean foreign ministry said WikiLeaks' decision to publish documents could have an impact on the US presidential election.
It said the release was entirely the responsibility of the organisation, and Ecuador did not want to interfere in the electoral process.
"In that respect, Ecuador, exercising its sovereign right, has temporarily restricted access to part of its communications systems in its UK Embassy," the statement said.
It added that "Ecuador does not yield to pressures from other countries".
WikiLeaks earlier said that Ecuador had cut off Mr Assange's internet access on Saturday evening.

TwitterImage copyrightTWITTER

The site has recently been releasing material from Hillary Clinton's campaign, including those from a hack of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails.
It released transcripts on Saturday of paid speeches Mrs Clinton made to the US investment bank Goldman Sachs in the past, which her campaign had long refused to release.
The scripts reveal bantering exchanges with bank executives, which correspondents say may increase concerns among liberal Democrats that she is too cosy with Wall Street.
The Democratic White House candidate's camp has claimed the cyber-breach was orchestrated by Russian hackers with the aim of undermining the US democratic process.
While Mrs Clinton's team has neither confirmed nor denied the leaked emails are authentic, there have been no indications they are fake.

'Covert' Syrian action


Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to volunteers at a campaign office in SeattleImage copyrightAP
Image captionWikiLeaks has released Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's paid speeches to Goldman Sachs

According to the latest leaked emails, Mrs Clinton told a Goldman Sachs conference she would like to intervene secretly in Syria.
She made the remark in answer to a question from Lloyd Blankfein, the bank's chief executive, in 2013 - months after she left office as secretary of state.
"My view was you intervene as covertly as is possible for Americans to intervene," she told employees of the bank in South Carolina, which had paid her about $225,000 (£185,000) to give a speech.
Mrs Clinton - who is accused of being hawkish by liberal critics - added: "We used to be much better at this than we are now. Now, you know, everybody can't help themselves.
"They have to go out and tell their friendly reporters and somebody else: Look what we're doing and I want credit for it."

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US election 2016: Stop whining, Obama tells Donald Trump




Media caption'Stop whining' - Obama says election not 'rigged'

US President Barack Obama has told Donald Trump to "stop whining" as he rejected his claim that next month's White House election will be rigged.
He said Mr Trump's attempt to discredit a poll before it has even taken place was "unprecedented" for a US presidential candidate.
Also "unprecedented", said Mr Obama, was the Republican candidate's "flattery" of Russia's president.
Mr Trump is facing sinking poll numbers and accusations of sexual assault.
The businessman-turned-politician has claimed the 8 November election will be "absolutely rigged" for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
But in a White House Rose Garden news conference on Tuesday alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Mr Obama said his assertions were "based on no facts".


Media captionUS Election 2016: Trump fans discuss 'election rigging'

"I'd advise Mr Trump to stop whining and try to make his case to get votes," Mr Obama said.
"By the way," he added, "[it] doesn't really show the kind of leadership and toughness that you want out of a president, if you start whining before the game's even over.
"If whenever things are going badly for you and you lose you start blaming somebody else, then you don't have what it takes to be in this job."
Mr Obama also addressed the Republican candidate's admiring remarks about Vladimir Putin.

Trump tweetImage copyrightTWITTER

"Mr Trump's continued flattery of Mr Putin and the degree to which he appears to model much of his policies and approach to politics on Mr Putin is unprecedented," he said.
His broadside comes a day after Mr Trump said he would consider visiting Russia before taking office, if elected.
He told a talk-radio host: "If I win on November 8, I could see myself meeting with Putin and meeting with Russia prior to the start of the administration."


Media captionWomen protest at Trump buildings across the US

Mr Trump and Mrs Clinton face off in the third and final presidential debate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on Wednesday.
The Republican candidate has seen his poll numbers slide since their first battle of wits, followed by the emergence of a 2005 sex boast tape that he was forced to address in the second debate.
Mr Trump denied any impropriety, but a number of women have come forward with sexual assault allegations against him.
Mrs Clinton will head into Wednesday's debate with a seven-point lead over her Republican rival, according to a Monmouth University poll.
She leads Mr Trump 47% to 40%, while 7% of likely voters say they will support the Libertarian Party candidate, Gary Johnson.

More on the US election



Media captionWhy some states matter more than others

Leicester City 1-0 FC Copenhagen


Mahrez scores for Leicester
Mahrez has been directly involved in four of Leicester's five Champions League goals this season

Leicester City stand one victory away from qualification for the Champions League knockout phase after beating Copenhagen at the King Power Stadium to make it three wins from three in their group.
Riyad Mahrez steered in Islam Slimani's knockdown from close range five minutes before half-time time as the Premier League champions left their domestic struggles behind to remain firmly on course to top Group G.
Leicester's win was not without its anxious moments, with former Cardiff City striker Andreas Cornelius heading inches wide moments after the Foxes had taken the lead.
And it took a brilliant one-handed save from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the closing minutes to thwart Cornelius again and maintain Leicester's unblemished defensive record in this season's Champions League.
Leicester can now secure a place in the last 16 with a win in Denmark on 2 November, having already guaranteed at least a Europa League spot.

How far can Leicester go?

When Leicester's thoughts turned to their first Champions League campaign, qualification from Group G would have been regarded as a major success for manager Claudio Ranieri and his players.
But the Foxes may just fancy their chances of taking the dream journey a step further after becoming only the fifth competition debutants in Champions League history, after AC Milan, Paris St-Germain, Juventus and Malaga, to win their opening three games.

19Islam Slimani
Slimani had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half

Topping the group would make life a lot easier in the last-16 draw as it vastly increases the chances of drawing beatable opponents when all logic - something, admittedly, they defied last season - suggests they would struggle against Europe's elite.
The King Power Stadium is a compact and atmospheric arena, swirling with noise, that is perfectly designed for European nights and making even the most illustrious sides uncomfortable.
If Leicester can keep up this form, and the likes of Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Slimani can provide the threat to supplement the defensive resilience that won the Premier League, then there may be plenty of sides they can trouble.

Vardy still searching for magic touch

England striker Vardy's work-rate and determination was not in question for a moment here but he is still searching for the elusive spark that brought him 24 Premier League goals in last season's title win.
He is not hiding away and is still tireless in his running - but he is now clearly a marked man by opposition made aware of his pace and threat with his deeds last season.

Jamie Vardy heatmap
As this Jamie Vardy heatmap illustrates, the striker had limited time inside the box. He had one shot on target - a long-range effort that went straight to goalkeeper Robin Olsen

Vardy has now gone eight games without a goal - a decline that might be partly explained by the fact he is now providing support for £29m man Slimani, whereas last season he was, along with Mahrez, the focal point, with team-mates working for him.
Against Copenhagen, he was often seen on the flanks and played his part in creating the goal, crossing from the left for Slimani to head into goalscorer Mahrez's path.
Home fans certainly appreciated his efforts, which were rewarded with a standing ovation when he was replaced by Shinji Okazaki.
The 29-year-old hit a hot streak last season and did not stop scoring - Leicester and Ranieri will hope he does the same once he finds the target again.

Group G after three games

Foxes leave domestic struggles behind

Leicester's flawless Champions League record provides a sharp contrast to their struggles for form as they defend their Premier League title.
In domestic football, Leicester have lost four of their first eight league games - more than they lost in their title campaign - and conceded 14 goals.
Leicester's defence still looked uncertain here, even at the set-pieces that were a strength last season, and it needed that magnificent save from Schmeichel here to secure the win.
Perhaps the Foxes' style is still more of a surprise to European sides than the Premier League rivals they punished last season. Maybe they are finding the rarefied air of the Champions League more to their liking than the pressure of defending the domestic title.
One thing is certain - there currently appear to be two Leicester City teams in existence.

Man of the Match - Danny Drinkwater (Leicester)


Danny Drinkwater
Drinkwater was his usual industrious self. He made more passes (71) than anyone else in the Foxes team, cleared up in defence when his team needed him - making a team-high three tackles - and was also an attacking threat.

The stats you need to know

  • Islam Slimani registered his first Champions League assist in his ninth appearance in the competition.
  • Copenhagen have only kept a clean sheet on one of their five visits to English soil in European competition (0-0 versus Chelsea in March 2011).
  • On each of the previous 64 occasions when a side has won their opening three Champions League group games they have gone on to progress to the next stage (including second group stage).
  • Leicester now have more points from three Champions League games (9) than they do from eight Premier League games (8) this season.
Home TeamLeicesterAway TeamFC Copenhagen
Possession
Home41%
Away59%
Shots
Home9
Away9
Shots on Target
Home2
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away7
Fouls
Home8
Away9

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