TOP NEWS The three fingers in Thailand - anti-coup, pro-coup or Hunger Games?

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Supporters of Thailand's military junta are trying to hijack a gesture used by demonstrators opposed to last month's coup, saying the three-fingered salute signifies the ills of the deposed government, and not resistance to the takeover.

The salute, inspired by the hit film "The Hunger Games", has been flashed as a symbol of defiance at street protests in Bangkok since the weekend. The military government, which sent thousands of troops and police onto the streets to stifle public dissent, has warned demonstrators against making the salute.

Security forces detained at least seven people who joined flash mob protests over the weekend and held up three fingers against the junta, according to the ruling National Council for Peace and Order.

"We are monitoring those who use this signal but have no plans to ban it yet," deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree told Reuters.

"But if there are gatherings of five people or more doing this salute, then we will make arrests in some cases."

The military has banned political gatherings of more than five people and has tried to enforce a ban on criticism of the coup since taking power.

Protesters have ascribed more than one meaning to the salute. Some say it stands for the tripartite French slogan - liberty, equality and brotherhood. Others say the symbol is a reference to the Hunger Games, the movie based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.

That story is set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future in the country of Panem where the wealthy Capitol rules over twelve poorer districts. The salute symbolizes rebellion against totalitarian rule, hence its adoption by those in Thailand opposed to military rule.

Pro-establishment groups have pilloried the gesture on social media with a graphic saying the fingers represent a corrupt government rice-buying scheme, disrespect to the monarchy and destruction of the country - all ascribed to the deposed government.

The groups welcome military intervention as a way to get Thailand back in order after months of turmoil when protesters tried to force out the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

(Editing by Alan Raybould and Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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REPORT: Kourtney Kardashian is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 3 With Scott Disick

Getty

The Kardashian family is about to get even bigger!



Kourtney Kardashian is reportedly pregnant with baby No. 3 less than two years after she gave birth to her and longtime boyfriend Scott Disick's daughter, Penelope. The pair are also parents to son Mason, 4.



"She is only a few months along," one insider alleges.



During a recent double date with Scott, sister Khloe, and rapper French Montana in NYC, an eyewitness says the third-time mom-to-be, 35, didn't touch any alcohol and sipped on ginger ale instead.



"It was planned," another source says of the pregnancy. "[Kourtney] wants to have a handful of kids."



Looks like someone is inspired by momager Kris Jenner!



While pregnant with Penelope, Kourtney revealed she wanted to have more children on an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians back in 2012 -- much to Scott'a dismay.



Scott, now 31, told her he didn't want to be outnumbered by his kids.



"I need to see what it's like when I have two, but [having kids] is what life is about," Kourtney responds. "I'm not going on the pill [after giving birth to Penelope]. I don't believe in it anymore!"



The couple are set to welcome their third bundle of joy later this year.



"They don't know the gender yet," a third source tells Us Weekly. "They just want the baby to be healthy."

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Stars Who Dress Like They're in a Different Decade - Zooey Deschanel

1960s

Nancy Sinatra and her boots are very proud of Blake Lively and Zooey Deschanel. That hair — FIERCE.



Credit: Getty



Think the 20s, 40s, 60s and 80s are long gone? Think again!



These stars can't help but bring previous decades to life in the 2000s!

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Let's Do the Time Warp Again!: Blake Lively, Miley Cyrus and 14 Stars Who Dress Like They're in a Different Decade

1990s

We don't know who's on point more: Miley Cyrus with her Gwen Stefani-inspired hair nubs or Khloé Kardashian going for the whole Nirvana grunge look!



Credit:

Getty; Splash



Think the 20s, 40s, 60s and 80s are long gone? Think again!



These stars can't help but bring previous decades to life in the 2000s!

____________________________________



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TECHNOLOGY China state media calls for 'severe punishment' for Google, Apple, U.S. tech firms

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese state media lashed out at Google Inc, Apple Inc and other U.S. technology companies on Wednesday, calling on Beijing "to punish severely the pawns" of the U.S. government for monitoring China and stealing secrets.

U.S. companies such as Yahoo Inc, Cisco Systems Inc, Microsoft Corp and Facebook Inc threaten the cyber-security of China and its Internet users, said the People's Daily on its microblog, in comments echoed on the front page of the English-language China Daily.

It is not clear what sparked this latest round of vitriol, nor what information the U.S. firms are alleged to have stolen. But Chinese media have repeatedly attacked American tech companies for aiding the U.S. government's cyber espionage since U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden revealed widespread spying programs including PRISM.

Under PRISM, the NSA seized data from companies such as Google and Apple, according to revelations made by Snowden a year ago.

Chinese state-owned firms have since begun dispensing with the services of U.S. companies such as IBM Corp, Oracle Corp and Cisco in flavor of domestic technology. As a result, Snowden's revelations may cost U.S. companies billions of dollars, analysts say.

"U.S. companies including Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, etc. are all coordinating with the PRISM program to monitor China," the People's Daily said on its official microblog.

"To resist the naked Internet hegemony, we will draw up international regulations, and strengthen technology safeguards, but we will also severely punish the pawns of the villain. The priority is strengthening penalties and punishments, and for anyone who steals our information, even though they are far away, we shall punish them!" it said.

Google has already had problems in China this week. On Monday, a China censorship watchdog said Google services were being disrupted ahead of Wednesday's 25th anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators around Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

"We cannot say this more clearly - the (U.S.) government does not have access to Google servers - not directly, or via a back door, or a so-called drop box," said Google Chief Legal Officer David Drummond in an emailed statement on Wednesday. "We provide user data to governments only in accordance with the law."

Microsoft declined to provide immediate comment. Facebook, Yahoo, Apple and Cisco were not immediately available when Reuters sought comment by telephone and email.

Facebook is currently blocked by Chinese censors, but said last month it may open a sales office in China to provide more support to local advertisers who use the website to reach customers overseas.

ROCKY TIME

In December, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Yahoo and other Internet companies issued an open letter to U.S. President Barack Obama and Congress to reform and introduce restrictions on surveillance activities.

Even so, U.S. tech companies have had a rocky time in China since the NSA revelations. Just last month, central government offices were banned from installing Windows 8, Microsoft's latest operating system, on new computers.

But the U.S. has responded with its own measures. In May, the U.S. Department of Justice charged five Chinese military officers with hacking U.S. companies to steal trade secrets.

The indictment sparked outrage in China and added urgency to Beijing's efforts to promote the development of local information technology (IT) companies.

Chinese media called the United States "a high-level hooligan" and officials accused Washington of applying "double standards" on issues of cyber spying.

After the charges were announced, China said it will investigate providers of important IT products and services to protect "national security" and "economic and social development."

(Reporting by Paul Carsten and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

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Let's Do the Time Warp Again!: Blake Lively, Miley Cyrus and 14 Stars Who Dress Like They're in a Different Decade

1990s
We don't know who's on point more: Miley Cyrus with her Gwen Stefani-inspired hair nubs or Khloé Kardashian going for the whole Nirvana grunge look!

Credit:
Getty; Splash

Think the 20s, 40s, 60s and 80s are long gone? Think again!

These stars can't help but bring previous decades to life in the 2000s!
____________________________________

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BB PIN: 260158B5

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TOP NEWS The three fingers in Thailand - anti-coup, pro-coup or Hunger Games?

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Supporters of Thailand's military junta are trying to hijack a gesture used by demonstrators opposed to last month's coup, saying the three-fingered salute signifies the ills of the deposed government, and not resistance to the takeover.

The salute, inspired by the hit film "The Hunger Games", has been flashed as a symbol of defiance at street protests in Bangkok since the weekend. The military government, which sent thousands of troops and police onto the streets to stifle public dissent, has warned demonstrators against making the salute.

Security forces detained at least seven people who joined flash mob protests over the weekend and held up three fingers against the junta, according to the ruling National Council for Peace and Order.

"We are monitoring those who use this signal but have no plans to ban it yet," deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree told Reuters.

"But if there are gatherings of five people or more doing this salute, then we will make arrests in some cases."

The military has banned political gatherings of more than five people and has tried to enforce a ban on criticism of the coup since taking power.

Protesters have ascribed more than one meaning to the salute. Some say it stands for the tripartite French slogan - liberty, equality and brotherhood. Others say the symbol is a reference to the Hunger Games, the movie based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.

That story is set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future in the country of Panem where the wealthy Capitol rules over twelve poorer districts. The salute symbolizes rebellion against totalitarian rule, hence its adoption by those in Thailand opposed to military rule.

Pro-establishment groups have pilloried the gesture on social media with a graphic saying the fingers represent a corrupt government rice-buying scheme, disrespect to the monarchy and destruction of the country - all ascribed to the deposed government.

The groups welcome military intervention as a way to get Thailand back in order after months of turmoil when protesters tried to force out the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

(Editing by Alan Raybould and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
____________________________________

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BB PIN: 260158B5

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