Barack Obama couldn’t partake in tasting a delicious menu of lobster, potato chips and blueberry pie on Thursday at a dinner with Senate Republicans because his taster hadn’t verified the food was safe. According to Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, though he couldn’t indulge, Barack Obama “looked longingly at it”. Susan Collins had organized the… Continue reading Barack Obama has a food taster
Year: 2013
Vatican denies Pope Francis failed to speak out during military rule in Argentina
The Vatican has denied that Pope Francis I failed to speak out against human rights abuses during military rule in his native Argentina. “There has never been a credible, concrete accusation against him,” said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, adding the Pope had never been charged. Federico Lombardi blamed the accusations on “anti-clerical left-wing elements that… Continue reading Vatican denies Pope Francis failed to speak out during military rule in Argentina
Norman Collier dies at the age of 87
British comedian Norman Collier, best known for his faulty microphone act, has died at the age of 87, as his daughter confirmed today. Norman Collier, who had Parkinson’s disease and was living in a nursing home near his hometown of Hull in UK, died on Thursday. A contemporary of Little and Large, with whom he… Continue reading Norman Collier dies at the age of 87
Syria marks two years of nation’s unrest
As Syria marks two years since the start of the nation’s unrest, the EU is set to discuss lifting its arms embargo to allow supplying rebels. The leaders of France and Britain will try to push other EU members to agree to the move at the Brussels summit. Ties with Russia, one of Syria’s key… Continue reading Syria marks two years of nation’s unrest
Jurassic Park 4 to be directed by Colin Trevorrow
Universal Pictures has announced that Jurassic Park 4 will be directed by little-known director Colin Trevorrow. Colin Trevorrow, 36, made his feature film directorial debut in 2012 with the time travel comedy, Safety Not Guaranteed. Steven Spielberg, who directed the first two installments of the lucrative $1.9 billion dinosaur franchise, will executive produce the fourth… Continue reading Jurassic Park 4 to be directed by Colin Trevorrow
Phil Spector movie criticized by Lana Clarkson’s friends
Friends and supporters of Lana Clarkson, the actress murdered by music producer Phil Spector, have been protesting at the screening of the movie about music producer trial. Phil Spector film, starring Al Pacino, focuses on his relationship with his defence lawyer, played by Helen Mirren. But the group against the movie says it is too… Continue reading Phil Spector movie criticized by Lana Clarkson’s friends
Brain scan can read your mind
Brain scans have allowed researchers to know exactly what a person was imagining after scientists used them to decode images directly from the brain. Researchers have been able to put together what numbers people have seen, the memory a person is recalling, and even reconstruct videos of what a person has watched. “We are trying… Continue reading Brain scan can read your mind
Carnival Dream cruise ship stranded at St Maarten
Carnival Dream cruise ship has been forced to fly passengers home after the vessel experienced overflowing toilets and power outages just a month after Triumph was stranded for five days in the Gulf of Mexico. Carnival announced on Thursday that guests are being flown off the island of St Maarten where the ship is moored.… Continue reading Carnival Dream cruise ship stranded at St Maarten
Nicki Minaj threatens to quit American Idol
Nicki Minaj has threatened to quit American Idol on live TV during Thursday’s edition. Nicki Minaj was furious to learn that her favorite contestant Curtis Finch Jr. – who at one point was being tipped as a possible winner – had landed in the bottom two of the Top 10. Curtis Finch Jr. and Devin… Continue reading Nicki Minaj threatens to quit American Idol
Li Keqiang confirmed as China’s new prime minister
Li Keqiang has been named as China’s new prime minister, placing him at the helm of the world’s second-largest economy. Li Keqiang, who already holds the number two spot in the Communist Party, takes over from Wen Jiabao. He was elected for a five-year term but, like his predecessor, would be expected to spend a… Continue reading Li Keqiang confirmed as China’s new prime minister
New Zealand hit by worst drought in 30 years
New Zealand has declared drought emergency on the entire North Island in what the government describes as the worst dry spell in 30 years. Farmers are especially hard hit, with losses in agriculture expected to shave about 1% off economic growth. New Zeland’s capital Wellington is said to have just 18 days of water left,… Continue reading New Zealand hit by worst drought in 30 years
North Korea accuses US and South Korea of cyber attacks
North Korea has accused the United States and its allies of attacks on its internet servers, amid tension on Korean peninsula. KCNA news agency said the “intensive and persistent” attacks coincided with US-South Korea military drills. Official sites such as KCNA, Air Koryo and Rodong Sinmun, the party newspaper, are reported to have been inaccessible… Continue reading North Korea accuses US and South Korea of cyber attacks
HIV infection cured in up to 15% of cases after very early treatment
An immediate treatment after HIV infection may be enough to “functionally cure” about a 10th of those diagnosed early, say researchers in France. The researchers have been analyzing 14 people who stopped therapy, but have since shown no signs of the virus resurging. It follows reports of a baby girl being effectively cured after very… Continue reading HIV infection cured in up to 15% of cases after very early treatment
Samsung Galaxy S4 can be controlled without touching and translates 9 languages using audio speakers
Samsung Galaxy S4 has been launched last night revealing a last generation smart phone complete with a gallery of never-before-seen technology. In a much-hyped public event, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S4 with an array of new features, including a few triggered with simply a wave of the hand. The event at New York’s Radio City… Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S4 can be controlled without touching and translates 9 languages using audio speakers
What Is A Jesuit?
The Jesuits (The Society of Jesus) represent a Catholic order that founded Holy Cross. They are known throughout the world as educators dedicated to “finding God in all things,” exploring wide-ranging cultures and academic fields. There are 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Holy Cross is the only one that is exclusively… Continue reading What Is A Jesuit?
Pope Francis warns over Catholic Church need for spiritual renewal
Newly-elected Pope Francis has warned the Catholic Church would become “a compassionate NGO” without spiritual renewal. In a Sistine Chapel Mass with cardinals on his first day as Church leader, Pope Francis said: “If we do not confess to Christ, what would we be? “We would end up a compassionate NGO. What would happen would… Continue reading Pope Francis warns over Catholic Church need for spiritual renewal
Chelsea Clinton buys new apartment for $10.5 million
Chelsea Clinton and husband Marc Mezvinsky are about to swap their $4 million pad for a new $10.5 million luxury four-bedroom apartment in the centre of Manhattan. Chelsea Clinton, 33, and Marc Mezvinksy, 35, who married in 2010, are believed to have spotted the 5,000 sq ft property while out walking in the area. The… Continue reading Chelsea Clinton buys new apartment for $10.5 million
South Africa alarm over girls high HIV rate
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is raising the alarm as at least 28% of schoolgirls in South Africa are HIV positive compared with 4% of boys because “sugar daddies” are exploiting them. Aaron Motsoaledi said 94,000 schoolgirls also fell pregnant in 2011, and 77,000 had abortions at state facilities, The Sowetan newspaper reports. About 10% of… Continue reading South Africa alarm over girls high HIV rate
Tamar Braxton pregnant: singer makes announcement on Good Morning America
Tamar Braxton has confirmed she is pregnant on a Wednesday appearance on Good Morning America. Tamar Braxton, 35, is expecting her first child with husband Vince Herbert, 43. The singer glowed in a tight white dress as she announced her news. “I feel great and greedy at the same time. This is the most I’ve… Continue reading Tamar Braxton pregnant: singer makes announcement on Good Morning America
Pi Day: March 14th (3-14)
For math enthusiasts around the world, March 14 (3-14) is Pi Day, honoring the number pi, which is the ratio of circumference to diameter of a circle. Pi number (3.14159265358979323846264338327950288…) has captivated imaginations for thousands of years. Approximately 3.14, pi number has its own holiday on March 14, which also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday. You… Continue reading Pi Day: March 14th (3-14)
Veronica Mars movie to become reality as fans raise $2 million in less than 24 hours
Fans of cancelled TV series Veronica Mars have raised $2 million to help bring the show about a young private investigator to the big screen. More than 30,000 people donated money within 24 hours of a “crowd-sourcing” campaign being launched. “The more money we raise, the cooler movie we can make,” series creator Rob Thomas… Continue reading Veronica Mars movie to become reality as fans raise $2 million in less than 24 hours
Last non-European Pope: Gregory III (731 – 741)
Pope Francis I is the first non-European Catholic Church leader for over 1,200 years. The last non-European Pope before Francis I was Gregory III. Pope Saint Gregory III led the Catholic Church from 11 February 731 to 28 November 741, when he died. He was the last Pope to be born outside Europe until the… Continue reading Last non-European Pope: Gregory III (731 – 741)
EU Summit 2013: Focus on eurozone recession and unemployment
A new EU summit is getting under way in Brussels with issues of jobs and growth expected to dominate its agenda. The eurozone as a whole has been in recession for more than a year and unemployment is now just under 12%. France and some other countries want more flexibility in the budget targets set… Continue reading EU Summit 2013: Focus on eurozone recession and unemployment
Google Reader to be shut down in July as usage declines
Google has decided to shut down its Reader service starting from July 2013, as usage has declined. A petition to save the service, which aggregates news content from web feeds, had 25,000 signatures in a few hours. Experts say shutting Reader is part of Google’s plan to migrate more people to its social media service,… Continue reading Google Reader to be shut down in July as usage declines
Peter Banks found dead at his London home
British musician Peter Banks, who was the original guitarist of progressive rock band Yes, has died aged 65. Peter Banks played on two albums with the group before pursuing his own band Flash, and a solo career which included a guest spot on Lionel Richie’s hit Hello. Peter Banks was found dead at his London… Continue reading Peter Banks found dead at his London home