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Madonna says boos at Olympia MDNA show were from “a few thugs”

Sonia Pantiss
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Madonna says boos at Olympia MDNA show were from “a few thugs”

Madonna has said the angry reaction from a crowd at her recent 45-minute Olympia show in Paris was from “thugs who were not my fans”.

“Playing the Olympia was a magical moment for me,” Madonna said in a statement on her website.

“Unfortunately at the end of the show, after I left the stage, a few thugs who were not my fans rushed the stage… pretending to be angry fans,” the singer added.

Some fans on Twitter agreed with Madonna but others said they had booed her.

One said: “I have been a fan for 20 years and I booed Madonna at the Olympia! 45 minutes for 275 euros. Shame on you.”

Madonna has said the angry reaction from a crowd at her recent 45-minute Olympia show in Paris was from "thugs who were not my fans
Madonna has said the angry reaction from a crowd at her recent 45-minute Olympia show in Paris was from "thugs who were not my fans

Another tweeted: “Madonna has blamed <<rogues>> attending her concert at the Olympia without understanding that her fans feel cheated.”

Media website The Examiner said “many fans did feel short-changed due to lack of communication on how the show would be shorter”.

But it suggested that “the actual riots and the screaming were started by supporters of Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far right National Front in Paris. Apparently, they are still upset that Madonna compared Le Pen to a Nazi in her tour.”

The 2,000 tickets sold out in minutes, with fans paying between $125-$315 and some reportedly changing hands for up to $1,600.

Paris resident Allain Zambrana, 26, from Nicaragua, said he wanted to ask for his money back.

“I felt very frustrated because I camped out on the streets and then the show just ends like that.”

Several people cried “refund” as they realized Madonna had left the stage for good.

Dutch fan Ellis Van Zoen, 22, agreed the show was “very short”, but added: “I’m torn – I thought it was a fantastic show and it was special. I don’t want to see fans yelling at her but I can understand why.”

Other fans vented their frustration on a Facebook page owned by the star’s publicist, Liz Rosenburg.

“Some people slept in the streets for 48 hours. So what happened with the concert?” asked Rudy Vanhover.

“She was incredible but we were all shocked by the departure and the duration of the concert.”

Others were more supportive.

“It was an amazing experience to be part of this wonderful show,” commented Christopher Houthaeve.

“I purchased the category 1 ticket and have absolutely no regrets.”

Madonna said the “thugs” threw plastic bottles at the stage and that “the press reports have focused on this and not the joyous aspect of the evening”.

“But nothing can take away or ruin this very special evening for me and my fans. When I looked out in the audience, everyone I saw had a smile on their face. I look forward to having this wonderful experience again.”

At her concert in Vienna on Sunday, Madonna told the crowd: “Those people were not my fans, they were not there to support me.

“But that’s ok because wherever there is darkness, I’m going to bring you some light… we’re not going to let them spoil our fun, are we?”

 

Tony Martin dies at his Los Angeles home aged 98

Sonia Pantiss
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Tony Martin dies at his Los Angeles home aged 98

Veteran singer and actor Tony Martin has died at the age of 98.

Tony Martin was best known for such romantic 1950s ballads as There’s No Tomorrow and To Each His Own, and his 60-year marriage to dancer Cyd Charisse.

A peer of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Tony Martin also starred in movie musicals from the 1930s to the ’50s, alongside stars such as Judy Garland.

Business manager Stan Schneider said he had died “peacefully” of natural causes at his Los Angeles home on Friday.

Musician and longtime friend Gabriel Guerrero describedTony  Martin as “the ultimate crooner who outlasted all his contemporaries”.

He said he had “truly remained the butterscotch baritone until he was 98”.

Veteran singer and actor Tony Martin has died at the age of 98
Veteran singer and actor Tony Martin has died at the age of 98

Tony Martin was featured in 25 films, most of them made during the heyday of Hollywood musicals. His good looks saw him often cast as the romantic lead.

His first singing role came in the 1936 film Sing Baby Sing, which starred Alice Faye – one of the Fox studio’s biggest stars and Tony Martin’s future first wife .

He joined MGM in 1940 where he acted alongside the likes of Lana Turner, Esther Williams and the Marx Brothers.

Tony Martin divorced Alice Faye after two years before meeting rising dance star Cyd Charisse, whom he married in 1948.

Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse, who partnered Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly during her career, were together until her death in 2008.

He also produced and starred in Casbah in 1948, a musical version of the 1938 film Algiers.

Growing up in San Francisco and Oakland amid a poor, close-knit Russian Jewish family, Tony Martin said he used music as an escape route.

“I always sang,” he said.

“I always played some instrument or other, real or imagined.

“At first, of course, my music was just for my own fun. I didn’t recognize it right away as my passport away from poverty.”

Tony Martin, whose other big hits included Stranger in Paradise and Walk Hand in Hand, often made singing tours of Europe and had a yearly contract at the London Palladium.

According to friends, Tony Martin continued performing into his nineties.

 

WWII US plane crew remains found in St Lawrence River

James J. Williams
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WWII US plane crew remains found in St Lawrence River

US divers have found what appear to be remains of a crew of an Army amphibious plane that went down in the Eastern St Lawrence River during World War II.

The PBY-5A Catalina capsized in rough water on its way back to base in Maine on 2 November 1942.

Parks Canada first found in the plane in 2009 during a survey, and contacted US officials when they saw the plane’s fuselage was largely intact.

Divers also found sunglasses, film negatives and an operations log.

“The paper is still readable, you can see the typewritten print, it’s a list of procedures for the radio,” Marc-Andre Bernier, chief underwater archaeologist for Parks Canada said.

“It’s quite phenomenal.”

US divers have found what appear to be remains of a crew of an Army amphibious plane that went down in the Eastern St Lawrence River during World War II
US divers have found what appear to be remains of a crew of an Army amphibious plane that went down in the Eastern St Lawrence River during World War II

The amphibious plane was serving an airfield in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan during the war as part of a corridor linking the US to Europe.

According to reports at the time, the plane failed to take off during a storm due to high waves.

On the second attempt, the plane hit a large wave and began taking on water.

Four of the nine people on board were pulled to safety before the plane sank.

Parks Canada divers originally found the plane upside down under 40m of water.

Marc-Andre Bernier confirmed that divers had found what appeared to be remains, and that they were being sent to a laboratory in Hawaii. Search teams were withholding further details out of respect for the families.

US officials say there are more than 83,000 Americans missing from past conflicts.

“This recovery effort is a solemn and significant undertaking,” US Consul General Peter O’Donohue said in a statement on the recovery operation.

“For the United States, this is a sacred mission to honour those who served their country to the last.”

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H3N8 flu virus associated with harbor seals death in US

Kathryn R. Bown
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H3N8 flu virus associated with harbor seals death in US

US scientists have identified a new strain of influenza in harbor seals that could potentially impact human and animal health.

The H3N8 flu has been associated with the deaths of harbor seals in New England last year.

Researchers say the virus may have evolved from a type that had been circulating in birds.

They say the discovery highlights the potential for pandemic flu to emerge from unexpected sources.

US scientists have identified a new strain of influenza in harbor seals that could potentially impact human and animal health
US scientists have identified a new strain of influenza in harbor seals that could potentially impact human and animal health

Researchers were puzzled by the mysterious deaths from pneumonia of 162 harbor seals around the coast of New England last year.

Autopsies on five of the marine mammals indicate that they died from a type of H3N8 influenza A virus that is closely related to a strain circulating in North American birds since 2002.

The scientists say this flu has evolved to live in mammals and has mutated to make it more transmissable and more likely to cause severe symptoms. The virus also has the ability to target a protein found in the human respiratory tract.

Dr. Anne Moscona of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City edited the report and says that the new virus is a worry.

“There is a concern that we have a new mammalian-transmissable virus to which humans haven’t yet been exposed. It’s a combination we haven’t seen in disease before.”

While flu viruses have turned up in seals before, the researchers say this new virus may represent the first sighting of a new group with the potential to persist and move between species. The scientists had not considered that a bird flu infection could jump species to seals.

They argue that this highlights the fact that a pandemic influenza could emerge from a number of different routes.

“Flu could emerge from anywhere and our readiness has to be much better than we previously realized. We need to be very nimble in our ability to identify and understand the potential risks posed by new viruses from unexpected sources,” Dr. Anne Moscona said.

The report is published in the journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

 

Australia in $500 million drugs seizure after breaking Hong Kong-based ring

Diane A. Wade
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Australia in $500 million drugs seizure after breaking Hong Kong-based ring

Australian police have seized drugs worth over $500 million dollars and broken up a Hong Kong-based drugs ring.

Four Hong Kong nationals and three Australian residents were also arrested in raids in Sydney on Monday.

Over half a ton of drugs, including 306 kg (674.61 lb) of crystal methamphetamine – also known as ”ice” – and 252 kg of heroin, were seized.

The haul is the largest seizure of ”ice” and the third largest seizure of heroin, police said.

Australian police have seized drugs worth over $500 million dollars and broken up a Hong Kong-based drugs ring
Australian police have seized drugs worth over $500 million dollars and broken up a Hong Kong-based drugs ring

The drugs are estimated to be worth A$500 million (US$526 million), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement.

The raids and arrests followed a year-long investigation.

“Countless lives would have been affected had this seizure made its way to Australian streets,” Deputy Commissioner Andrew Colvin told Australian media.

He said investigations would continue and more arrests could take place.

The investigations into the syndicate began in August 2011 after a tip-off from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, police said. The drugs were found in a shipment of terracotta pots on 19 July.

The suspects will face charges for importing and possessing drugs in a Sydney court.

 

Maeve Binchy, best-selling Irish author, dies at 72

Sonia Pantiss
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Maeve Binchy, best-selling Irish author, dies at 72

Irish author Maeve Binchy has died aged 72 after a short illness.

Best-selling Maeve Binchy, born in Dalkey, Co Dublin, has sold more than 40 million books. Her works were often set in Ireland and have been translated into 37 languages.

They include The Lilac Bus as well as Tara Road and Circle of Friends, which were both adapted for screen.

Maeve Binchy trained as a teacher before moving into journalism and writing, publishing her first novel – Light a Penny Candle – in 1982.

She had written the novel in her spare time from her day job as a journalist at The Irish Times.

Irish author Maeve Binchy has died aged 72 after a short illness
Irish author Maeve Binchy has died aged 72 after a short illness

The author was renowned for her generosity and support of others, writing in a guide for aspiring writers: “The most important thing to realize is that everyone is capable of telling a story.

“It doesn’t matter where we were born or how we grew up”.

Maeve Binchy said that her secret was to write the way she spoke.

“I don’t say I was proceeding down a thoroughfare, I say I walked down the road.

“I don’t say I passed a hallowed institute of learning I say I passed a school.”

“You don’t wear all your jewellery at once – you’re much more believable if you talk in your own voice,” she said.

In 2000, Maeve Binchy was ranked third in the World Book Day poll of favorite authors – ahead of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

Maeve Binchy received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Book Awards in 2010, the same year her last novel, Minding Frankie, was published.

She published a personal message on her website thanking fans who had praised the work:

“My health isn’t so good these days and I can’t travel around to meet people the way I used to. But I’m always delighted to hear from readers, even if it takes me a while to reply,” she said.

Maeve Binchy is survived by her husband, writer Gordon Snell.

 

Olympics 2012: swimmer Ye Shiwen denies doping after smashing world record

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympics 2012: swimmer Ye Shiwen denies doping after smashing world record

Chinese Olympic swimmer Ye Shiwen has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, after smashing a world record at the London Olympics.

Ye Shiwen, 16, won gold in the 400 m individual medley after breaking her personal best by at least five seconds.

She swam the last 50 m quicker than the men’s champion, prompting leading US coach John Leonard to describe her performance as “disturbing”.

There is no evidence against her and all medal winners are drug-tested.

She is due to race in the final of the 200m individual medley later on Tuesday.

Coach John Leonard, executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association, said her performance reminded him of the East German women swimmers in the 1980s who were doping on a systematic basis.

“History in our sport will tell you that every time we see something, and I will put quotation marks around this, unbelievable, history shows us that it turns out later on there was doping involved,” John Leonard told the UK’s Guardian newspaper.

Chinese Olympic swimmer Ye Shiwen has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, after smashing a world record at the London Olympics
Chinese Olympic swimmer Ye Shiwen has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, after smashing a world record at the London Olympics

China’s swimming team was repeatedly hit by doping scandals in the 1990s.

Seven swimmers tested positive for drugs in the 1994 Asian Games, and four years later four Chinese swimmers failed pre-tournament drug tests before swimming world championships in Australia.

But Ye Shiwen denied the allegations, telling reporters: “My results come from hard work and training and I would never use any banned drugs. The Chinese people have clean hands.”

The accusations have sparked an angry reaction from Chinese internet users, who have accused other nations of jealousy.

Chinese swimming team leader Xu Qi told China’s state-run Xinhua news agency that Ye Shiwen’s result had been expected.

“To compare Ye’s result with Lochte’s is meaningless,” he said.

“Ye was behind after 300m and she needed to try her best to win the race, but Lochte had already established the lead before the freestyle and didn’t need to do his upmost.”

Arne Ljungqvist, medical commission chairman for the International Olympic Committee, called the speculation sad.

“To raise suspicion immediately when you see an extraordinary performance – to me it is against the fascination of sport,” he said.

All medal winners at the Olympics are drug tested. In addition, any athlete whose performance is far better than anything they have achieved before can be targeted for extra tests.

China’s anti-doping chief has said that Chinese athletes have undergone nearly 100 drugs tests since arriving in London, and that not a single Chinese athlete had tested positive.

Who is Ye Shiwen?

• Born in 1996 in eastern city of Hangzhou

• Started swimming in 2003, reportedly after her teacher noticed she had large hands

• Joined the national team in 2008

• Won the 200m and 400m individual medley at the 2010 Asian Games

 

Five steps for a long lasting home pedicure

Lisa.Felice
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Five steps for a long lasting home pedicure

Getting your toes sandal-ready is easy once you know how, and a good pedicure can last up to three weeks if done right.

“Spending just 30 minutes on a proper DIY pedicure is one of the most transformative beauty treatments you can do,” says foot health expert, Margaret Dabbs.

“Not only does a good pedi make your feet look groomed, it’s an instant confidence booster.”

 

1. File toe nails

First, invest in a good nail file.

“Emery boards can tear and split your nails, resulting in an uneven look. Whereas, a glass file will give you a perfectly straight line as it allows you to file back and forth without damaging your nails,” says Margaret Dabbs.

File nails straight across. While it’s trendy to go for fancy shapes on your fingers, Margaret Dabbs says feet should never be filed in a round shape like fingernails.

“Straight across is the most flattering and healthiest option, as rounded nails can grow into the foot,” she explains.

If you suffer from bunions like Victoria Beckham, try Margaret Dabbs’ foot-perfecting trick: “If you’ve got a big toe that leans slightly inwards, subtly file the big toe nail in a diagonal line so that the inside of the nail is a fraction higher.

“This gives the illusion of straight, evenly-shaped toes.”

Spending just 30 minutes on a proper DIY pedicure is one of the most transformative beauty treatments you can do
Spending just 30 minutes on a proper DIY pedicure is one of the most transformative beauty treatments you can do

2. Buff and gloss

Next, use a square block buffer over the nail bed.

“Buffing nails gets rid of discoloration caused by leftover nail polish or fake tan,” says Margaret Dabbs.

Once ridges are smoothed and the toenails are stain-free, use a separate glossing buffer to create a glass-like effect.

The action is a bit like shining shoes; buff back and forth quickly over the nails until they’re gleaming.

“I always carry a glossing file in my handbag for those occasions when I don’t have time to wait for polish to dry – it’s the natural equivalent of top coat,” she adds.

3. File hard skin

“The most common mistake made during at-home pedicures is to file hard skin while your feet are in water,” says Margaret Dabbs.

“When feet are wet, it’s harder to see what areas need filing. Plus, cracked feet can split in water, which can be painful and lead to infection. So, always file on dry skin.”

The best callous tool?

“Leave cutting or grating devices to the pros, as it’s easy to go overboard which can leave you with sore, aching heels,” she says.

Instead, opt for a foot file (ideally crystal) that will evenly reduce hard skin.

“Always file hard areas, such as big toes and heels, in soft strokes towards the underneath of your foot. If you file upwards, you will be left with a ridge.”

4. Exfoliate

Once nails and hard skin are taken care of, soak feet in warm water ready to exfoliate away dead skin.

“When you don’t have an exfoliating product to hand, mix together body wash with a handful of coarse sea salt and massage into damp feet,” says Margaret Dabbs.

“This instantly revives tired looking feet, leaving cuticles clean and skin bright and gleaming.”

5. Oil and polish

Forget foot balms, for a “luxe” look use a foot oil which will penetrate deeper into the skin without the sticky finish of a heavy cream.

“Dry oils like emu oil contain moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties,” says Margaret Dabbs.

Great for holidays when the sand and sun leave feet looking parched, top up your pedicure with a quick spray each night to keep feet looking silky.

 

Prends-moi by Velds, the world’s first slimming fragrance

Lisa.Felice
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Prends-moi by Velds, the world’s first slimming fragrance

The latest slimming aid comes in the form of a perfume bottle as Prends-moi is the world’s first slimming fragrance from Velds that has been developed at the French perfume house Robertet.

Makers claim the fragrance is designed to “slim with pleasure” and is based on “aromatherapeutic” and “neurocosmetic” research.

Prends-moi contains ingredients which release B-endorphins present in the skin and a “pleasure message” is transmitted through the brain triggering a sensation of well being and an increase in contentment reducing the need to overeat.

A “Slimming Complex” formulated with caffeine, carnitine and spirulina extract activates the two key enzymes directly involved in lipolysis (fat degradation).

Prends-moi is the world’s first slimming fragrance from Velds that has been developed at the French perfume house Robertet
Prends-moi is the world’s first slimming fragrance from Velds that has been developed at the French perfume house Robertet

A trial study by BIO-EC of women aged between 18 and 70 years of age, who were not on a diet, found that 75% felt the perfume limited the need to snack and 73% felt a feeling of pleasure.

Generously spritz in the morning, as you would do with any perfume, and throughout the day when the need for snacking arises.

Further results can be achieved by very lightly massaging into targeted areas, morning and night to help sculpt and slim the contours of the body.

As for the smell, there are top notes, with lively accents of bergamot, mandarin and grapefruit.

With a low alcohol content, Prends-moi is perfect for those who love summer all year long.

But unfortunately you will have to join a fast-forming queue of over 6,000 eager customers who are desperate to get their hands on the bottles.

Trial results:

A trial study by BIO-EC (Centre of Biological Research and Cutaneous Experimentation) of women aged between 18 and 70 years who were not either on a diet or medical or dermatological treatment during the whole duration of the study revealed the following results after 28 days of regular use:

• 82% felt a feeling of comfort after application

• 75% thought it had a pleasant fragrance and they would wear it every day

• 73% felt a feeling of pleasure

• 75% felt it limited the need to snack

• 70% felt a feeling of well being

• 70% felt it acting on their eating behavior

 

Six Flags Superman rollercoaster riders stranded for two hours at 150 feet above ground

Diane A. Wade
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Six Flags Superman rollercoaster riders stranded for two hours at 150 feet above ground

Riders of a brand new rollercoaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, went on the ride of their life yesterday, though not perhaps the kind they were expecting.

The two dozen men and women found themselves stranded 150 feet above ground for nearly two hours when both the cars of The Superman Ultimate Flight ride stalled atop the track.

Firefighters who arrived on the scene at 3:00 p.m. – around half an hour after the roller coaster stopped – were able to deliver water bottles to the riders in a large personnel bucket while mechanics worked to fix the problem.

None of the twelve people were injured and all were lowered back to safety once the ride was re-started.

It is unclear what prompted the malfunction that thankfully left the passengers upright at the top of the roller coaster.

The two dozen men and women found themselves stranded 150 feet above ground for nearly two hours when both the cars of The Superman Ultimate Flight ride stalled atop the track
The two dozen men and women found themselves stranded 150 feet above ground for nearly two hours when both the cars of The Superman Ultimate Flight ride stalled atop the track

After their own efforts to get the car moving again by rocking back and forth, failed, firefighters waited for instruction. Vallejo Fire Battalion Chief Ray Jackson told Associated Press that they were trained for such a rescue operation in case this type of situation should ever arise.

The new ride opened June 30 at the Vallejo theme park, holds two cars with six riders each and can travel at up to 62 mph. It ride will be closed for a “thorough safety inspection,” Six Flags spokesman Nancy Chan said, adding that the ride will reopen when the inspection is completed.

“If (a ride) stops, it usually detects something and it stops for safety reasons,” she explained.

Though Nancy Chan revealed that the theme park staff has collected the names and contact details of the passengers, the issue of compensation remains murky.

“I don’t know what compensation, if any, would be given,” Nancy Chan told the Vallejo-Times Herald.

“I can’t speculate.”

Nancy Chan also claimed not to know of such an incident having occurred before despite one park visitor’s claims that her eight-year-old son was stuck for eight to ten minutes when his ride stalled two weeks ago.

Tiffany Sanchez told the local paper no compensation was given.

 

James Holmes charged with 142 criminal counts over Colorado cinema shooting

Diane A. Wade
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James Holmes charged with 142 criminal counts over Colorado cinema shooting

James Holmes, the suspect gunman at Aurora cinema, has been formally charged with 142 criminal counts in one of America’s worst mass shootings.

James Holmes, 24, faces 24 counts of murder, two for each of the 12 people killed, and 116 counts of attempted murder, two each for the 58 injured.

For each person killed he faces a count of murder with deliberation and one of murder with extreme indifference.

If convicted, James Holmes could face the death penalty.

James Holmes, the suspect gunman at Aurora cinema, has been formally charged with 142 criminal counts in one of America's worst mass shootings
James Holmes, the suspect gunman at Aurora cinema, has been formally charged with 142 criminal counts in one of America's worst mass shootings

James Holmes opened fire at random in a crowded movie theatre showing Batman film The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora near Denver on 20 July, according to the authorities.

The judge had banned cameras from Monday’s hearing, so there were no pictures of the defendant, who appeared dazed during his first court appearance last week.

James Holmes was reportedly quiet and unemotional during the hearing. At times, he appeared to be trying to focus his eyes.

Denver Post reporter John Ingold tweeted that the accused appeared “not quite engaged, but listening”.

When asked if he approved a delay in his bail hearing, the defendant leaned towards his lawyer and appeared to say “okay”, and then said “yes” quietly to the judge.

Survivors of the shooting and family members of those killed attended the hearing.

Several wore Batman shirts, including Don Lader, who was in the eighth row of the theatre when the shooting began. He told CNN he had seen the movie twice since that day.

Among the counts on the prosecutors’ sheet, James Holmes faces a gun charge and another of possessing an explosive or incendiary device.

James Holmes allegedly wired his apartment with enough explosives to destroy the entire building had they been detonated. It took authorities several days to dismantle the booby traps.

Court documents filed on Friday by defense lawyers said the suspect had been under the care of a psychiatrist at the University of Colorado Denver, where he had been in the process of dropping out as a neuroscience PhD student.

Monday’s hearing was also expected to address a package – discovered in a campus mailroom three days after the shootings – which the suspect addressed to that psychiatrist, Dr. Lynne Fenton.

The package reportedly contained descriptions of an attack, including drawings of a stick-figure gunman shooting people.

The defense team is seeking a court order requiring prosecutors to immediately turn over all evidence relating to the seizure of a package, citing doctor-patient privilege.

They have also lodged a motion to find out who leaked the existence of the package to the media, which they say could jeopardize the suspect’s right to a fair trial.

Prosecutors have said it will be several weeks before a decision is made on whether or not to seek the death penalty in the case.

As of Sunday, 10 victims of the 20 July shooting remained in hospital, four of them in a critical condition.

Ashley Moser, the critically injured mother of a six-year-old girl killed in the rampage in Aurora, has suffered a miscarriage, her family said on Saturday.

 

Colosseum of Rome is taking the place of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

James J. Williams
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Colosseum of Rome is taking the place of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Rome’s world famous Colosseum is now around 40 cm (16 inches) lower on the south side than on the north.

Concerned authorities are investigating whether it needs urgent repairs, after experts noticed the incline about a year ago.

Rossella Rea, director at the 2,000-year-old monument, revealed in Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Sunday that officials have been monitoring it for the past few months.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, another of the country’s most popular attractions, was reopened in 2001 after being shut for more than a decade as engineers worked to prevent it from falling over and to make it safe for visitors.

Rome's world famous Colosseum is now around 40 cm (16 inches) lower on the south side than on the north
Rome's world famous Colosseum is now around 40 cm (16 inches) lower on the south side than on the north

Restorers’ efforts to clean off centuries of grime from the Tuscan landmark helped stabilize the historical building by removing soil from beneath one side of its foundations.

“The slab of concrete on which the Colosseum rests, which is like a 13-metre (yard)-thick oval doughnut, may have a fracture inside it,” he told the newspaper.

He said intervention along the lines of the stabilization work carried out in Pisa could be necessary if the concerns are confirmed, but he added that it was too early to judge what kind of intervention would be most suitable.

The Colosseum – famous for hosting bloody gladiator fights in the days of the Roman Empire – attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and is usually packed with visitors.

 

US gas prices at the pump rise for the first time in three months

Clyde K. Valle
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US gas prices at the pump rise for the first time in three months

US consumers are facing higher gasoline prices at the pump as wholesalers sell crude oil onto them at rising prices, Lundberg Survey has said.

The Lundberg Survey said the national average price of self-serve, regular gas was $3.51 on July 27, up from $3.41 on June July 13.

The survey of 2,500 gas stations, that comes out every other or every third week, indicated that the rise was the first in the last 14 weeks.

Gasoline prices fell over 14% from a recent peak of $3.967 a gallon set on April 6 before rising last week. The record high is $4.112 set on July 11, 2008.

Trilby Lundberg, who conducts the survey, in an interview said the rise was because crude stopped falling and wholesalers began passing the higher price onto the consumer, something that was not seen in the early part of the month.

US consumers are facing higher gasoline prices at the pump as wholesalers sell crude oil onto them at rising prices
US consumers are facing higher gasoline prices at the pump as wholesalers sell crude oil onto them at rising prices

The price of crude, which Lundberg said “dictates more than any other factor what happens to gas prices”, settled Friday at $90.13 per barrel. That price had been as high as $110.55 as recently as March 1.

U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate ended the week higher after data showing a slower U.S. growth rate could open the door for more monetary easing when the Federal Reserve meets on Tuesday.

Gasoline prices have fluctuated greatly during the turbulent economic climate that has presided since 2008.

According to The Week, from 2002 -2008, the average price of regular gas went from $1.06 to $4.11 before dropping again in 2009. Since 2009, meanwhile, prices have more than doubled.

The devastating recession saw millions thrown out of work and demand for gasoline fall. Prices lowered for a time in 2009 before rising again.

The reason for this is the ever-changing market cycles of supply and demand around the world.

Crude oil prices are set on the world market and gasoline prices have been rising since 2000.

According to fuelfix.com, increased production of crude oil would change the expectations of oil speculators. This would, in turn, lower crude oil prices and gasoline prices.

 

Kris Jenner takes polygraph test after secret meeting with Todd Waterman

Lisa.Felice
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Kris Jenner takes polygraph test after secret meeting with Todd Waterman

After last week’s episode saw Kris and Bruce Jenner on the verge on splitting up, Keeping Up With Kardashians focused on those crazy kids trying to get their parents back together.

On last week’s episode Bruce Jenner found a new golf partner in Angie Everhart.

Bruce Jenner told his wife he loved playing golf with the model, and Kris became green.

Still, Angie Everhart and Bruce Jenner continued to flirt wildly and Kris spotted them in the act as she and daughter Kim Kardashian spied from a golf cart.

Kris Jenner then set up a meeting with former toyboy, Todd Waterman, who she had enjoyed an affair with while married to her childrens’ father Robert Kardashian.

But when cheeky Todd Waterman asked what room they were in and if Kris Jenner was “tipsy yet” before suggesting shots during their meeting, Kris quickly realizes that the grass isn’t greener.

She comes away thinking she made the right decision, and decides it’s Bruce she loves.

The matriarch then wakes Bruce up to tell her how she feels, he’s grumpy to be disturbed and even more annoyed when told: “Tonight is the night that I had to meet up with Todd again.”

Kris Jenner then added: “I may have been fantasising about someone for 25 years who didn’t justify it.”

“What an idiot you are, I don’t know if I can even trust you,” Bruce Jenner understandably yells back at her.

Kris Jenner remains stunned that her husband is not understanding about her secret meet up, however.

She tries to explain why meeting with Todd Waterman has given her a new perspective on him and, it should be good news for Bruce Jenner.

Bruce Jenner just asks Kris to explain why she had to see the “a******.”

When the time comes to confess to her daughters, Kris Jenner cruelly tells pregnant Kourtney Kardashian to leave the room but her sisters rail against it and the eldest daughter remains.

After Kris Jenner confesses to her children, it becomes clear why she didn’t want Kourtney Kardashian there as she exclaims at her mother: “What a little w***e!”

Kourtney Kardashian then adds that she feels like her mother is lying about the outcome, and her other daughters chime in with their disapproval, Kim suggests a lie detector test.

Kourtney asks: “Did you touch his p**** under the table with your foot?”

To find out such edifying details, the girls enlist a polygraph specialist called Joseph who has worked with “the Kennedys and the CIA”.

When they tell an obviously rattled Bruce Jenner, he confides in the girls that just after he married Kris she told him: “Never trust me.”

Bruce Jenner therefore thinks the test is a great idea, and is keen to hear the results… the girls joke that their mother will “enjoy the attention”.

Kris Jenner takes polygraph test after secret meeting with Todd Waterman
Kris Jenner takes polygraph test after secret meeting with Todd Waterman

The test moment arrives, and Kris Jenner is asked questions devised by her daughters.

She is asked if Kim is her favorite daughter and answers: “Yes”, and “no” to whether or not she has ever taken a bigger cut than she was entitled to from their deals.

She also answers in the affirmative as to whether Robert Kardashian is Khloe’s real father.

And it’s of course a “no” to being “in love with Todd Waterman”, and another negative as to whether an affair is on the cards.

The affair question causes a bump on the test, but Joseph explains it is most likely the emotion of a memory recalled and Kris Jenner is judged as passing the test.

Kris Jenner high fives her delighted daughters, but Bruce is still unconvinced.

He wants answers about the meeting, and he says he saw the needle bouncing around.

The man of the house even yells “whopee” sarcastically after Kris Jenner pleads that the dinner made her feel better so he should be pleased.

The children make up their minds to send the parents to a beach house Malibu (after deciding they need to get away from the drab reality of their multi-million dollar mansion).

But their relationship is as rocky as the coastline… even there.

Until, that is, Kim Kardashian sends a book of photographs charting their relationship in photographs jolts them into a realization.

The pair agrees to get their relationship back on track, before enjoying a romantic sunset.

 

Olympics 2012: spectators unhappy at swimmers wearing noise-cancelling headphones

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympics 2012: spectators unhappy at swimmers wearing noise-cancelling headphones

A number of Olympic swimmers are walking out to the pool wearing headphones – and keeping them on right up until the last seconds before they climb onto the blocks.

Athletes are said to favor them because they allow them to stay focused on the race in the moments before they take them off to swim and not be distracted by the crowd.

But the practice has divided opinion, with a number of people criticizing the swimmers for ignoring the fans, as the headphones block out their cheers.

Sun Yang, who went on to win a gold medal, was one of several seen wearing the “Beats by Dr. Dre” headphones at the swimming finals on Saturday night.

They are designed to block out all background noise.

A number of Olympic swimmers at London Games are walking out to the pool wearing headphones
A number of Olympic swimmers at London Games are walking out to the pool wearing headphones

US swimming star Michael Phelps – who has 14 Olympic gold medals – keeps his headphones firmly in place until the last minute as he stays focused.

But fans expressed dismay on Twitter, with Ella McSweeney writing: “If I was a fan who travelled to support a swimmer who then appeared with headphones on, I’d feel like being a bit quiet.”

Another wrote: “Why are these swimmers coming out wearing headphones? Take them off and soak up the atmosphere you idiots.”

But they did find some support. Spectator Mari Fotherby told the Independent: “Why shouldn’t they wear them? They train hard 364 days of the year. If they want to use music to stay calm as they get ready to race then they should.”

As well as disappointing the fans, the swimmers who wore the headphones are likely to have left Samsung, the official technology sponsor of the games, somewhat miffed.

Beats by Dre headphones are owned by one of their fiercest corporate rivals, HTC.

Last night a LOCOG spokesperson confirmed that Beats by Dre were not an official sponsor.

“It must be that the athletes just like them,” a spokesman said.

Nobody at the company Beats by Dre was available to comment on whether the headphones had been given to athletes for free.

 

Iran: four people sentenced to death over $2.6 billion bank fraud

Diane A. Wade
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Iran: four people sentenced to death over $2.6 billion bank fraud

Four people have been sentenced to death in Iran for their roles in the country’s biggest-ever bank fraud scandal.

Two other defendants received life sentences, while 33 more will spend up to 25 years in jail, the chief prosecutor was quoted as saying.

The scandal involved forged documents reportedly used by an investment company to secure loans worth $2.6 billion.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last year denied allegations that his government was involved.

The identities of the defendants have not been made public.

Four people have been sentenced to death in Iran for their roles in the country's biggest-ever bank fraud scandal
Four people have been sentenced to death in Iran for their roles in the country's biggest-ever bank fraud scandal

The case broke in September 2011 when an investment firm was accused of forging documents to obtain credit from at least seven Iranian banks over a four-year period.

The money was reportedly used to buy state-owned companies under the government’s privatization scheme.

As part of their probe, authorities froze the assets of an Iranian businessman thought to be the mastermind behind the scam.

The firm at the heart of the scandal had moved from a small start-up capital to being worth billions of dollars.

The affair fuelled weeks of political infighting between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran’s ruling hierarchy of clerics.

Economy Minister Shamseddin Hosseini scraped through an impeachment vote in November after conservative hardliners accused him of failing to take action over the fraud.

 

American flags planted on the Moon by Apollo astronauts still standing

James J. Williams
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American flags planted on the Moon by Apollo astronauts still standing

Images taken by NASA spacecraft Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter (LRO) show that the American flags planted in the Moon’s soil by Apollo astronauts are mostly still standing.

The photos from LRO show the flags are still casting shadows – except the one planted during the Apollo 11 landing.

This matches Buzz Aldrin’s account of the flag being knocked over by engine exhaust as Apollo 11 lifted off.

LRO was designed to produce the most detailed maps yet of the lunar surface.

Each of the Apollo missions planted an American flag in the soil at their landing sites.

Images taken by NASA spacecraft Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter (LRO) show that the American flags planted in the Moon's soil by Apollo astronauts are mostly still standing
Images taken by NASA spacecraft Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter (LRO) show that the American flags planted in the Moon's soil by Apollo astronauts are mostly still standing

Scientists had previously examined photos of the Apollo landing sites for the flags, and had seen what looked like shadows cast by them on the lunar surface. But this was not considered conclusive.

Now, researchers have studied photos of the landing sites taken at different points during the day (and under different illuminations) and have observed shadows circling the points where the flags are thought to be.

Prof. Mark Robinson, the chief scientist for the spacecraft’s camera instrument, LROC, said in a blog entry: “From the LROC images it is now certain that the American flags are still standing and casting shadows at all of the sites, except Apollo 11.”

He added: “The most convincing way to see that the flags are still there, is to view a time series of LROC images taken at different times of day, and watch the shadow circle the flag.

“Personally I was a bit surprised that the flags survived the harsh ultraviolet light and temperatures of the lunar surface, but they did. What they look like is another question (badly faded?).”

LRO began its mission in lunar orbit in September 2009, to identify mineral and other resources on the Moon as well as scout promising landing sites for future missions.

 

North Korea denies South’s reports about country’s reform and opening

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea denies South’s reports about country’s reform and opening

North Korea has strongly denied reports from South Korea that it is planning policy changes that will lead to the reform and opening of the country.

A government body dismissed reports that the present leadership was breaking with the past as “ridiculous”.

Some commentators have speculated that the recent removal of North Korea’s top general pointed to a possible power struggle over economic reform.

Kim Jong-Un succeeded his late father, Kim Jong-Il, in December.

Kim Jong-Un, believed to be in his late 20s, has since adopted a warm public persona, being photographed at fun fairs and pop concerts with his young wife Ri Sol-Ju.

Kim Jong-Un, believed to be in his late 20s, has since adopted a warm public persona, being photographed at fun fairs and pop concerts with his young wife Ri Sol-Ju
Kim Jong-Un, believed to be in his late 20s, has since adopted a warm public persona, being photographed at fun fairs and pop concerts with his young wife Ri Sol-Ju

That – together with the recent removal of army chief General Ri Yong-Ho – has fuelled hopes in the South that he could be planning to open up North Korea’s closed state-run economy.

However, a spokesman for North Korea’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, which deals with cross-border affairs, dismissed the speculation in an interview with state-run KCNA news agency on Sunday.

He said that Kim Jong-Un would pursue the “military first” policy brought in by his father and would build a “civilized and comfortable life for the people under socialism”.

“The puppet group (South Korea)… tried to give (the) impression that the present leadership of the DPRK (North Korea) broke with the past. This is the height of ignorance,” the spokesman said.

“To expect policy change and reform and opening from the DPRK is nothing but a foolish and silly dream, just like wanting the sun to rise in the west.”

He accused Seoul of trying to impose capitalism on Pyongyang by “trumpeting reform and opening”, adding: “There cannot be any slightest change in all policies.”

Any reference to reform has always been anathema for North Korean officials and it is a word they associate with victory for their capitalist enemies in the South.

There is also substantial external pressure for change, not least from China, which appears close to Kim Jong-Un and his inner circle and which has pressed for reform in North Korea for more than a decade.

Kim Jong-Un and those around him are being keenly watched for the direction in which they will take the communist state.

 

 

Ebola confirmed in Uganda’s capital Kampala

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola confirmed in Uganda’s capital Kampala

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has called on people to avoid physical contact, after the deadly Ebola virus spread to the capital, Kampala.

Fourteen people have died, including one in Kampala, since the outbreak began in western Uganda three weeks ago, he said in a special broadcast.

Ebola is one of the most virulent diseases in the world.

It is spread by close personal contact and kills up to 90% of those who become infected.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has called on people to avoid physical contact, after the deadly Ebola virus spread to the capital, Kampala
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has called on people to avoid physical contact, after the deadly Ebola virus spread to the capital, Kampala

Yoweri Museveni said health officials were trying to trace everyone who had had contact with victims so that they could be quarantined.

People should avoid shaking hands, kissing or having sex to prevent the disease from spreading, he added.

Yoweri Museveni said relatives and friends should not bury anyone who is suspected to have died of Ebola.

“Instead call health workers because they know how to do it,” he said.

Yoweri Museveni said seven doctors and 13 health workers at Mulago hospital – the main referral hospital in Kampala – are in quarantine after “at least one or two cases” were taken there.

One victim – a health worker who had been transferred to the capital – later died.

“I wish you good luck, and may God rest the souls of those who died in eternal peace,” Yoweri Museveni said as he ended his address to the nation.

The first victim of the latest outbreak was a pregnant woman in Kibaale district, about 170 km (100 miles) west of Kampala.

It then spread at a funeral, Yoweri Museveni said.

Uganda has seen three major outbreaks over the past 12 years.

The deadliest was in 2000 when 425 people were infected. More than half of them died.

There is no vaccine for the virus. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, weakness, headache, vomiting and kidney problems.

 

Olympics 2012: more Olympic tickets back on sale

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympics 2012: more Olympic tickets back on sale

Organizers LOCOG announce that more Olympic tickets will go back on sale after the row over empty seats.

It said an initial 3,000 tickets – including 600 gymnastics tickets – were “put back into the pot” and sold on the London 2012 website on Sunday night.

More tickets returned by sports federations would be released the night before events, LOCOG added.

Transport chiefs say London’s morning rush hour went well on the first full working day of the Games.

More Olympic tickets will go back on sale after the row over empty seats
More Olympic tickets will go back on sale after the row over empty seats

Prime Minister David Cameron, meanwhile, said the empty seats were “disappointing” but not “a unique episode” with other previous Games facing similar problems.

At some venues, seats in the accredited “Olympic family” areas – reserved for groups including officials, sports federations, athletes, journalists and sponsors – have remained empty.

LOCOG communications director Jackie Brock-Doyle said organizers were doing everything they could to fix the problem.

“We’re doing this session by session, talking to the accredited groups – including obviously broadcast media and everybody else – and asking whether we can release, for the different sessions, tickets back into the public pot,” she said.

And she said accredited seating for London 2012 was down 15% on previous Games.

Lord Sebastian Coe – who has said Olympics venues are “stuffed” with sports fans – had earlier said that some empty seats would be filled by servicemen and women, as well as local students and teachers.

And shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said unused tickets should also be given to police officers and their families.

 

Syria: 200,000 people fled Aleppo battle in the past two days

Roy Siemens
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Syria: 200,000 people fled Aleppo battle in the past two days

United Nations announces that some 200,000 people have fled intense fighting in Syria’s second city Aleppo in the past two days.

UN humanitarian chief Baroness Valerie Amos said others were trapped in the city and needed urgent help.

Government forces launched a ground assault on Saturday after a week of sporadic shelling and sorties by fighter jets.

Residents are facing food shortages and power cuts.

The rebels are outgunned by the army, but they are fighting an effective guerrilla war in the streets.

Fighting has focused on the Salah al-Din neighborhood in Aleppo’s south-west, where the rebels had embedded themselves.

Syrian state television showed footage from the city and interviewed soldiers who said they had taken complete control of Salah al-Din late on Sunday.

On Monday, officials in Damascus again said they had “purged” the area.

But activists have denied that the quarter has been overrun by the army, saying rebels are still in control.

They said fighting was continuing on Monday.

They also reported heavy shelling and clashes at the Sakhur quarter on the north-east side of the city centre, where another attack by government forces appeared to be under way.

United Nations announces that some 200,000 people have fled intense fighting in Syria's second city Aleppo in the past two days
United Nations announces that some 200,000 people have fled intense fighting in Syria's second city Aleppo in the past two days

Baroness Amos, speaking in New York, said that the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent estimated 200,000 people had fled the fighting in the past two days.

“It is not known how many people remain trapped in places where fighting continues today,” she said.

“I call on all parties to the fighting to ensure that they do not target civilians and that they allow humanitarian organizations safe access.”

She said many people had fled their homes to take shelter in schools and other public buildings.

Analysts say many others will have gone to nearby villages, and others will have fled across the border with Turkey.

The UN Security Council is chronically divided over Syria, with Russia blocking attempts by Western nations to ramp up pressure on President Bashar al-Assad.

France is due to take over the presidency of the Security Council this week, and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has pledged to continue pushing the issue.

He called Bashar al-Assad an “executioner” and said he would ask for a ministerial level meeting of Security Council members before the end of the week.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, who is on a five day Middle East tour, has also heavily criticized the government’s assault on Aleppo.

He said the attack would be “a nail in the coffin” of President Bashar al-Assad.

Leon Panetta will visit Tunisia, Egypt, Israel and Jordan in a bid to reinforce the view that Bashar al-Assad must step down.

Where Syrians are fleeing:

• Turkey: 43,387

• Jordan: 36,824

• Lebanon: 31,596

• Iraq: 8,445

• Internally displaced: One million

Source: UNHCR

In other developments:

• A Turkish official tells Reuters news agency that 12 police officers, including the chief of Latakia city’s force, have fled over the border.

• The Turkish army has sent reinforcements including missile batteries to the Syrian border, state-run Anatolian news agency reports.

 

Massive power outage hits India causing major disruption

Diane A. Wade
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Massive power outage hits India causing major disruption

A massive power outage has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi.

It hit a vast swathe of the country affecting more than 300 million people in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan states.

Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said 60% of the supply had been restored and the rest would be reinstated soon.

It is unclear why supply collapsed, but states using more power than they were authorized to could be one reason.

Sushil Kumar Shinde said he had appointed a committee to inquire into the causes of the blackout, one of the worst to hit the country in more than a decade.

A massive power outage has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi
A massive power outage has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi

The outage happened at 02:30 local time on Monday after India’s Northern Grid network collapsed.

Monday morning saw travel chaos engulf the region with thousands of passengers stranded when train services were disrupted in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Delhi Metro railway services were stalled for three hours, although the network later resumed service when it received back-up power from Bhutan, one official said.

Traffic lights on the streets of the capital were not functioning as early morning commuters made their way into work, leading to gridlock.

Water treatment plants in the city also had to be shut for a few hours.

Officials said restoring services to hospitals and transport systems were a priority.

Power cuts are a common occurrence in Indian cities because of a fundamental shortage of power and an ageing grid. The chaos caused by such cuts has led to protests and unrest on the streets.

Earlier in July, crowds in the Delhi suburb of Gurgaon blocked traffic and clashed with police after blackouts there.

Correspondents say that India urgently needs a huge increase in power production, as hundreds of millions of its people are not even connected to the national grid.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has long said that India must look to nuclear energy to supply power to the people.

Estimates say that nuclear energy contributes only 3% to the country’s current power supply. But the construction of some proposed nuclear power stations have been stalled by intense local opposition.

 

Pussy Riot members go on trial in Moscow after protesting against Vladimir Putin

Sonia Pantiss
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Pussy Riot members go on trial in Moscow after protesting against Vladimir Putin

Three members of Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot go on trial on Monday after singing a song protesting against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s main cathedral.

The song outraged the Russian Orthodox Church. It accused them of blasphemy.

Supporters say the case reflects the state’s growing intolerance of government opponents.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich caused outrage when they sang a song that implored the Virgin Mary to “throw Putin out” in February.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich caused outrage when they sang a song that implored the Virgin Mary to "throw Putin out" in February
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich caused outrage when they sang a song that implored the Virgin Mary to "throw Putin out" in February

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has said the performance, which took place at the altar of Christ the Saviour Cathedral, amounted to blasphemy.

The women are facing the charge of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility and could face up to seven years in prison.

Pussy Riot made headlines around the world late last year when footage of their controversial public perfomances at Moscow landmarks such as Red Square attracted millions of viewers on the internet.

More than 100 prominent Russian actors, directors and musicians have urged the authorities to release the three.

Western musicians such as Sting and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have also criticized the women’s arrest.

Activists have said the case indicates that President Putin, now serving a third term in office, is not heeding calls for him to be more tolerant of political opponents.

 

Snoop Dogg banned from Norway for trying to enter the country with cannabis

Lisa.Felice
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Snoop Dogg banned from Norway for trying to enter the country with cannabis

Rapper Snoop Dogg has been banned from entering Norway for two years after trying to enter the country with a small amount of cannabis last month.

Snoop Dogg, 40, was held at Kjevik Airport while on his way to a music festival, when customs officials found he was carrying eight grams of the drug.

His lawyer said the rapper had no immediate plans to appeal against the ban.

Snoop Dogg could “live with the decision”, he added.

Snoop Dogg has been banned from entering Norway for two years after trying to enter the country with a small amount of cannabis last month
Snoop Dogg has been banned from entering Norway for two years after trying to enter the country with a small amount of cannabis last month

Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, was also found at the time to be carrying more cash than is legally allowed in Norway and was fined 52,000 kroner after admitting the two offences.

He went on to perform at Norway’s Hove Festival.

In January, Snoop Dogg was arrested in Texas after border agents found cannabis on his tour bus. He was later released with a caution.

Snoop Dogg is currently on tour and is expected to appear at the Catalpa Festival in New York on Sunday.

 

Intraceuticals Oxygen machine: Madonna’s latest anti-aging weapon

Diane A. Wade
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Intraceuticals Oxygen machine: Madonna’s latest anti-aging weapon

Madonna’s assistant was spotted this week carrying a bulky contraption out of the Ritz Hotel in Paris, and he inadvertently revealed the superstar’s latest weapon in her anti-aging arsenal.

It’s Oxygen. Or more specifically $14,200 worth of Oxygen – an Intraceuticals Oxygen machine.

Previously, Madonna confessed to having one of these pricey machines in every one of her six homes, but now it looks like she literally won’t leave home without one.

The machine, normally found at high end facialists, promises to hydrate, lift and tighten, and improve the appearance of the skin.

It’s a Super Facial, a Facial on Acid, literally – and it promises a glow like nothing else.

So what does it do?

Developed in Australia, it’s a three-step process to get the best vitamins possible deep into the skin.

It’s known as hyaluronic layering – a non-invasive process that uses hyaluronic acid which plumps and hydrates the skin and helps make fine lines and saggy skin go away.

Using what looks like an airbrush, a therapist uses cooling, pressurized oxygen to deliver a vitamin-rich serum.

Intraceuticals Oxygen machine
Intraceuticals Oxygen machine

Next, a hydration gel is applied that prevents moisture loss. Finally, a binding cream is applied that provides a layer of intense hydration.

The combination literally pushes the good stuff under the skin. It’s “No-tox” – a Botox effect without the botulism.

Naturally Madonna is interested.

Right or wrong, her tenacious determination to refuse to age gracefully is something to behold – she’s fighting it every step of the way.

While her dedication to workouts and macrobiotic diets is the stuff of legends, that’s just the beginning.

Madonna raised eyebrows (and perhaps a bit more) when she brought along Botoxer to the stars Dr. Frederic Brandt along on her last worldwide tour.

The superstar is rumored to be looking into a procedure to “freshen” her aging hands, and has been pictured with what looked like the remains of a very new thread lift peeking out from a noticeably tighter jawline.

In fairness, Madonna has never denied getting a bit of extra help, only admitted a reluctance to talking about it.

And where Madonna goes, others follow.

Thanks to HD cameras and the ever-present paparazzi, intraceuticals have developed a cult following in LA.

These machines were regularly used on the set of Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City.

Uma Thurman, Rachel Zoe and Renee Zelwegger are just a few names who won’t get on a red carpet without them.

Even producers for music videos featuring celebrities like Katy Perry have claimed that they saved them thousands of dollars in retouching costs because the star’s skin looked so much better.

Madonna’s facialist, LA based Michelle Peck, says that the reason it works is that the O2 Intraceutical System delivers a potent combo of oxygen and hyaluronic acid at the lowest molecular weight possible, which means that the serum is easily absorbed through the skin pores and directly into the tissue.

The more oxygen and serum absorbed, the better the facial.

We tried one out with London-based facialist and celebrity secret Linda Meredith, who has been giving Madonna these facials for years.

Tucked behind Harrods on Beauchamp place, her salon is filled with thank you notes from Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and Stella McCartney to name just a few.

The oxygen felt cool and soothing and unlike other facials, where you often leave with red and angry looking skin, we emerged glowing immediately.

It’s just fresh streams of oxygen and serum sprayed gently onto your face.

The results are instant. There’s a reason it’s often called “the red carpet facial” because you are red carpet ready immediately.

Prices start at around $157, Lindameredith.com.

In New York, try the Red and White Spa in Soho (Redandwhitespa.com, priced at $150)

In LA, Westside Aesthetics is running a summer special for $140, Westsidemedicalspa.com.

 

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