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American Idol: Jessica Sanchez performed Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”

Lisa.Felice
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American Idol: Jessica Sanchez performed Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”

American Idol’s last remaining contestants offered a great show last night, as song choices were limited to Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston hits.

Jessica Sanchez created shock and awe in equal measure when she brought the house down with Whitney Houston’s greatest hit, I Will Always Love You.

Joshua Ledet did kick off the show with an incredible performance of I Wish, but Elise Testone brought the mood down when she failed horribly with I’m Your Baby Tonight.

“Whitney’s a beast,” Jennifer Lopez stated oddly, though it was clear to understand what she meant despite the odd choice of metaphor.

Whitney Houston’s vocals seemed insurmountable to the spirited young girls struggling desperately to emulate her.

A similar fate befell Shannon Magrane, who was understandably having trouble catching her breath throughout I Have Nothing.

“I think your nerves got the best of you, baby,” Steven Tyler told Shannon Magrane.

“You kind of crashed and burned.”

Jeremy Rosado’s beautiful voice struggled last night on Ribbon in the Sky, which was the song Stevie Wonder himself sung at Whitney Houston’s funeral last month and therefore probably doomed to failure by comparison.

Even “gentle giant” Jermaine Jones was nitpicked for “forcing” the chorus on Knocks Me Off My Feet.

Heejun Han turned in an adequate All in Love Is Fair, and Colton Dixon ably sailed through Lately, looking every bit the pin-up.

“The song started out shaky for me, but by the last eight bars, you were flawless,” critiqued Randy Jackson, who said that Colton had the most trouble staying on pitch when he was singing “soft and low”.

Jessica Sanchez created shock and awe in equal measure when she brought the house down with Whitney Houston's greatest hit, I Will Always Love You
Jessica Sanchez created shock and awe in equal measure when she brought the house down with Whitney Houston's greatest hit, I Will Always Love You

Jessica Sanchez and Hollie Cavanagh fared the best.

Jessica Sanchez had a surprisingly good performance of Whitney Houston’s best-known hit, I Will Always Love You, while Hollie Cavanagh gave a heartening performance of All the Man That I Need.

Randy Jackson told Jessica Sanchez that it was one of the most difficult songs to sing and that she was the best “vocal of the night and one of the best vocal talents” in America.

While Steven Tyler added: “You may be the one. You just made 40 million people cry.”

Skylar Laine turned Where Do Broken Hearts Go into a lilting country ballad which worked better for this personal touch, though Jennifer Lopez felt she got “nasally” despite her offering the “biggest moment of the night” up to that point.

While Erika Van Pelt on I Believe in You and Me gave the judges goosebumps.

DeAndre Brackensick showed a different side of his voice with a reggae version of Master Blaster and was praised for his “Jamaican patois” by Steven Tyler.

Phillip Phillips gave Superstition a rock makeover.

The first elimination will run a little differently than in year’s past.

On tomorrow’s show, host Ryan Seacrest will announce the boy and the girl who got the least votes, then let the judges pick which one stays and which goes.

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Whitney Houston’s will: the singer left everything to her daughter Bobbi Kristina

Lisa.Felice
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Whitney Houston’s will: the singer left everything to her daughter Bobbi Kristina

Whitney Houston’s will has been made public and it has revealed that the late superstar has left everything in her possession to her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown.

All of Whitney Houston money, as well as her personal effects, has been willed to Bobbi Kristina Brown.

According to a court document, which was obtained by Inside Edition, Whitney Houston, who died on February 11 aged 48, first set up the will in 1993.

The singer then amended it in 2000, while she was still married to Bobby Brown.

Bobby Brown will not receive anything, although he is mentioned in the document itself.

Allegedly, money left by Whitney Houston to Bobbi Kristina will be put into a trust which the teenager will be given access to when she turns 21.

At that time, in 2014, Bobbi Kristina Brown will receive a portion of the inheritance, before being given another chunk at the age of 25.

Bobbi Kristina will receive the rest of her inheritance in a final installment on her 30th birthday.

All of Whitney Houston money, as well as her personal effects, has been willed to Bobbi Kristina Brown
All of Whitney Houston money, as well as her personal effects, has been willed to Bobbi Kristina Brown

According to BANG Showbiz, Whitney Houston’s mother Patricia “Cissy” Houston is the executor of the will and her brother, Gary, and sister-in-law, Pat, are trustees.

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown were married for 14 years, but they signed a prenuptial agreement before they tied the knot in 1992, which banned Bobby from accessing her will.

The prenuptial agreement stated: “Houston shall have the right to dispose of her Separate Property by Last Will and Testament in such manner as she may, in her own uncontrolled discretion deem proper.

“All future earnings, income, and accumulations resulting from each of the party’s respective personal activities, skills, efforts and work (including but not limited to each party’s respective earnings, income and accumulations derived from recording contracts, movie contracts, other media contracts, concert tours, endorsements, personal appearances….shall remain separate.”

It has emerged that Bobbi Kristina Brown will inherit everything from her mother’s will – but her family are hoping she doesn’t inherit Whitney Houston’s fame.

Whitney Houston’s family reportedly wants Bobbi Kristina out of the “limelight”.

A source told People magazine: “There is still no resolution and there has been nothing concrete on the cause of death, and they were hoping for that.

“There were members of the family who weren’t keen on [the interview] going down at this time.

“There are people who just want her to stay out of the limelight for a while. This is a little girl who just needs some time.”

 

Toyota recalls 681,500 cars in US over faulty steering wheels and silicon grease leaks

Clyde K. Valle
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Toyota recalls 681,500 cars in US over faulty steering wheels and silicon grease leaks

Toyota has decided to recall 681,500 vehicles in the US dealing a blow to its efforts to rebuild its image after a number of safety issues in recent years.

The company is recalling 70,500 Camry and 116,000 Venza cars to fix silicon grease leaks that may cause starting problems.

Another 495,000 Tacoma vehicles need repairs to faulty steering wheels that may deactivate the driver’s air bag.

Toyota is the world’s third-largest carmaker.

“Toyota is currently obtaining the necessary replacement parts. Once the replacement parts are available, we will notify owners,” the carmaker said in a statement.

The recall comes at a time when Toyota is not just seeking to rebuild its brand image but also trying to win back its market share that it lost to competitors after last year’s earthquake and tsunami.

Its image took a beating after the carmaker, once known for its quality and safety controls, recalled almost 12 million vehicles over the past two-and-a-half years for various reasons.

Toyota has decided to recall 681,500 vehicles in the US dealing a blow to its efforts to rebuild its image after a number of safety issues in recent years
Toyota has decided to recall 681,500 vehicles in the US dealing a blow to its efforts to rebuild its image after a number of safety issues in recent years

There were 14 separate recalls in 2010 alone.

Analysts said while the latest announcement will hurt the company, it will not derail its recovery process.

“It looks bad for Toyota especially after the recall problems it has had in the past,” said Hans Greimel of Automotive News.

“But it is a road bump in their path to recovery and not a major road block.”

Toyota’s sales numbers were dented after it had to curb or suspend production last year, not just at its Japanese plants but also at its North American facilities, due to a shortage of parts after the twin natural disasters.

However, Toyota has returned to normal production and seen a revival in its sales in the US, one of its biggest markets.

According to the latest data, Toyota’s sales in the US increased by 12% in February versus last year. Analysts said the upward trend was likely to continue in the coming months despite the latest recall.

“We will see a lot of new products coming out this year and next year. That will do a lot to invigorate the brand,” said Hans Greimel.

 

Strong solar storm expected to hit Earth today causing disruptions

James J. Williams
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Strong solar storm expected to hit Earth today causing disruptions

US weather specialists warn that a strong solar storm is expected to hit Earth shortly and it could disrupt power grids, satellite navigation and plane routes.

The solar storm – the largest in five years – will unleash a torrent of charged particles between 06:00 GMT and 10:00 GMT, specialists say.

The experts say it was triggered by a pair of massive solar flares earlier this week.

It means there is a good chance of seeing the northern lights at lower latitudes, if the skies are clear.

The effects will be most intense in polar regions, and aircraft may be advised to change their routings to avoid these areas.

“It’s hitting us right in the nose,” said Joseph Kunches, an expert at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

US weather specialists warn that a strong solar storm is expected to hit Earth shortly and it could disrupt power grids, satellite navigation and plane routes
US weather specialists warn that a strong solar storm is expected to hit Earth shortly and it could disrupt power grids, satellite navigation and plane routes

Joseph Kunches described the storm as the Sun’s version of Super Tuesday – in a reference to the US Republican primaries and caucuses in 10 states.

“Space weather has gotten very interesting over the past 24 hours,” Joseph Kunches added.

The charged particles are expected to hit Earth at 4,000,000 mph (6,400,000 km/h), and NOAA predicts the storm will last until Friday morning.

Images of the Sun’s region where the flares happened show a complex network of sunspots indicating a large amount of stored magnetic energy.

Other solar magnetic storms have been observed in recent decades.

One huge solar flare in 1972 cut off long-distance telephone communication in the US state of Illinois.

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Velociraptor’s last meal has been discovered

Diane A. Wade
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Velociraptor’s last meal has been discovered

A bone of a large flying reptile found in the gut of a Velociraptor is believed to be the dinosaur’s last meal.

Velociraptors have previously been described as “hyper predators”.

However, scientists suggest this pterosaur was too large to be the Velociraptor‘s intended prey but could have been scavenged.

The findings are published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, and Palaeoecology.

An international team of scientists revealed the drama of 75 million years ago with a detailed analysis of the skeleton found in the Gobi desert, Mongolia.

“It would be difficult and probably even dangerous for the small theropod dinosaur to target a pterosaur with a wingspan of 2 metres or more, unless the pterosaur was already ill or injured,” said co-author of the study Dr. David Hone, from the University College Dublin, Ireland.

“So the pterosaur bone we’ve identified in the gut of the Velociraptor was most likely scavenged from a carcass rather than the result of a predatory kill.”

Velociraptors were not much taller than domestic turkeys but were thought to be voracious predators.

A bone of a large flying reptile found in the gut of a Velociraptor is believed to be the dinosaur's last meal
A bone of a large flying reptile found in the gut of a Velociraptor is believed to be the dinosaur's last meal

A famous fossil unearthed in 1971 known as the “fighting dinosaurs” shows a Velociraptor and larger Protoceratops apparently locked in combat.

But evidence of feeding by theropod dinosaurs, such as Velociraptor or Tyrannosaurus rex, is scarce in the fossil record.

The 75 mm-long pterosaur bone shard was found within the rib cage where the Velociraptor‘s gut would have been.

According to Dr. David Hone, the contents of dinosaur’s stomachs often elude scientists as they are rarely preserved.

“Gut contents are pretty rare and pterosaur bones are rather fragile and don’t preserve well, so it is an unusual find.”

In addition to proving that velociraptors took advantage of ailing animals, Dr. David Hone suggests that the evidence provides a further revelation: that small dinosaurs ate relatively large bones.

By analyzing the bones, researchers also found out that the Velociraptor died shortly after feeding on the pterosaur.

The smooth surface of the reptile bones suggest it was not eroded by stomach acids and the team discovered the Velociraptor itself suffered from a broken rib.

“Pretty much all carnivores are both predators and scavengers as the situation dictates – actually getting evidence for that from the fossil record is rather hard [to get] though,” said Dr. David Hone.

 

Their bravery is the Syrian people’s gift to us

James J. Williams
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Their bravery is the Syrian people’s gift to us

Dear friends,

 

This morning, 4 western journalists are home safe with their families, the echoes of the horror and heroism of Baba Amr still ringing in their ears. Over 50 Syrian activists, supported by Avaaz, volunteered to rescue them and scores of wounded civilians from the Syrian army’s killzone. Many of those incredible activists have not survived the week.

Abu Hanin is one of the heroes. He’s 26, a poet, and when his community needed him, he took the lead in organizing the citizen journalists that Avaaz has supported to help the voices of Syrians reach the world. The last contact with Abu Hanin was on Thursday, as regime troops closed in on his location. He read his last will and testament to the Avaaz team in Beirut, and told us where he had buried the bodies of the two western journalists killed in the shelling. Since then, his neighborhood of Baba Amr has been a black hole, and we still don’t know his fate.

It’s easy to despair when seeing Syria today, but to honour the dead, we must carry forward the hope they died with. As Baba Amr went dark and fears of massacre spread, Syrians took to the streets — yet again — across the country, in a peaceful protest that showed staggering bravery.

Their bravery is our lesson, the gift of the Syrian people to the rest of us. Because in their spirit, in their courage to face the worst darkness our world has to offer, a new world is being born.

And in that new world, the Syrian people are not alone. Millions of us from every nation have stood with them time and time again, right from the beginning of their struggle. Nearly 75,000 of us have donated almost $3 million to fund people-powered movements and deliver high-tech communications equipment to help them tell their story, and enable the Avaaz team to help smuggle in over $2 million worth of medical supplies. We’ve taken millions of online actions to push for action from the Security Council and the Arab League and for sanctions from many countries, and delivered those online campaigns in dozens of stunts, media campaigns and high-level advocacy meetings with top world leaders. Together we’ve helped win many of these battles, including for unprecedented action by the Arab League, and oil sanctions from Europe.

Our team in Beirut has also provided a valuable communications hub for brave and skilled activists to coordinate complex smuggling operations and the rescue of the wounded and the journalists. Avaaz does not direct these activities, but we facilitate, support and advise. We have also established safe houses for activists, and supported the outreach and diplomatic engagement of the Syrian National Council — the opposition movement’s fledgling political representative body. Much of the world’s major media have covered Avaaz’s work to help the Syrian people, including features on BBC, CNN, El Pais, TIME, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, AFP and many more, citing our “central role” in the Syrian peaceful protest movement.

Today, a dozen more nightmares like that visited on the city of Homs are unfolding across Syria. The situation will get worse before it gets better. It will be bloody, and complicated, and as some protesters take up arms to defend themselves, the line between right and wrong will blur. But President Assad’s brutal regime will fall, and there will be peace, and elections, and accountability. The Syrian people simply will not stop until that happens — and it may happen sooner than we all think.

Every expert told us at the beginning that an uprising in Syria was unthinkable. But we sent in satellite communications equipment anyway. Because our community knows something that the experts and cynics don’t — that people power and a new spirit of citizenship are sweeping our world today, and they are fearless, and unstoppable, and will bring hope to the darkest places. Marie Colvin, an American journalist covering the violence in Homs, told Avaaz before she died, “I’m not leaving these people.” And neither will we.

With hope, and admiration for the Syrian people and courageous citizens everywhere,

Ricken, Wissam, Stephanie, Alice, David, Antonia, Will, Sam, Emma, Wen-Hua, Veronique and the whole Avaaz team

P.S. If you want to do more, click here to help keep our lifeline of hope into Syria open:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/smuggle_hope_into_syria_rb/

AntiSec attacked Panda Labs site after Anonymous arrests

Nancy Clayson
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AntiSec attacked Panda Labs site after Anonymous arrests

A group of hackers identifying themselves as AntiSec has attacked the website of Panda Labs’ anti-malware products.

The internet attack comes after yesterday’s arrest of an alleged member of the movement alongside others linked to the LulzSec hacking collective.

Panda Labs’ front page was replaced with a message saying: “Love to LulzSec/AntiSec fallen friends”.

AntiSec accused Panda Labs of having helped police arrest other hackers last month. The company denies the claim.

The group LulzSec and hackers involved with “Operation AntiSec” all identify themselves under the wider Anonymous heading.

Panda Lab’s Spanish parent company, Panda Security, said it was investigating the intrusion but said it could assure its customers that none of their information had been compromised.

The company added that an external server hosting some of Panda Labs’ content had been targeted. Visitors to the site no longer see the hackers’ posting.

AntiSec has attacked the website of Panda Labs' anti-malware products
AntiSec has attacked the website of Panda Labs' anti-malware products

The hackers’ message had claimed that: “Pandasecurity.com… has earned money working with law enforcement to lurk and snitch on Anonymous activists. They helped to jail 25 Anonymous in different countries and they were actively participating in our IRC channels trying to dox [obtain personal information about] many others.”

The attackers went on to claim that the firm’s services had been used to target activists campaigning against “injustices” who had not been involved in hacking.

However, Panda Security’s technical director, Luis Corrons, said that the firm had not been involved in February’s arrests in Spain, Argentina, Chile and Colombia.

“If I could have had the opportunity I would love to have collaborated with the law enforcement officers to arrest those people – but we didn’t in this case,” he said.

“We do not have a problem with activism. I find that it is not a bad thing – it may be good and healthy for a society. My main problem with Anonymous people is the way they act.

“If you are doing illegal things like stealing information that’s something that is a crime and we are always willing to help law enforcement stop cybercrime.”

Luis Corrons said he believed his firm had been attacked because of a blog he wrote yesterday in which he described the latest arrests as “good news”.

His comments were quoted in the message posted to his firm’s site which added: “Lol he asked for the Lulz!!!”

Officials have said that Tuesday’s action marked the first time core members of Anonymous had been identified and charged in the US.

The FBI said a total of six men had been charged – including two in the UK and two in the Republic of Ireland.

British police also charged one of the men and a further unidentified 17-year-old from South London with hacking-related crimes – but said that their decision to launch court proceedings was “completely unrelated” to the actions taken in the US.

The arrests and accusations followed the suspected leader of LulzSec’s decision to co-operate with the authorities last year.

Court papers unsealed on Tuesday revealed that Hector Xavier Monsegur – known as Sabu – had pleaded guilty to 12 criminal charges in August. The FBI said he faced a maximum sentence of more than 124 years in prison.

The papers said Hector Xavier Monsegur had been involved in attacks against Visa, Paypal and government computers in Tunisia, Algeria and Yemen among others. He is currently free after being released on a $50,000 bond.

The Panda Labs’ attackers commented on Hector Xavier Monsegur’s action saying: “It’s sad and we can’t imagine how it feels to look at the mirror each morning and see the guy who shopped their friends to police.”

The court papers also revealed how the hackers are suspected of being able to access and disclose a private conversation between the FBI and Scotland Yard recorded in January.

One of the accused, Donncha O’Cearrbhail, is said to have found out how to access the call by breaking into the personal email account of an officer with Ireland’s national police force.

 

Armenia pulls out from 2012 Eurovision song contest held in Azerbaijan

Diane A. Wade
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Armenia pulls out from 2012 Eurovision song contest held in Azerbaijan

Armenia has announced its withdrawal from the 2012 Eurovision song contest in Baku amid new tension with its old rival Azerbaijan.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer of Eurovision song contest, said it was “truly disappointed” by Armenian Public Television’s decision.

Azerbaijani and Armenian forces fought a war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990’s which left at least 25,000 people dead.

A ceasefire was signed in 1994, but no permanent peace deal has been reached.

There has also been internal tension in Azerbaijan, where security forces used force to break up an opposition rally in the northern district of Quba on Friday.

Armenia has announced its withdrawal from the 2012 Eurovision song contest in Baku amid new tension with its old rival Azerbaijan
Armenia has announced its withdrawal from the 2012 Eurovision song contest in Baku amid new tension with its old rival Azerbaijan

Armenian Public Television accused Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev of making hostile remarks in recent days.

“Despite the fact that the Azerbaijani authorities have given security guarantees to all participating countries, several days ago the Azerbaijani president made a statement that enemy number one for Azerbaijan were the Armenians,” the Armenian TV said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency.

Last month, a group of Armenian pop singers launched a Eurovision boycott campaign, saying: “We refuse to appear in a country that is well known for mass killings and massacres of Armenians, in a country where anti-Armenian sentiments have been elevated to the level of state policy.

“There is no logic to sending a participant to a country where he will be met as an enemy.”

In a speech about local government on 28 February, which was posted on the Azerbaijani leader’s website, President Ilham Aliyev said: “Our main enemies are Armenians of the world and the hypocritical and corrupt politicians under their control.”

Reacting to news of the Armenian withdrawal, senior Azerbaijani politician Ali Ahmedov told reporters that Armenia had no genuine reason to boycott the competition in Baku.

“The Armenian refusal to take part in such a respected contest will cause even further damage to the already damaged image of Armenia,” said Ali Ahmedov, who is secretary of the governing party.

 

Humans are more similar to gorillas than previously thought, say scientists

James J. Williams
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Humans are more similar to gorillas than previously thought, say scientists

The last of the Great Apes genome has been sequenced after a British research team in Cambridge has deciphered the genetic code of the gorilla.

Researchers can now begin to examine the similarities and differences between the apes, the journal Nature reports.

Genome sequences of humans, chimpanzees and orangutans are already published.

The research team hopes their work will help to uncover genetic mutations that led to language, culture and science.

“I’d like to think that in the next 20 or 30 years we will get a deeper understanding of what happened genetically in our evolutionary history, and of how those genes affect the brain and other properties that make us modern humans,” said Richard Durbin of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, who led the study.

Initial comparisons confirm that chimpanzees are our closest relatives, sharing 99% of our DNA. Gorillas come a close second with 98%, and orangutans third with a 97% share.

That reflects the evolutionary history of apes. Genome comparison indicates that the human lineage separated from orangutans 14 million years ago, gorillas 10 million years ago, and chimps 6 million years ago.

That order of events is not a surprise, but the dates are earlier than many scientists had thought.

Although on average humans are closest to chimps, many of our individual genes are more like those of gorillas.

Among them is a gene that enables us and gorillas to hear better than other apes.

Until now, some scientists had thought that the development of hearing was what enabled us to develop language – but as a result of this research, we now know this theory is wrong.

Fifteen percent of the human genome is closer to the gorilla than the chimpanzee, and 15% of the chimpanzee genome is closer to the gorilla than to humans.

One genetic difference that will be of interest to medical researchers is a mutation that results in dementia in humans, but seems to leave gorillas completely unaffected.

The last of the Great Apes genome has been sequenced after a British research team in Cambridge has deciphered the genetic code of the gorilla
The last of the Great Apes genome has been sequenced after a British research team in Cambridge has deciphered the genetic code of the gorilla

The genome unraveled in the research came from a female western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) called Kamilah.

Researchers searched through more than 11,000 genes in her genome, as well as in the published versions of the human, chimp and orangutan genetic codes, for changes important in evolution.

“Our most significant findings reveal not only differences between the species, reflecting millions of years of evolutionary divergence, but also similarities in parallel changes over time since their common ancestor,” said Chris Tyler-Smith, who works with Dr. Richard Durbin.

Comparative studies will also shed more light on the evolution of all the Great Apes; but the key question is whether the bounty of genetic information contains clues to the moment when the first genes emerged that made humans capable of abstract thought.

“This is the question we are all fascinated by,” said Dr. Richard Durbin.

It is unlikely that a single development led to our species’ advance towards modernity, or that all developments along that path were genetic.

Anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) emerged around 200,000 years ago, but it was not until about 50,000 years ago that our bigger brains began to make a difference.

Until then, humanity was one among small number of apes in Africa, probably living not very differently from gorillas.

So, something happened very rapidly around that time that led to the emergence of abstract thought, allowing humans to invent advanced tools and use them to shape the environment.

“There will have been genetic factors, but also cultural and historic factors,” said Dr. Richard Durbin.

The one Great Ape not to be sequenced so far is the bonobo, a close relative of the chimp. That project is underway, and scientists expect its genome and that of the chimp to be very similar.

The availability of the genomes of all the Great Apes will help scientists answer what happened over the past 200,000 years to enable our species become what we are now.

 

Apple launched The New iPad with high-resolution screen in San Francisco

Nancy Clayson
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Apple launched The New iPad with high-resolution screen in San Francisco

Apple has unveiled its latest version of iPad, armed with a Full HD display with 3.1 million pixels and a supercharged new processor.

Apple said the resolution of the display was 2048 by 1536 pixels. The tablet is also powered by a new A5X chip with improved graphics performance.

Chief executive Tim Cook claimed to be “redefining the category that Apple created”.

Apple dominates the market but is set to face a fresh challenge when devices running the full Windows 8 system are expected to go on sale later this year.

Apple has unveiled its latest version of iPad, armed with a Full HD display with 3.1 million pixels and a supercharged new processor
Apple has unveiled its latest version of iPad, armed with a Full HD display with 3.1 million pixels and a supercharged new processor

The new iPad also features a 5-megapixel camera sensor. It will be able to run on 4G LTE networks where the service is available and can act as a wi-fi hotspot for other devices if carriers allow the function.

It is 9.4 mm deep, slightly thicker than the 8.8 mm profile of the iPad 2.

Apple’s marketing chief Phil Schiller said the tablet has the same 10-hour estimated battery life as the previous model using only wi-fi. That limit shortens by an hour when using 4G.

The device will be available on March 16 and priced from $499-$829 – the same range as the iPad 2, which the technology giant launched a year ago.

The new iPad is due to go on sale on the same day in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Japan.

Apple also announced an upgraded TV box which can now handle 1080p video.

Films and TV shows will be sold via its iTunes store in the high-definition format.

IMS Research said Apple accounted for 62% of the global tablet market in 2011. Ahead of the press conference it said it expected that share to rise to 70% this year.

Analysts at Gartner said it expects Apple to sell 69 million iPads before the end of 2012. By contrast if forecasts stores will sell 22.8 million tablets running Google’s Android system, and 6.3 million Blackberry Playbook devices.

Gartner research director Michael Gartenberg said: “I’d call the new iPad an evolutionary device with some revolutionary experiences”.

 

Lindsay Lohan keen to start up a relationship with Terry Richardson

Lisa.Felice
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Lindsay Lohan keen to start up a relationship with Terry Richardson

Lindsay Lohan has reportedly got a soft spot for controversial photographer Terry Richardson.

Lindsay Lohan, 25, apparently spent time with Terry Richardson, 46, following a photo shoot, and is now keen to start up a relationship with him.

However, according to Radaronline.com, Terry Richardson is “just not interested”, and regrets “hooking up with her”.

“They had a major night of passion after they worked on this photo shoot together and now she’s going all out to get her claws into him,” a source told RadarOnline.

“Lindsay and Terry have been friends for years, and she’s always had a thing for him. Lindsay thinks he’s really cool and hip and could be great for her career.”

Lindsay Lohan apparently spent time with Terry Richardson following a photo shoot and is now keen to start up a relationship with him
Lindsay Lohan apparently spent time with Terry Richardson following a photo shoot and is now keen to start up a relationship with him

 

Their “steamy night of passion” came after Terry Richardson shot Lindsay Lohan in a sexy photo shoot at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

Lindsay Lohan has apparently had a “major crush” on the professional for a long time, and no doubt couldn’t wait to get in front of his camera.

“Lindsay has been texting and phoning him nonstop and he’s actually kind of freaked out by how strong she’s been coming on to him,” the source added.

“It’s a difficult situation though as they move in the same circles and have a lot of mutual friends. He’s trying to work out a way to let her down gently without blowing their friendship.”

One of Lindsay Lohan’s most recent public appearances was Terry Richardson’s pre-Oscar party – the opening of his latest exhibition, Terrywood.

Just like Lindsay Lohan, Terry Richardson is no stranger to controversy and has been the subject of sexual harassment allegations on various occasions.

Danish model and filmmaker Rie Rasmussen and Jamie Peck are just two women who have gone public with their complaints.

 

Bobbi Kristina Brown and Whitney Houston’s family on Oprah’s Next Chapter

Lisa.Felice
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Bobbi Kristina Brown and Whitney Houston’s family on Oprah’s Next Chapter

OWN has released a video preview of Oprah’s Winfrey’s Sunday interview with Bobbi Kristina Brown and Whitney Houston’s brother and sister-in-law.

On “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” Oprah Winfrey sits down with Bobbi Kristina Brown – the only child of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown – and the singer’s brother, Gary Houston, and her sister-in-law/manager Patricia Houston.

In the preview, Oprah Winfrey’s seen asking Gary Houston: “As a big brother, how did you feel about Bobby Brown?”

Oprah Winfrey is also seen hugging Bobbi Kristina Brown, who turned 19 on March 4, less than a month after Whitney Houston’s death on February 11.

OWN has released a video preview of Oprah's Winfrey's Sunday interview with Bobbi Kristina Brown and Whitney Houston's brother and sister-in-law
OWN has released a video preview of Oprah's Winfrey's Sunday interview with Bobbi Kristina Brown and Whitney Houston's brother and sister-in-law

During the special, the family will discuss the speculation surrounding Whitney Houston’s death, according to a network release.

Bobbi Kristina Brown will also share her favorite memories of her mother and say how she hopes she will be remembered.

OWN is also rebroadcasting “Remembering Whitney: The Oprah Interview,” Oprah Winfrey’s 2009 interview with Whitney Houston on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

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Oreo celebrates its 100th birthday in US and other four countries

Diane A. Wade
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0
Oreo celebrates its 100th birthday in US and other four countries

Oreo cookie celebrates its centenary in the US and four other countries, China, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Indonesia.

Flash mobs in seven US cities sang “Happy Birthday!” to the famous cookie: a white filling (or cream) sandwiched between two black biscuits.

The first Oreos were baked at the Nabisco factory in New York in 1912.

Oreo cookies are now sold around the world, bringing Kraft Foods – which owns Nabisco – $2 billion annually.

“It’s the best-selling cookie in the world,” said John Ghingo, senior director for Oreo Global at Kraft.

“The simple act of enjoying an Oreo cookie and glass of milk continues to speak to a universal, human truth: inside all of us… there’s a kid that deserves to be set free every once in a while,” John Ghingo said.

To mark the cookie’s centenary, Nabisco released a limited edition of "Birthday Cake" Oreo
To mark the cookie’s centenary, Nabisco released a limited edition of "Birthday Cake" Oreo

John Ghingo added that the name Oreo remained mystery even today, but one theory suggested that the two uses of “O” in the word represented the cookies and the “re” in the middle stood for the cream.

To mark the milestone, Nabisco released a limited edition of “Birthday Cake” Oreo.

On Tuesday, celebrations were also held in China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

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Facebook unavailable across Europe for two hours due to technical difficulties

Diane A. Wade
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0
Facebook unavailable across Europe for two hours due to technical difficulties

Facebook users faced problems accessing the social network in many countries across Europe for about two hours on Wednesday due to “technical difficulties”.

Facebook smartphone and tablet apps were also affected, as users reported on Twitter.

The company apologized for the incident and said the issue was now resolved.

“Today we experienced technical difficulties causing the site to be unavailable for a number of users in Europe,” Facebook said in a statement.

“The issue has been resolved and everyone should now have access to Facebook. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

More isolated accounts of inaccessibility were posted by users in further afield places such as Pakistan and South Korea.

Facebook users faced problems accessing the social network in many countries across Europe for about two hours on Wednesday due to "technical difficulties"
Facebook users faced problems accessing the social network in many countries across Europe for about two hours on Wednesday due to "technical difficulties"

Facebook has about 850 million users worldwide and many took to Twitter to share information about the down time, with “#facebookdown “quickly becoming a trending topic on the microblogging site.

Most took a humorous view, with user @Purple_Cow tweeting: “#Facebook is #down, expect a surge in productivity in offices everywhere today.”

However, some website owners who make use of the Facebook Connect service – which allows people to log into external sites by using their Facebook account – were left frustrated by the technical issues.

Launched in February 2004, last month Facebook announced plans to float on the stock market. It seeks to raise $5 billion from the move, making it the biggest sale of shares by an internet company.

 

Super Tuesday: Mitt Romney won Ohio and other four states

Diane A. Wade
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0
Super Tuesday: Mitt Romney won Ohio and other four states

US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney eked out a narrow win in Ohio and was victorious in four other Super Tuesday states.

As expected, Mitt Romney cruised to victory in his home state of Massachusetts, as well as Idaho, Vermont and Virginia.

Mitt Romney also won in Alaska, which Ron Paul was pinning his hopes on for his only win of the nomination campaign.

Rick Santorum won a hat-trick of contests, while Newt Gingrich took his home state of Georgia.

Mitt Romney now leads the field with 415 delegates committed to backing him at the national Republican convention in August. A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to win the party’s nomination and go on to challenge Barack Obama in November’s election.

But Super Tuesday did not deliver a sufficiently convincing victory to end the race and convince Mitt Romney’s rivals to pull out.

After Tuesday’s 10-state voting marathon, Mitt Romney defended his position as the front-runner.

“I’m going to get this nomination,” Mitt Romney told supporters in Boston.

Mitt Romney and his wife Ann at their Super Tuesday primary rally in Boston
Mitt Romney and his wife Ann at their Super Tuesday primary rally in Boston

Mitt Romney easily won Massachusetts, where he was governor, as well as liberal-leaning Vermont and Idaho, where his fellow Mormons make up a chunk of the electorate.

He also won resoundingly in Virginia, where Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot.

Rick Santorum, a former US senator from Pennsylvania, said his victories in Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota proved he was the bona fide conservative alternative to Mitt Romney.

“This was a big night tonight,” Rick Santorum told supporters in Steubenville, Ohio. “We have won in the West, the Midwest and the South, and we’re ready to win across this country.”

After a cliffhanger count, Mitt Romney narrowly edged out Rick Santorum in Ohio, the night’s most coveted prize.

Ohio was important because no Republican nominee has taken the White House without winning the Midwestern bellwether state in the general election.

Of the 66 delegates on offer, Mitt Romney took home 35 compared to Rick Santorum’s 21, the Associated Press reports.

Rick Santorum began the race in Ohio with a big lead in the opinion polls, but Mitt Romney’s well-funded political machine overcame him in part through a heavy campaign of attack adverts.

Rick Santorum has attracted the support of religious conservatives with his opposition to gay marriage and abortion.

However, his outspoken remarks on birth control and the role of religion may have turned off moderate-leaning voters.

Exit polls showed Ohio voters thought Mitt Romney stood the best chance of beating Barack Obama; however, Rick Santorum appealed more to blue-collar voters.

Super Tuesday Guide
Super Tuesday Guide

Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, did not achieve the sweep of Southern states he hoped for.

But he vowed to stay in the race after his Georgia win.

“There are lots of bunny rabbits to run through, I am the tortoise. I just take one step at a time,” Newt Gingrich said.

With 96% of votes counted in Alaska, Mitt Romney was winning with 33% of the vote, ahead of Rick Santorum with 29%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul – who had been hoping to make the state his only win of the campaign – was trailing with 22% while Newt Gingrich held 14%.

Of the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination, 419 were up for grabs on Tuesday.

Overall, Mitt Romney won at least 212 of Super Tuesday’s delegates, taking his total to 415, while Rick Santorum added 84, taking his count to 176, AP reports.

The race is not over yet as the next crop of primaries and caucuses will not do Mitt Romney any favors.

Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Hawaii hold their contests over the next 10 days.

Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich will be hoping to halt Mitt Romney’s momentum and keep their challenges alive.

The drawn-out nomination fight, which has been waged in large part through negative television adverts, may have taken its toll on the Republican Party.

A Washington Post/ABC News poll showed only 35% of Americans looked upon Mitt Romney favorably, compared to 32% for Ron Paul, 23% for Newt Gingrich, and 32% for Rick Santorum.

[youtube HcM0P5gaY0A]

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Iraq: at least 10 people died in twin car bomb attacks in Tal Afar

Roy Siemens
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0

Two car bomb and suicide attacks killed at least 10 people and wounded another 15 in the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar, according to police.

The car bomb exploded near a restaurant in Tal Afar centre. Minutes later, a man wearing an explosive vest blew himself up in a crowd of onlookers.

Tel Afar is not far from the Syrian border, just west of the city of Mosul.

Earlier, a car bomb reportedly killed two people and wounded seven in a western part of the capital, Baghdad.

There has been a rise in attacks in Iraq since US troops left in December, leaving more than 200 people dead.

The violence has come amid a marked deterioration in Iraq’s fragile political process, with the country’s most prominent Sunni Arab politician being sought by the authorities on terrorism charges.

 

AeroShot “caffeine inhaler” producer receives a warning letter from FDA

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
AeroShot “caffeine inhaler” producer receives a warning letter from FDA

AeroShot producer, Breathable Foods Inc., has received a warning letter for false or misleading statements in the labeling of its product, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on March 6.

There are concerns about the safety of the “caffeine inhaler” and about children and adolescents using it combined with alcohol, said the FDA.

AeroShot gives “breathable energy, anytime, anyplace,” and it is intended to be ingested by swallowing, it is written on the product website, but the FDA said these statements were in contradiction.

“The company’s labeling is false or misleading because these two claims contradict each other. A product cannot be intended for both inhalation and ingestion because the functioning of the epiglottis in the throat keeps the processes of inhaling and swallowing separate,” said the FDA.

Also, labeling a product as “breathable energy” may lead to an improper usage.

Consumers may tend to inhale it, but inhaling caffeine into the lungs is not safe as long this process has not been well studied. The particles in AeroShot are too big to enter the lungs, says the company on its website, but it shows no specific research in support of this claim.

 

AeroShot
On March 6, 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to the makers of AeroShot “caffeine inhaler.”

 

In the same time the FDA is worried about the use of the AeroShot by the children.

AeroShot is “not recommended for those under 18 years of age,” says the website and it is “not intended for people under 12,” says the label.

“But the website also appears to target these age groups by suggesting it be used when studying,” said the Agency.

The product is not intended for persons under 18, said Tom Hadfield, Breathable Foods CEO.

“We plan to work closely with the FDA to meet their requests for information and labeling changes to ensure compliance with dietary supplement requirements. AeroShot delivers a mix of B vitamins and caffeine to the mouth for ingestion and is not ‘inhaled’ into the lungs,” he told the Huffington Post.

The FDA has another concern regarding the utilization of AeroShot while drinking alcohol.

The product website has links to news articles and videos about using AeroShot in combination with alcohol. Those news items express health concerns about this kind of usage, but their presence publicizes and may encourage the use of AeroShot with alcohol, said the FDA.

Taking caffeine while drinking may make consumers to feel “less drunk,” but it does not lower blood alcohol levels, and it does not remove the side effects of drinking too much alcohol. Mixing caffeine with alcohol can be dangerous, especially for very young people, old people, or persons with health problems.

The product label does not include contact information for consumers to report adverse events, as required under federal law.

Consumers who believe they have suffered illness or injury from using AeroShot should also report those events to their regional FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. The agency also encourages healthcare providers to report to FDA any adverse events in their patients that are associated with AeroShot. As of March 6, 2012, FDA has not received any adverse event reports associated with the product.

In 2010 there was another issue over caffeinated energy drink Four Loko. The media coverage at that time led to increased sales and the drink became more popular. However, the caffeine was eliminated from Four Loko and now further restriction may be added.

AeroShot is sold out on the company’s website, but remains available on store shelves in Boston and New York, according to Breathable Foods.

Senator Chuck Schumer, of New York, promised to oppose AeroShot, over two months ago. The FDA has to take measures concerning the product, because the children and adolescents may abuse it, he said.

Massachusetts-based company, Breathable Foods Inc. has 15 business days to respond to the agency with a plan to bring the AeroShot into compliance with FDA regulations.

 

Demi Moore arrived in LA by a private jet after one month in rehab

Lisa.Felice
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2

Demi Moore arrived in Los Angeles by a private jet in the dead of night following more than a month in rehab.

Demi Moore, 49, had remained in hiding after leaving the unnamed clinic, holidaying on the private Caribbean island of Parrot Cay, where her ex-husband Bruce Willis owns a house.

The break appeared to have done her good, as she appeared tanned and healthy in a baggy white jumper and denim shorts.

Demi Moore was accompanied by close friend Eric Buterbaugh and was met at the airport by a woman who she rushed to embrace after descending the stairs of the plane.

It was the first time the actress has been seen in public since she was hospitalized after having a seizure and collapsing five weeks ago.

Demi Moore had reportedly been smoking “an incense-like substance” as well as inhaling nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas.

The incident came at the end of a difficult time for Demi Moore, who split from husband Ashton Kutcher, 33, in November after he was accused of cheating on her.

Ashton Kutcher and her ex-husband Bruce Willis both visited her shortly afterwards at the home she shares with her three daughters, Rumer, 23, Scout, 20, and Tallulah, 17.

 

Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco is the new face of Gucci

Lisa.Felice
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1
Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco is the new face of Gucci

Princess Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco, granddaughter of Grace Kelly, signed as the Gucci’s newest face.

Now the first image from Charlotte Casiraghi’s campaign for the Italian fashion powerhouse has been released.

Paying tribute to her equestrian talents, the shoot, by photographer Peter Lindbergh, took place at a snowy stable.

Charlotte Casiraghi, 25, is seen leaning against a hay bale in the final shot with her hair loose and tousled and a scarf tied around the forehead. Her make-up is minimal and her riding boots can be glimpsed in the bottom of the frame.

The princess also wears a red riding jacket, high-necked black shirt and johdpurs, all most likely part of the riding kit that Gucci exclusively created for her to compete in.

Princess Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco, granddaughter of Grace Kelly, signed as the Gucci's newest face
Princess Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco, granddaughter of Grace Kelly, signed as the Gucci's newest face

Behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot obtained by Grazia shows Charlotte Casiraghi posing with a horse as well. Clearly at ease with the animals, she seems in control as she guides its head in order that it is at the best angle for the photographer, and unfazed by the freezing conditions.

Though Royals will rarely front fashion campaigns, Princess Charlotte Casiraghi and Gucci’s creative director share a special bond.

Frida Giannini explained: “Over the last two years I have had the pleasure and privilege to get to know Charlotte through our shared passion for horses.

“She not only embodies the beauty and the grace of the equestrian, but is also a wonderful ambassador for the sport.”

Charlotte Casiraghi was equally full of praise for Frida Giannini, adding: “I admire Frida’s talent as a designer and she has really managed to reinvent the codes of Gucci by giving them a modern twist and a timeless elegance.”

 

Olympus chairman and six executives charged by Tokyo prosecutors

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Olympus chairman and six executives charged by Tokyo prosecutors

Olympus ex-chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa and six of its executives have been charged by Tokyo prosecutors in connection with a $1.7 billion accounting cover-up.

Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, executive vice-president Hisashi Mori and former auditor Hideo Yamada are among those charged with falsifying securities reports, according to Reuters and Bloomberg news agencies.

Olympus ex-chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa and six of its executives have been charged by Tokyo prosecutors in connection with a $1.7 billion accounting cover-up
Olympus ex-chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa and six of its executives have been charged by Tokyo prosecutors in connection with a $1.7 billion accounting cover-up

The three were arrested last month.

Olympus case has become one of Japan’s biggest corporate scandals.

 

Four-legged robot Cheetah set a new world speed record

James J. Williams
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0
Four-legged robot Cheetah set a new world speed record

Cheetah, a four-legged and headless robot, has set a new world speed record, according to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

DARPA said Cheetah achieved 18 mph (29 km/h) on a laboratory treadmill and the previous land speed record by a legged robot was 13.1 mph.

The agency said that the project was part of efforts to develop robots designed to “more effectively assist war fighters across a greater range of missions”.

DARPA – which is run by the Pentagon – funded the Massachusetts robotics company Boston Dynamics to build the machine.

“We plan to get off the treadmill and into the field as soon as possible,” said the firm’s chief robotics scientist, Alfred Rizzi, in a statement.

“We really want to understand what is possible for fast-moving robots.”

Cheetah, a four-legged and headless robot, has set a new world speed record, according to DARPA
Cheetah, a four-legged and headless robot, has set a new world speed record, according to DARPA

The robot’s movements have been modeled on those of fast-running animals in the wild. The machine is designed to flex and un-flex its back to increase the length of its stride.

The current version of Cheetah is dependent on an off-board hydraulic pump, requiring one of the researchers to hold the tubing out of its way. However, the researchers said a free-running prototype was planned for later this year.

The four-year project, which was commissioned in February 2011, ultimately aims to deliver a robot which can “zigzag to chase and evade”, and be able to come to an abrupt halt.

It builds on other models based on animals created by Boston Dynamics including its BigDog rough-terrain robot, designed to recycle energy from one step to the next, and its lizard-like Rise, which can climb walls, trees and fences by using micro-claws on its six feet and a tail for balance.

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Allen Stanford convicted of $7 billion fraud in a Ponzi scheme

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Allen Stanford convicted of $7 billion fraud in a Ponzi scheme

Cricket tycoon Allen Stanford has been found guilty by a court in Houston, Texas, of running a $7 billion Ponzi scheme.

Allen Stanford, 61, was convicted on 13 of the 14 charges.

He had pleaded not guilty to defrauding some 30,000 investors with bogus investments through his Stanford International Bank in Antigua to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Allen Stanford faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison for the most serious charge.

However, the judge will have to decide whether the sentences should run consecutively.

The jury of eight men and four women found Allen Stanford not guilty of one charge of wire fraud.

Allen Stanford looked down as the guilty verdicts were announced, and one of his daughters started crying.

Cricket tycoon Allen Stanford has been found guilty by a court in Houston, Texas, of running a $7 billion Ponzi scheme
Cricket tycoon Allen Stanford has been found guilty by a court in Houston, Texas, of running a $7 billion Ponzi scheme

 

The same jury will now deliberate in a brief civil trial as prosecutors seek to seize funds from more than 30 of Allen Stanford’s bank accounts worldwide.

However, investigators say they have been unable to find 92% of the $8 billion the bank said it had in assets.

One of Allen Stanford’s lawyers, Ali Fazel, told Associated Press he was “disappointed in the outcome”, adding: “We expect to appeal.”

Allen Stanford’s defense was based on blaming a former chief financial officer, James Davis, and arguing that most of the money was lost by court-appointed receivers following the bank’s seizure.

Prosecutors said Allen Stanford’s bogus certificates of deposit had promised artificially high returns to fund his lavish lifestyle over a 20-year period.

They said Allen Stanford had told depositors in more than 100 countries that their money was safely invested in stocks and securities. However, it was in reality being transferred to his businesses and personal account.

James Davis, who had earlier pleaded guilty to fraud as part of a deal with prosecutors, testified that he had worked with Allen Stanford to falsify records.

Allen Stanford did not take the stand during the six-week trial.

Allen Stanford was the organizer of the money-spinning Stanford Twenty20 cricket tournament in the West Indies in 2008.

Forbes Magazine listed Allen Stanford as the 605th richest man in the world in 2006.

He has spent three years in detention after being denied bail.

Allen Stanford’s trial was delayed after he was involved in a prison fight in September 2009 and developed an addiction to an anti-anxiety drug. But in December 2011 he was declared fit to stand trial.

 

Moldova introduced chemical castration for paedophiles

Diane A. Wade
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0
Moldova introduced chemical castration for paedophiles

Moldovan parliament voted to make chemical castration mandatory for those convicted of violently abusing children under 15.

The new law states that both Moldovans and foreigners convicted of violent paedophile offences will be chemically castrated.

Rapists will also face castration, to be decided on a case by case basis.

Many Moldovans believe their country has become a destination for international sex tourists, AP reports.

Five of the nine people convicted for child sex offences in Moldova in the past two years have been foreigners, the agency says.

The Liberal Party MP who steered the bill through parliament, Valeriu Munteanu, said there had been 15 cases in recent years of violent paedophiles reoffending in Moldova.

Moldovan parliament voted to make chemical castration mandatory for those convicted of violently abusing children under 15
Moldovan parliament voted to make chemical castration mandatory for those convicted of violently abusing children under 15

Chemical castration involves a man taking hormones which suppress the production of testosterone for three months, leading to a decreased sex drive.

Some MPs in Moldova’s parliament questioned the efficacy of chemical castration, pointing out that it is reversible – and calling for alternative methods to be considered, according to Moldovan newspaper Timpul.

Amnesty International Moldova has condemned the decision, saying it undermines the basic right to physical and mental integrity.

Executive Director Cristina Pereteatcu said chemical castration was “incompatible with human rights, which are the foundation of any civilized democratic society”.

Poland introduced mandatory chemical castration for some sex offenders in 2009, and Russia has recently introduced similar legislation.

Both Germany and the Czech Republic have been criticized by Europe’s top human rights body for using voluntary surgical castration to treat sex offenders.

Moldova’s new law will come into force on 1 July.

 

Per-fékt Skin Perfection Gel, the secret to Rihanna’s glowing skin

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
Per-fékt Skin Perfection Gel, the secret to Rihanna’s glowing skin

Rihanna was voted one of the top beauty icons of 2011, beating the likes of Victoria Beckham and Angelina Jolie, and now she has revealed the secret behind her radiant looks – Per-fékt, the skin perfection gel.

Per-fékt, the $40 skin perfection gel, is already popular with a number of Hollywood stars including Reese Witherspoon, Goldie Hawn and Jennifer Hudson.

According to make-up artist Mylah Morales, Per-fékt, which acts as an alternative to traditional powder blush, helps achieve a bronzed and youthful look.

“Skin Perfection Gel which preps skin for make-up application and leaves it radiant and refreshed with a hint of color,” Mylah Morales told Female First.

Per-fékt, which should be applied to the cheekbones, forehead and the bridge of the nose, is available in two different shades and helps boost natural skin color
Per-fékt, which should be applied to the cheekbones, forehead and the bridge of the nose, is available in two different shades and helps boost natural skin color

 

Per-fékt – which should be applied to the cheekbones, forehead and the bridge of the nose – is available in two different shades and helps boost natural skin color.

The manufacturers claim that the ingredient Niacin (Vitamin B3) helps to increase circulation, while antioxidants caffeine, Vitamins A and E protect from premature skin aging.

Jennifer Hudson previously said: “I love this stuff… I mix the Per-fékt Skin Perfecting Gel in Rich with a little moisturizer and apply it all over my face as a base.

“It’s what I grab when I’m getting ready to be a diva!”

Per-fékt was founded by U.S. entrepreneur Richard Anderson, who previously worked with leading beauty brands including Yves Saint Laurent and Bobbi Brown.

Richard Anderson said: “Today’s modern, on-the-go woman doesn’t have the time to apply a concealer, then color corrector, then primer, then foundation and then powder.

“I created my products with her mind.”

 

Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Bobbi Kristina Brown. Sneak Peek.

Lisa.Felice
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0
Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Bobbi Kristina Brown. Sneak Peek.

Bobbi Kristina Brown, the only child of the late Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, is speaking out for the first time since the superstar’s passing in an interview with Oprah Winfrey airing Sunday, March 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on OWN’s “Oprah’s Next Chapter.”

According to TMZ, friends close to Bobbi Kristina say she is doing the interview because she trusts the talk show host and entertainment mogul.

“[Oprah] was loyal to my mom, and never did my mother wrong, or made her look bad. She always looked out for my mom,” Bobbi Kristina Brown reportedly tells her friends.

Bobbi Kristina Brown said she is doing the first interview after Whitney Houston’s death with Oprah Winfrey because she trusts the talk show host and entertainment mogul
Bobbi Kristina Brown said she is doing the first interview after Whitney Houston’s death with Oprah Winfrey because she trusts the talk show host and entertainment mogul

Sources also say that Oprah Winfrey was one of the first people who reached out to Bobbi Kristina after Whitney Houston’s passing.

Airing one month following Whitney Houston’s death, the exclusive OWN interview will also feature the singer’s sister-in-law Patricia Houston and brother Gary Houston as they discuss “rumors and speculation surrounding Houston’s death.”

In promotion of Sunday’s episode OWN has released a sneak peek trailer showing a glimpse of some of the show’s highlights.

 [youtube KiXIlhrS06E]

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