Yesterday in Atlanta, Whitney Houston’s family went into probate court and named Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister in law and manager, as executor. Mother Cissy Houston is now a trustee.
The Forbes site presented the current codicil and statement.
If the 2000 codicil had stood, Whitney Houston’s other sister-in-law, Donna, and her husband, Michael, would have been trustees and Whitney’s old lawyer, Sheldon Platt, would have been the executor.
Kenny Meiselas of Grubman Indursky Shire and Meiselas P.C. has confirmed that in Fulton County Probate Court in Georgia, Marion P. Houston (Pat Houston) was appointed as Administrator of the singer’s estate
Kenny Meiselas of Grubman Indursky Shire and Meiselas P.C., long term media and entertainment attorneys for Whitney Houston, has confirmed that today in Fulton County Probate Court in Georgia, Marion P. Houston (Pat Houston) was appointed as Administrator of the Estate of Whitney E. Houston. Bobbi Kristina Brown is the sole beneficiary.
Whitney Houston’s last will and testament revealed the details on how Bobbi Kristina Brown will inherit her mother’s legacy.
Whitney Houston made provisions for her daughter before her death last month.
According to the legal document, Bobbi Kristina Brown, who is the beneficiary of Whitney Houston’s estate which has been placed into a trust, will receive money at the ages of 21, 25 and 30-years-old.
Whitney Houston, who passed away on February 11 aged 48, first set up the will in 1993, it was later amended in April 2000.
While Bobbi Kristina is not named, the singer stipulated that “any child of mine who survives” will receive all furniture, clothing, personal effects, jewellery and cars, as well as the balance of the estate.
Whitney Houston’s last will and testament revealed the details on how Bobbi Kristina Brown will inherit her mother’s legacy
If Bobbi Kristina dies, the estate would go to her relatives and her ex-husband Bobby Brown – who would have to decide between themselves how to divvy items up.
If the group couldn’t decide how to split the assets they would be sold and the cash would be distributed.
As well as staggering access to the trust Whitney Houston also stipulated that her trustees can release funds to Bobbi Kristina depending upon the circumstances and it is up to the trustees to allow to release the funds or not.
Presumably these would include if the teenager wanted to start a business, or pay for college.
It will no doubt come as a relief to the family that even though Whitney Houston’s former husband Bobby Brown is named in the will – he will not receive anything.
Whitney Houston’s last will and testament first pageWhitney Houston’s last will and testament second pageWhitney Houston’s last will and testament third page
Whitney Houston’s mother Emily Cissy Houston is the executor of the will and her brother and sister-in-law are trustees.
Her brother Gary Houston, who was named in the will as one of family members who the estate would be divided between if Bobbi Kristina dies, has spoken out about the document.
According to TMZ, Gary Houston said: “I don’t concern myself with any of that [will stuff] … All I know is my sister’s gone.”
The celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was not so happy when he was questioned about his own diet in Australia this week.
Jamie Oliver, 36, bristled when asked by a female reporter if he had gained a few pounds recently and called her a “b****”.
When he was questioned on whether he had filled out a bit, Jamie Oliver replied: “I don’t know. I am very healthy.
“Are you from a tabloid? Thank you for noticing, you b****.”
It wasn’t clear whether or not the father-of-four was joking during the outburst.
However, Jamie Oliver admitted he tried to watch his weight and worked out twice a week, but said there was room for improvement.
Jamie Oliver explained: “I do my best. Working in the food business is quite hard when someone is constantly asking you to try things.
“I eat fresh. I train twice a week. I could definitely do better, but I am trying to do my best like most people when they hit 30.”
The celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was not so happy when he was questioned about his own diet in Australia this week
Jamie Oliver’ spokeswoman Kimberly Yorio insisted her client’s weight remained the same.
Kimberly Yorio told Australia’s ABC News: “I can say for a fact he hasn’t gained any weight. They were bad pictures.”
At the Q&A session on responsible eating on Tuesday, Jamie Oliver admitted he was not thinking straight after “a few drinks” the night before.
The celebrity chef said: “I went out last night and had a few drinks after a very long day, (and) my brain did not quite understand that question.”
So they may go some way to explain his unguarded and candid response.
Jamie Oliver is in Australia to launch his second Ministry of Food, in partnership with The Victorian Government and the Good Foundation, to attack state-wide obesity.
The new scheme will see AU$5 million put towards helping teach cooking techniques and nutrition to participants in a larger attempt to attack obesity as a whole in the country.
Hollywood studios are calling on the courts to force the popular file-sharing site Hotfile offline following similar action against Megaupload.
Court papers unsealed this week reveal that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has filed a motion for a summary judgement.
If approved, the move could lead to action against the service without the need for a lengthy trial.
Hotfile says it removes copyright-infringing files on request.
Details of the development were revealed by Mediapost News and the Torrentfreak blog.
It marks the latest step in the Hollywood’s year-long legal effort to have Hotfile shut down.
The court papers name Disney, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros as the plaintiffs.
They claim that “Hotfile actively fosters the massive copyright infringement that fuels its business”, adding that “more than 90% of the files downloaded from Hotfile are copyright infringing, and nearly every Hotfile user is engaged in copyright infringement”.
The studios claim that Hotfile’s business model is “indistinguishable” from that of Megaupload and draw attention to its affiliate programme.
This offered users payments based on how many times their files had been downloaded. The studios claim this encouraged “the uploading of <<popular>> [i.e. infringing] content”.
Hollywood studios are calling on the courts to force the popular file-sharing site Hotfile offline following similar action against Megaupload
Panama-based Hotfile has claimed safe harbor protections under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
These offer sites immunity if they take down illegal material when asked and protect services such as YouTube from being forced offline if a member uploads someone else’s video.
However, the studios claim Hotfile does not qualify because it did not identify, keep track of or “terminate” repeat offenders. The movie makers say their own efforts to identify repeat offenders found that some had received 300 or more infringement notices.
The studios add that nearly all of Hotfile’s top affiliates who had received payments “were egregious repeat offenders”.
Hotfile website notes that it has made changes to “facilitate the identification of repeat infringers” and goes on to say it has become “more aggressive” about terminating accounts.
Hotfile adds that it has installed new “fingerprint” technology to block copyrighted files from being uploaded and has also changed the way its affiliate payments are calculated.
Although the case against Megaupload has yet to go to trial, the Media Industry Blog’s Mark Mulligan said the fact the site had been taken offline had given copyright holders fresh impetus to target other digital locker services.
“These lockers are the easiest target to hit to take out a very sizeable chunk of the piracy market,” Mark Mulligan said.
“If the service providers are serious about wanting to heed the industry’s concerns then instead of assuming that all of the content is legitimate until found otherwise, they should actually assume that most of the content is illegal and take action.
“Much of the content on these service is very high quality video files – how many consumers genuinely create large high definition videos of their own and upload them?”
However, Mark Mulligan warned that even if the studios succeed in shutting other lockers down – the victory might be short-lived.
“Closing such sites down will undoubtedly be a body blow to piracy, but the history of music piracy shows us that every time you close something down it’s like a game of digital whack-a-mole – another one pops up.”
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients who stayed on the dementia drug Aricept had a slower decline in their memory.
The new research suggests that thousands of patients with advanced Alzheimer’s disease could benefit from drugs.
Aricept (donepezil) tends not to be prescribed once sufferers progress beyond moderate symptoms.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the drugs regulator in UK, said its guidelines supported continuing treatment where there were benefits.
The patent for the medicine Aricept, which is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, expired recently. Much cheaper versions under the generic name donepezil are already available for about £12 ($19) a month.
The researchers say their new evidence could lead to twice as many Alzheimer’s sufferers worldwide being given medication.
The trial involved 295 Alzheimer’s patients in England and Scotland who had been taking Aricept.
One set were given placebo tablets while another set stayed on Aricept. A third set were given another drug, Ebixa (memantine), which is usually prescribed only in the later stages of Alzheimer’s.
The fourth batch of patients received a combination of both drugs.
The researchers assessed each group for a year, looking at their cognitive scores on factors like memory, and also at how well they coped with everyday tasks such as dressing and eating.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients who stayed on the dementia drug Aricept had a slower decline in their memory
Both drugs were unable to halt the decline of patients, but they slowed it down.
The study’s lead author, Professor Robert Howard from King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry, said: “For the first time, we have robust and compelling evidence that treatment with these drugs can continue to help patients at the more severe stages.
“Patients who continued taking donepezil were about four months ahead in how they were able to remember, communicate and perform daily tasks than those who stopped taking the drugs.
“It means a lot to doctors and carers to see differences like that. These improvements were sustained throughout the year.
“It’s fair to say that both drugs have independent, positive effects at this stage of dementia. I’m advising hospital colleagues to continue patients on donepezil, when it’s tolerated, and to add in memantine.”
About 500,000 people in the UK are thought to have Alzheimer’s disease – with only about 10% who are in the earlier stages currently on drug treatment.
Bobbi Kristina Brown’s first interview since the death of Whitney Houston is set for Sunday, March 11, but members of the 19-year-old’s family have concerns about the timing of the one-on-one chat with Oprah Winfrey.
“There is still no resolution and there has been nothing concrete on the cause of [Whitney Houston’s] death, and they were hoping for that,” a Houston family friend tells People magazine.
“There were members of the family who weren’t keen on [the interview] going down at this time.”
The source says some of Whitney Houston’s close relatives wanted Bobbi Kristina to hold off on speaking publicly this close to her mother’s death.
“There are people who just want her to stay out of the limelight for a while,” says the friend.
“This is a little girl who just needs some time.”
Whitney Houston's close relatives wanted Bobbi Kristina to hold off on speaking publicly this close to her mother's death
The next step for Bobbi Kristina Brown – who currently is spending time with her aunt Patricia Houston and Whitney’s brother Gary Houston – is up in the air.
“She’s so very young and impressionable,” says the source.
“She has to start finding herself as a woman on her own as opposed to defining herself as Whitney’s daughter and Whitney’s support. It’s kind of interesting to see what’s going to happen to her from here on in.”
The source, who says Bobbi Kristina Brown “has definitely wanted to walk in her parents’ footsteps,” and pursue singing and acting, would have a tough act to follow. The source explains that “she will always have to deal with the constant comparison.
“I think she needs to find her own niche,” says the source.
Bobbi Kristina Brown’s interview, which also features Oprah Winfrey’s interviews with Patricia and Gary Houston, airs Sunday, March 11 on OWN’s Oprah’s Next Chapter.
Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston’s cousin, appeared on Good Morning America Thursday morning to talk about the late singer, who died last month.
“She basically was the little girl I never had,” Dionne Warwick told the show’s host Robin Roberts about her close relationship with Whitney Houston, who died at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on February 11.
“I’m heading toward being OK,” Dionne Warwick said.
“I have not had the opportunity to really mourn, to completely break down, which I will do, I know that. I think the comfort comes from knowing she’s in good hands now. She’s in the best hands now.”
Dionne Warwick, who spoke at Whitney Houston’s funeral, also gave an update about the singer’s mother, Cissy.
“I am so proud of her. She is really holding up so very well. She has her moments, of course, and she’ll continue to have her moments. But I think she’s come to terms with it just about now, the realization that it happened.”
“It’s not an easy thing for a parent to lose a baby,” Dionne Warwick added.
Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston’s cousin, appeared on Good Morning America Thursday morning to talk about the late singer, who died last month
Dionne Warwick recalled how she spoke to Whitney Houston the day she died and that she flew out to Los Angeles from New Jersey in order to attend Clive Davis’ annual party before the Grammys.
“She was so up and ready and happy,” Dionne Warwick said of Whitney Houston, hours before she died.
“She had everything in the world to live for. She had a new film, that was an absolute dream to make and do, and completed that, thank God. She was getting ready to go back into the studio to record, she was getting her vocals together.”
“It’s very, very surreal,” Whitney Houston’s cousin added.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
It was revealed Wednesday that Whitney Houston’s estate will go to her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, and Dionne Warwick gave a short update on how she’s doing since her mother passed away.
“That’s the one thing I love about my family: We are a family, so she has the support that she actually needs,” Dionne Warwick said.
Whitney Houston allegedly called Jermaine Jackson in the wee hours of the morning about five years ago, confessing that she was leaving then-husband Bobby Brown to marry him.
According to a source, Jermaine Jackson, who was then married to his second wife, Alejandra, considered Whitney Houston’s offer, the New York Daily News reported.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Jermaine Jackson and Whitney Houston enjoyed a year-long affair in the early ’80s while Jackson was married to his first wife, Hazel Gordy.
Whitney Houston allegedly called Jermaine Jackson in the wee hours of the morning about five years ago, confessing that she was leaving then-husband Bobby Brown to marry him
Another source, who knew the late Tupac Shakur, said that the rap icon was also obsessed with Whitney Houston.
The source said that Tupac Shakur, who was murdered in 1996, asked her to track down Whitney Houston’s cell phone number.
“He told me that if a brother with money like him stepped to her she would leave Bobby,” the source said.
Pakistani authorities charged Osama Bin Laden’s three widows with illegally entering the country.
According to Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the women, reported to be two Saudis and a Yemeni, had been charged but did not say when the hearing took place.
The three women and about 10 children were taken into custody last May when US commandos raided their compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
The women had been living in the compound in Abbottabad that Navy Seals attacked, killing Osama Bin Laden.
Rehman Malik told reporters in Islamabad that “only the adults had been charged” and the children were free to return to their native countries if their mothers agreed.
Legal experts say the maximum term the women could get is five years.
Pakistani authorities charged Osama Bin Laden's three widows with illegally entering the country
It is not clear if these three women are Osama Bin Laden’s only widows – it has been reported that he had up to six wives.
In June 2011, a Pakistani commission was charged with investigating how the al-Qaeda leader had managed to stay in Pakistan undetected.
The commission said his wives should not be allowed to leave the country until they had been interviewed.
Despite having a $25 milliom bounty on his head for his role in organizing the 9/11 attacks on the US, Osama Bin Laden managed to live in the Abbottabad compound with his wives and children for nearly five years.
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 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.
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
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 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
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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
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
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 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
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.
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 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 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
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 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
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.
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
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.”
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
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.
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 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.
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 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
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.
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.
