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Princess Charlotte Godparents’ Identity to Be Revealed Just Before Christening Ceremony

Lisa.Felice
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Princess Charlotte Godparents’ Identity to Be Revealed Just Before Christening Ceremony

The identity of Princess Charlotte’s godparents will be revealed when the royal baby is christened on Sunday, July 5, at the church of St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham, with fewer than 30 guests.

Several thousand members of the public are expected to take up Prince William and Kate Middleton’s invitation to share in the day by standing in a paddock outside the churchyard.

They will have the opportunity to see Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George and Princess Charlotte together in public for the first time.

Princess Charlotte will wear the same christening gown her brother wore when he was baptized in October 2013 – a replica of the gown that Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter wore for her christening in 1841.Princess Charlotte christening godparents

Many Brits and the media have been betting Kate Middleton’s sister, Pippa Middleton, and Prince William’s brother, Prince Harry, will be among the half-dozen godparents likely to be announced on the day of ceremony.

Pippa Middleton will be there but not Prince Harry who is in Africa on a conservation mission.

The London Telegraph reported that 30-year-old Prince Harry had been one of the favorites to be chosen as a godparent, having missed out on fulfilling the role for his first-born nephew, but after learning he would not be needed for the ceremony he embarked on a three-month trip to Africa at the end of June.

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born May 2. She is the second child of Prince William and Kate Middleton and the younger sister to Prince George, who turns 2 this month. She is also the fifth great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh. Princess Charlotte is fourth-in-line to the throne of the world’s most famous monarchy.

The ceremony will be conducted by the head of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Justin Welby.

Afterward, the party will return to Sandringham House for tea with the Queen, plus the assembling for the official christening portrait by celebrity portrait photographer Mario Testino.

Diddy Escapes Assault Charge After UCLA Incident

Sonia Pantiss
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Diddy Escapes Assault Charge After UCLA Incident

Diddy will not face assault charges following an incident last month involving a kettlebell weight, officials have said.

The 45-year-old rapper, real name Sean Combs, was arrested on June 22 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon at the University of California.

Diddy was held in jail before being released on $160,000 bail.

The district attorney has referred the case to the Los Angeles City attorney’s office to decide if Sean Combs will face lesser charges.Diddy avoids charge assault

“We are thankful that the district attorney rejected felony charges in this matter,” said Diddy’s lawyer, Mark Geragos.

“This case never should have been part of the criminal justice system to begin with.”

At the time of the incident, officials did not identify the victim of the alleged assault or say what led to the incident.

However, media reports said Sean Combs was involved in an altercation with the university’s football coach at the campus’s athletic facility.

The rapper claimed he was defending himself and his son, Justin Combs, who is on the college football team and had been working out at the time.

Head football coach Jim Mora called the encounter “an unfortunate incident for all parties involved” following Diddy’s arrest.

University officials have said little about the confrontation, except that no one was seriously hurt.

A spokesman said the school had no comment on the district attorney’s decision.

Justin Combs, 21, has played just a handful of games for the UCLA football team since joining three years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9udvSeSnd58

Diana Douglas Dead: Michael Douglas’ Mother Dies in LA at 92

Sonia Pantiss
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Diana Douglas Dead: Michael Douglas’ Mother Dies in LA at 92

Michael Douglas’ mother, actress Diana Douglas, has died in Los Angeles aged 92, her family says.

Diana Douglas appeared in dozens of films and TV shows, including Planes, Trains and Automobiles, ER and The West Wing.

The actress was the first wife of Kirk Douglas and appeared with both in the 2003’s It Runs in the Family.Diana Douglas dead at 92

Diana Douglas died of cancer in a retirement home on July 3, her husband of 15 years, Donald Webster, said.

Born Diana Love Dill in Bermuda, she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where she met Kirk Douglas.

She began her career with Warner Bros, and modeled on the cover of Life Magazine in 1943.

Diana and Kirk Douglas married in 1943 and had two sons, Michael and Joel.

The couple divorced in 1951 but remained on good terms, and appeared together in It Runs in the Family, a film about a dysfunctional family, along with Michael and their grandson Cameron.

Diana Douglas was married to actor Bill Darrid from 1956 until his death in 1992.

She married Donald Webster in 2002.

Greece Bailout Referendum: Greeks Vote Whether to Accept Creditor Terms

Clyde K. Valle
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Greece Bailout Referendum: Greeks Vote Whether to Accept Creditor Terms

Greeks are voting in a controversial referendum on whether to accept the terms of an international bailout.

Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time, with the first results expected in the evening.

The government has urged a “No” vote, but opponents warn this could see Greece ejected from the eurozone.

Greeks appear evenly divided over the issue, according to opinion polls. Turnout is expected to be high, after a frenetic week of campaigning.

Leaders in the governing radical-left Syriza party have criticized the bailout terms as humiliating. They say rejecting the terms could give them more leverage in talks over Greece’s massive debt.Greece bailout Referendum 2015

“No one can ignore the determination of a people taking its destiny in its own hands,” PM Alexis Tsipras said, after casting his ballot on July 5.

However, international creditors have warned that a “No” vote could choke off vital funding for Greek banks and lead to “Grexit – a chaotic departure from the common European currency. The “Yes” campaign has framed the vote as a referendum on Greek membership of the eurozone.

Supporters of both sides held rallies in Athens on July 3. Banks stayed shut because of capital controls imposed after the expiry of the current bailout program.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told local media on Saturday that the EU had “no legal grounds” to throw Greece out of the euro.

On the eve of the referendum, Yanis Varoufakis accused Athens’ creditors of trying to sow fear around the vote. He told Spain’s El Mundo newspaper: “Why did they force us to close the banks? To instil fear in people. And spreading fear is called terrorism.”

Yanis Varoufakis said that the banks in Greece would reopen on July 7 whatever the outcome and that PM Alexis Tsipras would still reach an agreement with creditors if the result was “No” in the referendum.

Meanwhile, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of Greece’s harshest critics, suggested that if Greece were to leave the eurozone, it might only be temporary.

“Whether with the euro or temporarily without it: only the Greeks can answer this question,” he told the German newspaper Bild.

“And it is clear that we will not leave the people in the lurch.”

The referendum question is: “Must the agreement plan submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to the Eurogroup of 25 June, 2015, and comprised of two parts which make up their joint proposal, be accepted? The first document is titled <<Reforms for the completion of the current program and beyond>> and the second <<Preliminary debt sustainability analysis>>.”

Voters must check one of two boxes – “not approved/no” or, below it, “approved/yes”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbiwxKjBtCg

Pope Francis Begins Latin American Trip in Ecuador

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis Begins Latin American Trip in Ecuador

Pope Francis is visiting Ecuador at the start of his seven-day tour of Latin America.

Ecuador’s left-wing President Rafael Correa called the Pope’s visit “an honor”.

Pope Francis will also travel to Bolivia and Paraguay, as part of his second trip to the region since becoming pontiff in 2013.

The Argentine is the first Pope to come from South America. He is expected to highlight the themes of poverty and inequality.Pope Francis in Ecuador 2015

In 2007, before becoming Pope, Bishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Bergoglio told a gathering of Latin American bishops that they were living in the most unequal part of the world.

During his previous trip in 2013, Pope Francis addressed millions on Brazil’s Copacabana Beach.

Pope Francis has requested to chew coca leaves while in Bolivia, according to Bolivian Culture Minister Marko Machicao.

Coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine, has been used in the Andes for thousands of years to combat altitude sickness and as a mild stimulant.

In September Pope Francis will travel to Cuba ahead of a trip to the US.

Pope Francis is credited with helping bring about last December’s diplomatic thaw between the two countries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e0hFCsmhQc

Tunisia Attack: State of Emergency Declared After Sousse Massacre

Roy Siemens
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Tunisia Attack: State of Emergency Declared After Sousse Massacre

A state of emergency has been declared in Tunisia just over a week after 38 tourists, mainly British, died in an attack in the resort city of Sousse.

The state of emergency gives security forces more powers and limits the right of public assembly.

Tunisian authorities had already tightened security, deploying more than 1,400 armed officers at hotels and beaches.

President Beji Caid Essebsi said in a national address that “exceptional measures” were needed.

“In order to face up to this scourge we need to be prepared. We need to have enough troops, proper training and material means – we are in desperate need of material means,” he said, appealing for international counter-terrorism support and co-operation.

The state of emergency will be in place for a renewable period of 30 days.Tunisia state of emergency 2015

An official from PM Habib Essid’s office said several officials had been sacked in the wake of the attack, including the governor of Sousse.

“Just as there have been security failures, there have also been political failures,” Dhafer Neji told AFP.

Security forces were criticized for not responding more quickly to the attack on June 26 in Sousse, when a gunman opened fire on tourists on a beach and in a hotel before being shot dead by police.

The gunman has been identified as student Seifeddine Rezgui, who authorities say had trained in Libya.

PM Habib Essid said Seifeddine Rezgui had probably trained with the Ansar al-Sharia group, though Islamic State (ISIS) earlier said it was behind the attack.

Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Seifeddine Rezgui, and the government says it has uncovered the network behind the Sousse attack.

Authorities have also pledged to close some 80 mosques that were operating outside government control and accused of spreading extremism.

The last time Tunisia declared a state of emergency was in 2011, in the uprising which overthrew President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. It was lifted in March 2014.

Officials are expected to pass a counter-terrorism bill that has been in parliament since early 2014 in the coming weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upWh2tgqbFI

Fidel Castro Makes Public Appearance at Havana Cheese Meeting

Diane A. Wade
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Fidel Castro Makes Public Appearance at Havana Cheese Meeting

Fidel Castro has made a rare public appearance at a cheese meeting in Havana.

State television showed images of the former Cuban leader at a meeting with cheese experts near the capital, Havana.

Fidel Castro, 88, handed power to his younger brother Raul in 2006 after struggling to recover from illness.

His appearance comes days after Cuba and the US announced they were reopening embassies in each other’s capitals on July 20.Fidel Castro cheese meeting Havana

Fidel Castro is rarely seen in public, and secrecy about his health means his public appearances are scrutinized by the media.

The historic thaw between Cuba and the US was announced on December 17, in joint media conferences by Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro.

There was no immediate comment from Fidel Castro, and analysts said the rapprochement would not have happened if he was still in power.

Just over a month later, Fidel Castro broke his silence in a letter published on the Cuban Communist Party newspaper, Granma.

“I don’t trust the policy of the United States… but this does not mean I reject a pacific solution to the conflicts,” the Cuban leader wrote.

Relations had been frozen since the early 1960s when the US broke links and imposed a trade embargo on Cuba.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhhNu6sYY7A

Princess Charlotte Christening Ceremony to Take Place at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham

Lisa.Felice
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Princess Charlotte Christening Ceremony to Take Place at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham

Princess Charlotte will be christened on Sunday, July 5, at a ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth II and other senior members of the Royal Family in Norfolk.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince George and Princess Charlotte will appear as a family of four in public for the first time at the baptism.

Other guests will include the Prince Charles and Camilla Bowels as well as Kate Middleton’s parents.

The ceremony will take place at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham.

The baptism, conducted by Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby, will be held in private.

Members of the public will be allowed into the area outside the church – known as the paddock – to see Princess Charlotte and other royals arrive and depart.

Charlotte’s godparents will be announced ahead of the service.Princess Charlotte christening 2015

Other guests will include the Duke of Edinburgh and Kate Middleton’s two siblings – Pippa and James Middleton.

Like Prince George, Princess Charlotte will be christened in a replica of the lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Victoria, the princess royal, in 1841.

Princess Charlotte will be christened using the ornate silver gilt Lily Font which is usually on show as part of the crown jewels at the Tower of London.

Norfolk police are expecting large crowds near the 16th century church and have urged people to arrive early for the opening of the paddock gates at 15:00 BST. The ceremony is due to start at 16:30.

Anyone bringing flowers will be asked to give them to representatives of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, where Kate Middleton is a patron, who will then take them to hospices in the region.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The duke and duchess are hugely grateful for the warm wishes they have received since Princess Charlotte’s birth – many of them from local people in Norfolk – and are delighted the paddock can be opened on the day of the christening.”

Prince Harry will be among those missing from the ceremony. He is currently spending three months in Africa.

St Mary Magdalene is the church used by Queen Elizabeth when she is resident on her private estate.

Archbishop Welby will give an address. He will be supported by The Reverend Canon Jonathan Riviere, the Rector of the Sandringham group of parishes.

Mario Testino has been asked by Prince William and Kate Middleton to take the official photographs after the service.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfkIK7P_HeU

Greece Debt Referendum: Tens of Thousands Attend Rival Rallies over Bailout Vote

Clyde K. Valle
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Greece Debt Referendum: Tens of Thousands Attend Rival Rallies over Bailout Vote

Rival rallies have been held in the Greek capital ahead of a crucial debt referendum on July 5.

PM Alexis Tsipras was greeted with huge cheers by tens of thousands of Greeks when he told supporters to vote “No” to the terms of an international bailout.

Those attending another huge rally nearby warned a “No” vote would see Greece ejected from the eurozone.

A Greek court earlier rejected a challenge to the legality of the referendum and it will go ahead.

Greece’s current bailout program ran out on June 30. All week banks have been shut, with limits imposed on cash withdrawals.

Another war of words flared late on July 3 when Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis dismissed a Financial Times report that Greece was preparing contingency plans for a possible “bail-in” of bank deposits as a “malicious rumor”. The report quoted sources as saying banks were considering a “haircut” of 30% on deposits over €8,000.Greece bailout referendum rally

Opinion polls on July 3 suggested Greece was evenly split over the vote – an Ipsos survey putting “Yes” supporters at 44% and “No” at 43%.

Opinion polls within 24 hours of the voting are banned, as are more campaign rallies.

Estimates of the crowds gathered in Athens on July 3 ranged from 25,000 to 50,000, with police and observers agreeing that the crowds at the “No” rally were bigger.

Rallies for both camps were held in 10 other Greek cities.

In his speech, Alexis Tsipras reiterated the themes of almost daily addresses over the past week – the need for Greece to preserve its dignity and “say a proud <<No>> to [European] ultimatums” to sign up to fresh austerity.

The prime minister said: “This is not a protest. It is a celebration to overcome fear and blackmail.”

Alexis Tsipras urged Greeks to “decide to live in dignity in Europe”.

He denied a “Yes” vote would mean leaving Europe, saying: “We are not going to allow them to destroy Europe.”

Only a few hundred meters away, supporters of a “Yes” vote said they believed Alexis Tsipras could not deliver on such a promise.

Athens Mayor George Kaminis told supporters at the rally that people did not even understand the question on the ballot paper.

He said: “We have been dragged into a pointless referendum that is dividing the people and hurting the country.”

Claims by Greek politicians that a “No” vote will strengthen their hand in bailout negotiations have been rebuffed by European leaders.

Both EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Jeroen Dijsselbloem – head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers – have insisted a “No” vote will weaken the Greeks’ position and that even a “Yes” vote will not mean a deal is easy to agree.

Several European officials have complained in strong terms about Greece’s abrupt decision to hold a referendum on the terms of a bailout offer they say is no longer on the table.

White House 2016: Jim Webb Launches Presidential Bid

Diane A. Wade
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White House 2016: Jim Webb Launches Presidential Bid

Former senator Jim Webb has launched his bid for president, joining other Democrats taking on front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Jim Webb, who represented Virginia from 2007 to 2012, said the US needed “positive, visionary leadership”.

The 69-year-old Vietnam veteran said defense, criminal justice reform and an economy that benefits the middle class would be his focus.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Jim Webb is the fifth Democrat to enter the presidential race. There are 14 Republican challengers so far.

In a statement on his campaign website, Jim Webb said he made the decision to run “after many months of thought, deliberation and discussion.”

“I understand the odds, particularly in today’s political climate where fair debate is so often drowned out by huge sums of money,” he added.

Vowing to bring an outsider’s voice to the 2016 race, Jim Webb said the US needed “to shake the hold of these shadow elites on our political process”.

Jim Webb was a vocal critic of the Iraq war, which his son served in, and his opposition formed the basis of his Senate election campaign in 2006.

Prior to becoming a senator, he worked as an author and film-maker and briefly served as US Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, but resigned in protest at cuts to the military.

Latest polls suggest Jim Webb is a long way behind the levels of support seen for Hillary Clinton and her closest Democratic challenger, Bernie Sanders.

Solar Impulse 2 Lands in Hawaii after Pacific Crossing Flight

James J. Williams
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Solar Impulse 2 Lands in Hawaii after Pacific Crossing Flight

Solar Impulse 2 has landed in Hawaii after making a historic 7,200km (4,470 miles) flight across the Pacific from Japan.

Pilot Andre Borschberg brought the sun-powered plane gently down on to the runway of Kalaeloa Airport at 05:55 local time.

The distance covered and the time spent in the air – 118 hours – are records for manned, solar-powered flight.

The duration is also an absolute record for a solo, un-refueled journey.

Andre Borschberg’s time betters that of the American adventurer Steve Fossett who spent 76 hours aloft in a single-seater jet in 2006.

He said he looked forward to having a shower and visiting one of the many steakhouses suggested to him on the way into Hawaii’s O’ahu island.

Meeting Andre Borschberg in Kalaeloa was his partner on the Solar Impulse project, Bertrand Piccard.Solar Impulse 2 Pacific crossing

Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg are sharing flying duties in their quest to circumnavigate the globe – an effort they began in Abu Dhabi, UAE, back in March.

It is Bertrand Piccard who will now fly the next leg from Hawaii to Phoenix, Arizona.

That will not be quite as far as the leg just completed, but it will still likely take four days and nights.

From Phoenix, Solar Impulse 2 will head for New York and an Atlantic crossing that would eventually see the plane return to Abu Dhabi.

First, the Solar Impulse ground crew in Kalaeloa will need a few days to check over the aircraft.

During this servicing, meteorologists will once again take on the tricky task of finding a suitable flight window.

Getting Solar Impulse 2 to Hawaii proved more problematic than anyone could have imagined.

The project was stuck in Nanjing, China, for five weeks before the first attempt to cross the ocean was made.

Solar Impulse 2’s slow speed, light weight and 72m wingspan put significant constraints on the type of weather the vehicle can handle, and that first sortie was aborted after just one day in the air because of a fast developing cold front ahead of it.

Andre Borschberg diverted to Nagoya, and then had to wait a further month before being given the green light on Monday to again take off for Kalaeloa.

Even so, he has had to cross two weather fronts this week and has endured some uncomfortable turbulence as a consequence.

The Swiss team is using the various stopovers on its round-the-world journey to carry a campaigning message to local people on the topic of clean technologies.

The Solar Impulse 2 plane is not really intended to be a vision of the future of aviation. Rather, it is supposed to be a demonstration of the current capabilities of solar power in general.

The vehicle is covered in 17,000 photovoltaic cells. These either power the vehicle’s electric motors directly, or charge its lithium-ion batteries, which sustain the plane during the night hours.

King Tupou VI of Tonga Crowned After Three Years

Diane A. Wade
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King Tupou VI of Tonga Crowned After Three Years

King Tupou VI of Tonga has been formally crowned, more than three years after ascending to the throne.

Foreign royals, including the Crown Prince of Japan, attended the coronation ceremony in the Pacific island’s capital, Nuku’alofa.

A retired Australian minister performed the crowning as it is taboo for Tongans to touch their king’s head.

Former King George Tupou V died in March 2012.King Tupou VI of Tonga coronation 2015

King Tupou’s coronation was the culmination of a week of festivities that included a traditional drinking rite, street parties and feasts.

The ceremony, performed by 78-year-old retired Methodist minister D’Arcy Wood, drew thousands of Tongans and tourists.

As well as Crown Prince Naruhito, the European royals Prince Georg von Habsburg of Hungary and Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg of Austria attended.

King Tupou VI, 55, ascended to the throne after his bachelor brother died.

Tonga gained its independence from Britain in 1970 but the monarchy stretches back 1,000 years.

Bruce Dickinson Talks About Cancer Recovery

Sonia Pantiss
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Bruce Dickinson Talks About Cancer Recovery

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson has announced he is healing well since being treated for cancer earlier this year.

Bruce Dickinson was diagnosed last year after two tumors – including one the size of a golf ball – were found at the back of his tongue.

In an interview with BBC, Iron Maiden’s frontman said: “You can imagine to get rid of that with radiation – the inside of my head has been cooked pretty effectively.”

He said although his voice was fine, it will take a while “to heal up”.Bruce Dickinson cancer recovery

“I can sing, I can talk – I haven’t gone out and done the equivalent of trying to run 100 metres in the same way I used to sing before,” he said.

“I only finished coming out of treatment two months ago and the doctor said it will take a year to be better.

“We’ve beaten that by about six months so far, but I’m not going to push things to prove a point.”

Iron Maiden announced in May the band would not be touring or playing any shows until 2016 when Bruce Dickinson will be “back to full strength”.

Bruce Dickinson said since he was given the all clear by doctors, he was now “looking forward to having a bit of a knees up” because “it’s a good excuse to celebrate a wonderful thing”.

“I’ve been through what a load of people go through every day,” he said.

“There’s thousands of people every day in the UK and around the world who have treatment for this kind of thing. In that respect the only thing that’s special about it is that I’m quite a well-known person. I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had a really good bounce back.”

Talking about when he was first diagnosed with cancer, Bruce Dickinson said the only symptoms he had noticed was a lump in his neck – cause by the second, smaller tumor.

“I went to the doc and he went <<oooh that’s a bit weird>>,” the singer said.

“He took a scan of it, had a look, had a poke around, and went <<you have head and neck cancer>>. So I went <<that’s a bit of a blow>> – but you crack on and you get on with it.”

Bruce Dickinson was speaking at the Silver Clef Awards in London, where Iron Maiden were honored for their outstanding contribution to UK music.

Peaches Geldof’s Death: Police End Investigation into Drug Dealer Identity

Lisa.Felice
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Peaches Geldof’s Death: Police End Investigation into Drug Dealer Identity

British police ended its investigation into Peaches Geldof’s death saying that the drug dealer who supplied the TV presenter and mother-of-two with the heroin that killed her may never be known.

Peaches Geldof died from an overdose at her home in Kent, UK, in April 2014. She was 25.

Bob Geldof’s daughter had been a heroin addict and took the substitute drug methadone for two years before her death.

Detectives said they had “exhausted all lines of inquiry” trying to find out who supplied her with the Class A drug.

Detective Superintendent Paul Fotheringham said the case would be reviewed if further information or witnesses came forward.

Peaches Geldof arrives at the BRIT Awards 2014 at the O2 Arena in London on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. (Photo by Jon Furniss Photography/Invision/AP)
Peaches Geldof arrives at the BRIT Awards 2014 at the O2 Arena in London on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. (Photo by Jon Furniss Photography/Invision/AP)

“I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Peaches’ family who have supported our inquiries during what has been a difficult time,” he added.

A police search of her home at the time of her death found 6.9g of heroin but there was no indication she had planned to take her own life, an inquest last year heard.

Peaches Geldof’s husband, Tom Cohen, told the hearing she started using the drug again in February 2014.

The musician, who had been away for the weekend with the eldest of their two sons, said he became concerned when she failed to answer her phone and found his wife slumped on the bed upon his return.

Coroner Roger Hatch said Peaches Geldof’s death had been “drugs related” and expressed his deep sympathy to her family.

Peaches Geldof’s mother, Paula Yates, died of a heroin overdose at the age of 41 when Peaches was 11 years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7kIls4NlN8

Donald Trump’s Hotels to Investigate Credit Card Security Breach Claim

Clyde K. Valle
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Donald Trump’s Hotels to Investigate Credit Card Security Breach Claim

Trump Hotel Collection is investigating claims that it fall victim to a credit and debit card security breach.

Security expert Brian Krebs reported that US banks had identified a pattern of fraudulent transactions involving accounts that had been used at a Trump Hotel Collection property.

The attack appeared to date back to February, he said.

The company said it was carrying out a “thorough investigation”.

“Like virtually every other company these days, we have been alerted to potential suspicious credit card activity and are in the midst of a thorough investigation to determine whether it involves any of our properties.

“We are committed to safeguarding all guests’ personal information and will continue to do so vigilantly,” the Trump Organization executive vice-president Eric Trump said.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

In a blogpost published on July 1, Brian Krebs – a former Washington Post journalist – cited data from unnamed sources at several US banks suggesting a pattern of bank accounts being involved in suspicious transactions.

What each of the cases reportedly had in common was that the associated credit and debit cards had all previously been used at Trump hotels.

Brian Krebs reported that at least five different locations were involved: Chicago; Honolulu; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; and New York.

The claims brought concerns about the security of US credit cards to the fore. Many people in the US still swipe their cards and verify their identities with their signatures, while other countries have moved on to chip-and-pin.

If the fears were confirmed, the Trump Organization would become the latest in a series of US companies to be the victim of a credit and debit card breach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISowZrJ4k0k

Ashely Menatta: Amnesic Woman Identified by Family

Nancy Clayson
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Ashely Menatta: Amnesic Woman Identified by Family

The amnesic woman who was found on a street in Carlsbad, Southern California, has been identified by her family.

“Sam”, as the woman was known by thousands following her story on social media, has been named as 53-year old Ashley Menatta from California.

Ashley Menatta was found in Carlsbad, unwell and with no memory of who she was.

Her nephew identified the woman from a NBC 7 show about her, according to NBC 7 and Sam’s Facebook page.

He called his mother who then alerted the authorities.

NBC 7 says Ashley Menatta was born in Pennsylvania and had lived in Flagstaff, Arizona. Several years ago, she moved to Southern California where she lived in La Jolla, Vista and Carlsbad.

The woman reportedly loved travelling and never married. Her sisters, in Colorado and Maryland, are said to have lost track of her in 2013.

Ashley Menatta described an “extremely emotional” reunion with her family.

“We were all sobbing,” she said.

“They’re so sorry I had to go through what I did during this time without them.”

Ashely Menatta was found “barely conscious” by emergency services in Carlsbad in February 2015.Amnesic woman identified by family

She told media she had been diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer after the authorities found her, and doctors removed a tumor the size of a volleyball.

Doctors told her she was likely suffering from “retrograde amnesia” – a type of memory-loss brought on during the onset of a disease.

The woman’s slight Australian accent led many people, including US authorities, to suspect she may originally have been from Australia.

She also had strong memories of swimming at a beach in Perth, in Western Australia, and visiting other Australian holiday spots.

Australian consular officials had offered assistance in solving her case.

Sam’s Facebook page, set up with assistance from a former nurse who got involved in the case, said prayers had been answered.

“Well, we have some great news,” the post said.

“<<Sam>> (Ashley is her name) and I want to thank you all who have been sharing, searching, emailing, posting, private messaging, calling, texting, twittering, NBC Channel 7 in San Diego, Australian News, England News, police, Missing Australians, Australian Missing Persons Register, FBI, Interpol, and everyone else!!!!

“We could not have done this with out all of your help!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve8eSVd2zAU

Sonia Manzano Leaves Sesame Street After 44 Years

Sonia Pantiss
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Sonia Manzano Leaves Sesame Street After 44 Years

Sesame Street’s Sonia Manzano, who has played Maria on the children’s show for more than 40 years, is retiring.

Sonia Manzano, 65, joined Sesame Street in 1971 and became a series regular in 1974, giving helpful advice to characters like Big Bird and Elmo.

The actress was also a writer on the show, winning 15 Emmy Awards for her work.Sesame Street Maria Sonia Manzano

The news has led to a flood of tributes on social media, with many remembering Sonia Manzano fondly from their childhoods.

She told a conference of librarians in San Francisco that she would not be returning for Sesame Street‘s next season.

“Thank you but don’t be bummed!” Sonia Manzano later tweeted to disappointed fans, adding that she could return for the show’s 50th anniversary.

Sonia Manzano’s character arrived on Sesame Street working at a bookstore but eventually moved to the Fix-It Shop alongside Luis, the show’s Mexican-American handyman.

Over the years on Sesame Street, Maria and Luis got married and even had a child.

Tunisia Attack: Eight Suspects Remain in Custody over Sousse Beach Attack

Roy Siemens
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Tunisia Attack: Eight Suspects Remain in Custody over Sousse Beach Attack

Eight people, including a woman, remain in Tunisian police custody on suspicion of being directly linked to the deadly attack on tourists in Sousse, a minister has announced.

Four other people who had been detained have been released, he added.

Thirty-eight tourists were killed when gunman Sefeddine Rezgui opened fire on a beach.

ISIS militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Thirty of the victims were British citizens.

Tunisia’s government fears the attack will destroy its tourism industry, the country’s biggest foreign currency earner.

In March, two gunmen killed 22 people at the famous Bardo museum in Tunisia’s capital, Tunis.Tunisia attack suspects arrested

Government minister Kamel Jendoubi said at a media conference that investigations had “allowed us to discover the network behind the operation in Sousse”.

Kamel Jendoubi did not elaborate on the identities of the suspects or their alleged role.

He said ten UK investigators were assisting with the investigation, the AFP news agency reports.

Kamel Jendoubi also said that Tunisia has deployed 1,377 armed security agents at hotels and on beaches to guarantee the safety of people, AFP reports.

Tunisian authorities have identified 23-year-old student Seifeddine Rezgui as the gunman who carried out the attack.

Police have released photos of two suspects, Bin Abdallah and Rafkhe Talari – friends of Seifeddine Rezgui whom they are yet to locate.

Tunisian officials believe both the Sousse and Bardo museum gunmen were trained in Libya, which has been mostly lawless since NATO-led forces overthrew long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

ISIS has built a significant presence in Libya, Tunisia’s eastern neighbor, and is thought to control the major towns of Derna and Sirte.

Solar Impulse 2 Breaks Record for Longest Solo Flight Without Refueling

James J. Williams
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Solar Impulse 2 Breaks Record for Longest Solo Flight Without Refueling

Solar Impulse 2 has broken the record for the longest non-stop solo flight without refueling.

The solar-powered plane spent 76 hours into the latest leg of its attempt to circumnavigate the globe.

Pilot Andre Borschberg is making steady progress as he attempts the first solar-powered crossing of the Pacific.

After leaving Nagoya, Japan, early on June 29, Andre Borschberg has now passed Midway Island and is heading towards his destination of Kalaeloa, Hawaii.

At 76 hours into the journey, Andre Borschberg broke the record for the longest ever non-stop solo flight without refueling.

The previous mark was set by the American Steve Fossett in 2006.

Steve Fossett’s jet-powered Virgin GlobalFlyer vehicle completed a full circumnavigation of the world in that time, travelling more than 41,000km.

In contrast, Andre Borschberg’s Solar Impulse plane, which carries no fuel at all, had gone “only” some 5,500km in its 76 hours of flight.

On July 1, the Swiss pilot fly a holding pattern to time his encounter with an upcoming cold front to the optimum.

This will occur on July 2, and Andre Borschberg needs good sun conditions to get his aircraft up and over the weather system so that he can navigate the final stretch into Kalaeloa on July 3.

Precisely when this historic landing will occur is somewhat uncertain.Solar Impulse 2 solo flight record

Solar Impulse has some quite strict constraints to ensure the 72m-wingspan vehicle can put its wheels down safely.

These include a maximum cross wind of no more than four knots and a maximum overall wind speed of no more than 10 knots.

If it is too windy at ground level, Andre Borschberg will be instructed to circle overhead until the conditions calm down.

By then, Andre Borschberg will probably have spent more than 120 hours in the air.

So far, the pilot has coped remarkably well on very little sleep, and on July 1 even made time to joke around in his cockpit by donning a wig and fake beard.

When Andre Borschberg gets to Hawaii, he will be met by fellow adventurer and business partner, Bertrand Piccard.

Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard have shared the flying duties in the single-seater plane’s round-the-world quest, which began in Abu Dhabi, UEA, back in March.

It is Bertrand Piccard – who famously made the first non-stop global circumnavigation in a balloon – who will fly the next leg from Kalaeloa to Phoenix, Arizona.

That is not quite as far as the current stint, but it still likely to take four days and nights.

From Phoenix, Solar Impulse 2 will head for New York and an Atlantic crossing that would eventually see the plane return to Abu Dhabi.

Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard have used the various stopovers on their round-the-world journey to carry a campaigning message on the topic of clean technologies to local populations.

Their Solar Impulse plane is not intended as a demonstration of the future of aviation. Rather, it is to supposed to show off the capabilities of solar power in general.

Solar Impulse 2 is covered in 17,000 photovoltaic cells across its wings. These either power the vehicle’s electric motors directly, or charge its lithium-ion batteries, which sustain the plane during the night hours.

FIFA Corruption: US Sends Extradition Request to Switzerland

Clyde K. Valle
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FIFA Corruption: US Sends Extradition Request to Switzerland

The US has asked Switzerland to extradite seven FIFA officials arrested on corruption charges in May, the Swiss authorities say.

Formal extradition requests were submitted on July 1, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said.

The seven top executives arrested in Zurich are among 14 FIFA officials indicted on charges of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption.

The charges follow a major inquiry by the FBI.

The FOJ said Zurich police, acting on its behalf, would give the seven officials a hearing over the extradition requests.

The officials and their lawyers would have 14 days to respond to the request, which could be extended, the FOJ statement said.

After that, the FOJ would give its decision “within a few weeks”, but warned that any ruling could be challenged in both the federal criminal court and the federal supreme court.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Jeffrey Webb, FIFA vice-president in charge of North and Central America, was among those arrested by Swiss police in a raid on a luxury hotel in the early hours of May 27.

The seven are among 14 defendants the US has charged with racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracies.

In a 47-count indictment unveiled in a New York federal court, they were accused of taking part “in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer”.

The indictment alleges that US and South American sports marketing executives paid and agreed to pay “well over $150 million” in bribes and other illegal payments to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to football tournaments.

The corruption was planned in the US, the indictment said. The use of US banks to transfer money appears to have been key to the investigation.

The charges follow a three-year FBI investigation. It was initially sparked by the bidding process for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups, but was then widened to look back at FIFA’s dealings over two decades.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has not been indicted, although both the US and Swiss authorities have said they may interview him as part of their investigations.

Who Is Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud?

Nancy Clayson
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Who Is Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud?

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, a Self-proclaimed “Warren Buffett of Arabia” was born in 1955. He is the nephew of King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

A business magnate and investor, Prince Alwaleed studied at Menlo College and Syracuse University in the US.

He is the founder of Kingdom Holding Company, a Riyadh-based publicly traded conglomerate.

His first contract was to advise a Korean company building an officers’ club at a Riyadh military academy. Later chose to invest the profits in local real estate.

Prince Alwaleed invested $590 million in struggling Citibank (now Citigroup) in 1991; stake is now worth billions.

He has stakes in Disney, 21st Century Fox, News Corp, Apple, GM, Twitter, and a string of hotel chains and luxury hotels, including New York’s Plaza Hotel and the George V in Paris.Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud

Considered Westernized and progressive on most issues, Prince Alwaleed champions women’s rights as most of his staff are women. He has financed the training of Hanadi Zakaria al-Hindi to become the first Saudi woman commercial airline pilot and has stated on her graduation that he is “in full support of Saudi ladies working in all fields”.

He owns a 371-room, 42,700 sq m (460,000 sq ft) palace in Riyadh, a Boeing 747-400 and an A380, and an 85m super yacht.

Prince Alwaleed established Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundations across world to offer valuable humanitarian, educational and social assistance.

The first wife of Prince Alwaleed was Dalal bint Saud, a daughter of King Saud. They have two children: Reem and Khalid. They later divorced. His second wife was a young woman Ameera al-Taweel, but later divorced.

In an interview recently, Prince Alwaleed had said: “Yes, I announce it through Okaz/Saudi Gazette for the first time. I have officially separated from Princess Ameera Al-Taweel, but she remains a person that I have all respect for.”

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia Donates $32 Billion Wealth to Philantropy

Diane A. Wade
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Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia Donates $32 Billion Wealth to Philantropy

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia has announced he will donate his $32 billion personal fortune to philantropy.

The 60-year-old nephew of King Salman is one of the world’s richest people.

Prince Alwaleed said he had been inspired by the Gates Foundation, set up by Bill and Melinda Gates in 1997.

The money would be used to “foster cultural understanding”, “empower women”, and “provide vital disaster relief”, among other things, he said.

Bill Gates praised the decision, calling it an “inspiration to all of us working in philanthropy around the world”.Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia donates personal wealth

Prince Alwaleed is at number 34 on the Forbes list of the world’s richest people.

The money will go to the prince’s charitable organization, Alwaleed Philanthropies, to which he has already donated $3.5 billion.

Prince Alwaleed, who does not hold an official government position, is chairman of investment firm Kingdom Holding Company.

The company owns stakes in hotels The Four Seasons, Fairmont and Raffles, as well as News Corp, Citigroup, Twitter and Apple.

“This is very much separate from my ownership in Kingdom Holding,” he said at the announcement.

“Philanthropy is a personal responsibility, which I embarked upon more than three decades ago and is an intrinsic part of my Islamic faith,” he added in a statement.

Prince Alwaleed said he hoped the gift would “help build bridges to foster cultural understanding, develop communities, empower women, enable youth, provide vital disaster relief and create a more tolerant and accepting world”.

His announcement comes during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims are encouraged to give charity and help the needy.

Prince Alwaleed said the donation would take place over several years and would be overseen by a board of trustees, which he will head.

Tunisia Attack: Names of British Victims Released

Roy Siemens
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0
Tunisia Attack: Names of British Victims Released

The names of those killed in the Tunisian beach attack on June 26 are being released.

Thirty of the 38 people killed by a gunman on Sousse beach were British. They have now all been formally identified and are in the process of being repatriated to the UK.

Christopher and Sharon Bell from Leeds both died in the attack

Adrian Evans, 44, from Tipton, West Midlands, died along with his father, 78-year-old Charles (known as Patrick) Evans, and nephew Joel Richards, 19, from Wednesbury.

Retired printer John Stocker, 74, was born in Peckham, south-east London, and was a “proud father of us five children and 10 grandchildren”.

His wife, Janet Stocker, 63, was born in Fulham, west London.

John Stollery, 58, a social worker from Nottinghamshire, was on holiday with his wife Cheryl and his son when he was killed.

William Graham, 51, known as Billy, and Lisa Graham, 50, from Scotland.Tunisia beach attack victims repatriated

Carly Lovett was a 24-year-old beauty blogger and photographer from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire.

John Welch, 74, and his partner of eight years Eileen Swannack, 73.

David Thompson, 80, from The Green in Tadley, Hampshire.

Sue Davey, 43, from Tamworth and her partner Scott Chalkley, 42, from Chaddesden.

Bruce Wilkinson, 72, from Goole, East Riding, was a retired worker at Drax power station.

Lisa Burbidge, in her 60s, was from Whickham, Gateshead.

Claire Windass, 54, from Hull, was on holiday with her husband when the attack happened.

Jim McQuire, 66, and Ann McQuire, 63, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire.

Trudy Jones, 51, a care home worker from Blackwood in South Wales.

Stuart Cullen, 52, from Lowestoft.

Stephen Mellor, 59, from Bodmin in Cornwall, was killed as he attempted to shield his wife Cheryl, 55.

Former Birmingham City Football Club player Denis Thwaites, 70, and his wife Elaine, 69, from Blackpool.

Philip Heathcote, 52, who was on holiday in Tunisia with his wife Allison, 48, was killed in the attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHcZI5jcv8s

Tunisia Attack: Twelve Suspects Arrested in Connection with Sousse Massacre

Roy Siemens
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0
Tunisia Attack: Twelve Suspects Arrested in Connection with Sousse Massacre

Tunisian authorities have arrested twelve suspects in connection with the deadly attack in Sousse, an official has said.

Security forces were still hunting for two men suspected of having trained in Libya with gunman Seifeddine Rezgui who killed 38 people, he added.

Most of those killed on a beach in Sousse were British, along with other European holidaymakers.

ISIS militant group has claimed the attack as its own.

Tunisia’s government fears the attack will destroy its tourism industry, the country’s biggest foreign currency earner.Tunisia beach attack arrests

In March, two gunmen killed 22 people at the famous Bardo museum in Tunisia’s capital, Tunis.

“This is a group who were trained in Libya, and who had the same objective. Two attacked the Bardo and one attacked Sousse,” Lazhar Akremi, minister for parliamentary relations, said, Reuters news agency reports.

“Police are hunting for two more,” he is quoted as saying.

Lazhar Akremi did not say when the arrests were made.

Tunisian authorities have identified 23-year-old student Seifeddine Rezgui as the gunman who carried out the attack.

They have released photos of two suspects, Bin Abdallah and Rafkhe Talari – friends of Seifeddine Rezgui that the police have yet to locate.

ISIS has a significant presence in Libya, Tunisia’s eastern neighbor, and is thought to control the major towns of Derna and Sirte.

The names of those killed in the attack are being released as well as those who are injured and missing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgmJzv3TYA4

Greece Default: Alexis Tsipras Offers New Concessions to Eurozone Partners

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Greece Default: Alexis Tsipras Offers New Concessions to Eurozone Partners

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras has made a defiant speech as cash withdrawal limits begin to bite for bank customers.

Alexis Tsipras promised Greeks their pensions and wages would be safe.

Earlier the prime minister offered new concessions to eurozone partners, accepting most conditions that were on the table before talks collapsed.

Germany says talks requested by Greece will not be possible until after a debt referendum called by Alexis Tsipras for July 5.

In his address on July 1, Alexis Tsipras thanked Greeks for their “calm” in the face of bank closures and said their salaries and pensions would “not be lost”.

He angrily denied he had a secret plan to take Greece out of the euro, calling those who accused him of this “liars”.

Greek banks did not open this week after the ECB froze their liquidity lifeline.Alexis Tsipras austerity speech

Withdrawals from cash machines are capped at just €60 a day and long queues have been forming outside banks.

However, up to 1,000 branches re-opened on July 1 to allow pensioners – many of whom do not use bank cards – a one-off weekly withdrawal of up to €120.

Many pensioners had waited outside banks from before dawn, only to be told to return on Thursday or Friday, the Associated Press reported.

Some pensioners were told their pensions had not yet been deposited, AP said.

Close to 300 pensioners marched on the Bank of Greece in Athens after being given only a small sum from banks in the morning instead of the entire €120.

The letter sent to creditors by PM Alexis Tsipras says he was prepared to accept a deal put forward last weekend, if a few changes were agreed.

European markets surged on the news Greece might be willing to accept a deal.

However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said no new bailout talks would be possible before Greece holds Sunday’s referendum.

As well as seeking further amendments to the creditors’ proposals, Alexis Tsipras’ latest offer is tied explicitly to agreement on a request for a third bailout lasting two years and amounting to €29.1 billion.

His application for a third bailout was accompanied by a request for debt restructuring that other eurozone countries would, at this stage, be unwilling to consider.

Two key meetings are to take place to discuss aid for Greece, after Athens missed the deadline for a €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) payment to the IMF on June 30.

Eurozone finance ministers were set to discuss Greece’s new proposal in a conference call.

The second meeting will see officials with the European Central Bank (ECB) deciding on whether to demand more collateral from Greek banks on emergency loans it has given them.

With the previous eurozone bailout expired, Greece no longer has access to billions of euros in funds.

Only three other countries are still in arrears to the IMF – Sudan, Somalia and Zimbabwe. Between them, they owe €1.6 billion, only marginally more than Greece.

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