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Mediterranean Migrants: At Least 40 Drown After Boat Sinks South of Sicily

Diane A. Wade
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Mediterranean Migrants: At Least 40 Drown After Boat Sinks South of Sicily

According to Save the Children aid group, dozens of migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean after a boat carrying an estimated 137 people sank south of Sicily.

The NGO says survivors reported up to 40 people fell into the sea as a rescue vessel was approaching.

The survivors arrived in the city of Catania on May 5th.

At least 1,750 people have died this year trying to cross the Mediterranean, a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014.

Save the Children’s representative in Catania Giovanna di Benedetto said the latest sinking is thought to have happened on May 3rd, but the exact toll was not known.Mediterranean migrants Sicily

“They [survivors] said there were 137 people aboard an inflatable boat that deflated or exploded – it wasn’t clear – and that some of them fell overboard,” Giovanna di Benedetto told AFP news agency.

“Some said <<very many>> died, others said <<around 40>>,” she added.

The survivors were picked up by a Maltese merchant ship and five bodies were also recovered.

Dramatic footage of the rescue, obtained by The Associated Press, shows migrants desperately jumping off a deflating dinghy, and trying to climb up ropes and a rope ladder to the merchant ship.

About 100 people were found on a second boat, with no deaths reported, the aid agency added.

The number of migrants attempting to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean has risen in recent weeks as smugglers take advantage of fair weather.

In the past three days about 7,000 people have been rescued and 10 bodies recovered off the Libyan coast, according to the Italian coastguard.

Italian and French ships picked up survivors from wooden and rubber boats on at least 17 separate operations.

Meanwhile Turkey’s coastguard on May 5th said it had rescued more than 600 people trying to cross the Aegean Sea in the past week, Reuters reports.

More than 400 were men, women and children fleeing Syria, while the rest came from Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma) and various African countries, the office of the Izmir provincial governor is quoted as saying.

The latest deaths come as naval chiefs from 26 European countries are due to discuss the migrant crisis at talks in Naples, southern Italy.

EU nations agreed last month to triple funding for rescue operations run by European border agency Frontex, contribute more boats and patrol aircraft for rescue efforts, and look at ways to target smugglers’ boats with military strikes.

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

Jean-Marie Le Pen Wants His Daughter to Change Name

Diane A. Wade
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Jean-Marie Le Pen Wants His Daughter to Change Name

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s far-right National Front party, says he is “ashamed” his daughter – current party leader Marine Le Pen – still bears his surname.

Amid a growing feud, Jean-Marie Le Pen said he hoped she “would get married as quickly as possible so as to change her name”.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, 86, added he would not support his daughter in presidential elections in 2017.

His remarks came after the far-right party suspended Jean-Marie Le Pen, 86, after he repeated his view that the Holocaust was “a detail of history”.Jean Marie Le Pen and daughter Marine feud

Marine Le Pen, 46, has been trying to steer the National Front (FN) away from its racist and anti-Semitic past.

Her view is that FN’s growth is being held back by memories of what the far-right party used to be, and that to move to the next level it must cut itself free from its past.

Speaking to France’s Europe 1 radio, Jean-Marie Le Pen said: “I was hoping that the president of the National Front would get married as quickly as possible so as to change her name.

“Because I’m ashamed that she has the same surname as me.”

Asked if he would still be supporting his daughter in the presidential elections, Jean-Marie Le Pen answered: “Not for the moment.”

Jean-Marie Le Pen has been suspended but not dismissed by the party – a decision he described as a “felony”.

An extraordinary party congress is expected to be held within three months aimed at ending the function of honorary president – which Jean-Marie Le Pen has been holding since stepping down as leader in 2011.

Some commentators have suggested Jean-Marie Le Pen could be more of a risk outside the party than within it.

Jean-Marie Le Pen still holds a seat in the European Parliament and a post as a regional councilor in the south of France.

ISIS Claims Responsibility for Dallas Prophet Cartoon Attack

Roy Siemens
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ISIS Claims Responsibility for Dallas Prophet Cartoon Attack

ISIS claims it was behind the attack on a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in the Dallas suburb of Garland.

The Islamic State militant group said that “two soldiers of the caliphate” carried out the attack at Garland conference center.

ISIS’ al-Bayan Radio news bulletin said the exhibition “was portraying negative pictures of the Prophet Muhammad”.

Both suspects were shot dead after opening fire at the contest on May 3rd.

Correspondents say that it is believed to be the first time that ISIS has claimed to have carried out an attack in the US.Dallas Prophet cartoon attack

“We tell America that what is coming will be even bigger and more bitter, and that you will see the soldiers of the Islamic State do terrible things,” the statement released by the group said.

Court documents have shown that one of two gunmen, Elton Simpson, who was shot dead during attack, had been a terror suspect.

Elton Simpson had been under surveillance since 2006 and was convicted in 2010 for lying to FBI agents about plans to go to Somalia to engage in violent jihad, or holy war, the files reveal.

A judge found Elton Simpson guilty of making a false statement and he was sentenced to three years’ probation and a $600 fine.

The judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence that the false statement involved international terrorism.

Elton Simpson had shared a flat in Arizona with the person named by officials as the other alleged gunman, Nadir Soofi.

On May 4th, FBI agents searched Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi’s home in Phoenix and a white van parked outside.

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

Princess Charlotte Meets Queen Elizabeth at Kensington Palace

Lisa.Felice
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Princess Charlotte Meets Queen Elizabeth at Kensington Palace

Queen Elizabeth II has arrived at Kensington Palace to meet her new great-granddaughter, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s second child, Princess Charlotte.

Princess Charlotte, who is fourth in line to the throne, was born on May 2nd at London’s St Mary’s Hospital, weighing 8lbs 3oz (3.7kg).Princess Charlotte royal baby

Kensington Palace revealed the newborn princess had been named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana on May 4th.

Queen Elizabeth and other senior royals were told of the princess’ name before the announcement was made public.

Princess Charlotte was visited by her grandparents on Sunday, May 3rd.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla spent more than an hour with their new granddaughter.

Kate Middleton’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, and sister Pippa have also met Princess Charlotte.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia Fires Head of Royal Protocol After Slapping Photojournalist

Diane A. Wade
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King Salman of Saudi Arabia Fires Head of Royal Protocol After Slapping Photojournalist

King Salman of Saudi Arabia has fired the head of royal protocol, Mohammed al-Tobayshi, days after he was filmed slapping a photographer.

In a decree published by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) news agency on May 5th, the royal house gives no reason for Mohammed al-Tobayshi’s removal.

TV footage seemingly showed Mohammed al-Tobayshi hitting the photographer while King Salman greeted Morocco’s King Mohammed at Riyadh airport on May 3rd.

A royal decree named Khalid al-Abbad as the replacement of Mohammed al-Tobayshi, the SPA reported.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

King Salman’s decision was welcomed by Saudis on social media networks.

After the video was posted online, many had accused Mohammed al-Tobayshi of abusing his authority.

“This is a great day for journalists and media figures,” journalist Abdullah al-Bergawi told Gulf News.

“Removing the head of the royal protocol in support of a journalist is a clear consolidation of the status of the media and a victory for journalism.

“King Salman is again showing that no-one is above the law and that all people, officials or not, are to be held responsible for their words and deeds and for not respecting people’s right to dignity.”

Last month, King Salman banned a senior member of the royal family, Prince Mamdouh bin Abdul Rahman, from taking part in all sports activities and speaking to the media after he made remarks considered racist during a TV talk show.

King Salman also replaced Ahmed Al-Khatib as health minister earlier in April after he was filmed having a heated argument with a member of the public who had come to speak to him about the condition of a hospital in Riyadh.

Australia Cuts Key Interest Rate to All-Time Low of 2%

Clyde K. Valle
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Australia Cuts Key Interest Rate to All-Time Low of 2%

Australia’s central bank (the Reserve Bank of Australia) has cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to a historic low of 2%.

Rising property prices in Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, a strong currency and a drop in iron ore prices are among the reasons for the cut.

The cut is the second in 2015, following a previous 25 basis point cut in February.

The RBA’s move follows similar action from central banks in China, Canada, Singapore, Korea and India.

A rising Australian dollar had also been cause for concern. The currency started to fall against the US dollar on the RBA’s announcement.Reserve Bank of Australia key interest rate

The RBA’s move also follows worrying official trade numbers released on May 5th which showed Australia’s trade deficit had missed expectations in March.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the deficit had narrowed by a seasonally adjusted 18% to 1.32 billion Australian dollars ($1.03 billion).

Analysts said the numbers were due in part to falling iron ore and coal exports.

The RBA had been under pressure to cut its lending rates further this year, particularly amid worrying iron ore prices – which recently fell to decade lows – together with a recent strengthening of the local currency.

Iron ore is Australia’s most valuable export and the plummeting prices – attributed to a supply glut and waning demand from China, a key buyer of the product – have been hurting miners’ profits, as well as government tax revenue.

Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey said last month that the government would face a multi-billion dollar revenue loss due to a plunge in the price of iron ore.

The government will deliver its 2015-2016 budget papers on May 12 and has said it remains committed to achieving a budget surplus.

Analysts said the RBA’s move to cut its lending rates would help further lower the Australian dollar, which would in turn help commodity producers exporting products priced in US dollars.

“Further depreciation seems both likely and necessary,” RBA Governor Glenn Stevens said, “particularly given the significant declines in key commodity prices.”

In March, Australia said its economy grew 2.5% in Q4 2014 from a year earlier, marking its slowest pace of annual growth last year.

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

McDonald’s to Restructure Business Globally

Clyde K. Valle
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McDonald’s to Restructure Business Globally

McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook has announced a major shakeup after the fast-food chain reported poor results for Q1 2015.

The world’s largest rest chain it will restructure its business and increase its number of franchised restaurants globally.

Steve Easterbrook said he wanted to move away from its “cumbersome” structure and increase “digital engagement”.

“The numbers don’t lie,” he said.

“I will not shy away from the urgent need to reset this business… and how we galvanize competitive threats.”McDonald's major shakeup

After two months into his CEO term, Steve Easterbrook said the turnaround plan was aimed at creating a leaner management structure with more “hard-edged accountability” that was less built around geography and more on “commercial logic”.

“In the last five years, the world has moved faster outside the business than inside,” he added.

“We’re not on our game.

“We’d like less simple talk of millennials [people born between 1980 and the mid-2000s] as though they are one simple group with shared attitudes.”

McDonald’s also announced it would be focusing more on regions that earned it the most – namely the US, which brings in 40% of operating income.

Steve Easterbrook also said its top international markets, such as Australia, Canada, France and the UK, would become a priority.

McDonald’s also identified high-growth markets in countries such as China and Poland, where new stores will be opened to boost its share in the market of “IEO” – Informal Eating Out.

Steve Easterbrook added: “We can no longer afford to carry legacy commitments, legacy structure or legacy attitudes.”

McDonald’s was the Dow Jones share index’s biggest faller, with shares down 1.7% to $96.13.

Standard & Poor’s cut its rating on McDonald’s from “A” to “A-“.

Chris Brown Involved in Basketball Brawl at Las Vegas’ Palms Casino Resort

Lisa.Felice
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Chris Brown Involved in Basketball Brawl at Las Vegas’ Palms Casino Resort

According to new reports, Chris Brown has been accused of being involved in a brawl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on May 2nd.

A man was taken to hospital after a row turned violent on a basketball court at the Palms Casino Resort.

The police have not managed to speak to Chris Brown but have asked him to sign a paper agreeing to a court date in a few months time.

Las Vegas police said Chris Brown is suspected of being involved in the beating of a man on Saturday night.Chris Brown Las Vegas basketball brawl

The man claims Chris Brown punched him and as he defended himself another man who was with the singer also hit him.

Police say they have given Chris Brown the option to sign a “misdemeanor battery citation” which is a form agreeing that he will promise to appear in court, or face prosecution.

Authorities say Chris Brown has not responded yet.

Chris Brown’s publicist has denied the singer was involved in a fight.

Nicole Perna said that: “Chris is currently in Las Vegas. He has a suite at the hotel that has a basketball court and invited friends to come play.

“An unruly individual showed up uninvited and was removed from the premises.”

“Chris was not in an altercation with this person.”

Chris Brown has been in trouble with the police a lot over recent years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLZoWtk8l4o

Elton Simpson: Garland Gunman Was a Terror Suspect

Nancy Clayson
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Elton Simpson: Garland Gunman Was a Terror Suspect

Elton Simpson, one of two gunmen shot dead at an event in the Dallas suburb of Garland exhibiting cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad had been a terror suspect, court documents show.

He had been under surveillance since 2006 and was convicted in 2010 for lying about plans to go to Somalia, the files reveal.

Elton Simpson had shared a flat in Phoenix, Arizona, with the person named by authorities as the other gunman, Nadir Soofi.

Both were shot after opening fire at a conference centre near Dallas.

Elton Simpson’s family has said that there was no sign he was planning to carry out such an attack.

“We are sure many people in this country are curious to know if we had any idea of Elton’s plans. To that we say, without question, we did not,” said a statement issued through lawyers in Phoenix.Elton Simpson Garland shooting

The statement, made on behalf of unnamed family members, said his relatives were “heartbroken and in a state of deep shock”.

On May 4, FBI agents searched Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi’s home in Phoenix and a white van parked outside.

According to Arizona court documents, Elton Simpson was charged in 2010 with lying to FBI agents about planning to go to Somalia to engage in violent jihad, or holy war.

A judge found Elton Simpson guilty of making a false statement and he was sentenced to three years’ probation and a $600 fine.

The judge ruled there was insufficient evidence that the false statement involved international terrorism.

The court document also showed that Elton Simpson had been under investigation since 2006 because of his association with an individual the FBI believed was trying to set up a terrorist cell in Arizona.

Elton Simpson had told an informant in 2009 that it was “time to go to Somalia”, adding: “We gonna make it to the battlefield.”

He later said he was planning to travel to South Africa and then on to Somalia.

The incident on May 3rd unfolded when a car drove into the car park of the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, where a Muhammad Art Exhibit organized by the controversial American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) was being held.

The conference included a contest that offered a $10,000 prize for a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are offensive to many Muslims.

Traveling Incognito: Fashion Tips for Touring London Like a Local

Dana R
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Traveling Incognito: Fashion Tips for Touring London Like a Local

London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and it is a real melting pot of cultures and fashion trends.

This can lead to a bit of a fashion dilemma for some visitors to London who don’t want to look like a tourist in a foreign land but also don’t fancy the idea of making a sartorial faux-pas.

The first thing to point out about London and the UK in general, is that the weather is a big deal and a constant topic of conversation because it is so unpredictable. You can see more sunshine in the Spring than in the Summer and the rain has its own idea of when it is going to turn up and have you running for cover.

This makes it a bit of a challenge to know what to wear so that you can cope with the climatic idiosynchrasies and still blend in with the locals.

london-tour
Photo Source: businesstraveldestinations.com

When it rains

If you have ever watched the Wimbledon tennis tournament, you will have an idea that rain appears unexpectedly and can disappear just as rapidly. What you wear in preparation for this scenario will set you out as a tourist if you are not careful.

The trick is to consider what not to wear rather than the other way around. You want to avoid making a fashion statement that screams tourist, and nothing does that more than wearing one of those hideous bright yellow waterproof sheets.

Many Londoners will carry a discreet compact umbrella in preparation for the rain, which they just pop up at a moment’s notice and carry on with their day. They don’t reach for the waterproof sheet, and neither should you if you want to blend in.

Spot the nationality

Locals might not instantly admit it, but they do like to play a friendly game of spot the nationality, as they witness tourists existing from their London hotels, for a day out in the capital city.

It is quite an easy game to play as you can often easily distinguish an American or Japanese tourist from an American or Japanese person who actually lives in London.

The camera around the neck is an obvious giveaway but there is more to it than that. It is what they are wearing.

A cosmopolitan city like London embraces a mixture of cultures and there is a sense of anything goes when it comes to what to wear on the street. The situation changes when you are heading out to somewhere like a club or restaurant, or for a night at the theatre.

Even a night at the theatre is less formal than it used to be and smart casual is normally ok. What that means is the usual mix of jeans, jumper or shirt, trousers and jacket, but not a tie unless you are going somewhere formal.

What smart casual doesn’t mean is wearing shorts. Nothing screams tourist more than a pair of shorts for your night out. Footwear like walking shoes and trainers should be fine, but you should avoid slipping on those jogging shoes.

Ladies can follow a similar set of rules with an acceptable combination of jeans, trousers or skirt, and a suitable dress, blouse or top.

Formal attire

Part of the attraction of a city like London, is that it still enjoys a lot of formality in its modern culture and residents do like to dress smartly for special social occasions and events.

Wearing shorts to one of these special events will probably have the resident Londoner’s calling for you to be sent to the Tower of London for a crime against fashion, in true British humor.

Men should consider dress pants and a button-down shirt and ladies can cut the mustard in a nice dress and heels.

You will find the people of London are actually a lot more forgiving than the residents of Paris or Milan when it comes to what you are wearing, unless you wear that waterproof sheet and shorts combo for the true tourist look.

Stella Natale is a traveling nurse. She loves to write about her experiences online. Her articles appear mostly on travel and wellness websites.

Dave Goldberg Cause of Death: SurveyMonkey CEO Died of Severe Head Trauma in Gym Accident

Clyde K. Valle
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Dave Goldberg Cause of Death: SurveyMonkey CEO Died of Severe Head Trauma in Gym Accident

David “Dave” Goldberg, SurveyMonkey CEO and husband of Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, died of severe head trauma in an exercise accident in the Mexican resort town of Punta Mita, according to local authorities.

Dave Goldberg, 47, was found lying next to a treadmill on May 1st at the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita near Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific coast.Dave Goldberg cause of death

According to Mexican officials, Dave Goldberg left his room at about 4 p.m. to exercise, and family members went to look for him after he didn’t return.

Dave Goldberg was found at about 6:30 p.m. in a pool of blood, with a blow to the lower back of his head. He apparently had slipped on the treadmill and hit the machine, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak to the press.

The official said Goldberg still had vital signs when he was discovered, but later died at a hospital in Nuevo Vallarta.

The official said the cause of death was severe head trauma and hypovolemic shock, or bleeding.

Dave Goldberg’s family had checked in on April 30 to the exclusive resort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2t6bDV32Mo

Princess Charlotte: Hyde Park and Tower of London Gun Salute for New Royal Baby

Lisa.Felice
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Princess Charlotte: Hyde Park and Tower of London Gun Salute for New Royal Baby

Gun salutes took place in London on Monday, May 4th to mark the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s second child, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Soldiers from The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery rode out in a procession from Wellington Barracks, near Buckingham Palace, to sound 41 shots in Hyde Park.Princess Charlotte gun salute

At the same time, the Honourable Artillery Company left their Armoury House barracks in the City of London to fire a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

The fourth in line to the throne will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

Princess Charlotte was born on Saturday, May 2nd, in the Lindo Wing of London’s St Mary’s Hospital weighing 8lbs 3oz.

Queen Elizabeth II and other senior royals were told of the baby’s name before the announcement was made public.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said on May 3rd: “The duke and duchess are hugely grateful for the messages of congratulations they have received from people all over the world. It means a great deal to them that so many people have celebrated the arrival of their new daughter.”

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Cries in Court as Aunt Sobs on Witness Stand

Nancy Clayson
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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Cries in Court as Aunt Sobs on Witness Stand

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev cried in court as his sobbing aunt briefly took the stand on May 4 in his federal death penalty trial before she was asked to step down to compose herself.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, wiped tears from his eyes quickly and fidgeted in his chair as his mother’s sister Patimat Suleimanova sobbed uncontrollably.

He had maintained a disinterested expression since his trial began in January.

Patimat Suleimanova cried as she sat down about 10ft from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The tears began falling before she began to testify, and she was only able to answer questions about her name, her year of birth and where she was born.

After a few minutes, Judge George O’Toole Jr. suggested that the defense call a different witness so Patimat Suleimanova could compose herself. As she left the witness stand, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev used a tissue to wipe his eyes and nose.

Five relatives of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev – three cousins and two aunts – took the stand, though it was unclear if the aunt who broke down would be allowed to complete her testimony.

As Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was led out of the courtroom before the lunch recess, he blew a kiss at family members.Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial 2015

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was convicted last month of 30 federal charges in the bombings, including 17 that carry the possibility of the death penalty.

He moved to the US with his family in 2002 and committed the bombings when he was 19.

Prosecutors say Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was an equal partner in the bombings with his radicalized older brother, Tamerlan, and have urged the jury to sentence him to death.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s lawyers say Tamerlan, 26, was the mastermind of the attack and lured his brother into his plan.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev died days after the bombings following a shootout with police.

A cousin testified on May 4 that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was a kind and warm child, so gentle that he once cried while watching The Lion King.

“I think that his kindness made everybody around him kind,” Raisat Suleimanova said through a Russian translator.

Assistant US Attorney William Weinreb pounced, asking Raisat Suleimanova if she believes a deadly attack on innocent civilians can be considered kind.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s lawyer objected, and Raisat Suleimanova was not allowed to answer the question.

Shakhruzat Suleimanova, another sister of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s mother, Zubeidat, testified that Dzhokhar, Tamerlan and their two sisters were well-behaved as children.

“They were so good. They wouldn’t hurt a fly. My sister’s children were such good children,” she said.

Shakhruzat Suleimanova said the family was crushed when Zubeidat Tsarnaeva moved to the US with her husband and children.

Five or six years later, when Zubeidat Tsarnaeva returned to Russia for a visit, the family was shocked to see her sister – always a fashionable dresser – covered in black clothing and wearing a jihab.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s lawyers have argued that he was influenced by his brother and his mother, who had become radicalized in the years before the bombings.

“We were all shocked. We were all in pain. We were very scared,” Shakhruzat Suleimanova said.

“We had never had people like that in our family. We prayed, we fasted, but no people like that.”

Prosecutors urged the judge last week to press Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s lawyers to make sure his relatives testify soon because 16 FBI agents have been assigned to guard and protect them while they are in the United States. The family members arrived in Boston on April 23.

“It’s an enormous expense and distraction for the agency, and that’s just part of the expense that the government has endured,” William Weinreb said during a sidebar discussion in court with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s lawyers and the judge, according to a transcript that was made public.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbBTQo9aGr0

Star Trek’s Grace Lee Whitney Dies at the Age of 85

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Trek’s Grace Lee Whitney Dies at the Age of 85

Star Trek actress Grace Lee Whitney has died at the age of 85.

The actress died on May 1st at her home in Coarsegold, California, her son told The Fresno Bee.

Grace Lee Whitney played loyal yeoman Janice Rand, the personal assistant who served Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) aboard the USS Enterprise during the first season of Star Trek.Grace Lee Whitney Star Trek

The actress reprised her role as Janice Rand in four Star Trek films and in a 1996 episode of Star Trek: Voyager.

Grace Lee Whitney also appeared in two Billy Wilder films that starred Jack Lemmon: 1959’s Some Like It Hot (as one of the members of the all-girl band) and as Kiki the Cossack in 1963’s Irma la Douce.

She had roles on such TV shows as The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, The Real McCoys, The Outer Limits, The Rifleman, Batman (as King Tut’s pretty accomplice) and Bewitched.

Grace Lee Whitney also did a pilot episode for Police Story, a drama that never made it to series; it was written by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and that led her to being cast as Janice Rand.

Elton Simpson: FBI Names Garland Shooting Suspect

Diane A. Wade
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Elton Simpson: FBI Names Garland Shooting Suspect

Elton Simpson has been identified as one of the suspected gunmen who attacked an event in the Dallas suburb of Garland on cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Elton Simpson had been previously investigated on suspicion of terrorism offences, the FBI said.

Agents were searching an apartment in Phoenix, Arizona, where Elton Simpson reportedly lived, an FBI official said.

Two gunmen were shot dead after opening fire outside Sunday’s event.

They drove to the Muhammad Art Exhibit in the Dallas suburb of Garland as the event was ending, firing with assault rifles on two officers in a parking lot.

One of the officers, a traffic policeman, returned fire and killed both the gunmen, Garland police official Joe Harn said. The security officer was also shot in the lower leg. He was treated in hospital and then released.

“Obviously they were there to shoot people,” Joe Harn said.

Photo ABC News
Photo ABC News

The event was organized by the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), which is run by controversial blogger and activist Pamela Geller.

One of the keynote speakers was the Dutch politician Geert Wilders, an outspoken critic of Islam in Western societies.

The conference included a contest that offered a $10,000 prize for a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are offensive to many Muslims.

Officials believe that Elton Simpson sent several Twitter messages before the Sunday’s shooting, including one with the hashtag #texasattack part of which read: “May Allah accept us as mujahideen [holy fighters].”

The Twitter account was later suspended.

Elton Simpson was convicted several years ago for lying to authorities about his plans to travel to Somalia, court documents show.

The bomb squad was called in to search the suspects’ vehicle. They set off several controlled explosions around the vehicle, where they found additional ammunition but no bombs, Joe Harn said.

He would not confirm the identity of the suspects, though he said officials believed they knew who the gunmen were.

The suspects’ bodies remained at the scene on Monday morning, surrounded by dozens of empty shell casings.

Security had been tight ahead of Sunday’s conference and Garland’s mayor acknowledged that there had been a lot of local concern about the event, though police said there had been no credible threats.

A security plan had been put in place over several months, and event organizers paid $10,000 for additional security on the advice of the police, Joe Harn said.

Pamela Geller said she was standing up for free speech, adding: “This terrible incident reflects the need for such conferences.”

“We are continually abridging our freedoms so as not to offend savages,” she said.

Pamela Geller denied she was anti-Muslim, only “anti-jihad”.

Star Wars Day 2015: ISS Astronauts Watch Movie in Space

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Wars Day 2015: ISS Astronauts Watch Movie in Space

Star Wars Day has been celebrated aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with the screening of one of the franchise’s movies.

“Just watching @starwars. In space. No big deal,” NASA tweeted from one of its official accounts, adding the hashtag #Maythe4thBeWithYou.

Meanwhile, members of a forthcoming expedition to the ISS posed as Jedi knights for their official photo earlier this year.

The choice of film surprised some.Star Wars Day 2015 ISS NASA

“You picked the wrong one!” tweeted Angel Dominguez, referring to the fact that a photo sent from the satellite shows Mace Windu’s battle with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in the prequel Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, rather a scene from the original trilogy.

The ISS was recently fitted with a high-definition projector, which the astronauts also use for video conferences and displaying computer software.

Commander Scott Kelly revealed last month that the team on board had also used it to watch the space disaster movie.

The latest movie showing was timed to coincide with the date, which references the series’ most quoted line: “May the force be with you.”

The ISS was previously linked to the space opera in 2007, when character Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber prop was flown to the orbiting structure and back to mark 30 years of the franchise.

Such stunts only add to the series’ value by keeping it in the public eye. Disney is set to be the beneficiary of the latest publicity, having bought the rights to Star Wars from its creator George Lucas in 2012, along with other movie rights, for $4 billion.

Analysts are expecting that the first in a new series of films, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will set a new box office record when it is released in December.

Star Wars Day 2015: Fans Across World Celebrate Saga on May 4th

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Wars Day 2015: Fans Across World Celebrate Saga on May 4th

Star Wars Day is celebrated each year on May 4th to honor the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas.

May 4th is considered a holiday by Star Wars fans to celebrate the franchise’s films series, books, and culture as well as strict religious rituals.

The date was chosen for the easy pun on the catchphrase “May the Force be with you”—”May the fourth be with you”.

Even though the holiday was not actually created or declared by Lucasfilm many Star Wars fans across the world choose to celebrate the holiday.

Some stores even have special promotions and other things that help support May 4th as a holiday.

One of the earliest known records of “May the 4th” used in popular culture is in 1979, as described by author Alan Arnold while he was chronicling the making of The Empire Strikes Back for Lucasfilm:“Margaret Thatcher has won the election and become Britain’s first woman prime minister. To celebrate their victory her party took a half page of advertising space in the London Evening News. This message, referring to the day of victory, was <<May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations>>, further proof of the extent to which Star Wars has influenced us all.”Star Wars Day 2015

Once the internet allowed Star Wars fans around the world to connect with one another, May the 4th soon became a grassroots tradition each year, with fans online and offline proclaiming it Star Wars Day.

While the idea of May the 4th did not start with Lucasfilm, the film company that created Star Wars has fully embraced the spirit of fandom that makes the day so special. StarWars.com as well as the official Star Wars social media channels (hashtag #StarWarsDay) help spread the word and showcase fan activity.

More and more official partners have offered sales, giveaways and exclusives, and have hosted parties and other activities to mark the day.

May the 4th kicks off a season of celebration, particularly since the month of May has always been important to Star Wars fans.

The six live-action movies of the Star Wars saga debuted in May (starting with the original Star Wars on May 25, 1977).

The month of May includes George Lucas’ birthday (May 14, 1944), and has been the traditional start date of the popular Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World Resort.

With the exciting launch of a new trilogy of movies beginning with Star Wars: The Force Awakens coming in the near future, this day to celebrate the saga and its amazing fans is certain to become even bigger each year.

Royal Baby Name: Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

Lisa.Felice
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Royal Baby Name: Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

Prince William and Kate Middleton have named their newborn princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace has announced.Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

Prince George’s little sister, the fourth in line to the British throne, will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

There had been speculation that the couple would include the name of Diana in honor of Prince William’s mother.

Princess Charlotte was born on May 2nd in the Lindo Wing of London’s St Mary’s Hospital.

Top Gear: Are Joddie Kidd, Philip Glenister and Guy Martin BBC’s New Dream Team?

Clyde K. Valle
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Top Gear: Are Joddie Kidd, Philip Glenister and Guy Martin BBC’s New Dream Team?

According to new reports, BBC has already chosen a new team of presenters for its motoring show Top Gear after sacking Jeremy Clarkson on March 25.

The new team would be made ​​up of former model Jodie Kidd, actor Philip Glenister and TV star Guy Martin.Top Gear new presenters

According to telegraph.co.uk, BBC has already found a “dream team” for the new version of the show Top Gear after ending its collaboration with former show’s presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

Former model Jodie Kidd would be the first woman to present Top Gear.

Jodie Kidd currently presents Channel 5’s The Classic Car Show.

Garcia Marquez First Edition Stolen from Bogota Book Fair

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Garcia Marquez First Edition Stolen from Bogota Book Fair

A signed first edition of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude has been stolen in Colombia.

The book was being exhibited in a locked cabinet at the International Book Fair in Bogota.

The fair, which closes on May 4, is dedicated to Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who died last year at the age of 87.

The book is estimated to be worth $60,000 but its owner says for him its value is immeasurable.

It disappeared on Saturday afternoon from a locked cabinet at the Corferias exhibition centre in Bogota where it was being exhibited as part of the book fair.Gabriel Garcia Marquez book fair Bogota

The fair, one of the most important in Latin America, had at its theme Macondo, the fictional Colombian town where One Hundred Years of Solitude is set.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982, was Colombia’s most famous and critically acclaimed author.

Following his death in Mexico in April 2014, first editions of his novels have risen in value.

Alvaro Castillo, who trades in rare books, said he purchased the 1967 first edition of One Hundred Years of Solitude in a bookshop in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo, in 2006.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez later signed the copy and dedicated it to Alvaro Castillo with the words: “To Alvaro Castillo, the old-book seller, as yesterday and forever, your friend, Gabo.”

Alvaro Castillo would not say how much he paid for the copy or how much more it would be worth with the dedication, but stressed that to him it was priceless.

Police are reviewing video footage from the exhibition centre in the hope of discovering who may be behind the theft.

Jean-Marie Le Pen May Lose Front National’s Honorary Presidency

Diane A. Wade
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Jean-Marie Le Pen May Lose Front National’s Honorary Presidency

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the former leader of France’s National Front, will find out if he is to lose his post of honorary president after a series of inflammatory remarks and a protracted feud with his daughter, Marine Le Pen.

National Front President Marine Le Pen said on the eve of the far-right party’s board meeting that her father should “no longer be able to speak in the name of the National Front”.

Jean-Marie Le Pen founded the National Front (FN) in 1972 and led it until 2011.

Marine Le Pen has tried to steer the nationalist party away from its racist and anti-Semitic past.

The party’s executive was meeting on May 4 in Nanterre near Paris to decide what action to take after Jean-Marie Le Pen repeated his assertion that the Nazi gas chambers were a “detail of history”.Jean Marie Le Pen and daughter Marine Le Pen

As well as reviving an old anti-Semitic slur, Jean-Marie Le Pen told far-right newspaper Rivarol last month that he had never considered France’s wartime collaborationist leader Philippe Petain a traitor and labeled PM Manuel Valls an immigrant.

It is unclear what penalty the FN’s disciplinary board could impose on Jean-Marie Le Pen, 86, and still a Euro parliamentarian.

Among the options is his total exclusion from the FN, although some French commentators suggested Jean-Marie Le Pen could be more of a risk outside the party than if he were contained within it.

Marine Le Pen was adamant in a broadcast interview that she wanted her father out of the political picture.

“What I wish is that the FN will no longer be taken hostage by provocations that are now becoming recurrent on the part of Jean-Marie Le Pen,” she said.

In her interview on May 3rd, Marine Le Pen said she had the feeling that her father could not bear the thought of the party continuing to carry on without him as leader.

Although Jean-Marie Le Pen was sidelined from the party’s traditional May 1st march on Friday, he took to the stage in defiance while his daughter was delivering a speech.

Last month, in the face of widespread party opposition, Jean-Marie Le Pen abandoned a plan to lead a party list in regional elections in southern France.

The FN has made significant political strides since Marine Le Pen took over the leadership from her father, attempting to sweep away its extremist image but maintaining its anti-immigration policies.

Marine Le Pen is aiming to make the run-off vote for the French presidency in 2017.

China and Taiwan Hold First High-Level Talks in 6 Years

Diane A. Wade
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China and Taiwan Hold First High-Level Talks in 6 Years

China’s President Xi Jinping and the leader of Taiwan’s ruling party, Eric Chu, have held the highest level talks between the two sides in six years.

Nationalist Chairman, Eric Chu, was in Beijing for the meeting, a sign of warming relations between the sides.

Any rapprochement is controversial in Taiwan, which has seen protests over the prospect of closer ties.

Chinese nationalists fled to Taiwan in 1949 after a brutal civil war with the communists.

In the same time, China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will ultimately return.China Taiwan talks May 2015

Many Taiwanese oppose reunification and fear that growing economic dependency on Beijing could be the first step towards that outcome, correspondents say.

President Xi Jinping said during the meeting that China and Taiwan should settle political differences through consultation, but with Taiwan’s acceptance that it is part of China, according to Xinhua state news agency. He also said Beijing will make greater efforts to open up to Taiwan and help it to develop economically.

“The two sides can consult with each other on equal basis under the principle of <<one China>>, and reach a reasonable arrangement,” Xi Jinping said.

Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) has seen its popularity decline and protests at home, dubbed the “Sunflower Movement”, over its warming ties with the Chinese Communist Party.

In March last year, hundreds of students occupied parliament for weeks to demonstrate against a trade pact that the KMT signed with China. Thousands rallied on the streets against the mainland.

Eric Chu’s party is nevertheless currently pushing to join China’s new development bank. Taiwan’s initial application to the bank was rejected by Beijing because of the name under which it applied, which implied it was an independent nation.

However, Beijing said it would welcome an application by Taiwan under an “appropriate” name.

The KMT had its worst-ever performance in local elections in November and the President Ma Ying-jeou stepped down as party chief, to be replaced by Eric Chu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zM8gH60vuE

Josh Trank Leaves Star Wars Anthology Spinoff

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Josh Trank Leaves Star Wars Anthology Spinoff

The Fantastic Four reboot director Josh Trank has quit production of an upcoming Star Wars spinoff.

Josh Trank was due to direct the second Star Wars Anthology movie.

The series is set in the Star Wars universe, but is not connected to the main storyline, or the upcoming JJ Abrams headed Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Josh Trank said he was “making a personal decision to move forward on a different path”.

The statement, posted on StarWars.com, said: “I’ve put a tremendous amount of thought into this, and I know deep down in my heart that I want to pursue some original creative opportunities.

“That said, the Star Wars universe has always been one of my biggest influences, and I couldn’t be more excited to witness its future alongside my millions of fellow Star Wars fans.

“I want to thank … everyone at Lucasfilm and Disney for the amazing opportunity to have been a part of this.

“May the Force be with you all.”

Lucasfilm’s Vice President of Development Kiri Hart said: “It was a privilege to collaborate with Josh.

“We are grateful for the energy and love of Star Wars that he brought to the process, and we wish him all the best.”

Josh Trank was announced as director of the second spinoff film in January 2014. Godzilla director Gareth Edwards is heading the first, Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One.

Rogue One stars Felicity Jones and Ben Mendelsohn and centers around a heist on the Death Star.

Little is known about the second film in the series, but the statement finished by saying production would continue.

Garland Shooting: Two Gunmen Shot Dead at Prophet Muhammad Art Exhibit

Diane A. Wade
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0
Garland Shooting: Two Gunmen Shot Dead at Prophet Muhammad Art Exhibit

Two gunmen who opened fire on a security officer outside of a contest for cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) have been shot dead, authorities in the Dallas suburb of Garland said Sunday night, May 3rd.

They drove to the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland as the event was ending, and began shooting at the security officer before being killed by police.

The bomb squad has been called in to search their vehicle for explosives.

The event, organised by a group critical of Islam, included a contest for drawings of the Prophet.

Dutch anti-Islamic politician Geert Wilders had been one of the keynote speakers at the event. He tweeted that shots had been fired and he had safely left the building.

Security had been high around the centre because of the controversial nature of the event.

Garland Police Department spokesman Joe Harn said there had been no credible threats in advance, and it was not immediately clear if the shootings were related to the event.

Photo AP
Photo AP

About 200 people had been attending the Muhammad Art Exhibit when, shortly before it was due to finish at 19:00, they were told of a shooting outside.

They and people from nearby buildings were later evacuated.

Garland Mayor Douglas Athas told CNN that the “first suspect was shot immediately” .

“The second suspect was wounded and reached for his backpack. He was shot again.”

Security officer Bruce Joiner was taken to hospital after being shot in the ankle, but was later released.

Local police said they have not been yet able to identify the gunmen, whose bodies remain by the car while the bomb squad inspects it for explosives.

Joe Harn, a spokesman for the Garland Police Department, warned that the inspection is “a very slow, tedious operation that goes on”.

Sunday’s event was organised by the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), which is run by controversial blogger and activist Pamela Geller and is listed as an anti-Muslim group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group.

The conference included a contest that offered a $10,000 prize for a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad.

Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are offensive to many Muslims.

There were widespread protests in 2006 when the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgghHJwDGc8

Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn Split up After Nearly Three Years of Dating

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn Split up After Nearly Three Years of Dating

Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn have mutually decided to split up after nearly three years of dating.

The former world No 1 golfer and the Olympic skiing champion blamed the pressure of their busy schedules for the split.

Lindsey Vonn said on Facebook that the decision was mutual.

In a statement on his website, Tiger Woods said he would “always cherish our time together”.

Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn first publicly announced they were an item in March 2013 following weeks of speculation.Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn split up

“After nearly three years together, Tiger and I have mutually decided to end our relationship,” Lindsey Vonn, 30, said on her Facebook page.

“I will always cherish the memories that we’ve created together. Unfortunately, we both lead incredibly hectic lives that force us to spend a majority of our time apart.

“He and his beautiful family will always hold a special place in my heart.”

The couple were last seen together in public at last month’s Masters golf tournament, where Linsey Vonn was with Tiger Woods’s 7-year-old daughter Sam and 6-year-old son Charlie.

Tiger Woods, 39, said in his statement: “I have great admiration, respect and love for Lindsey and I’ll always cherish our time together. She has been amazing with Sam and Charlie and my entire family.

“Unfortunately, we lead very hectic lives and are both competing in demanding sports. It’s difficult to spend time together.”

Tiger Woods was previously married to Swedish model Elin Nordegren, but they divorced in 2010 after it emerged the golfer had had a series of extramarital affairs.

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