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Pope Francis suggests he may resign like Pope Benedict

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis suggests he may resign like Pope Benedict

In a recent interview with Mexican television, marking the second anniversary of his election, Pope Francis has suggested he may resign his papacy like his predecessor, rather than remain at the Vatican for life.

“I have the feeling that my pontificate will be brief. Four or five years; I do not know, even two or three,” the pontiff said.

Pope Francis praised Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to step aside in 2013 as “courageous”.

“Benedict should not be considered an exception, but an institution. Maybe he will be the only one for a long time, maybe he will not be the only one.

“But an institutional door has been opened,” Pope Francis told the Televisa channel.Pope Francis may resign

Pope Francis has hinted in the past that he could retire, but said he was opposed to the idea of an age limit for leaders of the Catholic Church.

“To say that one is in charge up to 80 years, creates a sensation that the pontificate is at its end and that would not be a good thing,” he added.

A papal conclave elected Pope Francis as Benedict XVI’s successor on March 13, 2013. He became the first Latin American to lead the Church.

During the interview Pope Francis admitted he was “surprised” by the decision and had only carried a small suitcase to Rome, with the expectation he would return to Buenos Aires.

His simple style has won him praise from Catholics, as have his promises to reform the Curia – the Church’s internal government.

However, he said two years of his papacy had now passed and he felt it would not continue for very much longer.

“I do not know. But I feel that the Lord has placed me here for a short time, and nothing more,” he added.

“But it is a feeling. I always leave the possibility open.”

Pope Francis told Televisa that he “did not mind being Pope”, but missed the anonymity associated with life as a priest.

“The only thing I would like is to go out one day, without being recognised, and go to a pizzeria for a pizza.”

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Emmys 2015: Andy Samberg to host Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony

Sonia Pantiss
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Emmys 2015: Andy Samberg to host Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony

SNL’s Andy Samberg will host this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards.

The 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California, and will be broadcast in the US by Fox.

“Buckle your seat belts, Emmy viewers!” said Andy Samberg in a statement, promising viewers “a wild ride”.

Andy Samberg, 36, performed on SNL for seven seasons, before joining police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine in which he plays Detective Jake Peralta.

The role earned him a Golden Globe for best comedy actor last year.Andy Samberg to host Emmys 2015

“Buckle your seat belts, Emmy viewers! Like, in general you should buckle your seat belts in your car. In fact, even if you’re not an Emmy viewer, you should buckle your seat belt. It can be dangerous on the road,” Andy Samberg quipped, in a statement.

“Also, if you’re not an Emmy viewer, you should strongly consider becoming one this year, because I’m hosting, and it’s gonna be a wild ride.”

Andy Samberg previously won an Emmy in 2007 for a sketch song he performed on SNL, as part of the comedy troupe The Lonely Island.

As The Lonely Island, Andy Samberg also performed on Everything is Awesome, the hit song from The Lego Movie.

Last month, the Television Academy announced new rules for the Emmy Awards.

Among the changes will be an increase to the number of nominees in comedy and drama categories, from six to seven.

Comedy series must now run for half an hour, or less, per episode, while drama series must run for more than 30 minutes per episode.

The award for mini-series was renamed as limited series.

The 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards honors the best in US prime time television programming from June 1, 2014 until May 31, 2015, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

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Cyclone Pam kills dozens in Vanuatu

Diane A. Wade
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Cyclone Pam kills dozens in Vanuatu

Dozens of people are feared dead in the South Pacific after Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu, the UN’s relief agency says.

Cyclone Pam, a category 5 tropical storm, battered Vanuatu with winds of up to 170mph on March 13.

Authorities on the islands had earlier issued a red alert to residents after the cyclone changed direction and began moving towards populated areas.

Cyclone Pam has already caused major damage on other Pacific islands, including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.

Tuvalu, a group of nine tiny islands north-east of Vanuatu, has also declared a state of emergency after the cyclone caused flash floods there.Cyclone Pam Vanuatu

“The immediate concern is for a very high death toll but also an enormous amount of destruction and devastation,” Sune Gudnitz, regional director for the UNOCHA, told Reuters news agency from nearby Fiji, which is also expecting to be hit by Cyclone Pam.

There were unconfirmed reports that 44 people had died in Penama province in the north-east of Vanuata, the UNOCHA said in a statement on March 13, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, category three Cyclone Olwyn has hit the coast of Western Australia with wind gusts of up to 120mph.

People in the state’s coastal region were warned to move to higher ground to escape dangerous flooding.

Cyclone Pam destroyed homes and flooded crop areas in Kiribati and the Solomon Islands before moving on to Vanuatu and Tuvalu. At least 3,000 households were said to have been affected.

The Vanuatu Meteorological Services (VMS) said it expected torrential rainfall, flash flooding, landslides and storm surges.

All six provinces are under red alert, meaning people are advised to immediately head to shelter.

Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office spokesperson Mishaen Garae Lulu told Radio New Zealand that the government had lost contact with some parts of the northern provinces.

Mishaen Garae Lulu said Cyclone Pam was expected to be worse than Cyclone Uma, which killed 50 people in 1987.

Located about a quarter of the way from Australia to Hawaii, Vanuatu has a population of 267,000 spread over 65 islands. About 47,000 people live in the capital, Port Vila.

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Giuliana Rancic changes her hair style again

Lisa.Felice
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Giuliana Rancic changes her hair style again

Giuliana Rancic has debuted a new shorter, curly ‘do at the 2015 ASTRA Awards in Australia on March 12, ditching her cinnamon brown hair for a darker shade.

It’s the second major hair change controversial Fashion Police critic Giuliana Rancic has made within a month.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Just days before the Oscars in February, Giuliana Rancic switched from her signature blond locks to a darker hue.

“I absolutely love trying bold colors and beautiful rich hues which make me feel younger and more exotic,” Giuliana Rancic told PEOPLE magazine recently about her hair.

Egypt’s new capital city plans unveiled

Clyde K. Valle
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Egypt’s new capital city plans unveiled

The plans of Egypt’s new administrative and business capital have been revealed on a new website.

According to the website, the city on the outskirts of Cairo will house up to 5 million residents and be built in the corridor between current capital and the Red Sea.

There will be 1.1 million housing units and 1.75 million permanent jobs.

The city is set to be officially unveiled at an Egyptian government conference at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, to global investors and politicians.

The website – unveiled on March 13 – says that “the masterplan is to create a global city with smart infrastructure for Egypt’s future, which will provide a multitude of economic opportunities and offer a distinct quality of life”.

It will be built over 270 sq miles – about the size of Singapore.

The website says the city’s site “is situated along the corridor between Cairo and the Red Sea, providing linkages to significant shipping routes. The city is bound to become a focal point of the Eastern Cairo region”.Egypt's new capital city plans

The website links to Capital City Partners, a private real estate investment fund led by Emirati Mohamed Alabbar.

Dubai businessman Mohamed Alabbar built the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Egyptian government departments, ministries, and foreign embassies, will move to the new metropolis from out of Cairo, whose urban area is home to 18 million people.

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has praised recent economic reforms in Egypt, and urged businesses to invest in the country.

John Kerry was attending an international economic conference to discuss ways to revive the Egyptian economy.

Hundreds of businessmen and dignitaries from around the globe were at the meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Dozens of major infrastructure projects have been unveiled, attracting billions of dollars’ worth of outside investment. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have each pledged $4 billion of investments in Egypt,

It comes after years of political upheaval and severe, ongoing, tensions.

Foreign investment contracted after the 2011 uprising, from $13 billion in 2007-2008 to just $2.2 billion, and annual economic growth fell from 7% to about 2%.

The IMF now envisages 3.8% growth for the financial year to July 2015, and 4.3% in 2015-2016.

Foreign direct investment was $4 billion in the previous financial year, and Investment Minister Ashraf Salman says it be $8 billion in this financial year.

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Indian bride dumps groom after failing simple math test

Nancy Clayson
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Indian bride dumps groom after failing simple math test

An Indian bride has called off her wedding after her groom-to-be failed to solve a simple math problem, according to police in Uttar Pradesh.

On their wedding day, the bride asked the groom to add 15 and 5 and he replied 17.

Reports say the groom’s family tried to convince the bride to return, but she refused saying the man was illiterate.

Local police said they mediated between the families, and both sides returned all the gifts given before the wedding.Indian bride dumped groom after failing simple math problem

Most marriages in India are arranged by the families, and it is common for a bride and groom to get married without spending time in each other’s company.

According to local reports, police official of Rasoolabad village where the incident happened said that local resident Mohar Singh had fixed his daughter Lovely’s wedding to a man called Ram Baran.

“But just before the marriage ceremony Lovely came to know that Ram Baran is illiterate and she refused to marry,” he said.

Mohar Singh told the Associated Press news agency that the “groom’s family had kept us in the dark about his poor education”.

“Even a first grader can answer this [the math test],” he said.

Last month, another bride in Uttar Pradesh married a guest at her wedding after her groom-to-be had a seizure and collapsed.

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Tim Cook offered part of his liver to Steve Jobs

Nancy Clayson
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Tim Cook offered part of his liver to Steve Jobs

According to a new book due to be released this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook offered a part of his liver to a dying Steve Jobs.

Becoming Steve Jobs excerpts of which have been published online throws light on life inside Apple as it grew into one of the world’s most powerful technology companies.

The book also charts the relationship between Tim Cook and Steve Jobs.

According to the book, Steve Jobs angrily turned down Tim Cook’s offer.

In 2004, Steve Jobs announced that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer and by 2009, the Apple chief executive was very ill, unable to come into the office and waiting for a liver transplant.

Tim Cook regularly visited Steve Jobs at home and after one visit he “left the house feeling so upset that he had his own blood tested”, according to excerpts published by Fast Company executive editor Rick Tetzeli, who co-authored the book.Tim Cook offered liver to Steve Jobs

Fellow author Brent Schlender is a journalist who interviewed Steve Jobs several times throughout his life.

Tim Cook found out that he, like Steve Jobs, had a rare blood type, and guessed that it might be the same.

According to the book, Tim Cook went through a series of tests and discovered that a partial liver transplant was feasible.

When he shared the news with Steve Jobs, the dying Apple boss reacted angrily, according to the book.

“He cut me off at the legs, almost before the words were out of my mouth,” an excerpt says.

“<<No>>, he said. <<I’ll never let you do that. I’ll never do that>>.”

“Steve only yelled at me four or five times during the 13 years I knew him, and this was one of them,” Tim Cook added.

Steve Jobs did go on to have a liver transplant, in March 2009.

He resigned as Apple chief executive in August 2011 and died in October at the age of 56.

The book also reveals that Steve Jobs contemplated buying Yahoo as a way for Apple to get into the search business.

Parts of the new book contradict an earlier biography written by Walter Isaacson. In that book Walter Isaacson claims that Apple was contemplating creating a television – but according to Becoming Steve Jobs, the Apple founder had little interest in this.

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Julian Assange could be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in London

Diane A. Wade
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Julian Assange could be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in London

Julian Assange could be questioned by Swedish prosecutors at the Ecuadorean embassy in London.

Prosecutors had previously insisted on questioning Julian Assange in Sweden, after seeking his arrest in 2010, but now they offered to travel to London to question him over assault allegations.

Julian Assange, 43, denies the assault claims and has been living at the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012.

The WikiLeaks founder fears that if he is sent to Sweden he could then be extradited to the US to face charges over leaking material.

The lead Swedish prosecutor explained the change of strategy by saying some potential charges against Julian Assange would expire under the statute of limitations in August.

“My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorean embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview,” Marianne Ny said in a statement.

“Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies in the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward.”

Julian Assange – an Australian journalist and activist – has not been formally charged, but Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape and assault made by two women he met during a trip to Sweden in August 2010.Julian Assange to be questioned in London

Marianne Ny said she had made a request to Julian Assange’s legal team to take a DNA sample from him in London, as well as conducting questioning.

His lawyer, Per Samuelson, said that request would need to be discussed, since his client had already left a DNA sample with UK police in 2010.

Ecuador offered Julian Assange asylum in August 2012, shortly after he sought refuge at the country’s embassy in London.

In November a Swedish appeals court upheld the warrant for Julian Assange’s arrest, but criticized prosecutors for not making enough effort to explore “alternative avenues” for interrogating him.

If he was extradited, Julian Assange would be detained upon arrival in Sweden.

Per Samuelson said leaving the embassy and travelling to Sweden still presented a risk for Julian Assange.

“If he leaves he loses his political immunity… he stands to end up in an American prison for 35, 40 years,” he said.

WikiLeaks has published thousands of secret documents, which have caused intense embarrassment for the US and lifted the lid on diplomatic relations.

Julian Assange co-founded WikiLeaks website in 2006.

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Oscar Pistorius loses appeal challenge at Johannesburg High Court

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius loses appeal challenge at Johannesburg High Court

Oscar Pistorius’ defense team has failed to block an appeal by prosecutors against his acquittal on murder charges.

The South African Paralympian was cleared of murder in 2014 but was sentenced to 5 years in jail for the lesser charge of culpable homicide.

Prosecutors are seeking a murder conviction after Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

On March 13, the Johannesburg High Court rejected the application by Oscar Pistorius’ defense team to stop the prosecutors’ appeal.

After a short hearing, Judge Thokozile Masipa said procedure did not allow her to grant or refuse the application.

“In my view, to entertain this application will be tantamount to reviewing my own decision,” she said.

“For one thing there is really nothing new in the submissions by counsel for the applicant.”

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The double amputee athlete was acquitted by Judge Thokozile Masipa of both premeditated murder and the lesser murder charge of dolus eventualis, also known as common-law murder in September last year.

In South African law, this charge applies if the accused knew they might kill someone but still went ahead with their course of action.

Oscar Pistorius says he shot Reeva Steenkamp accidentally, after mistaking her for a burglar.

Prosecutors are pushing for the appeal because they believe that a full bench of judges in the Supreme Court of Appeal will agree with them that Judge Thokozile Masipa misinterpreted the principles of dolus eventualis and will both convict him of murder and impose a longer sentence.

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Jeremy Clarkson informed bosses of alleged fracas with Oisin Tymon

Sonia Pantiss
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Jeremy Clarkson informed bosses of alleged fracas with Oisin Tymon

According to new reports, Jeremy Clarkson initiated the BBC investigation which prompted his suspension from Top Gear show, after he informed the broadcaster’s bosses of the alleged “fracas” with Oisin Tymon.

The Top Gear host star called BBC head of television, Danny Cohen, to report the incident.

Producer Oisin Tymon, with whom the altercation took place, is not believed to have filed his own complaint.

Interviews are expected to be held with Jeremy Clarkson and other parties next week, and the show has been taken off-air.

Jeremy Clarkson, 54, has expressed regret over the incident, which his co-presenter James May labeled “a bit of a dust-up”.

An online petition calling for Jeremy Clarkson’s reinstatement – set up by political blogger Guido Fawkes – has accrued more than 800,000 signatures since Tuesday.

Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and profitable TV shows, with an estimated global audience of 350 million.Jeremy Clarkson informed of Top Gear fracas

Its success is largely attributed to Jeremy Clarkson, who has appeared on the show since 1988.

Politicians on all sides have weighed into the affair, with PM David Cameron – a friend of Jeremy Clarkson – saying he hoped the incident could be “sorted out”.

A lawyer for Oisin Tymon said his client “intends to await the outcome of the BBC investigation and will make no comment until that investigation is complete”.

Jeremy Clarkson’s approach to BBC bosses suggests he was trying to pre-empt any official complaint. The incident, at a Yorkshire hotel, is reported to have been witnessed by members of the public, as well as some of the production team.

Jeremy Clarkson was given what he called his “final warning” last May after claims he used a racist word during filming.

He later apologized for the incident which, although never broadcast, had been leaked to a tabloid newspaper.

A further incident during shooting in Argentina saw the show’s executive producer, Andy Wilman, brand 2014 an “annus horribilis” for his team.

Jeremy Clarkson, and co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond, are due to renegotiate their contracts next month.

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6 Alternative Ways to Celebrate Easter

Dana R
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6 Alternative Ways to Celebrate Easter

Traditional holidays such as Easter can be tricky territory for 21st Century families. Even if parents do not identify themselves as staunch atheists, they may not want to indoctrinate their children with any particular religion. A common belief today is that children should make such choices in their own time. However, Easter is ingrained in the national conscience and you are unlikely to want to ignore it completely. Your children’s friends are likely to be given chocolatey treats and be partaking in Easter egg hunts. Therefore, here are some suggestions on how to celebrate Easter with your family in your own way.

Celebrate Nature

What lots of families do is use the Easter holiday as an opportunity to celebrate the start of spring. There are lots of great activities you can do with the kids to mark this wonderful season. One fun activity is to plant herbs – the good thing about herbs is that many of them are rapid growers. Your kids will begin to see the fruits of their labours within a fortnight. This is a great way to teach them about the science of the garden.

easter

Cook a Family Feast

Why not give Easter the same treatment as Christmas? Get the family together and cook something which is truly special. Don’t forget to save room for the chocolate and goodies though.

Explore the Festival’s Pagan Roots

The roots of Easter have their origin in Pagan festivities which precede Christianity. Teach your kids about celebrations of the equinox around the world and give them a completely different perspective on Easter.

easter-chocolate

Easter Crafts

From egg-decorating to making Easter cards, there are all sorts of ways you can get creative over the spring break. Set up the kitchen table as a craft station and see what the kids come up with.

Get a Family Portrait

Events such as Easter should be about celebrating the family being together. If you feel this is too rare an occasion and deserves capturing for posterity why not go for a Venture portrait? Professional photographers can really capture the personalities of your family and provide you with a portrait which you can treasure. You could even take along some props to make it Easter-themed.

easter-bunny

Consider “Atheister”

Embrace science and gift your kids some cool interesting and informative books. You could have dinosaur eggs instead of the traditional kind and teach them about astronomy.

Visit your Local Museum or Gallery

Museums will usually have great school holiday activity programmes which will teach all about celebrations around the world as well as family craft activities.

Despite all these been quite secular varieties of Easter celebration, you should also explain to the children the Christian meaning of Easter which is so important to many families.

Cyclone Pam hits Vanuatu after causing damages in South Pacific nations

Diane A. Wade
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Cyclone Pam hits Vanuatu after causing damages in South Pacific nations

Cyclone Pam, a category five tropical storm, has hit Vanuatu after causing destruction in several South Pacific nations.

Flash floods and strong winds have hit Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, causing significant damage.

Vanuatu has issued a red alert nationwide.

Cyclone Pam has reached its north and was expected to felt in the capital, Port Vila, on Friday night.

There have been no casualties or loss of life reported yet.

Meanwhile, category three Cyclone Olwyn has hit the coast of Western Australia with wind gusts of up to 120mph.

People in the WA coastal region were warned to move to higher ground to escape dangerous flooding.Cyclone Pam South Pacific

Cyclone Pam has already caused flash floods in Tuvalu, which has declared a state of emergency.

The storm destroyed homes and flooded crop areas in Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, where at least 3,000 households have been affected.

The Vanuatu Meteorological Services (VMS) said that at 18:00 local time Cyclone Pam was 65 miles north-northeast of Port Vila and packing strong winds of 142mph at its centre.

All six provinces are now under red alert, meaning people are advised to immediately head to shelter.

VMS said “very destructive winds and very rough to phenomenal seas with heavy swells” were already hitting the region, while torrential rainfall, flash flooding, landslides and storm surges were expected.

Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office spokesperson Mishaen Garae Lulu told Radio New Zealand that the government had lost contact with some parts of the northern provinces.

He said the cyclone was expected to be worse than Cyclone Uma which killed 50 people in 1987.

Port Vila, was expected to escape the worst of the cyclone but people were being advised to move away from rivers and the sea.

The Vanuatu country director for Save the Children, Tom Skirrow, told AFP he was concerned about families living in shanty town areas.

“Thousands of families are living in makeshift, flimsy houses which will not withstand the immense winds and rain we’re expecting. Families need to urgently evacuate to safe buildings or the results could be catastrophic.”

Cyclone Pam is expected to weaken as it moves southwards just off the east coast of the island chain, which has a population of about 246,000.

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Rodner Figueroa fired from Univision after Michelle Obama racist comments

Lisa.Felice
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Rodner Figueroa fired from Univision after Michelle Obama racist comments

Long-time Univision talk show host Rodner Figueroa has been fired after saying that First Lady Michelle Obama looks like someone from the cast of Planet of the Apes.

Rodner Figueroa, who’s known for his biting fashion commentary, made his remarks during a live segment of the show El Gordo y la Flaca in which the hosts were commenting on a viral video that shows a makeup artist transforming himself into different celebrities, including Michelle Obama.

“Well, watch out, you know that Michelle Obama looks like she’s from the cast of <<Planet of the Apes>>, the movie,” Rodner Figueroa, 42, said with a giggle.Rodner Figueroa fired from Univision after Michelle Obama racist comments

When hostess Lili Estefan countered with “What are you saying?” and host Raul de Molina said Michelle Obama was very attractive, Rodner Figueroa defended his remark, saying “but it is true”.

In a statement, Univision called Rodner Figueroa’s comments “completely reprehensible” and said they “in no way reflect the values or opinions of Univision.”

Univision chairman Haim Saban is a major contributor to the Democratic Party who is well known to the Obama administration.

According to CNN, Rodner Figueroa issued a statement on march 12 asserting that he was fired after the network received a complaint from Michelle Obama’s office.

Go Set a Watchman: Harper Lee “elder abuse” inquiry closed

Sonia Pantiss
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Go Set a Watchman: Harper Lee “elder abuse” inquiry closed

The inquiry into whether author Harper Lee was pressured into publishing a To Kill A Mockingbird sequel has been closed.

The Alabama Securities Commission led the investigation, which helps prevent financial fraud against 88-year-old Harper Lee.

After an agent interviewed Harper Lee, the commission’s head said he was satisfied she wanted a second book published.

The new work – Go Set a Watchman – will be Harper Lee’s first release since the 1960s.Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman

The surprise move prompted some suggestions Harper Lee was manipulated into publishing the decades-old manuscript, which was discovered by her lawyer in the author’s possessions last year.

“We closed the file. Let’s just say that she was able to answer questions we asked to our satisfaction from our point of view,” said Joseph Borg, Alabama Securities Commission director.

The New York Times reported that the investigation was sparked by requests from a doctor that the state investigates whether Harper Lee was capable to have consented to the release of the work.

Harper Lee herself was “extremely hurt” by allegations she was manipulated, her lawyer Tonja Carter said.

To Kill a Mockingbird was published in July 1960 and has sold more than 40 million copies around the world.

Go Set a Watchman was written before To Kill A Mockingbird, and features many of the same characters, with an adult Scout Finch returning to her native Alabama from New York to visit her father.

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North Korea fires 7 ground-to-air missiles into sea

Roy Siemens
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North Korea fires 7 ground-to-air missiles into sea

On the last day of the annual US-South Korea military exercise, North Korea has fired seven ground-to-air missiles into the sea, South Korea’s defense ministry says.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was present during the launch, a ministry spokesman from South Korea said.

The annual exercises, which Pyongyang calls a rehearsal for invasion, are always a trigger for a surge in tensions between the two Koreas.

North Korea showed its opposition to this year’s drills by firing two short-range ballistic missiles when they began earlier this month.

South Korea said the missiles fired on March 13 were believed to be SA-2 or SA-3s, with a range of “dozens of kilometers”, as well as one SA-5 with a range of 120 miles.North Korea launches missiles March 2015

“We see this as another show of force by the North related to the exercises,” a spokesman told AFP news agency.

There were no reports of tests in North Korean media.

One of the US-South Korean exercises, Key Resolve, ended on March 13 while other, Foal Eagle, continues into April. The US and South Korea say they are for defense training purposes.

The missile launch comes as North Korea and South Korea are already involved in a row over wages at their jointly run Kaesong industrial zone.

Kaesong area lies just over the border into North Korea and is the only area of co-operation between the North and South.

Last month, Pyongyang said it would raise the basic salary of more than 50,000 North Koreans working there, but South Korea rejected this saying any wage rise had to be agreed by a joint committee overseeing the management of the industrial area.

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Ferguson shootings: Barack Obama condemns criminal acts on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Diane A. Wade
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Ferguson shootings: Barack Obama condemns criminal acts on Jimmy Kimmel Live

President Barack Obama has condemned the criminal acts in Ferguson, Missouri, one night after two police officers at a protest were shot.

Barack Obama said the protesters had “legitimate grievances” but described the shooters as “criminals” who should be arrested.

The shootings on March 11 happened during a demonstration after it was announced Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson would resign.

Further protests on March 12 passed peacefully. The two officers have been released from hospital.

The protests are the latest of many in the city since a policeman shot dead Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, in August 2014.

Police Chief Thomas Jackson quit one week after a Justice Department report alleged widespread racial bias in his department and the city’s court system.

Protesters gathered outside the police station after Thomas Jackson’s resignation was announced.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Late on Wednesday, one officer was shot in the face and the other was hit in the shoulder as protestors were heading home for the night.

“I think that what had been happening in Ferguson was oppressive and objectionable and was worthy of protest. But there was no excuse for criminal acts,” President Barack Obama said on the Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC.

“Whoever fired those shots shouldn’t detract from the issue; they’re criminals,” he added.

Tensions have been high in Ferguson since August and escalated in November after a grand jury declined to prosecute Officer Darren Wilson for Michael Brown’s killing.

On March 12, protesters held a candlelight vigil for all victims of violence. They later marched to the police department while beating drums and chanting.

There were no rows of police officers in riot gear unlike previous demonstrations.

Ferguson police temporarily ceded security responsibilities for the protests to state troopers and county police.

The protests ended without a single arrest about 23:00 local time.

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Frozen 2: Disney announces sequel

Sonia Pantiss
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Frozen 2: Disney announces sequel

A Frozen sequel is under way, Disney has announced.

Frozen became the highest-grossing animated film of all time in 2014.

The Oscar-winning animation made $1.27 billion at box offices worldwide, and led to record sales of related merchandise.

Frozen 2 will reunite the team behind the original feature, including director Chris Buck, writer Jennifer Lee and producer Peter Del Vecho.Frozen 2 announced

The studio did not name a release date.

Shares in parent company Walt Disney were up by almost 4% following the news.

Toy-maker Mattel, which currently owns the license to sell Frozen products, saw its shares rise by almost 5%.

Last month, Disney credited the continuing success of toys based on Frozen for an “incredibly strong quarter”.

Net income rose 19% to $2.2 billion in the three-month period, with revenues up 9% to $13.4 billion – both figures better than forecast.

In December, Frozen became iTunes’ biggest-selling movie of all time, while the soundtrack sold more than any other album in the US in 2014.

Additionally, DVD and Blu-ray sales of the animation broke the three million mark on the first day of their release.

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New South Pacific island formed after Hunga Tonga underwater volcano eruption

James J. Williams
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New South Pacific island formed after Hunga Tonga underwater volcano eruption

The eruption of underwater volcano Hunga Tonga led to the creation of a new island in the South Pacific.

Images have emerged of the island’s surface, 28 miles north-west of Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa.

The island – which is 1,640 feet long – was formed after an eruption at the Hunga Tonga volcano that started in December.

One scientist said the island was likely to be highly unstable, and dangerous to visitors.

The volcano – the full name of which is Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai – erupted for the second time in five years in December.

Video captured on a boat hundreds of meters from the volcano showed fast-rising plumes of gas emerging from the sea.

Satellite images taken within days of the eruption showed new rock formations, and more sediment in the sea.

Photo Gianpiero Orbassano
Photo Gianpiero Orbassano

Next to one of the two islands that previously made up Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai was a large circular crater.

A resident of Tonga’s main island captured striking images of the new island from its surface.

Gianpiero Orbassano, who owns a hotel in Tonga, travelled to the island with two friends and said he was likely to make another trip soon.

“It’s really quite solid once you are on it and it’s quite high,” he said.

“It felt quite safe – the only difficult thing was getting out of the boat on to the island. The surface was hot, you could feel it. And climbing it was hard in the bright sun.”

Gianpiero Orbassano, 63, had previously travelled to another new volcanic island in the Pacific, where friends took golf clubs to play on the new landscape.

“I don’t feel risk,” he said.

“When I am doing this kind of thing, I’m focusing on my photographs. I don’t feel danger.”

Mary Lyn Fonua, editor of the Matangi Tonga news website, travelled by boat to view the eruption in January.

She said: “We got to within 700m of the volcano and when you’re that close in a small boat, it can be quite risky.

“An underwater volcano behaves quite differently – all the gas can shoot out to the side. But it was a fascinating thing to see, just to watch a whole new island being constructed.”

Mary Lou Fonua said she was unlikely to get closer to the new island: “It’s quite fragile really, I don’t really think you should go on it. And we don’t really know if the eruption has finished either.”

Tonga is a made up of over 170 islands and is located in the Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.

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Terry Pratchett dies aged 66

Sonia Pantiss
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Terry Pratchett dies aged 66

British fantasy author Terry Pratchett has died at the age of 66, eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

“The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds,” said Larry Finlay of his publishers Transworld.

The creator of the Discworld comic fantasy book series died at home, surrounded by his family, “with his cat sleeping on his bed”, Larry Finlay has said.

Terry Pratchett wrote more than 70 books during his career and completed his final book last summer.

He “enriched the planet like few before him” and through Discworld satirised the world “with great skill, enormous humor and constant invention,” said Larry Finlay.

Terry Pratchett leaves wife Lyn and daughter Rhianna.Terry Pratchett dead at 66

The announcement of Sir Terry Pratchett’s death was made on his Twitter account on March 12, with Rhianna later writing: “Many thanks for all the kind words about my dad. Those last few tweets were sent with shaking hands and tear-filled eyes.”

Despite campaigning for assisted suicide after his diagnosis, Sir Terry’s publishers said he did not take his own life.

The Discworld series – which started in 1983 – was based in a flat world perched on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle.

By 2013, Terry Pratchett had written more than 40 installments.

At the peak of his writing powers, Terry Pratchett – known for his striking dress sense and large black fedora – was publishing more than three books a year. His quirky and satirical view of the world won him a worldwide following.

At the turn of the century, Terry Pratchett was Britain’s second most-read author, beaten only by J.K. Rowling.

In August 2007, it was reported Terry Pratchett had suffered a stroke, but the following December he announced that he had been diagnosed with a very rare form of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease which, he said, “lay behind this year’s phantom stroke”.

Knighted in 2009, Terry Pratchett said: “It would appear to me that me getting up and saying <<I’ve got Alzheimer’s>>, it did shake people.”

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Jimmy Greenspoon dies from metastatic melanoma at 67

Sonia Pantiss
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Jimmy Greenspoon dies from metastatic melanoma at 67

Three Dog Night keyboardist and vocalist Jimmy Greenspoon died from metastatic melanoma on March 11 at the age of 67.

Jimmy Greenspoon formed the band in 1968 with Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, Chuck Negron, Joe Schermie, Mike Allsup and Floyd Sneed.

He was first diagnosed with the disease on October, 2014 after a tumor was removed from his brain, spots were also found on his right lung and on his liver.

Soon after his sad diagnosis Jimmy Greenspoon set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of donations to help with the high costs of his medical treatments and care revealing that he would be a cancer patient for the rest of his day and the costs would be very high.Three Dog Night Jimmy Greenspoon dead at 67

On March 10, Jimmy Greenspoon’s wife Susie posted to the band’s Facebook page that Jimmy was nearing the end of his battle with cancer revealing that the past few days have been very difficult for Jimmy and the family revealing that they were keeping Jimmy as comfortable as possible.

Three Dog Night made the announcement of his death on Facebook.

“We are very saddened at the passing of our dear friend and longtime band mate, Jimmy Greenspoon. Jimmy died peacefully at home today surrounded by his family. Please keep him and his loved ones in your prayers and your hearts,” the statement read.

Jimmy Greenspoon’s vocals can be heard on Three Dog Night’s biggest hits including Joy to the World, Black and White, Never Been to Spain and Your Song.

He continued to tour with his band until he came down with his illness.

Jimmy Greenspoon also performed alongside legends including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and the Beach Boys.

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Vladimir Putin health rumors denied

Diane A. Wade
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Vladimir Putin health rumors denied

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied rumors that President Vladimir Putin is unwell.

The rumors started after a trip to Kazakhstan, scheduled for March 12-13, was postponed.

Vladimir Putin’s last public appearance was on March 5 when he met Italian PM Matteo Renzi.

Dmitry Peskov said those making the claims had themselves caught “spring fever”.

“When the sun comes up in the spring, and as soon as spring is in the air, then the fever begins,” he said.

“We are calm on this fever, and respond to the questions with patience.”

Reuters quoted a Kazakh government source on March 11 as saying: “It looks like [Vladimir Putin] has fallen ill.”Vladimir Putin health status 2015

Insisting the president was “fine”, Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin had meetings “all the time” but not all of them were public.

Besides the trip to Kazakhstan, Vladimir Putin was due to sign a treaty of integration between Russia and South Ossetia – a breakaway state formerly part of Georgia – but the ceremony did not take place.

There may be technical reasons for that – it was reported that the document had not been fully agreed.

Vladimir Putin had also been slated to attend a federal security meeting on March 12 but a government source told Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency it was unlikely to go ahead.

RBC Daily, a Moscow business newspaper, reported that the video of Vladimir Putin posted to the Kremlin’s website on March 8, meeting a delegation for International Women’s Day, had been pre-recorded on March 5. One participant at the meeting told the paper the president had looked tired.

Since then, more videos of Vladimir Putin have appeared on the site. Footage of a meeting with the governor of Russia’s republic of Karelia was published on March 11.

The videos have been the subject of scrutiny, with pundits looking closely at Vladimir Putin’s clothes and the digits of a calendar in the background for clues about when the filming took place.

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Alibaba deal boosts Snapchat value at $15 billion

Clyde K. Valle
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Alibaba deal boosts Snapchat value at $15 billion

Alibaba is investing $200 million into a stake in photo messaging application Snapchat.

That values Snapchat at nearly $15 billion and makes it one of the world’s most valuable start-ups after only 4 years.

Snapchat allows users to send text and picture messages which disappear in 10 seconds.Snapchat Alibaba deal

The tech company says its users send 700 million snaps daily, recently started generating revenue from advertising.

The $15 billion valuation puts the business in a league with taxi service Uber and Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone maker.

Alibaba has invested in a range of start-ups in China, but its portfolio in the US is relatively small.

The Chinese e-commerce giant has stakes in video call app TangoMe and Lyft, a competitor to Uber.

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Blurred Lines verdict to be appealed by Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke

Sonia Pantiss
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Blurred Lines verdict to be appealed by Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke

Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke will appeal the Blurred Lines verdict which ruled that they copied Marvin Gaye’s track Got To Give It Up.

On March 10, an LA jury decided that parts of Marvin Gaye’s 1977 hit Got To Give It Up were lifted for Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s 2013 hit Blurred Lines.

The family of late soul singer Marvin Gaye was awarded $7.3 million in damages.

Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s lawyer said they remained adamant Blurred Lines was original, created solely by them.Blurred Lines verdict

“We owe it to songwriters around the world to make sure this verdict doesn’t stand,” Howard King told Fox Business News.

“My clients know that they wrote the song Blurred Lines from their hearts and souls and no other source.

“We are going to exercise every post-trial remedy we have to make sure this verdict does not stand.”

Howard King added that expert evidence in the case, which may have swayed the jury, should have been inadmissible.

In particular, said Howard King, the testimony from a musicologist that compared Blurred Lines with Got To Give It Up was based on elements of Marvin Gaye’s song that were not on the original sheet music.

At the time of its copyright, only the written music could be registered as protected, not sound recordings.

“Clearly the jury relied on what that expert said in reaching their conclusion,” said Howard King.

Marvin Gaye died in April 1984, leaving his children the copyright to his music. His children – Nona, Frankie and Marvin Gaye III – sued Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams in 2013.

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Mick Thomson: Slipknot guitarist stabbed by his brother

Sonia Pantiss
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Mick Thomson: Slipknot guitarist stabbed by his brother

Slipknot’s lead singer Mick Thomson has been stabbed in the head by his brother during a drunken fight.

Police in his home city of Des Moines in Iowa say they were called to his house early on Wednesday morning, March 11.

Chief of Police Michael G. Venema said his officers were called to reports of two brothers fighting in a front yard.

When they arrived they found guitarist Mick Thomson with a stab wound to the back of his head.Slipknot's Mick Thomson stabbed

Mick Thomson and his brother Andrew were taken to separate hospitals with non life-threatening injuries.

Neither was arrested and the police investigation continues.

According to local reports, Slipknot’s manager says Mick Thomson’s injuries won’t stop the heavy metal band performing.

Ahead of headlining the Friday night of this year’s Download festival, Slipknot starts touring next month when they play the Fort Rock festival in south Florida.

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Richard Glatzer dead: Still Alice director loses battle with ALS at 63

Sonia Pantiss
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Richard Glatzer dead: Still Alice director loses battle with ALS at 63

Still Alice director and co-writer Richard Glatzer has died at the age of 63 after losing battle with ALS.

Richard Glatzer was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011, soon after he and his husband, Wash Westmoreland, began adapting Oscar-winning Still Alice.

He was too unwell to attend last month’s Academy Awards, when Julianne Moore picked up the best actress Oscar for her leading role in Still Alice.

Wash Westmoreland said Richard Glatzer’s courage “inspired me and all who knew him”.

“I am devastated,” Wash Westmoreland said, in a statement.

“Rich was my soulmate, my collaborator, my best friend and my life.”

“In this dark time, I take some consolation in the fact that he got to see Still Alice go out into the world. He put his heart and soul into that film, and the fact that it touched so many people was a constant joy to him.”Richard Glatzer dead at 63

Julianne Moore simply tweeted: “I love you Richard.”

The actress paid tribute to Richard Glatzer in her speech at the Oscars on February 22.

“When Richard was diagnosed with ALS, Wash asked him what he wanted to do. Did he want to travel? Did he want to see the world? And he said that he wanted to make movies, and that’s what he did.”

Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland met in 1995 and married in 2013.

He had previously taught screen-writing in New York and worked as a TV producer on shows including America’s Next Top Model.

It was Still Alice, the tale of a linguistics professor coping with early on-set Alzheimer’s that was to bring the film-makers award glory.

Richard Glatzer told NPR (National Public Radio) that reading Lisa Genova’s novel – on which the film is based – “cut too close to the bone”.

“But once I’d finished it, I felt determined to make Still Alice into a movie. It really resonated with me.”

During the 23-day shoot, Richard Glatzer communicated by typing with one finger on an iPad, but said he “felt very much heard by everyone, every day. And it’s so very important if you’re struggling with a disease like this to feel you still matter”.

“It’s ironic that in my deteriorated state I’d be able to make a film that was creatively everything I’d ever wished for,” he told the Associated Press last year.

Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, of Sony Pictures Classics – which distributed the film, called the death of Richard Glatzer “a profound loss for all of us who worked with him and know him as an exceptional human being”.

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