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Ringling Bros. Circus to end elephant act by 2018

Sonia Pantiss
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Ringling Bros. Circus to end elephant act by 2018

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, one of America’s largest circus companies, has said it will phase out the use of elephants in its shows.

The circus told the Associated Press that it plans to stop using the animals by 2018.

It said growing public concern about how the animals are treated led to the decision.

The company’s 43 elephants will live at an animal conservation centre in Florida.

In recent years, some cities and counties have passed laws banning the use of elephants for entertainment, which has complicated the show’s tours, company president Kenneth Feld.

Animal right activists have protested the use of the elephants in live shows for years saying they face physical abuse at the hands of trainers and unhealthy living conditions.Ringling Bros Circus elephant act

“Many of the elephants are painfully arthritic, and many have tuberculosis, so their retirement day needs to come now,” said Jessica Johnson, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“If the decision is serious, then the circus needs to do it now.”

Executives from Feld Entertainment, which owns the circus company said the decision was not easy and was the result of much debate.

“There’s been somewhat of a mood shift among our consumers,” the company’s executive vice president Alana Feld told the Associated Press.

“All of the resources used to fight these things can be put towards the elephants. We’re not reacting to our critics; we’re creating the greatest resource for the preservation of the Asian elephant.”

Feld Entertainment owns 43 elephants, of which 29 currently live at the company’s 200-acre conservation centre in central Florida. Until 2018, 13 of the animals will continue to perform in shows. One elephant has been loaned to the Fort Worth Zoo for breeding.

The company plans to formally announce the decision on March 5.

Elephant acts have long been a part of the company’s show, and have often been featured in its advertising materials.

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Hall & Oates sue Early Bird over Haulin’ Oats cereal name

Nancy Clayson
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Hall & Oates sue Early Bird over Haulin’ Oats cereal name

Singers Daryl Hall and John Oates are suing Brooklyn-based Early Bird Foods & Co, claiming its granola Haulin’ Oats infringes their trademark.

The case accuses the cereal company of breaking the law with its “phonetic play on Daryl Hall and John Oates’ well-known brand name”.

Lawyers for the singers filed the case in Brooklyn federal court.

Daryl Hall and John Oates claim Early Bird is attempting “to trade off of the fame and notoriety associated with the artist’s and plaintiff’s well-known marks”.Early Bird Haulin Oats

Haulin’ Oats is a nut-free cereal made from maple syrup and oats, described by its makers as a “back-to-basics flavor… perfect by itself or as the base for a breakfast parfait creation”.

The case notes that various parties have attempted over the years “to make a connection between the artists’ names and oats-related products”.

Hall and Oates started working together in the early 1970s, and have become one of the most successful duos in pop history.

Whole Oats is the name of the singers’ corporate company and their first album.

Their hits include Maneater, Rich Girl, Private Eyes, I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do), Sara Smile and She’s Gone.

Earlier this week, they postponed a concert at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC “due to Daryl Hall having laryngitis caused by a severe cold and flu”, according to a statement on their official website.

Shania Twain announces final Rock This Country tour dates

Sonia Pantiss
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Shania Twain announces final Rock This Country tour dates

Shania Twain has announced her final tour with 48 dates across the US and Canada.

The Canadian singer will kick off her final tour in June.

Shania Twain, whose 1997 album Come On Over remains the best-selling country album ever, said on ABC’s Good Morning America: “This is my last tour, so I’m going to make the most of it.

“I want to go out with a bang.”

The Rock This Country tour will be Shania Twain’s first tour in more than 10 years, and follows a two-year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

“I feel that Las Vegas, the show, was a huge mountain to climb for me,” Shania Twain – who turns 50 later this year – said.

“I not only got through it, but I enjoyed it.”

Shania Twain became a massive star in the mid-1990s, with hits such as Man! I Feel Like A Woman and That Don’t Impress Me Much.

She sold more than 75 million albums worldwide and became the best-selling female artist in the history of country music, but largely disappeared from the limelight between 2004 and 2009, citing personal issues and creative inertia.Shania Twain final tour

Shania Twain returned to live performing in 2011.

The new tour will begin in Seattle, before heading north to Canada, then returning to the US for dates across the country – including New York, Washington and Miami.

The “custom-made” tour will conclude in Fresno, California, days ahead of the singer’s birthday in August.

Shania Twain also announced that she is currently “working on new music” to be released after the tour.

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Check out the tour dates and and pre-order tickets at Shania’s official website.

06/05 Seattle, WA Key Arena
06/07 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
06/09 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
06/11 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
06/12 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
06/14 Saskatoon, SK SaksTel Centre
06/15 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre
06/19 London, ON Budweiser Gardens
06/20 London, ON Budweiser Gardens
06/22 Hamilton, ON FirstOntario Centre
06/24 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
06/25 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
06/27 Ottawa, ON Wesley Clover Field
06/28 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
06/30 New York, NY Madison Sqaure Garden
07/01 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum
07/03 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
07/07 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
07/08 Boston, MA TD Garden
07/10 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center
07/11 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
07/13 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse
07/15 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial
07/16 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
07/18 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena
07/19 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
07/21 Washington, DC Verizon Center
07/22 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
07/25 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
07/26 Moline, IL iWireless Center
07/28 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
07/29 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
07/31 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
08/01 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
08/03 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
08/04 Saint Louis, MO Scottrade Center
08/06 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
08/07 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
08/09 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
08/10 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
08/12 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
08/14 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
08/15 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena
08/17 San Jose, CA SAP Center
08/19 Anaheim, CA The Honda Center
08/20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
08/22 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center
08/23 Fresno, CA SaveMart Center

 

Pharrell Williams plagiarism trial: Singer denies copying Marvin Gaye’s song for Blurred Lines

Sonia Pantiss
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Pharrell Williams plagiarism trial: Singer denies copying Marvin Gaye’s song for Blurred Lines

Pharrell Williams denies copying Marvin Gaye’s 1977 song Got to Give It Up for the hit single Blurred Lines.

However, the singer admits he was “channelling… that late-70s feeling” when he co-wrote the song.

Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and rapper TI are being sued by Marvin Gaye’s family over similarities between Got to Give It Up and Blurred Lines.

In court, Pharrell Williams said Marvin Gaye’s work was not on his mind when he wrote the song, but he later recognized a likeness.

“Sometimes when you look back on your past work, you see echoes of people.”

“But that doesn’t mean that’s what you were doing,” Pharrell Williams testified in court in Los Angeles.

Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and rapper TI – real name Clifford Harris Jr – all deny copying Got to Give It Up for the song, a number one hit in 2013.

Expressing his admiration for Marvin Gaye, Pharrell Williams said: “The last thing you want to do as a creator is take something of someone else’s when you love him.”

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“I respect his music beyond words,” he added.

During his testimony on March 4, Pharrell Williams was played extracts of both his and Marvin Gaye’s compositions, stripped down to their basic song structure.

Listening to the juxtaposed bass lines, Pharrell Williams responded: “It sounds like you’re playing the same thing”, but argued that some of the note progressions had been shifted in pitch so they sounded more alike.

His comments appeared to prompt Robin Thicke, who was attending the trial, to leave the courtroom.

Both Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke have testified that Williams was the principle creator of Blurred Lines, which generated more than $16 million in profits and made more than $5 million for both stars.

Speaking in court, Pharrell Williams said it took him three days of “surfing around” at Burbank’s Glenwood Place Studios, in June 2012, before he hit upon the composition for the 2013 song.

“In this case I started with drums,” he said in court, adding that he was influenced by two other recordings he was making at that time – for Miley Cyrus and Earl Sweatshirt.

“I was doing a bunch of country-sounding music with Miley,” he said.

“It was like blending this country sound with this up-tempo groove.”

“Once you have a groove, then you’re pretty much allowing the groove to tell you what’s next,” Pharrell Williams said, describing his writing process.

He said he completed the instrumentals in about an hour. Robin Thicke joined him that evening, and they immediately started recording the vocals, Pharrell Williams told the court.

Last week, Robin Thicke testified that he had contributed little to the writing of the song.

In a pre-trial deposition deposition he admitted he was “high on Vicodin and alcohol when I showed up at the studio” and “wanted to be more involved than I actually was”.

Marvin Gaye’s children – Frankie and Nona – are seeking money from sales and touring, as well as damages. During opening arguments, a lawyer for Marvin Gaye’s children estimated damages at $40 million.

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Eurovision 2015: Guy Sebastian to represent Australia

Sonia Pantiss
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Eurovision 2015: Guy Sebastian to represent Australia

Guy Sebastian will represent Australia at its debut Eurovision Song Contest in May.

The announcement was made in a ceremony at the Sydney Opera House on March 5.

Australia was given a wildcard entry to the 60th edition of the competition, to be held in Vienna, Austria.

It has been fast-tracked to the final and so will not have to compete in the earlier rounds.

Guy Sebastian won the first ever Australian Idol competition in 2003 and has since had eight Top 10 albums and two No 1 singles.

He was a judge on Australia’s version of The X Factor between 2010 and 2012.

Guy Sebastian said he was “pumped” to be performing at the competition.

“It’s Eurovision, it’s huge and keeps growing here in Australia which is nice,” he told ABC news.Guy Sebastian to represent Australia at Eurovision 2015

Guy Sebastian has yet to choose a song to perform.

“That is still being worked out,” he said.

“I know that I can’t sing something that has been released prior to September, so it doesn’t leave me with a lot.

“Luckily enough I released my album in November… which narrows it down a little bit or I could write something in the next few days.

“I want it to represent us as a nation well but also just be fun or be emotional. Either super fun or like a big ballad or something that showcases my voice.”

The annual song contest is hugely popular in Australia – three million watched the competition in 2014.

The European Broadcasting Union said Australia had been given a pass to the final “to not reduce the chances” of the semi-final participants.

Australia will be allowed to vote in both semi-finals, as well as the grand final.

The possibility of allowing the public to have a 50% stake in the Australian vote through televoting is also being explored.

Australians have participated in the Eurovision contest before, representing other countries. Olivia Newton John sang for the UK in 1974 – coming fourth – as did Gina G in 1996. Jane Comerford represented Germany in 2006.

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Edward Snowden leaks: New Zealand spying on Pacific nations

Diane A. Wade
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Edward Snowden leaks: New Zealand spying on Pacific nations

According to documents leaked by Edward Snowden, New Zealand is conducting mass surveillance over its Pacific neighbors.

Calls, emails and social media messages were being collected from Pacific nations, the New Zealand Herald reported.

The data was shared with other members of the “Five Eyes” network – the US, Australia, Britain and Canada.

Edward Snowden leaked a large cache of classified NSA documents in 2013.

The documents published on March 5 reveal that New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) used its Waihopai base in the South Island to spy on allies in the region.

Targets included Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Vanuatu, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Tonga and French Polynesia.

Photo Bloomberg
Photo Bloomberg

According to The Intercept website, which published the documents in conjunction with the New Zealand Herald, the base was running “full take” interceptions, meaning it was retaining content and metadata of all communications rather than just of specific targets.

The data collected was then available to be accessed by analysts from the National Security Agency (NSA) via the agency’s controversial XKeyscore computer program, revealed during the original leak in 2013, the Herald reported.

New Zealand PM John Key said the reports contained errors and false assumptions, but did not elaborate.

John Key said the GCSB gathered “foreign intelligence that is in the best interests of New Zealand and protecting New Zealanders”.

“If I was a New Zealander and the New Zealand prime minister got up and told me we had a foreign intelligence service that wasn’t gathering some foreign intelligence, I’d ask him <<what the hell are we paying the money for? And what the hell are you doing?>>” New Zealand’s Stuff website quoted him as saying.

Andrew Little, leader of New Zealand’s opposition Labor party, said that he accepted the need for security agencies to protect the country but was “stunned at the breadth of the information that’s been collected”.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, Andrew Little said GCSB seemed to be “hovering” up information and “supplying it to the United States”.

McDonald’s to curb use of chicken injected with antibiotics in US

Clyde K. Valle
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McDonald’s to curb use of chicken injected with antibiotics in US

McDonald’s has announced it will stop US purchases of chicken injected with antibiotics important to human medicine.

Chicken served in McDonald’s 14,000 US restaurants will be free of such antibiotics within two years, the company said.

The move comes amid concerns that the overuse of antibiotics in chicken may affect the drugs’ effectiveness in fighting diseases in people.

McDonald’s, the world’s biggest restaurant chain, has been battling to win back customers amid slowing sales.

Many poultry producers give their birds antibiotics to make them grow faster. But overuse of the drugs could lead to them becoming less effective in treating illness and disease in humans.

McDonald’s worldwide like-for-like sales – which strip out the effect of new restaurants opening – fell by a more-than-expected 1.8% in January on the back of a supplier scandal in China.McDonald's chicken injected with antibiotics

Its image was also tarnished after a human tooth was found in a portion of fries in Japan last year. The company issued an apology in January.

In a statement, Marion Gross, senior vice-president of North America supply chain, said that McDonald’s “believes that any animals that become ill deserve appropriate veterinary care and our suppliers will continue to treat poultry with prescribed antibiotics”.

After treatment, the bird “will no longer be included in our food supply”.

However, McDonald’s chicken will be given ionophores, an antibiotic which helps keep chickens healthy but is not used for humans.

The company also said that dairy products, such as low fat white milk and fat-free chocolate milk, would be derived from cows that have not been treated with rbST – an artificial growth hormone.

“While no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rbST-treated and non-rbST-treated cows, we understand this is something that is important to our customers,” Marion Gross said.

The changes come in response to growing US consumer demand for food made with natural ingredients only.

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Mark Lippert: US ambassador to South Korea attacked with knife at Seoul meeting

Diane A. Wade
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Mark Lippert: US ambassador to South Korea attacked with knife at Seoul meeting

US ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert is in a stable condition after being slashed on the face by a militant Korean nationalist at a breakfast meeting in Seoul.

Mark Lippert, 42, was also cut on his left hand, with blood spattered over the breakfast table.

Security officers subdued the attacker, one pinning him down with a shoe on his neck, until he was arrested.

Mark Lippert had hospital treatment but later said he was “doing well”.

“Doing well and in great spirits!” the ambassador tweeted.

“Will be back ASAP to advance US-ROK [Republic of Korea] alliance!”

President Barack Obama called his ambassador to wish him “the very best for a speedy recovery”, a US official said.

The US state department said it strongly condemned the incident which South Korean President Park Guen-hye described as an “attack on the South Korea-US alliance”.Mark Lippert knife attack

Witnesses say the attacker, a 55-year-old man with a history of militant Korean nationalistic activism, shouted demands for North and South Korea to be reunified.

It took 80 stitches to close the ambassador’s facial wound, which was just more than 4 in long, doctors said.

The cut did not affect his nerves or salivary gland, hospital spokesman Chung Nam-sik said.

The attack happened at about 07:40 local time, as the ambassador was at a performing arts centre in central Seoul, South Korean police say.

The assailant, named as Kim Ki-jong, reportedly shouted “South and North Korea should be reunified!” before lashing out at the envoy.

He also reportedly condemned annual military exercises held jointly by South Korea and the US, which are currently under way.

North Korea has described the exercises – which involve more than 200,000 troops – as a rehearsal for an invasion and has vowed retaliation.

A small group of South Koreans believe that the American military presence prevents unification of the two Koreas.

The assailant previously threw concrete at the Japanese ambassador to South Korea.

Mark Lippert – a former US assistant secretary of defense – was appointed ambassador to South Korea in 2014.

The ambassador’s wife gave birth in South Korea, and the couple gave their son a Korean middle name, according to the Associated Press.

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Hillary Clinton email scandal: Former Secretary of State responds to growing controversy

Diane A. Wade
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Hillary Clinton email scandal: Former Secretary of State responds to growing controversy

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has responded to a growing controversy over using her private email account for government business.

Hillary Clinton urged officials to release those emails, tweeting: “I want the public to see my email.”

This came after her emails were subpoenaed by a congressional committee investigating the deadly attack on the US embassy in Benghazi in 2012.

The state department is examining Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email account as a possible breach of federal law.

The controversy has put Hillary Clinton under pressure as she is widely believed to be planning a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016.

In the tweet, Hillary Clinton wrote: “I asked State to release them [emails]. They said they will review them for release as soon as possible.”

It was revealed on March 4 that Hillary Clinton had her own internet server at her home in New York.

As the secretary of state in 2009-2013, Hillary Clinton did not have a government email address, the US state department told The New York Times.

Government watchdogs and former officials from the National Archives and Records Administration told the newspaper that Hillary Clinton’s use of private email alone, without any government account, was a serious breach.Hillary Clinton email scandal

Others cited concerns that a personal email account could be vulnerable to hackers.

The matter has been complicated by Associated Press reports that an internet server was registered under the name of Eric Hoteham at Hillary Clinton’s home in Chappaqua, New York.

The correspondence of federal officials is considered government records under federal law and Hillary Clinton has already had to hand over 55,000 pages of emails to the State Department.

On March 3, Nick Merrill, a spokesman for Hillary Clinton, declined to say why she used a personal account at the state department, but defended its use.

Hillary Clinton had complied with the “letter and spirit of the rules”, Nick Merrill said.

Her tweeted statement came just hours after the Republican-led congressional committee had demanded that Hillary Clinton turn over all emails relating to the Benghazi attack in which US ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed.

The chairman of the Benghazi committee, Trey Gowdy, told reporters: “I want the documents. Sooner rather than later.”

Democrats on the committee have criticized the decision arguing it is a politically-motivated hunt by Republicans.

“Everything I’ve seen so far has led me to believe that this is an effort to go after Hillary Clinton, period,” said Elijah Cummings.

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Nia Gonzalez: Who is Chris Brown’s baby mama?

Lisa.Felice
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Nia Gonzalez: Who is Chris Brown’s baby mama?

Nia Gonzalez is the mother of Chris Brown’s alleged 9-month-old baby.

“Chris and Nia took a blood test last week, and that Chris is her daughter’s father,” MediaTakeOut.com reported.

The website also claims that Nia Gonzalez, 31, is an “Instagram model” who has been dating rappers and “boppin around Houston since the 1990s.”

Nia Gonzalez is a Houston-native who also goes by Nia Amey and has known Chris Brown, 25, for a few years.

Earlier reports had indicated that Nia Riley, star of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop, was Chris Brown’s baby mama, but she has a daughter with rapper Soulja Boy.

As reports about Chris Brown fathering Nia Gonzalez’s baby emerged, a man going by “@Royalty_Yaye_Bah,” posted on Instagram: “The Saddest Day of My Life This lil girl meant the world To Me I been There Through Everything I was told This Was My child How Can This Be happening A Man Just Steps in and Take Over What I Built What I lived for I Dedicated My Whole Life To This Family Now Everything Is Gone..Y Did this happen To Me Now I lost My Lil Girl For Good?”

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

The man later deleted the post. His Instagram page was full of pictures of him with Nia Gonzalez and her baby.

According to an Instagram post from Chris Brown’s most recent girlfriend Karrueche Tran, she and Nia Gonzalez were at a Las Vegas party together back in May 2013. On his Instagram page, Chris Brown also posted pics from the same party.

As news of Chris Brown’s fatherhood broke, Karrueche Tran, 26, tweeted the above message, all but confirmed that Chris is a dad.

Chris Brown had been linked to Karrueche Tran for four years. The couple appeared at New York’s Fashion Week in February but more recently, they seemed to be on the outs with Chris Brown accusing Karrueche Tran of “going on dates” with his eternal rival Drake.

On her Model Mayhem profile, Nia Gonzalez says she is a nursing student and a “very outgoing person”. She adds that she has a passion for photography.

According to Hip Hollywood, Nia Gonzalez is a friend of singer Christina Milian’s and is signed to her ex-fiance’s, Jas Prince’s, record label, Y.E.M.G.

Jas Prince and Nia Gonzalez appeared in an Instagram pic together over Christmas. On the day that the Chris Brown story broke, Christina Milian tweeted: “Besties Be Like… #WeAintWorried.”

Chris Brown has a 9-month-old baby girl with Nia Gonzalez

Lisa.Felice
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Chris Brown has a 9-month-old baby girl with Nia Gonzalez

According to new reports, Chris Brown has a 9-month-old daughter with former model Nia Gonzalez.

Chris Brown, 25, is “happy about being a father,” celebrity website TMZ reported.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

Meanwhile, the news seemed to have reached Chris Brown’s on-off Karrueche Tran, who tweeted: “Listen. One can only take so much. The best of luck to Chris and his family. No baby drama for me.”

According to HollywoodLife.com, Karrueche Tran, 26, and Nia Gonzalez, 31, actually know one another.

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First human’s jawbone unearthed in Ethiopia

James J. Williams
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First human’s jawbone unearthed in Ethiopia

A fossilized jawbone of what scientists claim is one of the very first humans has been discovered un Ethiopia.

The 2.8 million-year-old specimen is 400,000 years older than researchers thought that our kind first emerged.

The discovery suggests climate change spurred the transition from tree dweller to upright walker.

Prof. Brian Villmoare of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas said the discovery makes a clear link between an iconic 3.2 million-year-old hominin (human-like primate) discovered in the same area in 1974, called “Lucy”.

The fossil record between the time period when Lucy and her kin were alive and the emergence of Homo erectus (with its relatively large brain and humanlike body proportions) two million years ago is sparse.First human jawbone

The 2.8 million-year-old lower jawbone was found in the Ledi-Geraru research area, Afar Regional State, by Ethiopian student Chalachew Seyoum.

The fossil is of the left side of the lower jaw, along with five teeth. The back molar teeth are smaller than those of other hominins living in the area and are one of the features that distinguish humans from more primitive ancestors, according to Prof. William Kimbel, director of Arizona State University’s Institute of Human Origins.

A computer reconstruction of a skull belonging to the species Homo habilis, which has been published in Nature journal, indicates that it may well have been the evolutionary descendant of the species announced today.

The dating of the jawbone might help answer one of the key questions in human evolution. What caused some apes to climb down from the trees and make their homes on the ground.

A separate study in Science hints that a change in climate might have been a factor. An analysis of the fossilized plant and animal life in the area suggests that what had once been lush forest had become dry grassland.

As the trees made way for vast plains, apes found a way of exploiting the new environmental niche, developing bigger brains and becoming less reliant on having big jaws and teeth by using tools.

According to scientists, there were several different species of humans co-existing in Africa around two million years ago with only one of them surviving and eventually evolving into our species, Homo sapiens. It is as if nature was experimenting with different versions of the same evolutionary configuration until one succeeded.

Omar Trevino Morales: Zetas cartel leader captured in Mexico

Diane A. Wade
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Omar Trevino Morales: Zetas cartel leader captured in Mexico

Omar Trevino Morales, the leader of one of Mexico’s most notorious drugs gang, the Zetas cartel, has been captured by security forces, Mexican officials say.

Omar Trevino Morales, known as Z-42, was arrested on March 4 in the city of Monterrey in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, police said.

Z-42 is said to have run the cartel since the 2013 arrest of his brother, Miguel.

The arrest comes days after Mexican police captured another suspected drug lord, Servando “La Tuta” Gomez.

Servando Gomez was the leader of the Knights Templar cartel in Michoacan state.Zetas cartel leader Omar Trevino Morales captured in Mexico

Omar Trevino Morales is wanted in the US and Mexico on charges of drug trafficking, kidnap and murder.

Mexican media, citing officials, said he had been seized in the Monterrey suburb of San Pedro Garza Garcia in a joint operation by the army and the federal police.

The Zetas cartel is believed to be behind some of the bloodiest crimes carried out by Mexico’s drugs gangs.

It was blamed for an arson attack on a Monterrey casino in 2011 that killed 52 people and for dumping 48 decapitated bodies near the city in 2012.

Analysts say the cartel was weakened by the killing of former leader Heriberto Lazcano in 2012 and the capture of Miguel Angel Trevino Morales in 2013.

The Zetas began in the 1990s as the enforcement arm of another powerful criminal gang, the Gulf Cartel.

They were made up of defectors from an elite military unit and quickly became known for their brutality.

Boris Nemtsov murder: Vladimir Putin calls for an end to political killings

Diane A. Wade
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Boris Nemtsov murder: Vladimir Putin calls for an end to political killings

President Vladimir Putin has said that “shameful” political killings in Russia should be stopped, after the shooting of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov just outside the Kremlin walls.

The president said the most serious attention should be paid to high-profile crimes.

Boris Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister, was murdered on February 27 and buried in Moscow on March 3.

The motive is unknown, but Vladimir Putin’s aides have rejected suggestions that he had any involvement.

Boris Nemtsov, who had been planning a march against the conflict in eastern Ukraine, said recently that he feared the president would have him killed because of his opposition to the war.

The 55-year-old was shot four times in the back while walking with his Ukrainian girlfriend, Anna Duritskaya, on Great Moskvoretsky Bridge.

At least 50,000 people turned out on March 1 to rally in tribute to Boris Nemtsov.Vladimir Putin on Boris Nemtsov murder

Marchers, some chanting “Russia without Putin”, blamed the assassination on a climate of hatred fostered by the Kremlin and its supporters towards opponents of its Ukraine policy.

“It is necessary to finally rid Russia of the shame and tragedies like the one that we lived through and saw quite recently. I mean the murder, the brazen murder of Boris Nemtsov right in the centre of the capital,” Vladimir Putin said in televised comments to the interior ministry.

After the shooting, which the Kremlin described as a “provocation” aimed at discrediting the president, Vladimir Putin said he would do all he could to ensure the killers were brought to justice but little progress appears to have been made in the investigation.

When asked by reporters on March 3 if there were any suspects in the murder, the head of Russia’s FSB security service, Alexander Bortnikov, said: “There are always suspects.”

Several theories have emerged for who was the behind the murder of Boris Nemtsov, who was putting together a report on Russia’s involvement in eastern Ukraine:

  • Opposition leader Alexei Navalny said it was either a government or pro-government organization
  • Rogue elements in the security services or fighters returning from eastern Ukraine may have wanted to silence his anti-war stance
  • Or it may have been unrelated to Ukraine: Alexei Navalny said it could have been ordered by officials in Yaroslavl, where Boris Nemtsov had been investigating corruption

Russia’s finance ministry became part of the story on March 3 when it was asked about reports that a light-colored car used by the ministry had been seen in the area at the time of the shooting.

The ministry’s press service said the Ford car belonged to an in-house security service, but not the ministry itself, Tass news agency reported.

Lifenews website, which has close links to the security services, quoted the driver, Dmitry Karmaza, as saying he had driven past the scene a few minutes after the shooting, when a patrol car was already there.

Separately, a video purportedly showing a far-right Russian group active in eastern Ukraine claiming it carried out the killing was dismissed by the group’s leader as a fake.

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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial begins in Boston

Diane A. Wade
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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial begins in Boston

The trial of Boston Marathon suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev has began in the city where three people died and more than 260 were injured in the terror attack two years ago.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, denies more than 30 counts of using a weapon of mass destruction.

Three people, including an 8-year-old boy, were killed after two pressure cooker bombs packed with nails, ball bearings and other shrapnel detonated.

It was the deadliest terror attack on US soil since 9/11.

More than 260 people were injured, with many losing limbs.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is also accused of killing a police officer in the days after the bombing.Boston Marathon bombing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial

A huge police man hunt followed the attacks, culminating in Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s arrest and the death of his 26-year-old brother Tamerlan, who was also suspected of the bombings.

It took the court more than two months to select a jury.

Over 1,300 potential jurors were considered, with many rejected on the grounds they had already made their minds up about Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s guilt, or were not willing to vote for execution if he is found guilty – something prosecutors are pushing for.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s defense team repeatedly tried to have the hearing moved out of Boston, saying a fair trial would be impossible in the city.

They are expected to argue that his elder brother was the driving force behind the attack.

The prosecution will argue that the brothers – both ethnic Chechens – set off the bombs as an act of retaliation against the US for its military action in Muslim countries.

They plan to show jurors panels of the boat which Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found by police in, where he had allegedly scrawled anti-US messages.

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Paris drones: Ten more machines spotted flying over French capital

Diane A. Wade
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Paris drones: Ten more machines spotted flying over French capital

Paris authorities have issued a new alert after ten more drones have been spotted flying over the French capital.

According to new reports, police are searching for four men after a chase in the east of Paris.

The latest drones were seen hovering near the Eiffel Tower and several other areas further away from the centre.

Some 60 drones have been sighted since October 2014, over nuclear installations and central Paris, the government says.

The most recent have all been seen over Paris, prompting security fears after the murders of 17 people last month.

Security at key sites in Paris was tightened last month after the killings by Islamist gunmen at Charlie Hebdo magazine, in Montrouge and kosher supermarket HyperCacher.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

Flying drones over Paris is banned without a license and no night flights are allowed over the city at all. The heightened security presence was thought to be one of the reasons why the unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted.

There was a sighting in January over the Elysee Palace, home of President Francois Hollande, and last week near the US embassy.

Police sources told French media that the latest drones appeared at around 22:00 on March 3.

One of the machines was spotted by police on patrol close to Porte de Montreuil, on the edge of the city, French news channel BFM-TV reports.

They chased the drone in their car but lost track of it because of traffic.

The report suggested that the drone had been recovered by four men further south at Porte de Vincennes but they fled in a black car on the nearby Paris ring road.

The authorities have been unable to establish who is behind the drones.

The incidents above nuclear plants in the autumn were blamed on environmental activists, but no-one has admitted involvement in the latest incidents.

On March, an Al-Jazeera journalist, Tristan Redman, was fined €1,000 ($1,120) for flying a drone in the Bois de Boulogne park on the west side of the city last week, but that was not considered related to the case.

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Pippa Middleton earned over $350,000 in 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Pippa Middleton earned over $350,000 in 2014

Pippa Middleton earned a little over $350,000 in 2014 with her booming business venture, PXM Enterprises.

According to government filings for the company, the total cash on hand is listed as around $325,000.Pippa Middleton and Kate

Kate Middleton’s sister is also writing articles for Vanity Fair and The Telegraph on a variety of topics from politics to hostess tips and even sports.

Pippa Middleton, 31, also edits the web magazine Party Times for her parents’ Party Pieces online business.

In 2014, Pippa Middleton also managed to publish her very own book, Celebrate: A Year of British Festivities for Families and Friends.

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The Dress: Roman Originals in 2007 child labor investigation

Nancy Clayson
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The Dress: Roman Originals in 2007 child labor investigation

Roman Originals, the company selling the blue and black dress that blew up on social media last week, found itself in the middle of a child labor investigation, according to a 2007 report by British newspaper, The Observer.

The company – which sells the internet’s favorite black and blue dress for about $77, and is reportedly planning to produce a white and gold version – was apparently one of at least two UK-based retailers that contracted services through a supplier in India.

Photo Roman Originals
Photo Roman Originals

During a trip through what the publication called “a network of mud-bricked sweatshops” in a section of New Delhi, The Observer said in 2007 it “found dozens of children cramped together producing clothes for the UK high street. In one sweatshop, children were finishing a summer dress, now on sale for £16.99 [about $26] in 250 Select clothing stores across Britain.”

The publication quoted one boy who implied he lived at the sweatshop: “<<I want to work here. I have somewhere to sleep at night>>, he says looking furtively behind him. <<The work is hard and my back hurts from crouching over the material but I am learning>>.”

The dress seller later said in a statement that it canceled its contract with the supplier immediately after learning about the accusations.

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Steve Weatherford and Sidney Rice to donate brains for medical research

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Steve Weatherford and Sidney Rice to donate brains for medical research

NFL stars Steve Weatherford and Sidney Rice say they will donate their brains for medical research after their deaths.

New York Giants punter Steve Weatherford and former Seattle Seahawks receiver Sidney Rice want to support studies into brain injuries.

Many former players in the sport suffer degenerative brain disease.

“There are a lot of issues that stem from brain injuries and it’s not just professional athletes. This affects everybody,” Steve Weatherford said.

Sidney Rice won the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks last year before retiring – at the age of 27 – over fears for his long-term health after absorbing so many blows to the head.Steve Weatherford and Sidney Rice to donate brains for medical research

Both players said they hoped their commitment could persuade others to support research into brain injuries.

About 4,500 former players are suing the National Football League (NFL) over head injuries suffered during their careers. They are close to a settlement worth about $1 billion.

“A lot of my team-mates and a lot of close friends have dealt with concussions and the depression that comes with that,” said Steve Weatherford.

Steve Weatherford and Sidney Rice made a joint announcement to coincide with Brain Injury Awareness Month in the US.

Sidney Rice estimates he suffered between 15 and 20 concussions playing American Football from the age of eight.

“I had my fair share of fun in the NFL,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t educated enough on what concussions can lead to. The brain studies by the doctors will be huge to help, maybe prevent.”

Ukraine: Zasyadko mine explosion kills at least 30 people in Donetsk

Diane A. Wade
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Ukraine: Zasyadko mine explosion kills at least 30 people in Donetsk

At least 30 people have been killed in a suspected methane gas blast at a coal mine in a rebel-held region of eastern Ukraine, officials say.

Other 14 miners were also injured at the Zasyadko mine in Donetsk, scene of Ukraine’s worst mine disaster nearly eight years ago.

Rescuers have not yet reached the site of the blast, officials said.

Donetsk saw heavy fighting between separatist rebels and government troops over the winter.

A mine union official, Mikhail Volynets, told a Ukrainian TV channel there had been no fighting in the area in recent days.Ukraine Zasyadko mine explosion 2015

Vladimir Tsymbalenko, head of the local mining safety service, was quoted by Reuters as saying: “According to preliminary information, more than 30 people were killed.

“Rescue workers have not yet come to the place of the explosion, they are removing the poisonous gas and then will go down.”

While Ukraine’s economy has significantly shrunk since the conflict began in April, many coal mines continue to operate in the conflict zone.

Before the conflict, accidents were common in the mines, where safety standards are poor.

Despite being one of the region’s newer and better-equipped mines, Zasyadko suffered Ukraine’s worst mining disaster in November 2007, when 101 people were killed.

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Barack Obama reacts to Benjamin Netanyahu’s Iran speech

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama reacts to Benjamin Netanyahu’s Iran speech

President Barack Obama has dismissed a speech by Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu that castigated his policy towards Iran.

In a speech to the US Congress, Benjamin Netanyahu warned that a deal under discussion on Iran’s nuclear program could “pave Iran’s path to the bomb” rather than block it.

Barack Obama said Benjamin Netanyahu had offered no viable alternative.

Other senior Democrats – and Iran – also criticized Benjamin Netanyahu.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit was controversial from the start, because Republican speaker John Boehner invited him without consulting the White House.

President Barack Obama announced he would not meet Benjamin Netanyahu, who is fighting in a closely contested national election in just two weeks’ time.

Talks on Iran’s nuclear program are nearing a critical late-March deadline for an outline agreement to be reached.

In a speech to the Congress regularly punctuated by standing ovations Benjamin Netanyahu depicted Iran as a “threat to the entire world”.

He insisted Iran had proven time and time again that it could not be trusted.Barack Obama on Benjamin Netanyau speech

Benjamin Netanyahu went on to criticize the likely contours of the deal currently being negotiated in Switzerland, where Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met Secretary of State John Kerry on March 3.

“We’ve been told that no deal is better than a bad deal,” he said.

“Well this is a bad deal, a very bad deal, We’re better off without it.”

Benjamin Netanyahu said it relied heavily on international monitoring, when Iran “plays a pretty good game of <<hide and cheat>> with UN inspectors”.

The Israeli prime minister received a rapturous reception for his speech, but dozens of Democrats – including Vice President Joe Biden – stayed away.

House minority leader Nancy Pelosi at times refused to clap and later issued a statement saying Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech had been an “insult to the intelligence of the United States” that had left her near tears.

Barack Obama said he had been unable to watch the speech as it was given, but found “nothing new” when he read the transcript.

“The alternative that the prime minister offers is <<no deal>>, in which case Iran will immediately begin once again pursuing its nuclear program, accelerate its nuclear program without us having any insight into what they are doing and without constraint,” he said.

The president said sanctions alone were not sufficient without offering Iran an alternative path.

Other Democrats criticized the speech, with Representative John Yarmuth calling it “straight out of the Dick Cheney playbook – fear mongering at its worst”.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry said Benjamin Netanyahu’s words were “boring and repetitive”, Fars news agency reported.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the “Iranophobic” speech was a “deceitful show and part of the election campaign of Tel Aviv’s hardliners”.

The US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China are seeking to reach agreement to curtail Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

They fear Iran has ambitions to build a nuclear bomb – something Iran denies, insisting it is merely exercising its right to peaceful nuclear power.

Negotiators are currently working towards a late-March deadline for an outline agreement with Iran, which would be followed by a detailed deal by the end of June.

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GDC 2015: Sony’s new Morpheus VR helmet to be launched in 2016

Nancy Clayson
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GDC 2015: Sony’s new Morpheus VR helmet to be launched in 2016

Sony has revealed a new edition of its virtual reality helmet Morpheus, which it says it plans to put on sale in 2016.

The new edition of Project Morpheus now features an OLED display, rather than an LCD one, letting it show more vibrant colors. That brings it in line with Facebook’s rival Oculus Rift.

The new virtual reality (VR) helmet is also capable of showing graphics at 120 frames per second (fps).

That beats the figure given by HTC for its recently unveiled Vive VR headset.

The frame rate is important as the higher the number, the smoother moving objects appear. It also reduces the risk of nausea.

HTC said on March 1 that its helmet provided a refresh rate of 90fps.

Oculus has not confirmed its specifications, but recent demonstrations of the recent Crescent Bay version of its kit have also been reported to run at 90fps.

Sony’s announcement is a surprise, because until now, the PlayStation console – which Morpheus depends on to play games – had not been thought to be able to render games at this rate.

However, speaking at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida revealed that a software update would allow the machine to create an “in-between frame” to double its current maximum of 60fps.Sony Project Morpheus PS4

“Higher frame rates are definitely important because they are going to translate into higher responsiveness of the gaming environment,” explained Brian Blau, an analyst at the Gartner tech consultancy who previously worked in the virtual reality industry.

“That’s going to mean people who are wearing the device aren’t going to feel as sick. 120fps approaches the range where you don’t notice the changes in the graphics – they will be smooth and fluid.”

Other details revealed at GDC include:

  • Morpheus now has a 0.018 second latency rate – the gap in time between the user moving their head and the headset responding. It was previously 0.04 seconds. Shuhei Yoshida suggested this meant the lag had now become imperceptible
  • The headset’s screen is now 5.7in – up from 5in before – and provides a 100-degree field of view, which should cover most of what the user sees
  • The number of LEDs used to track head movement has been increased from six to nine. Sony says this will improve the stability of the 360-degree tracking provided by its separate PS4 camera
  • A quick-release button has been added to make it easier for users to remove the headset

The screen resolution remains at 1080p high definition, providing 960 pixels by 1080 pixels per eye.

Shushei Yoshida said the current version was “near final”, suggesting there were further improvements to be made before it goes on sale, which is scheduled to happen within the first six months of 2016.

He added that more details would be unveiled at the E3 video games expo in June.

The release date is later than that of HTC’s Vive headset – a collaboration with video games publisher Valve – that is set to launch before the end of this year.

HTC’s kit is expected to be designed for games sold via Steam’s PC-focused Steam online marketplace, meaning it may not directly compete with Sony’s machine. PCs can generate higher quality moving images than the PS4 if fitted with special graphics cards.

Valve also released more details about how its VR system would work.

It said a tracking-system called Lighthouse would let users explore a virtual space and the objects within it from different angles by moving about in real life.

“In order to have a high quality VR experience, you need high-resolution, high-speed tracking,” said Valve’s Alan Yates in a statement released by HTC.

“Lighthouse gives us the ability to do this for an arbitrary number of targets at a low enough bill-of-materials cost that it can be incorporated into TVs, monitors, headsets, input devices, or mobile devices.”

HTC said it would allow manufacturers to build Lighthouse into their products without charging them a fee.

It also announced the Source 2 games engine – software used to create video games with 3D graphics – which it is making available to third-party developers.

The original version, which is 10 years old, was used to make games including Half-life 2, Portal and Titanfall.

Valve may provide more details about its VR platform later this week when selected GDC attendees will be among the first to try out the HTC Vive.

Oculus has yet to set a release date for its PC-connected virtual reality helmet.

However, Samsung already sells Oculus-branded VR kit that uses its smartphones as screens.

“I think 2015 and 2016 are going to be seminal years for VR,” said Sony’s Brian Blau.

“There’s a lot of products coming to market, which is going to mean consumers get to experience it in a way they haven’t been able to do before: at home and in high quality.

“Here at GDC, there are a lot of developers who are interested in VR.

“But the big issue is, will the helmets be affordable or expensive. The early adopters will probably pick one up and pay whatever price is asked, but a higher price will limit sales for mainstream gamers.”

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Why The Business Auto Leasing Market Boomed In 2014

Dana R
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Why The Business Auto Leasing Market Boomed In 2014

You would think that the auto market is still suffering because of the global economic slowdown. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth! More people are getting new vehicles than ever before.

The same can also get said for the business market as well. According to Edmunds, 27% of all new cars sold were done so through lease deals. In the middle of the recession that figure was 16%. And before the recession, it was only 19%.

auto-business

Image Source: Flickr

Part of the reason for that improvement is down to lease transfers. As the name might suggest, it’s where one entity takes over the lease of vehicles from another. The third parties that take over might be subsidiary companies, car dealers or individuals.

But what are the other reasons why auto leasing growth improved back in 2014? The following will give you an insight:

Better choice of vehicles

These days car drivers and fleet managers have one thing in common: fuel-efficient cars. Gone are the days where business executives drove around in gas-guzzlers with a BMW or Mercedes-Benz badge on the hood.

It’s now possible to enjoy high performance AND high efficiency thanks to the marvels of engine technology.

One of the world’s favorite vehicles for business is the BMW 3 Series. In particular, the 320d EfficientDynamics. That’s because it makes use of the company’s twin-scroll turbo technology. For those seeking the ultimate in greener luxury, there’s always the Tesla Model S.

Better lease deals

Lease companies are falling over themselves to get you to sign up with them. They each offer attractive deals designed to tempt you to their fold. For instance, some might offer free servicing and maintenance for the duration of your term. Others might offer to pay your car tax for you.

One thing that many lease firms have in common is that they’ll charge the lowest amount of interest on the cars they offer as possible. Often, that means fleet managers can afford to upgrade to better models without a significant increase in cost.

Cheaper insurance

With commercial insurers like Insure Fleet around, it’s easy to find the best deals on company car insurance. Some fleet managers would let their lease companies take care of insurance matters for them. But what many didn’t realize is that they make a commission on new policies sold! By going direct to insurers, firms have made large savings on their fleet insurance costs.

Thanks to the Internet, it’s now possible to get quotes from many different insurers at once. With all of them fighting to get your custom!

People are spending more money

Even though our economy is still not what you’d consider “great” people are spending money. And when they spend money with you, it means you have the cash flow to afford new car leases!

Part of that reason is down to the unemployed setting up their own businesses. Rather than staying jobless for a long time, many people decided to work for themselves. And I’m pleased to report, a lot of those folks are making more money now than they ever did working for “the man”!

Kate Middleton prank call: Australian radio station 2Day FM broke the law

Nancy Clayson
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Kate Middleton prank call: Australian radio station 2Day FM broke the law

Australia’s High Court has upheld a ruling that radio station 2Day FM broke the law by airing a hoax call to a hospital which was treating Kate Middleton for morning sickness.

DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian made international headlines in 2012 when nurse Jacintha Saldana who fell for their prank later killed herself.

On March 4, the High Court overturned a previous decision which cleared 2Day FM.

The station could now be fined or see its license suspended or revoked.

2Day FM said Wednesday’s decision “means that there is a serious defect in Australian broadcasting law”.

The High Court ruling upheld an earlier finding by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) that the station broke the law by not obtaining consent to air the call from either of the hospital staff featured.DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian 2Day FM

Mel Greig and Michael Christian called King Edward VII’s Hospital in London on December 2012 pretending to be the Queen and Prince Phillip.

Nurse Jacintha Saldana, 46, answered the call and transferred it to a colleague, who gave details of Kate Middleton’s condition. Following widespread media coverage Jacintha Saldanha was found hanged three days later.

ACMA had ruled in November 2013, nearly a year after the prank took place, that the radio station had broken the law by broadcasting the call.

The station successfully sued the ACMA in the Federal Court, arguing that the media watchdog did not have the authority to decide whether a criminal offence had been committed and overturned its decision.

Wednesday’s High Court ruling reverses that Federal Court decision, finding that the ACMA does have that power. The authority can now decide whether to issue a penalty to the station of a fine or suspension of license.

In February 2013, the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service said there was no evidence to support a charge of manslaughter against Mel Greig and Michael Christian.

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MWC 2015: Ford unveils two electric bike models

Nancy Clayson
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MWC 2015: Ford unveils two electric bike models

Ford has launched e-bikes at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC), as part of its plans to extend its footprint beyond cars.

Increasingly car manufacturers are looking to new ways to make money with many developing so-called smart transportation systems.

Ford’s electric bicycles come in two versions – one for use by commuters, MoDe:Me, and one as a commercial bike for couriers, MoDe:Pro.

Both are linked to a smartphone app that provides step-by-step navigation.

The experiment with e-bikes is part of Ford’s smart mobility plan – it is keen to study how such bicycles integrate with cars and public transport.

“There are so many ways to get around a city, but what is really needed is a way to connect all of these transport options together,” said Ken Washington, vice president of Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.Ford electrical bike MWC 2015

“Being able to seamlessly move between cars, buses, trains and e-bikes and react to changing traffic situations can make a big difference both for commuters and for those delivering goods, services and healthcare.”

Traffic problems and overly long commutes have been proved to have a significant economic and social impact on cities. According to the European Commission, congestion within the EU costs about 100 billion euros each year.

Both Ford’s e-bikes are equipped with a 200-watt motor with a 9-amp-hour battery that provides electric pedal assistance for speeds of up to 15mph. Both can also be folded.

Rear-facing sensors offer riders an alert system that warns the cyclist when a vehicle is overtaking by vibrating both handlebars. Sensors also alert motorists to the presence of the e-bike by lighting up the handlebars.

An app – currently only available on the iPhone 6 – provides step-by-step navigation – it plans an entire route for commuters, from driving to a train station to taking a train and completing a journey via an e-bike. It also offers information about the routes – so if a train service in cancelled it may offer an alternative method of transport.

It also provides navigation for riders, via a Bluetooth headset that uses haptic touch technology to notify the rider of whether to turn left or right.

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