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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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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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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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Rihanna is dating Leonardo DiCaprio, but they are not exclusive

Lisa.Felice
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Rihanna is dating Leonardo DiCaprio, but they are not exclusive

Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio have been linked since January, but it seems that they are no closer to being exclusive than when they first got together.

According to celebrity website TMZ, Rihanna is way more committed than Leonardo DiCaprio is. The actor likes her, but he is not willing to settle down with her into a full-blown relationship.Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna

Recently though, Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio got cozy as they celebrated RiRi’s 27th birthday, an event Leo helped organize.

Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio, 40, reportedly engaged in some heavy PDA at the party, but they are just in the “more than friends” category right now.

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Kylie Jenner reveals she gained 15 lbs

Lisa.Felice
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Kylie Jenner reveals she gained 15 lbs

Kylie Jenner has tackled Throwback Thursday with a photo of herself from just a few months ago.

“Throwback to when I was 15 pounds skinnier & had a little blonde goin on,” Kylie Jenner wrote alongside a snapshot of her pumping gas for her Mercedes SUV in leather leggings and a baggy white T-shirt.

Kylie Jenner was seen running errands in her PacSun line, showing off her killer figure and toned abs.Kylie Jenner weight gain 2015

The reality star also seemed to be sporting long locks for her day out, considering that just weeks ago her hair was above her shoulders.

During a recent interview with Fault magazine issue 20, Kylie Jenner opened up about how the limelight has affected her and the way she lives her life in the public eye.

“I never feel pressure to be a good role model,” Kylie Jenner told the magazine.

“I always try to do my best to inspire people to be good and do the right thing, but I just can’t live my life always trying to be a good role model…We’re all human. I just like to live each day and just be me and be real.”

Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry welcome baby boy Rhodes

Lisa.Felice
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Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry welcome baby boy Rhodes

Sara Gilbert and her wife Linda Perry welcomed a baby boy, The Talk co-host Julie Chen announced on March 2.

Sara Gilbert, 40, gave birth to the couple’s first child, named Rhodes Emilio Gilbert Perry, on Saturday, February 28.
Explaining Sara Gilbert’s absence, Julie Chen said: “Sara is on maternity leave. She just delivered over the weekend.
“Our very own Sara and her wife Linda Perry are the proud parents of a new baby boy. Rhodes Emilio Gilbert Perry was born on Saturday and both mother and child are doing well.”Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry welcome baby boy
Sharon Osbourne then shared the first photo of little Rhodes with fans.
Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry wed on March 2014. Sara Gilbert is also a mother to son Levi and daughter Sawyer from her previous relationship with TV producer Allison Adler.
Baby Rhodes is the second Sara Gilbert has carried – she gave birth to Sawyer in 2007, while Allison Adler carried Levi in 2004.

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Benjamin Netanyahu Congress speech: “Iran nuclear deal could pave its way to bomb”

Diane A. Wade
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Benjamin Netanyahu Congress speech: “Iran nuclear deal could pave its way to bomb”

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has begun his speech to US Congress warning that a deal under discussion on Iran’s nuclear program could “pave its way to the bomb”, rather than block it.

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

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

It also comes just two weeks before a closely fought election in Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that he was not trying to meddle in internal US politics.

The White House had criticized Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to address Congress on the matter.Benjamin Netanyahu Congress speech 2015

It had complained that the speech – at Republican invitation, without consulting the White House – was interfering in domestic politics by trying to swell domestic opposition to any Iran deal.

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

Benjamin Netanyahu was greeted with whoops and cheers as he made his way to the podium, shaking hands as he went.

He insisted the Israel-US relationship “must remain above politics” and that he was “grateful for the support of the American people”.

The Israeli prime minister quickly went on to the meat of his speech, saying Iran had proven time and time again that it could not be trusted.

Iran was on a “march of conquest, subjugation and terror”, he said.

“Iran’s regime is as radical as ever, the ideology is deeply rooted in militant Islam… it will always be an enemy of US.”

Its participation in the battle against Islamic State (ISIS) did not make it a friend, Benjamin Netanyahu said: “This enemy of your enemy is your enemy.”

He went on to criticize the likely contours of the deal currently being negotiated in Switzerland.

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

He said it would leave in Iran with a vast nuclear infrastructure and lift restrictions on its nuclear programs in a decade.

“This deal doesn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb, it paves Iran’s path to the bomb,” he said, claiming Iran could have 100 nuclear bombs in five years.

“The days when the Jews remain passive in the face of genocidal enemies are over,” Benjamin Netanyahu said to big cheers.

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David Petraeus reaches plea deal with Department of Justice

Nancy Clayson
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David Petraeus reaches plea deal with Department of Justice

Former CIA director David Petraeus has reached a plea deal with the US Department of Justice in which he will admit to mishandling classified materials.

It ends a long investigation into whether he provided secret information to his mistress Paula Broadwell.

David Petraeus resigned from his post at the CIA in 2012, after it emerged he was having an affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell.

A DoJ statement said a plea agreement had been filed.

The deal means that David Petraeus will plead guilty to one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, but could avoid an embarrassing trial.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, the New York Times reported.

Photo AP
Photo AP

The retired four-star general was in charge of America’s recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was once considered a contender for the Republican presidential ticket.

David Petraeus had an affair with Paula Broadwell in 2011 during which time she was interviewing him for a biography she was writing.

Three days after the 2012 general election, David Petraeus resigned as the director of the CIA and admitted to the affair but at the time he denied any criminal wrongdoing.

The FBI discovered the affair during a cyberstalking investigation following allegations made by one of the former general’s friends, Jill Kelley.

They determined that Paula Broadwell had been sending threatening emails to Jill Kelley, and during the investigation they discovered evidence that suggested David Petraeus had shared the classified information.

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Villarrica volcano eruption: More than 3,000 people evacuated in southern Chile

Diane A. Wade
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Villarrica volcano eruption: More than 3,000 people evacuated in southern Chile

Chile’s Villarrica volcano erupted in the early hours of March 3, spewing ash and lava up to 3,300ft into the air.

More than 3,000 people have been evacuated from the volcano’s vicinity in southern Chile. The mayor of the nearby town of Pucon said residents had left “calmly”.

President Michelle Bachelet said she would travel to the area on the same day to assess the situation.

The 2,840m-high Villarrica is an active volcano with a lava lake in its crater.Chile Villarrica volcano eruption 2015

It is a popular destination for hikers. Hundreds climb the peak each summer to peer inside the crater.

According to Chile’s Ministry of Mining, Villarrica’s last major eruption was in 1985.

More than 100 people are thought to have died in mudflows on the slopes of the volcano during the 20th Century.

Chilean police said the towns of Pucon and Conaripe had been evacuated as a precaution.

Pucon Mayor Carlos Parra said that after 20 minutes, the volcano’s activity seemed to have calmed down again.

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Red Nose Day 2015: Daniel Craig to appear in James Bond sketch for Comic Relief

Sonia Pantiss
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Red Nose Day 2015: Daniel Craig to appear in James Bond sketch for Comic Relief

Daniel Craig will appear in a special James Bond sketch for Comic Relief, to be broadcast as part of Red Nose Day on March 13.

The skit will feature in Face the Funny, the charity’s first show to be broadcast live from the London Palladium.

Professor Stephen Hawking will appear in a new Little Britain sketch, featuring David Walliams as carer Lou.

The physicist will take Matt Lucas’s role as the fake wheelchair-bound Andy.

It is the second Comic Relief sketch for Daniel Craig, who is currently filming new James Bond movie Spectre.Daniel Craig Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2015

Daniel Craig appeared in a sketch with Catherine Tate in 2009, which saw her character Elaine Figgis dating a spy played by the actor.

Stephen Hawking’s Little Britain cameo follows Kate Moss’ appearance during a Comic Relief show at Hammersmith Apollo in 2006, when she joined Matt Lucas on stage as Katie Pollard, the sister of Vicky Pollard.

Other previously announced sketches to feature during this year’s charity appeal include Rowan Atkinson’s return as Mr. Bean, Dawn French in the Vicar of Dibley and highlights of Peter Kay’s live Phoenix Nights show.

John Bishop, Eddie Izzard, Davina McCall and David Walliams will also take to the stage for a reinvention of Monty Python’s Four Yorkshiremen sketch.

Dermot O’Leary will complete his 24-hour dance marathon live at the London Palladium.

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Boris Nemtsov murder: Alexei Navalny and EU politicians barred from attending funeral

Diane A. Wade
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Boris Nemtsov murder: Alexei Navalny and EU politicians barred from attending funeral

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and several EU politicians have been barred from attending the funeral of murdered politician Boris Nemtsov in Moscow.

A Polish politician was denied a visa under existing Russian sanctions while a Latvian MEP was turned back after arriving at a Moscow airport.

Alexei Navalny was denied permission to leave jail, where he is serving a 15-day sentence.

Mourners are filing past Boris Nemtsov’s coffin at Moscow’s Sakharov centre.

His funeral will be held in the afternoon at a Moscow cemetery, Troyekurovskoye, where murdered journalist Anna Politkovskayta was buried in 2006.

Boris Nemtsov, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was killed on a bridge near the Kremlin wall on Friday night.

No arrests have been made and no clear motive has been established for the crime.

New CCTV footage of the presumed getaway car has been released by a pro-Kremlin Russian news website, LifeNews. The video shows a vehicle making its way along Moscow streets but there is no close-up on the suspects inside.Boris Nemtsov funeral

Former British PM John Major, who was in Moscow to pay his respects, called for a full, transparent investigation into Boris Nemtsov’s murder, saying his voice would not be silenced.

It was, he added, his “saddest ever visit to Moscow”.

Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete was refused entry into Russia at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow without a proper explanation.

Sandra Kalniete said she had been made to wait two hours at the airport before being denied entry.

Bogdan Borusewicz, the Polish senate speaker who was to have led a delegation from his country, was denied a visa.

Russia said Bogdan Borusewicz was on a list of Polish officials barred from travelling to Russia, drawn up after the EU imposed sanctions on Russia over its involvement in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin will not attend the funeral, the Kremlin said, but will send a representative in his place.

Alexei Navalny is currently in custody for 15 days for handing out leaflets publicizing a demonstration.

He appealed against a court decision not to release him temporarily but the appeal is only going to be heard on Wednesday, the day after the funeral.

Tens of thousands of people marched through central Moscow on March 1 to honor Boris Nemtsov, with the opposition claiming some 50,000 people had attended the event.

Boris Nemtsov, 55, had been due to lead an opposition march that day, but his killing turned the event into a mourning rally.

His allies have accused the Kremlin of involvement but President Vladimir Putin condemned the murder as “vile” and “provocative”, vowing to find the killers.

Boris Nemtsov had been walking home from a restaurant with his Ukrainian girlfriend, Anna Durytska, when he was shot four times.

Anna Durytska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian model, was allowed to return to Ukraine after being questioned by Russian police.

She told Russian media she had not seen the killer, who struck from behind.

Russia’s Federal Protective Service, in charge of presidential security, has said its surveillance cameras did not record the shooting because they were pointed towards the Kremlin.

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Study: Drinking few cups of coffee a day may cut risk of clogged arteries

Kathryn R. Bown
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Study: Drinking few cups of coffee a day may cut risk of clogged arteries

According to South Korean researchers, drinking a few cups of coffee a day may help people avoid clogged arteries – a known risk factor for heart disease.

They studied more than 25,000 male and female employees who underwent routine health checks at their workplace.

Employees who drank a moderate amount of coffee – three to five cups a day – were less likely to have early signs of heart disease on their medical scans.

The findings reopen the debate about whether coffee is good for the heart.

There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the effect of coffee on heart health.

Some studies have linked consumption to heart risk factors, such as raised cholesterol or blood pressure, while others suggest the beverage may offer some heart protection.

There is no conclusive evidence either way, and the latest research from South Korea, which is published in the journal Heart, only adds to the discussion.Coffee and clogged arteries risk

In the study, the researchers used medical scans to assess heart health.

Specifically, they were looking for any disease of the arteries supplying the heart – the coronary arteries.

In coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries become clogged by the gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls.

The scan the researchers used looks for tiny deposits of calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries to provide an early clue that this disease process may be occurring.

None of the employees included in the Korean study had outward signs of heart disease, but more than one in 10 of them were found to have visible calcium deposits on their scans.

The researchers then compared the scan results with the employees’ self-reported daily coffee consumption, while taking into account other potential heart risk factors such as smoking, exercise and family history of heart problems.

People who drank a few cups of coffee a day were less likely to have calcium deposits in their coronary arteries than people who drank more than this or no coffee at all.

The study authors say more research is needed to confirm and explain the link.

Coffee contains the stimulant caffeine, as well as numerous other compounds, but it’s not clear if these might cause good or harm to the body.

How much coffee to drink?

  • In the US, experts say up to 400mg a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults
  • If you’re pregnant, you should limit the amount of caffeine you have to 200mg a day – equivalent to two mugs of instant coffee
  • one mug of instant coffee: 100mg
  • one mug of filter coffee: 140mg
  • one mug of tea: 75mg
  • one can of cola: 40mg

Venezuela: US has 15 days to cut 80 diplomats in Caracas

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: US has 15 days to cut 80 diplomats in Caracas

Venezuela has given the United States 15 days to dramatically reduce the number of diplomats it has in the country.

Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said the US should decide which of its 100 diplomats should be sent home.

She said the goal was to bring the balance down to 17 – the number of Venezuelan diplomats in the US.

On February 28, President Nicolas Maduro said the US had been meddling in Venezuela’s affairs.

He said American citizens visiting Venezuela would now be required to apply for visas charged at the same rates levied on Venezuelans wishing to visit the US.

Nicolas Maduro said Venezuela would also issue a list of banned politicians who it considered to have promoted human rights abuses.Delcy Rodriguez Venezuela

Earlier this month the US imposed visa restrictions on unnamed Venezuelan officials it accused of human rights violations and corruption.

The move builds on sanctions imposed last year on Venezuelan officials alleged to have violated the rights of protesters during demonstrations that shook the country in the first six months of 2014.

Nicolas Maduro has frequently accused the US of working with opposition groups against his government.

Earlier this year Nicolas Maduro said the US had attempted to encourage a coup that involved bombing the presidential palace. Washington rejected the accusations as ludicrous.

Venezuela and the US have not exchanged ambassadors for the last five years.

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Barack Obama: Iran must halt nuclear program for at least a decade

Roy Siemens
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Barack Obama: Iran must halt nuclear program for at least a decade

Iran must halt its nuclear program for at least a decade if it wants to strike a deal with the US, President Barack Obama has said.

However, the odds are against talks with Iran ending with an agreement, Barack Obama told Reuters.

Negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program are at a critical stage, with an outline agreement due on March 31.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to urge the US Congress on March 3 to oppose a deal.

He was invited to speak at the US Capitol by Republican House Speaker John Boehner, angering Democrats.

Benjamin Netanyahu – who faces domestic elections in two weeks’ time – will not meet President Barack Obama during his visit to the US.

In his interview, Barack Obama said disagreements over Iran would not be “permanently destructive” to the US-Israel relationship.

However, Benjamin Netanyahu had been wrong on Iran before when he opposed an interim nuclear agreement struck last year, Barack Obama said.

“Netanyahu made all sorts of claims – this was going to be a terrible deal, this was going to result in Iran getting $50bn worth of relief, Iran would not abide by the agreement.”Barack Obama on Iran nuclear deal

None of that has come true, the president said.

“During this period we’ve seen Iran not advance its program. In many ways, it’s rolled back elements of its program.”

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

They are trying to address concerns that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons technology, something Tehran denies.

Secretary of State John Kerry is holding talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the ongoing negotiations ahead of a March 31 deadline for a framework agreement.

The aim is then to secure a final deal by June 30.

Barack Obama said that if Iran was willing to agree to “double-digit years of keeping their program where it is right now and, in fact, rolling back elements of it that currently exist… and we’ve got a way of verifying that, there’s no other steps we can take” to ensure Iran does not have nuclear arms.

Barack Obama said that while a deal was still unlikely, it would be better than the alternatives.

“If they do agree to it, it would be far more effective in controlling their nuclear program than any military action we could take, any military action Israel could take, and far more effective than sanctions will be,” Barack Obama told Reuters.

The US goal is to make sure “there’s at least a year between us seeing them try to get a nuclear weapon and them actually being able to obtain one,” he said.

The Israelis say any agreement that leaves Iran with a workable nuclear industry, now or in the future, is too dangerous.

“I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them,” Benjamin Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington on March 2.

The leading Republican and Democrat on the House foreign relations committee have sent a letter to Barack Obama highlighting their concerns about a deal.

They said Congress must be convinced that any pathway Iran might have to developing a nuclear weapon is shut off before Congress considers easing sanctions.

US national security adviser Susan Rice has warned Congress not to seek new sanctions against Iran while the talks with world powers are ongoing.

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Hyeon Soo Lim: Canadian pastor fails to return from North Korea

Diane A. Wade
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Hyeon Soo Lim: Canadian pastor fails to return from North Korea

Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim has failed to return from a humanitarian visit to North Korea, an official from his church says.

Reverend Hyeon Soo Lim of the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Toronto, 60, travelled to North Korea on January 31 and was due to leave on February 4.

Hyeon Soo Lim has made hundreds of trips to North Korea, where he helps oversee a nursing home, a nursery and an orphanage, his church said, but this was the longest he had been out of touch.Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim missing after North Korea trip

Canadian officials said they were in contact with Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim’s family and had offered consular assistance.

North Korea periodically detains visiting foreign nationals, particularly those linked to religious activity – which is restricted inside the country.

US citizens are generally held the longest. North Korea is seen as using them to try to extract political concessions.

Citizens from nations of less political importance to Pyongyang can be freed quickly. An Australian missionary detained in February 2014 for leaving Christian material at a tourist site was swiftly deported.

Church officials initially wondered whether Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim had become caught up in a 21-day quarantine North Korea said it was imposing on travelers potentially exposed to Ebola.

Canada advises against all travel to North Korea and has no diplomatic presence in the country.

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LAPD shooting: Homeless man reached for officer’s gun

Nancy Clayson
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LAPD shooting: Homeless man reached for officer’s gun

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has presented evidence he claims shows that a homeless man reached for an officer’s gun before being shot dead.

Charlie Beck also said two officers were wearing body cameras, but he has declined to release the footage.

He did not release any details about the man – known as Africa – who was shot by three officers just after 12:00 local time on March 1.

Protests about police actions have been held across the US in recent months.

They were sparked by a number of instances where police shot dead black men after a confrontation.

In the latest incident in Los Angeles, a footage released on social media shows a violent struggle between the homeless man and several officers in the city’s Skid Row area.

Chief Charlie Beck said the man engaged them in what he called a “brutal, brutal fight”.

Photo KTTV
Photo KTTV

Officers are said to have used a Tazer in an attempt to subdue him but the struggle continued.

Flanked by a poster featuring several blown-up images related to the case, Chief Charlie Beck reiterated claims that the homeless man had attempted to grab an officer’s weapon.

Video showed the man reaching toward the officer’s waistband, he said, and the way that officer’s gun was later found partly cocked and jammed suggested a struggle for the weapon had occurred.

“You can hear the young officer who was primarily engaged in the confrontation saying that <<He has my gun. He has my gun>>,” said Charlie Beck.

Footage from the two body cameras being worn by police officers would not be released imminently, he said, but would be submitted as evidence if a criminal or civil case is brought against the officers.

Charlie Beck said all the officers had been specifically trained in dealing with people living in Skid Row and initially dealt with the man “with compassion.” At least one of the officers was African American.

The incident comes as police departments around the country face intense scrutiny for their tactics. Last year, highly publicized killings of black men sparked weeks of protests in the US.

Hours after the latest shooting, the hashtag #LAPDShooting was trending on Twitter in the US.

Video of the incident – posted on Facebook and played widely by media – begins with what appears to be a black man swinging punches at police officers, and more officers soon arrive.

A voice can be heard shouting “Drop the gun!” four times before five shots ring out.

Two officers were injured in the incident. Both have been released from hospital, and one is currently using crutches.

Some of the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on leave, according to a police spokeswoman, but she declined to say how many, or release their names.

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