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Joseph Hunter: Former sniper pleads guilty to New York murder plot

Nancy Clayson
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Joseph Hunter: Former sniper pleads guilty to New York murder plot

Former soldier Joseph Hunter, who allegedly formed an international band of snipers as mercenaries, has confessed to a murder plot in New York.

Joseph Hunter, nicknamed Rambo after the hero of the 1980s action films, pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill a federal agent and an informant.

The 49-year-old former sniper faces up to 10 years in prison.

Joseph Hunter believed he had been working for drug traffickers who were actually working for the US anti-drugs agency.

He is accused of recruiting ex-military snipers with the aim of carrying out murders on behalf of drug organizations.

The band was secretly recorded agreeing to kill an agent for the US Drug Enforcement Administration and an informant for a total of $800,000, prosecutors say.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

The murders were never carried out.

The former soldier was arrested in September 2013 along with four other men, three of them snipers, who had served in military forces around the world.

Joseph Hunter – thinking of his family – decided to avoid a trial which had been set for March 9, defense lawyer Marlon Kirton was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

He pleaded guilty despite believing the government had unlawfully entrapped him, the lawyer added.

The former soldier’s judgment had been “severely affected” by post-traumatic stress and depression after two decades in the US army, the lawyer said. He is expected to be sentenced in May.

Joseph Hunter became a “soldier of misfortune who recruited and led an international band of criminal mercenaries,” said US Attorney Preet Bharara.

“This global gun for hire will now be confined stateside in federal prison.”

Three others charged in the case have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Another defendant is awaiting a trial scheduled to start next month.

New Zealand: More than 100 pilot whales die on Farewell Spit beach

James J. Williams
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New Zealand: More than 100 pilot whales die on Farewell Spit beach

Rescuers are trying to refloat about 90 stranded pilot whales after more than 100 died on a beach on New Zealand’s South Island.

The rescuers and volunteers at Farewell Spit, Golden Bay, managed to shepherd many mammals into deeper water, only for them to again run aground.

Conservation officials believe they have one last chance to refloat the whales on the high tide.

If that fails, the mammals may have to be put down.

The rescuers are now trying to keep the distressed whales comfortable by pouring water over them.

Those mammals who died are believed to have suffered great physical and emotional trauma.Pilot whales stranded in Farewell Spit, New Zealand

Local conservation ranger Mike Ogle said it is the biggest beaching incident in 10-15 years.

“Because there’s just so many whales, there are a couple of spots where a lot would gather together and that’s kind of problematic from the aspect that you can’t get in there, it’s just too dangerous,” he said.

Farewell Spit has been the location of many whale beachings.

Experts say its shallow waters seem to confuse whales and hinder their ability to navigate.

Once they are stranded, whales can suffer from dehydration and sunburn.

Pilot whales can grow to about 20ft and are the most common species of whale in New Zealand’s waters.

Andrew Lamason from the Department Of Conservation said it could take days to refloat the whales and even then there would be no guarantees they would survive.

“We’ve had plenty times in the past where the pods have gone out to sea and turned around and come back again,” he said.

“We’re preparing for a big few days.”

Scientists do not know what causes groups of whales to beach themselves.

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Petro Poroshenko: Ukraine peace deal in great danger

Roy Siemens
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Petro Poroshenko: Ukraine peace deal in great danger

President Petro Poroshenko has warned that a deal to end the war in eastern Ukraine is in “great danger” after heavy fighting ahead of February 15 ceasefire.

The Ukrainian president also accused Russia of “significantly increasing” its offensive despite the peace agreement reached in Minsk on February 12.

Meanwhile, the US said it was very concerned by reports of heavy weapons coming across the border from Russia.

Shelling was heard in the rebel-held city of Donetsk early on Saturday, February 14.

Fierce battles are also said to be continuing around Debaltseve, a strategic government-held town almost encircled by rebel forces.

More than a dozen civilians are said to have died in shelling in eastern Ukraine on February 13.

It is unclear who was behind the shelling but both the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions accuse each other of targeting residential areas.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

France President Francois Hollande, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel – who together clinched the agreement in the Belarusian capital – are due to discuss the issue by phone over the weekend.

The UN Security Council will also meet in emergency session on February 15.

Correspondents say the fighting shows no sign of stopping.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Petro Mekhed said the rebels wanted to “raise their flag” over Debaltseve and the key port city of Mariupol before the midnight ceasefire kicked in.

“Ukraine is expecting an escalation and taking all necessary measures to be able to respond,” Petro Mekhed told reporters.

Rebel shelling killed two people in a cafe in Shchastya, near Luhansk, on February 13 as well as a child near a school in Artemivsk, a town near Debaltseve, according to Kiev-controlled regional authorities.

Meanwhile, the rebels said at least six people had died in shelling in the city of Donetsk and town of Horlivka. The rebels accuse government forces of shelling the towns.

“After what we achieved in Minsk this is not just shelling of Ukrainian civilians and residential neighborhoods – this is an attack on our Minsk achievements, without any explanations,” President Petro Poroshenko said.

“Unfortunately, after Minsk, Russia’s offensive operations have intensified,” he said, before adding: “We are still convinced that the Minsk achievements are in a big danger.”

There were also reports of a government offensive near Mariupol, the city between rebel-held eastern areas and the southern Crimea peninsula, which was annexed by Russia last March.

Pro-Russian rebels signed the peace agreement but key issues remain to be settled, including the situation in Debaltseve.

European leaders have warned Russia that it could face additional sanctions if the agreement is not respected.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the deal offered “a glimmer of hope”, but warned: “It is very important that words are followed by actions.”

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Chapel Hill shooting: Barack Obama denounces Muslim murders as “brutal and outrageous”

Diane A. Wade
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Chapel Hill shooting: Barack Obama denounces Muslim murders as “brutal and outrageous”

President Barack Obama has denounced the murders of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as “brutal and outrageous”.

In a statement, Barack Obama said no one in the US should be targeted for “what they look like” or “how they worship”.

Barack Obama’s comments came after criticism from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the president’s silence.Chapel Hill shooting victims

With suspect Craig Hicks in custody, police are still investigating the motive, amid family claims it was a hate crime.

The FBI has opened an inquiry into the case.

Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad and her sister Razan were found dead on February 10 in their home near the University of North Carolina, where Barakat was a dental student.

Craig Hicks, a neighbor of the students, has been charged with the murders.

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Sureshbhai Patel case: Alabama police officer charged with assault after pushing Indian man

Nancy Clayson
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Sureshbhai Patel case: Alabama police officer charged with assault after pushing Indian man

An Alabama police officer has been charged with assault after a 57-year-old Indian man was thrown to the ground, an incident he says left him partially paralyzed.

Footage from police cameras shows a confrontation between Sureshbhai Patel and two officers in Alabama suburb of Madison.

Sureshbhai Patel speaks no English and tries to walk away from the officers, who eventually shove him to the ground.

He has filed a legal case accusing the officers of racism, and the FBI is also investigating.Sureshbhai Patel case Alabama

Police officials in Madison, Alabama, apologized to Sureshbhai Patel and his family at a news conference on February 12.

They said one of the officers involved in February 6 incident had been arrested, and officials had recommended that he be fired.

The officer involved “did not meet the high standards and expectations of the Madison Police Department”, said Madison Police Chief Larry Muncey.

Sureshbhai Patel had only recently arrived in the US to help care for his grandson, who was born prematurely.

He was walking outside his son’s home on Friday morning when police said they received a call from a neighbor about a suspicious person.

According to the civil rights complaint filed in court on February 12, Sureshbhai Patel told the police officers who stopped him “no English, Indian”, and gave his son’s house number.

A police officer then threw him abruptly to the ground, injuring him seriously, the complaint said.

Sureshbhai Patel’s son, Chirag Patel, told the local media in Alabama that his father had to undergo surgery to fuse two vertebrae in his spine and that he was still unable to move his left leg.

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Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner may be investigated over Amia attack

Diane A. Wade
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Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner may be investigated over Amia attack

Argentine prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita has asked a federal judge to investigate President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner over allegations she helped cover up Iranian links to a deadly 1994 bombing.

Gerardo Pollicita inherited the case from Alberto Nisman, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner denies the allegations, with the government calling the probe an “anti-democratic attack”.

The attack on a Jewish centre killed 85 people. Iran also denies involvement.Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Amia attack probe

Gerardo Pollicita’s move mean the judge will have to decide whether to authorize new investigations to prove the president’s alleged involvement.

If the prosecutor and the judge agree that there are enough elements to prove Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner committed a crime, she could face prosecution and be charged.

Before his death, Alberto Nisman had published a report on the attack on the Amia Jewish centre.

He alleged that the president and others had conspired to protect Iranian suspects in the bombing case in exchange for favorable deals on oil and other goods.

Alberto Nisman was found shot in the head in January, hours before he was due to give evidence to Congress.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s cabinet chief, Jorge Capitanich, accused the courts of trying to stage a “judicial coup” by pursuing the investigation, the AFP reported.

Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads sculptures sell for record $4.3 million

Sonia Pantiss
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Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads sculptures sell for record $4.3 million

A group of 12 gold-plated animal head sculptures by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has sold for £2.8 million ($4.3 million) at the Phillips auction house in London on February 12.

Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, which features 12 sculptures representing the Chinese zodiac, set a new auction record for the artist.

Ai Weiwei has made a number of versions of the zodiac sculptures, but this was the first complete set to come to auction.

The artist’s previous auction record of $1.2 million was set by Map of China last April.Ai Weiwei Circle of Animals auction

The zodiac sculptures were inspired by a set of smaller sculptures that formed an 18th Century fountain clock at Emperor Yuanming Yuan’s Beijing imperial retreat.

The fountain clock was ransacked by French and British troops in 1860. Ai Weiwei worked from the seven surviving originals and imagined the five others, using images found in tapestry and print.

“This set of 12 heads continues Ai Weiwei’s tradition of re-interpreting cultural objects whilst questioning perceptions of authenticity and value,” auction house Phillips said in a press release.

The sculptures, which sold to one of three telephone bidders, were originally purchased from the Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York.

Several larger versions of the same sculptures have been cast in bronze and have been displayed in both New York’s Grand Army Plaza and Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

Emile Hirsch charged with aggravated assault after Sundance incident

Sonia Pantiss
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Emile Hirsch charged with aggravated assault after Sundance incident

Emile Hirsch has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly choking a female film executive at last month’s Sundance Film Festival.

The actor, who is best known for his roles in Into the Wild and Milk, faces up to five years in jail if convicted.

According to court papers, Emile Hirsch assaulted the woman at a nightclub in Park City, Utah, in the early hours of January 25.

Prosecutors named the woman as Daniele Bernfeld, an executive for Insurge Pictures, part of Paramount Pictures.

Police were called to the club after Daniele Bernfeld reported being assaulted.

Daniele Bernfeld told police that Emile Hirsch approached her and asked her why she looked “so tough”, according to charging documents.

He also told the executive she was a “rich kid who should not be at Sundance”, the documents said.Emile Hirsch Sundance altercation

Emile Hirsch is alleged to have initially grabbed Daniele Bernfeld before she pushed him away. The actor was then said to have grabbed her from behind.

The charging documents said Emile Hirsch put her in a chokehold, pulled her across the table and landed on top of her on the floor, putting his hands around her throat.

The alleged victim said she felt as though “the front and back of her throat were touching”, adding that she may have temporarily blacked out.

Two bystanders apparently pulled Emile Hirsch away. A witness has backed up Daniele Bernfeld’s version of events, according to court documents.

Emile Hirsch told police he did not know the woman but was having an argument with her. He said he had had three or four drinks, and a police officer told prosecutors his balance was impaired and his speech slurred.

The actor has also been charged with a misdemeanor count of intoxication.

The star is due to appear in court on March 16.

Emile Hirsch is best known for his work with Sean Penn. He took the lead role in Sean Penn’s 2007 film Into the Wild and starred alongside him in Milk.

He also played the leading man in Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock in 2009.

Emile Hirsch was at Sundance for the premiere of the drama Ten Thousand Saints, in which he appears alongside Ethan Hawke and Asa Butterfield.

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Jaycee Chan released from jail after six months

Lisa.Felice
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Jaycee Chan released from jail after six months

Jackie Chan’s son, Jaycee Chan, has been released from jail in China.

He was jailed for six months for drug offence.

Jaycee Chan was detained in August 2014 after a police raid on his home. He had tested positive for marijuana and was caught with 100g of the drug.

His arrest was part of a wider crackdown on drug use in China.

A Beijing court sentenced Jaycee Chan in January, taking into account his time already spent in jail.

His management company, MStones, said in a statement that Jaycee Chan was released in the early hours of February 13.

It added that Jackie Chan’s son was due to hold a press conference on February 14 “to deliver a public apology and explanation”.

Jaycee Chan, a 32-year-old actor and singer, was arrested with Taiwanese movie star Kai Ko, who was detained for two weeks for drug use.

He faced a more serious charge of “providing a shelter for others to abuse drugs”. He later pleaded guilty.

Jackie Chan is currently on a tour of Asia promoting his new film Dragon Blade.

He reportedly expressed relief about his son’s release and said at a press conference in Singapore earlier this week that he was looking forward to finishing an album with his son “as soon as possible when he gets out”.Jackie Chan son Jaycee

Jackie Chan was named an anti-drug ambassador in China in 2009.

He publicly apologized for his son’s actions in December, saying on his microblog account that he was “very angry” and “ashamed”.

The drug crackdown began in June 2014 when President Xi Jinping ordered police to use strong measures to stop drug abuse.

At least 10 locally-known stars, most of them minor celebrities, have been arrested so far, including movie and television stars, film directors and a screenwriter.

China has since banned the transmission of any works by stars who have used drugs or prostitutes. The ban applies to television, online media, film and publishing.

Bobbi Kristina Brown health status UPDATE

Lisa.Felice
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Bobbi Kristina Brown health status UPDATE

After many outlets had speculated that Bobbi Kristina Brown would be taken off life support on February 11, the three-year anniversary of Whitney Houston’s death, no such action happened.

One family member talked to People magazine about Bobbi Kristina Brown’s current status, saying: “She’s got some color back … but she’s still not responding.”

Meanwhile, her father, Bobby Brown, has said that the reports that her condition is grave are “egregious” and “false.”

Bobbi Kristina’s cousin Jerod Brown wrote in a Facebook post that the doctors, “don’t see any hope.”

On February 11, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s aunt, Pat Houston, said in a statement: “On this – the third anniversary of Whitney’s passing, our family continues to stand together praying that Bobbi Kristina continues to fight for her life. We thank you again for your continued prayers of love and restoration and we thank you for respecting the family’s privacy at this time.”Bobbi Kristina Brown health status

Though each family member’s take away of what is going on with the 21-year-old may contrast, the facts remain the same since she was admitted into the hospital – Bobbi Kristina Brown is still on life support, her breathing is aided by a ventilator, and she has not regained consciousness.

Bobby Brown and Bobbi Kristina’s grandmother Cissy Houston have reportedly maintained a constant vigil by her beside at the hospital.

“Everyone may be giving different stories, but that’s because it’s so confusing,” a family member told People nagazine.

The family member also added that despite the conflicting reports, all remain hopeful.

“No one is trying to mislead anyone. Everyone is still praying for her. That’s what matters.”

On January 31, Bobbi Kristina Brown was found unresponsive in a bathtub in Roswell, Georgia.

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Ukraine: New shelling around Donetsk and Luhansk after Minsk peace deal

Roy Siemens
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Ukraine: New shelling around Donetsk and Luhansk after Minsk peace deal

Just one day after a peace deal was reached in Minsk new shelling has been reported around the rebel-held east Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.

There are no confirmed reports of casualties. Both cities are near the front line where the pro-Russian rebels face government forces.

The ceasefire agreed in Minsk, Belarus, is to begin in eastern Ukraine on February 15 at 00:00 local time.

The EU has warned Russia of additional sanctions if the deal is not respected.

On Friday morning, a military spokesman in Kiev said eight members of Ukraine’s military had been killed in fighting against separatists in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, rebels said seven civilians had been killed, reported AFP. Two people were also killed on Friday morning when rebels shelled a cafe in Shchastya, near Luhansk, said the head of the Kiev-controlled regional administration.Ukraine peace talks Minsk 2015

“So this is how a comprehensive ceasefire is prepared for,” said Hennadiy Moskal in a statement.

He was echoing wider doubts about the peace deal agreed following marathon negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.

Pro-Russian rebels have signed the agreement, which also includes weapon withdrawals and prisoner exchanges, but key issues remain to be settled.

A new round of EU asset freezes and travel bans against 19 Ukrainian separatists and Russians – in response to deadly fighting in the city of Mariupol in January – will come into effect on Monday regardless of the latest deal.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says wider measures could be implemented if the ceasefire is not upheld.

She has called the deal “a glimmer of hope”, adding: “It is very important that words are followed by actions.”

Russia has reaffirmed it is playing no direct role in the conflict, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting it is only a “guarantor”:

“It is not a party that has to take action in this matter. We simply cannot do that physically, because Russia is not a participant in this conflict,” he said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says the rival military commanders will hold direct talks – including on the withdrawal of heavy armor to create a buffer zone.

He warned that implementation of the agreement, reached by leaders in the Belarusian capital Minsk, would be difficult.

Another sticking point is the disputed town of Debaltseve, a strategically key government-held town which rebels claim to have surrounded but which Ukraine refuses to surrender.

Further talks will also be held on self-rule in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk separatist regions.

The truce is to be monitored by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) – but with only 412 international monitors in Ukraine, including 226 in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, some analysts have expressed doubt that they are there in adequate numbers to do the job.

Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of supplying weapons and personnel to the rebels but Russia denies this.

Chapel Hill shooting: Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticizes Barack Obama’s silence on Muslim murders

Diane A. Wade
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Chapel Hill shooting: Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticizes Barack Obama’s silence on Muslim murders

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized President Barack Obama for his silence over the murder of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said politicians were responsible for events in their countries and had to clarify their stance over them.

More than 5,000 people attended the funeral of the students who were shot dead in Chapel Hill on February 10.

With a suspect in custody, police are still investigating the motive, amid family claims it was a hate crime.

Initial indications are that the gunman, Craig Hicks, acted in a dispute with the victims over a parking space, according to the police.

A district prosecutor said on February 11 there was no evidence that the victims – Deah Shaddy Barakat, wife Yusor Mohammad and her sister Razan – had been targeted because of their faith.Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Chapel Hill shooting

However, at next day’s funeral, the local police chief said his force would investigate every lead, including the possibility of a hate crime.

The murders have resonated both within US and around the world, especially on social media. The hashtag ChapelHillShooting has been used hundreds of thousands of times.

Speaking on a visit to Mexico, Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice-President Joe Biden for not having made any statement about the murder of the “three Muslims”.

“If you stay silent when faced with an incident like this, and don’t make a statement, the world will stay silent towards you,” he said.

“As politicians, we are responsible for everything that happens in our countries and we have to show our positions.”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a devout Sunni Muslim who has been increasingly critical of the treatment of Muslims living in Western societies.

His relations with the Obama administration have also come under strain over the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

Turkey and the US are allies in the campaign against Islamic State militants, but differences over tactics have emerged over the last six months.

Thursday’s funeral was held at the athletic fields of North Carolina State University where all three victims had been students. Police estimate 5,500 people attended the event.

Craig Hicks gave himself up to police and has been charged with the murders. His Facebook profile included a photo that read “Atheists for Equality”. He also frequently posted quotes critical of religion.

However, his wife, Karen Hicks, said the incident had nothing to do with religion and her husband treated everyone equally. He also apparently had a history of conflicts with neighbors over parking spaces.

Deah Shaddy Barakat was a dental student at the university and his wife was planning to enroll in the school in the next term.

There has been criticism of a perceived lack of coverage in the mainstream media with the hashtag MuslimLivesMatter mentioned almost 100,000 times in the day following the shooting.

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Everything You Need to Make Your eReader the Best It Can Be

Ricky Robinson
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Everything You Need to Make Your eReader the Best It Can Be

The new NOOK is as much a tablet PC as it is an eReader, which actually works in the user’s favor when it comes to obtaining key accessories. Unlike previous NOOK devices, which ranged in proportions from standard to almost square (making it very difficult to find some important accessories), the favorite of the new line is Nook’s Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7-inch, with NOOK apps and access straight out of the box to one of the largest eBook libraries online today. As a standard sized tablet, there are plenty of option when it comes to making this device your own—here’s a list of what you need to have the best experience with your hybrid eReader.

 

Case

You know your NOOK needs a case, but what kind of case should you be looking for? According to eBookFriendly, there are plenty of cases out there to fit this device, but the best have a few features in common:

  • Rigid cover construction
  • Magnet closure(s)
  • Doubles as ergonomic stand

A good case should be snug and appropriately sized for your device, but not put inordinate pressure on any point on the screen. It’s difficult to remove the new NOOK from many cases with hard corner closures, meaning that the pressure on the glass could be enough to cause breakage if dropped. Look for cases with snug elastic fasteners to hold your device in place, and make sure that you can remove it easily. Cases in this style range in cost from around $10 to $50, depending on brand, design and function. Ebooks are made of plastic, but can they make a Case for Environmental Responsibility?

 

Stylus

You may not need a stylus right away, but for many Samsung NOOK users this is a must. If you intend to use the device for taking notes, doodling or even word processing a stylus can make it almost as natural as writing on an old-school paper writing tablet. If you intend to use your stylus more for working with Swype features on your keyboard or helping hit tiny app icons, a standard round-tipped stylus will do fine; these range in price from $5 up to $20. For more detailed work, particularly for the artists out there, a precision or active stylus is definitely the way to go, although this tool could set you back up to $70 depending on the brand you choose.

 

Screen Protector

Even if it’s going to be in its case 100 percent of the time, any touch device requires a screen protector. The new NOOK works best with an anti-glare screen, also called matte and “natural view.” This both protects the screen from scratches and helps stabilize the glass to avoid breakage in case of a collision. A cheap protector for a 7-inch unit could cost as little as $5 from certain vendors, but it’s much more effective to spend a little more and get a multi-pack, just in case, which can range in price anywhere from $20 up to $40 for three to five protectors.

 

External Storage

Regardless of what you intend to do with your NOOK, you need more space. The Galaxy NOOK ships with 8 GB of internal space, but with the free content and built-in apps, you’ll only have about 4 GB available to use when you boot it up for the first time. Rather than deleting $200 worth of free content, try picking up a micro SD card and transferring your books, movies and games off the internal storage; this will not only save you space on your eReader’s hard drive, but can also keep the device running faster longer by pulling app caches and temp files onto external storage rather than weighing down the pre-designated “shelf space.”

According to GSM Arena, the 7-inch version of the Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK can expand up to 32 GB via micro SD card, while the 8- and 10-inch variants can take memory cards up to 64 GB in size; these range in price from around $25 for a 32 GB to $45 for a 64 GB card.

 

Headphones

If you want to use your NOOK for TV, movies, music or even gaming, you probably want a way to keep from disturbing everyone around you with background music and ambient dialogue. Getting a pair of headphones is easy and inexpensive enough, but there are a few variables to consider before buying. For portability, PC Mag recommend sticking with ear bud style headphones, although a nice Bluetooth headset could be worth a little more cumbersome transportation; if you’re going to be out around other people or in a noisy public place, you may want to splurge on some noise-canceling headphones to help tune everyone out. A cheap pair of plastic ear buds will run you less than $20, but a sleek set of noise-cancelling headphones, with or without Bluetooth capability, will set you back between $100 and $300.

 

Delicacy

The most important thing you can get to make your NOOK better than ever is a little delicacy. Remember that while this is a mobile device designed for some abuse, being overly rough or careless with it could result in issues other than a broken screen—leaving it out in the car could ruin your color calibration or even permanently damage the chargeability of your battery. Get the best accessories for your device, and then treat them all with care to get everything you really need out of this sleek new device.

Valentine’s Day Recipe: Lollipop Cookies

Kathryn R. Bown
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Valentine’s Day Recipe: Lollipop Cookies

Valentine’s Day Lollipop Cookies Recipe

Ingredients (for one dozen cookies):

12 craft sticks

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

12 (1 ounce) squares white chocolate

1 egg white

1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar

3 drops red food coloringValentine's Day lollipop cookies

Directions:

  1. Soak craft sticks for one hour in a bowl of cold water.
  2. In small heavy saucepan over very low heat, stir chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; let cool.
  3. In large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter, brown sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Beat egg in well; beat in cooled chocolate. With mixer at low speed, beat in flour, cocoa powder and salt until smooth. Divide dough in half.
  4. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C) and grease 2 large cookie sheets.
  5. Roll each half out to 1/8 inch thickness between 2 sheets of wax paper; freeze, in wax paper, 5 minutes. Peal top sheets of wax paper off dough; cut dough out using 3-inch heart-shaped cutter. Reroll scraps; freeze again 5 minutes; cut out. Place half of the hearts 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet.
  6. Drain sticks, pat dry. Place one stick on each heart to make 2 1/2 inch handle, pressing lightly into dough. Place remaining hearts on top; press edges gently to seal. Bake about 12 minutes until firm to touch. Cool on wire racks.
  7. In 2-quart heavy saucepan over very low heat, or in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water, stir white or milk chocolate until melted and smooth; if using both chocolates, melt in separate 1-quart pans. Remove from heat.
  8. Holding each lollipop by handle, dip into chocolate to coat on both sides; let excess chocolate drip back into pan. Place each lollipop as it is coated on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet; refrigerate 20 minutes until chocolate is set.
  9. To Make Icing: In large bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat egg white and confectioners’ sugar until very smooth. If desired, remove small portion of icing to separate bowl; tint with drops of food coloring. Spoon icing into decorating bag fitted with small writing tip; pipe over lollipops in desired patterns. Decorate with assorted candies and decors; attaching with dots of icing.

Barack Obama makes funny faces in new video promoting ObamaCare

Nancy Clayson
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Barack Obama makes funny faces in new video promoting ObamaCare

President Barack Obama appears in a BuzzFeed video showing him practicing his messaging that people should go to HealthCare.gov by February 15 to get covered.

Barack Obama made the comic video to remind Americans that they only have through February 15 to sign up this year for ObamaCare.

Photo BuzzFeed
Photo BuzzFeed

The video, released on February 12, shows Barack Obama speaking and checking himself out in front of a mirror. The clip is completed with silly faces and several shots with a selfie stick.

“In many cases, you can get health insurance for less than $100 a month,” Barack Obama said, following several instances in which he trips up on the pronunciation of “February”.

The video also shows Barack Obama making sketches of first lady Michelle Obama and donning aviator sunglasses.

The funny video, a follow-up perhaps to last year’s deadpan Between Two Ferns appearance with Zach Galifianakis, is the latest youth-focused effort on the part of the administration to boost sign-ups before the open enrollment period closes at midnight Pacific Time on February 15.

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Alexander Lukashenko pulls chair out from under Vladimir Putin at Minsk negotiations

Nancy Clayson
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Alexander Lukashenko pulls chair out from under Vladimir Putin at Minsk negotiations

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was caught on camera when he nearly pulled a chair out from under Russian President Vladimir Putin just before Minsk negotiations on Ukrainian conflict.Alexander Lukashenko pulls chair on Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin had to give in and wait for his seat, as Alexander Lukashenko finished his conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The footage became viral on internet with users creating a looping Coub video clip, backed by jolly music, running the footage backwards to reverse the order of events.

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Valentine’s Day Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Kathryn R. Bown
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Valentine’s Day Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Valentine’s Day Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients (2 dozens cupcakes):

cooking spray

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

24 maraschino cherries

1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple

1 (18.25 ounce) package pineapple cake mix (such as Duncan Hines® Pineapple Supreme)

3 eggs

1 1/3 cups pineapple juice

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar for dusting, or as neededPineapple upside down cupcakes for Valentine s Day

Directions:

  1. Move an oven rack into the middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
  2. Spray 24 muffin cups with cooking spray.
  3. Line a work surface with waxed paper.
  4. Spoon 1 teaspoon melted butter into the bottom of each sprayed muffin cup.
  5. Spoon 1 tablespoon brown sugar in each muffin cup.
  6. Press a maraschino cherry into the center of the brown sugar in each muffin cup.
  7. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of crushed pineapple over the cherry and compact it with the back of a spoon into an even layer.
  8. Mix pineapple cake mix, eggs, pineapple juice, and vegetable oil in a large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until moistened, about 30 seconds. Turn mixer speed to medium and mix for 2 minutes.
  9. Pour pineapple cake batter into the muffin cups, filling them to the top; do not overfill.
  10. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
  11. Allow cupcakes to cool at least 5 minutes before inverting muffin cups onto the waxed paper to release. Serve with pineapple and cherry sides up. Sprinkle cupcakes lightly with confectioners’ sugar.

South Africa: EFF lawmakers ejected from parliament during Jacob Zuma’s annual speech

Diane A. Wade
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South Africa: EFF lawmakers ejected from parliament during Jacob Zuma’s annual speech

The South African parliament descended into chaos as leftist lawmakers scuffled with security during a key annual speech by President Jacob Zuma.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema, repeatedly interrupted Jacob Zuma, demanding answers over a spending scandal.

The speaker of parliament then ordered their removal, prompting scuffles.

The largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, walked out in protest at their expulsion.

“You can’t send police into parliament,” said Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane.

The EFF used President Jacob Zuma’s annual State of the Nation speech to question him about a state-funded, multi-million dollar upgrade to his private residence.

They were evicted by large numbers of security guards. Among those thrown out was Julius Malema.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Julius Malema defended his lawmakers’ actions, calling it a legitimate attempt to defend democracy, adding that seven of his party had been injured and would be pressing charges.

It is not clear whether the guards were police or parliamentary officials: an important distinction, according to one lawmaker, who said the use of police would be a way of intimidating the opposition.

Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma were once close allies but the pair fell out.

The EFF has shaken up South African politics with a series of populist proposals to redistribute wealth.

EFF lawmakers accuse Jacob Zuma of benefitting unduly from taxpayer-funded upgrades to his private residence in the village of Nkandla and they wanted the president to answer questions about this before making his state of the nation speech.

In 2014, an independent inquiry found the president had “unduly benefited” from the expensive upgrades, which included a pool and a cattle enclosure and cost about $23 million.

President Jacob Zuma has denied any wrongdoing.

Despite criticism of the Nkandla upgrade and South Africa’s stagnant economy, Jacob Zuma’s African National Congress was overwhelmingly re-elected last year.

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Steve Strange dies following heart attack aged 55

Sonia Pantiss
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Steve Strange dies following heart attack aged 55

Lead singer of 1980s pop band Visage Steve Strange has died at age of 55 following a heart attack, his record label has announced.

Steve Strange, best known for the hit Fade To Grey, died in hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Ex-Visage bandmates Midge Ure and Rusty Egan said they were “devastated” to hear of his “untimely passing”, adding: “Steve was a major face of the 80s.”

Boy George tweeted he was “heartbroken” about the death of Steve Strange, saying he was “such a big part of my life”.

Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon tweeted that Steve Strange was “the leading edge of New Romantic. God Bless him”.

Fellow 1980s pop star Billy Idol tweeted: “Very sad to hear of my friend Steve Strange passing, RIP mate.”

Steve Strange’s agent, Pete Bassett, said he would be remembered as “a hard-working, very amusing and lovable individual who always was at the forefront of fashion trends”.

“Up until last year he was putting together a book of fashion styles based on the New Romantic movement and it comes as a great shock.

“We understood that he had certain health problems but nothing we knew was life threatening.

“His friends and family are totally shocked, we had no idea anything like this was likely to happen.”Steve Strange dead at 55

Steve Strange had suffered ill-health, including in December last year when he was admitted to Princess of Wales Hospital, in Bridgend, with a bronchial infection and an intestinal blockage.

Born Steven Harrington, in Newbridge, the UK, Steve Strange got involved in music after seeing the Sex Pistols in concert in 1976.

He went to London aged 15 to work for Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McClaren before co-founding the Blitz Club in Soho, central London, which would become a focal point for the New Romantic movement.

Bands including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Culture Club all got their start at the club before finding stardom.

Visage formed in 1979 and their breakthrough single, Fade To Grey, peaked at number eight in the UK in 1981.

It reached number one in both Germany and Switzerland, and was the first of five UK top 40 hits for the band, which also numbered Midge Ure and Rusty Egan among its members.

He also starred in the video of his good friend David Bowie’s number one single Ashes to Ashes in 1980. At the time, the futuristic mini-film was hailed as the most expensive pop music video in history.

Steve Strange – who admitted he faced drug addiction problems in the years that followed his early success – recorded a new Visage album, called Hearts and Knives, in May 2013, with the band boasting a new line-up. Visage also recorded a new classical interpretation of Fade To Grey last year.

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Amanda Knox to marry musician Colin Sutherland

Nancy Clayson
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Amanda Knox to marry musician Colin Sutherland

Amanda Knox is to get married to New York musician Colin Sutherland, reports say.

The former student was convicted in Italy over the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher.

Amanda Knox, 27, is engaged to Colin Sutherland, also 27, whom she has known since her school days, according to The Seattle Times. Colin Sutherland moved from New York to Seattle.

He does bass and vocals for Johnny Pumps – a Strokes-inspired indie rock band.

Colin Sutherland and his mates call themselves a “slag rock” band that formed in 2013 with their debut self-released album That Escalated Quickly.

Johnny Pumps has played a string of small shows in Manhattan and Brooklyn and doesn’t appear to have played outside New York in their brief history.

On the band’s website, Colin Sutherland is referred to as being the member of the band who “likes flat soda”.

Amanda Knox was recently hired as a freelance writer at the West Seattle Herald.Amanda Knox and Colin Sutherland

Her conviction for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher was re-instated in absentia by an Italian court in 2014.

Amanda Knox, who returned to the US after her original conviction was overturned, has always maintained her innocence.

Meredith Kercher was stabbed to death in the flat she shared in Perugia with Amanda Knox.

Rudy Guede from Ivory Coast, who was also convicted of her murder, is currently serving a 16-year sentence in prison.

Amanda Knox was also arrested days after the murder, along with her Italian boyfriend at the time, Raffaelle Sollecito. Both pleaded not guilty to the offence.

They were tried and convicted in 2009.

However, in 2011, an eight-member jury cleared both defendants of the murder, after doubts were raised over procedures used to gather DNA evidence.

A retrial was ordered after prosecutors argued that important evidence had been disregarded. In 2014, the guilty verdict was re-instated.

Amanda Knox has said she will not voluntarily return to Italy. Raffaelle Sollecito remains in the country.

An Italian court will rule on March 25 on whether to uphold the latest verdict.

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Valentine’s Day Recipe: Red Velvet Cookies

Kathryn R. Bown
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Valentine’s Day Recipe: Red Velvet Cookies

Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cookies Recipe

Ingredients (36 servings):

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoonbaking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, broken into pieces

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packedValentine's Day Red Velvet Cookies

1/3 cup white sugar

1 large egg

1 tablespoon red food coloring

3/4 cup sour cream

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoonvanilla extract

2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C) with the rack in the middle position. Grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  2. Break the chocolate squares into chunks, place in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on High until the chocolate melts, about 90 seconds. Stir the chocolate until smooth and set aside to cool.
  3. In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy; pour in the egg and beat until smooth. Mix in the red food coloring and chocolate, scraping the bowl down regularly, until evenly blended, about 30 seconds. Add half of the sifted dry ingredients, stirring until well incorporated. Beat in the sour cream and mix in the remaining dry ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of the dough 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
  4. Bake one sheet at a time in the preheated oven until they spring back when pressed, about 9 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
  5. For the cream cheese frosting, whip 1/4 cup butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Blend in the powdered sugar in half cup portions until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.

Valentine’s Day Recipe: Brownie Hearts

Kathryn R. Bown
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Valentine’s Day Recipe: Brownie Hearts

Valentine’s Day Brownie Hearts Recipe

Ingredients (6 3in-cookies):

1 (19.8 ounce) package fudge brownie mix, batter prepared as directed on box

1 (14 ounce) package caramels, unwrapped

3 tablespoons whipping cream

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)Valentine's Day brownie hearts

Directions:

  1. Preheat an oven to 350 F (175 C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with foil. Pour prepared brownie batter into foil-lined pan, and bake until brownies begin to pull away from the sides, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely.
  2. Lift brownies from pan in one piece. Use a 3 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut 6 brownie hearts.
  3. Combine caramels and whipping cream in a large bowl. Microwave on High for 1 to 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until caramels are melted and cream is incorporated. Drizzle caramel sauce decoratively on brownie hearts. Sprinkle with chopped pecans, if desired.

Valentine’s Day: Roses by numbers

Nancy Clayson
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Valentine’s Day: Roses by numbers
  • A single rose of any color means love at first sight, utmost devotion to a single person
  • Two roses entwined together communicate: “Marry me”
  • Three roses stand for the three words in “I Love You”, and seek to convey this very simple yet powerful message
  • Five roses say: “I love you very much”
  • Six roses signify a need to be loved or cherishedRoses by numbers
  • Seven roses communicate: “I’m infatuated with you”
  • Nine roses say: “Together as long as we live”
  • Eleven roses assure the recipients they are truly and deeply loved
  • Thirteen roses indicate a secret admirer
  • 99 rose say: “I’ll love you till the day I die”
  • 100 roses signify a happy union of two loving souls till death or till a hundred years: “I’m totally devoted to you”
  • 101 rose say: “You’re my one and only”
  • 108 roses signify a marriage proposal: “Will you marry me?”
  • 999 roses say: “My love will last till the end of time”
  • 1001 roses speak of a faithful love that will live on forever.

Valentine’s Day: Rose color language

Nancy Clayson
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Valentine’s Day: Rose color language

A rose is not just a rose. The symbolism of rose colors is steeped in tradition. These flowers inspired people over thousands of years to develop a language of color – flower meaning dictionaries were quite popular during the Victorian.

When you choose a color, you are personalizing your gift with deeper sentiment.Rose color meaning

Use this guide to help communicate your feelings if you give flowers this Valentine’s Day:

Red roses – Love

Burgundy (red dark) roses – Unconscious beauty

Pink roses – Grace, Appreciation, Thank You

Purple roses – Enchantment

White roses – A heart unacquainted with love

Peach roses – Modesty

Orange roses – Fascination, Desire

Yellow roses – Infidelity

Yellow with Red tip roses – Friendship, Falling in love

Janet Jackson spotted in Milan after months of laying low

Lisa.Felice
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Janet Jackson spotted in Milan after months of laying low

Janet Jackson has appeared in public after months of laying low.

She was spotted shoe shopping at Giuseppe Zanottii in Milan on February 11.

Photo Twitter
Photo Twitter

The singer, who announced in February 2013 that she had married Wissam Al Mana, a billionaire from Qatar, has stayed out of the public eye for the better part of the past few years.

Janet Jackson attended the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience on October 31, 2014, according to Us Weekly, marking her first public appearance since May 2013.

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