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Bobbi Kristina Brown case investigated as a criminal matter

Bobbi Kristina Brown case is being investigated as a criminal matter, police in Georgia said on February 10.

The only child of the late Whitney Houston was face down and unresponsive in a bathtub at her Atlanta home on January 31.

Authorities in Roswell, a suburb of Atlanta, have been questioning people about the circumstances leading up to the discovery at Bobbi Kristina Brown’s home, but had not made clear the nature of their investigation.

“I can confirm that we have a criminal investigation ongoing,” Roswell Police Chief Rusty Grant told Reuters.

“From the beginning it has always been a criminal investigation.”

Few details have been released about the 21-year-old daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown.Bobbi Kristina Brown case investigated as criminal matter

A family source said on February 10 that media reports suggesting Bobbi Kristina Brown would soon be taken off life support were not accurate. Her family previously has said she was fighting for her life.

A candlelight vigil on February 9 at an amphitheater in suburban Atlanta drew hundreds of people and prompted expressions of gratitude from family members – even as they asked for privacy.

“We continue to request privacy in this matter,” Bobby Brown said in a statement released through his lawyer, Christopher Brown, on February 10.

“We thank everyone that supported the vigil for Bobbi Kristina. God is hearing our prayers.”

The statement criticized erroneous media reports about her condition while maintaining that details needed to be kept private.

“This is a criminal investigation and the integrity of that process requires silence,” Christopher Brown said.

Police have said they responded to Bobbi Kristina Brown’s home in reference to a drowning.

Nick Gordon, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s partner, and a friend, Max Lomas, found her unresponsive in the tub and performed CPR until help arrived, police said.

Whitney Houston drowned in a hotel bathtub in Beverly Hills, California, on February 11, 2012. Authorities said drug use and heart disease contributed to her death at age 48.

Bobbi Kristina Brown is receiving treatment at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, according to CNN and other media outlets, and her father Bobby Brown has been seen outside the facility.

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Brian Williams suspended for six months without pay

NBC has suspended Brian Williams after he admitted giving a misleading account of coming under fire in Iraq.

The broadcaster said Brian Williams would be suspended for six months without pay for his “inexcusable” actions.

Brian Williams, the most-watched network anchor in the US, often spoke of being shot down in a helicopter in Iraq.

However, after veterans disputed Brian Williams’ account, he admitted getting the story wrong and blamed the “fog of memory”.

Last week, Brian Williams apologized on air for the lapse: “I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago.

“I want to apologize. I said I was travelling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG [rocket-propelled grenade] fire. I was instead in a following aircraft.”Brian Williams suspended

NBC News President Deborah Turness said that Brian Williams had “misrepresented” events from the Iraq war.

“It then became clear that on other occasions Brian had done the same while telling that story in other venues,” Deborah Turness said.

“This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position.”

Brian Williams’ apology came after veterans who were on the helicopter that was hit challenged his version of events.

One of them, Flight Engineer Lance Reynolds, wrote: “Sorry dude, I don’t remember you being on my aircraft. I do remember you walking up about an hour after we had landed to ask me what had happened.”

Last week, Brian Williams said he was taking himself off air “for several days”, as it had become “painfully apparent” that he was too much a part of the news.

On February 10, a statement from Steve Burke, NBC Universal Chief Executive Officer, said Brian Williams had “jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News”.

“His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate.”

NBC is conducting a review into what happened.

There is already speculation about whether Brian Williams will ever return to his job, now that his credibility is so badly damaged.

Questions have also been raised about Brian Williams coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with one health official challenging a claim he contracted dysentery while reporting on the aftermath.

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Jon Stewart leaves The Daily Show after 16 years

Jon Stewart will leave Comedy Central’s The Daily Show later this year.

The comedian said it had “been an absolute privilege” to have been at the helm of the satirical show since 1999.

Jon Stewart will leave the show later this year.

“This show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host and neither do you,” he told his audience on February 10.

Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless paid tribute, saying: “His comedic brilliance is second to none.”

Jon Stewart’s show has often been cited as a leading news source for young people, with an average audience of one million viewers.

His targets – and his guests – have been politicians and public figures, addressed in tones that are often indignant, or teasing.Jon Stewart leaves The Daily Show

The Daily Show has also been a launch pad for several well-known comic performers, including Steve Carell and John Oliver, as well as Stephen Colbert.

“I’m going to miss being on television every day,” Jon Stewart said.

“I’m going to miss coming here every day. I love the people here. They’re creative and collaborative and kind.

“It’s been the honor of my professional life, and I thank you for watching it, for hate-watching it, whatever reason you are tuning in for.”

Jon Stewart said he was not sure exactly when he would leave, or what he would do next.

In 2013, the comdien took time out to direct a film, Rosewater, about an Iranian-born journalist who was imprisoned and accused of spying.

“I don’t have any specific plans,” he said.

“Got a lot of ideas, got a lot of things in my head. I’m going to have dinner on a school night with my family, who I have heard from multiple sources are lovely people.”

Comedy Central has not said who will replace Jon Stewart.

His departure comes after the network lost Stephen Colbert, another major comedy figure, who left to take over David Letterman’s late night show on CBS.

In a statement, Michele Ganeless said: “Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come.

“Jon will remain at the helm of The Daily Show until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.”

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Michelle Obama surprises tourists as White House adds Old Family Dining Room to visitor route

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The White House has added a new room to the visitor route on February 10, and first lady Michelle Obama greeted tourists as they arrived.

The Old Family Dining Room has been opened to the public for the first time, the White House has announced.

The room was recently refurbished and will be a showcase for 20th century art and design.

The Old Family Dining Room is a smaller dining room situated next to the State Dining Room on the first floor.

Photo White House
Photo White House

The room was created by President John Quincy Adams in 1825 as a place for the first family to eat meals.

Visitors on a tour of the White House on Tuesday, February 10, were left stunned by a surprise appearance from Michelle Obama and former First Daughter Jenna Bush Hager.

Former First Daughter Jenna Bush Hager was present to interview Michelle Obama for the Today show.

At least once a year, Michelle Obama surprises visitors as they take the White House tour.

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Bobbi Kristina Brown’s condition: Family releases official statement

Bobbi Kristina Brown’s family has released an official statement on Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s comatose daughter following conflicting reports regarding her status.

Although they don’t reveal anything specific about Bobbi Kristin Brown’s current condition, they specifically blast the “false reporting” several publications calling them out for writing articles based on unnamed “sources”.

“We support the candlelight vigil for Bobbi Kristina. The Brown family is amazed by the love and support from all that attended,” said Christopher Brown of Brown & Rosen LLC, legal counsel for Bobby Brown.Bobbi Kristina Brown condition official statement

“However the false reports that continue to appear in print and on the internet are egregious, false and will be dealt with at an appropriate time. In particular, the false reporting of TMZ, The National Enquirer, The Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Daily Mail (UK) citing, police sources, family sources and Bobby Brown himself, will receive my attention. The desire to be <<first>> has clouded the judgment of many reporters as they forgo accuracy. This is a criminal investigation and the integrity of that process requires silence,” Christopher Brown added.

“We continue to request privacy in this matter. We thank everyone that supported the vigil for Bobbi Kristina. God is hearing our prayers,” he said.

Multiple reports claimed that Bobbi Kristina Brown may be disconnected from life support on February 11, the third anniversary of Whitney Houston’s death.

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Akai Gurley death: NYPD Officer Peter Liang charged over fatal shooting of unarmed black man

NYPD Officer Peter Liang has been charged over the fatal shooting of Akai Gurley in a block of flats in New York City, according to a lawyer in the case.

Scott Rynecki told the Associated Press that Officer Peter Liang had been charged by a grand jury in the death of the unarmed black man.

When grand juries declined to charge officers over the deaths of other black men, there were nationwide protests.Akai Gurley killed by NYPD officer Peter Liang

After Akai Gurley’s death in November, police said it was an accident.

Scott Rynecki is the lawyer for Akai Gurley’s partner.

She and Akai Gurley opened the door into the dark stairwell when the police officer was patrolling the flats on November 20.

Police say Peter Liang fired without a word and apparently by accident.

Unnamed officials involved in the case told media on February 10 there would be charges but it is not clear what they will be.

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Bobbi Kristina Brown could be disconnected from life support on Whitney Houston’s death anniversary

Bobbi Kristina Brown’s family has reportedly given the order to disconnect her from life support on Wednesday, February 11, on the third anniversary of Whitney Houston’s death.Bobbi Kristina Brown disconnected from life support

Gossip website TMZ.com, citing “a source connected with Houston’s family,” said the decision was made February 8.

Some media reports have speculated that Bobbi Kristina Brown’s grandmother, Cissy Houston, had deemed the anniversary date appropriate.

However, a Houston family source told Us Weekly that Bobbi Kristina Brown will not be taken off life support on February 11.

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Francesco Schettino trial: Costa Concordia captain awaits verdict

The trial of the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster, Capt. Francesco Schettino, is in its final moments in Italy.

Thirty-two people died in January 2012 when Costa Concordia was steered too close to the island of Giglio and hit rocks.

Francesco Schettino is about to find out whether he is guilty of multiple manslaughter.

The prosecution has demanded that Francesco Schettino be jailed for 26 years but the captain denies all the charges against him.

Prosecution and defense lawyers have made final statements, and the judges are close to delivering their verdict.

They have heard how Captain Francesco Schettino sailed his huge ship into disaster.

The captain has told the court that he was attempting to “salute” the island, by carrying out a sort of nautical fly-past that would take the liner skimming past the coast, very close in.

It was an attempt to impress his passengers and those ashore.Francesco Schettino

The court has examined in detail all that happened when the stunt went terribly wrong: how the ship was ripped open on the rocks and more than 4,000 passengers and crew were forced into a chaotic evacuation in the dark of a winter’s night.

In its closing arguments the prosecution told the court Francesco Schettino had acted with “monstrously gross negligence”.

It said Francesco Schettino had compounded his crime by abandoning his vessel, saving himself, while many of his passengers were still in great danger.

“The captain’s duty to abandon ship last isn’t just an obligation dictated by ancient maritime tradition, but also a legal obligation designed to minimize injuries,” said the prosecution.

Capt. Francesco Schettino “thought only and always of himself”.

All along, Francesco Schettino and his lawyers have argued that others should share the blame for the disaster, that it was a collective failure.

He pointed to the fact that the helmsman had been slow to carry out a steering order at a crucial moment as the ship closed in on the rocks. And he said others on the bridge should have seen the danger coming.

“One of the officers should have said to me, <<Commander, we are on the rocks>>, but instead there was a general silence.”

Francesco Schettino vigorously rejects the allegation that he was so gripped by indecision as the disaster engulfed him that he badly delayed giving the order to abandon ship, endangering many more people.

He argues that he waited because he knew the wind was carrying the ship into shallower, safer water. He insists that his action actually saved many lives.

This trial, with its hundreds of witnesses and thousands of documents was too big for Grosseto’s courthouse, so it was moved to the local theatre, the Teatro Moderno, and the drama is unfolding there.

Outside on the street, a growing throng of journalists watches the lawyers and court officials come and go.

In the bars and cafes, nobody really doubts that Francesco Schettino will be found guilty.

In court, Francesco Schettino’s lawyer, Domenico Pepe, appealed to the judges to acquit the captain. But he also said: “If the court has to impose a penalty, we believe it should be the minimum one in the light of the extenuating circumstances.”

In the aftermath of the wreck of its vessel Costa Crociere was allowed to make a plea bargain and was fined €1 million ($1.13 million).

However, some of the survivors and their lawyers argue that the company still has questions to answer on issues such as the caliber of the ship’s crew and its operating procedures.

On the eve of the verdict, one of the survivors asked how the company could have put a man like Francesco Schettino in charge of the Concordia.

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Kayla Mueller: American ISIS hostage’s death confirmed

President Barack Obama has confirmed the death of American aid worker Kayla Mueller, who had been held hostage by Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Syria.

Kayla Mueller’s family said they were “heartbroken” to learn the news, and released a letter written during her captivity.

Paying tribute to her, President Barack Obama said “she represents what is best about America”.

Last week, Islamic State said Kayla Mueller had died in a Jordanian air strike, without providing proof.

Kayla Mueller was abducted while working in Aleppo, Syria in 2013.

“Our hearts are breaking for our only daughter, but we will continue on in peace, dignity, and love for her,” her family said in a statement.Kayla Mueller death confirmed

In a letter written in 2014, Kayla Mueller tries to reassure her family that she is safe and unharmed.

“I could only but write the letter a paragraph at a time, just the thought of you all sends me into a fit of tears,” she wrote.

“I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing.”

Kayla Mueller’s death was determined after her family was contacted privately by her ISIS captors over the weekend, with US intelligence then confirming the details of the message.

“She has been taken from us, but her legacy endures, inspiring all those who fight, each in their own way, for what is just and what is decent,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.

“No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s captivity and death.”

Neither the White House nor Kayla Mueller’s family have given the circumstances behind her death.

She was the last known US hostage to be held by ISIS. Three others – journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and aid worker Peter Kassig – were beheaded by the group.

The militants’ claims that Kayla Mueller was killed by a Jordanian air strike were dismissed by Jordan as propaganda.

Kayla Mueller worked with a number of humanitarian organizations at home and abroad. She travelled to the Turkey-Syria border in 2012 to work with refugees.

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Eddie Ray Routh: Chris Kyle murder suspect trial to open in Stephenville on February 11

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The trial of Eddie Ray Routh, who is charged with killing of former Navy SEALs sniper Chris Kyle, is scheduled to open in Stephenville, Texas, on February 11 at 9 a.m.

American Sniper, the blockbuster war movie about Chris Kyle, now playing at Cinemark Cinema 6 three miles from the courtroom, will be showing at 3:40 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10:20 p.m.

Legal experts have questioned whether Eddie Ray Routh, 27, the mentally ill veteran accused of killing Chris Kyle and his friend at a shooting range in Stephenville’s Erath County in 2013, can receive a fair trial here.

American Sniper has become a cultural moment far beyond the reach of the book, the movie or the criminal case against Eddie Ray Routh.Eddie Ray Routh American Sniper Chris Kyle

Just as the movie has been debated for what it says about war and warriors, the trial will dissect what war did to and for two men – one of them hailed, particularly in Texas, as an American hero, the other a fellow soldier on trial for two murders that people here are still trying to comprehend two years later.

Eddie Ray Routh’s lawyers, Warren St. John and Tim Moore, have included the movie and the local support for Chris Kyle in their legal case, asking the judge to postpone the trial. They cited the popularity of the movie, its release in local theaters, the bomb threat and Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to declare last Monday, the two-year anniversary of Chris Kyle’s death, Chris Kyle Day in Texas.

The judge, Erath County District Judge Jason Cashon, denied their request.

Eddie Ray Routh’s lawyers also asked the judge to move the proceedings out of Erath County, describing “so great a prejudice” against their client that he could not get a fair trial.

Judge Cashon was expected to turn down that motion as well, but it was clear last week as prospective jurors crowded the courtroom that he had concerns about the publicity surrounding the case.

A pool of 263 potential jurors qualified for jury selection. Prosecutors and defense lawyers questioned them on February 9 and 10, but there was concern whether the pool was large enough for a jury to be seated, raising the remote possibility that the start of the trial could be delayed.

Chris Kyle, who became the military’s deadliest sniper while protecting Marines in Iraq, took Eddie Ray Routh to the range on February 2, 2013.

He often used trips to the range as a form of therapy for wounded and troubled veterans.

Once there, Eddie Ray Routh turned his handgun on Chris Kyle, 38, and Kyle’s friend, Chad Littlefield, 35, and then fled in Kyle’s truck, the authorities said.

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Grammys 2015: Lowest audience since 2009

This year’s Grammy Awards ceremony was watched by 25.3 million people in the US, the show’s smallest audience since 2009.

The figures were down 11% compared with 2014, when a tribute to the Beatles and a mass on-stage wedding attracted 28.5 million viewers.

However, it was the fifth consecutive year that the Grammy audience topped 25 million.

It was also the most-watched award show of the year to date, beating the Golden Globes’ audience by six million.

However, the Oscar ceremony remains the most-watched award show – having attracted 43 million people in 2014.

Sam Smith was the big winner at this year’s Grammys, taking home four awards including song of the year and record of the year – both of which went to his gospel-tinged break-up ballad Stay With Me.Grammys 2015 lowest audience

Beck won the album of the year prize for his eighth album, Morning Phase – infuriating Kanye West, who stormed the stage to protest at Beyonce’s loss, before deciding to return to his seat rather than taking the microphone.

The incident was the most-tweeted moment during the show, attracting 13.4 million comments on Twitter. The ceremony was also streamed 7.5 million times, an increase of 40%.

Overall the show was low on spectacle, with most artists presenting stripped-back, muted performances; largely concentrating on their slower numbers.

Madonna was the obvious exception, playing a matador to a stage full of dancers wearing diamante-encrusted minotaur masks.

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Smart insulins could revolutionize diabetes management

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“Smart” insulins, which are undergoing trials, could revolutionize the way diabetes is managed, scientists say.

Instead of repeated blood tests and injections throughout the day to keep blood sugar in check, a single dose of smart insulin would keep circulating in the body and turn on when needed.

Animal studies show the technology appears to work – at least in mice.

Scientists plan to move to human trials soon, PNAS journal reports.

Experts caution that it will take years of testing before treatments could become a reality for patients.

People with type 1 diabetes, who either do not make or cannot use their own natural insulin, rely on insulin injections to stay well.

Without these, their blood sugar would get dangerously high.Smart insulin

In the same time injecting insulin can also make blood sugar levels dip too low, and people with type 1 diabetes must regularly check their blood glucose levels to make sure they are in the right zone.

Diabetes experts have been searching for ways to make blood sugar control easier and more convenient for patients, which is where “smart” insulins come in.

There are a few different types in development, but all are designed to automatically activate when blood sugar gets too high and switch off again when it returns to normal.

Dr. Danny Chou from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been testing a smart insulin that he and his colleagues developed in the lab.

It is a chemically modified version of regular, long-acting insulin.

It has an extra set of molecules stuck on the end that binds it to proteins that circulate in the bloodstream. While it is attached to these, the smart insulin is in its switched off mode.

When blood sugar rises, the smart insulin switches on – glucose locks on to the smart insulin and tells it to get to work.

Dr. Danny Chou said: “My goal is to make life easier and safer for diabetics.

“This is an important advance in insulin therapy.”

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has been funding work into smart insulins.

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Spider-Man joins Marvel Cinematic Universe

The custody of Spider-Man will be shared by Sony Pictures and the Walt Disney after the companies signed a deal that means the web-slinging superhero could appear in a future Avengers movie.

The deal comes after Sony’s Amazing Spider-Man 2 under-performed at the box office last year.

Despite a respectable $709 million box office haul, it was the lowest-grossing of Sony’s five Spider-Man films so far.

The character could now appear Marvel films such as Iron Man and Thor.

However, the timing of the deal makes it likely his first outing will be in 2017’s Captain America: Winter Soldier. The character already appears in the comic book version of the story.

Marvel will then co-produce the next solo Spider-Man outing, financed by Sony Pictures, which will be released in 2017.

Kevin Feige, the Marvel boss who has overseen 10 consecutive box office blockbusters, including Avengers Assemble and Guardians of the Galaxy, will be involved in all future creative decisions about Spider-Man.

He will work alongside Amy Pascal, the Sony executive who recently stood down following a cyber-attack that saw her private emails leaked.Spider-Man Marvel Cinematic Universe

Fans have been clamoring for Spider-Man to join Marvel’s roster on the big screen for more than a decade.

The character is part of the Marvel’s comic book empire, but Sony has owned the film rights since 1999, when it paid a reported $7 million.

Evil Dead director Sam Raimi first brought the character to the big screen, with Tobey Maguire in the lead role.

More recently, the series was rebooted, with Andrew Garfield inside the iconic red and blue suit and Marc Webb directing.

The new deal effectively spells the end for Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker and his superhero alter-ego, reported the LA Times.

Sony had been casting around for ways to re-invigorate the franchise after his second outing failed to break the $1 billion mark at the box office last May.

A third Amazing Spider-Man film was postponed to 2018, while a spin-off film, The Sinister Six, focusing on Spider-Man’s most notorious enemies, was slated for 2016.

There was also discussion of introducing a female set of heroes in their own films; and a potential film based around Peter Parker’s Aunt May.

At the same time, Sony was holding discussions with Marvel – as revealed in emails leaked as a result of last year’s cyber-attack.

Those emails showed that Marvel was pushing for Spider-Man to appear in the next Captain America movie; while Sony Pictures president Doug Belgrad wanted a Marvel-produced Spider-Man movie in which Sony retained “creative control, marketing and distribution.”

Although those talks were said to have stalled in December, the new announcement effectively fulfils all of those criteria.

It has also led to Marvel reshuffling the release dates of its upcoming movies.

The next Thor movie would have gone head-to-head with a new Spider-Man movie in the summer of 2017. It will now move to November of that year, shunting a film based on the Black Panther character into the following year.

The two-part Avengers: Infinity War movies, however, will not budge.

Earth’s inner core has a core smaller than Moon

Chinese and the US researchers suggest that the innermost core of the Earth has another, distinct region at its center.

The team believes that the structure of the iron crystals there is different from those found in the outer part of the inner core.

The findings are reported in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Without being able to drill into the heart of the Earth, its make-up is something of a mystery.

Scientists use echoes generated by earthquakes to study the core, by analyzing how they change as they travel through the different layers of our planet.Earth inner core has a core

Prof. Xiaodong Song, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign said: “The waves are bouncing back and forth from one side of the Earth to the other side of the Earth.”

He and his colleagues in China say this data suggests that the Earth’s inner core – a solid region that is about the size of the Moon – is made up of two parts.

The seismic wave data suggests that crystals in the “inner inner core” are aligned in an east-to-west direction – flipped on their side, if you are looking down at our planet from high above the North Pole.

Those in the “outer inner core” are lined up north to south, so vertical if peering down from the same lofty vantage point.

Prof. Xiaodong Song said: “The fact we are discovering different structures at different regions of the inner core can tell us something about the very long history of the Earth.”

The core, which lies more than 5,000km down, started to solidify about a billion years ago – and it continues to grow about 0.5mm each year.

The finding that it has crystals with a different alignment, suggests that they formed under different conditions and that our planet may have undergone a dramatic change during this period.

Bruce Jenner’s cellphone records to be released over Malibu car crash

Bruce Jenner’s cellphone records will be released to investigators in connection with Saturday’s fatal car crash on Pacific Coast Highway.

Sgt. Philip Brooks of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told the Los Angeles Times that investigators would ask Bruce Jenner to sign a form to release his cellphone records to authorities.

Meanwhile, DMV records showed that Kim Howe, the 69-year-old driver killed in the Malibu crash, had not had a valid license since 2007, when it expired.

Alan Nierob, the former Olympian’s publicist, has said Bruce Jenner would provide the records to show he was not texting, Associated Press reported.

Philip Brooks said investigators would try to obtain cellphone records for the other drivers involved in the crash that killed Kim Howe. At this point, he said, all drivers were being investigated.

The crash investigation likely will take months, the sergeant said: “It’s like putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.”Bruce Jenner texting car crash

Along with reviewing cellphone records, detectives plan to examine the vehicles, re-create the crash on paper, talk to witnesses and look through any photographs and video.

If the probe reveals one of the drivers committed a vehicle code violation at the time of the crash, more serious charges – including vehicular manslaughter – are a possibility, he said.

Authorities say the crash happened when a Lexus slammed into a Prius that had stopped or slowed down on PCH near Corral Canyon Road in Malibu.

Bruce Jenner was behind the Lexus in a black Cadillac Escalade, hauling an off-road vehicle. He rear-ended the Lexus.

The Lexus was pushed into the path of a Hummer, causing a head-on collision.

Kim Howe, the driver of the Lexus, died at the scene.

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Kim Howe had not had a valid driver’s license since 2007, when it expired.

Bruce Jenner, who rear-ended Kim Howe’s vehicle, has a valid license, the DMV said.

Paparazzi were following Bruce Jenner, but Philip Brooks said it didn’t appear Jenner was trying to outrun them.

Philip Brooks said Bruce Jenner was photographed holding a cellphone but it was unclear when it was taken. Five others were hurt, but not seriously, in the crash.

On February 8, Bruce Jenner issued a statement calling the crash a “devastating tragedy.”

“My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident,” the reality star said in a statement released by his publicist.

“It is a devastating tragedy and I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them. I will continue to cooperate in every way possible.”

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Bobbi Kristina Brown candlelight vigil held in Riverdale

A candlelight vigil for Bobbi Kristina Brown was held in the city of Riverdale, Georgia, as the 21-year-old daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown clings to life at nearby Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

“Forget that he [Bobby Brown] is a renowned artist. That her mama, the late Whitney, was a renowned artist. These [are] still people. They bleed and hurt like us,” said Riverdale mayor Dr. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon on Monday night.

“Sometime people ask you, or they say, <<I know how you feel>>. Sometime they don’t. Sometime they don’t know what it’s like if your child is on that ventilator. <<What do I do? If I take it off and she could have lived or do I let her stay on it and suffer?>> That’s a hard question for any parent,” the mayor told the large crowd of fans and concerned residents.Vigil for healing Bobbi Kristina Brown

Evelyn Wynn-Dixon’s comments seemed to confirm what has been widely reported by the media that Bobbi Kristina Brown is connected to a ventilator, and her family faces a decision whether or not to remove her from life support.

Before the service began, organizers played several of Whitney Houston’s hit songs including I Have Nothing and I’m Every Woman.

Once the gathering got underway, a series of family friends and ministers addressed the crowd with words of encouragement including “we’re here to pick people up” and “continuous prayer is what is needed at this point.”

As the vigil came to a close, legendary R&B singer Tony Terry took the microphone and sang I Look To You, Whitney Houston’s last attempt at a comeback single before her death in 2012.

Several people in the crowd were brought to tears while Tony Terry belted out the stirring track, which is a call for help in a time of crisis.

Riverdale organized the “Shining A Light For Healing For Bobbi Kristina Brown” vigil to support the Brown family, because Bobby Brown was the first artist to perform at its amphitheater, a city official told several media outlets.

Bobbi Kristina Brown was rushed to the hospital after being found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub at her home on January 31.

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UBS under new tax evasion investigation in US

Swiss banking giant UBS has confirmed it is being investigated by US authorities into whether it helped Americans evade taxes through investments banned in the US.

According to the bank, US regulators were investigating potential sales of so called “bearer bonds”.

These bonds can be transferred without registering ownership, enabling wealthy clients to potentially hide assets.

“We are cooperating with the authorities in these investigations,” USB said.

The fresh investigation by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and from the US Securities and Exchange Commission comes after UBS paid $780 million in 2009 to settle a separate Justice Department tax-evasion probe.

The move comes as authorities in a range of countries are considering examining HSBC’s actions in helping more than 100,000 wealthy individuals avoid paying tax.UBS tax evasion investigation in US

UBS made the announcement as it revealed a better-than-expected 13% rise in fourth quarter net profit to 963 million Swiss francs.

However, it warned the increased value of the Swiss franc relative to other currencies, following the Swiss National Bank’s decision to abandon the cap on the currency’s value against the euro, would “put pressure” on its profitability.

“The increased value of the Swiss franc relative to other currencies, especially the US dollar and the euro, and negative interest rates in the eurozone and Switzerland will put pressure on our profitability and, if they persist, on some of our targeted performance levels,” it warned.

UBS results for the full year, were hit by more than $1 billion to settle past scandals. In November, it was one of six banks fined by UK and US regulators over their traders’ attempted manipulation of foreign exchange rates, paying 774 million Swiss francs in total.

It also paid $300 million in the second quarter to settle charges it helped wealthy German clients evade tax.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is continuing to investigate UBS over currency manipulation allegations.

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Grammys 2015: Kanye West interrupts Beck as he collects Best Album Award

Kanye West started to interrupt Beck as he collects his Best Album Grammy Award, echoing his infamous 2009 on stage faux pas with Taylor Swift.

Prince was on stage announcing that Beck had won the Album of the Year award for his record Morning Phase.

“Like books and black lives, albums still matter – tonight and always,” the music legend said.Kanye West interrupts Beck at Grammys 2015

As Beck collected his award and walked up to the microphone, Kanye West approached the stage.

The audience gasped and jeered in horror thinking they will witness a repeat performance of one of the most cringeworthy moments in award ceremony history.

Kanye West famously interrupted Taylor Swift when she beat Beyoncé at the MTV VMA in 2009, shouting: “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you and I’mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time!”

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Kim Howe: Woman killed in Bruce Jenner car crash identified

The woman killed in this weekend’s deadly multi-vehicle crash involving Bruce Jenner has been identified as Kim Howe.

Kim Howe was a 69-year-old widow who lived in Calabasas and Malibu.

Public records show that Kim Howe had a home in the same gated community in Calabasas as Bruce Jenner’s former stepdaughters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian.

Kim Howe was behind the wheel of a Lexus on the Pacific Coast Highway when the Toyota Prius ahead of her stopped and she slammed into it.

Bruce Jenner, driving a Cadillac Escalade behind Kim Howe, crashed into her, sending the woman’s car into oncoming traffic, where a Hummer collided with it. Kim Howe died at the scene.

Photo DMV California
Photo DMV California

Authorities are still trying to determine exactly what happened to cause the accident.

Bruce Jenner has said that he wasn’t distracted by texting at the time of the accident, and has volunteered to show investigators his cell phone records.The woman killed in this weekend’s deadly multi-vehicle crash involving Bruce Jenner has been identified as Kim Howe.
Kim Howe was a 69-year-old widow who lived in Calabasas and Malibu.
Public records show that Kim Howe had a home in the same gated community in Calabasas as Bruce Jenner’s former stepdaughters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian.
Kim Howe was behind the wheel of a Lexus on the Pacific Coast Highway when the Toyota Prius ahead of her stopped and she slammed into it.
Bruce Jenner, driving a Cadillac Escalade behind Kim Howe, crashed into her, sending the woman’s car into oncoming traffic, where a Hummer collided with it. Kim Howe died at the scene.
Authorities are still trying to determine exactly what happened to cause the accident.
Bruce Jenner has said that he wasn’t distracted by texting at the time of the accident, and has volunteered to show investigators his cell phone records.

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Bobbi Kristina Brown: Public prayer vigil announced for February 9

Bobbi Kristina Brown’s family announced a public prayer vigil on Monday, February 9, for Whitney Houston’s daughter who was found unconscious and face down in a bathtub on January 31.

The “Shining a Light for Healing” vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Amphitheater at Riverdale Town Center in Riverdale, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“All are welcome to attend as a show of support for Bobbi Kriss & Family,” Bobbi Kristina Brown’s cousin Jerod Brown wrote on his Facebook page.

Bobbi Kristina Brown, 21, has been surrounded by family, including father Bobby Brown, since being hospitalized.

“As her father already stated, we are asking you to honor our request for privacy during this difficult time,” the family said in a statement last week.

“Thank you for your prayers, well wishes, and we greatly appreciate your continued support.”

Barack Obama: US may supply lethal defensive arms to Ukraine if diplomacy fails

The US is studying the option of supplying lethal defensive arms to Ukraine if diplomacy fails to end the crisis in the east, President Barack Obama has said.

Russia had violated “every commitment” made in the failing Minsk agreement, he added, after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a new peace deal.

Barack Obama has come under pressure from senior US officials to supply arms, despite objections from Angela Merkel.

Russia denies accusations of sending troops and supplying the rebels.

The latest diplomatic efforts come amid renewed fighting between the pro-Russia rebels and Ukrainian government troops, with fighting centered around the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve.

The rebels said on February 9 they had cut off a key supply road to the town, which is near the rebel-held city of Donetsk, but the military says the battle is ongoing.Barack Obama and Angela Merkel Ukraine talks 2015

Ukrainian government officials say nine soldiers and at least seven civilians have been killed in fighting over the last 24 hours.

The crisis in Ukraine has already claimed more than 5,300 lives and displaced 1.5 million people from their homes.

Angela Merkel met Barack Obama in Washington on February 9 to update him on Franco-German efforts to revive last year’s Minsk peace plan, which collapsed amid fighting over the winter.

The detailed proposals have not been released but the plan is thought to include a demilitarized zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line.

Four-way talks between Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France are due to be held in Belarus’s capital Minsk on February 11 to discuss the proposals.

Speaking alongside Angela Merkel, President Barack Obama said the option of lethal defensive weapons for the Ukrainian government remained on the table.

“If, in fact, diplomacy fails, what I’ve asked my team to do is to look at all options,” he said, adding that offering lethal arms was only one of the options under consideration.

Angela Merkel, who has made it clear she opposes sending lethal arms, acknowledged setbacks in efforts to reach a diplomatic solution with Russia over Ukraine, but said that they would continue.

Meanwhile Barack Obama criticized Russian aggression in Ukraine, saying that the borders of Europe could not be “redrawn at the barrel of a gun”.

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Netflix launches streaming service in Cuba

Netflix has launched its services in Cuba, as diplomatic relations between the US and the communist island continue to thaw.

The internet movie and television streaming service said its content, such as series House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, will be available to anyone with international payment cards.

On January 15, the US announced new rules that ease long-running sanctions against Cuba.

A trade embargo has been in place since 1962.Netflix launches in Cuba

MasterCard and American Express have both said they will launch operations in Cuba soon.

Last month, Netflix said its international expansion was proceeding ahead of schedule.

The company said it plans to expand to 200 countries in the next two years, and to earn “material profits” from its operations overseas by 2017.

“We are delighted to finally be able to offer Netflix to the people of Cuba, connecting them with stories they will love from all over the world,” said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings in a statement.

“Cuba has great filmmakers and a robust arts culture and one day we hope to be able to bring their work to our global audience of over 57 million members.”

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Samsung Smart TV listens to you and shares information with third parties

Samsung is warning customers to avoid discussing personal information in front of their Smart TV set.

The warning applies to TV viewers who control their Samsung Smart TV using its voice activation feature.

Such TV sets “listen” to some of what is said in front of them and may share details they hear with Samsung or third parties, it said.

Privacy campaigners said the technology smacked of the telescreens, in George Orwell’s 1984, which spied on citizens.

The warning came to light via a story in online news magazine the Daily Beast which published an excerpt of a section of Samsung’s privacy policy for its net-connected Smart TV sets.Samsung Smart TV listens to you

The policy explains that the TV set will be listening to people in the same room to try to spot when commands or queries are issued via the remote. It goes on to say: “If your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party.”

Corynne McSherry, an intellectual property lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) which campaigns on digital rights issues, told the Daily Beast that the third party was probably the company providing speech-to-text conversion for Samsung.

She added: “If I were the customer, I might like to know who that third party was, and I’d definitely like to know whether my words were being transmitted in a secure form.”

Soon after, an activist for the EFF circulated the policy statement on Twitter comparing it to George Orwell’s description of the telescreens in his novel 1984 that listen to what people say in their homes.

In response to the widespread sharing of its policy statement, Samsung has issued a statement to clarify how voice activation works. It emphasized that the voice recognition feature is activated using the TV’s remote control.

It said the privacy policy was an attempt to be transparent with owners in order to help them make informed choices about whether to use some features on its Smart TV sets, adding that it took consumer privacy “very seriously”.

Samsung said: “If a consumer consents and uses the voice recognition feature, voice data is provided to a third party during a requested voice command search. At that time, the voice data is sent to a server, which searches for the requested content then returns the desired content to the TV.”

It added that it did not retain voice data or sell the audio being captured. Smart-TV owners would always know if voice activation was turned on because a microphone icon would be visible on the screen, it said.

The third-party handling the translation from speech to text has not been named.

Samsung is not the first maker of a smart, net-connected TV to run into problems with the data the set collects. In late 2013, a UK IT consultant found his LG TV was gathering information about his viewing habits.

Publicity about the issue led LG to create a software update which ensured data collection was turned off for those who did not want to share information.

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The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water tops US box office in its opening weekend

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water has topped the US box office, taking $56 million in its opening weekend.

The animated movie follows SpongeBob character as he leaves his home on the ocean floor and attempts to recover a stolen burger recipe.

Clint Eastwood’s Navy Seal drama American Sniper fell to second place after taking $24.2 million in its fourth week.

Since its release, American Sniper has raked in $282 million. Based on the memoirs of soldier Chris Kyle, it has received six Oscar nominations, including a best actor nod for Bradley Cooper in the title role.The SpongeBob Movie Sponge Out of Water tops US box office

Jupiter Ascending sold the third most tickets over the weekend, with estimated box office takings of $19 million.

Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis and Eddie Redmayne, the sci-fi blockbuster has received wildly disparate reviews.

Seventh Son, a 3D fantasy-action film starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore, took the fourth spot, earning $7.1 million.

Paddington, the film adaptation of the family classic about a bear lost in the big city, came fifth, with $5.4 million in ticket sales.

North America box office Top 10:

  1. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – $56 million
  2. American Sniper – $24.2 million
  3. Jupiter Ascending – $19 million
  4. Seventh Son – $7.1 million
  5. Paddington – $5.4 million
  6. Project Almanac – $5.3 million
  7. The Imitation Game – $4.9 million
  8. Black or White – $4.52 million
  9. The Wedding Ringer – $4.5 million
  10. The Boy Next Door – $4.1 million

Source: Rentrak

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Liu Han: Chinese mining tycoon executed for leading mafia-style crime and murder

Chinese mining tycoon Liu Han has been executed after being sentenced to death in May 2014 for “leading mafia-style crime and murder”, state media say.

Liu Han’s younger brother, Liu Wei and three other associates were also executed, Xinhua said, after China’s top court signed off on the move.

The former chairman of Hanlong Group is believed to have had links to former security tsar Zhou Yongkang, who is currently being investigated.

The Hanlong Group is a major private conglomerate based in Sichuan province, involved in multiple industries including mining, telecommunications and chemicals.

As head of the company, Liu Han was both rich and very influential.Liu Han Hanlong Group executed

Xinhua said the company, which had been “harbored and indulged by government officials, had illegally monopolized the gaming business in Guanghan City in Sichuan province, tyrannized local people and seriously harmed the local economic and social order”.

In recent months, several top officials from Sichuan province have come under scrutiny.

Sichuan was a power base of Zhou Yongkang, China’s former domestic security chief who is now the subject of a corruption probe.

Zhou Yongkang was the party secretary in Sichuan before becoming head of China’s public security ministry in 2003.

He was arrested in December 2014, the latest and by far the most senior figure to be handed over to prosecutors as part of President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on corruption.

Official reports do not specifically link Liu Han’s case with Zhou Yongkang.

Liu Han was an associate of Zhou Bin, Zhou Yongkang’s son, the South China Morning Post reported.

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