Michael Phelps has been arrested for DUI, Maryland authorities have said.
Police in Baltimore said the Olympic swimmer was stopped for speeding after being caught going 84mph in a 45mph zone early on Tuesday morning.
Michael Phelps, 28, was co-operative but failed a series of standard field sobriety tests, traffic police said in a statement. He was charged and released.
The swimmer is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals.
Michael Phelps was arrested and charged with DUI, excessive speed and crossing double lines
Michael Phelps retired after winning his 22nd Olympic medal at the London Games in 2012 but came out of retirement earlier this year.
The Maryland Transportation Authority said Michael Phelps was driving a white 4×4 in Fort McHenry tunnel in Baltimore when the vehicle was caught on police radar at 01:40 local time.
Police said he was “arrested and charged with DUI, excessive speed and crossing double lines”.
The statement said Michael Phelps was co-operative throughout the process and was released after being charged.
Michael Phelps, who is from Baltimore County, was previously charged for driving under the influence in Maryland in 2004. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in exchange for 18 months’ probation.
Neither Michael Phelps nor his representatives have commented on Tuesday’s arrest.
Microsoft has unveiled the first details of its next operating system (OS) – Windows 10.
The new OS’ name is a surprise, bearing in mind it represents a jump from the last version – Windows 8.
The software will run on a wide range of devices, from phones and tablets to PCs and Xbox games consoles, with applications sold from a single store.
Windows 10 also marks the return of the Start Menu, which had been removed from Windows 8.
In addition to offering a list of the user’s favorite applications, the menu also brings up resizable tiles – similar to those featured in Windows 8’s touch-centric interface on PCs and tablets.
These provide a quick view of notifications from relevant applications, such as details of new emails, Facebook messages and weather forecast updates.
Microsoft said the facility was intended to make the software seem familiar to both users of Windows 8 and Windows 7.
The behavior of the OS will depend on the type of device with which it is being used. Unlike its predecessor, users will not need to switch between Desktop Mode and the touch-focused alternative.
Windows 10 will run on a wide range of devices, from phones and tablets to PCs and Xbox games consoles, with applications sold from a single store (photo Microsoft)
However, they can still spread a number of “live tiles” across the screens of two-in-one laptop-tablet hybrids to make them easier to use with both a mouse and finger presses.
Windows 8 had been criticized for being too different to the previous version, which deterred some organizations from introducing it.
It initially lacked a Start button altogether, and when one was introduced it only switched to the touch-centric tiled interface or – if a long mouse press was used – provided access to the system’s control panel and other functions.
Businesses typically wait about a year after a new operating system’s release before offering it to workers to give IT staff a chance to get to grips with the new technologies involved.
It has been nearly two years since Windows 8 first went on sale and adoption is still low.
Across desktop PCs as a whole, only 13.4% currently run Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, according to research firm NetMarketshare.
By contrast, it says 51.2% are powered by Windows 7 and 23.9% by Windows XP, a version that is no longer supported by Microsoft.
Microsoft will offer a “technical preview” of Windows 10 to early adopters later this week, which will run on laptops and desktops.
The company said it would provide details about the introduction of “universal apps” – individual programs that tailor their functionality to different types of devices – at its Build conference in April, and would aim to release the completed OS before the end of 2015.
There was no mention of offering Microsoft’s voice-controlled digital assistant Cortana to PCs, or when Windows 10 would supersede the Windows Phone OS.
Microsoft’s smartphone code is designed for ARM-based processors, unlike the main Windows 8 and Xbox operating systems that are built for x86 chips – including those made by Intel and AMD.
While Microsoft confirmed that Windows 10 would be released for both types of chip architecture, it did not disclose whether there would be a staggered release.
Kansas City Chiefs’ Husain Abdullah has been penalized after celebrating a touchdown by dropping to his knees in prayer.
The American Muslim NFL player scored for the Kansas City Chiefs as they defeated the New England Patriots 41-14.
Officials penalized Husain Abdullah for breaking “excessive celebration” rules by sliding on his knees and pressing his forehead to the ground after scoring.
It is unclear if the 15-yard penalty was for sliding or praying but an NFL director said the decision was wrong.
NFL rules state that “players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations or demonstrations while on the ground”, but there is an exception for going to ground for prayer.
Michael Signora, NFL’s vice president of communications, tweeted: “Abdullah should not have been penalized. Officiating mechanic is not to flag player who goes to ground for religious reasons.”
Husain Abdullah has been penalized after celebrating a touchdown by dropping to his knees in prayer (photo ESPN)
Fans took to social media to point out that there were plenty of Christian players who marked their touchdowns with signs of deference or religious tributes.
Husain Abdullah, 29, told the Kansas City Star newspaper that game officials had said nothing to him at the time but the Chiefs’ coach had told him he had been penalized for sliding.
“I don’t think it was because of the actual prostration that I got the penalty,” he told the AP news agency.
“I think it was because of the slide.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called on the NFL to explain the reason for the penalty.
“To prevent the appearance of a double standard, we urge league officials to clarify the policy on prayer and recognize that the official made a mistake in this case,” spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said.
Husain Abdullah, a devout Muslim, missed the entire 2012 season to go on a Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca with his brother, another NFL player.
Nicki Minaj will host this year’s MTV EMAs ceremony in Glasgow, the singer announced via Instagram.
The annual MTV Europe Music Awards will take place in Glasgow’s SSE Hyrdo.
Nicki Minaj wrote: “So excited to announce that I will not only perform, but I have the honorable task of HOSTING this year’s MTV European Music Awards!!!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! The show will shoot in GLASGOW, SCOTLAND for its 20th Anniversary ON NOVEMBER 9th!!!! Find us @mtvema and Vote at mtvema.com.”
Nicki Minaj will host this year’s MTV EMAs ceremony in Glasgow (photo Instagram)
She will also be performing, and she is up for four awards herself.
One Direction will be going head to head with 5SOS for the biggest fans award, and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini is up for best UK & Ireland act.
The 20th anniversary of the MTV EMAs ceremony takes place on November 9.
Holly Willoughby and husband Dan Baldwin welcomed their third child, a baby boy named Chester William, on Monday, September 29.
The This Morning presenter has announced baby’s arrival on Twitter.
Holly Willoughby, 33, told her 4.88 million followers: “I’m sooo happy to tell you all – we’ve just had a baby boy! Chester William Baldwin made a grand entrance at 8lbs 12. He’s just perfect. X”
Amanda Holden, who’s covering Holly Willoughby’s maternity leave on This Morning wrote: “Congratulations and much love to @hollywills Dan Belle Harry and new baby Chester !!I’m delighted and thrilled!!”
Holly Willoughby has welcomed her third child, a baby boy named Chester William (photo ITV)
Holly Willoughby’s co-presenter Phillip Schofield added: “Had a lovely phone call from @hollywills tonight. Congratulations gorgeous and welcome Chester William Baldwin …. 8lbs 12 blimey!”
Holly Willoughby and Dan Baldwin, who got married in 2007, announced they were expecting another child in March.
The couple also have 5-year-old son Harry and 3-year-old daughter Belle together.
In its new Living Planet Report, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) says the global loss of species is even worse than previously thought.
The new report suggests populations have halved in 40 years, as new methodology gives more alarming results than in a report two years ago.
The report says populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish have declined by an average of 52%.
Populations of freshwater species have suffered an even worse fall of 76%.
Compiling a global average of species decline involves tricky statistics, often comparing disparate data sets – and some critics say the exercise is not statistically valid.
The ZSL team says they have improved their methodology since their last report two years ago – but the results are even more alarming.
The 2014 Living Planet Report suggests wildlife populations have halved in 40 years
Then they estimated that wildlife was down “only” around 30%. Whatever the numbers, it seems clear that wildlife is continuing to be driven out by human activity.
The society’s report, in conjunction with the pressure group WWF, says humans are cutting down trees more quickly than they can re-grow, harvesting more fish than the oceans can re-stock, pumping water from rivers and aquifers faster than rainfall can replenish them, and emitting more carbon than oceans and forests can absorb.
It catalogues areas of severe impact – in Ghana, the lion population in one reserve is down 90% in 40 years.
In West Africa, forest felling has restricted forest elephants to 6-7% of their historic range.
Globally, habitat loss and hunting have reduced tigers from 100,000 a century ago to just 3,000.
In the UK, the government promised to halt wildlife decline – but bird numbers continue to fall.
The index tracks more than 10,000 vertebrate species populations from 1970 to 2010. It reveals a continued decline in these populations. The global trend is not slowing down.
The report shows that the biggest recorded threat to biodiversity comes from the combined impacts of habitat loss and degradation, driven by what WWF calls unsustainable human consumption.
The report notes that the impacts of climate change are becoming of increasing concern – although the effect of climate change on species until now is disputed.
WWF is keen to avoid despair. It points to conservation efforts to save species like:
A Gorilla Conservation Program in Rwanda, promoting gorilla tourism
A scheme to incentivize small-scale farmers to move away from slash and burn agriculture in Acre, Brazil
A project to cut the amount of water withdrawn from the wildlife-rich River Itchen in the UK.
Previously, the Living Planet Index was calculated using the average decline in all of the species populations measured. The new weighted methodology analyses the data to provide what ZSL says is a much more accurate calculation of the collective status of populations in all species and regions.
A group of friends from Vermont launched a new social network, Ello, dubbed the “anti-Facebook” platform because it carries no advertisements.
The social network is currently receiving up to 31,000 requests an hour from people wishing to join its platform, according to its founder, Paul Budnitz.
Ello was initially designed to just be used by about 90 friends of its founder Paul Budnitz.
Paul Budnitz, a bike shop owner from Vermont, opened Ello to others on August 7.
Ello is dubbed the anti-Facebook platform because it carries no advertisements
Ello has been dubbed the “anti-Facebook” network because of a pledge to carry no adverts or sell user data.
However, some experts have cautioned that it might struggle with plans to charge micro-payments for certain “features”.
The site has a minimalist design and does not appear as user-friendly, at first glance, as more established networks.
Ello has already survived a reported Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack – a targeted flood of internet traffic – which briefly knocked it offline over the weekend.
The network will eventually make money by selling access to features, Paul Budnitz added.
Ello members can already check out features in development on the page and register their interest.
Secret Service Director Julia Pierson says the agency’s security plan was “not properly executed” when Omar Gonzalez broke into the White House this month, a lapse she said would never be repeated.
At a House of Representatives oversight committee hearing, Julia Pierson took responsibility for the “unacceptable” breach.
She was addressing congressmen angry over the September 19 break-in.
The 42-year-old intruder, Omar Gonzalez, scaled a fence, ran across the lawn, entered an unlocked door and was tackled inside.
Omar Gonzalez made it well into the first floor of the White House, having pushed his way past a guard standing just inside the unlocked door of the North Portico. He was tackled in the East Room, a long, ornately decorated chamber used for presidential addresses and formal receptions.
“It is clear that our security plan was not executed properly,” said Julia Pierson in testimony at the House Oversight committee hearing, where lawmakers of both parties expressed anger at a number of recent lapses by agency personnel and incidents of agents’ misbehavior.
“I take full responsibility; what happened is unacceptable and it will never happen again.”
Secret Service Director Julia Pierson says the agency’s security plan was not properly executed when Omar Gonzalez broke into the White House this month
While acknowledging the recent failure, Julia Pierson said the agency’s “emergency action plans” were “multifaceted and tailored to each threat”.
She said that agents and uniformed officers had apprehended 16 people who had jumped over the White House fence over the past five years, including six in 2014 alone.
Julia Pierson also said they had dealt with hundreds of people who had approached the grounds and made verbal threats or acted suspiciously.
She had ordered a full review of White House security procedures and said “all decisions made that evening are being evaluated, including decisions on tactics and use of force”.
Committee chairman Darrell Issa, a California Republican, said the White House complex was supposed to be one of the most secure places in the world but the breach had exposed serious problems in the protective agency.
“The system broke down on September 19 as it did when the Salahis crashed a state dinner in November 2009, or when Oscar Ortega-Hernandez successfully shot at the White House on November 2011, or when agents engaged in prostitution in Cartagena in April 2012, or when agents showed terrible judgment and got drunk in the Netherlands in March 2014,” he said, referring to previous, well publicized breaches at the White House and scandals involving Secret Service agents.
Congressman Jason Chaffetz, a Republican, said he was concerned the Secret Service was sending mixed messages when it praised its officers for “tremendous restraint” following the September 19 incident.
Democratic Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District of Columbia, said the issues facing the agency were not a “mere question of personnel” and called for a “21st Century makeover” of the agency.
Barack Obama and his family were not at the White House when the latest intrusion happened, having departed about 10 minutes earlier by helicopter.
Omar Gonzalez has been charged with unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon.
Hong Kong leader CY Leung has urged Occupy Central protesters to stop their campaign after tens of thousands of people have been blocking streets in several areas.
The protesters want Beijing to give Hong Kong a free vote for its next leader, something Beijing has rejected.
The streets are now relatively quiet but crowds are set to swell later ahead of Chinese National Day on October 1.
People were sleeping and clearing up on September 30 before larger gatherings expected during the evening.
October 1 is a national holiday marking the founding of Communist China.
At the weekend police used tear gas and pepper spray, but riot police have since been withdrawn and protesters remain calm.
Key parts of the city are being blocked by protesters, with some schools and banks closed.
CY Leung has urged Occupy Central protesters to stop their campaign after tens of thousands of people have been blocking Hong Kong streets
The protesters want CY Leung, the chief executive, to step down. But he appeared to reject their demand, saying that his removal would mean Hong Kong’s next leader being chosen by a committee, as in 2012, rather than by voters.
CY Leung also called on the protesters – a mix of students, supporters of the pro-democracy Occupy Central group and others angered by the police response to the protests – to go home.
“Occupy Central founders had said repeatedly that if the movement is getting out of control, they would call for it to stop,” CY Leung said.
“I’m now asking them to fulfill the promise they made to society, and stop this campaign immediately.”
Beijing ruled last month that Hong Kong people can elect their next leader in 2017.
But the choice of candidates will be restricted to two or three people who must be approved by the majority of a pro-Beijing committee – meaning Beijing can effectively screen candidates.
In Hong Kong, further consultations had been due to take place on the ruling but on September 29 a senior official said these would be postponed until a “better time”.
In its latest statement, Occupy Central accused the government of “delay tactics”, saying it believed the government was “just hoping people’s desire for genuine universal suffrage to fade out over time”.
Occupy Central also repeated calls for CY Leung’s resignation, saying he would be “condemned by the history of democratic development in Hong Kong”.
Members of the Indian film industry in Tamil Nadu state is on a day-long fast to protest against the jailing of former chief minister Jayaram Jayalalitha.
Jayaram Jayalalitha has been jailed for four years for corruption and is in a Bangalore prison.
She has challenged her conviction and applied for bail. The Bangalore high court will hear her plea on October 6.
In a case lasting 18 years, Jayaram Jayalalitha was found guilty of amassing unaccounted wealth of more than $10 million.
In its ruling on September 27, the special court in Bangalore also ordered her to pay a 1 billion rupee ($16 million) fine and resign as chief minister.
Jayaram Jayalalitha has been jailed for four years for corruption and is in a Bangalore prison (photo AP)
A former film actress, Jayaram Jayalalitha is one of India’s most colorful and controversial politicians and has a huge following in Tamil Nadu.
On September 30, actors, directors and other members of the Tamil film industry began a day-long silent fast in the state capital, Chennai, to express “support and solidarity” for Jayaram Jayalalitha.
All the cinemas are shut in the city until the evening and all film shoots have been cancelled for the day.
Jayaram Jayalalitha’s imprisonment has dismayed her supporters who have held protests and wept openly.
One report said at least 16 people were believed to have killed themselves “either by setting themselves ablaze or by hanging” since Jayaram Jayalalitha’s sentencing.
On September 29, her successor O Paneerselvam was sworn in as chief minister – he too wept during his inauguration, with colleagues saying they were in mourning.
Jayaram Jayalalitha has denied charges of amassing wealth as false and says that she acquired property through legal means.
The case was heard in the neighboring state of Karnataka to ensure it remained free from influence or pressure.
The eruption of Japan’s Mount Ontake intensified making the efforts to recover the bodies of at least 24 climbers to be suspended again.
At least 36 people are thought to have died in Saturday’s unexpected eruption.
Dozens of other people were injured in the incident on the mountain, which is about 125 miles west of Tokyo.
Hundreds of firefighters, police and troops have been involved in search operations.
Twelve bodies have been recovered so far. Another 24 are reported to be on the mountain, including five more located on September 29.
The eruption of Japan’s Mount Ontake intensified making the efforts to recover the bodies of at least 24 climbers to be suspended again
Japanese authorities only declare fatalities once the body has been examined by a doctor.
Some of the bodies were found in a lodge near the summit and others were buried in ash up to 20in deep, Japanese media reported.
An official from Japan’s meteorological agency said volcanic tremors in the area could mean that another explosion was on the way.
“The strength of the tremors increased late last night, diminished and then rose again early this morning. There’s the chance things could get even worse, so caution is needed,” Yasuhide Hasegawa told Reuters news agency.
“This points to possibly increasing pressure due to steam inside the volcano, and if it exploded rocks could be thrown around, endangering rescuers,” he said.
Japan’s meteorological agency has warned that volcanic debris may settle within 2.5 miles of the peak.
ISIS militants have released a third video featuring British hostage John Cantlie.
Journalist John Cantlie delivers a scripted message responding to President Barack Obama’s recent speech on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The script mocks the US’s strategy of employing air power combined with local ground forces.
John Cantlie appears sat at a desk against a black backdrop, following the same format as in previous videos.
The message ends with a comment by him that Islamic State (ISIS) says it welcomes meeting with what is described as President Barack Obama’s under-construction army.
There are no signs of violence in the video but in the first of these messages John Cantlie made clear he was speaking as a prisoner whose life was in danger.
John Cantlie, an experienced journalist and photographer, has twice been held captive in Syria
At the end of the five-and-a-half minute film he indicates there will be further messages.
The video comments on Barack Obama’s speech: “It was all disappointingly predictable; America is good, the Islamic State is bad; and they will be defeated using aircraft and a motley collection of fighters on the ground. For their part the Islamic State say they welcome meeting Obama’s under-construction army.”
John Cantlie, an experienced journalist and photographer, has twice been held captive in Syria.
He was kidnapped in July 2012, and handcuffed and blindfolded for a week, but escaped with the help from the Free Syrian Army.
A second kidnap happened when he returned to Syria towards the end of 2012.
Islamic State – also known as ISIL – has taken control of large areas of Syria and Iraq and declared a caliphate.
Since August, ISIS has filmed and posted online the deaths of three Western hostages who were beheaded.
They were American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines.
New York Judge Thomas Griesa has ruled that the Republic of Argentina is in contempt of court for refusing to obey an order to repay the debt it owes to two US hedge funds.
Argentina has been mired in a US court dispute with the funds, which bought the country’s debt at a discount after its default in 2001.
In July, Judge Thomas Griesa ruled that Argentina must repay the funds before it can repay other bondholders.
Argentina refused, sending the country into default.
On September 29, Argentina’s ambassador to the US warned in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry that if the country was found to be in contempt of court, it would represent “unlawful interference” in Argentina’s domestic affairs.
And in a strong statement, the Argentine Foreign Ministry in Buenos Aires said Judge Thomas Griesa’s ruling “violates international law” and “has no practical effect other than to provide new elements helpful to the slanderous political and media campaign conducted by vulture funds against Argentina”.
Argentina has been found in contempt of court for refusing to obey an order to repay the debt it owes to two US hedge funds
The statement added: “Griesa holds the sad record of being the first judge to declare a sovereign state in contempt for paying a debt, after failing in his attempt to block the restructuring of the foreign debt of Argentina.”
Judge Thomas Griesa said he would decide on a penalty at a later date.
After Argentina defaulted on about $100 billion of debt in 2001, the country negotiated a settlement with the majority of its bondholders to repay a certain portion of the amount owed.
Some bondholders accepted swaps for lesser-valued bonds but were not paid interest on those bonds.
However, two hedge funds – NML Capital and Aurelius Capital Management – have demanded full repayment of the $1.5 billion they are owed, and have sued to prevent Argentina from paying back only its restructured bonds.
Argentina has refused, saying that they are “vulture funds”, and has attempted to enact legislation to skirt Judge Thomas Griesa’s ruling.
This has left two banks in New York – Bank of New York Mellon and Citigroup – with millions of dollars on hold that Argentina had planned to pay in interest to holders of its renegotiated debt.
According to new reports, Omar Gonzalez, the man arrested for breaking into the White House earlier this month, gained access to more of the building than previously believed.
Omar Gonzalez, 42, made it to the East Room in the White House on September 19, unidentified officials told multiple news outlets.
It was earlier reported the intruder was stopped at the North Portico doors after scaling the building’s main fence.
The Secret Service boss will be questioned about the breach on September 30.
Lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will ask Secret Service Director Julia Pierson to explain this latest lapse.
Omar Gonzalez – armed with a knife – barreled past a guard posted at the door of the White House and ran into the East Room before being tackled by authorities, unnamed officials told the Washington Post.
Omar Gonzalez gained access to more of the White House than previously believed
The long, ornately decorated room is frequently used for presidential addresses and formal receptions.
The Secret Service, responsible for President Barack Obama’s security, has so far declined to comment on the latest information.
The agency has undergone a review of its procedures in the wake of the breach and erected a temporary fence outside the White House.
Omar Gonzalez, meanwhile, has been charged with unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon.
The Iraq War veteran was previously stopped by Virginia police in July.
Officers found two powerful rifles, four handguns and other firearms and ammunition in Omar Gonzalez’s vehicle along with a map marking the White House.
An unnamed federal law enforcement official earlier told the Associated Press news agency Secret Service agents had interviewed Omar Gonzalez twice during the summer but concluded there was no evidence he was a security threat.
Barack Obama and his family were not at the White House when the intrusion happened, having departed about 10 minutes earlier by helicopter.
As summer draws to a close, local municipalities across the country are gearing up for the winter months ahead. When the weather gets harsh, the biggest concern will be road safety. Freezing conditions and snow will wreak havoc on America’s roadways, and local crews will work around the clock to ensure safe passageways for all motorists.
In particularly downtrodden cities like Detroit and Cleveland, fluctuating temperatures, snow, and ice will contribute to a problem that continues to grow year by year, placing major stress on local budgets – potholes.
Last spring, “unprecedented wear and tear” had cities exhausting their budgets in order to fix potholes, such as New York City, which filled more than twice as many potholes in the spring of 2014 as it did the previous season. It is feared that many roads will be even worse off after we get through this winter. With many areas lacking the funds necessary to fill all their potholes, individuals drivers must be extra cautious to avoid damage to their vehicles.
Here are some tips you can follow to deal with potholes while traveling and to minimize any potential damage to your car and tires:
Increase the distance between your car and those in front of you. You’ll have extra time and space to deal with unexpected dips and craters in the road.
Be aware of traffic patterns. If you notice other drivers swerving ahead, you’ll be clued in to a potential pothole coming up.
Watch the road. Be sure to look at the roadway while driving so that you can spot any upcoming potholes or other obstacles.
Slow down. Drive very slowly through potholes to minimize potential damage to your car. It is better to roll through a pothole than to stop suddenly.
Avoid swerving as a reaction to sudden potholes. Turning into oncoming traffic or hitting pedestrians/bicyclists is much more dangerous than going through a pothole.
Keep your tires properly inflated. Over-inflated or under-inflated tires are much more susceptible to damage from driving through potholes.
Regularly check your tires for blisters, and use the “penny test” to make sure your tire treads aren’t worn down too much. Also be on the lookout for any changes to your car’s alignment.
If you drive through a bad pothole, immediately check your tire and hubcaps for damage. If there is any, get it fixed as soon as possible so it doesn’t get worse.
File a timely claim with your car insurance company if necessary.
Change your driving route whenever possible to avoid major potholes until they can be fixed.
Because potholes are dangerous, local transportation authorities do take them seriously. Unfortunately, many budgets are stretched so thin that potholes, especially smaller ones, may not be fixed for long periods of time. Winter weather often causes potholes to appear and get bigger, so most municipalities use suppliers like Mchlaughlin Underground, that supply large vacuum excavation machines, until the springtime, when most of the risk for additional road damage has passed.
If you notice a pothole in the road, you can contact your state transportation department to report it. You’ll need to provide the exact location of the pothole (intersection, lane, nearby landmarks, etc.), and it’s helpful if you can provide information about its size (approximate length, width, and depth), as well as noting if there is any reason for particular concern (interference with a bus stop, trolley track, or pedestrian crosswalk, for example).
The investigation into missing Hannah Graham has provided a “significant break” in a 2009 unsolved murder case, Virginia police have said.
The arrest of Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr., 32, accused of abducting Hannah Graham, 18, has led to forensic evidence related to Morgan Harrington’s murder.
Morgan Harrington was found dead three months after she went missing from a concert.
British-born student Hannah Graham was last seen on September 13 in Charlottesville, where she is a university student.
Police are still looking for Hannah Graham and have offered $100,000 for information on her whereabouts.
The arrest of Jesse Matthew, accused of abducting Hannah Graham, has led to forensic evidence related to Morgan Harrington’s murder
Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. was taken into custody by police in Galveston, Texas, several days after he drove away from a Charlottesville police station.
He was seen walking with Hannah Graham on CCTV footage the night she disappeared from Charlottesville and has now been charged with abduction with intent to defile in connection with her disappearance.
On September 29, Virginia state police said Jesse Matthew’s arrest “provided a significant break” in the Harrington case with a “new forensic link for state police investigators to pursue”.
The statement did not give specifics about the forensic evidence.
Charlottesville police searched Jesse Matthew’s apartment and took several items of clothing.
Another case involving Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown, will be reviewed by a St. Louis County grand jury.
A judge approved the request by county prosecutors on September 29 in a case involving a drug suspect arrested in 2013 by Officer Darren Wilson. The man’s attorney wants the drug distribution charge dismissed because he doesn’t expect Darren Wilson, who did not attend the hearing, to show up in court.
Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson
Darren Wilson received a Ferguson City Council commendation for his role in Christopher Brooks’ arrest. But defense attorney Nick Zotos said his client was “roughed up” by Darren Wilson and also questioned whether his actions merited special recognition.
The grand jury is also reviewing evidence in the early August shooting death of Michael Brown to determine whether Darren Wilson should face criminal charges.
Amanda Bynes was arrested on September 28 after police determined she was allegedly driving under the influence of marijuana.
A police officer spotted the troubled actress after she stopped her Mercedes in the middle of an intersection in the San Fernando Valley.
Amanda Bynes had a “disheveled” appearance, according to an arrest report.
Amanda Bynes is currently on probation from a previous DUI
She was booked into jail on misdemeanor DUI by the California Highway Patrol at 4:10 a.m. on September 28 after a drug evaluator at the jail determined she was under the influence of the drug. She was released on $15,000 bail around noon later that day.
Amanda Bynes is currently on probation from a previous DUI charge stemming from an incident in April 2012 when she hit a parked car.
In February, Amanda Bynes struck a plea deal in the first case and was given three years’ probation. The fact that she was arrested again while on probation could mean major trouble for her.
Donald Trump may sue a Twitter user who tricked him into retweeting an image of British serial killers Fred and Rose West.
Donald Trump shared the spoof message that claimed the pair looked at him as a “big inspiration” and asked him to “RT for their memory”.
Later the billionaire tweeted: “I guess this teaches you not to be nice or trusting.”
Fred West was charged with a dozen murders in Gloucester but killed himself before the trial in 1995.
Donald Trump said he may sue the Twitter user who tricked him into retweeting the image of Fred and Rose West
Rose West was convicted of 10 murders – many at the couple’s home in Gloucester – and jailed for life. She was told when she was sentenced in 1995 that she should never be released.
Donald Trump was contacted by the Twitter user early on Monday, September 29, urging him to re-tweet the image of the Wests.
He later deleted the message after it was widely shared on the social media site.
Addressing the incident, Donald Trump later tweeted: “Some jerk fraudulently tweeted that his parents said I was a big inspiration to them + pls RT-out of kindness I retweeted. Maybe I’ll sue.
“I thought I was being nice to somebody re their parents. I guess this teaches you not to be nice or trusting. Sad!”
Catalonia’s planned independence referendum has been suspended by Spain’s Constitutional Court.
Spain’s Constitutional Court said it first needed to consider arguments whether the November 9 vote breached the country’s constitution.
It acted on a request from the Spanish central government in Madrid.
Catalonia leader Artur Mas signed a decree on September 27 calling for the referendum.
However, Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy told reporters that the vote was not “compatible with the Spanish constitution”.
“Nobody and nothing will be allowed to break up Spain.”
Mariano Rajoy was speaking in a televised statement to the nation after holding an emergency cabinet meeting.
Catalonia’s planned independence referendum has been suspended by Spain’s Constitutional Court
Hundreds of thousands of Catalans joined a protest in Barcelona recently, calling for their right to vote.
Unhappy at Spain’s refusal to give Catalans more powers, protesters have been energized by Scotland’s recent independence referendum and many also waved the Scottish flag.
Catalonia’s 7.5 million inhabitants make up approximately 16 % of the population of Spain. Yet it is one of Spain’s richest and most highly industrialized regions, as well as one of its most independent-minded.
Spain’s deepening economic crisis, though, has seen a surge in support for separation.
A recent poll for Spain’s El Pais newspaper showed that 45% of Catalans were in favor of suspending the referendum if the Constitutional Court declared it illegal.
Only 23% would like the referendum to go ahead regardless, the survey suggested.
Artur Mas has only recently become a supporter of full independence. Since 2007, he has spearheaded a push to revitalize Catalan nationalism known as the Refoundation of Catalanism.
Seven Ukrainian troops are said to have died in a clash with pro-Russian rebels near Donetsk airport.
The attack is the deadliest single incident for the military since a truce deal.
A tank shell hit the vehicle carrying the troops, an official said.
Three civilians were reportedly killed in other incidents.
Ukrainian activists earlier toppled a statue of Lenin in the eastern city of Kharkiv – a move likely to be seen as a provocation by pro-Russians.
Nationalist protesters had gathered around the statue on Sunday night for a “Kharkiv is Ukraine” rally. The governor of Kharkiv region, Ihor Baluta, then signed an order to dismantle the statue.
The mayor of Kharkiv, Gennady Kernes, said on a local government website that the monument would be restored, calling its destruction unlawful.
Seven Ukrainian troops are said to have died in a clash with pro-Russian rebels near Donetsk airport
Pro-Russian demonstrators defended the statue in February, as similar monuments were being taken down in other parts of the country in a wave of protests that accompanied the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych.
Kharkiv has largely escaped the violence which subsequently swept through east Ukraine’s other regions, Donetsk and Luhansk.
The latest deaths cast fresh doubt on a ceasefire agreed between the Ukrainian government and the rebels on September 5.
The seven soldiers were killed in a vehicle near Donetsk airport, which the rebels have been trying to capture from the Ukrainian military.
“During the evening attack, the Ukrainian armoured transporter, with its crew and a paratroop unit, took a direct hit from a tank,” Ukrainian military spokesman Col Andriy Lysenko told reporters.
He said a total of nine soldiers had been killed and 27 wounded in the past 24 hours.
Separately, authorities in Donetsk told AFP news agency that three civilians had been killed over the same period. The city is a base for the pro-Russian rebels.
The OSCE, which is monitoring the ceasefire, confirmed there had been heavy shelling around Donetsk airport.
For several days Russian state television has reported on “mass graves” allegedly unearthed by rebels near Nizhnya Krynka, a village near Donetsk. At least four bodies have been found there, according to the Russian reports.
Iraqi air strikes and ground forces appear to have halted the advance of Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the town of Amariya al-Falluja, west of Baghdad.
The air strikes followed clashes with ISIS militants, who have been making gains towards the capital.
Amariya al-Falluja, 25 miles from Baghdad, is a key strategic town.
It comes as a US-led coalition continues to carry out air strikes on ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq.
The area around Amariya al-Falluja is now said to be calm, but there is a standoff along the main road to Falluja to the north, which is controlled by ISIS.
US aircraft also attacked other ISIS positions in Anbar province overnight, the Pentagon said.
Meanwhile, Turkish tanks have taken up positions on a hill along the border near the Syrian town of Kobane after several shells hit Turkish territory during clashes between ISIS militants and Kurdish fighters.
Iraqi air strikes and ground forces appear to have halted the advance of ISIS militants in the town of Amariya al-Falluja
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria, said ISIS fighters were now within 3 miles of Kobane, the closest they have come since launching an offensive this month.
The jihadists also fired at least 15 rockets at the town centre, killing at least one person, it added.
Overnight, there were US-led air strikes on ISIS-controlled towns and villages in northern and eastern Syria.
One raid on a grain silo in Manbij, in Aleppo province, left several civilians dead, the Syrian Observatory’s director Rami Abdul Rahman reported.
The entrance to the Conoco gas plant, Syria’s largest, was also reportedly hit. The facility itself was not thought to be damaged.
In a television interview on September 28, President Barack Obama candidly admitted the US had “underestimated” the threat of IS.
Barack Obama said a political solution – one that would arise out of an accommodation between Sunni and Shia populations – was key to defeating the jihadists.
Tens of thousands of protesters have blocked the streets of Hong Kong, shutting down businesses and ignoring appeals to leave.
The demonstrations have spread to other areas including a shopping district and a residential area.
Riot police withdrew on September 29 after overnight clashes in which they used batons and fired volleys of tear gas to try to disperse the crowds.
China has warned other countries not to support the “illegal rallies”.
Its foreign ministry said it opposed any interference in China’s internal affairs.
Meanwhile the British government called for the right to protest to be protected.
Tens of thousands of protesters have blocked the streets of Hong Kong, shutting down businesses and ignoring appeals to leave (photo AFP)
Protesters – a mix of students and supporters of the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement – are angry at Beijing’s plans to vet candidates for Hong Kong’s 2017 leadership elections.
They want a free choice of candidates when they cast their ballots for the chief executive – something Beijing says is out of the question.
On September 28, dozens of protesters have been arrested on Hong Kong’s streets as tens of thousands of protesters faced riot police in the heart of the city.
In a news conference on September 29, Cheung Tak-keung, assistant commissioner of police for operations, said police had used the “bare minimum force”.
Cheung Tak-keung said 41 people had been injured in the past three days, including 12 police officers.
The Hong Kong government urged protesters to stay calm and leave peacefully but crowds remained camped out around the government complex.
About 3,000 people have also blocked a major road across the bay in Mongkok, on the Kowloon peninsula, while a crowd of about 1,000 faced police in the busy shopping district of Causeway Bay, east of central Hong Kong.
Schools in the Wan Chai, Central and Western districts were closed on September 29 and will remain shut on the next day, according to the Hong Kong Education Bureau.
The city remains heavily disrupted, with several major thoroughfares blocked.
China, which stations a garrison of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Hong Kong, said it was confident the city’s administration could handle the protests.
Tensions escalated on September 28 when the broader Occupy Central protest movement threw its weight behind student-led protests, bringing forward a mass civil disobedience campaign due to start on October 1.
A monster truck accident happened on September 28 in Haaksbergen, the Netherlands, when a vehicle ploughed into a crowd of onlookers at an annual motor show.
Three people were killed in the tragedy.
According to Hans Gerritsen, the mayor of Haaksbergen, other 18 people have been injured.
The third death was announced on September 29 and five are critically ill in hospital, following the event in Haaksbergen in Overijssel province.
Video footage shows the modified pick-up with outsized tires driving over a row of cars as part of the show, but then veering off course.
The monster truck had been performing a stunt when it ploughed into the crowd
A boy, a man and a woman died.
Helicopters helped ferry the injured to hospitals in three nearby towns.
“A so-called monster truck drove into a crowd of spectators. A terrible accident with two dead victims,” town authorities said on their website on September 28.
Video of the accident posted on social media showed the truck revving hard and then riding over six cars before suddenly heading towards spectators who were separated from the show by metal barriers.
Screaming, some managed to get away but others had no time to escape.
The driver of the truck has been detained and an inquiry has been opened, police said, quoted by local media.
