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Costa Concordia salvage update 2014: Wrecked cruise liner refloated

Diane A. Wade
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Costa Concordia salvage update 2014: Wrecked cruise liner refloated

Costa Concordia has been successfully raised from the under-sea platform it has been resting on for the past year, salvage workers say.

The wrecked cruise ship – the target of one of the biggest maritime salvage operations in history – is now floating about 3ft off the platform.

In all, the refloating operation is expected to take six or seven days.

The cruise liner will then be towed to its home port, Genoa, where it will be scrapped.

Costa Concordia struck a reef off the Italian island of Giglio in January 2012 and capsized, killing 32 people.

Costa Concordia has been successfully raised from the under-sea platform it has been resting on for the past year
Costa Concordia has been successfully raised from the under-sea platform it has been resting on for the past year

Workers are slowly lifting the vessel by pumping air into tanks attached to the ship. The wreck was hauled upright in September but was still partially submerged, resting on six steel platforms.

Salvage workers cheered with delight as they returned to Giglio’s port.

“The ship is upright and is not listing. This is extremely positive,” the engineer in charge of the salvage, Franco Porcellacchia, told a news conference.

A search for the remains of Indian waiter Russel Rebello, whose body was not recovered from the wreck, will be carried out after the vessel is moved.

The Costa Concordia’s owners, Costa Crociere, estimate the operation to remove the wreck from the reef and tow it for scrapping will cost 1.5 billion euros ($2 billion) in total.

An engineer with Costa Crociere described the salvage efforts as “unprecedented”.

“As with anything being done for the first time, there are risks. But we are confident,” Franco Porcellacchia said.

Hundreds of divers and engineers have been involved in operations to salvage the Concordia, which is twice the size of the Titanic.

Towing the ship to Genoa – about 200 nautical miles away – is due to begin on July 21 and take about five days.

“The operation began well but it will be completed only when we have finished the transport to Genoa,” Italian Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti told reporters on Monday.

Costa Concordia’s captain Francesco Schettino is on trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship, charges he denies.

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Lindt agrees to buy rival Russell Stover

Clyde K. Valle
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Lindt agrees to buy rival Russell Stover

Swiss chocolate company Lindt & Sprungli has agreed a deal to buy American rival Russell Stover.

Lindt said the takeover would help it to expand in the US, making it the third-largest chocolate manufacturer in North America.

It said it had agreed not to disclose the purchase price for the deal.

“This biggest and most important strategic acquisition in Lindt & Sprungli’s history is a unique opportunity,” said chair Ernst Tanner.

Swiss chocolate company Lindt & Sprungli has agreed a deal to buy American rival Russell Stover
Swiss chocolate company Lindt & Sprungli has agreed a deal to buy American rival Russell Stover

Lindt, known for its chocolate balls and gold foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies, said it would now expand the range of chocolates it sold in the US to include a variety of products from Russell Stover, including sugar-free chocolates.

The chocolate company said it expected the deal to boost its earnings from 2015 onwards, and that as a result, it would pass $1.5 billion in annual sales in North America.

Russell Stover owns the Whitman’s brand in the US. It is known for its boxed chocolates and has four chocolate factories in the US, and also runs a chain of 35 stores.

The American company currently has annual sales of about $500 million.

Both companies said the union was “a perfect strategic fit”.

“The acquisition clearly signals Lindt & Sprungli’s intention to improve its market position in North America,” Lindt added in a statement.

Samsung finds evidence of suspected child labor at Chinese factory

Clyde K. Valle
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Samsung finds evidence of suspected child labor at Chinese factory

A Samsung Electronics investigation has found “evidence of suspected child labor” at a factory of its Chinese supplier Dongguan Shinyang Electronics.

The South Korean giant tech conducted an investigation into the supplier after New York-based campaign group, China Labor Watch, accused it of hiring children.

The company has “temporarily” suspended business with the supplier following the investigation.

Samsung said that Chinese authorities were also looking into the matter.

A Samsung Electronics investigation has found evidence of suspected child labor at a factory of its Chinese supplier Dongguan Shinyang Electronics
A Samsung Electronics investigation has found evidence of suspected child labor at a factory of its Chinese supplier Dongguan Shinyang Electronics

“If the investigations conclude that the supplier indeed hired children illegally, Samsung will permanently halt business with the supplier in accordance with its zero tolerance policy on child labor,” Samsung said in a statement.

“Furthermore, Samsung will strengthen its hiring process not only at its production facilities but also at its suppliers to prevent such case from reoccurring.”

Samsung said it had conducted three audits on the Dongguan Shinyang Electronics since 2013, with the latest one ending on June 25 this year.

However, it added that “no cases of child labor were found during these audits”.

Samsung launched a subsequent investigation following the allegations by China Labor Watch and “found evidences of illegal hiring process that took place on June 29”.

This is the first time Samsung has reported finding evidence of underage workers at its suppliers.

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World Cup 2014: Luiz Felipe Scolari resigns as Brazil coach

Clyde K. Valle
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World Cup 2014: Luiz Felipe Scolari resigns as Brazil coach

Brazil’s soccer team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned following his country’s failure to win the 2014 World Cup, reports Brazilian broadcaster Globo TV.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, 65, won the 2002 World Cup but the hosts could only finish fourth at this year’s event.

Brazil was thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals, their joint-heaviest loss ever and first home competitive defeat for 39 years.

They then lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in the play-off for third place.

Brazil’s soccer team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned following his country's failure to win the 2014 World Cup
Brazil’s soccer team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned following his country’s failure to win the 2014 World Cup

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s contract was set to expire after the tournament but Globo TV says his resignation will be confirmed on Monday by the CBF, Brazil’s football federation.

UOL News, a Brazilian website, is also reporting that Luiz Felipe Scolari has quit, quoting two CBF sources.

During the defeat by the Netherlands, Luiz Felipe Scolari, in his second spell in charge of the national team, was booed every time his image appeared on the big screen inside the stadium in Brasilia.

Luiz Felipe Scolari first took over the Brazil side in 2001 and guided them to World Cup success a year later, beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final in Yokohama, Japan.

After spells in charge of Portugal, Premier League side Chelsea, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and Brazilian club Palmeiras, he resumed control of the national team in 2012.

Brazil hosted and won the Confederations Cup in 2013, beating Spain 3-0 in the final, and wa favorite to win a sixth World Cup.

They finished top of their group after two wins and a draw from their three matches, before edging past Chile on penalties in the last 16.

They beat Colombia 2-1 in the quarter-finals, but lost top goalscorer Neymar to a spine injury and captain Thiago Silva to suspension.

In the semi-final, Brazil were 5-0 down to Joachim Low’s Germany after only 29 minutes, before losing 7-1.

Luiz Felipe Scolari described the defeat as “the worst day of his life” and asked for forgiveness from the Brazilian people.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes tops US box office with $73 million in its opening weekend

Sonia Pantiss
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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes tops US box office with $73 million in its opening weekend

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has topped the North American box office taking $73 million in its opening weekend.

The movie easily topped the chart, which saw Transformers: Age of Extinction slip to second with $16.5 million.

The Apes epic also picked up another $31 million from international markets.

Set 10 years after 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the sequel follows the battle for dominance between humans and intelligent apes.

Andy Serkis has reprised his performance-capture role as Caesar, the ape who leads his species after encountering a colony of humans who survive a deadly virus.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has topped the North American box office taking $73 million in its opening weekend
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has topped the North American box office taking $73 million in its opening weekend

He also famously played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, which also used performance capture, which electronically tracks an actor’s movements and expressions so they can be translated into computer generated imagery (CGI).

Directed by Cloverfield’s Matt Reeves, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes also stars Gary Oldman, Keri Russell and Jason Clarke.

The sequel opened more strongly than its predecessor, which took $54.8 million during its opening weekend.

A second sequel to be directed by Matt Reeves is already in the works to further extend the franchise which first began with 1968’s Planet of the Apes, based on Pierre Boulle’s French novel.

Four movies followed in the 1970s, as well as a critically panned 2001 reboot by Tim Burton.

Elsewhere on the chart, Melissa McCarthy and Susan Sarandon comedy Tammy – about a fast food worker who gets fired and takes her hard-drinking grandmother on a road trip – was at three with $12.9 million.

Sequels 22 Jump Street and How to Train Your Dragon 2 took the fourth and fifth spots with $6.7 million and $5.9 million respectively.

North American box office Top 5:

  1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $73 million
  2. Transformers: Age of Extinction – $16.5 million
  3. Tammy -$12.9 million
  4. 22 Jump Street – $6.7 million
  5. How To Train Your Dragon 2 – $5.9 million

Source: Rentrak

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Cheryl Cole marries Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in secret ceremony

Lisa.Felice
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Cheryl Cole marries Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in secret ceremony

Cheryl Cole has revealed she married her French boyfriend Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in secret earlier this month.

Cheryl Cole, 31, said she had made the announcement to stop speculation about her private life.

The pair had reportedly been seeing each other for just three months when they wed on the private island of Mustique, the Sun newspaper said.

Cheryl Cole has revealed she married her French boyfriend Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in secret earlier this month
Cheryl Cole has revealed she married her French boyfriend Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini in secret earlier this month (photo Getty Images)

Cheryl Cole separated from footballer Ashley Cole – her husband of four years – in 2010.

She split from boyfriend Tre Holloway, an American dancer, in 2013.

Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, 33, is said to run a pop-up restaurant business.

Alongside a picture of her wedding ring, in a statement on Cheryl Cole’s website, the star said: “I usually do not discuss my personal life but to stop the speculation I want to share my happy news.

“Jean-Bernard and I married on 7/7/14. We are very happy and excited to move forward with our lives together.”

Cheryl Cole is due to appear as a judge on the next series of The X Factor UK. She was sacked from the US version of the talent show in 2011.

Study: One in three cases of Alzheimer’s disease worldwide is preventable

Kathryn R. Bown
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Study: One in three cases of Alzheimer’s disease worldwide is preventable

According to a recent research from the University of Cambridge, one in three cases of Alzheimer’s disease worldwide is preventable.

The main risk factors for the disease are a lack of exercise, smoking, depression and poor education, it says.

Previous research from 2011 put the estimate at one in two cases, but this new study takes into account overlapping risk factors.

According to the study, published in The Lancet Neurology, the Cambridge team analyzed population-based data to work out the main seven risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease main risks are:

  • Diabetes
  • Mid-life hypertension
  • Mid-life obesity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Depression
  • Smoking
  • Low educational attainment

    The main risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease are a lack of exercise, smoking, depression and poor education
    The main risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease are a lack of exercise, smoking, depression and poor education

The researchers worked out that a third of Alzheimer’s cases could be linked to lifestyle factors that could be modified, such as lack of exercise and smoking.

They then looked at how reducing these factors could affect the number of future Alzheimer’s cases.

They found that by reducing each risk factor by 10%, nearly nine million cases of the disease could be prevented by 2050.

Current estimates suggest that more than 106 million people worldwide will be living with Alzheimer’s by 2050 – more than three times the number affected in 2010.

Prof Carol Brayne, from the Institute of Public Health at the University of Cambridge, said: “Although there is no single way to treat dementia, we may be able to take steps to reduce our risk of developing dementia at older ages.

“We know what many of these factors are, and that they are often linked.

“Simply tackling physical inactivity, for example, will reduce levels of obesity, hypertension and diabetes, and prevent some people from developing dementia.

“As well as being healthier in old age in general, it’s a win-win situation.”

Of the seven risk factors, the largest proportion of cases of Alzheimer’s in the US, UK and the rest of Europe can be attributed to physical inactivity.

The study says about a third of the adult population in these countries are physically inactive.

Physical inactivity is also linked to increased risks of other health problems, such as cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

GSK China scandal: Corporate investigator Peter Humphrey charged with illegally obtaining private information

Clyde K. Valle
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GSK China scandal: Corporate investigator Peter Humphrey charged with illegally obtaining private information

British national Peter Humphrey and his wife Yu Ying Zeng, an American national, have been charged with illegally obtaining private information in GSK China bribery case, Xinhua news agency said.

Peter Humphrey and Yu Ying Zeng were arrested in China in August 2013.

His company, ChinaWhys, was hired by GlaxoSmithKline China, which is embroiled in controversy over alleged systematic bribery of Chinese doctors.

Prosecutors say the couple “illegally trafficked a huge amount of personal information on Chinese citizens” for profit, Xinhua reported.

They obtained this information by “secret photography, infiltration or tailing after someone”, it said.

Peter Humphrey has been charged with illegally obtaining private information in GSK China bribery case
Peter Humphrey has been charged with illegally obtaining private information in GSK China bribery case

“Based on the information, the couple compiled so-called <<reports>> and sold them at high prices to their clients, most of which are China-based multinational corporations, including GSK China,” it said.

Local courts “will hold [a] hearing about the case soon”, the agency added.

In a statement earlier this month, GSK said that its China operation hired ChinaWhys in April 2013 “to conduct an investigation following a serious breach of privacy and security related to the company’s China general manager”.

This is understood to relate to a s** tape said to have shown the general manager, Mark Reilly, who said the footage was filmed without his knowledge or consent.

The video was sent to GSK’s London-based CEO Andrew Witty with an email accusing Mark Reilly of being behind systematic corruption in the company’s China operation.

Mark Reilly is currently being investigated by Chinese authorities, as are at least two other senior GSK China executives. He is alleged to have pressed his sales team to bribe doctors, hospital officials and health institutions to increase sales of GSK products.

He is currently effectively detained in China, and has made no recent comment.

GSK has described the allegations as “deeply concerning”.

“We are learning lessons from this situation and we are determined to take all actions necessary as a result,” it said in the statement.

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Costa Concordia salvage: Refloating operation begins in Giglio

Diane A. Wade
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Costa Concordia salvage: Refloating operation begins in Giglio

The wrecked Costa Concordia is being raised in one of the biggest maritime salvage operations in history.

Workers are slowly lifting the vessel by pumping air into tanks attached to the ship. The refloating operation is expected to take six or seven days.

The wreck will then be towed to its home port, Genoa, where it will be scrapped.

Costa Concordia struck a reef off the Italian island of Giglio in January 2012 and capsized, killing 32 people.

The ship was hauled upright in September but is still partially submerged, resting on six steel platforms.

The wrecked Costa Concordia is being raised in one of the biggest maritime salvage operations in history
The wrecked Costa Concordia is being raised in one of the biggest maritime salvage operations in history

“It’s a very complex operation,” Franco Gabrielli, the head of the civil protection agency overseeing the salvage, told reporters.

“The first phase of the operation will be the most dangerous because the vessel will be detached from the platforms.”

Franco Gabrielli added that a search for the remains of Indian waiter Russel Rebello, whose body was not recovered from the wreck, would be carried out after the vessel was moved.

An engineer with Costa Crociere, the cruise operator, described the salvage efforts as “unprecedented”.

“As with anything being done for the first time, there are risks. But we are confident,” Franco Porcellacchia said.

Hundreds of divers and engineers have been involved in operations to salvage the Costa Concordia, which is twice the size of the Titanic.

Local residents have said they are glad the wreckage will be removed.

Costa Concordia’s captain, Francesco Schettino, is on trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship, charges he denies.

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World Cup 2014: Germany beats Argentina 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium

Clyde K. Valle
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World Cup 2014: Germany beats Argentina 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium

Germany’s soccer team were crowned world champions for the fourth time as Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner beat Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.

Substitute Mario Gotze controlled Andre Schurrle’s cross with his chest before volleying in with seven minutes left.

Both sides wasted chances in normal time, Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi both dragging wide.

Germany’s soccer team were crowned world champions for the fourth time at World Cup 2014
Germany’s soccer team were crowned world champions for the fourth time at World Cup 2014 (photo AP)

Benedikt Howedes hit the Argentine post with a header late in the first half, but Mario Gotze sparked German celebrations.

Mario Gotze became the first substitute to score the winner in a World Cup final.

More than 250,000 German fans are estimated to have watched their country’s win at Berlin’s famous Brandenburg Gate.

More than 25,000 police, soldiers and firefighters ensured there was tight security around the Maracana stadium ahead of kick-off. Brazilian authorities said it was Rio de Janeiro’s largest ever security operation.

Thousands of supporters packed on to Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach to watch the match on big screens.

Shakira, who is the partner of Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique, performed some of her most recognizable hits at the World Cup 2014 closing ceremony ahead of final kick-off.

The World Cup 2014 final was also watched by Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Tracy Morgan released from hospital five weeks after crash car

Lisa.Felice
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Tracy Morgan released from hospital five weeks after crash car

Tracy Morgan has been released from hospital, five weeks after being seriously injured in a car crash in New York.

Tracy Morgan will continue his recovery at home with an “aggressive outpatient program,” said spokesman Lewis Kay.

“He asked me to pass along his sincerest gratitude to everyone who has helped him get to this point.”

The actor’s legs, nose and ribs were broken on June y when a Wal-Mart truck crashed into his vehicle in New York.

The wreck killed comedian James McNair, who went by the stage name Jimmy Mack.

Tracy Morgan will continue his recovery at home with an aggressive outpatient program
Tracy Morgan will continue his recovery at home with an aggressive outpatient program (photo Twitter)

Tracy Morgan’s assistant, Jeffrey Millea and comedian Ardie Fuqua Jr. were also injured in the crash.

On Thursday, Tracy Morgan’s lawyers sued Wal-Mart for negligence, claiming the retailer should have known that its driver had been awake for more than 24 hours, and that a 700-mile commute from his home in Georgia to work in Delaware was “unreasonable”.

“As a result of Wal-Mart’s gross, reckless, willful, wanton, and intentional conduct, it should be appropriately punished with the imposition of punitive damages,” court papers said.

Truck driver Kevin Roper has separately pleaded not guilty to charges of death by auto and assault by auto charges.

Prosecutors said Kevin Roper had not slept for more than 24 hours before the crash on the New Jersey Turnpike, when he swerved to avoid traffic that had slowed down, ploughing into Morgan’s limo bus.

A report by the National Transportation Safety Board, said Kevin Roper had been driving at 65mph in a 45mph construction zone shortly before the crash.

Kevin Roper had been on the clock for 13-and-a-half hours at the time of the crash, the report concluded. Federal rules permit truck drivers to work up to 14 hours a day, with a maximum of 11 hours behind the wheel.

In a statement issued Saturday, Wal-Mart said it was “cooperating fully” in the ongoing investigation.

“We know it will take some time to resolve all of the remaining issues as a result of the accident, but we’re committed to doing the right thing for all involved,” the retailer said.

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Thousands of Palestinians flee Gaza after Israel warnings

Roy Siemens
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Thousands of Palestinians flee Gaza after Israel warnings

According to the United Nations, thousands of Palestinians are fleeing northern parts of Gaza after Israel warned it was targeting the area in its campaign to stop rocket attacks.

The UN says 17,000 people have sought refuge in its facilities as Israeli air strikes continue for a sixth day.

Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing northern parts of Gaza after Israel warned it was targeting the area in its campaign to stop rocket attacks
Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing northern parts of Gaza after Israel warned it was targeting the area in its campaign to stop rocket attacks

Israeli forces have raided a suspected rocket-launching site in Gaza in their first reported ground incursion.

At least 159 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s offensive began, according to health officials in Gaza.

The dead are said to include 17 members of one family who died in an Israeli missile strike on Saturday evening.

Israel says it is targeting Hamas militants and “terror sites”, including the homes of senior operatives. However, the United Nations has estimated that 77% of the people killed in Gaza have been civilians.

The UN Security Council called for a ceasefire and peace talks on Saturday.

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Michelle Knight update: How is her life after escaping Ariel Castro’s house of horrors?

Nancy Clayson
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Michelle Knight update: How is her life after escaping Ariel Castro’s house of horrors?

Cleveland kidnap victim Michelle Knight revealed in a recent interview how she has discovered that the fame that followed her escape from Ariel Castro’s house of horrors cuts both ways.

The woman, who spent nearly 11 years in captivity, has her own apartment and her book, Finding Me, spent five weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers List.

Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus split $1.4 million in donations collected after their escape.

Phil McGraw of Dr. Phil television fame presented Michelle Knight with an oversized check for more than $400,000 from his foundation.

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Michelle Knight said she is ready to assume a normal life and, with it, a new name and identity – Lily Rose Lee.

She said she becomes frightened when crowds sometimes gather around her as she walks alone. She finds it annoying when people snap cellphone photos without asking.

Michelle Knight’s book, Finding Me, spent five weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers List
Michelle Knight’s book, Finding Me, spent five weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers List

And people from her distant past have reappeared, feigning friendship but ultimately seeking money, she said.

Michelle Knight writes in her book that she grew up under less than ideal circumstances. Food and clothing were hard to come by. Strangers drifted in and out of the house at all hours. She said her mother kept her home from school for days at a time to care for her twin brothers and assorted cousins who lived there.

She ran away from home at 15 and lived beneath a highway underpass and then with a drug dealer for a few months.

Michelle Knight was 21 when Ariel Castro lured her to his home in August 2002.

She and the other two women escaped from Ariel Castro’s home on May 6, 2013.

While Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were reunited with their families who had prayed that they would someday return, Michelle Knight refused to meet her mother who had flown to Cleveland from Florida.

Michelle Knight spent the first four months of her freedom in an assisted living facility because she had nowhere else to go.

She decided to leave her family behind. She said she forgives them but doesn’t want anything to do with them.

She also has decided to not pursue visitation rights with her son, Joey, who is now 14 and lives with adoptive parents.

Michelle Knight said her son doesn’t know she’s his birth mother and she doesn’t want to disrupt his life.

Supermoon 2014: First perigee supermoon phenomenon appeared on July 12

James J. Williams
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Supermoon 2014: First perigee supermoon phenomenon appeared on July 12

The “supermoon” phenomenon has appeared this weekend, on July 12.

The phenomenon known as the “perigee supermoon” is when the moon appears larger and brighter in the sky owing to its elliptical orbit of Earth.

The perigee supermoon is when the moon appears larger and brighter in the sky owing to its elliptical orbit of Earth
The perigee supermoon is when the moon appears larger and brighter in the sky owing to its elliptical orbit of Earth (photo Getty Images)

Saturday night marked the first of three supermoons expected in as many months. The next and closest supermoon of 2014 will be on August 10.

The larger and brighter appearance of the Moon is caused by the oval shape of the Moon’s orbit of the Earth.

According to NASA, a full Moon at perigee is up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than one at its farthest point, or apogee.

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Lorin Maazel dies from complications of pneumonia aged 84

Sonia Pantiss
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Lorin Maazel dies from complications of pneumonia aged 84

Conductor and composer Lorin Maazel has died from complications of pneumonia at his home in Castleton, Virginia, aged 84.

Lorin Maazel occupied top positions at the Vienna State Opera and the New York Philharmonic, which he accompanied on a 2008 tour of isolated North Korea.

Lorin Maazel occupied top positions at the Vienna State Opera and the New York Philharmonic
Lorin Maazel occupied top positions at the Vienna State Opera and the New York Philharmonic

In 2009, Lorin Maazel and his wife founded the Castleton Festival, which aims to showcase classical musicians at the start of their careers.

Lorin Maazel was admired for the precision and rigour of his conducting.

According to a 2011 profile in The Guardian newspaper, Lorin Maazel had a powerful memory and became known for performing without a score.

Lorin Varencove Maazel was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, in 1930. As well as conducting, he also composed music, producing an opera based on George Orwell’s novel, 1984.

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CYNK’s shares trading suspended after surging 23,000%

Clyde K. Valle
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CYNK’s shares trading suspended after surging 23,000%

Trading in CYNK Technology has been suspended by the US Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) after shares in the little-known social networking company surged more than 23,000% in the past month.

Documents showed the company – which is registered in Nevada with an office in Belize City, Belize – had no revenue and one employee.

Shares in CYNK jumped from 6 cents in early June to $13.90 on July 10, despite uncertainty about its business and revenue structure
Shares in CYNK jumped from 6 cents in early June to $13.90 on July 10, despite uncertainty about its business and revenue structure

Shares in CYNK were traded in a lightly regulated “over the counter” exchange.

The SEC halted trading until July 24.

“It appears to the SEC that the public interest and the protection of investors require a suspension of trading in the securities of CYNK Technology Corp (“CYNK”) because of concerns regarding the accuracy and adequacy of information in the marketplace and potentially manipulative transactions in CYNK’s common stock,” wrote the SEC in its order suspending trading in the company.

On July 11, another US regulator – the Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA) – had halted trading in CYNK under its “extraordinary event halt” code.

Shares in CYNK jumped from 6 cents in early June to $13.90 on July 10, despite uncertainty about its business and revenue structure. That values places the company at a valuation of close to $4 billion – just slightly above the valuation of airline JetBlue.

CYNK billed itself as a “development stage” company and its main website – introbiz.com – is described as a marketplace where one “may both buy and sell the ability to socially connect to individuals such as celebrities, business owners, and talented IT professionals”.

Israel air strikes hit Gaza’s security headquarters and police stations

Roy Siemens
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Israel air strikes hit Gaza’s security headquarters and police stations

Israel’s overnight air strikes hit Gaza’s security headquarters and police stations, in the heaviest bombardment since operations began on July 8.

Israel also said its troops had carried out a brief raid against a rocket-launching site in the coastal territory.

It added that Palestinian militants fired about 90 rockets from the Gaza Strip into its territory on Saturday.

At least 159 Palestinians have died in the air strikes, Gaza officials say.

They are said to include 17 members of one family who died in an Israeli missile strike on Saturday evening.

Israel says it is targeting Hamas militants and facilities, including the homes of senior operatives. However, the UN has estimated that 77% of the people killed in Gaza have been civilians.

Israel’s overnight air strikes hit Gaza's security headquarters and police stations, in the heaviest bombardment since operations began on July 8
Israel’s overnight air strikes hit Gaza’s security headquarters and police stations, in the heaviest bombardment since operations began on July 8

The UN Security Council called for a ceasefire and peace talks on Saturday. It is the first time since Israel’s offensive began that they have issued a statement, with members previously divided on their response.

Early on Sunday, Israeli air strikes destroyed most of the security headquarters and police stations run by Hamas Islamist militants.

The homes adjacent to the security compound suffered extensive damage, as the headquarters are located in the densely populated neighborhood of Tel al-Hawa in south Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops also raided a site used to fire long-range rockets at Israel.

“The mission was accomplished,” the IDF wrote on its official Twitter account.

It added: “During the mission, there was an exchange of fire. Four soldiers were lightly injured and all returned home safely.”

It is believed to be the first time Israeli troops – thought to be naval commandos on this occasion – have entered Gaza since Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, which it says is aimed at stopping rocket attacks and destroying Hamas’ capabilities.

The IDF said it was dropping leaflets over the city of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, warning residents to seek shelter from planned air strikes later on Sunday.

“We do not wish to harm civilians in Gaza, but these civilians must know that remaining in close proximity to Hamas terrorists and infrastructures is extremely unsafe,” the IDF said.

The IDF says it has so far struck some 1,320 “terror” sites across Gaza, while Hamas have launched more than 800 rockets at Israel.

Israel’s Iron Dome missile shield intercepted four rockets on Sunday morning above central and southern Israel, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports.

At least five Israelis have been injured this week by rocket and missile attacks, two of them seriously, but no Israelis have been killed by the attacks.

On Saturday evening, four Israeli missiles hit a three-storey house in Gaza belonging to police chief Tayseer al-Batsh, a Gaza health official said.

The strike killed 17 members of the same family, while Tayseer al-Batsh was wounded but survived, officials added.

A witness said: “We were praying in a mosque adjacent to the targeted house and suddenly we heard a huge explosion followed by another explosion.”

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri described the raid as “a heinous crime”, adding: “Israel will pay a heavy price for its aggression against the Palestinian people.”

Palestinian sources say more than 1,000 people have been injured since Israel began its operation six days ago.

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Baghdad attack: At least 29 people killed by gunmen in Zayouna

Roy Siemens
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Baghdad attack: At least 29 people killed by gunmen in Zayouna

At least 29 people have been killed after gunmen have stormed two buildings in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, officials say.

Twenty of those killed were said to be women.

The attack took place late on Saturday, July 12, in the neighborhood of Zayouna in east Baghdad, police said. One officer said he “found bodies everywhere”.

At least 29 people have been killed after gunmen have stormed two buildings in Baghdad’s neighborhood of Zayouna
At least 29 people have been killed after gunmen have stormed two buildings in Baghdad’s neighborhood of Zayouna

The motive for the killings is not clear. No group has said it carried out the attack.

Reports said the two buildings were suspected to be brothels.

According to AFP, writing left on the door of one of the buildings read: “This is the fate of any prostitution.”

Locals in Zayouna have accused Shia militias of killing women thought to be prostitutes, Reuters news agency reported. The neighborhood is a mixed district of Sunni and Shia Muslims.

Prostitution is prohibited under Islam, the dominant religion in Iraq.

Iraq is experiencing an upsurge in instability as government forces battle an Islamist insurgency led by the jihadist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), which has seized huge swathes of the country’s north-west and closed in on cities near Baghdad.

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CDC report: US government infectious disease lab made dangerous pathogen transport errors

Kathryn R. Bown
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CDC report: US government infectious disease lab made dangerous pathogen transport errors

According to a CDC report, the US government infectious disease labs mishandled dangerous pathogens five times in the last decade.

In 2014, workers mishandled samples of anthrax and the highly-infectious H5N1 avian flu.

In response, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has closed the two labs involved.

The agency has also temporarily barred high-security labs from transporting dangerous pathogens.

There have been no reported infections from previous cases, and no-one potentially exposed to anthrax has shown signs of illness, CDC officials said.

“These events should never have happened,” CDC Director Tom Frieden told reporters on Friday.

A CDC report revealed that the US government infectious disease labs mishandled dangerous pathogens five times in the last decade
A CDC report revealed that the US government infectious disease labs mishandled dangerous pathogens five times in the last decade

“I’m disappointed, and frankly I’m angry about it,” he said, adding later he was “astonished that this could have happened here”.

The incidents were listed in a report on a potential anthrax exposure in June, which occurred when researchers in a high-level biosecurity laboratory failed to follow proper procedures and did not deactivate the bacteria.

The samples were then moved to a lower-security lab in the agency’s Atlanta campus.

“This is not the first time an event of this nature has occurred at CDC, nor the first time it occurred from the [bioterror response] laboratory,” the report said.

The CDC only recently learned of a separate incident in May in which a sample of the avian flu was cross-contaminated with a highly pathogenic version of the virus and then shipped to an agriculture department laboratory.

The influenza lab and the bioterror response laboratory have been temporarily closed in response.

The other incidents reported by the CDC:

  • In 2006, the CDC’s bioterror lab transferred anthrax DNA to outside labs, believing the sample had been deactivated
  • Also in 2006, samples from a different CDC lab were found to contain live botulism bacteria
  • Researchers sent an infectious strain of the bacterium Brucella to outside laboratories as early as 2001 because they mistook it for a vaccine version; newly available test methods in 2009 confirmed it was not.

The revelations come just days after US officials announced long forgotten vials of smallpox left in a cardboard box had been discovered by a government scientist at a research centre near Washington.

The virus was located in six freeze-dried and sealed vials, according to the CDC.

On Friday, the CDC announced that at least two of the vials contained the live virus but that no infections had been reported as a result of the incident.

It is believed to be the first time unaccounted-for smallpox was been discovered in the US. The disease was officially declared eradicated in the 1980s.

Video shows Kim Jong-un limping in public

Nancy Clayson
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Video shows Kim Jong-un limping in public

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been filmed with a limp as he attended commemorations marking the 20th anniversary of his grandfather Kim-Il-sung’s death, have aired on state TV.

The rare footage, aired by North Korea’s state TV, shows Kim Jong-Un walking into the mausoleum with a limp and bowed deeply in front of statues of his grandfather Kim Il-sung and his father Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong-un has been filmed with a limp as he attended commemorations marking the 20th anniversary of his grandfather Kim-Il-sung's death
Kim Jong-un has been filmed with a limp as he attended commemorations marking the 20th anniversary of his grandfather Kim-Il-sung’s death

After that, Kim Jong-un looked around an exhibition hall where the belongings of the late leaders are on display.

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Vladimir Putin meets Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner during Latin American tour

Diane A. Wade
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Vladimir Putin meets Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner during Latin American tour

Vladimir Putin is visiting Argentina as part of his Latin American tour in an apparent bid to seek allies to counter US and Western influence.

The Russian president spent Friday in Cuba – the first stop of his tour – before making an unexpected visit to Nicaragua, the first by a Russian leader.

Vladimir Putin will meet left-wing regional heads of state in Argentina.

Vladimir Putin has been holding bilateral talks with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner during his visit to Argentina
Vladimir Putin has been holding bilateral talks with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner during his visit to Argentina

He goes onto Brazil to attend the football World Cup final on July 13.

Russia will host the next tournament in 2018.

Later Vladimir Putin will attend a summit of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) emerging economies in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza.

Vladimir Putin has been holding bilateral talks with Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Correspondents say Argentina is desperate for foreign investment as it faces a possible default after investors rejected its debt restructuring.

Vladimir Putin will then have dinner with other South American leaders including the presidents of Venezuela, Bolivia and Uruguay.

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Banco Espirito Santo does not need extra funds, says Portugal’s central bank

Clyde K. Valle
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Banco Espirito Santo does not need extra funds, says Portugal’s central bank

In a bid to ease investor’s concerns, Portugal’s central bank has stated that Banco Espirito Santo does not need extra funds.

Banco Espirito Santo (BES), Portugal’s largest bank, itself has said it has sufficient finances to deal with its parent company’s debt problems.

Worries about the financial strength of the bank’s parent company hit global stock markets on Thursday.

Portugal’s central bank said investors had “no reason to doubt” the security of funds, and savers had “no need to be worried”.

On Thursday, shares in both BES and Espirito Santo Financial Group – which holds a 25% stake in BES – fell sharply on worries about the financial health of the Espirito Santo group.

Banco Espirito Santo has said it has sufficient finances to deal with its parent company's debt problems
Banco Espirito Santo has said it has sufficient finances to deal with its parent company’s debt problems

Lisbon stock market regulators suspended trading in BES shares after they plunged by more than 17%. After the ban was lifted around midday on Friday, the shares gained close to 4% to 0.53 euros.

The overall Portuguese market was more than 2% higher meanwhile, after losing 4% on Thursday.

On Thursday evening, BES said it was “waiting for the release of the restructuring plan of Espírito Santo Group in order to assess the potential losses related to its exposure”.

“BES Executive Committee believes that the potential losses resulting from the exposure to Espírito Santo Group do not compromise the compliance with the regulatory capital requirements.”

Portugal’s PM Pedro Passos Coelho echoed the central bank’s message that BES was not in need of support.

Pedro Passos Coelho said: “There is no reason for the state to intervene in a bank which has solid capital and which has a comfortable margin to deal with any eventuality, even the most adverse.”

The events triggered a fresh outbreak of nerves about European banks, sending stock markets in Europe and the US lower.

There were concerns that BES’ troubles could have a wider impact on Portugal which only two months ago exited the bailout program.

At the height of the financial crisis, Portugal was forced to take a 78 billion euro ($106 billion) bailout from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Portugal’s government borrowing costs fell to an eight-year low of 3.58% in April this year, but worries surrounding BES and the health of the country’s financial sector pushed these back up towards 4% on Thursday.

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Istanbul gas explosion injures 8 people

Nancy Clayson
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Istanbul gas explosion injures 8 people

Eight people have been injured in Istanbul on Saturday after a gas explosion in a five-story building, officials said.

Istanbul’s Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu ruled out any terrorist attack and said the blast was caused by a gas leak or a gas canister.

The explosion in a packaging workshop on the ground floor of the building caused a fire which was quickly extinguished, the private Dogan news agency reported.

Eight people have been injured in Istanbul after a gas explosion in a five-story building
Eight people have been injured in Istanbul after a gas explosion in a five-story building (photo Hurriyet)

Huseyin Avni Mutlu’s office said eight people were injured in the blast; one person was in serious condition. A fire-fighter was treated for smoke inhalation, it said.

Hurriyet newspaper and other reports said the injured included a pregnant woman who jumped from a balcony on the second floor of the building. The Turkish publication said some cars were overturned by the force of the blast.

It is the second explosion caused by gas in as many days in Turkey. On Friday, a blast in a bakery in the southwestern city of Denizli killed one person and injured 36 others.

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Tommy Ramone dead: The Ramones last surviving member dies aged 65

Sonia Pantiss
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Tommy Ramone dead: The Ramones last surviving member dies aged 65

The Ramones founding member Tommy Ramone has died aged 65 in New York, the group has announced.

The drummer died in hospice care on Friday following treatment for bile duct cancer, US media report.

Born in Hungary, Tommy Ramone immigrated to the US in the 1950s.

He started The Ramones with three friends from a New York high-school in 1974. The band has been credited with the invention of punk rock.

Although The Ramones were never commercially successful, their unique sound helped shape rock music and is still often cited as inspirations to new generations of musicians.

Tommy Ramone started The Ramones with three friends from a New York high-school in 1974
Tommy Ramone started The Ramones with three friends from a New York high-school in 1974 (photo Wikipedia)

The Ramons’ hit songs I Wanna Be Sedated and Blitzkrieg Bop, among others, earned them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

News of Tommy Ramone’s death was announced on the band’s official Facebook page.

He was the group’s drummer from 1974 to 1978, and co-produced their first three albums.

Born Erdelyi Tamas, he along with the other band members decided to change their last names to Ramone.

They kicked off their career at the legendary CBGB music club in Manhattan, a hotspot for punk rock and new wave bands.

The Ramones, known for their long hair, leather jackets, ripped jeans and fast musical style, quickly developed a cult following across the US.

The act disbanded in 1996 after two decades of relentless touring.

By 2004, three of the founding musicians – lead singer Joey Ramone, guitarist Johnny Ramone and bassist Dee Dee Ramone – had passed away.

Johnny Ramone died in 2004 of prostate cancer. Joey Ramone died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer. In 2002, Dee Dee Ramone died from a heroin overdose.

Tommy Ramone was the last surviving member of the band.

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Su Bin: Chinese businessman hacked US companies

Clyde K. Valle
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Su Bin: Chinese businessman hacked US companies

Chinese businessman Su Bin has been charged by US authorities with hacking into the computer systems of Boeing and other companies with large defense contracts.

Su Bin, who was arrested in Canada last month, is accused of working with two other suspects to steal data about military projects and sell it to China.

Prosecutors said Su Bin was targeting information about fighter jets, military cargo aircraft and weapons.

A 2013 US report identified industrial spying from China as a growing threat.

Chinese businessman Su Bin has been charged by US authorities with hacking into the computer systems of Boeing and other US companies
Chinese businessman Su Bin has been charged by US authorities with hacking into the computer systems of Boeing and other US companies

There has been no specific allegation of involvement by the Chinese government in Su Bin’s case, but the US has accused China of systematically stealing American high-tech data for its national gain.

The US Department of Justice recently indicted five Chinese military officers for hacking into US businesses – charges dismissed by China as a fabrication.

Su Bin reportedly runs a Chinese aviation technology company with an office in Canada.

He was detained on June 28 while trying to gain Canadian citizenship, US authorities said.

They allege that Su Bin and his co-conspirators have been trying to sell the stolen data to state-owned firms in China.

The justice department said it “remained deeply concerned about cyber-enabled theft of sensitive information”.

“We have repeatedly made it clear that the United States will continue using all the tools our government possesses to strengthen cyber-security and confront cyber-crime,” spokesman Marc Raimondi said.

Boeing released a statement saying it was co-operating with the US authorities to hold accountable “individuals who perpetrate economic espionage or trade secret theft against US companies”.

Su Bin is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing next week.

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