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Helene Pastor murder: Wojciech Janowski retracts confession

Nancy Clayson
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Helene Pastor murder: Wojciech Janowski retracts confession

Helene Pastor son-in-law Wojciech Janowski has retracted his “confession” to ordering the Monaco heiress murder, citing misunderstandings with police.

Prosecutors said last week that Wojciech Janowski had “recognized his involvement” in Helene Pastor’s death.

However, Wojciech Janowski, Poland’s ex-honorary consul in Monaco, told a bail judge he denied having ordered the killing.

Helene Pastor, from one of Monaco’s richest families, was shot along with her driver in Nice.

They were ambushed by a man with a sawn-off shotgun on May 6 as Helene Pastor, 77, was leaving hospital after visiting her son.

Her chauffeur Mohammed Darwich, 64, also died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Wojciech Janowski and Helene Pastor’s daughter, Sylvia, have been in a relationship for 28 years and have a teenage daughter
Wojciech Janowski and Helene Pastor’s daughter, Sylvia, have been in a relationship for 28 years and have a teenage daughter (photo Getty Images)

Wojciech Janowski was arrested early last week along with his wife Sylvia Pastor, but she was released shortly afterwards.

The two have been in a relationship for 28 years and have a teenage daughter.

The prosecution alleges that Wojciech Janowski paid two hitmen 250,000 euros ($340,000) to carry out the killing in order to “lay his hands on the inheritance” of his common-law wife.

The two men, a 31-year-old and a 24-year-old originally from the Comoros islands, were also apprehended last week and charged.

Wojciech Janowski’s personal trainer was also charged with allegedly organizing the murder and acting as a go-between with the men.

At a news conference last week, prosecutors told journalists that Wojciech Janowski had confessed his involvement after being detained.

His lawyer, Erick Campana, said he had withdrawn statements made while in custody because he “misunderstood the meanings of the terms used by police”.

He added that police had been speaking in French and Wojciech Janowski “does not understand all the nuances of our language”.

Erick Campana also said he would be demanding that an appeal court nullify his client’s detention because he did not have access to a lawyer or interpreter during his 96 hours in custody.

Helene Pastor’s father, Gildo, became one of Monaco’s wealthiest men when Prince Rainier gave him permission in 1966 to build high-rise buildings along the seafront.

Her income was derived from owning several prestige properties and she rarely left her luxury home in Monaco. Prince Albert II attended her funeral.

A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Wojciech Janowski is the boss of a Monaco technology firm and an oil business, and is involved in numerous charities in the principality.

Jessica Simpson’s wedding set for 4th of July

Lisa.Felice
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Jessica Simpson’s wedding set for 4th of July

Jessica Simpson will walk down the aisle for a second time to marry former footballer Eric Johnson on 4th of July.

The wedding ceremony will be held at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.

Jessica Simpson will walk down the aisle for a second time to marry former footballer Eric Johnson on 4th of July
Jessica Simpson will walk down the aisle for a second time to marry former footballer Eric Johnson on 4th of July (photo Instagram)

“Jessica wants it to be the hugest, grandest event of the year,” a source told In Touch magazine.

According to In Touch, Jessica Simpson will walk down the aisle in a pink custom-made Marchesa creation.

For her first strut down the aisle, with Nick Lachey in 2002, Jessica Simpson wore white, so the pink gown will mark a dramatic change.

Jessica Simpson’s wedding extravaganza is also slated to include “a barbeque spread and fireworks,” the magazine reported.

Jase Robertson and Justin Martin at Old White TPC

Sonia Pantiss
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Jase Robertson and Justin Martin at Old White TPC

Duck Dynasty’s Jase Robertson stepped onto the No. 1 tee box at the Old White TPC on Wednesday.

Jase Robertson was joined at the Greenbrier pro-am by Justin Martin.

Old White has proven to be an easier course than most on the challenging PGA TOUR schedule
Old White has proven to be an easier course than most on the challenging PGA TOUR schedule (photo TPC)

Outside the clubhouse, the Duck Dynasty stars signed hats, programs, while providing some down-home celebrity cache to a foursome that included resort owner Jim Justice and family friend Bubba Watson.

The No. 3-ranked golfer in the world, Bubba Watson, befriended the Robertson family via Twitter, and on his first out-of-town event.

Jase Robertson, who took a respite from his book tour promoting Good Call to visit the Greenbrier, said he was anxious to hang out at Bubba Watson’s new house on the resort property.

Shia LeBeouf receives treatment for alcoholism

Lisa.Felice
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Shia LeBeouf receives treatment for alcoholism

Shia LaBeouf has voluntarily asked for outpatient care for his alcohol addiction, his spokeswoman, Melissa Kates, confirmed.

Last week LaBeouf was accused of disturbing a performance of the musical Cabaret inside New York’s Studio 54.

Shia LaBeouf has voluntarily asked for outpatient care for his alcohol addiction
Shia LaBeouf has voluntarily asked for outpatient care for his alcohol addiction

The actor was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment after police said he used obscene language and became aggressive when he was asked to leave the venue.

Shia LaBeouf, 28, did not enter a plea to the New York charges when he was arraigned last week.

They are all misdemeanors or violations, so if convicted he would face little or no jail time.

“He understands that these recent actions are a symptom of a larger health problem and he has taken the first of many necessary steps towards recovery,” said Melissa Kates.

Shia LaBeouf has previously starred alongside Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, as well as taking a leading role in Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise.

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Academy sues Joseph Wright’s family over Oscar statuette auction

Sonia Pantiss
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Academy sues Joseph Wright’s family over Oscar statuette auction

The family of art director Joseph Wright has been sued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over the sale of his Oscar for 1942’s My Gal Sal.

Joseph Wright died in 1985 and his heirs sold his statuette for $79,200 to unknown buyers via Briarbrook Auctions last month.

However, the Academy brought in rules in 1951 giving it the first right to buy any award put up for sale for $1.

The Academy wants damages of more than $79,200 as well as punitive damages.

Joseph Wright’s heirs have been sued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over the sale of his Oscar for 1942's My Gal Sal
Joseph Wright’s heirs have been sued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over the sale of his Oscar for 1942’s My Gal Sal

The legal case put forward by the Academy this week states the first-right purchase also applies to heirs of Oscar winners.

The Academy’s regulations also require winners to sign a contract of agreement.

The defendants are Joseph Wright’s heirs, Briarbrook and the unknown buyers.

The sale of an Oscar statuette is rare but, when it does happen, the Academy is rigorous in its pursuit of those responsible in order to preserve the integrity of the award.

However, the Academy is not always successful in stopping Oscar sales.

In 2012, a collection of 15 statues sold for more than $3 million at an auction in Los Angeles.

The sale included Oscars for the films Wuthering Heights and Citizen Kane.

Joseph Wright won two Oscars for art direction, his second was for This Above All, also from 1942.

Ukraine: At least nine civilians killed in Luhansk attack

Roy Siemens
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Ukraine: At least nine civilians killed in Luhansk attack

At least nine civilians are reportedly killed in an attack on a village in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.

Pro-Russian rebels have accused the Ukrainian army of shelling and bombing the village of Luhanska.

But Ukrainian officials said their forces were not in the area, blaming the rebels themselves.

Hundreds of people have been killed since a pro-Russian rebellion began in eastern Ukraine. A shaky ceasefire ended on Monday.

President Petro Poroshenko had called the 10-day unilateral ceasefire, which rebel leaders later joined, but ended it as both sides accused each other of violations.

Diplomatic moves to renew the truce were stepped up on Wednesday as the German foreign minister hosted talks in Berlin with his Ukrainian, Russian and French counterparts.

Pro-Russian rebels have accused the Ukrainian army of shelling and bombing the village of Luhanska
Pro-Russian rebels have accused the Ukrainian army of shelling and bombing the village of Luhanska (photo AFP)

Five soldiers were killed and 28 wounded in rebel attacks in Donetsk region on Tuesday, the government said.

The civilian deaths came in the early hours of Wednesday, when several buildings were reportedly hit in the village of Luhanska.

Amateur videos were posted on YouTube showing ruined buildings and bodies on a street. Neither the reports of casualties nor the videos could be verified independently.

According to the rebel leadership in Luhansk, government forces attacked the village with artillery and from the air, killing 10 people on a single street. The situation was the same in another village, Nova Kondrashivka, a statement said, although there was no confirmation.

However, Ukrainian security forces in the region were quoted by Interfax news agency as saying the rebels had attacked the village themselves, at around 04:00 local time, causing deaths and damage.

While there had been artillery shelling in the area, it was “completely in the opposition direction”.

Ukrainian officials said on Facebook that no air force planes had been operating there at the time, although that statement was disputed by someone claiming to be a witness.

The rebels in Donetsk said separately that two of their fighters had been killed in fighting on Wednesday at Nikolayevka. They also reported that three members of the same family had been killed in the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk area (Donetsk) by government shelling.

Troops stationed above the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk fought off rebel attempts to break out of the encirclement, the government said, but lost one soldier killed and 10 wounded.

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Nicolas Sarkozy TF1 interview: “French justice system is being used for political ends”

Diane A. Wade
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Nicolas Sarkozy TF1 interview: “French justice system is being used for political ends”

In a TV interview, Nicolas Sarkozy has said the French justice system is being used for “political ends” after he was placed under formal investigation for influence peddling.

The former president denied committing any unlawful act.

Nicolas Sarkozy said the “grotesque” case against him had been intended to humiliate him and harm his reputation.

It is alleged Nicolas Sarkozy sought insider information from a judge about an inquiry into illegal campaign funding.

Nicolas Sarkozy was detained on Tuesday for questioning – the first time a former French head of state has been held in police custody.

His clear accusation is that left-wing elements in the judiciary are trying to bring him down and prevent his return to politics.

Opponents of Nicolas Sarkozy say his counter-attack is typical of the man and a bid to deflect attention away from the allegations.

Nicolas Sarkozy gave his first interview after being placed under formal investigation for influence peddling
Nicolas Sarkozy gave his first interview after being placed under formal investigation for influence peddling

The interview, which was recorded for TF1 television and Europe 1 radio, was broadcast on Wednesday evening.

Nicolas Sarkozy said: “The situation is sufficiently serious to tell the French people where we stand on the political exploitation of part of the legal system today.

“I say to all those who are listening or watching that I have never betrayed them and have never committed an act against the Republic’s principles and the rule of law.”

Nicolas Sarkozy said he is “deeply shocked” by the investigation and he accused the Syndicat de la Magistrature trade union of seeking to destroy him.

“Everything is being done to give me a reputation that is not true,” he said.

Nicolas Sarkozy added: “In our country, which is the country of human rights and the rule of law, there are things that are being organized.

“The French need to know what they are and, in conscience and freedom, judge what to make of it.”

He also expressed his anger at the way he was summoned, saying there “was an intention to humiliate” him with the formal detention.

Earlier, France’s PM Manuel Valls insisted the investigation was being carried out independently of the Socialist government.

Talking to French TV, he said “no one is above the law” but added that it was important to remember “there is the presumption of innocence.”

Nicolas Sarkozy was released from custody around midnight after appearing in court in Paris.

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China bans Ramadan fasting in Xinjiang

Diane A. Wade
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China bans Ramadan fasting in Xinjiang

Several government departments in Chinese region of Xinjiang have banned Muslim staff from fasting during the month of Ramadan.

One department website said that civil servants cannot “take part in fasting and other religious activities”.

The move comes amid tightened security in the region which has been hit by a growing number of violent attacks.

Authorities blame separatist Muslim Uighurs, but Uighur leaders deny they are behind the attacks.

China restricted Ramadan fasting for Xinjiang’s officials
China restricted Ramadan fasting for Xinjiang’s officials

Activists have accused Beijing of exaggerating the threat from Uighur separatists to justify a crackdown on the Uighurs’ religious and cultural freedoms.

State-administered Bozhou Radio and TV University said on its website that the fasting ban applied to party members, teachers and young people.

“We remind everyone that they are not permitted to observe a Ramadan fast,” it said.

Similarly a weather bureau in western Xinjiang was reported by the AFP news agency to have said on its website that the ban was “in accordance with instructions from higher authorities”.

With Beijing blaming extremist Uighurs for growing violence, the ban is likely to be seen by many Muslims as an attack on their religion, further increasing tensions.

Among those imposing a ban are a commercial affairs department and a government hospital which got Muslim staff to sign a written pledge that they would not fast.

State-run newspapers have in addition been running editorials warning about the health dangers of fasting.

Many Uighurs say that the suppression of their cultural and religious freedoms is fuelling the unrest in the region and attacks elsewhere in China.

Last month 13 assailants were killed in an attack on a police station in the restive province.

Chikungunya virus: Sharp rise of confirmed cases in Caribbean countries

Kathryn R. Bown
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Chikungunya virus: Sharp rise of confirmed cases in Caribbean countries

According to health officials, the number of suspected and confirmed cases of chikungunya virus in Caribbean countries has risen sharply over past weeks.

Tens of thousands of new cases have been reported in the Dominican Republic and its neighbor, Haiti.

There is currently no vaccine or treatment for the mosquito-borne virus which resembles dengue fever and can cause fever, skin rash and joint pain.

European health authorities have warned travelers to take extra precautions.

The number of suspected and confirmed cases of chikungunya virus in Caribbean countries has risen sharply over past weeks
The number of suspected and confirmed cases of chikungunya virus in Caribbean countries has risen sharply over past weeks

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control told people travelling to the Caribbean to apply insect repellent and avoid mosquito bites.

France has detected more than 70 imported cases of chikungunya, mainly in people returning from holidays in the French Antilles.

The Centre said there was a risk the virus could spread in Europe if infected patients were bitten by mosquitoes upon their return home and those mosquitoes then infected other people.

There are also signs chikungunya is spreading further to Central and South America.

According to the latest figures released by the Pan American Heath Organization (PAHO), almost 265,000 suspected and confirmed cases have been recorded since the outbreak began in December.

More than half of those have been in the Dominican Republic, which has stepped up its fumigation efforts in an attempt to reduce the number of mosquitoes.

Health officials warn that the true numbers may be much higher as some countries have been slow in testing and reporting cases.

Chikungunya is rarely fatal but according to the PAHO, 21 people have died in the Caribbean after contracting the virus.

There have also been cases in Central America, with El Salvador the hardest hit with 1,300 suspected incidences.

Paraguay recorded its first citizen with the virus on Tuesday, but said the man had contracted it while travelling in the Dominican Republic.

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Oscar Pistorius at risk of committing suicide as he suffers from PTSD

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius at risk of committing suicide as he suffers from PTSD

According to a psychologist’s report submitted at Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial, the athlete has post-traumatic stress disorder and could be a suicide risk.

The report, read by Oscar Pistorius’ defense lawyer, said he was mourning his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

On Monday, the court heard that Oscar Pistorius, 27, was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Reeva Steenkamp.

The Paralympic champion denies murder, saying he killed Reeva Steenkamp by mistake when fearing there was an intruder in the house.

Oscar Pistorius was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius was not suffering from a mental disorder when he shot Reeva Steenkamp (photo EMPICS)

The prosecution says the Olympic athlete deliberately killed Reeva Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, after the couple had an argument.

Both prosecution and defense have accepted the findings of the psychologist’s report.

Two reports – one by a psychologist and another by three psychiatrists – were drawn up after a month of tests to evaluate the athlete’s state of mind.

The prosecution on Monday noted that the psychiatrists’ report said Oscar Pistorius, 27, was capable of distinguishing between right and wrong and so should bear criminal responsibility for his actions.

Defense lawyer Barry Roux on Wednesday quoted the second evaluation as saying that Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee, has a history of feeling insecure and vulnerable, especially without his prosthetic legs.

It said he was likely to react more sharply to fear than an able-bodied person would.

“Should he not receive proper clinical care, his condition is likely to worsen and increase the risks for suicide,” Barry Roux quoted the report as saying.

It also said he did not show signs of narcissism or explosive rage, which is usually seen in men who are abusive to their partners.

The court has previously heard that Reeva Steenkamp had sent the athlete a message saying: “I’m scared of you sometimes.”

Final defense witness Wayne Derman, professor of sports and exercise medicine at the University of Cape Town, said Oscar Pistorius was an anxious individual, with hand tremors and chronic problems with the stumps of his legs.

Earlier, Oscar Pistorius’ manager was cross-examined, with prosecutor Gerrie Nel concentrating on the sprinter’s reported rows with roommate Arnu Fourie and his love life.

On Tuesday, Peet van Zyl said Oscar Pistorius had become a “global icon” at the 2012 London Olympics and could have increased his income five or six times.

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Was Serena Williams drunk at Wimbledon 2014?

Clyde K. Valle
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Was Serena Williams drunk at Wimbledon 2014?

Serena Williams was forced to pull out of her Wimbledon doubles match after just three games on July 1 after appearing disoriented on court.

Before Tuesday’s second round doubles match at Wimbledon, Serena Williams, 32, was struggling to hit balls, seemed disoriented and even started crying.

The world No. 1 looked off during warmups, as she struggled to catch balls thrown to her and hit balls to her desired target. She also had trouble picking them up from the ground.

And then things got even worse for her during the match.

Serena Williams was forced to pull out of her Wimbledon doubles match after just three games after appearing disoriented on court
Serena Williams was forced to pull out of her Wimbledon doubles match after just three games after appearing disoriented on court (photo Business Insider)

After some disturbingly bad and bizarre play, which caused one of the commentators to declare that she’s “never seen anything like this before,” the match was ended on a forfeit from Serena and Venus Williams.

The second-round doubles match against Kristina Barrois and Stefanie Voegele was put off for over 10 minutes while she sat in her sideline chair and appeared to wipe her eyes as her blood pressure was checked.

Although no one is totally sure what happened, on Saturday, after losing to Alize Cornet, Serena Williams said in a post-game interview: “I suck right now at doubles. I told Venus the other day I don’t even want to play because I’m so bad right now. She should get a new partner.”

According to SI Tennis, the official reason for Serena Williams’ exit was “viral illness.”

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Is Cycling Better Than Going To The Gym?

Kathryn R. Bown
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Is Cycling Better Than Going To The Gym?

As a country, Britain is taking to cycling more than it has at any other point in history. A number of factors are driving the new rise, including being able to save money and help the environment, but one of the main driving factors appears to be the concurrent rise in the number of people becoming more aware of their health and fitness, keen to use cycling as a way to get fit.

The conventional way of increasing your fitness and losing weight is to join a gym. This rarely lasts very long, though, with most gym memberships being used an average of fewer than five times. If you’re paying £40 a month for the pleasure, that’s a very expensive way of getting fit and an even more expensive way of not getting fit if you don’t use the membership’s benefits anyway. Going to the gym can seem like a chore, but cycling for fitness means that you get to experience the Great British outdoors and all of its benefits at the same time as improving your fitness and losing weight.

In fact, even those people who do go to the gym regularly are starting to cycle to and from the gym, with the ride acting as their warm up and saving time while they’re there, helping to increase the effect of their weight loss efforts even further. Few people actually look forward to going to the gym, but heading out on your bike on a beautiful summer’s day is something that you’ll want to do rather than something you feel you have to do. And the first rule of any fitness regime is that you need to want to do it.

The number of bike paths and cycle lanes means that Britain is more bike-friendly than ever, and getting involved in cycling and choosing to cycle to work has never been easier. To get started, the only requirements are a basic bike and a helmet, which, for a road bike, will probably set you back less than £200. That’s a saving over the gym inside five months, with a mountain bike potentially costing even less and allowing you to see even more of the fantastic scenery of Britain at the same time. No road tax, the knowledge that you’re helping the environment and helping yourself to keep fit are three very good reasons to get cycling for fitness and to ditch that expensive gym membership (which you probably don’t use anyway).

Palestinian teenager found dead near Jerusalem

Diane A. Wade
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Palestinian teenager found dead near Jerusalem

The body of a Palestinian teenager, who was kidnapped overnight in East Jerusalem, has been found in a forest in Givat Shaul.

A boy was seen being forced into a car in Shufat early on Wednesday. Within hours, a partly-burned corpse was discovered in the forest.

Israeli police were unable to confirm the motive, but Palestinian sources said it appeared to be a revenge attack for the murder of three Israeli teens.

Later, Palestinians clashed with Israeli police near the boy’s home.

The protesters threw stones at the officers, who reportedly responded by firing sound bombs, tear gas and rubber bullets.

Funerals were held in the West Bank for the three Jewish seminary students whose bodies were found near the city of Hebron
Funerals were held in the West Bank for the three Jewish seminary students whose bodies were found near the city of Hebron

The mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, called for restraint.

“This is a horrible and barbaric act which I strongly condemn,” he said in a statement.

“This is not our way and I am fully confident that our security forces will bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Initial reports said the boy was abducted in the early hours of the morning near his father’s shop in the Arab district of Shufat in East Jerusalem. Witnesses say he was bundled into a white car.

A few hours later his body, partly burned and bearing marks of violence, was found abandoned in a forest in the western outskirts of the city, the report said.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said they were looking to see if there was a connection between the missing teenager and the body that was found.

Officers were looking into possible criminal or nationalistic motives for the killing, he added.

A senior official from the Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the Reuters news agency that his family had identified the body.

“The Israeli government bears responsibility for Jewish terrorism and for the kidnapping and murder in occupied Jerusalem,” said the official, Dmitry Diliani.

The killing comes a day after funerals were held in the West Bank for the three Jewish seminary students whose bodies were found near the city of Hebron on Monday, two-and-a-half weeks after they were abducted.

Thousands of people attended the ceremony in Modein, among them Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres.

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IUCN report: Most Caribbean coral reefs may disappear in the next 20 years

James J. Williams
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IUCN report: Most Caribbean coral reefs may disappear in the next 20 years

According to a report published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), many of the Caribbean’s coral reefs could vanish in the next 20 years.

Data from more than 35,000 surveys suggests that habitats have declined by more than 50% since the 1970s.

The report’s authors believe that over-fishing and disease is mainly to blame.

They say the trend could continue if nothing is done, but with protection the reefs could bounce back.

Carl Gustaf Lundin, director of IUCN’s Global Marine and Polar Programme, said the findings were alarming.

“The reefs support a number of different countries and populations,” he said.

Many of the Caribbean's coral reefs could vanish in the next 20 years
Many of the Caribbean’s coral reefs could vanish in the next 20 years

“Tourism is one of the biggest industries, and the health of the reef is essential to the well-being of many of the people living there. And of course they are immensely beautiful and wonderful places as well.”

The IUCN report, which was also authored by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, looked at data collected between 1970 and 2012 from 90 reef habitats and is the most comprehensive assessment of corals in this region.

The authors concluded that many reefs in the Caribbean were undergoing a dramatic transformation – changing from colorful realms, bursting with life, to barren habitats, covered in slimy algae.

They said the damage had been driven by the loss of some of the reefs’ key inhabitants.

In the 1980s, a disease, thought to have been brought in from the Panama Canal, wiped out a large number of sea urchins. While fishing on the reefs has also caused parrotfish to plummet.

Both of these creatures graze on reefs, and without them, algal species take over.

Dr. Gustaf Lundin said: “We saw that reefs with no grazers ended up getting smothered by algae. And after a period of time they see a significant or even complete collapse of the reef area.”

He said that if no action was taken, the outlook for Caribbean corals would be bleak.

“If we do nothing, I’m afraid the most likely scenario is that we will continue the slippery slope to slime,” Gustaf Lundin said.

“We’ll lose a tremendous amount of coral cover and we’ll end up with algal reefs with a much lower diversity of species.”

However, the report concluded that there was evidence that damaged reefs could be revived if they were protected.

Dr. Gustaf Lundin said: “We have been able to document a number of cases where we’ve seen recovery of degraded reefs, so that is very positive – it means we shouldn’t give up hope.”

Conservationists say that warming ocean temperatures are also driving some of the losses.

As temperatures rise, corals lose the tiny algae that live in their tissues, causing them to turn white – a process known as coral bleaching.

The Caribbean is not the only area that has seen losses to coral reefs. Around the world, these habitats are doing badly.

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US soccer team eliminated from World Cup by Belgium

Clyde K. Valle
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US soccer team eliminated from World Cup by Belgium

Millions of Americans stopped work early on Tuesday to watch US soccer team getting edged out of the World Cup by Belgium in a thrilling match in Brazil.

After a string of fine saves from US goalie Tim Howard, Belgium went 2-0 ahead in extra-time. The US then pulled one back to set up a pulsating finale.

Thousands packed public viewing areas across the country, despite a kick-off time of 16:00 EST.

Afterwards, the 2-1 defeat was hailed by many as the best game so far.

Millions of Americans stopped work early on Tuesday to watch US soccer team getting edged out of the World Cup by Belgium
Millions of Americans stopped work early on Tuesday to watch US soccer team getting edged out of the World Cup by Belgium

Leaving Soldier’s Field in Chicago, where nearly 30,000 people watched the drama unfold on big screens, fans said they were “heartbroken” but proud of how the team had played.

It was a magnificent defensive effort, as Belgium launched wave after wave of attacks in the second half but each one foundered as American bodies – most often Howard’s – were flung in the way.

As many as 14 million workers were predicted to down tools to watch Tuesday’s game, costing the US economy more than $600 million in lost labor productivity, according to an estimate by Yahoo Finance.

Even President Barack Obama told reporters he had arranged his schedule around the match.

“I thought I’d get the cabinet together this morning, because we all know that America will be busy this afternoon. Go team USA,” the president said.

Large viewing parties were held across the US, including in Chicago, Kansas City and Washington DC.

At Freedom Plaza in Washington, the city government was hosting a viewing party, where viewers grabbed a spot on the stone plaza in the blistering heat hours before the match.

Team USA’s success in progressing through the so-called Group of Death had driven a wave of enthusiasm for soccer, which typically lags far behind American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey in popularity.

Even in Texas, traditionally American football country, soccer has taken a hold.

But not everyone will be tuning in. Despite the increased viewing figures, an NBC News poll suggests six in 10 Americans have very little interest or no interest at all in the World Cup. Only 22% had a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of interest.

The US and Belgium had not played each other in the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, where the Americans won 3-0.

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North Korea fires two more short-range missiles into sea

Roy Siemens
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North Korea fires two more short-range missiles into sea

According to South Korean reports, North Korea has fired two more short-range rockets into the sea, the latest in a series of recent missile tests.

The rockets were fired off the east coast and flew about 110 miles, South Korean military officials said.

The move comes as China’s President Xi Jinping prepares to visit South Korea, with whom North Korea is technically at war.

It also comes a day after Japan urged Pyongyang to stop such launches and after Seoul rejected a North Korean offer to end hostilities as insincere.

The two rockets were fired from a site near the eastern city of Wonsan at 06:50 and 08:00, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

North Korea has fired two more short-range rockets into the sea
North Korea has fired two more short-range rockets into the sea

North Korea appeared to be testing the range of the projectiles, Yonhap news agency reported, citing military officials. It also carried out similar tests on June 26 and 29.

To date North Korea has carried out three nuclear tests and is believed to be working on long-range missile development. In recent months it has also carried out a steady stream of short-range missile tests.

Talks between North Korea’s leaders and other nations on ending its nuclear ambitions have been stalled for years.

China, which is North Korea’s biggest trading ally, is the nation believed to wield the most influence over Pyongyang.

But Beijing appears increasingly frustrated with its unreliable neighbor.

The issue of North Korea – including possible plans for a fourth nuclear test – is expected to top the agenda during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Seoul, which begins on Thursday.

North Korea has also in recent weeks alternated between threatening South Korea and offering apparent concessions.

On Monday Pyongyang offered to suspend hostile military activities and slander, a move Seoul described as “nonsensical”.

North Korea has made similar offers in the past but these have invariably broken down.

North Korea is also currently engaged in talks with Japan on the issue of Japanese nationals it abducted in the 1970s and 1980s to teach language and culture to its spies.

Japan criticized Sunday’s rocket launch at the start of one-day talks in Beijing on Tuesday, at which no breakthroughs were reported.

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Hong Kong protest: Over 500 people arrested during pro-democracy sit-in

Diane A. Wade
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Hong Kong protest: Over 500 people arrested during pro-democracy sit-in

Over 500 protesters have been arrested in Hong Kong during a pro-democracy sit-in at the city’s business district.

The demonstrators were arrested for illegal assembly and obstructing police officers, Hong Kong police said.

The sit-in came after tens of thousands of protesters marched on Tuesday in what was described as the city’s largest democracy rally in a decade.

The annual rally, marking the day Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, was to demand full electoral freedom.

Organizers said turnout at the rally was 510,000, while police said about 98,600 took part during the peak of the march.

After the main march had ended, hundreds of protesters staged a sit-in in the city’s Central district.

Police said the sit-in was “unauthorized” and began removing some of the participants in the early hours of Wednesday.

Over 500 protesters have been arrested during Hong Kong annual rally
Over 500 protesters have been arrested during Hong Kong annual rally

Some demonstrators linked arms in an attempt to stop police from moving them.

Police said a total of 511 demonstrators – 351 men and 160 women – were arrested in the operation to clear the area.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, Hong Kong leader CY Leung said that the government was trying hard to forge a consensus on political reform.

“Only by maintaining Hong Kong’s stability can we sustain our economic prosperity. Only by sustaining Hong Kong’s prosperity can we improve people’s livelihoods,” CY Leung said.

Analysts say Hong Kong faces divided views on the city’s democratic development, and growing tensions between activists and the Chinese government.

Pro-democracy activists want Hong Kong people to be able to elect the city’s leader, known as the chief executive.

China has said it will introduce universal suffrage for the city’s 2017 election – but wants a committee to approve the candidates.

In June, an unofficial referendum on how to choose Hong Kong’s next chief executive drew close to 800,000 votes.

The Hong Kong government said the 10-day referendum had no legal standing. The Chinese government has described the referendum as an “illegal farce”.

Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997 following a 1984 agreement between China and Britain.

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Nicolas Sarkozy released from custody and placed under formal investigation

Diane A. Wade
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Nicolas Sarkozy released from custody and placed under formal investigation

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under formal investigation over alleged influence peddling.

Nicolas Sarkozy, 59, appeared before a judge in Paris late on Tuesday after 15 hours of questioning by anti-corruption police.

This is thought to be the first time a former French head of state has been held in police custody.

Nicolas Sarkozy’s lawyer, Thierry Herzog, and a magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, were also placed under formal investigation over the same allegations.

A second magistrate called in for questioning, Patrick Sassoust, had not appeared before a judge as of Tuesday night.

When a suspect is placed under formal investigation, he or she is then examined by a judge, who determines whether there is sufficient evidence for the suspect to be charged.

The step often, but not always, leads to trial. Influence-peddling can be punished by up to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros ($684,000).

Nicolas Sarkozy was released from custody around midnight after appearing in court in Paris.

Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under formal investigation over alleged influence peddling
Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under formal investigation over alleged influence peddling (photo Reuters)

He had been brought to the court from the judicial police office in Nanterre, west of the French capital, where he had been interrogated.

Paul-Albert Iweins, the lawyer representing Thierry Herzog, said the case rested only on “phone taps… whose legal basis will be strongly contested”.

“There’s not a lot in this dossier, since none of the material elements of what I’ve seen, and what we could contest, support the accusations,” he added.

The inquiry arose out of a separate investigation into whether Nicolas Sarkozy had received illegal funding for his election campaign in 2007 from the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

Nicolas Sarkozy is hoping to challenge again for the presidency in 2017 and the inquiry is seen as a blow to his hopes of returning to office.

Investigators are trying to find out whether Nicolas Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, had promised a prestigious role in Monaco to Gilbert Azibert, in exchange for information about an investigation into alleged illegal campaign funding.

They are looking into claims that Nicolas Sarkozy was warned his phone was being bugged as part of the Gaddafi inquiry.

Nicolas Sarkozy’s predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was given a suspended prison sentence in 2011 for embezzlement and breach of trust while he was mayor of Paris but he was never questioned in custody.

An investigation was launched in February into whether Nicolas Sarkozy had sought inside information about the inquiry into his 2007 election campaign funding.

It is alleged that Nicolas Sarkozy was kept informed of proceedings against him while a decision was made over whether his work diaries – seized as part of the funding inquiry – should be kept in the hands of the justice system.

The Court of Cassation ruled in March 2014 that the diaries should not be returned.

Investigators believe the former president was tipped off that his phone was being bugged as part of the inquiry.

Nicolas Sarkozy insists the allegations against him are politically motivated. He is seeking to regain the leadership of the centre-right UMP party later this year.

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Go Team USA: American fans halt work early to watch World Cup match

Clyde K. Valle
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Go Team USA: American fans halt work early to watch World Cup match

Millions of soccer fans in America have stopped work early to watch team USA playing Belgium for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil.

The match kicked off at 16:00 on the US east coast, so offices have emptied a little early.

Big screens have been erected in public viewing areas across the country, including at Chicago’s American football stadium.

An estimated 20 million Americans watched the US-Germany game last week.

This time, as many as 14 million workers could down tools to watch Tuesday’s game, costing the US economy more than $600 million in lost labor productivity, according to an estimate by Yahoo Finance.

Millions of soccer fans in America have stopped work early to watch team USA playing Belgium for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil
Millions of soccer fans in America have stopped work early to watch team USA playing Belgium for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil

Even President Barack Obama told reporters he had arranged his schedule around the match.

“I thought I’d get the cabinet together this morning, because we all know that America will be busy this afternoon. Go team USA,” he said.

Large viewing parties are planned across the US, including in Chicago, Kansas City and Washington DC.

At Freedom Plaza in Washington, the city government was hosting a viewing party, where viewers grabbed a spot on the stone plaza in the blistering heat hours before the match.

But not everyone will be tuning in. Despite the increased viewing figures, an NBC News poll suggests six in 10 Americans have very little interest or no interest at all in the World Cup. Only 22% had a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of interest.

Team USA’s success thus far – defeating Ghana and drawing Portugal to slip out of the group stage into the last 16 – has driven a wave of enthusiasm for football, which typically lags far behind American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey in popularity.

The US and Belgium have not played each other in the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, where the Americans won 3-0.

“I’m sure if we play to the best of our ability, we’ll get a positive result,” US captain Clint Dempsey said.

“For some of the guys, it’s the last opportunity, so we have to make the most of it.”

Speaking after the US lost 1-0 to Germany on Thursday, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said: “We will work … to shift our entire game up forward. So that will put more pressure on the opponents and create more chances.”

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Neuro Trim: Kim Kardashian weight loss support drink

Lisa.Felice
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Neuro Trim: Kim Kardashian weight loss support drink

Kim Kardashian’s sweet lips post workout is a drink that supports weight lost called Neuro Trim.

Neuro Trim provides a feeling of fullness and reduces food cravings
Neuro Trim provides a feeling of fullness and reduces food cravings

Neuro Trim keeps her energy levels soaring after exercise while helping stimulate her metabolism.

The drink that contains Green Tea and a special form of water-absorbing Japanese konjac fibre is also favoured by Kim Kardashian’s ex BFF, Paris Hilton and Cindy Crawford.

Neuro Trim is described as providing nutraceutical blends formulated to promote health and well-being. It provides a feeling of fullness and reduces food cravings. Neuro Trim also helps control appetite with LuraLean fiber.

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Raffaele Sollecito: “Amanda Knox gives me an alibi”

Nancy Clayson
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Raffaele Sollecito: “Amanda Knox gives me an alibi”

Raffaele Sollecito, Amanda Knox’s former Italian boyfriend, said Tuesday that she provided alibis for him that he will use to try to persuade Italy’s court of last resort to dismiss his conviction for the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher.

Raffaele Sollecito hopes the Court of Cassation will rule he deserves yet another trial and throw out the 25-year sentence he received in January from a Florence appeals court, which convicted both him and Amanda Knox for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, 21.

His lawyers will stress apparent contradictions in the Florence court’s 337-page verdict explanation.

That court signaled it believed a memo Amanda Knox wrote, while being held for questioning, in which she indicates Raffaele Sollecito had no role in the murder.

“She herself lets me off the hook and gives me an alibi,” Raffaele Sollecito, 30, said.

Amanda Knox wrote a memo while being held for questioning in which she indicates Raffaele Sollecito had no role in Meredith Kercher’s murder
Amanda Knox wrote a memo while being held for questioning in which she indicates Raffaele Sollecito had no role in Meredith Kercher’s murder (photo Reuters/NBC)

He noted the court accepted findings that an Amanda Knox text message, shortly before the murder, to the owner of a Perugia pub where she worked, had been sent while outside Raffaele Sollecito’s house.

Yet he insisted he wasn’t trying to pin the murder on Amanda Knox.

Flanked by his lawyers in Rome, Raffaele Sollecito stressed what he described as his steadfast belief in the innocence of Amanda Knox, whom he had been dating for barely a week when Meredith Kercher was slain in Perugia, Italy.

“I want to make clear that I and all the people around me, including my family, have always believed, and we still believe today, in the innocence of Amanda Marie Knox.”

The Florence court sentenced Amanda Knox to 28 ½ years in prison.

Amanda Knox, 26, who has repeatedly proclaimed her innocence, has been in America since an earlier court ruling, in 2011, acquitted both her and Raffaele Sollecito.

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Turkey elections 2014: Recep Tayyip Erdogan to run for presidency

Diane A. Wade
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Turkey elections 2014: Recep Tayyip Erdogan to run for presidency

Turkey’s PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run for president in the first direct election in August, his governing AK Party has confirmed.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been prime minister since 2003 but is barred from seeking a new term.

In the midst of corruption allegations, critics say Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become more authoritarian, but he says political foes are trying to oust him.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to give new powers to the president, which has been a largely ceremonial role.

In the past, the incumbent has been chosen by parliament.

For the first time Turks will vote directly for their president in a two-round election in August.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run for president in Turkey’s first direct election in August
Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run for president in Turkey’s first direct election in August

In April, incumbent President Abdullah Gul ruled out swapping roles with his ally, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, when his presidential term ends.

The AKP has won six consecutive elections, at national and local level, maintaining a solid base of support among the working class.

Tuesday’s announcement was greeted with loud applause by party members at a meeting in the capital, Ankara.

“The candidate for the 12th president is our prime minister, head of our party and Istanbul lawmaker Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” Mehmet Ali Sahin, deputy AKP leader, announced.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s opponents accuse him of losing touch with ordinary people after more than a decade in power.

A wave of opponents rose up in May 2013 against the government’s plans to convert Gezi Park in Istanbul into a replica military barracks. The prime minister called the demonstrators “capulcu”(riff-raff) – and ordered the police to retake the park.

Last December, prosecutors and police officers organized dawn raids against more than 50 businessmen, including the sons of three cabinet ministers – all allies of the prime minister.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the park protests and the raids were each orchestrated from abroad – a reference to the Gulen movement, named after its leader, a 72-year-old Islamic scholar, Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the US.

Fethullah Gulen’s Hizmet movement was unhappy with the way Recep Tayyip Erdogan dealt with the Gezi Park protesters.

In April, Turkey said it would launch extradition proceedings against Fethullah Gulen.

Fethullah Gulen has many supporters in the police and judiciary, and has denounced moves to shut down the investigation into corruption allegations leveled against several of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s allies.

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Video shows Silvio Berlusconi working at nursing home

Nancy Clayson
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Video shows Silvio Berlusconi working at nursing home

Italy’s PM Silvio Berlusconi has been filmed carrying out his community service at a nursing home near Milan.

The footage shows Silvio Berlusconi dressed in a white lab coat, joking with elderly residents at the hospice.

Silvio Berlusconi, 77, was ordered in May to help out at the Sacra Famiglia center as part of his one year sentence for tax fraud.

Silvio Berlusconi was ordered to help out at the Sacra Famiglia center as part of his one year sentence for tax fraud
Silvio Berlusconi was ordered to help out at the Sacra Famiglia center as part of his one year sentence for tax fraud (photo AFP)

Until now, doctors had imposed a news blackout on how exactly Silvio Berlusconi was getting on after trading his customary late night carousing with young show girls for more sedentary mornings entertaining the elderly.

The video, filmed on a smart phone, shows Silvio Berlusconi sitting in the centre’s recreation room, smiling and joking with a group of elderly residents, some in wheelchairs, before he strolls over the vending machine to chat to two younger women.

As he cracks jokes, some of the patients clap along to an old fashioned Italian accordion record being played.

The video shows Silvio Berlusconi looking relaxed and cheerful.

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French full veil ban upheld by European Court of Human Rights

Diane A. Wade
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French full veil ban upheld by European Court of Human Rights

The French ban on wearing the Muslim full-face veil – the niqab – has been upheld by the European Court of Human Rights.

A case was brought by a 24-year-old French woman, who argued that the ban on wearing the veil in public violated her freedom of religion and expression.

French law says nobody can wear in a public space clothing intended to conceal the face. The penalty for doing so can be a 150-euro fine ($205).

The 2010 law came in under former conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy.

A breach of the ban can also mean a wearer having to undergo citizenship instruction.

France has about five million Muslims – the largest Muslim minority in Western Europe – but it is thought only about 2,000 women wear full veils.

The court ruled that the ban “was not expressly based on the religious connotation of the clothing in question but solely on the fact that it concealed the face”. The Strasbourg judges’ decision is final – there is no appeal against it.

A court statement said the ruling also “took into account the state’s submission that the face played a significant role in social interaction”.

The European Court of Human Rights has upheld the French ban on wearing the Muslim full-face veil
The European Court of Human Rights has upheld the French ban on wearing the Muslim full-face veil (photo Reuters)

“The Court was also able to understand the view that individuals might not wish to see, in places open to all, practices or attitudes which would fundamentally call into question the possibility of open interpersonal relationships, which, by virtue of an established consensus, formed an indispensable element of community life within the society in question.”

Some face coverings, including motorbike helmets, are exempted from the French ban.

The woman, identified only by the initials SAS, took her case to the European Court in 2011. She said she was under no family pressure to wear the niqab, but chose to do so as a matter of religious freedom, as a devout Muslim.

France was the first European country in modern times to ban public wearing of the full-face veil. Belgium adopted a similar ban in 2011.

In Spain, the city of Barcelona and some other towns have brought in similar bans, as have some towns in Italy.

The French government argues that the ban has wide public support. The authorities see the full-face veil not only as an affront to French secular values but also as a potential security risk, as it conceals a person’s identity.

In the past, the European Court has sided with French secularism – it also ruled in favor of the government’s ban on headscarves in schools.

 

Exemptions from ban on public face covering:

  • Motorcycle helmets
  • Face masks for health reasons
  • Face covering for sporting or professional activities
  • Sunglasses, hats etc which do not completely hide the face
  • Masks used in “traditional activities”, such as carnivals or religious processions

Source: Radio France International

Israel holds teenagers’ funerals

Roy Siemens
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Israel holds teenagers’ funerals

Israel is holding the funerals of three teenagers who were abducted and murdered while hitch-hiking in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli has blamed the Palestinian militant group Hamas for the deaths.

Hamas has denied any involvement.

The teenagers’ bodies were found on Monday evening more than two weeks after the youths went missing.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said Hamas will be made to “pay” a price for the killings.

The abductions of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel sparked a massive search operation in Israel
The abductions of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel sparked a massive search operation in Israel

Overnight, Israel launched more than 30 air strikes on facilities linked to militant groups in the Gaza Strip after 18 rockets were fired into Israel since Sunday night, the Israeli military said.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who will attend the joint funeral held for Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, said the teenagers had been “kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by animal”.

The funeral will take place from 17:30 local time at Modiin cemetery in central Israel. Modiin, which is between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, is close to the boys’ family homes.

The teenagers’ bodies were found under a pile of rocks near the Palestinian town of Halhul. An Israeli official said it appeared the youths had been shot soon after their abduction.

Israeli troops flooded into Halhul after the discovery.

Its Shin Bet security agency had named two Hamas members from Hebron – Ayoub al-Kawasma and Abu Aisheh – as suspects. The Israeli military raided the homes of both men, setting off explosives.

Palestinian witnesses said Abu Aisheh’s home was destroyed.

The disappearance of the teenagers on June 12 sparked a huge search operation in Palestinian towns and cities across the West Bank.

More than 400 Palestinians were arrested, while five were killed in fighting with Israeli troops.

Benjamin Netanyahu has said the incident is a consequence of “the partnership” between Hamas, which rejects Israel’s right to exist, and the Fatah movement of Mahmoud Abbas.

Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu signed a reconciliation deal in April after years of division and formed a unity government last month.

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