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Owen and Emmett Ezell: Formerly conjoined twins to be released from hospital after 8 months

Kathryn R. Bown
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Owen and Emmett Ezell: Formerly conjoined twins to be released from hospital after 8 months

Conjoined twins Owen and Emmett Ezell, who were separated at Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas in August 2013, are expected to be released from the hospital Wednesday, eight months after their surgery.

Medical City announced Monday that Owen and Emmett Ezell are expected to be released to a local inpatient rehabilitation center this week.

To celebrate the twins’ health and success, a small celebration is being planned on Wednesday prior to their departure. Ahead of that celebration, the hospital and Ezell family released two new photographs of the now 9-month-old boys on Tuesday.

In the past the hospital had said Owen and Emmett Ezell had to pass three major hurdles to go home – eating and breathing on their own and fully healing from their surgical wounds.

Conjoined twins Owen and Emmett Ezell were separated at Medical City Children's Hospital in Dallas in August 2013
Conjoined twins Owen and Emmett Ezell were separated at Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas in August 2013 (photo Ezell family)

“This is the next step to getting the boys home with their family,” the news release said.

The hospital said Monday the twins are breathing on their own through a trachea breathing tube and that they are no longer being fed through an IV, but they continue to be fed through tubes in their abdomens.

While at rehab, the boys’ parents will learn to manage those tubes until the boys can eat on their own.

Owen and Emmett Ezell are expected to be released on Wednesday, but the hospital says as with any fragile patient, the release could change.

The hospital plans to celebrate the twins release at the hospital Wednesday, though the boys will not be there because of their fragile state.

The family has been chronicling the boys’ progress, since their separation surgery in August 2013 on The Ezell Twins blog. They are selling T-shirts through their blog that read, “The Works of God Displayed in Them, John 9:1-3.”

The funds donated go into a trust fund set up for Emmett and Owen Ezell and their direct care.

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How to tighten your tummy in just 15 minutes

Kathryn R. Bown
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How to tighten your tummy in just 15 minutes

Combine cardio and standing abs moves for an intense, waist-whittling routine that will tighten your tummy fast.

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be more effective than traditional cardio at getting rid of stubborn abdominal body fat.

Research shows that high-intensity interval training may be more effective than traditional cardio at getting rid of stubborn abdominal body fat
Research shows that high-intensity interval training may be more effective than traditional cardio at getting rid of stubborn abdominal body fat

Strengthening your core muscles can help create flatter, more drawn-in abs and improve your posture, contributing to a slimmer waistline.

So get ready to blast off belly fat with this 15-minute circuit that combines fat-scorching cardio intervals with standing core exercises that do double-duty as your active recovery.

Do as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) of each exercise, in order with no rest. The core strength moves double as the warm-up, recovery and cool-down. Repeat the circuit 3 times total.

China’s economy expanded by 7.4% in 2014 Q1

Clyde K. Valle
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China’s economy expanded by 7.4% in 2014 Q1

China’s economy grew by 7.4% in 2014 Q1, better than what many were expecting.

However, it is a slowdown from 7.7% growth in the final quarter of last year.

Other data released with the gross domestic product (GDP) figure showed industrial output rising 8.8% in March from one year ago.

Retail sales for the month of March spiked by 12.2%, underscoring China’s efforts to boost economic growth via domestic consumption.

Last year China set its growth target for 2014 at 7.5%, part of efforts to stabilize the economy after years of fast-paced expansion.

China’s growth data is closely watched around the region. A slowdown could hurt Asian economies especially those which export commodities and industrial components to the world’s second largest economy.

A sluggish start for the year is not uncommon, due to the Lunar New Year holiday when many businesses and factories shut down operations for about two weeks.

China's economy grew by 7.4 percent in 2014 Q1, better than what many were expecting
China’s economy grew by 7.4 percent in 2014 Q1, better than what many were expecting

But recent data from the manufacturing as well as industrial sectors have been weak, raising fears of a prolonged slowdown.

Amid these concerns, China has recently taken more steps to give a jolt to its economy.

A mini-stimulus measure announced earlier this month will see Beijing extending a tax break for small and medium-sized companies, and ramping up spending on China’s railway infrastructure.

In addition, the mainland also took steps to open up its capital markets by announcing a tie-up with Hong Kong, allowing for cross-border stock investment. The pilot scheme is scheduled to take off in about six months.

And in January, China launched a free-trade zone in Shanghai, seen as a test bed for reforms in key areas of the economy, such as the financial and telecom sectors which previously were tightly controlled by the government.

China also said it will allow foreign firms to make gaming consoles within the free-trade zone and sell them across China – lifting a ban on gaming consoles which had been in place since 2000.

Analysts are hopeful that the Chinese economy has bottomed out, and will perform better later in the year.

China’s trade figures for March had shown a sharp drop in both imports and exports.

Earlier this month the World Bank lowered its growth forecast for the Chinese economy this year to 7.6% for this year from a previous prediction of 7.7%.

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Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George arrive in Sydney

Lisa.Felice
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Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George arrive in Sydney

Prince William, Kate Middleton and their son Prince George have arrived in Sydney for the next leg of their tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Prince George was in his mother’s arms as the royal couple emerged from a plane at Kingsford Smith Airport.

Kate Middleton carried the 8-month-old down the steps of the aircraft before she and Prince William were met by dignitaries.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will spend 10 days travelling across Australia, visiting its famous sites and honoring its war dead.

Australia’s PM Tony Abbott and Governor-general Peter Cosgrove, their spouses and other figures were among those who met Prince William and Kate Middleton as they descended from the plane.

Kate Middleton, wearing a yellow dress by Roksanda Ilincic, handed Prince George to his father as she accepted flowers from Joscelyn Sweeney, a 22-year-old with Down’s syndrome.

Prince William, Kate Middleton and their son Prince George have arrived in Sydney for the next leg of their tour of New Zealand and Australia
Prince William, Kate Middleton and their son Prince George have arrived in Sydney for the next leg of their tour of New Zealand and Australia (photo Reuters)

A lively Prince George, dressed in a white cotton babygrow with ships on the front, touched hands with the governor-general’s wife Lynne Cosgrove before his parents left for their first engagement at the Sydney Opera House.

Prince William and Kate Middleton completed the first leg of their trip Down Under with a tour of New Zealand.

They arrived in Australia on Wednesday for the second leg as a political scandal erupted, forcing one of the country’s senior figures to pull out of the official greeting party.

Barry O’Farrell resigned as premier of New South Wales just hours before Prince William and Kate Middleton arrived after a document emerged contradicting evidence he gave to an anti-corruption inquiry.

He admitted to a “massive memory fail” after he failed to declare a gift of A$3,000 wine.

The leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party had told an inquiry that he never received the wine and that he could not remember calling businessman Nick Di Girolamo, who sent him the gift in 2011.

Barry O’Farrell resigned after investigators unveiled a hand-written thank you note from him.

He had been due to greet the royal couple on the tarmac, and later at their visit to Sydney Opera House, but did not attend the welcome ceremony at the airport.

Barry O’Farrell was not replaced by another official.

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Sewol ferry carrying 476 people sinks off South Korea’s Jindo Island

Diane A. Wade
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Sewol ferry carrying 476 people sinks off South Korea’s Jindo Island

About 300 people remain unaccounted for after a ferry carrying 476 people capsized and sank off South Korea, killing at least two passengers.

The passenger ferry, named Sewol, carrying mainly school students, was travelling from the port of Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju.

A major rescue effort is under way, using dozens of ships and helicopters.

Several hours after the disaster, at least 290 people remained missing, local media said.

South Korean officials had earlier said that 368 people had been plucked to safety, but later said there had been a counting error.

They have now revised down the number rescued to about 180, Yonhap news agency reported.

Two people are known to have died and at least 13 others have been injured, reports say.

An official from Sanwon High School in Seoul’s Ansan suburb told Reuters that all 338 students and teachers aboard the ferry had been rescued, although that information was not immediately confirmed by authorities involved in the rescue operation.

The students aboard the Sewol were on their way to the resort island of Jeju on a school trip, according to local reports.

Images showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then later almost completely submerged, with only a small part of its hull visible.

About 300 people remain unaccounted for after a ferry carrying 476 people capsized and sank off South Korea
About 300 people remain unaccounted for after a ferry carrying 476 people capsized and sank off South Korea (photo Reuters)

Pictures showed rescue teams balanced on the sinking hull pulling teenagers from cabin windows. Some of their classmates jumped into the sea as the ship went down.

Reports suggest some of those rescued were picked up by nearby commercial vessels.

Navy divers were now searching the scene for those unaccounted for, officials said.

One body, of a female crew member, had been recovered from the ship, the coastguard said. Another person is reported to have died after being rescued.

One student told local media her friends became trapped.

It is not yet clear what caused the incident, but witnesses described hearing an impact, before the ship listed and quickly sank.

One passenger told the YTN news channel: “We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped.

“The boat is tilting and we have to hold on to something to stay seated,” the passenger said.

Another passenger said the ship was “shaking and tilting”, with people tripping and bumping into each other.

Weather conditions were described as fine.

However, Reuters reported that heavy fog had set in overnight off the west coast, leading to the cancellation of many island passenger ferry services.

The Busan Regional Maritime Affairs & Port Administration confirmed that the ferry sent a distress call Wednesday morning local time.

News agencies said the ferry had sent out a distress signal about 12 miles off the island of Byungpoong at about 09:00 local time.

Earlier reports put the number of passengers on the ferry at about 350. The Sewol is reported to have a capacity of up to 900 people. Shipping records show it was built in Japan in 1994.

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Easter Leg of Lamb Recipe

Kathryn R. Bown
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Easter Leg of Lamb Recipe

Easter Leg of Lamb

 

Ingredients (8 servings):

1 (5 1/2 pound) boneless leg of lamb, tied in netting

Easter Leg of Lamb
Easter Leg of Lamb

20 cloves garlic, or more to taste

garlic powder, or to taste

10 fresh rosemary sprigs

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 F (165 C).
  2. Cut 20 deep slits evenly spaced around the leg of lamb without cutting the netting. Stuff a garlic clove into each slit. Rub garlic powder over the lamb. Slice rosemary sprigs under netting evenly around the lamb. Place lamb into a roasting pan.
  3. Roast in preheated oven until reddish-pink and juicy in the center for medium-rare, about 2-2 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 130 F (54 C). Cover in aluminum foil; rest meat until thermometer reads 135 F (57 C) before carving.

Boston holds tribute event to mark marathon bombing anniversary

Nancy Clayson
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Boston holds tribute event to mark marathon bombing anniversary

Boston is holding a tribute event on the anniversary of the deadly bombing at last year’s marathon.

Vice-President Joe Biden told survivors they were an example of “pure courage”.

Boston’s leaders thanked those who saved lives in the frenzied aftermath.

Three people were killed and some 264 injured when two bombs exploded near the finish line at last year’s Boston Marathon.

“I know that no memorial, no words, no acts can fully provide the solace that your hearts and soul still yearn to acquire,” Joe Biden said at a midday memorial program.

“I hope it eases your grief a little bit.”

Participants in Tuesday’s ceremonies included representatives from families of the victims, members of the city’s fire, police and ambulance services, government agencies and civic organizations.

Boston is holding a tribute event on the anniversary of the deadly bombing at last year's marathon
Boston is holding a tribute event on the anniversary of the deadly bombing at last year’s marathon (photo LA Times)

Dignitaries in attendance included Joe Biden, former Mayor Thomas Menino, current Mayor Martin Walsh, Governor Deval Patrick, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and others.

This year’s Boston Marathon is due to take place on April 21.

Tuesday’s memorial events began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the explosions, attended by the families of the three bombing victims – Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lu Lingzi.

Relatives of university police officer Sean Collier, who was killed during a manhunt for the suspects, also attended the solemn ceremony.

An invitation-only audience of about 2,500 people gathered at the city’s convention centre at midday to remember victims and honor those who responded to the attack.

“This day will always be hard, but this place will always be strong,” Thomas Menino said.

“Even though the memory still brings tears to our eyes and our heart aches for those we have lost, it’s a comfort to be here with family and friends who got us through that tragic day.”

Several survivors spoke at the event, including Patrick Downes and dancer Adrianne Haslet-Davis, both of whom lost their lower left legs in the bombings.

“We should have never met this way, but we are so grateful for each other,” Patrick Downes said, describing the sense of community that has developed among those who were injured.

The program finished with remarks from Joe Biden, who said last year, “the whole world witnessed ordinary people doing extraordinary things”.

The vice-president ended the tribute to loud applause: “We are Boston. We are America. We respond. We endure. We overcome, and we own the finish line.”

As the race approaches, officials have warned residents and visitors to expect a larger than normal police presence in the city streets.

However, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said it would be “the Boston Marathon as it has always been”.

“Our goal is for everyone to enjoy the race,” he said.

City health officials say they have also made preparations to help those affected by the bombings cope with the anniversary.

Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, is due to stand trial in November. He has pleaded not guilty to 30 charges, of which 17 carry the possibility of capital punishment.

Prosecutors allege that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev set off two pressure cooker bombs with his older brother Tamerlan, 26, who later died in a police shoot-out.

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London hair salon visited by North Korean officials over Kim Jong-un ad

Lisa.Felice
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London hair salon visited by North Korean officials over Kim Jong-un ad

London salon M&M Hair Academy has been visited by North Korean officials to question why it had used their leader Kim Jong-un’s picture in a poster offering haircuts.

The poster in M&M Hair Academy in South Ealing featured the words “Bad Hair Day?” below Kim Jong-un’s picture.

Barber Karim Nabbach said embassy officials were shown the door and the salon’s manager spoke to the police.

The Met Police said: “We have spoken to all parties involved and no offence has been disclosed.”

The salon put up the poster on April 9 and the next day two men claiming to be officials from the North Korean embassy visited the salon and demanded to meet the manager, Mo Nabbach.

M&M Hair Academy has been visited by North Korean officials to question why it had used their leader Kim Jong-un's picture in a poster offering haircuts
M&M Hair Academy has been visited by North Korean officials to question why it had used their leader Kim Jong-un’s picture in a poster offering haircuts (photo M&M Hair Academy)

Karim Nabbach said: “We put up posters for an offer for men’s hair cuts through the month of April. Obviously in the current news there has been this story that North Korean men are only allowed one haircut.

“We didn’t realise but the North Korean embassy is a 10-minute walk from the salon. The next day we had North Korean officials pop into the salon asking to speak to the manager.

“He said <<listen this isn’t North Korea, this is England, we live in a democracy so I’m afraid you’re going to have to get out of my salon>>.”

The manager later informed the police about the visit by the North Koreans and he was told the embassy had also contacted officers.

“We haven’t had any trouble since then, if anything the poster has become a tourist attraction,” Karim Nabbach said.

Last month it was reported by Radio Free Asia that male university students in North Korea were now required to get the same haircut as Kim Jong-un’s.

Flavor Flav pleads guilty to attempted battery

Lisa.Felice
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Flavor Flav pleads guilty to attempted battery

Flavor Flav has pleaded guilty to attempted battery after pulling a knife on the teenage son of his long-term girlfriend during an argument at their Las Vegas home.

Public Enemy rapper, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton, had been facing more serious assault charges which carried a prison sentence of up to 12 years.

The boy said the musician had threatened to kill him.

Flavor Flav has since reconciled with his girlfriend and received counseling.

In court, the 55-year-old rapper told the judge: “I love my son and my son loves me, too.”

Flavor Flav has pleaded guilty to attempted battery after pulling a knife on the teenage son of his long-term girlfriend
Flavor Flav has pleaded guilty to attempted battery after pulling a knife on the teenage son of his long-term girlfriend

Flavor Flav admitted wielding a kitchen knife during the fight on October 17, 2012.

The teenager, who is now 18, testified that the musician chased him to a bedroom and stabbed the knife through the door.

He and his mother were not in court when Flavor Flav pleaded guilty to attempted battery that could have caused substantial injury and battery constituting domestic violence.

Outside court, the rapper said: “I’m standing here in front of the camera, not behind bars.”

If he violates the terms of his plea deal, he could face up to a year in jail, the judge said.

Public Enemy, the group that William Jonathan Drayton founded with fellow rapper Chuck D, are considered one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Flavor Flav has also starred in several reality TV series, including The Surreal Life, Strange Love, and Flavor of Love.

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Oscar Pistorius trial: Reeva Steenkamp Valentine’s card presented to court

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius trial: Reeva Steenkamp Valentine’s card presented to court

Reeva Steenkamp Valentine’s card has been presented to court during Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial in Pretoria.

Reeva Steenkamp had intended to give the card to Oscar Pistorius before he shot her dead.

The athlete read the poem to the court after five days of gruelling cross-examination.

Earlier, Oscar Pistorius said he was “heartbroken” when he saw her body in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last February.

Oscar Pistorius denies murder, saying he fired through a door in fear, believing there was an intruder behind it.

The prosecution says he deliberately shot dead Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, after the couple had had an argument.

Oscar Pistorius, 27, faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder.

His defense lawyer Barry Roux presented to the court the Valentine card which Reeva Steenkamp had got the athlete.

Oscar Pistorius read out Reeva Steenkamp's Valentine Day card
Oscar Pistorius read out Reeva Steenkamp’s Valentine Day card

The double-amputee sprinter read the card out in a trembling voice.

The front of the card reads: “Roses are red, violets are blue…”

Inside, Reeva Steenkamp had written: “I think today is a good day to tell you that, I love you.”

Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in the early hours of Valentine’s Day – before they had opened each other’s cards and gifts.

Oscar Pistorius has previously told the court he only opened the card on Reeva Steenkamp’s birthday, in August 2013.

On the final day of his cross-examination, Oscar Pistorius said that after shooting and realizing Reeva Steenkamp was not in the bedroom as he believed, he tried to break down the door with his shoulder, before using a cricket bat, all the time screaming in panic.

He said he stopped screaming when he finally opened the door and saw the body.

When prosecutor Gerrie Nel asked why, Oscar Pistorius replied, his voice trembling with emotion: “I was heartbroken… overcome with sadness.”

“I crouched down over her… and I checked to see if she was breathing or if she had a pulse,” he said.

But this was disputed by prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

“You fired four shots through the door whilst knowing that she was standing behind the door,” he said.

“She was locked into the bathroom and you armed yourself with the sole purpose of shooting and killing her.”

Oscar Pistorius replied: “That is not true.”

The athlete has previously said he and Reeva Steenkamp had spent a quiet evening together before he woke up on hearing a noise in the bathroom.

During the cross-examination, Oscar Pistorius broke down in tears on several occasions.

Gerrie Nel suggested that he was doing this on purpose when he was struggling to explain his actions.

Oscar Pistorius has now ended his testimony.

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Ukraine launches anti-terrorist operation against pro-Russian separatists

Roy Siemens
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Ukraine launches anti-terrorist operation against pro-Russian separatists

Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has announced the start of an “anti-terrorist operation” against pro-Russian separatists.

Oleksandr Turchynov told parliament it was being conducted “stage by stage, in a responsible… manner”.

Hours later, gunfire was heard at an airbase which officials said had been in the hands of militants.

Oleksandr Turchynov said the airbase at Kramatorsk had been “liberated” from “terrorists”.

Pro-Russian rebels have seized buildings in about 10 towns and cities across Ukraine’s eastern provinces, which form the heartland of Ukraine’s heavy industry.

Thousands of Russian troops are reported to be deployed along the border, kindling fears that any crackdown on the rebels could trigger an invasion.

Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has announced the start of an "anti-terrorist operation" against pro-Russian separatists
Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has announced the start of an “anti-terrorist operation” against pro-Russian separatists

Russia annexed the Ukrainian province of Crimea last month, after it broke away and held a controversial referendum on self-determination.

A crowd of some 200 people remained on Tuesday evening, chanting slogans in favor of a referendum on the region’s future.

A spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry expressed “deep concern” at reports of casualties in eastern Ukraine, but these could not be confirmed.

Oleksandr Turchynov said the aim of the operation in the east was to “protect Ukrainian citizens, to stop the terror, to stop the crime, to stop the attempts to tear our country apart”.

Protesters gathered outside parliament in Kiev to demand action against the separatists.

There were reports overnight of gun attacks on rebel checkpoints near the Donetsk town of Sloviansk, where pro-Russian militants seized a police station and a security services building at the weekend.

A police building in Kramatorsk was also seized but the militants there have reportedly now handed back control to the police.

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Nigeria: 100 schoolgirls abducted by gunmen in Chibok

Roy Siemens
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Nigeria: 100 schoolgirls abducted by gunmen in Chibok

Boko Haram gunmen abducted around 100 schoolgirls in an attack on a school in north-east Nigeria, officials say.

The attackers reportedly arrived at the school in Chibok, Borno state, late last night, and ordered the hostel’s teenage residents on to lorries.

The attackers are believed to be from the Islamist group, Boko Haram, whose militants frequently target schools.

On Monday, bombings blamed on the group killed more than 70 people in the capital, Abuja.

Boko Haram gunmen abducted around 100 schoolgirls in an attack on a school in north-east Nigeria
Boko Haram gunmen abducted around 100 schoolgirls in an attack on a school in north-east Nigeria

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language, has been waging an armed campaign for an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.

The exact number of missing students had yet to be established, as some of the girls had managed to return to their homes.

“Many girls were abducted by the rampaging gunmen who stormed the school in a convoy of vehicles,” AFP news agency quotes Emmanuel Sam, an education official in Chibok, as saying.

Another witness, who requested anonymity, told AFP that gunmen overpowered soldiers who had been deployed to provide extra security ahead of annual exams.

The schoolgirl said the men loaded the food items in the store into a truck and ordered some of the girls to climb in.

The other girls were packed into a bus and two other trucks, one carrying sacks of food and the other petrol.

The girl said the convoy had passed about three villages when the truck she was in developed a fault and was forced to slow down.

This gave her and about 10 to 15 other girls the opportunity to jump off and escape into the bush.

Nigerian media reported that two members of the security forces had been killed, and residents said 170 houses were burnt down during the attack.

Boko Haram emerged as a critic of Western-style education, and its militants frequently target schools and educational institutions.

This year, the group’s fighters have killed more than 1,500 civilians in three states in north-east Nigeria, which are currently under emergency rule.

The Nigerian government recently said that Boko Haram’s activities were confined to that part of the country.

Katherine Jackson to pay $800,000 to AEG Live

Lisa.Felice
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Katherine Jackson to pay $800,000 to AEG Live

Katherine Jackson has been ordered by a US court to pay AEG Live $800,000 or costs defending the failed negligence case she brought against the concert promoter.

AEG Live was cleared of liability over the 2009 death of Michael Jackson in a five-month trial last October.

The company had sought $1.2 million to cover costs, but Katherine Jackson’s lawyers claimed it was not justified.

Both parties agreed not to challenge the court’s decision, but may appeal.

Katherine Jackson has been ordered by a US court to pay AEG Live $800,000 or costs defending the failed negligence case she brought against the concert promoter
Katherine Jackson has been ordered by a US court to pay AEG Live $800,000 or costs defending the failed negligence case she brought against the concert promoter

The exact amount to be paid is expected to be finalized after AEG Live submits an amended list of its costs for items such as court filing fees and travel.

AEG Live’s lawyer Marvin Putnam said the court did the right thing “by ordering Katherine Jackson to pay nearly $1 millio spent in having to defend a matter that she should have never brought in the first place”.

Katherine Jackson’s lawyer Kevin Boyle said the costs would be borne by her and the singer’s three children, all of whom are supported by his estate.

Kevin Boyle added a decision on whether to appeal against the order would be made after AEG Live’s costs were finalized.

The Jackson family sued AEG Live in 2010 claiming it negligently hired and supervised cardiologist Conrad Murray, who gave Michael a lethal dose of the anaesthetic propofol as a sleep aid during his planned comeback tour.

However, a jury concluded the doctor was not unfit or incompetent to do his job and so AEG Live had not been negligent in hiring him.

Conrad Murray – who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering the drug – was released from jail last October.

Black Ink Crew: Dutchess Lattimore biography

Lisa.Felice
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Black Ink Crew: Dutchess Lattimore biography

Dutchess Lattimore is starring on the VH1’s reality docu-series Black Ink Crew.

Crystana “Dutchess” Lattimore is the new girl in the shop, a Southern Belle straight from a little town in North Carolina and right into the mayhem of Black Ink. She is from Lincolnton, North Carolina, graduated 11th in her class, and then went on to obtain a degree in Business Management.

Dutchess Lattimore is starring on the VH1’s reality docu-series Black Ink Crew
Dutchess Lattimore is starring on the VH1’s reality docu-series Black Ink Crew

At an early age Dutchess Lattimore showed exceptional talent in art which she developed over her early years. Always at the head of her class, she graduated cum laude from North Carolina A&T with a Bachelor Degree in Business Management, with a concentration in Visual Art. While studying in graduate school for her M.B.A. she discovered her passion for tattoo artistry and quickly became a respected and sought out tattoo artist in her area. Feeling ready to share her talent with a larger audience Dutchess Lattimore moved to New York City in 2010 where she immediately became a highly esteemed member of the ink community. Unexpectedly Dutchess Lattimore became a member of the Black Ink family and found herself involved with a career changing opportunity with VH1.

Currently Dutchess Lattimore is starring on VH1’s Black Ink Crew. During the second season of Black Ink, Dutchess Lattimore lost a great deal of respect from her fan base due to self centered, bullying behavior. The quality of her work was not even remotely matched the arrogance and over inflated ego that she exhibited.

Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin feud

Sonia Pantiss
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Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin feud

Last month, the White House held a Women of Soul concert as part of the In Performance at the White House series featuring Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Jill Scott, Janelle Monae and Ariana Grande.

Aretha Franklin avoided Patti LaBelle at the White House concert
Aretha Franklin avoided Patti LaBelle at the White House concert

Aretha Franklin entered the concert hall to a standing ovation. On her way to her seat, she passed Patti LaBelle. Patti LaBelle reached out her hand to the Queen of Soul and that hand was left high and dry. As Aretha Franklin hit Patti LaBelle with the side eye, she brushed past LaBelle and headed to her seat while still enjoying the adulation from the audience.

It’s been well known for quite some time that Aretha Franklin doesn’t care for Patti LaBelle – although no one’s really ever been able to figure out exactly why.

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How To Prepare Now For Your Retirement

Nancy Clayson
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How To Prepare Now For Your Retirement

It’s safe to assume everyone wants to have a comfortable and secure retirement someday. 

This dream is definitely one of the main motivations that we use to work hard and strive to stay healthy for as long as we can. As the global economic situation grows more challenging every day, people are working harder than ever just to get by.

old-couples-still-love-prepare-for-retirement

Retirement ages are getting pushed back in some countries – in Australia, this is currently a hot topic of debate, with reports it may rise to 67 – and as a result, workers are left with less time to enjoy their retirement. This is why it is extremely important to be prepared for anything that could happen – especially if you have a family that depends on your hard-earned income. In the event of an untimely death before retirement, the family does not need to suffer from any financial burden if there is an ample life insurance policy protecting them from that. If you don’t have a policy in place, Compare the Market as soon as possible.

Retirement and Insurance Go Hand in Hand

With the plethora of life insurance companies out there, it is prudent to make an Australian life insurance comparison among their terms in order to determine the one that suits your needs the most. The unexpected nature of life in general should make insurance policies a vital aspect of your overall financial plan. We can only do so much to prevent ourselves from falling prey to illness or untoward events, but the reality is that there is no guarantee that we will be able to elude them completely, and successfully. A substantial life insurance benefit payment reduces the chances that your family’s standard of living is not altered dramatically because of a sudden death.

When you decide to get life insurance as a supplementary retirement investment, there are numerous factors to consider. For starters, you have to choose between permanent and term policies – this decision will largely depend on your actual income and financial obligations. Life insurance companies offer policies that contain similar features, but with the help of insurance comparison services, you will be able to identify their subtle differences and choose the most appropriate one for you.

Reputation Is Key

You don’t want to risk your family’s welfare with a life insurance company that has a less-than-stellar reputation. The bigger and more reputable a company is, the higher the chances that it has sufficient funds available to provide your family’s needs. Business owners and high-income professionals are encouraged to purchase permanent life insurance as a means of increasing the size of their retirement package.

On the other hand, workers who receive average-sized incomes prefer to buy term life insurance, as it is the more affordable option. But since a permanent life insurance policy entails equity and builds over time, even regular professionals are being enticed to go for permanent insurance. There is a hybrid type insurance policy product being marketed today to people who have difficulty deciding between permanent and term insurance policies. Named Variable Universal Life Insurance, it enables the policy holder to select from a variety of separate accounts. Whether this is a policy worth buying, has been discussed by experts.

Life insurance can certainly ensure the financial stability of your family in the event of your timely demise. However, if you purchase it for retirement or other purposes, be prudent enough to inspect the policy to make sure that it indeed fills that role.

Silvio Berlusconi ordered to do community service for tax fraud conviction

Diane A. Wade
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Silvio Berlusconi ordered to do community service for tax fraud conviction

Italy’s ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi should serve a one-year sentence for tax fraud doing community service, a Milan court has ruled.

Silvio Berlusconi, 77, was convicted of tax fraud in connection with TV rights purchased by his firm Mediaset.

Silvio Berlusconi should serve a one-year sentence for tax fraud doing community service
Silvio Berlusconi should serve a one-year sentence for tax fraud doing community service

The alternative to community service had been house arrest. It is not yet clear what form his community service will take.

Silvio Berlusconi has been embroiled in a string of court cases.

The Milan court is expected to make a statement detailing its ruling later on Tuesday.

Oscar Pistorius trial: Paralympic champion heartbroken at seeing Reeva Steenkamp body

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius trial: Paralympic champion heartbroken at seeing Reeva Steenkamp body

Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial in Pretoria he was “heartbroken” when he saw the body of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

“I crouched down over her… and I checked to see if she was breathing or if she had a pulse,” the athlete said.

The prosecution has now finished five days of grueling cross-examination, which has seen the athlete break down on several occasions.

Oscar Pistorius, 27, denies murder, saying he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder.

The prosecution says Oscar Pistorius deliberately shot dead Reeva Steenkamp after the couple had had an argument and has suggested he is staging his emotional outbursts.

He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder.

Before his cross-examination ended, the court was shown a photograph of the toilet covered in blood where Reeva Steenkamp was shot in February 2013.

Oscar Pistorius said that after shooting through the toilet door at what he thought were intruders, he realized he may have mistakenly killed his girlfriend, a 29-year-old model and law graduate.

He said he tried to break down the door with his shoulder, before using a cricket bat, all the time screaming in panic.

Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial in Pretoria he was "heartbroken" when he saw the body of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius has told his murder trial in Pretoria he was “heartbroken” when he saw the body of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

But the double-amputee sprinter said he stopped screaming when he finally opened the door and saw the body.

When asked why, Oscar Pistorius replied, his voice trembling with emotion: “I was heartbroken… overcome with sadness.”

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the athlete had deliberately killed his girlfriend following an argument.

“You fired four shots through the door whilst knowing that she was standing behind the door. She was locked into the bathroom and you armed yourself with the sole purpose of shooting and killing her,” he said.

Oscar Pistorius replied: “That is not true.”

The athlete has previously said he and Reeva Steenkamp had spent a quiet evening together before he woke up on hearing a noise in the bathroom.

After the cross-examination ended, Oscar Pistorius’ defense lawyer Barry Roux asked a few further questions before presenting to the court the Valentine’s Day card which Reeva Steenkamp had written for the athlete.

On the card, she had written: “Roses are red, violets are blue, I think this is a good time to say, I love you.”

Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in the early hours of Valentine’s Day 2013.

Oscar Pistorius has now ended his testimony.

Prosecution witnesses have testified to hearing a woman scream, but the defense disputes their testimony.

Judge Thokozile Masipa temporarily halted proceedings on two occasions on Monday after Oscar Pistorius broke down sobbing.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said: “You’re getting emotional now because you’re getting frustrated because your version [of events] is improbable.”

Both prosecution and defense have asked Judge Thokozile Masipa to postpone the case until May 5, following Tuesday’s cross-examination.

Gerrie Nel said members of his team were engaged in “more pressing” cases, which needed their attention, as well as “personal arrangements”.

The defense said the case should still finish on May 16, as planned. The judge said she would deliver her judgement on this request on Wednesday.

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Libya: Jordanian Ambssador Fawaz Aitan kidnapped in Tripoli attack

Roy Siemens
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Libya: Jordanian Ambssador Fawaz Aitan kidnapped in Tripoli attack

Jordanian ambassador to Libya, Fawaz Aitan, has been kidnapped in the capital Tripoli, in an attack that left his driver wounded, officials say.

Gunmen travelling in two cars on Tuesday abducted Jordanian Ambassador Fawaz Aitan, the Libyan authorities said.

The Jordanian prime minister said that the envoy’s release was being negotiated.

Jordanian ambassador to Libya, Fawaz Aitan, has been kidnapped in the capital Tripoli, in an attack that left his driver wounded
Jordanian ambassador to Libya, Fawaz Aitan, has been kidnapped in the capital Tripoli, in an attack that left his driver wounded

Libya has been plagued by instability since armed groups toppled Col. Muammar Gaddafi from power in 2011.

“The Jordanian ambassador was kidnapped this morning. His convoy was attacked by a group of hooded men on board two civilian cars,” government spokesman Said Lassoued told AFP news agency.

On Sunday, Libya’s newly appointed PM Abdullah al-Thinni stepped down after what he described as a “cowardly attack” on him and his family by a militia.

Abdullah al-Thinni had been appointed as PM after his predecessor Ali Zeidan was sacked for failing to improve security.

Several kidnappings of officials in Libya in previous months have been blamed on militiamen.

They are often paid by the government, but their allegiance and who controls them remain in doubt.

MH370: Bluefin-21 drone’s first mission cut short

Diane A. Wade
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MH370: Bluefin-21 drone’s first mission cut short

Bluefin-21 robotic mini submarine deployed to search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane in the southern Indian Ocean has had its first mission cut short.

The drone was sent to search the sea floor for wreckage after signals believed to be consistent with “black box” flight recorders were detected.

The Bluefin-21 exceeded its operating limit of 15,000ft and was brought back to the surface.

It was due to return later on Tuesday if weather conditions permitted.

“To account for inconsistencies with the sea floor, the search profile is being adjusted to extend the sonar search for as long as possible,” an update from the US Navy – which operates the Bluefin-21 – said.

The Bluefin-21 exceeded its operating limit of 15,000ft and was brought back to the surface
The Bluefin-21 exceeded its operating limit of 15,000ft and was brought back to the surface

The US Navy said in a later update that no objects of interest were found when the six hours of data were downloaded and analyzed.

Flight MH370 went missing on March 8 with 239 people on board. It was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it lost contact with air traffic controllers over the South China Sea.

Malaysian officials believe, based on satellite data, that it ended its flight thousands of miles off course, in seas west of the Australian city of Perth.

Amid a major international search, an Australian navy vessel last week detected four acoustic signals using a US Navy towed pinger locator. Officials believe these could come from the missing plane’s flight recorders.

No signals have been detected since 8 April, however, leading to fears that the recorders’ batteries – which last about a month – have run out.

Bluefin-21 is an almost 5m-long vehicle that can create a sonar map of the sea floor. On Monday officials said each mission was expected to last 24 hours, with 16 hours spent on the ocean floor, four hours’ diving and resurfacing time, and four hours to download data.

The submersible has a safety feature that brings it to the surface if it exceeds its performance capabilities, however.

The sea where the Bluefin-21 is searching is estimated to be about 4,500m deep, but experts say there could be variations on the sea floor.

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Ukraine: Barack Obama calls Vladimir Putin to withdraw support for pro-Russian activists

Roy Siemens
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Ukraine: Barack Obama calls Vladimir Putin to withdraw support for pro-Russian activists

President Barack Obama has called President Vladimir Putin urging him to use his influence to make separatists in eastern Ukraine stand down.

The phone call between Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin came as pro-Russian activists continued to occupy buildings in eastern towns.

For his part, Vladimir Putin rejected accusations of Russian interference, calling the reports “unreliable”.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s acting President, Oleksandr Turchynov, has announced the start of an “anti-terrorist operation”.

He told parliament it had begun in the “north of Donetsk Region” on Tuesday morning and was being conducted “stage by stage, in a responsible and weighed manner”.

The extent of the operation was unclear but unconfirmed reports on Russian media, quoting separatists, speak of Ukrainian armor being on the move near the flashpoint towns of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

President Barack Obama has called President Vladimir Putin urging him to use his influence to make separatists in eastern Ukraine stand down
President Barack Obama has called President Vladimir Putin urging him to use his influence to make separatists in eastern Ukraine stand down

Tanks and armored personnel carriers could be seen parked 44 miles from Sloviansk on Monday.

EU foreign ministers say they will expand a list of names targeted by sanctions.

Tension has been steadily rising since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, formerly part of Ukraine, last month.

The move, condemned as illegal by Kiev and the West, followed the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February.

The White House said the “frank and direct” conversation between the two presidents was made at Russia’s request.

“The president expressed grave concern about Russian government support for the actions of armed, pro-Russian separatists who threaten to undermine and destabilize the government of Ukraine,” a White House statement said.

“The president emphasized that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged President Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized.”

The statement also threatened Moscow with wider sanctions, saying “the costs Russia already has incurred will increase if those actions persist”.

The Kremlin said in a statement that recent unrest in Ukraine’s south-east was “the result of the unwillingness and inability of the leadership in Kiev to take into account the interests of Russia and the Russian-speaking population”.

The statement said Vladimir Putin had urged Barack Obama to “use the resources at the disposal of the American side” to help prevent any bloodshed.

It dismissed claims that Russia was interfering in Ukraine, saying the accusations were based on “questionable information”.

Thousands of Russian troops are reported to be deployed along the border between Ukraine and Russia. Kiev fears any crackdown on pro-Russian groups could trigger an invasion.

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South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye apologizes for spy agency’s evidence fabrication

Diane A. Wade
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South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye apologizes for spy agency’s evidence fabrication

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has issued an apology to the nation after three officials of the country’s intelligence agency were charged with fabricating evidence in a spying case.

President Park Geun-hye said the case had exposed “wrong practices” within the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

NIS chief Nam Jae-joon promised a “bone-crushing overhaul” of the agency.

The NIS is accused of falsifying documents, including Chinese immigration records, to prosecute a North Korean defector.

President Park Geun-hye has issued an apology to the nation after three officials of the country’s intelligence agency were charged with fabricating evidence in a spying case
President Park Geun-hye has issued an apology to the nation after three officials of the country’s intelligence agency were charged with fabricating evidence in a spying case (photo AP)

On Monday one of the agency’s deputy heads, Suh Cheon-ho, resigned to take responsibility for the case. Three NIS officials are also facing charges in connection with the scandal.

It relates to the case of Yoo Woo-seong, a former Seoul government official who defected from North Korea in 2004.

He was charged with providing information to Pyongyang about more than 200 North Korean defectors, but subsequently acquitted.

When prosecutors appealed, they submitted Chinese immigration records on Yoo Woo-seong’s visits to the North – some of which were later found to have been forged.

“Regrettably, wrong practices of the NIS and holes in its management system have been revealed,” the South Korean president told her cabinet, according to Yonhap news agency.

“The NIS must make excruciating efforts to overhaul itself to make sure this kind of incident won’t repeat itself.”

The NIS has faced controversy in the past, including allegations that its agents took part in an online campaign to discredit the opposition candidate during the 2012 presidential election.

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Tyler “Flip” Priddy biography

Sonia Pantiss
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Tyler “Flip” Priddy biography

Tyler Gene Priddy was born November 30, 1981, in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

Tyler “Flip” Priddy was the son of Gene and Glenda (Long) Priddy. He died on May 28, 2013 at his home in Yukon, Oklahoma, at the age of 31.

He attended Hinton Elementary School and graduated from Putnam City High School in Warr Acres, Oklahoma. He worked for Warren Caterpillar for 10 years and was currently the parts warehouse manager.

Tyler Flip Priddy died on May 28, 2013, at his Yukon home at the age of 31
Tyler Flip Priddy died on May 28, 2013, at his Yukon home at the age of 31

Tyler Priddy enjoyed drag racing. Starting with a Mustang, then an El Camino, he eventually turned his passion towards a reality TV show called Street Outlaws, where he beat out several others to be selected for the show.

On Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws, Tyler’s nickname is Flip. Anything he could get on and go fast he would because Tyler was a “Gear Head”. He loved racing RC cars and Jeepin’ with his boys.

Tyler “Flip” Priddy loved his 4 boys and had nicknames for them all. They were his world. He was never seen without a Miller “High Life” or a “Monster” in his hand.

He was preceded in death by his Grandfather, Aubrey Priddy, and Aunt Mary Lou.

Tyler “Flip” Priddy is survived by his wife Morgan Amber Priddy of Yukon, his children Tovey Gene (Rito), Remey J (Flemerson), Dresdyn Rinot (Day Day) and Bennett William Edward (Baby B) all of Yukon, his parents Gene Priddy of Bethany, his mother Glenda Beckham, his Grandparents Letha and Calvin Brown of Hinton, and Jack and Lola Faye Long of Hinton, his brother Chris Priddy and wife Rebecca of Oklahoma City, and Ethan Priddy of Ada, aunts and uncles Taunna and Kerry Tapper, Gayla and Ricky Coats, Rick and Rhonda Long, Tim and Fay Priddy, and Shelly Lassiter plus many other relatives and numerous friends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Uc77nl7kME

Pulitzer Prize 2014: Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks coverage wins public service journalism award

Diane A. Wade
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Pulitzer Prize 2014: Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks coverage wins public service journalism award

Washington Post and The Guardian US have shared this year’s Pulitzer Prize for public service journalism for a series of stories on NSA electronic spying.

The publications’ reporting was based on documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Among other winners of the top prize in US journalism was the Boston Globe, for breaking news reporting.

Two staff writers of the Reuters news agency were awarded the prize for international reporting.

The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded by the Columbia University journalism school.

In giving the top prize to The Guardian and the Washington Post, the Pulitzer committee said the Guardian helped “through aggressive reporting to spark a debate about the relationship between the government and the public over issues of security and privacy”.

It said the Post’s stories were “marked by authoritative and insightful reports that helped the public understand how the disclosures fit into the larger framework of national security”.

Edward Snowden, in a statement published by The Guardian, called the award “a vindication for everyone who believes that the public has a role in government.

Edward Snowden's NSA leaks earned Pulitzer Prize for The Guardian and Washington Post
Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks earned Pulitzer Prize for The Guardian and Washington Post

“We owe it to the efforts of the brave reporters and their colleagues who kept working in the face of extraordinary intimidation,” added Edward Snowden, who has been charged with espionage in the US and is currently a fugitive in Russia.

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe provided “exhaustive and empathetic coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings and the ensuing manhunt that enveloped the city”, the committee wrote of the paper’s coverage of the April 15, 2013 attack.

Chris Hamby of the Center for Public Integrity was awarded a Pulitzer for his reporting on how lawyers and doctors conspired to deny benefits to coal miners stricken with black lung disease.

The top prize for US reporting was awarded to The Gazette in Colorado for its examination of mistreatment of wounded combat veterans, while the prize for international reporting went to Reuters for reports of persecution of a Muslim minority group in Burma, also known as Myanmar.

The editorial staff of the Oregonian in Portland won the prize for commentary for pieces explaining pension costs.

Tyler Hicks of the New York Times won for breaking news photography for images captured during a terrorist attack at Westgate Mall in Kenya. Also for the Times, Josh Haner won in the feature photography category for a “moving” essay on a Boston Marathon bomb blast victim who lost most of both legs.

Among other categories, Donna Tartt, author of The Goldfinch, was awarded the Pulitzer for fiction writing, while Don Fagin received the award for general nonfiction for his work, Tom’s River: A Story of Science and Salvation.

Members of this year’s selection committee included Katherine Boo, a staff writer for The New Yorker, and Eugene Robinson, a columnist for The Washington Post.

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Matisse cut-outs exhibition at Tate Modern

Sonia Pantiss
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Matisse cut-outs exhibition at Tate Modern

Tate Modern in London is presenting one of the largest collections of Henri Matisse’s “cut-out” artworks ever assembled.

Henri Matisse cut out paper shapes for collages when ill-health prevented him from painting, producing famous pieces such as The Snail and Blue Nude.

Tate Modern in London is presenting one of the largest collections of Henri Matisse's "cut-out" artworks ever assembled
Tate Modern in London is presenting one of the largest collections of Henri Matisse’s “cut-out” artworks ever assembled

Many of the items will be seen together for the first time in the exhibition, which opens on Thursday and features about 130 artworks from the latter stage of Henri Matisse’s career.

Henri Matisse worked from a wheelchair after treatment for cancer and the exhibition compiles work dating from 1937 to 1954, when he died aged 84 of a heart attack.

The exhibition will be at Tate Modern until September 7 before it travels to New York’s Museum of Modern Art in mid-October. It can also be seen by cinema-goers from June 3 with the launch of Matisse Live.

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