Adam Lanza, the young man who killed 27 people in a massacre at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, owned an arsenal of weapons and ammunition, court papers show.
Hundreds of rounds of ammunition and certificates from the National Rifle Association were among the items found in a search of Adam Lanza’s home.
Details of the searches were publicized after a court seal lapsed on Wednesday.
Adam Lanza, 20, first shot his mother, before killing 26 people at Sandy Hook elementary school in December 2012.
Adam Lanza, the young man who killed 27 people in a massacre at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, owned an arsenal of weapons and ammunition
The mass shooting – which ended when Adam Lanza shot himself – shocked the US and revived debate over how to curb gun violence.
In a statement accompanying the release of the search warrants, state prosecutor Stephen Sedensky said Adam Lanza had managed to shoot all his victims and kill himself within five minutes of making his way into the school.
The 20 children and six staff members were all killed with a Bushmaster .223-calibre rifle, and the gun Lanza turned on himself was a Glock 10mm handgun, Stephen Sedensky said.
Adam Lanza had another loaded handgun with him in the school and three 30-round magazines for the rifle.
One more weapon, a 12-gauge shotgun with 70 rounds, was also found in the car Adam Lanza drove to the school.
Although the description of the gunman in the search warrants suggests he was found wearing military-style clothing and a bullet-proof vest, prosecutors said on Wednesday that Adam Lanza was not wearing such a vest.
Meanwhile, in Adam Lanza’s home a bayonet, a gun safe in his bedroom and several swords were discovered by investigators, search warrants revealed.
The documents showed Adam’s mother, Nancy Lanza, had written a cheque for her son to buy a weapon and placed it in a holiday card.
Books about autism and Asberger’s syndrome, as well as a smashed computer hard drive and gaming console were among the other items they found.
Some details such as the name of a witness, telephone numbers and serial numbers were redacted from the cache of documents.
The papers were made public at the request of Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, who expressed concern about information that had been leaked to the press.
Amanda Bynes was spotted wandering aimlessly around New York City’s Times Square wearing a blue shirt over her head.
Amanda Bynes’ attempt to hide her identity seeming backfired, and instead attracted more attention.
Amanda Bynes was spotted wandering aimlessly around New York City’s Times Square wearing a blue shirt over her head
A source told Us Weekly the star was “pretending to be a ghost”, while a second onlooker said she was “walking into things because she couldn’t see”.
Amanda Bynes made a stop at McDonald’s during her outing, where an eyewitness tells the publication she ordered a coffee and a soft drink which she sipped at the same time.
The star sparked concern earlier this week after complaining about her current weight.
Amanda Bynes, 26, posted a picture of herself in a tight top and skirt on Twitter on Tuesday morning with the caption: “Looking pudgy and I broke my nail.”
Last month she revealed her plans to lose 21 pounds and drop down to 100 pounds by pounding the streets of New York.
Kourtney Kardashian is on the defensive over claims Scott Disick is not the biological father of their 3-year-old son Mason.
Kourtney Kardashian, 33, has been asked to allow Mason to undergo a paternity test.
The request was made by male model Michael Girgenti, who claims he and Kourtney Kardashian slept together nine months before Mason was born, In Touchmagazine has reported.
During that time in March 2009, Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, 30, were apparently on a break.
Male model Michael Girgenti claims he and Kourtney Kardashian slept together nine months before Mason was born
A legal representative for Kourtney Kardashian has branded Michael Girgenti’s allegations “preposterous and an outrageous lie”.
The legal rep insisted the reality star, who also shares daughter Penelope, 9 months, with Scott Disick, never gave Michael Girgenti her contact details after they briefly met at a photo shoot and never came into contact with him again.
Michael Girgenti, 26, told In Touch magazine: “After [Mason] was born, and I saw photos of him, I began to wonder. I would definitely want to acknowledge Mason if he’s my kid – he deserves to know his real father.”
This is not the first time the extremely wealthy Kardashian family has been confronted by allegations of paternity.
Kourtney Kardashian’s younger sister Khloe, 28, has had to regularly deny rumors that their late father Robert Kardashian was not her biological father.
Their half-sister Kylie Jenner, 15, also recently hit back at reports that her father Bruce Jenner may not be her real father.
Last month Kylie Jenner shared her disgust in relation to the rumors with her fans on Twitter, writing: “Yes, my father is my father and no my parents aren’t getting a divorce.
“You guys can’t believe any of these magazines. It’s all bulls**t.
“And even though I don’t let these stories get to my head. Imagine you at 15 & someone telling you your father isn’t your father.
“EWWWW people disgust me. You’re all pathetic.
“Wait. But you’re ACTUALLY pathetic. Going after a 15-year-old and telling her father isn’t her father. Like WHAT? Are you insane?
“This makes me so mad. And I’m not taking the time to write all this because this hurts me. I’m writing this for the other teens my age.”
The International Monetary Fund has said it continues to have “confidence” in its managing director Christine Lagarde despite a French inquiry into alleged abuses of power.
An IMF spokesman said the fund’s board backed Christine Lagarde.
The probe relates to Christine Lagarde time as French finance minister and her involvement in the payment of compensation to businessman Bernard Tapie.
Christine Lagarde, who took over as IMF chief in 2011, denies any wrongdoing.
Her Paris apartment was searched by police investigators last week.
The IMF continues to have confidence in its managing director Christine Lagarde despite a French inquiry into alleged abuses of power
“The executive board has been briefed on this matter, including recently, and continues to express its confidence in the managing director’s ability to effectively carry out her duties,” said IMF spokesman Gerry Rice at a press conference on Thursday.
Christine Lagarde was involved in a dispute between French businessman Bernard Tapie and the bank Credit Lyonnais in 2007.
She referred the case to an arbitration panel, after which Bernard Tapie switched his support to Nicholas Sarkozy, then leader of Christine Lagarde’s UMP party, in the presidential election campaign.
Bernard Tapie was later awarded 400 million euros in damages by that panel – a decision approved by Christine Lagarde.
Christine Lagarde has yet to be placed under formal investigation in the case and has denied any wrongdoing.
However, the case comes at a difficult time for the IMF.
Christine Lagarde replaced IMF disgraced former chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn less than two years ago.
The IMF is also deeply involved in managing the continuing eurozone crisis, including the bailout of Cyprus.
Soon after Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn made their romance official, rumor has it that before the champion skier chose the golf legend as her full-time beau she was dating Kris Humphries.
According to the latest issue of Us Weekly, Kris Humphries was a romantic contender until Tiger Woods came along.
Us Weekly reported that Tiger Woods was obviously not “Vonn’s only suitor”, and that “Bachelor No. 2 was none other than Kim Kardashian ex Kris Humphries”.
As the magazine suggests, Lindsey Vonn and Kris Humphries have quite a lot in common.
They are both from Minnesota and are both 28-year-old professional athletes, who are considered to be at the top of their respective sports.
Lindsey Vonn was allegedly dating Kris Humphries before romancing Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is a different story. When he started dating Lindsey Vonn several months ago the golger was climbing his way back from a two year losing streak after being the most dominant force the world of golf had ever known.
However, Tiger Woods regained his seat as the No 1 ranked golfer after winning his third PGA Tour event of 2013 last week.
Lindsey Vonn has reportedly been warned by her friends about the potential perils of becoming romantically involved with Tiger Woods, 37.
Once the most celebrated man in golf, Tiger Woods dropped to No 58 in the sport after his extra-marital affairs went public in 2009.
Tiger Woods coughed up $110 million in his divorce settlement to former wife Elin Nordegren and was publicly shamed for his infidelities.
Despite these setbacks Tiger Woods was slowly working his way back to a top ten position in the PGA tour until Lindsey Vonn came along.
Once the two started dating Tiger Woods skyrocketed back to his former status as the best in the sport.
While the two appear to be quite smitten with each other, fans of Lindsey Vonn are doubtful of the relationship’s shelf life.
Us Weekly reports that an angry Facebook fan recently messaged Lindsey saying: “He is probably cheating on you right now.”
Lindsey Vonn herself is no stranger to romantic disappointment.
She was married to fellow skier Thomas Vonn, but the two began divorce proceedings four years after tying the knot.
Despite these previous setbacks, it appears that Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods have high hopes for their future.
And the connection was said to have been recognized quite quickly by the two of them.
A source close to them told Us Weekly: “Tiger and Lindsey have a lot in common. They immediately clicked.”
Botnet miners, or cyber-thieves, are attempting to cash in on the rising value of the bitcoin virtual currency.
Bitcoins have almost tripled in value in a month. In late February one bitcoin was worth $33 but now each one sells for about $90.
Thieves who run networks of hijacked PCs are increasingly using these machines to create or “mine” the coins.
However, bitcoin miners say thieves will struggle to keep up, as coin-generating technology becomes more sophisticated.
Botnet miners, or cyber-thieves, are attempting to cash in on the rising value of the bitcoin virtual currency
As a virtual currency, bitcoins depend on a wide network of closely connected computers to log who holds the coins and where they are spent.
That network also shares information about who is “mining” the coins.
Mining involves solving a hard mathematical problem and miners typically use large numbers of computers to speed up the number crunching involved.
“Botnet mining is fundamentally theft of private property, illegal and unethical,” said Jeff Garzik, a bitcoin developer, adding that bitcoin miners had battled botnets for years, seeing them as a “cost and a burden” they just had to deal with.
Many cyber-thieves who control botnets, large networks of home PCs compromised with a virus, were using them as a dedicated mining pool in a bid to generate bitcoins for themselves, said Derek Manky, senior security strategist at Fortinet.
The operators of one of the biggest current botnets, known as ZeroAccess, had recently ramped up their efforts to use machines they control to mine bitcoins, he said, adding that millions of infected PCs were unwittingly enrolled in the criminal network.
“ZeroAccess has employed an affiliate model,” he said.
“They pay other people to install malware for them.”
The operators of ZeroAccess were making so much money that they were paying high prices for each infection. Current rates ran at about $100 for every 1,000 infections, said Derek Manky.
As well as mining bitcoins, PCs enrolled in ZeroAccess were also being used to poison search results – to cause users to unwittingly click on booby-trapped web pages – or fraudulently click on adverts to generate revenue.
“ZeroAccess has been extremely profitable,” said Derek Manky.
The wider bitcoin community was aware of the efforts botnet owners were making to produce their own cash, said Derek Manky.
“They try to detect and remove these transactions but it’s a bit of a cat and mouse game,” he said.
“The operators of ZeroAccess know about that and just change their tactics.”
However, said Jeff Garzik, criminal participation in bitcoin mining was likely to get much less profitable as professional miners turned away from using desktop PCs to generate the coins.
Increasingly, he said, professional miners were using custom-made chips, called Asics (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits), to mine because such processors worked faster.
“It is theorized that the current shift in bitcoin mining to <<Asic>> miners – the fastest and most advanced generation – will simply make it unprofitable for botnet miners,” said Jeff Garzik.
Vitalik Buterin, technical editor at Bitcoin Magazine, said the rise of Asic mining meant cyber-thieves would soon be pushed out.
Currently only about one-third of all professional miners were using Asics, but as that proportion grew, the number of bitcoins that could be generated with a botnet would shrink, said Vitalik Buterin.
“The fact that botnets are (somewhat) viable now is basically an aberration resulting from the massive price increase that has not yet been matched by increased mining activity,” he said.
 “Once Bitcoin stabilizes again the botnets will rapidly crawl back into the shadows.”
Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt has announced he will return to prison for his conviction over the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
Sanjay Dutt has been on bail since 2007 when he appealed against his original sentence of six years. Last week, the Supreme Court reduced his sentence to five years.
Sanjay Dutt told reporters that he would “abide by the court’s decision” and not seek a pardon.
The actor was convicted in 2006 of buying weapons from bombers who attacked Mumbai. He spent 20 months in jail.
Sanjay Dutt has said he will return to prison for his conviction over the 1993 Mumbai blasts
The serial bombings killed 257 people and wounded 713 others.
Sanjay Dutt broke down during an interaction with journalists on Thursday and hugged his sister Priya Dutt, who was sitting next to him.
“I am a shattered man. This is a very tough time in my and my family’s life. I have a few days left [before returning to prison],” Sanjay Dutt said.
“I have a lot of work [left to finish] and I want to finish it. I want to [also] stay all this time with my family. Please let me be in peace. I love my country.”
The judges have ordered Sanjay Dutt to surrender in four weeks.
Sanjay Dutt, one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, is hugely popular for his role of a loveable gangster in Munnabhai movies. He has also dabbled in politics.
In 2006, a special anti-terror court had convicted 100 people for the blasts. Twelve of the convicts were given the death penalty and 20 others were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Sanjay Dutt, the most high-profile among the convicts, was originally charged with five offences, including criminal conspiracy and possession of illegal weapons.
The trial court had found the Bollywood star guilty of illegally possessing a rifle and a pistol but cleared him of conspiracy.
The son of a Hindu father and a Muslim mother, Sanjay Dutt said the weapons were necessary in order to defend his family during the Hindu-Muslim rioting of 1993 which had followed the destruction by Hindu zealots of the Babri mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya.
Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, will be allowed to travel after winning the appeal against the terms of his bail.
His lawyers argued that the South African Olympic and Paralympics champion should be allowed to return to his home and to travel.
Oscar Pistorius, 26, also sought an end to supervision by a probation officer and compulsory drug and alcohol testing.
The athelete denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria last month.
Oscar Pistorius says he shot Reeva Steenkamp when he mistook her for an intruder.
Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, will be allowed to travel after winning the appeal against the terms of his bail
The state opposed the application, which was heard at the High Court in Pretoria.
Oscar Pistorius’s lawyer, Kenny Oldwage, said his client did not need to be in court for this hearing.
The bail conditions were imposed by Magistrate Desmond Nair on February 22 – including restrictions on the athlete travelling abroad.
Oscar Pistorius was ordered to hand over his two South African passports, avoid his home in Pretoria and all witnesses in the case, report to a police station twice a week and to abstain from drinking alcohol.
In the papers before the court on Thursday his lawyers argued that he should be allowed to travel if he is granted permission by the case investigation officer.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, the athlete’s brother, Carl Pistorius, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with the culpable homicide of a female motorcyclist in a 2008 road crash. Carl Pistorius pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court again next week.
Cricketer Jesse Ryder is in a medically induced coma after being attacked twice in quick succession as he left a Christchurch bar in New Zealand, according to police.
Jesse Ryder is believed to have suffered serious head injuries after the assaults and is now in intensive care.
Local media quoted doctors as saying that Jesse Ryder suffered a fractured skull and a collapsed lung.
The cricketer was in Christchurch playing for Wellington against Canterbury in the domestic one-day competition.
Jesse Ryder, 28, had been due to fly to Delhi to start his $300,000 contract in the Indian Premier League.
Cricketer Jesse Ryder is in a medically induced coma after being attacked twice in quick succession as he left a Christchurch bar in New Zealand
He has chosen not to play for New Zealand since the Napier ODI against South Africa in February 2012 after he was disciplined by team management for breaking team protocol by being out drinking while carrying an injury.
“It appears that Jesse has been the victim of a serious assault and suffered head injuries as a result,” Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer told a nationally televised news conference.
“Jesse was taken to hospital where he remains in intensive care in a critical condition in an induced coma after suffering multiple injuries.”
Brian Archer said that “two or three men” carried out the attacks on the cricketer – but he did not think that alcohol was a “contributing factor”.
A witness to the assaults told New Zealand’s One News that she could hear the impact of the blows from inside the bar.
“As soon as the fight started there were probably four or five guys that ran out to pull them off him and hold them back while he stumbled off over the road,” the witness said.
Brian Archer said Jesse Ryder was attacked again by one of the men after he moved across the road.
He said that no weapon was believed to have been used and that so far no motive had been established for the attack.
“At this stage we have not identified the people involved in the incident but are following positive lines of inquiry,” Brian Archer added.
“We are asking for witnesses to come forward and to speak to us about it.”
Jesse Ryder’s friends and domestic and international cricketers have been sending messages of support via social media.
The attack has been condemned by New Zealand’s PM John Key, who expressed his shock over the “sinister” incident.
Jesse Ryder:
Middle-order left-handed batsman for Tests and an opening ODI batsman
Has made 1,269 runs in 18 Tests at an average of 40.93 with a highest score of 201 and 1,100 runs in 39 ODIs
Has recently been in scintillating form for the Wellington Firebirds
Was disciplined in February 2012 by New Zealand team management for drinking while carrying an injury
Had to withdraw from the test series against England in 2008 after cutting his hand on a window at a Christchurch nightclub
Cyprus banks have reopened after a two-week closure sparked by the EU-IMF bailout negotiations, amid tension over possible large scale withdrawals.
Branches were replenished with cash overnight and police and private security guards deployed amid fears of a run on the banks by customers.
Banks customers face strict controls on the amount they can withdraw each day.
The restrictions on the free movement of capital represent a profound breach of an EU principle.
Cyprus banks have reopened after a two-week closure sparked by the EU-IMF bailout negotiations, amid tension over possible large scale withdrawals
However, the European Commission on Thursday justified the move, saying the “stability of financial markets and the banking system in Cyprus constitutes a matter of overriding public interest”.
Cyprus is the first eurozone member country to bring in capital controls.
Cyprus needs to raise 5.8 billion euros to qualify for a 10 billion-euro bailout from the EU, ECB and the IMF, the so-called troika.
As part of the bailout plan, depositors with more than 100,000 euros in Cypriot banks will see their savings taxed in exchange for bank shares.
An earlier plan to tax small depositors was vetoed by the Cypriot parliament last week.
Branches began to open at noon local time and will close at 18:00.
Some armed police have been deployed and hundreds of staff from the private security firm G4S are guarding bank branches and helping to transport money.
The stock exchange, shut since March 16, remains closed on Thursday and will not reopen until after Catholic Easter.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry of finance insisted the capital control measures were temporary and were needed to “safeguard the stability of the system”.
It read: “The Central Bank of Cyprus and the government of Cyprus will review them each day, with a view to progressive lifting of the measures as soon as circumstances allow.”
The severe new rules have been imposed to prevent a torrent of money leaving the island and credit institutions collapsing.
As well as the daily withdrawal limit, Cypriots may not cash cheques.
Payments and/or transfers outside Cyprus via debit and or credit cards are allowed up to 5,000 euros per person per month.
Transactions of 5,000-200,000 euros will be reviewed by a specially established committee, with applications for those over 200,000 euros needing individual approval.
Travellers leaving the country will only be allowed to take 1,000 euros with them.
On Wednesday night, hundreds of protesters rallied outside the presidential palace, chanting: “I’ll pay nothing; I owe nothing,” the Reuters news agency reported.
Many economists predict the controls could be in place for months.
The unprecedented restrictions represent a profound breach of an important principle of the EU that capital, as well as people and trade, should able be to move freely across internal borders.
However, the European Commission said member states could introduce capital controls “in certain circumstances and under strict conditions on grounds of public policy or public security”.
But it added that “the free movement of capital should be reinstated as soon as possible”.
An inquest into Boris Berezovsky’s death has heard he was found lying on his bathroom floor with a “ligature around his neck”.
Boris Berezovsky, 67, was discovered at his Berkshire home in UK on Saturday.
A post-mortem examination found Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky’s death was consistent with hanging, but further tests are being carried out and are likely to take several weeks.
The inquest, which has been adjourned, comes after relatives of his second wife described him as “extraordinary”.
Speaking at the opening of the inquest at Windsor Coroner’s Court, Detective Inspector Mark Bissell, of Thames Valley Police, said Boris Berezovsky was found lying on his bathroom floor with a “ligature around his neck and a piece of similar material on the shower rail above him”.
A post-mortem examination found Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky’s death was consistent with hanging, but further tests are being carried out and are likely to take several weeks
The inquest was opened and adjourned by Berkshire Coroner Peter Bedford.
Janine Prunty, the coroner’s officer, confirmed Boris Berezovsky’s daughter, Elizaveta Berezovskaya, formally identified the body.
And police confirmed the ambulance crew found Boris Berezovsky’s body on the floor at his home in Ascot, Berkshire.
The police search of the Russian oligarch’s house will continue for a few days more and other tests are under way.
Following her father’s death, Anastasia Berezovskaya, 19, said: “My father was not the typical parent, nothing about him was ordinary… he has taught me many things about this world.
“He has taught me to never stop fighting for what one believes in no matter what the costs may be.”
Anastasia and her brother Artem are Boris Berezovsky’s children with his second wife Galina Besharova.
His daughter added: “There aren’t enough words in any language that can somehow express everything that he was and everything he will continue to be. The only word that comes close is extraordinary.”
Early reports suggested Boris Berezovsky’s body was found by an employee, who called an ambulance at 15:18 GMT on Saturday. He had not been seen since around 22:30 GMT the previous evening.
Police have said the post-mortem examination found nothing to indicate a violent struggle.
They had earlier said there was no evidence so far that a “third party” was involved.
It will be several weeks before the results of further tests, including toxicology and histology examinations, are known.
Some friends of Boris Berezovsky had said he was depressed after the failure of his legal battle in London with fellow Russian oligarch and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich.
But others have insisted he was not a man who would have taken his own life.
Boris Berezovsky, an outspoken critic of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, amassed a fortune in the 1990s following the privatization of state assets after the collapse of Soviet communism.
He survived numerous assassination attempts, including a bomb that decapitated his chauffeur.
Boris Berezovsky had been living in the UK since 2000. He was granted political asylum in 2003 on the grounds that his life would be in danger in Russia.
Scientists in UK have developed a new method to create an entirely synthetic vaccine which doesn’t rely on using live infectious virus, meaning it is much safer.
The prototype vaccine they have created, for the animal disease foot-and-mouth, has been engineered to make it more stable.
That means it can be kept out of the fridge for many hours before returning to the cold chain – overcoming one of the major hurdles in administering vaccines in the developing world.
The research, published in the journal PLOS pathogens, was collaboration between scientists at Oxford and Reading Universities, the Pirbright Institute, and the UK’s national synchrotron facility, the Diamond Light Source near Oxford.
Scientists in UK have developed a new method to create an entirely synthetic vaccine which doesn’t rely on using live infectious virus, meaning it is much safer
Diamond is a particle accelerator which sends electrons round a giant magnetic ring at near light speeds.
The electrons emit energy in the form of intense X-rays which are channeled along “beamlines” – into laboratories where they are used to analyze structures in extraordinary detail.
Synchrotrons have been used before to analyze viruses at the atomic level, but the technology has advanced considerably to enable scientists to create a stable synthetic vaccine.
“What we have achieved here is close to the holy grail of foot-and-mouth vaccines.
“Unlike traditional vaccines, there is no chance that the empty shell vaccine could revert to an infectious form,” said Dave Stuart, Life Sciences Director at Diamond, and MRC Professor of Structural Biology at the University of Oxford.
“This work will have a broad and enduring impact on vaccine development, and the technology should be transferable to other viruses from the same family, such as poliovirus and hand-foot-and-mouth disease, a human virus which is currently endemic in South-East Asia.”
These human disease threats, like foot-and-mouth, are all picornaviruses.
Viruses are inherently unstable and fragile, but picornaviruses can be studied using X-ray crystallography.
This enables the protein shell of the virus to be analyzed at the atomic level – something a billion times smaller than a pinhead.
As with any vaccine, the aim is to prompt the immune system to recognize this outer shell and destroy the pathogen before it has time to lock onto cells and infect them with its genetic material.
In this research the scientists created a synthetic viral shell, but lacking its pathogenic RNA interior – the genetic material the virus uses to replicate itself.
Crucially they were able to reinforce the structure of the viral shell to make it stronger, to improve the stability of the vaccine.
Pre-clinical trials have shown it to be stable at temperatures up to 56 C for at least two hours. Foot-and-mouth is endemic in central Africa, parts of the Middle East and Asia, so this would be a significant improvement over existing vaccines.
With current foot-and-mouth vaccines it is difficult to distinguish between immunized livestock and those which have been infected.
That proved to be a major hurdle in controlling the foot-and-mouth outbreak in the UK in 2001 because it would have prevented the export of livestock.
The synthetic vaccine should allow scientists to show the absence of infection in vaccinated animals.
“The foot-and-mouth-disease virus epidemic in the UK in 2001 was disastrous and cost the economy billions of pounds in control measures and compensation,” explained Dr. Bryan Charleston, Head of Livestock Viral Diseases Programme at the Pirbright Institute.
“This important work has been a direct result of the additional funding that was provided as a result of the 2001 outbreak to research this highly contagious disease.”
The potential hazards of working with viruses was underlined in 2007 when the Pirbright laboratory site was identified as the source of a leak which led to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
Polio, another picornavirus, which exclusively affects humans, has been eliminated from nearly every country in the world, although it stubbornly persists in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The need for secure vaccine production will become even more vital should polio be wiped out.
“Current polio vaccines, which use live virus for their production, pose a potential threat to the long-term success of eradication if they were to re-establish themselves in the population.
“Non-infectious vaccines would clearly provide a safeguard against this risk”, said Dr. Andrew Macadam, a virologist specializing in polio at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control in Hertfordshire.
“This technology has great potential in terms of cost and biosafety.
“Any design strategy that minimizes the chances of accidental virus release would not only make the world a safer place but would lower the bio-containment barriers to production allowing vaccines to be made more cheaply all over the world.”
Nelson Mandela has been re-admitted to hospital in South Africa with a recurrence of a lung infection.
A statement from the South African presidency said former President Nelson Mandela, 94, had been admitted just before midnight.
Nelson Mandela spent 18 days in hospital in December undergoing treatment for a lung infection and gallstones.
He is widely regarded as the father of the nation for leading the struggle against apartheid.
Nelson Mandela has been re-admitted to hospital in South Africa with a recurrence of a lung infection
Nelson Mandela served as South Africa’s first black president from 1994 to 1999. However, his health has caused concern for some time.
A presidential spokesman said Nelson Mandela was conscious and was receiving the best possible medical treatment.
“I think we need to be clear that the doctors are attending to Madiba [Mr Mandela] on a continuous basis,” spokesman Mac Maharaj said.
“They prefer to act on the side of caution, and the moment they felt there was a recurrence of the lung infection, they felt that it warranted immediate hospitalization given his age and given his history.”
The government statement said President Jacob Zuma wished Nelson Mandela a speedy recovery.
“We appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts. We have full confidence in the medical team and know that they will do everything possible to ensure recovery,” President Jacob Zuma said.
The former president is often fondly referred to by his clan name, Madiba.
It is the fourth time Nelson Mandela has been admitted to hospital in just over two years.
He first contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while detained on the windswept Robben Island where he served 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned for sabotage.
His lungs are said to have been damaged when he worked in a prison quarry.
Despite his long imprisonment, Nelson Mandela forgave his former enemies and as president urged South Africans of all races to work together and seek reconciliation.
In 1993 Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
The treatment Nelson Mandela received in December 2012 was his longest spell in hospital since leaving prison in 1990.
Earlier this month he spent a night in hospital following a check-up.
Nelson Mandela retired from public life in 2004 and has been rarely seen in public since.
Nelson Mandela lives in Qunu, a small rural village in Eastern Cape province, where he says he spent the happiest days of his childhood.
Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, are due to challenge his bail conditions at a court hearing.
They will argue that the South African Olympic and Paralympics star should be allowed to return to his home, and to travel.
Oscar Pistorius, 26, also wants an end to supervision by a probation officer and compulsory drug and alcohol testing.
The athlete denies murdering Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria last month.
Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, are due to challenge his bail conditions at a court hearing
Oscar Pistorius says he shot Reeva Steenkamp when he mistook her for an intruder.
Prosecutors said the state would oppose the application, which is being heard at the High Court in Pretoria.
Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer, Kenny Oldwage, said his client did not need to be in court for this hearing.
The athlete’s legal team will appeal against some of the bail conditions imposed by Magistrate Desmond Nair on February 22 that include restrictions on him travelling abroad.
Oscar Pistorius was ordered to hand over his two South African passports, avoid his home in Pretoria and all witnesses in the case, report to a police station twice a week and to abstain from drinking alcohol.
In the papers before the court on Thursday Oscar Pistorius’ lawyers argue that he should be allowed to travel if he is granted permission by the case investigation officer.
In an unrelated case, the athlete’s brother, Carl Pistorius, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with the culpable homicide of a female motorcyclist in a 2008 road crash. Carl Pistorius pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court again next week.
Kaesong Industrial Complex at the North-South Korea border is still operating despite Pyongyang cutting a military hotline with South Korea on Wednesday.
The hotline had been used mainly to facilitate cross-border travel at the Kaesong Industrial Complex for South Korean workers.
It was the last direct official link between the two nations.
Pyongyang has been angered by US-South Korea military drills, and the fresh UN sanctions that followed its third nuclear test in February.
Kaesong Industrial Complex at the North-South Korea border is still operating despite Pyongyang cutting a military hotline with South Korea
In recent weeks North Korea has made multiple threats against both the US and South Korea, including warning of a “pre-emptive nuclear strike” on the US and the scrapping of the Korean War armistice.
North Korea is not thought to have the technology to strike the US mainland with either a nuclear weapon or a ballistic missile, but it is capable of targeting some US military bases in Asia with its mid-range missiles.
More than 160 South Korean commuters went through border control on Thursday morning to start work at the complex, after being approved for entry by North Korea, officials said.
North Korean authorities had used a civilian phone line to arrange the crossing, they added.
Over 500 South Koreans are scheduled to cross the border in Kaesong in Thursday.
“We say that Kaesong industrial complex will go on running, even if the war breaks out. I don’t feel so nervous,” Jang Seon-woo, a South Korean worker, told AP news agency.
The joint project in Kesong, which was established as a sign of North-South co-operation, is a source of badly-needed hard currency for the North.
Around 120 South Korean firms operate at Kaesong industrial park, employing an estimated 50,000 North Korean workers.
There have been disputes and the North Koreans have, on occasion, blocked access across the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas, who remain technically at war.
North Korea has already cut both a Red Cross hotline and another line used to communicate with the UN Command at Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone.
An inter-Korean air-traffic hotline still exists between the two sides, according to reports.
Meanwhile, in a phone call on Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan-Jin that the US would provide “unwavering” support to South Korea.
Chuck Hagel also told his South Korean counterpart that the US-South Korea alliance was “instrumental in maintaining stability on the Korean peninsula,” Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.
On Tuesday, North Korea said it had ordered artillery and rocket units into “combat posture” to prepare to target US bases in Hawaii, Guam and the US mainland.
In a statement on Wednesday, North Korea’s official news agency KCNA also said that North Korea’s air force was ready to “wipe out” US military bases in Guam.
However, Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo described an attack as “unlikely” and urged residents not to let the threats “distract from [their] day-to-day lives”.
Justin Bieber allegedly threatened to kill and spat in his neighbor’s face during an altercation on Tuesday.
Justin Bieber, 19, is said to have become aggressive when he was asked to tone down his erratic driving because it was disturbing residents in the area.
According to TMZ, the singer’s neighbor – who is a 47-year-old successful businessman and father-of-three – filed a complaint to the local Sheriff’s deputies about Justin Bieber’s unacceptable behavior.
Justin Bieber allegedly threatened to kill and spat in his neighbor’s face during an altercation on Tuesday
TMZ also reports that the Calabasas, California resident told Justin Bieber: “You can’t drive like this!” leading to the teenage star responding with foul language.
Apparently Justin Bieber said: “Get the f**k out of here. I’m gonna f**king kill you,” at the same time projecting saliva onto his face.
The alleged confrontation took place after Justin Bieber’s Ferrari had arrived at his home on a flatbed truck at around 8 a.m. in the gated community.
The neighbor claims Justin Bieber was whizzing around at about 100 mph while other dwellers also support that his speed was excessive.
While sources connected to the singer’s security team claim there was no physical contact between the star and the victim, the neighbor has filed a battery report and apparently wants the teenager prosecuted without backing down.
The Los Angeles County Sheriffs visited Justin Bieber’s mansion to investigate the complaint.
The argument was described as “intense”, and started as the neighbor allegedly complained that while Justin Bieber was away touring Europe there were people at the house having loud parties.
TMZ reported: “The neighbor was furious about the noise.”
Justin Bieber has been known for his generosity towards his entourage, often lending friends his expensive cars.
Sources connected with his security have claimed it was the neighbor who was the aggressor as he “came on to Justin’s property and began screaming”.
“Our sources tell us Justin told the man to get off his property but they insist Justin did not have any physical contact with the man,”TMZ reports.
“The singer went inside his house and security escorted the neighbour off the property.”
However, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s spokesperson Steve Whitmore said the claim was being taken seriously.
Justin Bieber only left Poland on Monday and was seen walking shirtless through security.
This latest alleged assault reportedly occurred on the grounds of his sprawling $6.5 million mansion which is part of one of America’s most exclusive gated communities The Estates of the Oaks.
Cyprus banks are to reopen on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. local time, two weeks after they closed to prevent a bank run as a controversial bailout was negotiated.
Banks will open their doors between 12:00 and 18:00 local time, the Cypriot central bank said.
Customers will also be limited to withdrawing 300 euros ($383) a day, to prevent everyone fleeing with their savings.
“I am telling you that all banks are definitely going to open tomorrow,” the Cypriot central bank’s Aliki Stylianou said, which comes after several false announcements of when bank customers will be able to access their funds.
Capital controls are to be imposed as Cyprus seeks to raise 5.8 billion euros to qualify for a 10 billion-euro bailout from the EU, ECB and the IMF, the so-called troika.
Cyprus banks are to reopen on Thursday at noon, two weeks after they closed to prevent a bank run as a controversial bailout was negotiated
Cyprus Finance Minister Michalis Sarris announced a long-awaited series of capital controls, including the 300-euro daily withdrawal, and no cheques can be cashed.
Michalis Sarris cited the “lack of substantial liquidity and significant risk of deposits outflow, with possible outcome the collapse of the credit institutions” as the reasons for the restrictions.
Depositors in Cypriot banks with more than 100,000 euros could see 40% of their funds converted into bank shares, while those with less than 100,000 euros will not lose any funds – but face limits on what funds they can access.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Michalis Sarris said that the controls would be reviewed after seven days, and that some banks could be exempted altogether.
Other controls will prohibit people from taking more than 1,000 euros in cash outside the island, with customs officers authorized to make checks at border crossings.
Money transfers outside Cyprus are prohibited, with a few very specific exceptions, and there is a limit of 5,000 euros a month in credit or debit card purchases while abroad.
The new measures mean that Cyprus is the first eurozone nation to impose capital controls – the absence of which is a fundamental reason behind the monetary union of the 17 members of the euro bloc – since the debt crisis began.
Concern about the ongoing situation in Cyprus has continued to weigh on the Athens stock market, with Greek shares ending down 4% on Wednesday.
Bank of Cyprus chief executive Yiannis Kypri confirmed he had been removed as head of the bank, which is the country’s largest commercial lender.
Reuters reported that Yiannis Kypri had issued a statement about his removal, which said: “The reason I was given was that, based on the resolution decree recently passed by parliament, and upon demands of the troika, an administrator had been appointed at the Bank.
“Until now I have not received a formal letter from the governor of the Central Bank on the matter.”
A European Commission spokesman denied that the troika had demanded Yiannis Kypri’s removal.
“These reports are not correct and decisions like this would in any case be the responsibility of the Bank of Cyprus,” he said.
An administrator has been appointed to Bank of Cyprus to restructure the bank. It is being merged with the “good” parts of the failed Laiki Bank, which will be closed down.
Bank of Cyprus chairman Andreas Artemis handed in his resignation on Tuesday, along with four other directors, but the bank’s board rejected the resignations.
Now Panicos Demetriades, the central bank governor, has sacked the entire board, according to the Cyprus News Agency.
Panicos Demetriades was widely criticized on Tuesday for suggesting that Bank of Cyprus was going to be wound up in the same way as is planned for Laiki Bank.
His comments led to demonstrations, calls for his resignation from Bank of Cyprus staff, and a hastily-drafted denial from Finance Minister Michalis Sarris.
Panicos Demetriades said “superhuman” efforts were being made to get the banks ready for reopening on Thursday.
“Indications are that banks will open tomorrow with some restrictions on capital,” said central bank spokeswoman Aliki Sylianou, speaking to the country’s state broadcaster on Wednesday.
The banks have been shut since March 15 while the controversial 10 billion-euro bailout was being negotiated.
The Rolling Stones are to play as one of the three headline acts for the Glastonbury Festival 2013, taking place on the final weekend of June (28-30).
It will be the first time the Rolling Stones have played at the festival at Worthy Farm, Somerset, which will draw about 135,000 people.
The other headline acts at the festival are Mumford and Sons and the Arctic Monkeys.
The Rolling Stones will be performing on the Saturday night – the penultimate night.
Mick Jagger tweeted: “Can’t wait to play Glastonbury. I have my wellies and my yurt!”
The Rolling Stones are to play as one of the three headline acts for the Glastonbury Festival 2013, taking place on the final weekend of June
Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts was not held last year because of the Olympics and to allow the farmland to recover from the previous festival.
Surprises among the 190 acts include country star Kenny Rogers, who is among the figures playing the main Pyramid Stage.
Also appearing on the Pyramid will be Rita Ora, Jake Bugg, Rufus Wainwright and festival veteran Billy Bragg.
Names on the Other Stage include Portishead – almost 20 years after they released their debut album Dummy – along with Smashing Pumpkins, Mercury Prize-winners Alt-J and John Lydon’s band PiL. The XX, The Lumineers, Alabama Shakes and Foals are included on the bill.
Elsewhere on the huge site in Somerset will be performances by 1970s disco pioneers Chic, Tom Tom Club, rap stalwarts Public Enemy, Dinosaur Jr., The Horrors and Johnny Marr.
Glastonbury 2013 is already a sell-out but there will be some resales next month.
Kim Kardashian insisted she is not ashamed of her pregnancy curves and she certainly made her point by wearing a figure-hugging grey dress which clung to every curve as she emerged from the Trump Hotel in SoHo, New York.
Kim Kardashian, 32, posted a message on her blog explaining she is not trying to “hide” her changing figure with clever styling, as some of her naysayers have suggested.
The grey ensemble, complete with zip detailing, was adored with jewels across the sleeve and front, giving pregnant Kim Kardashian a few more extra pounds to carry around.
The reality star topped off her look with silver stilettos, perfectly set make-up and didn’t have a hair out of place as she headed to a luncheon, held in her honor and hosted by DuJour magazine, at The Darby restaurant.
Kim Kardashian insisted she is not ashamed of her pregnancy curves
On Tuesday Kim Kardashian took to her blog following a hectic day of TV interviews, where she told her fans that she is by no means attempting to disguise her changing shape.
After earlier admitting to having put on 20lb so far during her pregnancy, Kim Kardashian posted: “I see comments from many people that I only wear black and I’m trying to hide my pregnancy or I’m ashamed, which is so beyond ridiculous!”
The reality star, who is due to give birth in July with Kanye West’s child, went on: “I’ve always worn black and I love it. So simple & chic!
“But I do wear white and color all the time as well. Fashion is fun and I love experimenting even when I’m pregnant.”
During an interview on Live! With Kelly and Michael, Kim Kardashian denied rumors she had put on 60 lbs, but admitted she probably will in time.
She said: “I’ve gained 20lbs. At this stage Kourtney had gained 30. I probably will gain those 60 pounds, just give me a couple more months.”
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams was blindsided when her husband, NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart, filed for divorce this week without her knowledge.
Porsha Williams, 31, released a statement via her spokesperson on Monday saying she was “disappointed about her husband’s recent filing for divorce” after reading the news on a website.
Her rep said the reality star was committed to the marriage and that former Pittsburgh Steelers star Kordell Stewart had promised to work on the relationship with his wife.
But instead, Porsha Williams claims Kordell Stewart blindsided her, filing for divorce without informing her of his plans to do so.
“[Kordell Stewart] misled her and she found out about the filing in the media,” said Porsha Williams’ rep.
Porsha Williams discovered Kordell Stewart filed for divorce after reading the news on a website
“Mrs. Stewart hopes to resolve these personal issues privately with the support of her family, friends and strong faith,” added the rep.
Kordell Stewart, 40, lodged legal papers at Fulton County Superior Court in Georgia on March 22, TMZ reports.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Kordell Stewart, who went by the nickname Slash during his days on the field, and Porsha Williams have no children together, although he does have a child from a previous relationship.
The news comes amid on-going speculation about Kordell Stewart’s sexuality.
Porsha Williams and Kordell Stewart married on May 21, 2011. Early in 2012 Porsha Williams suffered a miscarriage due to uterine fibroids.
In the divorce documents, Kordell Stewart says the marriage is “irretrievably broken” and that they separated, according to TMZ.
The NFL star also says there are no marital assets to be divided, suggesting a prenuptial was signed, writing: “[She’s] an able-bodied person, earning income and is capable of supporting herself.”
Kordell Stewart, who is now a radio sports talkshow co-host with Atlanta’s WZGC 92.9 The Game, has a son Syre from a previous relationship with Tania Richardson.
Jade Jagger stepped out in an unflattering tulip style dress as she attended the unveiling of Range Rover Sport in New York on Tuesday, just weeks after she made the same faux pas in a different version of the same style dress.
Despite raising eyebrows in a silver version of the dress during Paris Fashion Week earlier in the month, Jade Jagger, 41, has clearly decided it’s a good look for her.
Swamping her frame, Mick Jagger’s daughter slipped into the gown which was this time gold, looking like she had wrapped herself in far too much fabric.
In an attempt to rescue her shape, Jade Jagger wore a brown belt around her waist however it just wasn’t enough to save the billowing gown from being too much.
She also wore a gold statement necklace and a number of gold rings.
Jade Jagger stepped out in an unflattering tulip style dress as she attended the unveiling of Range Rover Sport in New York
To finish off her look Jade Jagger wore the same shimmery silver shoes she had on when she dressed in the same gown in silver.
It seems Jade Jagger may be trying to drum up a bit of attention around herself as she is reportedly gearing up to make a jewellery comeback, seven years after being dropped as creative director for jewellers Garrard.
Jade Jagger is to set to launch a jewellery collection at department store Fortnum & Mason with another ex-Garrard employee, Stephen Webster, who was at Buckingham Palace recently to collect his MBE.
The new Range Rover Sport – the sportier “baby brother” of the bigger Range Rover – goes on sale in September priced from $83,358. It will ultimately be introduced in 169 markets worldwide.
Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green made their first public outing as an engaged couple on Tuesday evening in London.
Millie Mackintosh, 23, and rapper Professor Green, 29, attended Esquire’s Big Black Book launch party at restaurant Sushi Samba in The Heron Tower.
On Monday evening the reality TV star tweeted a snap of her dazzling engagement ring by Frost of London.
Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green have been dating for over a year before their engagement
Designed by Professor Green himself the ring is made up of a large rock set on fashionable double bands encrusted with diamonds.
The bespoke ring was made to the rapper’s specification and comes in at just under 3 carats.
“He’s picked the perfect ring, it’s really classy and just me,” Millie Mackintosh said.
When asked when the wedding would take place, Millie Mackintosh said: “I’m not putting any pressure on it. I’m not thinking about that right now, I’m just going to enjoy being engaged.”
Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green have been dating for over a year, after the rapper – real name Stephen Manderson – became enamored by the reality star when he saw her cover shoot for FHM two years ago.
The word “ungoogleable” has been removed from a list of new Swedish words after a trademark spat with Google.
The idea that something can’t be found online is strange enough to have spawned its own adjective.
The word “ungoogleable” is in the headlines after a dispute between Google and Sweden’s language watchdog.
The Language Council of Sweden wanted to include “ungoogleable” (Swedish “ogooglebar”) in its annual list of new Swedish words. But it defined the term as something that cannot be found with any search engine.
The word “ungoogleable” has been removed from a list of new Swedish words after a trademark spat with Google
The search engine giant wanted the Swedish translation to be changed to refer only to Google searches, and the Council opted to remove the word altogether to avoid a lengthy legal battle.
The spat raises the question of just what “ungoogleable” means. Or more specifically, are some things still impossible to find with a search engine? And if so, is it a deliberate strategy?
To be ungoogleable might be a blessing or a curse.
A firm that chooses to call itself 367 may be shooting itself in the foot – people searching online will probably encounter a lot of bus routes before they get to the company.
It’s a similar story for an academic with a common name trying to promote research. Being called Mark Smith, for instance, might bring up thousands of other Mark Smiths online.
But others may actively seek to be ungoogleable.
The internet, unlike humans, has an almost flawless memory. That is why it’s so useful. But it can also be embarrassing.
Ungoogleability increasingly means privacy, says Cameron Hulett, executive director of digital marketing company Undertone.
“There are firms managing people’s online reputations. Ungoogleable is the extreme form – you are not just managing it you are removing it altogether,” he says.
Then there are online networks that act like auction sites for people trading in drugs, erotica and other forbidden items.
Websites such as these use software to create anonymous networks. And with questionable sites that are accessible, a search engine might decide to withhold access to users.
But the desire to be ungoogleable goes far wider than that. Professor Ralph Schroeder, from the Oxford Internet Institute, points to democracy activists in China who may need to operate an anonymous website to escape a crackdown on their activities.
Trying to outwit Google’s search capability has been popular for a while. A Googlewhack is two words that elicit only one result. The comedian Dave Gorman wrote a book about it after noticing that a phrase on his website Francophile namesakes only delivered one result.
Nowadays most people using Google will respond to the promptings of Google Autocomplete. So stumbling upon a Googlewhack is less likely.
Paywalls are another factor. Used by academic journals and newspapers such as The Times and Financial Times they restrict what users can easily find via Google.
For some, being ungoogleable is about being unknowable. It’s about preserving one’s mystique.
Irene Serra chose the name -isq for her band deliberately to make it hard to find online.
As it contains a hyphen, it cannot deliver an easy result. The band has a website but they don’t want it to be too easy to find.
“We didn’t want to give everything away straightaway,” says Irene Serra.
“If you want to hear about us you’ll need to try just a little bit harder. And then when you do actually find us online we have lots in place.”
It also allows them to easily keep control of all the domain names.
Seb Mower, a search engine optimization consultant, says that even supposedly ungoogleable things can usually be found. Most people google in haste. But a bit of thinking can often turn up the correct result.
For instance, the band -isq will appear third in the list on Google if speechmarks are put around the search term.
Where Google really struggles, he says, is to show pictures of text.
“If you wanted all the back issues of the Times, none of that information would be indexable.”
For some, it seems, being ungoogleable is an unfortunate state of affairs.
For others, the ignorance of Google’s algorithms is bliss.
