Vietnam has accused a Chinese vessel of firing on one of its fishing boats in disputed waters in the South China Sea, setting it alight.
Vietnamese foreign ministry said the “very serious incident” took place on March 20 near the Paracel islands.
Its statement did not specify what kind of Chinese vessel was involved.
Vietnam and China both claim the Paracel islands, which have been controlled by China since a short war with South Vietnam in 1974.
“Vietnam strongly protests, urging China to investigate and seriously deal with the wrongful and inhumane act, and compensate Vietnamese fishermen for their loss,” foreign ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said.
Vietnam has accused a Chinese vessel of firing on one of its fishing boats in disputed waters in the South China Sea, setting it alight
A formal complaint had been lodged with the Chinese embassy in Hanoi, the statement released late on Monday said.
Earlier this month, two Vietnamese fishing boats were chased out of disputed waters by Chinese marine surveillance ships, local reports said. Vietnamese officials have also reported increased patrolling by China in recent months.
But the use of firearms, if confirmed, points to a more forceful approach from Beijing in protecting what it calls China’s sovereign waters.
There has so far been no comment from Beijing on the issue.
In recent years tensions over territorial claims have been rising in the South China Sea, amid a more assertive stance from China.
China claims a U-shaped swathe of the sea that extends well into what UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) recognizes as the 200-mile-from-shore Exclusive Economic Zones of other claimants.
As well as Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims with China.
Last year, the Philippines and China engaged in a lengthy stand-off over another disputed area, the Scarborough shoal, in a spat that left diplomatic ties very strained.
Both the Philippines and Vietnam have sought to raise the issue through the ASEAN regional bloc, but claim Chinese pressure has forced the topic off the agenda.
Speaking to Extra TVhost Maria Menounos, Kim Kardashian squashed rumors that she had hit the whopping 200 lbs mark so far in her pregnancy.
Kim Kardashian, 32, was seen out and about on Monday night. Having earlier stepped out in a bold black and white dress that emphasized her curves, she hid her figure beneath a black wrap coat.
“There are maybe two or three covers just this week that say I am 200 pounds,” the reality star explained.
“I’m like, <<You are 60 pounds off here>>… It wouldn’t even bother me if I gained all the weight,” she said.
“And I have the biggest sweet tooth and I love junk food. Being pregnant I don’t like any of it.”
Kim Kardashian squashed rumors that she had hit the whopping 200 lbs mark so far in her pregnancy
However, Kim Kardashian joked she is “sad” no one has been tempting her with fast food, which she’s replaced in her diet with healthier options.
She added: “I’m waiting for the moments when someone’s like, <<Let’s go to McDonald’s and Taco Bell>> – that’s not happening for me and I’m kind of sad about it.”
Kim Kardashian, whose 36D bust has increased to a 36G, jetted out of LAX to New York on Monday morning to shoot two TV appearances.
She will appear on Live With Kelly And Michael on Tuesday morning and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno later in the evening.
“I never thought I would ever say this… But I’m wearing flats today,” Kim Kardashian tweeted to her 17.5 million followers.
All Cyprus banks will remain closed until Thursday, March 28, the central bank has announced.
Temporary measures will be placed on transactions when they reopen despite an EU/IMF bailout deal.
Earlier, the Cypriot authorities said all but the biggest two, Bank of Cyprus and Laiki Bank, would open on Tuesday, March 26.
The central bank now says all will remain closed to ensure the whole banking system functions “smoothly”.
The bailout deal will see larger depositors in the two biggest banks, Bank of Cyprus and Laiki, lose money.
All Cyprus banks will remain closed until Thursday, March 28, the central bank has announced
President Nicos Anastasiades said “very temporary restrictions” would be put on capital flows, but gave no details.
Controls to prevent money leaving the country are already in place.
Certain limits on the size of cash withdrawals are expected to continue.
Banks have not been open since March 15. Their reopening had been expected after Cyprus agreed a deal with the IMF and the EU that releases 10 billion euros in support.
It was conditional on Cyprus itself raising 5.8 billion euros, most of which looks likely to come from depositors with more than 100,000 euros in Bank of Cyprus and Laiki or Popular Bank.
The banks remained closed after the country’s first money-raising solution, which would have hit smaller deposit holders as well as larger holdings, was rejected by parliament.
The new deal for Cyprus, unlike previous agreements, does not require parliamentary approval. It will also include austerity measures and tax increases.
Laiki will be shut down, and deposits under 100,000 euros, which are guaranteed by the state under EU law, will move into the Bank of Cyprus to create a “good bank”.
Deposits above that insured amount will be frozen and used to pay Laiki’s debts and recapitalize the Bank of Cyprus, with depositor losses eventually converted into shares.
Major depositors, many of whom are wealthy Russians, will not be able to access accounts exceeding the 100,000-euro limit until the restructuring of the banks is complete.
A government spokesman said the losses on uninsured depositors would be “under or around 30%”.
Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky’s death was “consistent with hanging”, a post-mortem examination has found.
Boris Berezovsky, 67, was found dead by an employee on Saturday on a bathroom floor at his home in Berkshire.
The post-mortem examination found nothing to indicate a violent struggle. More tests are to be carried out on the body.
Thames Valley Police said investigations at the property would continue for several days.
They had earlier said there was no evidence so far that a “third party” was involved.
Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky’s death was “consistent with hanging”, a post-mortem examination has found
Boris Berezovsky’s body was removed from the property in Mill Lane, Ascot overnight on Sunday.
The results of further tests, including toxicology and histology examinations, were likely to take several weeks, police said.
Crime officers have been carrying out forensic examinations at the property and “these are expected to last several days”.
Boris Berezovsky’s body was reportedly 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.
Boris Berezovsky emigrated to the UK in 2000.
He amassed a fortune in the 1990s following the privatisation of state assets after the collapse of Soviet communism.
The Russian oligarch survived numerous assassination attempts, including a bomb that decapitated his chauffeur.
In 2003 Boris Berezovsky was granted political asylum in Britain on the grounds that his life would be in danger in Russia.
He was married twice and had six children – two with each of his wives and two with a long-term partner.
Boris Berezovsky ‘s wealth is thought to have considerably diminished in recent years, leaving him struggling to pay debts in the wake of costly court cases.
In 2011, Boris Berezovsky reportedly lost more than £100 million ($155 million) in a divorce settlement.
In 2012, Boris Berezovsky lost a £3 billion ($4.7 billion) damages claim against Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich.
Cyprus banks are to reopen on Tuesday, March 26, although the two at the centre of the crisis, Bank of Cyprus and Laiki, will remain shut until Thursday, March 28.
President Nicos Anastasiades has said temporary limits will be placed on financial transactions after a bailout deal imposing a tax on bank deposits.
He said “very temporary restrictions” would be put on capital flows, but gave no details.
Controls to prevent money leaving the country are already in place.
Certain limits on the size of cash withdrawals are expected to continue.
Cyprus banks are to reopen on March 26, although Bank of Cyprus and Laiki will remain shut until March 28
The banks’ reopening came after Cyprus agreed a deal with the IMF and the EU that releases 10 billion euros in support.
It was conditional on Cyprus itself raising billions of euros, which it will do by way of a tax on deposits of more than 100,000 euros.
The banks shut a week ago after the country’s first money-raising solution, which would have hit smaller deposit holders as well as larger holdings, was rejected.
On Monday morning, hopes that the deal would solve the crisis lifted shares.
But later, stock markets were rocked after Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, suggested that the deal for Cyprus model could form a template in any future bailout.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch finance minister who as head of the Eurogroup played a key role in the Cyprus negotiations, said the deal represented a new template for resolving future eurozone banking problems.
“If there is a risk in a bank our first question should be <<OK, what are you in the bank going to do about that?>>,” he told Reuters and the Financial Times.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem later added a clarification, saying that Cyprus was “a specific case with exceptional challenges”.
He said the pattern for bank rescues should see shareholders take the first hit, then bondholders, who lend money through financial markets, and only then should depositors with large bank balances be tapped.
The Cyprus deal puts the burden for dealing with problem banks on their shareholders and creditors – in this particular case, customers with large bank balances – rather than the government and taxpayers, or bondholders, who lend through financial markets.
Tiger Woods has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill by two strokes returning to the top of the world rankings for the first time since October 2010.
Tiger Woods, 37, replaces Rory McIlroy as number one after dropping to a career-low 58th in November 2011.
His win at Bay Hill was his 77th PGA title and his third of 2013.
Tiger Woods resumed three shots clear after storms halted Sunday’s play and shot 70 to hold off England’s Justin Rose, who climbed to third in the world rankings.
“I play well here, it’s as simple as it gets,” said Tiger Woods, who became number one for the 11th time following his eighth professional win at Bay Hill.
Tiger Woods has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill by two strokes returning to the top of the world rankings for the first time since October 2010
“I’m very pleased with the way I’m playing.
“It was a by-product of hard work, patience and getting back to playing golf tournaments.”
It was Tiger Woods’s sixth title in his last 20 starts on the PGA Tour, and after wins at Doral and Torrey Pines this year, he is now clear favourite to capture his fifth Masters title when the season’s opening major begins at Augusta on 11 April.
He first became world number one in June 1997 following his maiden major victory at the Masters, aged 22.
Tiger Woods topped the rankings for 264 weeks from August 1999 to September 2004 and 281 weeks from June 2005 to October 2010.
A five-month lay-off in late 2009 after cheating scandal, a string of injuries, including four knee operations and an Achilles problem, and problems getting to grips with a new swing all contributed to Tiger Woods’ fall down the rankings.
Israeli Jews craving a smoke during the week-long Passover holiday that starts at sundown Monday can now enjoy a rabbi-approved cigarette.
It’s the first time cigarettes have joined the long list of goods stringently checked to ensure they comply with Passover rules on what items are allowed, or kosher for the holiday, meaning they have not come in contact with grains or other forbidden ingredients.
The stamp of approval came from the Beit Yosef private rabbinic group, which certifies foods as compliant with Jewish dietary restrictions. Last month, Beit Yosef approved three local cigarette brands for smoking during Passover.
Israeli Jews craving a smoke during the week-long Passover holiday that starts at sundown Monday can now enjoy a rabbi-approved cigarette
The chief rabbinate in Israel, however, disapproved of the measure, saying cigarettes are life-threatening and should not be approved by rabbis.
“Poison is not kosher. For all days of the year, not just Passover,” said the chief rabbinate’s spokesman Ziv Maor.
But Rabbi Igal Ben Ezra, Beit Yosef’s chief supervisor, said the certification was meant for Israeli smokers who only buy products marked as “kosher for Passover” and who might be concerned about buying cigarettes without such a label.
It’s “mostly for people who have doubts on this subject,” said Ben Ezra.
The Jewish holiday of Passover celebrates the biblical Exodus story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. According to tradition, the Israelites were in a rush and had no time to let their bread rise as they fled. To commemorate the hasty Exodus, Jews eat matzo, or flat wheat crackers that symbolize unleavened bread, and refrain from foods containing leavening such pasta during Passover.
During the holiday, Jewish law forbids chametz, anything consisting of grains that may have come in contact with water, starting the process of fermentation.
Traditionally, Jews, including many who are not religiously observant the rest of the year, spend weeks ahead of Passover cleaning their homes and belongings to rid them of any morsel of food considered to be chametz.
The week-long Passover diet is in addition to the year-round kosher regulations that ban pork and shellfish, require meat to be ritually slaughtered and forbid the mixing of meat and dairy.
Frances Bean Cobain stepped out in LA last week looking just like her late father, Kurt Cobain.
Frances Bean Cobain has clearly embraced his iconic grunge style, with her messy hair dyed pink in a look often favored by the Nirvana singer.
She finished off the look with an Iron Maiden T-shirt, skinny jeans, a Vivienne Westwood handbag and circular sunglasses.
Frances Bean Cobain stepped out in LA last week looking just like late father Kurt Cobain
Frances Bean Cobain outing comes as proceedings against her accused stalker Marc James Franco were suspended after he was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial.
She may also have to testify if the case does reach trial.
Marc James Franco, 23, was arrested on October 13 last year after entering Frances Bean Cobain’s Hollywood Hills home and was later charged with first degree burglary.
Roman Abramovich has not been arrested in New York, his agent said today denying recent reports the Russian billionaire had been detained by U.S. intelligence services.
Speculation was rife online this afternoon that the Chelsea football club owner had been detained by the FBI in New York.
The claims were initially made by a Russian news website before being circulated on Twitter.
However, Roman Abramovich’s Moscow-based agent John Mann said the reports were “not true”.
“He is in the US, but he has not been arrested or detained.”
The FBI has also issued a denial.
“We didn’t arrest him. It’s just not true,” an FBI spokeswoman said in response to an unsourced report by Russia’s RBK financial news portal.
Speculation was rife online this afternoon that Roman Abramovich had been detained by the FBI in New York
Roman Abramovich, 46, has reportedly docked his $1.5 billion yacht Eclipse, the world’s biggest, in New York because his partner Dasha Zhukova is due to give birth to his seventh child.
London-listed steel firm Evraz shares, which have fallen 45pc over the past year, slid 5% at one stage in early afternoon trading before clawing back lost ground after the rumor was denied.
Roman Abramovich is a major shareholder in Evraz, whose shares fell by more than 6% before recovering to trade 3.4% down on the day after the denials were issued.
The London-based tycoon, reputed to have close ties to the Kremlin, was brought in late last year to strike a peace deal between the feuding shareholders in Norilsk Nickel, the world’s largest nickel and palladium miner.
With an estimated fortune of $14.6 billion, he is currently the 5th richest person in Russia and the 50th in the world, according to the 2012 Forbes list.
Born into poverty in Saratov, Russia, Roman Abramovich was orphaned at the age of two and raised by his uncle in Ukhta.
As a student in Moscow, Roman Abramovich set up a small firm making plastic toys which made him enough money to start an oil business in the Omsk region.
He quickly made a name for himself and joined the board on oil giant Sibneft before taking sole charge.
Roman Abramovich oversaw a merger which created the fourth-biggest oil company in the world before it was sold to the state-run gas company, Gazprom.
In 1999, Roman Abramovich was elected to the lower house of the Russian parliament representing Chukotka and was re-elected for a second term in 2005.
He bought Chelsea in 2003 after stepping in to save the club from administration.
The team has enjoyed considerable success since, winning six domestic cups, three Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
It is estimated that Roman Abramovich has invested some $1 billion in the process.
Along the way, he has also built a reputation as a ruthless hirer and firer, with several managers coming and going during his tenure.
The latest, Roberto Di Matteo, was sacked just months after winning the Champions league and FA Cup.
Last year, Roman Abramovich won a multi-billion-pound High Court battle with fellow oligarch Boris Berezovsky, who was found dead at his Ascot home on March 23.
Boris Berezovsky, 66, once worth £2 billion ($3 billion), had alleged that Roman Abramovich blackmailed and intimidated him into selling cheaply his share in a Russian oil company, but the High Court rejected his £3.2 billion damages claim.
Boris Berezovsky’s death is still “unexplained” according to police after his body was discovered by a bodyguard on the bathroom floor of his mansion in Ascot, Berkshire, on Saturday.
He apparently left no note and skeptical friends are convinced he was murdered because “suicide was not in his DNA”.
Roman Abramovich already has two sons and three daughters with his ex-wife Irina Vyacheslavovna Malandina and one with Dasha Zhukova.
The Russian tycoon, who has been married and divorced twice, met Dasha Zhukova, the daughter of Russian oligarch Alexander Zhukov at a New Year’s Eve party hosted by her father in 2006.
But apparently romance did not blossom between the two until he had split from second wife Irina Vyacheslavovna Malandina after 16 years of marriage.
Their divorce ended in a record settlement rumored to be £1.5 billion ($2.3 billion) made by Roman Abramovich to the mother of his five children.
European and US stock markets have fallen again after the head of Eurogroup suggested that the Cyprus model, which involves a tax on bank deposits, could form a template in any future bailout.
On Monday morning, hopes the deal would solve the crisis lifted shares.
By 15:30 GMT, all major European markets had fallen into negative territory, joined by US stocks.
Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades, later addressed his country in a television broadcast.
The deal was “painful” but the best that could have been struck under the circumstances, he said.
Nicos Anastasiades said that controls limiting restricting the movement of capital would be temporary and he promised to protect the weak, saying that welfare payments would be met.
Earlier, markets in Europe and the US moved downwards when Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch Finance Minister who as head of the Eurogroup played a key role in the Cyprus negotiations, said the deal represented a new template for resolving future eurozone banking problems.
“If there is a risk in a bank our first question should be <<OK, what are you in the bank going to do about that?>>,” Jeroen Dijsselbloem told Reuters and the Financial Times.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem later added a clarification saying that Cyprus was “a specific case with exceptional challenges”.
The Cyprus deal puts the burden for dealing with problem banks on their shareholders and creditors – in this particular case, customers with large bank balances – rather than the government and taxpayers – and bondholders, who lend through financial markets.
European and US stock markets have fallen again after the head of Eurogroup suggested that the Cyprus model, which involves a tax on bank deposits, could form a template in any future bailout
Jeroen Dijsselbloem said the pattern for bank rescues should see shareholders take the first hit, then bond holders, who lend money through financial markets, and only then should depositors with large bank balances be tapped.
But his remarks raised fears that other European countries with struggling banks may face the same solution as Cyprus, which agreed to force those with cash on deposit above 100,000 euros, many of whom are Russian, to pay a substantial tax.
Cyprus will receive 10 billion euros ($13 billion) in bailout funds, but has agreed to a major restructuring of its banks.
Small savers will be protected but Cyprus’s second largest bank – Laiki Bank – will be wound up and split into “good” and “bad” banks, with its good assets eventually merged into the Bank of Cyprus, the country’s biggest bank.
The two banks will remain closed until Thursday, while all others will reopen on Tuesday after being closed for more than a week, Cyprus’s central bank says.
The Cypriot government suggested that account holders with deposits of more than 100,000 euros should expect to lose about 30% of their balances.
The UK’s FTSE 100 index ended the day down 0.2%, while Germany’s Dax gave up 0.5%, and France’s Cac lost 1.1%. In New York, the Dow Jones was 0.5% lower.
In Madrid, the market slipped 2.5% while the Milan index was down 2.27%.
The euro was also driven lower, falling to a six-week low against the pound. The euro was down 0.6% to 84.74 pence.
The new deal for Cyprus, unlike previous agreements, does not require the approval of the Cypriot parliament.
The uncertainty over the future of Cyprus in the eurozone was sparked a week ago when its parliament rejected an earlier bailout deal, which also included a controversial bank levy.
Despite the Cypriot economy’s relatively small size, many analysts had been concerned that the crisis would spread to the wider eurozone, had Cyprus been forced to give up the single currency.
There were fears that the country’s possible exit from the euro would trigger a loss of confidence across the single currency bloc, and prompt investors to withdraw from other troubled economies, such as Greece.
However, while Cyprus is now likely to remain in the eurozone, the country still faces significant obstacles as it attempts to recover from the crisis.
The EU-IMF deal involves a massive restructuring of the Cypriot banking system, as well as austerity measures and tax increases.
There has also been significant public anger in Cyprus at the intervention of European authorities, and the credibility of the Cypriot government has been questioned.
Ford India has apologized for an advertisement showing former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi with a group of bound women in the boot of a car.
The advert, showing three women bound and gagged in the boot of a Ford Figo, appeared on a website.
Silvio Berlusconi was shown in the driver’s seat with a slogan: “Leave your worries behind with Figo’s extra-large boot.”
The advert has not been used commercially.
Ford India has apologized for an advertisement showing former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi with a group of bound women in Figo’s boot
Reports say that it was posted online by the India-based advertising agency hired by Ford.
Ford Motor Company said it regretted the incident and called the images “contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within Ford”.
“We deeply regret this incident and agree with our agency partners that it should have never happened,” Ford said.
A Ford spokesperson said the company was taking the incident “seriously and are reviewing approval and oversight processes, and taking necessary steps to ensure nothing like this ever happens”.
Rupiah Banda, Zambia ex president, has been arrested in connection with a Nigerian oil deal, officials say.
Rupiah Banda is accused of stealing more than $11 million during his three years in office, Reuters news agency reports.
The former leader, who was stripped of presidential immunity earlier this month, was questioned for nearly three hours before being freed on bail.
Rupiah Banda denies the charges and says he is the victim of a witch-hunt. He is due in court on Tuesday.
Rupiah Banda, Zambia ex president, has been arrested in connection with a Nigerian oil deal
Shortly after being released, Rupiah Banda addressed his supporters, telling them to remain calm and that he would win the case in court.
He lost 2011 elections to Michael Sata, whose government is investigating several high-profile deals made by Rupiah Banda’s administration amid accusations of corruption.
Rupiah Banda led Africa’s top copper producer from 2008 to 2011.
New York City has been hit with a bacterial meningitis outbreak with 22 people infected so far, according to the health officials who are urging for vaccination against infection.
Bacterial meningitis causes an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord appears to be spreading through sexual encounters between men who meet up online and at bars and parties, according to a news release from the NYC’s health department.
“Vaccination is the best defense,” City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said in the release.
“I urge all men who meet these criteria – regardless of whether they identify as gay – to get vaccinated now and protect themselves from this disease before it is too late.”
New York City has been hit with a bacterial meningitis outbreak with 22 people infected so far
Four new cases of meningitis among men who have sex with men have been reported since the beginning of January, the health department said.
There have been 22 reported cases since 2010, including seven deaths caused by the disease.
The New York City Council is working with health department officials to educate people on how to properly protect themselves, according to City Council Speaker and mayoral candidate Christine Quinn.
“While the rise in cases of the disease commonly known as meningitis is concerning, particularly for men who are HIV-positive or who have sex with men, vaccines and treatments are available,” Christine Quinn said in the release.
“The City is also offering information and resources on the web and through 311,” she said.
“The Council will work to ensure that the public is educated about this disease and the increased risk so that New Yorkers are armed with the information they need to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
According to the health department’s count, more than half of the infected men have had HIV, a virus that attacks the immune system making infections more likely and more severe.
Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord’s protective membranous lining, called the meninges.
Early symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and a rash within 10 days of the infection, medical sources state.
The disease can cause brain damage, hearing loss and in some cases death if left untreated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“People that have been in prolonged close contact with infected people need to see their health-care provider immediately to receive preventive antibiotics,” the NYC health department said.
Cavemen animated comedy The Croods topped the North American box office with $44.7 million in its first weekend in US and Canadian cinemas, according to studio estimates.
Action thriller Olympus Has Fallen also opened strongly in second place with a first weekend tally of $30.5 million.
Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman star in the film, in which North Korean terrorists invade the White House.
The Croods started out eight years ago as a co-production with British animators Aardman, scripted by Monty Python’s John Cleese.
Dreamworks took over the project – originally titled Crood Awakening – when Aardman’s five-film deal was curtailed after just two productions with the US studio.
The Croods topped the North American box office with $44.7 million in its first weekend in US and Canadian cinemas
Featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone, The Croods tells of a prehistoric family who encounter danger and strange new creatures when they are forced to quit their cave.
The film’s success saw last week’s number one movie, Disney fantasy Oz the Great and Powerful, knocked down to third place after a fortnight in pole position.
Olympus Has Fallen, whose title refers to the Secret Service codename for the US president’s Washington DC residence, performed better than some analysts predicted.
Its US release comes ahead of White House Down, another thriller with a similar premise that arrives in cinemas later this year.
The Call, a thriller starring Halle Berry as an emergency services phone operator who tries to save an abducted teenager, claimed fourth place in the chart after its second weekend in cinemas.
Its $8.7 million tally topped that of new release Admission, a comedy starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd that could only manage $6.4 million.
The weekend’s overall takings were down 34% on a year ago, when The Hunger Games opened with a record-breaking $155 million haul.
Denny Hamlin remains hospitalized overnight after being airlifted to a local hospital after a hard single-car crash at the inside wall on the final lap of Sunday’s Auto Club 400.
Kyle Busch beat the field at the 17th annual Auto Club 400, winning his second race in as many days.
At one point, Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman incurred penalties after they were caught speeding through pit row.
The race ended in a flurry, as Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano wrecked with half a lap remaining. Denny Hamlin was taken off the track in an ambulance, as NASCAR on ESPN reported. Fortunately, he was able to exit his car on his own.
Denny Hamlin was awake and alert in the infield care center before being transported, but was taken to the hospital after complaining of lower back pain. A helicopter was used due to post-race traffic.
The name of the hospital was not released.
Denny Hamlin remains hospitalized overnight after being airlifted to a local hospital after a hard single-car crash at the inside wall on the final lap of Sunday’s Auto Club 400
Denny Hamlin, 22, was helped from his car after the hard hit and seemed to collapse outside his car after he had pulled the window net down. He was taken by ambulance to the infield care center, where crew chief Darian Grubb hurried inside to check on the driver.
His girlfriend, Jordan Fish, tweeted Sunday night: “Thank u everyone for your messages concerning Denny. Darian is keeping us posted. He’s alert n awake, main concern is his back.”
Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, who have traded barbs since the season opening Daytona 500, battled side by side, bumping and passing in the closing laps.
They were drag racing down the backstretch, but Joey Logano got loose on the bottom and made contact.
Joey Logano went into the outside wall, Denny Hamlin went into the inside wall and Kyle Busch sailed by for the win.
“After what happened last week, that’s what [Denny Hamlin] gets,” Joey Logano said following the race.
“We have nothing to hang our heads about, that’s for sure.”
In one-sentence responses, Joey Logano vowed to race Denny Hamlin “the way he raced me” and said there won’t be any resolution “until anyone says anything to me personally”.
“I haven’t gotten a phone call, so he can tell you whatever he wants, right?” Joey Logano said to reporters.
Minutes earlier, Denny Hamlin told the media he regretted questioning Joey Logano’s driving ability because: “I didn’t need to give my opinion on that; I think it was kind of a low blow.”
When the two were teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing, Denny Hamlin said, they clashed on the racetrack several times but it was kept out of the spotlight.
“It never really was public, but we had times where it was like, ‘Hey, why’d you race me that way?’ or vice versa,” Denny Hamlin said.
“I think I had just as much disappointment as him on the racetrack as teammates as he had in me. I think it was an even shake there.
“Off the racetrack, we’d see each other on the racetrack in Monday morning meetings and be like nothing ever happened.”
It was Kyle Busch’s first win of the season after he had flirted with winning several times in the first four races.
“They forgot about me. I knew they were going to,” Kyle Busch said.
“It’s so fun to come out here and perform like this.”
Kyle Busch acknowledged that he probably wouldn’t have pulled out the victory if not for Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin’s heated battle, which he called “golden.”
“I was just thinking, hopefully I can get by before they wreck. I can make this happen,” Kyle Busch said.
China has become the world’s second-biggest movie market, after Japan lost the place, underscoring its importance as a key market for Hollywood’s moviemakers.
China’s box office revenues surged 36% to $2.7 billion in 2012, the Motion Picture Association of America said.
The surge came after China eased some restrictions on the number of foreign films allowed to be screened.
In 2012, China agreed to allow an additional 14 Imax or 3D films over and above the quota of 20 foreign films.
China has become the world’s second-biggest movie market in 2012
Beijing also increased the amount of revenue foreign movies are allowed to collect from distribution in China to 25% of overall ticket sales from the earlier limit of 13%.
Industry players said box office sales in China had the potential to grow even more if Beijing eased the restrictions further.
“China is building about ten screens a day” said Chris Dodd, chairman and chief executive of the association.
“There is a voracious appetite for product. Our films have done consistently well there.”
The US movie industry has long complained that the limit fuelled demand for pirated copies of films, which are widely available in China.
Asian markets and the euro have risen after EU officials agreed a bailout deal for Cyprus, easing fears that the country’s banking system problems may spread.
Cyprus will now get a 10-billion euro ($13 billion) cash injection to keep its banking system running and prevent it from crashing out of the eurozone.
Investors had feared that its exit from the bloc may escalate the region’s debt crisis and derail a global recovery.
Shares in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia rose on the news.
“The news was what markets were waiting for, some kind of an agreement,” said Yuji Saito, director of foreign exchange at Credit Agricole in Tokyo.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 1.7%, South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.5%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.6% and Australia’s ASX200 was up 0.5%.
A failure to reach a deal may have seen the European Central Bank (ECB) cut emergency funding to Cyprus’s two biggest banks, leading to an effective bankruptcy of Cyprus’s government.
The fears were that such a move may prompt the country’s exit from the bloc.
Many analysts had been concerned that Cyprus’s exit may cause a loss of confidence across the eurozone and prompt investors to withdraw from other troubled economies of the bloc, such as Greece.
These concerns had seen investors ditch the euro over the past few days in favor of other assets, such as the Japanese yen and US dollar, seen as comparatively safer.
Asian markets have risen after EU officials agreed a bailout deal for Cyprus
However, news of the Cyprus deal boosted the euro.
The single currency gained 0.8% against the US dollar. It was trading at $1.3044 in early Asian trade.
It rose 1.3% against the Japanese yen to trade at 123.81 yen.
“This will likely limit the euro’s downside, with those who shorted the euro covering their positions, and improve general risk sentiment,” said Hiroshi Maeba, head of foreign exchange trading for UBS in Tokyo.
Ben le Brun, an analyst at OptionsXpress in Sydney, added that the deal was likely to have a positive impact on the oil markets as well.
“We should see some positive sentiment reverberate through energy markets overall for at least the next 24 to 48 hours,” he said.
Brent Crude rose 0.3% to $108.34 per barrel in Asian trade, while US Light Crude gained 0.4% to $94.1 per barrel.
Cyprus had agreed a bailout deal with the EU and the IMF last week.
However, the EU and IMF had asked Cyprus to raise 5.8 billion euros in order to secure the funds.
They had proposed that Cyprus impose a one-off levy on bank deposits in order to raise the cash, a move that triggered protests in Cyprus and resulted in savers rushing to ATM machines to withdraw their money – a move that brought fears of a run on the banks.
The Cyprus parliament rejected the proposal last week, delaying an agreement to secure the bailout funds.
According to the latest deal, all deposits under 100,000 euros will be “fully guaranteed”.
However, Laiki (Popular) Bank, the country’s second-biggest, will be wound down and holders of deposits of more than 100,000 euros will face big losses.
The levy on accounts in Laiki Bank could be as high as 40%, correspondents say.
Large deposits in the Bank of Cyprus, the country’s biggest bank, will also face a levy.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, told a press conference in Brussels that the percentage to be levied on large deposits in the Bank of Cyprus will be decided in the coming weeks.
Analysts said that while the draft deal had helped ease market jitters, uncertainties surrounding its implementation were likely to hurt sentiment in the coming days.
Kim Kardashian appears to be carrying on painful extremes trend, this time with acupuncture.
Although the traditional Chinese practice isn’t meant to feel physically uncomfortable, it certainly looked it in a picture that Kim Kardashian, 32, tweeted of herself on Saturday.
Pregnant Kim Kardashian is seen closeup in the photo with multiple needles dotted all over her face, neck and ears.
The reality star’s face is, as always, fully made up, this time with thick black eyeliner and lashings of mascara coupled with a glossy rose lip color.
Kim Kardashian appears to be carrying on painful extremes trend, this time with acupuncture
Kim Kardashian accompanied the photo with the caption: “Oh so relaxing…”
Acupuncture is recommended for pregnant women wishing to avoid traditional drugs to help ease symptoms such as morning sickness and stress.
Perhaps Kim Kardashian, who is about five months into her pregnancy, was using the alternative medicine to treat any symptoms she may be experiencing.
Kim Kardashian, who has vowed “never to get a facelift”, was more than likely using it to maintain her youthful glow as the needles were positioned all over her face, including her cheeks.
Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal has ruled that domestic workers are not eligible to apply for permanent residency, ending a two-year battle that has split opinion.
The case had centred on Evangeline Banao Vallejos, a maid from the Philippines who has worked in Hong Kong for more than 17 years.
Domestic workers had argued that denying them permanent residency was unconstitutional.
The ruling has implications for Hong Kong’s 300,000 domestic workers.
These workers come mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia, often spending years in the territory.
Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal has ruled that domestic workers are not eligible to apply for permanent residency
“The FDH [foreign domestic helper] is obliged to return to the country of origin at the end of the contract and is told from the outset that admission is not for the purposes of settlement and that dependants cannot be brought to reside in Hong Kong,” the Court of Final Appeal said in a written judgement.
Evangeline Banao Vallejos was “speechless but calmly resigned”, her lawyer, Mark Daly said.
“While we respect the judgment we disagree with it,” Mark Daly said.
“[The ruling is] not a good reflection of the values we should be teaching youngsters and people in our society.”
Evangeline Banao Vallejos had filed the appeal jointly with Daniel Domingo, another Filipino domestic helper, who had lived in Hong Kong for 28 years.
The issue of right of abode is a sensitive subject in Hong Kong, with campaigners arguing that not allowing foreign domestic workers to settle in Hong Kong amounts to discrimination.
Eman Villanueva, spokesman for the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body, said that the ruling “gave its judicial seal to unfair treatment and the social exclusion of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong”.
An initial ruling from the High Court in 2011 said that domestic workers should not be excluded from a rule that allows foreigners to settle in the city after seven years of uninterrupted residency.
Foreigners in other jobs can apply for permanent residency after seven years, which enables them to work and vote in Hong Kong without a visa.
The 2011 ruling led to protests in Hong Kong, with some anxious that allowing the maids to apply for residency would lead to an influx of domestic workers and place a strain on public services.
In March 2012, the government won an appeal against the High Court ruling.
The government had estimated that 125,000 helpers would be eligible to apply for abode, and if each had a spouse and two children, that number of potential new residents could reach 500,000 – although campaigners said that only a fraction of those eligible were likely to apply.
Monday’s judgement by Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal puts an end to the two year legal battle.
Hong Kong’s domestic workers receive a guaranteed minimum wage, statutory holidays and annual paid leave.
But their lack of residency rights means that if they leave an employer, they have only two weeks to find a new job before being required to leave the country.
In Monday’s ruling, the top court also
rejected a request from the Hong Kong government to seek advice from the Chinese government on the matter. It said that the court was able to reach the ruling through reading Hong Kong’s Basic Law alone.
Seeking a legal interpretation from Beijing could potentially have sparked public criticism that the Hong Kong government was undermining its judicial independence.
Hong Kong is governed under the principle of “one country, two systems”, under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the handover.
Mississippi authorities are investigating the death of State Representative Jessica Upshaw, who was found dead in a suspected suicide at the home of former lawmaker Clint Rotenberry, according to local officials.
The death of Republican Rep Jessica Upshaw, 53, of the 95th District in Diamondhead, was confirmed by Simpson County Coroner Terry Tutor.
The cause of her death is believed to be suicide.
Simpson County Sheriff Kenneth Lewis told WLOX that Jessica Upshaw appeared to have shot herself in the head at a home in Mendenhall, located about 30 miles southeast of Jackson, the state capital.
The home is owned by former state Rep Clint Rotenberry, according to The Clarion-Ledger newspaper.
Mississippi authorities are investigating the death of State Representative Jessica Upshaw, who was found dead in a suspected suicide at the home of former lawmaker Clint Rotenberry
The investigation has been handed over to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
No one has been arrested in the case.
Jessica Upshaw was an attorney who was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2004.
She was a Republican from Diamondhead along the state’s coast. Mendenhall is about 110 miles away from her hometown.
Jessica Upshaw was not married, but did have an adult daughter who is married with a child of her own and lives in South Korea, according to the Clarion-Ledger.
Clint Rotenberry, also a Republican, served in the 77th district as a state representative from 1992 to 2007.
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant told the paper: “[My wife] Deborah and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Rep Jessica Upshaw. I have known Jessica for many years as an unselfish and dedicated public servant.
“This is a tragic loss for her family and all Mississippians, and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this difficult time.”
Jessica Upshaw is the fifth Mississippi lawmaker in to die in the last few months.
Joe Gardner of Batesville, died last month of a heart attack at the age of 68. Democratic Rep. David Gibbs, of West Point, died January 13.
Two Democratic state senators, Bennie Turner, of West Point, and Alice Harden, of Jackson, died in late 2012.
Clint Rotenberry did not answer his phone, and his answering machine was full.
House Minority Leader Bobby Moak describes Jessica Upshaw as a passionate champion of causes for her district and the state.
South Korea and the United States have signed a new military plan to counter what officials call North Korean “provocations”.
The plan provides for a joint response between South Korea and the US in the event of an incursion or a limited attack from North Korea, officials say.
Help from the US – which has 28,000 troops in South Korea – during minor skirmishes was previously optional.
Regional tension remains high after the North’s third nuclear test last month.
The US already offers South Korea a “nuclear umbrella”, but Cold War experts have pointed out that while nuclear deterrence may address the possibility of all-out war, it does not deter low-level incidents.
South Korea and the US have signed a new military plan to counter what officials call North Korean provocations
Under the new plan, South Korea will be able to call on US assistance should Pyongyang follow through with its recent threats, for example to attack remote South Korean islands.
“This allows both nations to jointly respond to the North’s local provocations, with the South taking the lead and the US in support,” South Korean defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said on Monday.
“It will have the effect of preventing the North from daring to provoke us,” he added of the deal, which was signed on Friday.
The “provocative” acts that the plan seeks to address include incursions on the border and by low-flying aircraft, and attacks on border islands.
The new plan was conceived in 2010, after North Korea shelled a border island. A South Korean warship also sank that year, leaving 46 sailors dead. South Korea said North Korea torpedoed the ship, but Pyongyang denied this.
Last month the UN imposed fresh sanctions against North Korea following its nuclear test on February 12.
Pyongyang has responded with escalating rhetoric both to this and US-South Korea joint military drills which it bitterly opposes.
North Korea says it has scrapped the Korean War armistice and ended non-aggression pacts with Seoul.
South Korea says North Korea cannot unilaterally dissolve the armistice and has called on Pyongyang to tone down its language.
Eurogroup have agreed a deal on a 10 billion-euro bailout for Cyprus to prevent its banking system collapsing and keep the country in the eurozone.
Laiki (Popular) Bank – Cyprus’ second-biggest – will be wound down and holders of deposits of more than 100,000 euros will face big losses.
However, all deposits under 100,000 euros will be “fully guaranteed”.
The European Central Bank (ECB) had set a deadline of Monday for a deal.
Laiki will be split into “good” and “bad” banks, with its good assets eventually merged into Bank of Cyprus.
The president of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, told a press conference in Brussels the deal had “put an end to the uncertainty” around Cyprus’s economy.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem added he was “convinced” the new deal was better for the Cypriot people than the broader measure rejected by the Cypriot parliament last week, as it focused on two problem banks rather than the entire sector.
Laiki Bank, Cyprus’ second-biggest, will be wound down and holders of deposits of more than 100,000 euros will face big losses after Eurogroup agreed on bailout
The deal is good news for Cyprus’s small account holders.
All deposits under 100,000 euros will be secured. But for those with deposits of more than that amount in the country’s two biggest banks – Laiki and Bank of Cyprus – the deal will come as a bitter blow.
The percentage to be levied on large deposits in the Bank of Cyprus will be resolved in the coming weeks, Jeroen Dijsselbloem said.
One key element of the deposit tax, demanded by the IMF, is that it not require a parliamentary vote.
EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Olli Rehn said that the “depth of the financial crisis in Cyprus means that the near future will be difficult for the country and its people”.
Asian financial markets rose in early trading on news of the deal.
The deal came after hours of tense negotiations between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the “troika” of EU, ECB and IMF leaders.
Nicos Anastasiades had reportedly asked the heads of the troika if they wanted him to quit.
“Do you want to force me to resign?” Cyprus News Agency quoted him as saying, citing sources at the presidential palace.
“I am giving you one proposal, and you do not accept it. I give you another and it’s the same. What else do you want me to do?” Nicos Anastasiades was quoted as saying.
In another development on Sunday, Bank of Cyprus – the island’s biggest lender – further limited cash machine withdrawals to 120 euros a day.
With queues growing outside cash machines across the island, the second biggest lender, Laiki, also lowered its daily limit to 100 euros, Cyprus News Agency reported. The bank’s previous limit had been 260 euros per day.
Banks have been closed since Monday and many businesses are only taking payment in cash.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem said that the details of the re-opening of Cyprus’ banks would be discussed on Monday by the Cypriot government and the troika.
There is concern on Cyprus that a levy on large-scale foreign investors, many of whom are Russian, will damage its financial sector.
The 20/20 Experience, Justin Timberlake’s first album for seven years, has gone straight to the top of the UK chart, dethroning David Bowie’s comeback LP off the summit.
The 20/20 Experience is Justin Timberlake’s third solo album. It has deposed The Next Day, David Bowie’s first album for a decade, which spent one week on top.
However, Justin Timberlake’s song Mirrors has lost the top spot in the singles chart.
It has been replaced by The Saturdays’ What About Us, the girl group’s first number one after five years of trying.
They had previously scored 11 UK top 10 singles without hutting the top spot. But the new single, which features reggae star Sean Paul, has become the fastest-selling single of the year so far with 114,000 copies sold.
Justin Timberlake’s first album for seven years, has gone straight to the top of the UK chart, dethroning David Bowie’s comeback LP off the summit
Justin Timberlake’s Mirrors dropped to number two. Meanwhile, his album sold almost 106,000 copies – more than the rest of the top five combined.
Elsewhere on the album chart, Emeli Sande is still at number three with Our Version of Events, while the soundtrack to Les Miserables has gone back up to number four.
Other new entries include British indie survivors Suede at 10 with Bloodsports and singer-songwriter Billy Bragg at 13 with Tooth and Nail, according to the Official Charts Company.
British police say there is no evidence so far that a “third party” was involved in the death of exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky in London.
Earlier today, Boris Berezovsky ‘s house in Berkshire was given the all-clear after it was searched by police for chemical, biological and nuclear material.
Thames Police said Boris Berezovsky, 67, was found by an employee dead on his bathroom floor on Saturday afternoon. The door was locked from the inside.
A Home Office post-mortem examination is to be carried out.
Boris Berezovsky emigrated to the UK in 2000 after falling out with Russia’s president, and was granted asylum in 2003.
Police are treating the death as unexplained, while scenes-of-crime officers are currently inside the property carrying out a full forensic examination of the scene.
Police say there is no evidence so far that a “third party” was involved in the death of Boris Berezovsky
“It would be wrong to speculate on the cause of death until the post-mortem has been carried out. We do not have any evidence at this stage to suggest third party involvement,” Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Brown of Thames Valley Police said.
“The investigation team are building a picture of the last days of Mr. Berezovsky’s life, speaking to close friends and family to gain a better understanding of his state of mind.
“We are acutely aware of the level of interest into his death and are focused on conducting a thorough investigation as we would with any unexplained death.”
Boris Berezovsky’s body was reportedly 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.
His body remained at the property while the search – described by police as a precaution – for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear material was carried out.
The search was sparked after a paramedic’s personal electronic dosimeter (PED) – a health and safety device – was triggered.
Boris Berezovsky amassed a fortune in the 1990s after the privatization of Russia’s assets following the collapse of Soviet communism.
He survived numerous assassination attempts, including a bomb that decapitated his chauffeur.
In 2003 Boris Berezovsky was granted political asylum in Britain on the grounds that his life would be in danger in Russia.
He was married twice and had six children – two with each of his wives and two with a long-term partner.
Boris Berezovsky ‘s wealth is thought to have considerably diminished in recent years, leaving him struggling to pay debts in the wake of costly court cases.
In 2011, Boris Berezovsky reportedly lost more than £100 million in a divorce settlement. And, last year, he lost a £3 billion ($4.7 billion) damages claim against Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich.
Russian media have described Boris Berezovsky’s death as “the end of an era”.
On its website, the pro-Kremlin paper Komsomolskaya Pravda describes Boris Berezovsky as having been “clever, cunning, resourceful… a master of chaos”.
Meanwhile, Novaya Gazeta – which is normally critical of the Kremlin – described him as someone who “viewed Russia as a chess board”, albeit one on which “only he would be allowed to move the pieces”.
Former British ambassador to Russia Sir Andrew Wood, who knew Boris Berezovsky, said he had been a man of vigor who had tended to “over-egg his importance”, was at heart “not a bad man” and had been helpful to Britain in the past.
Honey Boo Boo was seen doing a meet and greet with her fans over the weekend where she also sold boxes of Girl Scout Cookies.
Honey Boo Boo, 8, could not help but tuck into the treats herself, and was seen with what appeared to be chocolate smeared around her face.
Setting up shop in the front yard of her McIntyre, Georgia home, Honey Boo Boo was working the crowd by holding up signs and selling boxes for people to take photos with her and her family.
Honey Boo Boo was certainly prepared for the media opportunity, also bringing along some signed photographs of herself and her family members.
Honey Boo Boo was seen doing a meet and greet with her fans over the weekend where she also sold boxes of Girl Scout Cookies
The charitable youngster worked hard at the makeshift event, standing out in the sun and holding up placards to advertise the famous cookies.
Honey Boo Boo was selling the treats for $3.50 a box, and even drew cute pictures of chocolate chip cookies in pink on her signs in an effort to promote the drive.
As always, Honey Boo Boo was supported by her family members, including her Mama June, father Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson and sister Lauryn Shannon, who was holding one of the family’s pet chickens.
