More than 650 items belonging to former President John F. Kennedy were found locked away at the home of former aide David F. Powers, who worked alongside the president for his entire political career.
The lot, which includes rare photographs, clothing and other personal items will be auctioned off next month.
The items were recently discovered at the home of David F. Powers, who was special assistant to John F. Kennedy during his years in the White House and started working for him in 1946.
More than 650 items belonging to JFK were found locked away at the home of former aide David F. Powers, who worked alongside the president for his entire political career
“To be auctioned are the personal items he chose to keep close to himself throughout his lifetime. Powers’ collection encompasses years of history with the Kennedy Family and his White House years,” says the auctioneers’ website.
The collection will be on display at the Amesbury, Massachusetts auction house from February 9 through the 16th.
Cardinal Jozef Glemp, who headed the Roman Catholic Church in Poland for more than two decades, has died in hospital in Warsaw at the age of 83.
He became cardinal in 1981 and held the post during most of the papacy of John Paul II, the first Polish pope.
Jozef Glemp also saw the end of Communist rule in 1989, after years of church opposition before and in conjunction with the Solidarity trade union.
He stepped down in 2004, and had been ill for some years, having been diagnosed with lung cancer.
When the Communist authorities banned Solidarity and imposed martial law in December 1981, Jozef Glemp had only been cardinal for a few months, and had been made a bishop only two years earlier.
He made a public appeal, saying: “I ask you, even if I have to do it with naked feet and on my knees: do not start killing each other.”
Cardinal Jozef Glemp, who headed the Roman Catholic Church in Poland for more than two decades, has died in hospital in Warsaw at the age of 83
Some anti-government activists were critical of his stance, seeing it as too close to the government line. Cardinal Glemp said that he “wanted to calm things”.
“Glemp led the Church in a period which was extremely difficult for Poland,” said Catholic KAI news agency’s chief editor Marcin Przeciszewski.
Later, in post-Communist Poland, Jozef Glemp tried to reduce mistrust between Catholics and Jews, making public apologies for historical acts of anti-Semitism.
North Korea has announced it is proceeding with plans for a third nuclear test.
In a statement carried by KCNA news agency, the top military body said the “high-level nuclear test” and more long-range rocket launches were aimed at its “arch-enemy”, the US.
The statement gave no time-frame for the test. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009.
The move comes two days after a UN Security Council resolution condemned Pyongyang’s recent rocket launch.
The Security Council also expanded sanctions against the communist country following its December launch, which was seen by the US and North Korea’s neighbors as a banned test of long-range missile technology.
North Korea said the rocket was solely aimed at putting a satellite into space for peaceful purposes.
The statement, which came from North Korea’s National Defence Commission, hit out at the resolution as “illegal”, before pledging a response.
“We do not hide that the various satellites and long-range rockets we will continue to launch, as well as the high-level nuclear test we will proceed with, are aimed at our arch-enemy, the United States,” KCNA quoted it as saying.
“Settling accounts with the US needs to be done with force, not with words,” it added.
North Korea has announced it is proceeding with plans for a third nuclear test
Recent reports from South Korean and US bodies which monitor North Korea’s nuclear test sites had said North Korea could be preparing for a third test.
Earlier on Thursday, a South Korean defence ministry spokesman said it appeared that North Korea was “ready to conduct a nuclear test at anytime if its leadership decides to go ahead”.
Regional neighbors, South Korea, China and Japan, and the US have urged it not to proceed.
“We hope they don’t do it, we call on them not to do it. It will be a mistake and a missed opportunity if they were to do it,” said Glyn Davies, the US special envoy on North Korea policy who is currently visiting Seoul.
“This is not a moment to increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula.”
A South Korean foreign ministry spokesman said Seoul deeply regretted the North Korean statement and “strongly” urged it not to go ahead.
Both North Korea’s previous nuclear tests followed long-range rocket launches.
If it were to go ahead, this would be the first nuclear test under Kim Jong-un, who took over the leadership after the death of his father Kim Jong-il in December 2011.
There was no explanation in the statement of what “high-level” test might mean.
Experts believe the two previous tests used plutonium as fissile material, but North Korea is also believed to have been working on a programme to produce highly-enriched uranium.
It is thought that North Korea is not yet able to make a nuclear device small enough to mount on a long-range missile, although the US believes that is Pyongyang’s ultimate goal.
North Korean nuclear tests:
Two underground nuclear tests have been carried out by North Korea, in 2006 and 2009
They were believed to have used plutonium, but experts believe the planned test could use highly-enriched uranium as the fissile material
Analysts say a new test tunnel has been prepared in Punggye-ri, the site of the previous tests
North Korea is thought to have enough nuclear material for a small number of bombs, but not the technology to make a nuclear warhead
Multiple rounds of multi-national talks have failed to categorically convince Pyongyang to commit to giving up its nuclear ambitions
French citizen Florence Cassez, who was jailed in Mexico in 2007 for 60 years for kidnapping, has been freed, after the Supreme Court ruled her rights were violated.
Florence Cassez had denied the charges and many irregularities were found in the case, including a staged televised police raid.
Three judges on a panel of five voted to have Florence Cassez released immediately.
The case provoked tensions between Mexico and France, where news of her release was widely welcomed.
Florence Cassez was driven to Mexico City’s international airport, where she boarded an overnight Air France flight to Paris.
Her mother, Charlotte Cassez, told French television the case had been full of suspense right to the end.
“It’s an explosion of joy. I can’t quite believe it,” she said.
In a statement, French President Francois Hollande said the decision marked the end of a “particularly painful period”.
“France thanks all those who, in Mexico as well as here at home, have fought so that truth and justice prevail.”
Francois Hollande spoke to Florence Cassez by phone on Wednesday evening. Details of the conversation have not been revealed.
Florence Cassez, who was jailed in Mexico in 2007 for 60 years for kidnapping, has been freed, after the Supreme Court ruled her rights were violated
“This is a historic day for Mexican justice,” said her lawyer Frank Berton.
Florence Cassez was arrested on December 8, 2005, at a ranch near Mexico City where several hostages were found.
She denied knowledge of the kidnappings, carried out by a gang – the Zodiacs – led by her Mexican then-boyfriend Israel Vallarta, who confessed.
The next day, Mexican TV showed what it described as live footage of a police raid, which it later transpired had been a reconstruction performed at the request of the media.
The Supreme Court judges ruled that the reconstruction had violated Florence Cassez’s rights.
The decision to release her has been sharply criticized by one of the hostages, Ezequiel Elizald.
Ezequiel Elizalde testified against Florence Cassez and has condemned the Supreme Court’s decision as “disgusting”, describing Mexico’s institutions as “filth”.
This was the second time that the Supreme Court had taken a vote on freeing Florence Cassez.
Last March, however, the judges decided against her release, despite acknowledging serious irregularities in the process.
When first convicted, Florence Cassez was jailed for 96 years, but, in 2009, a court of appeal reduced the term to 60 years.
French authorities tried to extradite her, but the move was blocked by the Mexican government.
Francois Hollande’s predecessor in the Elysee Palace, Nicolas Sarkozy, championed the case and repeatedly clashed with the Mexican government of then-President Felipe Calderon.
Diplomatic tensions reached a peak two years ago when Mexican authorities cancelled a high-profile cultural event in Paris.
The White House has announced it will go ahead with the nomination of General John R. Allen as NATO commander in Europe.
The announcement comes after John Allen was cleared of allegations he had “inappropriate” communication with Florida socialite Jill Kelley.
Gen. John Allen is to relinquish command of the NATO mission in Afghanistan next month.
Unrelated harassment complaints by Jill Kelley led to the revelation of an affair between CIA chief David Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell.
General Allen’s nomination to lead the NATO command in Europe was placed on hold after it was revealed last year he had communicated repeatedly with Jill Kelley, whom he met when he led US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
The emails between the two first came to light as part of a wider investigation into email harassment against Jill Kelley, who knew both Gen. John Allen and David Petraeus, a former general, through social contacts at the base.
When the FBI investigated, it traced the emails to David Petraeus’s biographer Paula Broadwell, bringing to light her affair with the CIA chief.
The White House has announced it will go ahead with the nomination of General John R. Allen as NATO commander in Europe
Earlier reports suggested Gen. John Allen had exchanged over 3,000 emails, some described as inappropriate and flirtatious, with Jill Kelley.
The Afghanistan commander had also written a letter to a judge in support of Jill Kelley’s twin sister in a messy child custody dispute.
A spokesman for Gen. John Allen said the general was “obviously pleased” to be cleared of the charges he had violated the prohibition against conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.
“From the outset, the general placed his faith in – and fully supported – the investigative process,” Maj. David Nevers said.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said the defence department “was pleased to learn that allegations of professional misconduct were not substantiated”, adding that Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had “complete confidence in the continued leadership” of Gen. John Allen.
Defence officials told the Washington Post that the full investigation had shown that there were in fact only several hundred emails exchanged between Gen. John Allen and Jill Kelley, mostly notes on current news topics and social matters or compliments on General Allen’s television interviews.
“Some of the messages are not the sort of things you would print in a family newspaper,” the official said.
“But that doesn’t mean he violated military regulations by sending and receiving them.”
Controversial research into making bird flu easier to spread in people is to resume after a year-long pause.
Some argue the research is essential for understanding how viruses spread and could be used to prevent deadly pandemics killing millions of people.
Research was stopped amid fierce debate including concerns about modified viruses escaping the laboratory or being used for terrorism.
The moratorium gave authorities time to fully assess the safety of the studies.
A type of bird flu known as H5N1 is deadly and has killed about half the people who have been infected.
It has not caused millions of deaths around the world because it lacks the ability to spread from one person to another. Cases tend to come from close contact with infected birds.
Scientists at the Erasmus University in the Netherlands and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US discovered it would take between five and nine mutations in the virus’ genetic code to allow it to start a deadly pandemic.
Their research was the beginning of a long-running furor involving scientists, governments and publishers of scientific research.
The US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity asked academic journals not to publish key parts of the findings. It was concerned terrorists would use the details to develop a biological weapon.
It provoked outcry among some scientists who said their academic freedom was being restricted. Other scientists said the risk of the virus spreading was too great for such research to take place and described it as a folly.
Controversial research into making bird flu easier to spread in people is to resume after a year-long pause
The details were eventually published in the journals Nature and Science.
However, the academics involved agreed to a voluntary 60-day moratorium on research – which was later extended to more than a year.
It was to give governments time to review safety standards needed in laboratories to conduct research with enhanced viruses and whether they wanted to fund such research.
A letter signed by 40 virus researchers around the world, published in the journals Science and Nature, said the moratorium was being lifted.
It said appropriate conditions had been set in most of the world and their studies were “essential for pandemic preparedness”.
One of the leading proponents of the research Prof. Ron Fouchier, from the Erasmus Medical Centre, said it had been “frustrating” to shut down research for the year.
“This research is urgent, while we are having this pause bird flu virus continues to evolve in nature and we need to continue this research.
“We cannot wait for another year or two years.”
He expects to restart his laboratory’s work within the next couple of weeks.
However, it is a different case for many of the other research groups involved. The US has not decided on the conditions that it will allow the experiments to take place and the same applies to US-funded research taking place in other countries.
The decision has continued debate on whether the research should take place at all.
A new study of families in the United States and China has found that most parents tell lies to their children as a tactic to change their behavior.
The most frequent example was parents threatening to leave children alone in public unless they behaved.
Persuasion ranged from invoking the support of the tooth fairy to telling children they would go blind unless they ate particular vegetables.
Another strategic example was: “That was beautiful piano playing.”
The study, published in the International Journal of Psychology, examined the use of “instrumental lying” – and found that such tactically-deployed falsehoods were used by an overwhelming majority of parents in both the US and China – based on interviews with about 200 families.
The most commonly used lie – popular with both US and Chinese families – was parents pretending to a child that they were going to walk away and leave the child to his or her tantrum.
“The pervasiveness of this lie may relate to the universality of the challenge parents face in trying to leave a place against their child’s wishes,” say the researchers.
Another lie that was common in both countries was the “false promise to buy a requested toy at some indefinite time in the future”.
Researchers established different categories of these untruths.
A new study of families in the United States and China has found that most parents tell lies to their children as a tactic to change their behavior
There were “untrue statements related to misbehavior”, which included: ”If you don’t behave, I will call the police,” and: “If you don’t quiet down and start behaving, the lady over there will be angry with you.”
If these seem rather unheroic examples of parenting by proxy threat, there are some more startling lies recorded.
Under the category of “Untrue statements related to leaving or staying” a parent was recorded as saying: “If you don’t follow me, a kidnapper will come to kidnap you while I’m gone.”
There were also lies motivated by protecting a child’s feelings – labeled as “Untrue statements related to positive feelings.”
This included the optimistic: “Your pet went to live on your uncle’s farm where he will have more space to run around.”
A rather self-serving untruth was used for a quick getaway from a toy shop: ”I did not bring money with me today. We can come back another day.”
There was also a selection of lies relating to “fantasy characters”, also used to enforce good behavior, such as in the run-up to Christmas.
The study found no clear difference between the lies used by mothers and fathers, according to researchers, who were from psychology departments at the University of California San Diego in the US, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua in China and the University of Toronto, Canada.
Although levels of such “instrumental lying” were high in both countries, they were highest in China.
The study found there was an acceptance of such lies among parents when they were used as a way of reinforcing desirable social behavior.
For example, the lie told to children that they would grow taller for every bite of broccoli was seen as encouraging healthy eating habits.
The study raises the longer-term issue of the impact on families of such opportunistic approaches to the truth. It suggests it could influence family relationships as children get older.
The researchers, headed by Gail D. Heymana, Anna S. Hsua, Genyue Fub and Kang Leeac, concluded that this raises “important moral questions for parents about when, if ever, parental lying is justified”.
Serena Williams made a shock exit at the Australian Open as injury derailed her hopes against Sloane Stephens in the quarter-finals.
Not long after a courtside microphone picked up the comment during her quarterfinal with Sloane Stephens, 19, not only did she lose to the teen, but she received a code violation after smashing her racket in fury.
Sloane Stephens outplayed Serena Williams, whose movement and serves had been slowed by a back injury, and beat the 15-time Grand Slam champion 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
It was Serena Williams’ first loss since August 17, and her first defeat at a Grand Slam tournament since last year’s French Open.
Serena Williams’ downer of a Grand Slam Down Under started badly when she turned her right ankle in her opening match at Melbourne Park.
“I’ve had a tough two weeks between the ankle … and my back, which started hurting,” Serena Williams said.
“A lot of stuff.”
While Serena Williams packed for home – she and sister Venus have also lost in doubles – Sloane Stephens advanced to a semifinal on Thursday against defending champion Victoria Azarenka.
Serena Williams hurt her back in the eighth game of the second set and things got progressively worse. She yelled at herself on several occasions, and smashed a racket into the court, earning a $1,500 fine from tournament officials.
“I was running to the net for a drop shot,” Serena Williams said, describing the lead up to her injury.
“As I went to hit it, it was on the backhand. I even screamed on the court. I totally locked up after that.”
She reiterated after the match that her injuries had made this Australian Open difficult for her.
“Absolutely, I’m almost relieved that it’s over because there’s only so much I felt I could do,” she said.
“I’ve been thrown a lot of (curve) balls these two weeks.”
Serena Williams smashes racket after losing Australian Open 2013 quarterfinal to Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens has been, too, but has coped well, and the magnitude of her accomplishment only hit her while she was warming down after the match.
“I was stretching, and I was like, <<I’m in the semis of a Grand Slam>>. I was like, <<Whoa. It wasn’t as hard as I thought>>,” she said.
“To be in the semis of a Grand Slam is definitely a good accomplishment. A lot of hard work.”
The No. 29-seeded Sloane Stephens hadn’t been given much of a chance of beating Serena Williams, who lost only four matches in 2012 and was in contention to regain the No. 1 ranking at the age of 31.
Serena Williams’ latest winning streak included a straight-set win over Sloane Stephens at the Brisbane International this month.
Sloane Stephens had a picture of Serena Williams on her bedroom wall growing up and she joked in the post-match interview: “I will have to put up a poster of myself now!”
Third seed Serena Williams looked set to make routine progress through to the last four when she led by a set and a break, but Sloane Stephens had other ideas.
Starting to display the kind of form which carried her to her maiden grand slam quarter-final, she was hitting freely from the back of the court and made several moves forward to finish points off at the net.
It was turning into a real contest between the experienced Serena Williams and the 19-year-old, understandably tipped as her heiress apparent in American tennis.
But then the match took another turn as Serena Williams sustained a back spasm in lunging for a low ball at the net.
The teenager broke for a 5-3 second-set lead and although she could not immediately serve it out, Serena Williams, after taking a medical time-out, bravely hitting back to level it at 5-5.
Sloane Stephens regrouped following a bout of jitters to break again and take it to a decider.
Serena Williams’ frustration boiled over after three games of the final set, earning herself a code violation for whacking her racket into the court.
But she could console herself with the fact her back appeared to be loosening up, perhaps as a result of the medication prescribed earlier starting to kick in.
Serena Williams broke for a 4-3 lead but Sloane Stephens was not going away and she hit straight back before edging 5-4 up.
And this time it was Serena Williams who buckled as a series of tired groundstrokes gifted Sloane Stephens the win of her life.
After the match Serena Williams indicated that she wasn’t entirely heartbroken by the loss.
“I’m almost relieved it’s over because there’s only so much I felt I could do,” she said.
“It has been difficult. I have been thrown a lot of balls this week.”
Sloane Stephens will now meet world No 1 Victoria Azarenka, who earlier beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-1. “It should be fun,” she said.
“I am in the semis of a grand slam so I will give it my all and do the same thing again.”
Kelly Osbourne has been secretly engaged to Matthew Mosshart, new reports claim.
Vegan chef Matthew Mosshart is said to have popped the question shortly before Christmas and now the couple are said to be planning a summer wedding.
A source told Us Weekly that Kelly Osbourne and Matthew Mosshart are “really excited” about planning their nuptials.
The source added: “Kelly is the happiest she’s ever been. Her career is going well, and she’s in a healthy relationship with a wonderful guy.”
Kelly Osbourne and Matthew Mosshart are planning a summer wedding in the UK this summer.
Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter was not wearing an engagement ring at the Golden Globes earlier this month.
Kelly Osbourne has been secretly engaged to Matthew Mosshart
Kelly Osbourne and Matthew Mosshart met at the nuptials of Kate Moss and Jamie Hince in July 2011 but didn’t go public with their romance until five months later.
The TV presenter has credited her beau with helping her achieve her super-slim figure, thanks to his healthy cooking.
Kelly Osbourne said: “Over the past two years, I’ve lost over four-and-a-half stone [63 pounds] – but I’ve only lost the last stone since I met Matthew.
“I love Matthew and we love to work out together – we motivate one another. I go on the treadmill every day for half an hour and do two hours of exercise if I have a special event.”
Kelly Osbourne recently spoke about her love for Matthew Mosshart and said he made her realize what real love is.
She said: “I couldn’t believe that he truly liked me because I never think people ever could. But I’m so happy. I don’t think I’ve ever really known what love is like before.”
Prior to meeting Matthew Mosshart, Kelly Osbourne had dated her fair share of musicians including Bert McCracken of The Used, Matty Derham of Fields and Matt Emerson drummer of Trash Fashion.
In 2006 Kelly Osbourne and Matty Derham held a wedding ceremony at a festival but it was not legally binding.
In March 2009 Kelly Osbourne became engaged to model and DJ Luke Worrall, but the relationship ended after it emerged he had cheated on her with transgender model Elle Schneider.
An Indian commission set up to suggest reforms to country’s rape laws after last month’s Delhi gang rape of a student has called for faster trials.
The panel, led by former chief justice JS Verma, also called for longer sentences but not the death penalty.
India’s law minister said the report would get “government attention” soon.
The brutal assault on the 23-year-old student in Delhi in December shocked India and sparked a debate about the treatment of women.
Justice JS Verma said his three-member commission had received 80,000 responses from India and abroad on how to reform rape laws.
Among the recommendations of the report, submitted to the home ministry on Wednesday, were:
broadening of the definition of what constituted sexual assault
cases to be tried in specially designated courts, preferably by women judges
quicker trials and faster processing of appeals in cases of crimes against women
more accountability for the police
better implementation of laws and the need for a change in the mindset of law-enforcers
strong action against those found guilty of trafficking and against security forces convicted of sexual assault in conflict zones.
uniform national protocol for the treatment and medical examination of rape survivors
The panel also recommended that those found guilty of rape leading to death spend the rest of their life in prison, but it stopped short of calling for the death penalty, something which many in India had pushed for.
“What is needed to enforce laws is the sensitivity on the part of those who implement it,” he told a news conference after submitting the report to the home ministry in Delhi.
“The state’s role is not just punishing criminals but also to prevent crimes against women,” he said.
An Indian commission set up to suggest reforms to country’s rape laws after last month’s Delhi gang rape of a student has called for faster trials
Justice JS Verma said the authorities had failed in their duties to the public.
He said that despite the huge number of responses to the commission’s request for ideas, not a single Indian state police chief had sent recommendations.
The head of the panel also praised young people for going into the streets to protest about the status quo.
“Youth has taught us what we, the older generation, were not aware of. I was struck by the peaceful manner in which the protests were carried out… the youth rose to the occasion,” he said.
Justice Leila Seth, another member of the commission, said police “don’t take complaints of rape victims seriously”.
“There is institutional bias against the weaker sections of society,” she said.
The Verma committee also looked at marital rapes and physical, sexual and psychological violence in the family.
Justice JS Verma said he hoped that the report would be taken seriously by the government.
The student raped in December, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was attacked after boarding a bus in south Delhi with a male friend.
Police said the assailants beat both of them, and then raped the woman. She suffered massive internal injuries and died nearly two weeks later.
The incident led to nationwide protests against the treatment of women in India. Campaigners called for tougher rape laws and reforms to the police, who have been accused of often failing to file charges against attackers.
Earlier this week, the trial of five men held for the crime began at a specially convened fast-track court.
If convicted, the men could face the death penalty. A sixth suspect, who is thought to be 17, is expected to be tried by a juvenile court.
The government has said it will bring in stronger sexual assault laws and has established several committees to recommend changes.
It has also promised to fast-track future rape cases. Legal proceedings in India sometimes involve years of delays.
There are believed to be about 95,000 rape cases pending nationwide, according to Ranjana Kumari, a women’s activist.
Hillary Clinton is giving evidence to Congress over the deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last year.
“I take responsibility,” the Secretary of State told the foreign relations committee of the Senate, referring to security failures that led to the attack.
She had been due to testify late last year but fell ill.
Christopher Stevens, the US ambassador to Libya, and three other officials were killed in the attack on September 11, 2012.
The ambassador died of smoke inhalation when he was trapped in the burning consulate building, after armed men had stormed the compound.
The assault triggered a major political row over who knew what and when. As a result, an independent panel – the Accountability Review Board – was charged with investigating the incident.
Hillary Clinton told the Senate committee she never saw the paperwork asking for more security at the consulate in Benghazi.
“The specific security requests pertaining to Benghazi… were handled by the security professionals in the department. I didn’t see those requests, they didn’t come to me, I didn’t approve them, I didn’t deny them,” Hillary Clinton said.
In her opening remarks, Hillary Clinton pointed to the rise of Islamist militancy across North Africa and said: “Benghazi did not happen in a vacuum.”
Hillary Clinton is giving evidence to Congress over the deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi
The secretary of state’s appearance comes less than a week after a siege by Islamist militants at a gas facility in Algeria in which three Americans died.
“Instability in Mali has created an expanding safe haven for terrorists who look to extend their influence and plot further attacks of the kind we saw just last week in Algeria,” Hillary Clinton also said.
Responding to questions, she said: “We have to recognize this is a global movement – we can kill leaders but until we help establish strong democratic institutions… we’re going to be faced with this level of instability.”
Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, where Hillary Clinton is surrounded by former colleagues and the tone is likely to be respectful.
Hillary Clinton’s voice shook with emotion as she described the moment she and President Barack Obama welcomed home the caskets of those killed in the Benghazi attacks, saying this was “personal”.
In the House, however, Hillary Clinton is expected to face much more heat.
The panel review did not blame her directly for any of the failures, but members of Congress will still want to know why she was not personally aware of requests for more security in a high-risk posting like Libya.
On Tuesday, Republican Senator John McCain said he wanted to press Hillary Clinton on where she was on the night of the attack, and what warnings there had been about deteriorating security.
“It’s been a cover-up from the beginning,” he told reporters.
Hillary Clinton is also facing questions about how the administration of President Barack Obama handled the fallout.
Three State Department employees have been fired over the Benghazi attack, and recommendations the panel made in December are already being implemented.
Hillary Clinton, who is stepping down from her post in two weeks, has spent a month recuperating from a series of ailments in December.
She was treated in hospital for a blood clot near her brain, weeks after fainting and suffering a concussion in the subsequent fall.
Barack Obama appointed Hillary Clinton at the start of his first term in 2009. She is considered a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for president should she run in 2016.
Outrage in Congress over the Benghazi incident and its aftermath has already led US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, to withdraw from the race to succeed Hillary Clinton.
Last November, Susan Rice admitted releasing incorrect information after the Benghazi attack. She said there had been no attempt to mislead the public, but Republicans were unconvinced.
Barack Obama has since nominated Democratic Senator John Kerry – who is expected to be swiftly confirmed – as Hillary Clinton’s replacement.
Hillary Clinton is due to testify for 90 minutes before the committees.
Washington D.C. reverberated to the sounds of partying for a second consecutive evening last night as Lady Gaga headlined the Inauguration Staff Ball, a spectacular private event for thousands of Barack Obama staffers.
Lady Gaga, who wore a jaw-dropping white Versace dress, sang The Lady Is A Tramp with renowned crooner Tony Bennett at the Washington Convention Center to the delight of those who had campaigned for Barack Obama’s re-election.
Although no media were allowed into the event, many in attendance took to social media and Instagram to share pictures.
President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama took to the stage before Lady Gaga’s entrance to thank supporters for their hard work, saying that the thousands of guests at his staff ball represented his “deepest hopes for America”.
Tuesday’s inauguration festivities came hot on the heels of Barack Obama’s Gangnam Style dance off with singer Usher at the spectacular after-party he and wife Michelle Obama threw at the White House on Monday night after attending two glitzy events to celebrate his inauguration.
At last night’s event, the final celebration of his inauguration, Barack Obama welcomed more than 10,000 guests, including campaign employees and volunteers, inaugural workers, Democratic Party members, and White House officials, saying: “You all clean up pretty good.”
The president continued: “It makes me know that America’s future is in good hands. As long as all of you understand the immense and incredible power that you possess when you work together, when you join voices.”
He introduced Michelle Obama, who was dressed in a silver and black ensemble, and referred to her new hairstyle.
“Here’s the First Lady, bangs and all, looking very sparkly,” Barack Obama said.
Lady Gaga sang The Lady Is A Tramp with renowned crooner Tony Bennett at the Washington Convention Center to the delight of those who had campaigned for Barack Obama’s re-election
First Lady Michelle Obama echoed the President’s campaign-year chant of “fired up, ready to go”. And fired up she was, dancing in her seat when her husband announced the musicians.
“It’s been a long weekend,” Barack Obama said.
“She’s getting a little silly now.”
The crowd then serenaded the President and the first lady with an impromptu rendition of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours”, one of the many campaign theme songs, according to one report.
Lady Gaga sang a few of her hits including Born This Way and Edge of Glory before Tony Bennett joined her for a duet of The Lady is a Tramp, a track the odd couple first recorded together in 2011.
David Plouffe, the campaign manager for Barack Obama’s 2008 bid for the White House, and Jim Messina, the former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, also addressed the crowds, followed by speeches of thanks from Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill.
Proceeds from the ball will go to a memorial fund for Alex Okrent, a campaign worker who collapsed and died at Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters in July.
“Alex was one of you,” Barack Obama said of Alex Okrent.
“This incredibly thoughtful, talented, compassionate, caring young person who decided to get involved because he thought he could make a difference. And tragically, he ended up leaving us while working on the campaign… It was heartbreaking. It reminded us of how precious our time on this earth is.”
Staffers who attended the exclusive ball were treated to a spectacular cake made to resemble the White House.
Lady Gaga tweeted a picture of the edible 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, with the comment: “The cake inside the White House party!”
Mozilla has unveiled details of the first smartphones to be powered by its Firefox operating system.
Two handsets are to be made by a small Spanish firm called Geeksphone and will be targeted at developers ahead of the system’s formal launch.
The platform is based on the HTML5 web programming language and is being marketed as offering software writers more “freedom” than alternatives.
However, it faces competition from other soon-to-be-released systems.
Blackberry 10, Ubuntu, Tizen and Sailfish are all due for release for smartphones before the end of 2013, joining a market already occupied by Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Blackberry 7 and Symbian among others.
One analyst said he did not believe there was enough room in the market for all to survive.
The two new handsets are codenamed Keon and Peak.
Keon is the more basic model, including a 3.5in (8.9 cm) screen, a 3MP (megapixel) camera and Qualcomm’s low-end Snapdragon S1 processor.
Peak has a bigger 4.3in display, an 8MP camera and a more powerful Snapdragon S4. Mozilla noted this was probably “slightly faster” than the first generation devices that would be marketed to the public.
It added that Geeksphone’s phones would be made available for sale next month, but did not provide a price.
It said that when devices went on general sale they would be cheaper than many alternatives and would be targeted at emerging markets.
Mozilla has unveiled details of the first smartphones to be powered by its Firefox operating system that will be developed by Geeksphone
The Mozilla Foundation already uses the Firefox brand for its web browser – an offshoot of the 1990’s Netscape Navigator product. The software is developed by a community of volunteers and is run as an open source project, meaning its code is accessible to others allowing them to make their own modifications.
The same principles are applied to the operating system and Mozilla highlights the fact that coders can market their apps through their own websites or any store they wish in addition to the organization’s own marketplace.
It adds that the lightweight nature of the system means that apps should run smoothly and offer “optimal battery life” on low-end devices.
However, one analyst questioned whether this would make Firefox OS stand out, bearing in mind developers were already free to offer web apps for most other devices, and in the case of Android could also sell native apps outside Google’s own Play store if the user adjusted their settings to accept them.
“What Firefox is trying to do is make the web the app store and bring the openness of the web to phones,” said Nick Dillon, senior analyst at the consultants Ovum.
“But the question is what does this offer over a cheap Android phone to a consumer looking to buy a low-end handset?
“On Android you got Google services pre-installed and the 700,000 apps in its store but Firefox OS isn’t going to have these so will have reduced functionality.”
If Firefox OS is a success it should help drive the creation of HTML5 apps, which by their nature should work on any smartphone.
In theory this works to developers’ advantage as they can write a single program and then offer it across a range of platforms.
However, many view the language as a “work in progress” when it comes to mobile and believe that for the time being native apps – those coded for a specific platform – offer advantages.
“Applications that require more processing power and the full capabilities of a phone – games for example – lend themselves more to native applications,” said Nick Dillon.
“Although HTML5 has come a long way there are still gaps, like for notifications, that have not been fully standardized across all browsers – so if you are building an app that can alert users to the fact they have received a new message, it’s easier to do in a native app if you want to ensure a consistent experience.
“The trade-off, of course, is that it will take more time and effort to make the app for each platform.”
High-protein products are an important nutritional choice for Americans, whether they try to build muscle, or to lose weight, whether they want to have a vegan diet.
A research from Mintel, a leading global supplier of consumer, product and media intelligence, shows that introductions of foods and drinks making a high-protein claim are higher in the US than anywhere else in the world, accounting for 19% of global new product launches in 2012. India and the U.K. follow with 9% and 7% respectively.
“Americans are looking for protein to aid in satiety, weight management and to boost muscle recovery and build muscle after a workout, making protein appeal to a broad audience in a great number of usage occasions,” said Nirvana Chapman, global food Science trend analyst at Mintel.
Proteins enhance muscle growth and repair after exercise and help to improve performances.
A study conducted by American College of Sports Medicine showed that the high-protein diet improved athletes’ endurance performance slightly after intense training and reduced their stress levels. Apparently, tyrosine, an amino-acid found in protein, is a mood-booster, contributing to the increase in performance.
According to Mintel, protein use in meal-replacement and sports beverages formulations making high-protein claims had a 37% growth in the past five years.
At Maxishop you can find a large variety of high-protein supplements to help you to lose weight, and to tone your muscles, along with nutrition and hydration products, clothing and accessories. Also, you can find information on ingredients, sports nutrition, and you can pose questions to experts to make a choice of what product is right for you.
High-protein is a selection attribute for 46% of all meal-replacement users in the US and there is an upward trend towards whey protein products for weight loss.
Also, 87% of US consumers indicated satiety as an important food attribute for them when choosing products.
“A ‘Satiety Index’ (SI) is often used to measure the hunger-fighting power of certain foods. Foods with a high-SI leave people more satisfied after eating and ensure that they are likely to eat less for hours after. Protein in particular has been shown to have a positive effect on subjective satiety, with whey protein in particular having demonstrated a functional role in weight management and satiety,” said Nirvana Chapman.
Snacks represent 20% of the high protein food and drink new product launches in the US in 2012, followed by meal- replacement and other fortified drinks (17%) and spoon-able yogurt (15%). Products launched in the US with both a high-protein and vegan claim have shown a steady increase since 2008, with a 54% growth in the last five years.
Globally, the percentage of food and drink products launched with a slimming claim in the past five years that include whey protein are trending upwards, up 140% between 2008 and 2012.
“In the weight management industry, there is an upward trend towards products that combine whey protein, peptides, and calcium for weight loss. Specifically, the high-protein trend is growing worldwide, evidenced by countries with high-protein claim products being launched, as well as European examples of consumers seeking high-protein products,” said Nirvana Chapman.
Whether you want to lose weight, to tone your body, or to enhance performances, you have to be fully informed before you chose a high-protein supplement. High-protein diet works, but if it is not right for you, it can lead to allergies, constipation, kidney issues, heart problems, osteoporosis, or malnutrition. You need to drink enough water, to keep a balance in your diet (including vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers), to learn your medical condition, and obviously to know the full list of ingredients of the high-protein supplements.
General John R. Allen has been cleared of misconduct by the Pentagon for more than 3,000 emails exchanged with Florida socialite Jill Kelley and revealed during David Petraeus scandal.
John Allen’s nomination to head NATO commander in Europe had been put on hold amid reports the emails were inappropriate.
He is due to relinquish command of his Afghanistan post in February.
Harassment complaints by Jill Kelley led the FBI to unmask an affair between CIA Director David Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell. He later resigned.
Defence officials told the Associated Press that the White House had not decided whether to go forward with General John Allen’s nomination to Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said the defence department “was pleased to learn that allegations of professional misconduct were not substantiated”, adding that defence secretary Leon Panetta had “complete confidence in the continued leadership” of Gen. John Allen.
The emails first came to light as part of a wider investigation into email harassment against Jill Kelley, who knew both Gen. John Allen and David Petraeus, a former general, through social contacts on the Florida army base where US Central Command is headquartered.
When the FBI investigated, it traced the emails to David Petraeus biographer Paula Broadwell, bringing to light her affair with the CIA chief.
General John R. Allen has been cleared of misconduct by the Pentagon for more than 3,000 emails exchanged with Florida socialite Jill Kelley and revealed during David Petraeus scandal
Earlier reports suggested Gen. John Allen and exchanged thousands of emails, some described as inappropriate and flirtatious, with Jill Kelley.
The Afghanistan commander had also written a letter to a judge in support of Natalie Khawam, Jill Kelley’s twin sister, in a messy custody dispute.
After being contacted by the FBI, Leon Panetta announced the inquiry into Gen. John Allen and put the commander’s nomination on hold.
Defence officials told the Washington Post that the full investigation had shown that there were in fact only several hundred emails exchanged between the two, mostly notes on current news topics, social invites or compliments on Gen. John Allen’s television interviews.
“Some of the messages are not the sort of things you would print in a family newspaper,” the official said.
“But that doesn’t mean he violated military regulations by sending and receiving them.”
In addition to the inquiry into Gen. John Allen, Leon Panetta asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff to review ethics training after a series of misconduct cases.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, has not released the results of his review but has said he found that ethics training for senior leaders should begin earlier in an officer’s career and be reinforced more frequently.
Conflicting reports have emerged over whether Beyonce sang live the National Anthem at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
A spokeswoman for the Marine Corp Band told The Times in a “last minute” decision, Beyonce opted to perform to a pre-recorded backing track.
However, the Marine Corp said “no-one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or pre-recorded”.
But it confirmed that the band itself was not playing live.
Millions of people tuned in to watch President Barack Obama be sworn in for his second term in office. The ceremony was punctuated by performances from James Taylor, Kelly Clarkson, as well as Beyonce, who sang the National Anthem.
When The Times reported that Beyonce had mimed, the story quickly travelled around the world.
The newspaper quoted a spokeswoman for the Marine Corp Band, Master Sergeant Kristin duBois, who said: “We pre-recorded all music as a matter of course and have done since time immemorial.
“This is our 54th inauguration… There is no question of there not being any music, it’s not because the performer cannot do it.”
However, the spokeswoman did not state outright that Beyonce mimed her part of the performance.
In a statement, the Marine Corp said: “There was no opportunity for Ms Knowles-Carter to rehearse with the Marine Band before the inauguration so it was determined that a live performance by the band was ill-advised for such a high-profile event.
“Each piece of music scheduled for performance in the Inauguration is pre-recorded for use in case of freezing temperatures, equipment failure, or extenuating circumstances.
“Regarding Ms Knowles-Carter’s vocal performance, no one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or pre-recorded.”
Conflicting reports have emerged over whether Beyonce sang live the National Anthem at President Barack Obama’s inauguration
Some reports suggested Beyonce had pre-recorded her vocal in a studio at the Marine Barracks Annex on Sunday night.
They were drawing inferences from a series of images posted on Beyonce’s website over the weekend – one of which showed her in the studio holding the sheet music for the Star Spangled Banner.
If the claims turned out to be true, they would not be without precedent.
In 2008, American cellist Yo Yo Ma mimed his performance at President Barack Obama’s first inauguration, saying the freezing temperatures and wind might have affected his instrument live.
Celebrities and fans have been debating Beyonce’s performance.
Soul legend Aretha Franklin, who also performed at the 2008 ceremony, said the star did “a beautiful job”, even if she was miming.
“When I heard the news this evening that she was pre-recorded I really laughed,” she told ABC News.
“I thought it was funny because the weather down there was about 46 or 44 degrees and for most singers that is just not good singing weather.
“But she did a beautiful job with the pre-record… Next time I’ll probably do the same.”
On Twitter, TV presenter Piers Morgan said: “Beyonce still SANG it, everyone. It was HER voice.”
Brooklyn band Prince Rama commented: “I actually think Beyonce lip-syncing the national anthem is one of the best conceptual art pieces I’ve seen in a long time.”
While Los Angeles musician Michael Anthony defended the star, saying: “It doesn’t even look like Beyonce was lip syncing at all.”
A blog post on the Washington Times website said: “Some Beyonce fans insist it looked real, especially when she ripped out her earpiece midway through the song.”
A glass of alcohol before bedtime may get you off to sleep faster but it can disrupt your night’s slumber, say researchers who have reviewed the evidence.
The London Sleep Centre team says studies show alcohol upsets our normal sleep cycles.
While it cuts the time it takes to first nod off and sends us into a deep sleep, it also robs us of one of our most satisfying types of sleep, where dreams occur.
Used too often, it can cause insomnia.
Many advocate a nightcap – nursing homes and hospital wards have even been known to serve alcohol – but Dr. Irshaad Ebrahim and his team advise against it.
Dr. Irshaad Ebrahim, medical director at the London Sleep Centre and co-author of the latest review, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, said: “We should be very cautious about drinking on a regular basis.
“One or two glasses might be nice in the short term, but if you continue to use a tipple before bedtime it can cause significant problems.
“If you do have a drink, it’s best to leave an hour and a half to two hours before going to bed so the alcohol is already wearing off.”
A glass of alcohol before bedtime may get you off to sleep faster but it can disrupt your night’s slumber
He said people could become dependent on alcohol for sleep.
And it could make sleep less restful and turn people into snorers.
“With increasing doses, alcohol suppresses our breathing. It can turn non-snorers into snorers and snorers into people with sleep apnoea – where the breathing’s interrupted.”
From the hundred or more studies that Dr. Irshaad Ebrahim’s team looked at, they analyzed 20 in detail and found alcohol appeared to change sleep in three ways.
Firstly, it accelerates sleep onset, meaning we drop off faster.
Next, it sends us into a very deep sleep.
These two changes – which are identical to those seen in people who take antidepressant medication – may be appealing and may explain why some people with insomnia use alcohol.
But the third change – fragmented sleep patterns the second half of the night – is less pleasant.
Alcohol reduces how much time we spend in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – the stage of sleep where dreams generally occur.
As a consequence, the sleep may feel less restful, said Dr. Irshaad Ebrahim.
Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, said: “Alcohol on the whole is not useful for improving a whole night’s sleep. Sleep may be deeper to start with, but then becomes disrupted. Additionally, that deeper sleep will probably promote snoring and poorer breathing. So, one shouldn’t expect better sleep with alcohol.”
The Sleep Council said: “Don’t over-indulge. Too much food or alcohol, especially late at night, just before bedtime, can play havoc with sleep patterns.
“Alcohol may help you fall asleep initially, but will interrupt your sleep later on in the night. Plus you may wake dehydrated and needing the loo.”
UK’s PM David Cameron has said the British people must “have their say” on Europe as he pledged an in/out referendum if the Conservatives win the election.
David Cameron said he wanted to renegotiate the UK’s relationship with the EU, before asking people to vote.
The British people would face a “very simple choice” either to accept the result of the talks, or to leave the EU altogether, he said.
Labour’s Ed Miliband said PM was “weak” and being driven by “party interest”.
In a long-awaited speech, David Cameron pledged to hold a referendum during the early part of the next parliament – by the end of 2017 at the latest – if the Conservatives win the next general election.
He said it would be a decision on the UK’s “destiny” and, if he secured a new relationship he was happy with, he would campaign “heart and soul” to stay within the EU.
“It is time for the British people to have their say,” the prime minister said.
“It is time to settle this European question in British politics. I say to the British people: this will be your decision.”
The Conservative leader has been under pressure from many of his MPs to give a binding commitment to a vote on Europe.
PM David Cameron has said the British people must have their say on Europe as he pledged an in-out referendum if the Conservatives win the election
David Cameron said “disillusionment” with the EU was “at an all time high” and “simply asking the British people to carry on accepting a European settlement over which they have had little choice” was likely to accelerate calls for the UK to leave.
“That is why I am in favor of a referendum,” he said.
“I believe in confronting this issue – shaping it, leading the debate. Not simply hoping a difficult situation will go away.”
Setting out the conditions for a future poll, David Cameron said: “The next Conservative manifesto in 2015 will ask for a mandate from the British people for a Conservative government to negotiate a new settlement with our European partners in the next parliament.
“And when we have negotiated that new settlement, we will give the British people a referendum with a very simple in-or-out choice to stay in the EU on these new terms; or come out altogether. It will be an in/out referendum.”
David Cameron said holding an in/out referendum now would be a “false choice” because Europe was set to change following the eurozone crisis and it would be “wrong to ask people whether to stay or go before we have had a chance to put the relationship right”.
The prime minister said he “understood the appeal” of Britain going it alone and said he was sure the UK would survive outside the EU. But, he said, the UK must think “very carefully” about the implications of withdrawal for its prosperity and role on the international stage.
“If we left the European Union, it would be a one-way ticket, not a return,” he added.
David Cameron rejected suggestions that a new relationship was “impossible to achieve”, adding that he would prefer all other EU countries to agree a new treaty but would be prepared to seek negotiations on a unilateral basis.
Several Conservative MPs – who want a looser relationship with the EU focused around trade and who were briefed about the speech – have said they are “satisfied” with the thrust of its contents.
But some europhile Conservatives, including Lord Heseltine, have warned that committing to a referendum at some point in the future on the outcome of an uncertain negotiating process was an “unnecessary gamble”.
The Lib Dems say pursuing a wholesale renegotiation of the UK’s membership will cause uncertainty and deter foreign investment while Labour claim David Cameron’s approach is being driven by party calculations rather than the national interest.
Labour said the referendum pledge defined David Cameron “as a weak prime minister, being driven by his party, not by the national economic interest”.
“We understand the need for change but I don’t honestly believe the best way to get change in a club of 27 is to stand at the exit door demanding change or threatening to leave,” shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said.
The speech had been scheduled for last Friday in the Netherlands, but was postponed because of the Algerian hostage crisis.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to form “as broad a government as possible” after his alliance won a narrow election victory.
His right-wing Likud-Beitenu bloc will have 31 seats in parliament – a sharp drop from 42, exit polls suggest.
In a major surprise, the centrist Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party came second with a predicted 18-19 seats, with Labour next on 17.
Analysts now predict weeks of political horse-trading to form a new cabinet.
They say that there is even a possibility that Benjamin Netanyahu’s alliance would end up being in opposition.
Although the Likud-Beitenu alliance is the largest seat-winner, the split of right and left political blocs is a dead heat at 60-60 in the 120-member Knesset, the Israeli Central Elections Committee website showed, with 99.5% of votes counted.
Thirty-two parties were competing under a system of proportional representation. Parties must win at least 2% of the total vote to secure seats.
Full election results are expected on Wednesday, and the official ones will be announced on 30 January.
Speaking shortly after the voting ended on Tuesday evening, Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the voters “for the opportunity to lead the state of Israel for the third time”.
In an apparent reference to his electoral setback, the prime minister promised to reach out to “many partners” to form a wide coalition.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to form as broad a government as possible after his alliance won a narrow election victory
“Tomorrow we start anew,” Benjamin Netanyahu said.
He also said that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remained the government’s first challenge.
Other top priorities, he added, would be stabilizing the economy, striving for peace in the region, more egalitarian military and civilian services and reducing the cost of living.
In a brief speech, Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman said: “I’m happy that our two main missions were achieved. We have ensured a continuity in the rule of the national camp and the continued leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu.”
Benjamin Netanyahu is now widely expected to seek an alliance with a new nationalist party, Habayit Hayehudi (Jewish Home), which is projected to have 12 seats.
The party – led by Benjamin Netanyahu’s former chief-of-staff Naftali Bennett – has been recently challenging Likud-Beitenu’s dominance on the right.
Analysts say the 18 or 19 seats predicted for Yesh Atid, headed by journalist-turned-politician Yair Lapid, is a stunning result for a newcomer.
Yair Lapid has said he will not join Benjamin Netanyahu’s team unless the prime minister promises to push for peace with Palestinians.
“We have red lines. We won’t cross those red lines, even if it will force us to sit in the opposition,” Yaakov Peri, one of Yesh Atid’s leaders, told Israeli TV.
Labour is expected to get 17 seats – up from just seven in the outgoing parliament. Labour leader Shelly Yachimovich said: “There is a high chance of a shake-up and an end to the Netanyahu government.”
The wider world will examine these results for clues about Israel’s future attitude towards peace talks with the Palestinians or the possibility of a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, our correspondent says.
He adds that the truth of the matter is that it’s far too early to make those judgements which will depend on the balance of forces within a future coalition more than on the outcome of the popular vote.
But the sudden and decisive lurch to the right that many predicted has not happened, our correspondent says. The results show that there is plenty of life on the left and the centre of Israeli politics too.
Benjamin Netanyahu, 63, has been in office since the 2009 election. He also served one term as prime minister between 1996 and 1999.
In recent years he has accelerated home construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, drawing anger from Palestinian leaders and criticism from Western partners.
However, unlike in previous elections, the campaign focused largely on social and economic issues, rather than the prospects for a permanent peace agreement with the Palestinians.
There have been unprecedented protests against the rising cost of living and a recent report said nearly one in four Israelis lived in poverty.
British broadcaster Stuart Hall has been charged with one offence of rape and 14 offences of indecent assault, Lancashire Police have said.
Stuart Hall, 83, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, was arrested on Tuesday after attending a police station by appointment.
The rape is alleged to have been committed in 1976 against a 22-year-old woman.
The indecent assaults are alleged to have taken place between 1967 and 1986 on 10 girls aged between nine and 16.
Stuart Hall has been bailed to appear before magistrates in Preston on February 7.
A Lancashire Police statement said: “Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service an 83-year-old man has this evening been charged with one offence of rape and 14 offences of indecent assault.”
British broadcaster Stuart Hall has been charged with one offence of rape and 14 offences of indecent assault
Stuart Hall pleaded not guilty to three charges of indecent assault when he appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court earlier this month. The court referred these charges to Preston Crown Court.
The broadcaster is best known for his sports reporting on BBC Radio 5 live – as well as his work on the 1970s TV show It’s A Knockout.
Stuart Hall has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century and became an OBE in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity.
Shakira and Gerard Piqué have welcomed last night their first child together, baby boy Milan Piqué Mebarak.
Shakira has announced the happy news on her official website, revealing that he is already to follow in the footsteps of his father, footballer Gerard Piqué, stating: “Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of FC Barcelona at birth.”
The singer added in the message: “We are happy to announce the birth of Milan Piqué Mebarak, son of Shakira Mebarak and Gerard Piqué, born January 22nd at 9:36 p.m., in Barcelona, Spain.
“The name Milan (pronounced MEE-lahn), means dear, loving and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious; and in Sanskrit, unification…”
The hospital confirmed that the couple’s first child weighed approximately 6 lbs. 6 ounces, and that both mother and child are in excellent health.
Shakira, 35,took to Twitter just four hours earlier to ask her devotees to pray for her during the birth of her first child, revealing to them that she was about to go into labour.
She was admitted into hospital in Barcelona, where she was due to be induced and give birth to her baby boy with her 25-year-old boyfriend Gerard Piqué.
Shakira and Gerard Piqué have welcomed last night their first child together, baby boy Milan Piqué Mebarak
Shakira appealed to her fans via Twitter shortly after arriving at the Teknon clinic on Tuesday, writing: “I’d like to ask you all to accompany me in your prayers on this very important day of my life. Shak.”
She also posted the same content in Spanish and was immediately inundated with messages of support from her fans across the world, wishing her good luck.
A source previously told Spanish newspaper La Razon that the couple scheduled the birth so that FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué could be present during their baby’s arrival.
The insider also revealed that Shakira had requested a female only medical team, who all signed confidentiality agreements, assist her during the birth.
The Colombian was said to be feeling “increasing discomfort” ahead of the birth and was complaining of “abdominal pressure.”
Shakira has been dating soccer player Gerard Piqué for around two years and previously said he is the “best thing” to ever happen to her, until she got pregnant.
North Korea has reacted angrily to a UN resolution condemning its recent rocket launch, pledging to strengthen military and nuclear capabilities.
The Security Council unanimously passed the resolution, which also expanded existing sanctions, on Tuesday.
North Korea, in a statement early on Wednesday, pledged to bolster its “nuclear deterrent” and ruled out denuclearization talks.
The resolution followed Pyongyang’s successful December launch.
North Korea said the three-stage rocket put a communications satellite into space.
But its neighbors and the US said the move constituted a test of long-range missile technology banned under UN resolutions passed after Pyongyang’s nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
The Security Council resolution was proposed by the US and backed by China, North Korea’s closest ally and biggest trading partner.
It represented a compromise between the two nations, with the US pushing for new sanctions and China for a statement, rather than a resolution. Chinese support was a blow for Pyongyang, observers say.
North Korea has reacted angrily to a UN resolution condemning its recent rocket launch, pledging to strengthen military and nuclear capabilities
Under the resolution – which pledged “significant action” if North Korea carried out a third nuclear test – North Korea’s space agency, a bank and a number of trading companies and individuals were added to existing sanctions lists.
“This resolution demonstrates to North Korea that there are unanimous and significant consequences for its flagrant violation” of previous resolutions, said US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice.
Both South Korea and Japan welcomed the resolution, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calling it a “resolute action”.
Chinese envoy to the UN Li Baodong, meanwhile, said Beijing believed “that action taken by the council should be prudent, measured, proportionate and conducive to stability”.
North Korea responded swiftly, with a statement from its foreign minister carried by state news agency KCNA condemning the “extremely unfair” resolution as a violation of sovereign rights.
“We will take physical actions aimed at expanding and strengthening our self-defensive military forces, including nuclear deterrence,” it said.
It also stated that there would be “no dialogue to discuss denuclearization of the Korean peninsula”, in an apparent reference to long-stalled six-nation talks aimed at ending Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.
In recent weeks reports from both the US and South Korea have described activity at North Korea’s nuclear test sites, sparking concerns North Korea could be preparing for a third test.
Pyongyang has conducted two nuclear tests, the first in 2006 and the second in 2009.
The US and North Korea’s neighbors fear Pyongyang’s ultimate goal is to put a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile that could target the west coast of the US, but it is not believed to have mastered the technology yet.
Shakira has taken to Twitter to ask her devotees to pray for her during the birth of her first child, revealing to them she’s about to go into labour on Tuesday evening.
Shakira, 35, has been admitted into hospital in Barcelona, where she is due to be induced and give birth to her baby boy with her 25-year-old boyfriend Gerard Pique.
The singer appealed to her fans via Twitter shortly after arriving at the Teknon clinic on Tuesday, writing: “I’d like to ask you all to accompany me in your prayers on this very important day of my life. Shak.”
She also posted the same content in Spanish and was immediately inundated with messages of support from her fans across the world, wishing her good luck.
Shakira has taken to Twitter to ask her devotees to pray for her during the birth of her first child, revealing to them she’s about to go into labour on Tuesday evening
A source previously told Spanish newspaper La Razon that the couple scheduled the birth so that FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique could be present during their baby’s arrival.
The insider also revealed that Shakira had requested a female only medical team, who all signed confidentiality agreements, assist her during the birth.
Shakira was said to be feeling “increasing discomfort” ahead of the birth and was complaining of “abdominal pressure.”
Shakira has been dating soccer player Gerard Pique for around two years and previously said he is the “best thing” to ever happen to her, until she got pregnant.
Three people have been injured in a shooting at Lone Star College in Houston, Texas, say police.
Harris County Sheriff’s official Armando Tello said a suspect was in custody after the attack at Lone Star College in the Houston-area.
Jed Young, a spokesman for the college, told CNN that two students had been wounded in cross-fire.
He said a suspect was also injured and was in custody, while a second armed suspect had fled the campus.
The college’s official Twitter account said a shooting between two individuals had taken place at about 12:30 local time on Tuesday.
“Danger has been mitigated,” said the statement.
“Situation under control.”
Three people have been injured in a shooting at Lone Star College in Houston
Students fled for safety as ambulances arrived at the scene and police swarmed over the campus.
A spokesman for the nearby Ben Taub General Hospital in Harris County said two casualties had been admitted to that facility.
Witnesses told local broadcaster KHOU they had seen a man pull out a gun during an argument with another man.
“I saw two dudes basically get into an altercation and the dude that shot, he basically got angry and started shooting the other guy,” Brittany Mobley said.
Another student, Amanda Vasquez told KPRC television she had been waiting for an English class to begin when gunfire rang out.
“They sounded very close, the shots. Five or six gunshots,” she said.
“I just ducked under the table as fast as I could and hoped for the best.
“I saw one of the shooters when he was already under police control.”
The campus, about 20 miles north of Houston, has some 18,000 students.
Florida socialite Jill Kelley has finally broken her silence over David Petraeus affair since the scandal erupted three months ago and said she never met Paula Broadwell, who tried to “blackmail, extort and threaten her”.
Jill Kelley – who has been described as the “other other woman” in David Petraeus affair – has been accused of many things since the scandal erupted.
The Lebanese-born socialite was accused of having an affair with David Petraeus as they exchanged more than 30,000 emails, that she had an affair with General John Allen and that she used cancer charity funds for entertainment purposes.
Jill Kelley, 37, said from the moment the blackmailing email was sent to an account she shared with her husband Scott, her life was turned upside down as she went from wealthy Tampa socialite to a maligned, scamming mistress.
She said she was terrified by the anonymous email and admitted in the barrage that followed there was “blackmail, extortion, threats”.
She would later learn they were from biographer Paula Broadwell, whose affair with David Petraeus triggered his resignation as CIA director.
Speaking to The Daily Beast’s Howard Kurtz, Jill Kelley said she had no idea who Paula was or of her relationship with Petraeus.
When Jill Kelley complained to a friend in the FBI, she had no idea of the chain of events she was about to set in motion – including finding herself accused of having an affair with General John Allen, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, which both flatly deny.
“I knew I was being stalked. I did what anybody else would have done when they were feeling threatened, to go seek protection from somebody I could trust,” she said.
Jill Kelley has finally broken her silence over David Petraeus affair since the scandal erupted three months ago
In the interview, Jill Kelley mainly dwells on the impact the scandal has had on her husband and children, recounting a party she threw soon after for her daughter’s seventh birthday.
“It was devastating. To have your privacy invaded is truly…there are no words to describe it,” she said.
“Instead of enjoying a family birthday party, I had paparazzi storming my front lawn, pushing down the door. There are no words to describe the panic and fear at that moment.
“As much as I appreciate that [the media] want to be the first one to come out with a headline, regardless of whether they did any fact-checking, they have to consider the impact they have on our life and our children’s lives,” Jill Kelley says.
“Just because it’s repeated doesn’t make it true. It was living a nightmare.”
Jill Kelley said a lot of reports in the media were not true, or greatly exaggerated, including that she had exchanged as many as 30,000 emails with Gen. John Allen.
While she did not provide an estimate, she said it was probably somewhere in the hundreds.
When asked about her relationship with John Allen, whom she met when she hosted a birthday party for David Petraeus’ wife Holly,
“We’re friends, good friends,” she said.
That friendship continued by email when Allen was sent to Kabul.
The general’s promotion to be commander of NATO forces is on hold while investigators examine the email traffic between him and Jill Kelley – but sources have described it as flirtatious and potentially inappropriate.
But she contests this, saying they were sent from an account she shared with her husband and that sometimes John Allen’s wife was even copied in.
Jill Kelley said it has been particularly difficult for her cancer surgeon husband, who she deems “an honorable guy” but what she wants the public to know is simple.
“I’m a dedicated mother, a loving wife. We have a very happy, close family. I support the troops. I take pride in feeding the homeless in our community. This whole situation is just very sad.”
In the fallout from the Petraeus scandal, which cost the decorated former General his job as CIA director, Jill Kelly also lost her title as an Honorary Consul to South Korea.
She was also banned from visiting MacDill Airforce base in her role as a social liaison officer and told to remove vanity license plates that carried the title “Honorary Consul”.
Jill Kelley, a mother of two, has never spoken publicly about her involvement in the scandal but is believed to be writing a tell-all book.
