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Jose Manuel Barroso in Athens for Greece economy talks

Clyde K. Valle
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Jose Manuel Barroso in Athens for Greece economy talks

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is heading to Athens for talks on Thursday amid concern over whether Greece has done enough to get its next tranche of bailout loans.

It is his first visit for three years and he is expected to say the EU wants Greece to stay in the eurozone.

But there will be tough talking behind the scenes, analysts say.

Greece’s international lenders are also in Athens in an attempt to get deficit cutting measures “back on track”.

After months of political deadlock and two general elections earlier this year, Greece is struggling to meet the economic targets it has accepted as a condition of its bailouts.

Jose Manuel Barroso is heading to Athens for talks on Thursday amid concern over whether Greece has done enough to get its next tranche of bailout loans
Jose Manuel Barroso is heading to Athens for talks on Thursday amid concern over whether Greece has done enough to get its next tranche of bailout loans

Inspectors from the EU and the IMF are trying to work out whether or not Greece has done enough to receive its next tranche of loan money.

The European Commission says the country’s financing needs will be met in August, but a decision on further payments will have to be made in early September.

Without sufficient progress, it may not receive the final part of its bailout worth 31.5 billion Euros ($38 billion).

Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Greece would suffer a much deeper recession than thought this year.

He expects the economy to shrink by 7%, greater than the 5% forecast by the crisis-hit country’s central bank.

Antonis Samaras said Greece would not return to growth until 2014.

He is expected to ask for more time to repay its loans.

Jose Manuel Barroso’s visit is overdue as Greeks often complain about European political leaders who spend plenty of time talking about them, and not much talking to them.

The Commission president is unlikely to be out and about shaking hands, but at least he will be in Athens to speak directly to the Greek people.

Jose Manuel Barroso’s spokesman said the purpose of his visit was “to meet Antonis Samaras and discuss the overall economic situation in Europe and in particular in Greece”.

He said it was “a regular meeting” and that the preparation for the talks had been “under discussion for some time”.

 

 

You need to eat less rather than exercise to keep you thin, a new study finds

Kathryn R. Bown
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You need to eat less rather than exercise to keep you thin, a new study finds

A new research has contradicted the idea that exercise is more important than diet in the fight against obesity.

A study of the Hadza tribe, who still exist as hunter gatherers, suggests the amount of calories we need is a fixed human characteristic.

This suggests Westerners are growing obese through over-eating rather than having inactive lifestyles, say scientists.

One in 10 people will be obese by 2015.

And, nearly one in three of the worldwide population is expected to be overweight, according to figures from the World Health Organization.

The Western lifestyle is thought to be largely to blame for the obesity “epidemic”.

Various factors are involved, including processed foods high in sugar and fat, large portion sizes, and a sedentary lifestyle where cars and machines do most of the daily physical work.

A study of the Hadza tribe, who still exist as hunter gatherers, suggests the amount of calories we need is a fixed human characteristic
A study of the Hadza tribe, who still exist as hunter gatherers, suggests the amount of calories we need is a fixed human characteristic

The relative balance of overeating to lack of exercise is a matter of debate, however.

Some experts have proposed that our need for calories has dropped drastically since the industrial revolution, and this is a bigger risk factor for obesity than changes in diet.

The study, published in the PLoS ONE journal, tested the theory, by looking at energy expenditure in the Hadza tribe of Tanzania.

The Hadza people, who still live as hunter gatherers, were used as a model of the ancient human lifestyle.

Members of the 1,000-strong population hunt animals and forage for berries, roots and fruit on foot, using bows, small axes, and digging sticks. They don’t use modern tools or guns.

A team of scientists from the US, Tanzania and the UK, measured energy expenditure in 30 Hadza men and women aged between 18 and 75.

They found physical activity levels were much higher in the Hadza men and women, but when corrected for size and weight, their metabolic rate was no different to that of Westerners.

Dr. Herman Pontzer of the department of anthropology at Hunter College, New York, said everyone had assumed that hunter gatherers would burn hundreds more calories a day than adults in the US and Europe.

The data came as a surprise, he said, highlighting the complexity of energy expenditure.

But he stressed that physical exercise is nonetheless important for maintaining good health.

“This to me says that the big reason that Westerners are getting fat is because we eat too much – it’s not because we exercise too little,” said Dr. Herman Pontzer.

“Being active is really important to your health but it won’t keep you thin – we need to eat less to do that.

“Daily energy expenditure might be an evolved trait that has been shaped by evolution and is common among all people and not some simple reflection of our diverse lifestyles.”

 

Mary Tamm, Doctor Who star, dies at 62

Sonia Pantiss
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Mary Tamm, Doctor Who star, dies at 62

Mary Tamm, Doctor Who star, who played companion Romana alongside Tom Baker, has died aged 62.

Mary Tamm, who was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, fought a long battle with cancer and died in hospital in London.

Agent Barry Langford, who confirmed the news, said the actress had a “zest for life”.

Mary Tamm’s stage and screen career also included films The Odessa File and The Likely Lads, as well as recurring roles in EastEnders and Brookside.

Mary Tamm, Doctor Who star, who played companion Romana alongside Tom Baker, has died aged 62
Mary Tamm, Doctor Who star, who played companion Romana alongside Tom Baker, has died aged 62

“She was a fantastic actress,” said Barry Langford, who was her agent for 22 years.

“She played stage parts of such range, parts that would take your breath away. She could play any role, and do so wonderfully.”

Mary Tamm, who lived in London, had been suffering from cancer for 18 months.

She trained at Rada and after starting out at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, alongside Derek Jacobi, Joan Sims and Ronnie Barker, she then moved on to television work and film.

Mary Tamm’s first feature film was Tales That Witness Madness with Kim Novak, and she recently starred in Wire in the Blood, Paradise Heights and Jonathan Creek on TV.

Her stage work included the role of Amanda in Private Lives and Beverley in Abigail’s Party.

Mary Tamm leaves behind husband Marcus Ringrose, daughter Lauren and seven-year-old grandson Max.

Her agent Barry Langford revealed that Mary Tamm had been saddened by the recent deaths of contemporaries Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who, and Angharad Rees, who died last weekend.

Barry Langford said: “All of these people who she knew were going.”

 

James Holmes sent notebook describing a massacre to University of Colorado

Diane A. Wade
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James Holmes sent notebook describing a massacre to University of Colorado

James Holmes, the man suspected of shooting 12 people dead at a Colorado cinema last week, sent a notebook describing a massacre to a psychiatrist at his university, according to US media reports.

It contained crude drawings of stick figures and descriptions of an upcoming attack, US news outlets say.

The University of Colorado, Denver, has confirmed that it received a suspicious package that it has handed to police.

James Holmes, 24, is being held over the massacre at the cinema in Aurora.

The reports emerged as the first funeral of the 12 victims was held.

 

James Holmes sent a notebook describing a massacre to a psychiatrist at his university
James Holmes sent a notebook describing a massacre to a psychiatrist at his university

 

Gordon Cowden, 51, was the oldest of those killed. His teenage children were also in the theatre during the shootings but emerged uninjured.

Fox News, citing an unnamed law enforcement source, was first to report that the suspect had allegedly posted the notebook.

According to the network, it contained “full details about how he was going to kill people, drawings of what he was going to do in it, and drawings and illustrations of the massacre”.

Other outlets also quoted unnamed sources as saying that James Holmes, who was preparing to quit his studies, had sent a package to the university.

But the college itself appeared to contradict media reports that the package had been sent before the massacre, and that it had remained unopened for days.

Officials at the university’s Anschutz Medical Campus said it had received a suspicious package on Monday that was immediately investigated and turned over to authorities within hours of its delivery.

The FBI refused to comment on the record about the reports, a day after a judge issued a gagging order limiting what officials can say about the case.

James Holmes was a neuroscience PhD student at the college until he took steps last month to leave the programme.

Many remain in hospital after the shootings, with several in critical condition.

Denver-area hospitals that are treating survivors said on Wednesday they would eliminate or limit medical bills for the casualties, some of whom had no medical insurance and faced huge costs.

 

 

Tito Jackson Jr. is the new guardian of Michael Jackson’s kids

Lisa.Felice
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Tito Jackson Jr. is the new guardian of Michael Jackson’s kids

A court in Los Angeles has decided to give temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson’s three children to their cousin, Tito Jackson Jr.

The children’s grandmother Katherine Jackson has been their guardian since the singer’s death in 2009.

However, Judge Mitchell Beckloff made the decision after concerns were raised over Katherine Jackson’s absence from the family home.

Reports of a rift in the Jackson family have emerged in recent days.

Police were called to Katherine Jackson’s home on Monday as a result of a “minor scuffle” reportedly involving two members of the Jackson family.

A court in Los Angeles has decided to give temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson's three children to their cousin, Tito Jackson Jr
A court in Los Angeles has decided to give temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson's three children to their cousin, Tito Jackson Jr

Three of Michael Jackson’s siblings and his children, Paris, 14, Prince Michael, 15, and 10-year-old Prince Michael II (also called Blanket) were present at the time.

That came days after Katherine Jackson was reported as missing. On Tuesday, Paris Jackson tweeted that she hadn’t seen her grandmother for nine days.

There have been conflicting claims about her wellbeing and whereabouts, with pictures emerging of her later with relatives in Arizona.

Questions were raised at the Los Angeles hearing about whether Katherine Jackson was being held against her will, with Tito Jackson Jr. telling the court he had had a conversation with his grandmother in which she used strange phrases and her words were “slurred”.

In addition to the change of guardian, Judge Beckloff also ordered that the children not be removed from the state of California.

However, he said there was no evidence that Katherine Jackson had done anything wrong and that he would restore her as the children’s guardian on her return, the Associated Press reports.

Michael Jackson died aged 50 of an overdose of the anaesthetic, propofol, in June 2009.

 

Olympics 2012: North Korea in wrong flag row

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympics 2012: North Korea in wrong flag row

London Olympic organizers have apologized to the North Korean women’s football team after their images were shown on a screen beside a South Korean flag.

Kick-off at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on the first day of the Games’ sporting action was delayed for about an hour.

The men’s football competition gets under way with eight games later, including Britain v Senegal at Old Trafford at 20:00 BST.

The penultimate day of the torch relay sees the flame visit Buckingham Palace.

The flag mix-up at Hampden Park had been an “embarrassing mistake” and not the start Games organizers would have wanted, but “no great harm was done”.

As the North Korean players were being introduced before the match against Colombia, South Korean flags were mistakenly displayed in the video package.

London Olympic organizers have apologized to the North Korean women's football team after their images were shown on a screen beside a South Korean flag
London Olympic organizers have apologized to the North Korean women's football team after their images were shown on a screen beside a South Korean flag

The squad walked off and could only be persuaded to return when the teams were announced again with each player’s face displayed next to the North Korean flag.

Relations between the two Koreas are tense – they remain technically at war following the 1950-53 Korean conflict, which ended in an armistice.

Speaking after the match, North Korea’s coach Sin Ui Gun said: “Our team was not going to participate unless the problem was solved properly…

“Unfortunately it took some time later for the broadcast to be done again properly and we made the decision to go on with the match.”

It was not immediately clear who had produced the video shown in the stadium.

A statement released by London 2012 organizers said: “We will apologize to the team and the National Olympic Committee and steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again.”

London 2012 spokesman Andy Mitchell said: “The South Korean flag was shown in the video package on the screen before the kick-off and the North Koreans were naturally very upset about that…

“A genuine mistake was made for which we apologize.”

The opening match in the men’s football gets under way at 12:00 BST at Hampden Park when Honduras take on Morocco, followed by Spain v Japan.

Matches are also taking place at St James’ Park in Newcastle, Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and the City of Coventry Stadium.

 

In other Olympics news:

• In the first event of the Games, Britain’s women footballers beat New Zealand 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. This was one of six women’s football matches played on Wednesday

• Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the torch relay in Tottenham, north London, on Wednesday. On the torch relay’s penultimate outing – day 69, which can be followed live here – the flame will pass through Downing Street and be greeted at Buckingham Palace by Princes William and Harry, and the Duchess of Cambridge

• A global investment conference being held in London on Thursday will kick off a series of business summits intended to showcase the UK and attract investment during

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More Syrian diplomats defect as Aleppo fighting intensifies

Roy Siemens
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More Syrian diplomats defect as Aleppo fighting intensifies

Two more senior Syrian diplomats have defected amid mounting pressure on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, the US has confirmed.

Syria’s representatives in the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus – who are husband and wife – are reported to have fled to Qatar.

It comes amid intensifying clashes in the key city of Aleppo, where troops are trying to halt a rebel advance.

UN members have traded more accusations of blame amid the diplomatic impasse.

Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the world to “act now to stop the slaughter”, but Security Council members remain deadlocked over what action it should take.

The Syrian government has rushed troops and tanks to Aleppo, Syria’s second city and commercial centre, parts of which were seized by rebels.

The heightening of the crisis is causing regional concern, say correspondents, amid a growing exodus of refugees and fears the fighting could draw in Syria’s neighbours.

Syrian diplomats’ defection comes amid intensifying clashes in the key city of Aleppo
Syrian diplomats’ defection comes amid intensifying clashes in the key city of Aleppo

“We can confirm the defections of Syrian ambassadors to both the UAE and Cyprus,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Jay Carney said the move showed that “senior officials around the Assad inner circle are fleeing the government because of the heinous actions taken by Assad against his own people, and the recognition that Bashar al-Assad’s days are numbered”.

The diplomats in question are Lamia al-Hariri, Syria’s charge d’affaires in Cyprus, and her husband Abdelatif al-Dabbagh, ambassador to the UAE.

A military attaché at the Syrian embassy in Oman – Mohammed Tahseen al-Faqir – is also reported to have defected.

Earlier this month, Nawaf Fares, Syria’s ambassador to Iraq, left for Qatar.

A senior state department official told AFP news agency: “These defections serve as a reminder that the bottom is starting to fall out of the regime. It is crumbling and losing its grip on power.”

Aleppo is now the focus of a battle which neither regime nor opposition forces can afford to lose.

He says restive neighbourhoods are being pounded by artillery, mortars and helicopter gunfire, and there are multiple reports of reinforcements heading to the city.

One activist based in the city, Mohammed Saeed, told Associated Press news agency they were expecting a big assault to try to reassert government control.

Adrien Jaulmes, of French newspaper Le Figaro, said that many people had fled Aleppo and others remained off the streets and in their homes.

“All afternoon, helicopters and Syrian jet fighters have been circling above the city, with the Free Syrian Army fighters firing at them with all the weapons they have,” he said, adding that the situation remained fluid and difficult to assess.

The fighting has caused renewed regional concern, with Turkey tightening its border controls with Syria, though it says it will allow refugees to get through.

Thousands of refugees have already sought shelter in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.

Meanwhile, AP reported Israelis were rushing to get government-issue gas masks on Wednesday, following a Syrian threat on Monday that it would employ chemical weapons against external attackers.

On Wednesday, the UN’s Ban Ki-moon urged world leaders to halt the slaughter in Syria.

But further bitter accusations of blame followed within the UN Security Council, which has seen three resolutions blocked by Russia and China.

“The Syrian people will pay the price for this failure [to act],” Germany’s UN ambassador Peter Wittig told a Security Council debate on the Middle East on Wednesday.

But Russia envoy Vitaly Churkin retorted that pledges by some Western powers to take steps to support the Syrian opposition outside the council “contributes and leads to an escalation of confrontation”.

 

 

Olympics 2012: triple jumper Voula Papachristou expelled for racist tweet

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympics 2012: triple jumper Voula Papachristou expelled for racist tweet

Greek Olympian triple jumper Voula Papachristou has been expelled from her country’s Olympic team over comments she posted on Twitter which were deemed racist.

Voula Papachristou was due to compete in the London 2012 Games, which officially start this Friday.

But the Hellenic Olympic Committee said her posts mocking African immigrants and expressing support for a far-right party went against the Olympic spirit.

Voula Papachristou has apologized for the “unfortunate and tasteless joke”.

As well as the comment on Sunday referring to the West Nile virus and Africans living in Greece, Voula Papachristou had also reposted a tweet by Ilias Kasidiaris, a politician with the far-right Golden Dawn party, criticizing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s stance on immigration.

She had previously retweeted several links to videos promoting the views of Golden Dawn, which won 7% of the vote in Greece’s recent elections, and had directly communicated online with Ilias Kasidiaris.

Ilias Kasidiaris gained notoriety for slapping one left-wing woman politician and throwing water over another, during a heated debate on a television show.

Triple jumper Voula Papachristou has been expelled from Greek's Olympic team over racist comments she posted on Twitter
Triple jumper Voula Papachristou has been expelled from Greek's Olympic team over racist comments she posted on Twitter

Voula Papachristou tweeted him on his name day last week: “Many happy years, be always strong and true!!!”

The athlete’s remarks had prompted calls from the public and within the Greek government for her to be thrown out of the team.

The head of the Greek committee, Isidoros Kouvelos, said the 23-year-old had “showed no respect for the basic Olympian value”.

“She made a mistake and in life we pay for our mistakes,” he told Skai TV.

Earlier in the week, Voula Papachristou had responded online, saying “that’s how I am” and that she was not like a stuck CD: “If I make mistakes, I don’t press the replay! I press Play and move on!”

But in a statement on her Facebook page and Twitter on Wednesday, Voula Papachristou said she was “very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights”.

She apologized to her friends, family, fellow athletes and the national team, but said it would not have been possible for her to compete if she did not support the values of the Games.

“Therefore, I could never believe in discrimination between human beings and races.”

The Greek committee said she had been “placed outside the Olympic team for statements contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic movement”.

However, her coach George Pomaski said the punishment had been too harsh and she had already apologized.

“This is a big disappointment not only for her but for her family and for myself, and anyone involved in the Greek team,” he said.

George Pomaski said he had been unable to contact Voula Papachristou for several hours.

Greece is experiencing a sharp rise in racism, with the popularity of right-wing parties such as Golden Dawn soaring.

The government has come under pressure to crack down on racism in all domains, including sport.

The Olympic Charter

The Olympic Charter, established by Baron Pierre de Coubertin the founder of the modern competition, states that: “The practice of sport is a human right.”

Everyone should be able to play sport “without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”

The spirit of the games is about the power of sport over politics, where perseverance and hard work are paid off with medals; where ordinary people can become national heroes.

This ideology has been expanded over the years. In the words of the London2012 official education programme, Get Set: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are about much more than sporting excellence.”

 

 

Madonna speaks about swastika image used during her MDNA tour

Sonia Pantiss
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Madonna speaks about swastika image used during her MDNA tour

Madonna has spoken about an image used during her current MDNA tour which showed a swastika imposed onto the face of French politician Marine Le Pen.

The controversial symbol was included in a video accompanying the song Nobody Knows Me, as she performed in Paris.

It showed the face of Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Front party, with a swastika on her forehead.

Interviewed for a Brazilian TV channel, Madonna said all images used were chosen “purposefully”.

“That film that was created is about the intolerance that we human beings have for one another and how much we judge people before knowing them,” she said.

Madonna has spoken about an image used during her current MDNA tour which showed a swastika imposed onto the face of French politician Marine Le Pen
Madonna has spoken about an image used during her current MDNA tour which showed a swastika imposed onto the face of French politician Marine Le Pen

France’s National Front party (FN) said it planned to sue the US singer following the use of the image at her concert in the Stade de France on 14 July.

The video had already appeared earlier in Madonna’s 30-nation MDNA world tour, sparking a warning from Marine Le Pen that she was considering legal action.

FN vice-president Florian Philippot said the party could not accept “such an odious comparison”.

But Madonna refused to edit the video and, speaking before her concert in Brazil, the singer said “all images in the video were chosen purposefully”.

“There seems to be a growing intolerance around the world. In Greece, France, everywhere people are trying to kick out all the immigrants, make people cover up and not show what their religious affiliation is.”

“Think about what’s going on in Russia towards the gay community,” she said.

“I’m calling attention to that intolerance and asking people to pay attention, to wake up to see how we are just creating more chaos in the world.”

Displaying the swastika image has not been the only controversy on Madonna’s MDNA tour.

During her show in Edinburgh on 21 July, Madonna defied warnings not to brandish a gun during her performance following the recent shootings at a cinema screening of Batman in Colorado.

Madonna said she believed it is an artist’s responsibility to call attention to world events “and to help bring people together”.

“Art is there to track what’s going on in the world, to make social commentary,” she said.

 

France: six people die in helicopter crash in Provence

Diane A. Wade
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France: six people die in helicopter crash in Provence

Six people have reportedly died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of Provence in southeastern France.

The aircraft came down at around 13:40 local time in the Verdon Gorge, an area popular with hikers.

The helicopter, reportedly a Cougar, belonged to aviation company Eurocopter and was on a test flight involving pilots and engineers, officials say.

Witnesses said the helicopter had hit an electricity cable before plunging down onto the river bank.

Six people have died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of Provence
Six people have died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of Provence

Firefighters and a team of climbers were dispatched to the scene, as well as a medically-equipped helicopter.

The helicopter came down in one of Europe’s best known river gorges, which runs 700 m (2,300 ft) deep.

Police spokesman Benoit Gounine told reporters that rescuers had trouble reaching the site.

“The accident happened in a very difficult place to access, which complicates our work,” he said.

Investigations are taking place to determine the cause of the crash.

 

Hugo Chavez unveils Simon Bolivar’s 3-D face

Diane A. Wade
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Hugo Chavez unveils Simon Bolivar’s 3-D face

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has unveiled a 3-D reconstruction of the face of Simon Bolivar, who died in 1830 after leading the fight against Spanish colonial rule in the region.

The computer-generated image was created by artists studying Simon Bolivar’s remains.

It looks remarkably like known portraits of the South American liberation hero.

Two years ago Hugo Chavez ordered that the remains should be exhumed.

Simon Bolivar was widely thought to have died from tuberculosis aged 47.

But Hugo Chavez had a theory that Simon Bolivar had been poisoned in revenge for his fight against the Spanish empire.

Forensic tests were inconclusive.

Hugo Chavez has unveiled a 3-D reconstruction of the face of Simon Bolivar
Hugo Chavez has unveiled a 3-D reconstruction of the face of Simon Bolivar

The 3-D image was unveiled at Miraflores presidential palace in the capital, Caracas, on the 229th anniversary of Simon Bolivar’s birth.

“Bolivar is the fight that does not end, he is born every day in ourselves, in his people, in the children, in the fight for life and for social justice,” said Hugo Chavez, a big admirer of the Venezuelan-born national hero.

“He was, is and will be one of the greats of humanity, a true giant of the human cause.”

Simon Bolivar’s remains will reside in a new mausoleum built in central Caracas. It was built with marble imported from South Africa and cost around $78 million.

Many cities in South America have monuments honoring the man known as The Liberator.

He began his fight against the Spanish empire in the early 1800s and after independence became the president of Gran Colombia, which covers much of modern Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador and northern Peru.

A few years later, the Republic of Bolivia was created. Simon Bolivar became one of the few men to have a country named after h

President Hugo Chavez’s fascination with Simon Bolivar has been evident throughout his presidency.

In 1999, within a year of taking power he changed the country’s name from plain “Venezuela” to “the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.

Hugo Chavez claims to be a political successor to Simon Bolivar, who fought for the establishment of a democratic state for people in South America.

President Hugo Chavez says his form of socialism is a continuation of these principles.

He may not be too impressed by the news that his opponent in this year’s elections, Henrique Capriles, is allegedly related to Simon Bolivar.

A Venezuelan genealogist claims Henrique Capriles is the descendent of Simon Bolivar’s illegitimate brother Juan Agustin.

 

Samsung disables Galaxy S3 Google local search function following patent dispute with Apple

Nancy Clayson
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Samsung disables Galaxy S3 Google local search function following patent dispute with Apple

Samsung has disabled Google local search function in an update to the international version of its flagship Galaxy S3 smartphone, following a patent dispute with Apple.

Once the software is installed the phones no longer search contacts, apps and other on-device material using software developed by Google.

Android Central, which revealed the news, noted that users were not told the update would disable the service.

It follows a similar move in the US.

Apple claims the innovation infringes its patent to a single search interface which it uses in its Siri app to collate results from a range of sources.

Apple had already managed to enforce a brief sales ban on another Samsung handset – the Galaxy Nexus – in the US because of the patent.

Samsung disables Galaxy S3 Google local search function following patent dispute with Apple
Samsung disables Galaxy S3 Google local search function following patent dispute with Apple

That dispute will be considered again by a Washington-based court on 20 August – but whatever the ruling, it would not have applied to the GT-i9300 (S3) model sold in the UK and other places outside the US.

A spokeswoman for Samsung was unable to provide more detail.

“Samsung may be doing this as a precautionary measure to prevent it having to pay damages on devices sold outside the US in case Apple prevails in the States and then pursues a similar suit elsewhere,” said Simon Clark, head of intellectual property at law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner.

“Generally speaking a multinational company like Apple will have patent protection in all its key countries, and the wording will be very similar in each area. Although patent law can vary across territories it’s quite likely that a ruling in one country will lead to similar decisions in others.”

The move marks the latest development in a long string of lawsuits between the two firms over the technologies and designs of their mobile devices.

Apple was defeated in a London court earlier this month when it tried to have Samsung’s Galaxy Tab tablets banned in the UK after it failed to convince a judge that the South Korean firm had copied the look of its iPad.

The California-based company was ordered to publish the fact that its competitor had not infringed its registered design on its website and in magazines as a consequence.

However, it was more successful in Germany on Tuesday when an appeals court in Dusseldorf extended a preliminary injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.7 across the EU because of a related claim.

The two firms are set to clash again in the US on Monday when a jury will hear patent infringement suits filed by both companies against the other.

According to a court filing posted on the Foss Patents blog, Apple is seeking $2.5 billion in lost profits and royalty fees but is offering a fraction of that amount – half a cent in damages for each handset it has sold that uses its rival’s technologies – to settle Samsung’s countersuit.

Samsung later responded with its own filing, alleging that Apple was trying “to stifle legitimate competition and limit consumer choice to maintain its historically exorbitant profits”.

 

Kim Jong-Un is married to Ri Sol-Ju, North Korean media confirms

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-Un is married to Ri Sol-Ju, North Korean media confirms

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is married, state media have confirmed for the first time.

Reports referred to Kim Jong-Un attending the opening of an amusement park with his wife, “Comrade Ri Sol-Ju”.

There had been much speculation Kim Jong-Un’s private life in recent weeks when an unidentified woman was pictured attending events with him.

Kim Jong-Un took over as leader of the country after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il in December last year.

The eight minute report on North Korean radio which mentioned Ri Sol-Ju was broadcast at 20:00 local time on Wednesday.

North Korean media reports referred to Kim Jong-Un attending the opening of an amusement park with his wife, "Comrade Ri Sol-Ju”
North Korean media reports referred to Kim Jong-Un attending the opening of an amusement park with his wife, "Comrade Ri Sol-Ju”

Analysts have been watching Kim Jong-Un and his inner circle for clues as to the direction in which they will take the isolated state.

Last week authorities performed a military reshuffle widely interpreted by analysts as an attempt to stamp the authority of the new leader on North Korea’s powerful army.

There is a North Korean singer by the name of Ri Sol-Ju but it has not been confirmed whether Kim Jong-Un’s wife is the same woman.

Ri Sol-Ju is thought to be the same “mystery woman” who accompanied Kim Jong-Un to several events in recent weeks and whose Western dress and hairstyle led some to speculate on the influence of Kim Jong-Ju’s brief European education.

South Korean media had previously speculated that the woman was another North Korean singer, Hyon Song-Wol.

The focus on Kim Jong-Un’s personal life has been intense – within minutes of the news breaking, Ri Sol-Ju’s name was trending on micro-blogging site Twitter.

 

Apple’s OS X Mountain Lion to be released today

Nancy Clayson
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Apple’s OS X Mountain Lion to be released today

Apple has announced that OS X Mountain Lion, the latest version of its Mac operation system, will be released on Wednesday.

OS X Mountain Lion makes it easier to share material to social networks and also introduces a notification panel similar to that found on many smartphones.

The news was revealed in the company’s third quarter earnings release.

Mac sales were 2% up on the year, but the results fell short of many analysts’ forecasts.

Apple’s shares dropped about 5% in after hours trading on Wall Street.

Apple has announced that OS X Mountain Lion, the latest version of its Mac operation system, will be released on Wednesday
Apple has announced that OS X Mountain Lion, the latest version of its Mac operation system, will be released on Wednesday

Apple first announced the latest update to its operating system in February. The update continues a trend to introduce features to its desktop and laptop families that have already been implemented on its iPad and iPhone mobile devices.

These include the ability to upload and synchronize material with its iCloud internet storage service; the introduction of the iMessage service allowing text message-like chats between the firm’s computers and handsets; the ability to easily share material to Twitter; and an application to compare the user’s video game scores against those of their friends.

Apple has also taken steps to aid its expansion in China including the adoption of Baidu as a search service built into its web browser’s toolbar, and buttons to make it easy to share material to the Sina Weibo microblog, and the video sites Youku and Tudou.

However, the firm’s decision to keep its Mac system distinct from iOS for mobile devices is set to be challenged by October’s Windows 8 release by Microsoft.

Microsoft is offering users the chance to run the same system on both their tablets and desktop computers, making it easier to share software between them.

Windows 8 – and its touchscreen Metro apps – have been described by Microsoft as the biggest revision to its interface in over a decade. But one analyst said Mountain Lion was more of an incremental step forward.

“While there are a lots of new features this is not a major upgrade like the last version Lion was,” said Brian Blau, research director at tech research firm Gartner.

“But Apple has also been improving its Office-like software and creation applications along the way, so maybe it didn’t need such a big revision. And you have to bear in mind it is only charging $20 for the change.”

By contrast Microsoft is charging $39.99 for a Windows 8 upgrade, while Linux-based systems, such as Ubuntu and Debian, can be downloaded for free.

 

11-year-old boy boards plane from Manchester to Rome without passport and ticket

Diane A. Wade
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11-year-old boy boards plane from Manchester to Rome without passport and ticket

An 11-year-old boy from UK boarded a plane from Manchester to Rome on his own without a passport, tickets or boarding pass.

The boy got through a security screen by mingling with families going through Terminal 1 on Tuesday afternoon.

He was discovered while the Jet2 plane was in mid-air after passengers became suspicious.

A Manchester Airport spokesman said a number of airline staff had been suspended. The transport secretary said it was “incredibly concerning”.

The airport spokesman said the boy passed through security checks but was not asked to show any documentation.

The boy went straight to the nearest aircraft that was boarding – the flight to Rome – where he was also missed during a head-count on board the plane.

An 11-year-old boy from UK boarded a plane from Manchester to Rome on his own without a passport, tickets or boarding pass
An 11-year-old boy from UK boarded a plane from Manchester to Rome on his own without a passport, tickets or boarding pass

The spokesman said: “It is clear that documentation has not been checked correctly at security and the boarding gate.

“The boy went through full security screening, so the safety of passengers and the aircraft was never compromised.”

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: “I treat security breaches very, very seriously indeed, so we are now reviewing urgently with Manchester Airport, and indeed the airline, exactly what happened.”

A spokesperson for Jet2.com said: “On Tuesday an 11-year-old boy cleared security at Manchester Airport, without the necessary paperwork but had been through a full security search.

“The boy then boarded our flight bound for Rome.

“We have launched a full investigation into what is a serious incident, and the staff involved has been suspended pending the outcome.

“The boy has been returned safely to his family.”

It is believed the boy had earlier run away from home.

He stayed on board the plane when it landed at Rome Fiumicino Airport and was flown back to Manchester when the plane returned on Tuesday evening.

 

John Dramani Mahama sworn in as Ghana’s new president

Diane A. Wade
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John Dramani Mahama sworn in as Ghana’s new president

John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s new president, has pledged to uphold stability following the death of his predecessor John Atta Mills.

Former Vice President John Dramani Mahama, 53, was sworn in several hours after John Atta Mills, 68, died at a hospital in the capital, Accra.

The opposition has praised the swift transition to John Dramani Mahama, saying it showed Ghana was a mature democracy.

John Atta Mills, who suffered from throat cancer, had governed since 2009.

He had planned to run for a second term in elections in December.

John Dramani Mahama will now serve as president until the election, but it is unclear whether he will be the candidate of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.

Former Ghana’s Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in several hours after John Atta Mills died at a hospital in Accra
Former Ghana’s Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in several hours after John Atta Mills died at a hospital in Accra

Taking the oath at an emergency parliamentary session, John Dramani Mahama said he would govern for all Ghanaians.

“I wish Ghanaians to be assured that all is well,” John Dramani Mahama said.

“We are going to maintain the peace, unity and stability that Ghana is noted for.”

John Dramani Mahama has declared a week of national mourning.

Opposition New Patriotic Party (NNP) presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo has suspended campaigning out of respect for John Atta Mills, our reporter says.

NPP chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey praised the smooth transfer of power that happened within hours of the president’s death.

“Ghana actually has handled itself very well. We have never been through this before,” he said.

“Yet the transition that we saw in parliament has been very well handled, very smooth. We are showing a maturity that must encourage all Ghanaians.”

John Atta Mills died a few hours after being taken ill. No details have been given.

While John Atta Mills’s illness had always been a subject of great debate, it was never officially confirmed, correspondents say. He had always insisted he was well, and planned to seek re-election in December’s poll.

According to a presidential aide, the leader had complained of pains on Monday evening and his condition had deteriorated.

He had recently returned to Ghana after visiting the US for medical checks.

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf extended her condolences to Ghanaians, saying the news had come as a surprise.

“On a personal level his moderation and integrity stood out,” Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said, adding that John Atta Mills had played a strong role at the regional meetings they both attended.

President Barack Obama also paid tribute, praising John Atta Mills as a “strong advocate for human rights and for the fair treatment of all Ghanaians”, according to a White House statement.

John Atta Mills served as vice-president to former Ghanaian military ruler Jerry Rawlings between 1997 and January 2001.

He came to power after narrowly winning against Nana Akufo-Addo, in polls in December 2008.

His predecessor, John Kufuor, stepped down after having served the maximum permitted two four-year terms.

Under John Atta Mills’ leadership, Ghana joined the ranks of the world’s large-scale oil producers.

 

Sherman Hemsley found dead at his home aged 74

Sonia Pantiss
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Sherman Hemsley found dead at his home aged 74

Sherman Hemsley, the actor who starred in the hit 1970s sitcom The Jeffersons, has died at the age of 74 at his El Paso home.

Police in El Paso, Texas, said late on Tuesday that Sherman Hemsley had been found dead at his home, although the cause of death was unknown.

Sherman Hemsley played black Harlem businessman George Jefferson on CBS’s All in the Family before his character was spun off into The Jeffersons.

Sherman Hemsley, the actor who starred in the hit 1970s sitcom The Jeffersons, has died at the age of 74 at his El Paso home
Sherman Hemsley, the actor who starred in the hit 1970s sitcom The Jeffersons, has died at the age of 74 at his El Paso home

The Jeffersons, with a mostly black cast, ran for 11 seasons from 1975-85.

The show made fun of America’s racial and class-based faultlines. Sherman Hemsley’s character, a mean-spirited bigot who owned a dry-cleaning business, proved hugely popular with US audiences.

Born in Philadelphia in February 1938, Sherman Hemsley’s first big break came when he was cast for a Broadway show, Purlie, where he caught the eye of All in the Family’s creator.

 

Peugeot reports 819 million Euros loss

Clyde K. Valle
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Peugeot reports 819 million Euros loss

French car maker Peugeot has reported a loss of 819 million Euros ($1 billion) for the first half of the year and has detailed 1.5 billion Euros of cost savings.

The company said sales in the six months to the end of June had fallen by 5.1%.

Peugeot, which made a profit of 806 million Euros in the first half of 2011, said it would not break even until 2014.

The firm, which is Europe’s second-biggest carmaker, is in the process of cutting 8,000 jobs and closing one of its two Paris production sites.

In contrast, results from rival German carmaker Daimler were described by the company as “very good”, despite a fall in profits of 11%.

Daimler, which also makes Mercedes-Benz, has been investing in new models and has outsourced production of certain marques because its own factories are running at full capacity.

Peugeot has reported a loss of 819 million Euros ($1 billion) for the first half of the year
Peugeot has reported a loss of 819 million Euros ($1 billion) for the first half of the year

Peugeot’s plants are operating at 76% of capacity. It is suffering in part because of its exposure to countries badly affected by the eurozone crisis in Southern Europe.

“The depth and persistence of the crisis impacting our business in Europe requires the launch of the reorganization,” said Peugeot’s chief executive Philippe Varin.

“We have a clear understanding of how hard this project is for a large number of our employees.”

The carmaker has cut its debt by 1 billion Euros since the end of last year, but still has debts of 2.4 billion Euros.

Peugeot says the closure of the Aulnay factory near Paris will save 600 million Euros, while it will cut another 550 million Euros from investment and save a further 350 million through a recently-announced alliance with General Motors.

The Peugeot cuts programme is politically sensitive in France, with unions referring to it as a “declaration of war”.

French President Francoise Hollande called the restructuring “unacceptable”, while Peugeot’s chairman, Thierry Peugeot, said that criticism of the company had weakened investor confidence and left it vulnerable to hostile takeover bids.

Peugeot family members control the carmaker through a 25.2% stake commanding 37.9% voting rights.

Earlier this week, Philippe Varin met the French prime minister for talks. The government is set to unveil an aid package for the car sector later on Wednesday.

The carmaker also signed a deal earlier this week with Toyota, under which it will start building commercial vans next year at its plant in Sevelnord in northern France.

However, that deal rests on unions at Sevelnord agreeing to changes in working conditions, including a pay freeze and reduced leave, as well as hundreds of possible job cuts.

 

More effective tuberculosis treatment hope

Kathryn R. Bown
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More effective tuberculosis treatment hope

A new study showed three drugs given in combination killed more than 99% of tuberculosis bacteria after two weeks of treatment.

The therapy appeared to be equally effective on the drug-resistant form of the disease in the trials of 85 patients, a team led by Stellenbosch University in South Africa reported.

Larger studies are now taking place to further test the technique.

A new study showed three drugs given in combination killed more than 99 percent of TB bacteria after two weeks of treatment
A new study showed three drugs given in combination killed more than 99 percent of TB bacteria after two weeks of treatment

TB is one of the oldest and most deadly infectious diseases.

About 1.4 million people a year die each year from it, mainly in developing countries.

Current treatments usually involve people taking drugs daily for six months.

The drug-resistant strain is much harder to treat and can involve up to two years of therapy.

Of the three drugs used in this study, published in the Lancet, one is new, while another is not yet licensed.

Andreas Diacon, lead researcher for the trial, said: “The results of this study give healthcare providers on the front-lines of the TB epidemic hope for better, faster tools needed to stop this disease.”

Mario Raviglione, a TB expert at the World Health Organization, said: “The results look strongly promising from this early trial.

“We could shorten drug regimens substantially for everyone, regardless of whether the form of TB is sensitive or multi-drug resistant.”

 

James Holmes trial: cameras banned from next week’s hearing

Diane A. Wade
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James Holmes trial: cameras banned from next week’s hearing

A judge has ruled that cameras will be banned from next week’s hearing when James Holmes, the suspect in the Colorado cinema shooting, is to be formally charged.

James Holmes, 24, is accused of opening fire at a midnight showing of the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, last Friday, killing 12 and wounding 58.

Judge William Sylvester has denied a request by Denver-area media for expanded coverage on 30 July.

The suspect’s lawyers had objected to the media’s request.

His first court appearance on Monday was filmed, despite the defence team’s objections.

He appeared dazed as he sat in court in a burgundy jail suit with dyed orange hair, prompting media speculation about his mental state.

According to a report on ABC News, the suspect has been forced to wear a face guard because he kept spitting at prison officers.

Judge Sylvester’s order on Tuesday follows calls from some victims’ family members to avoid using the suspect’s name and his photos.

James Holmes is accused of opening fire at a midnight showing of the new Batman movie, killing 12 and wounding 58
James Holmes is accused of opening fire at a midnight showing of the new Batman movie, killing 12 and wounding 58

“I don’t want the media to be saturated with the shooter’s name,” said Jordan Ghawi, whose 24-year-old sister Jessica was killed in the shooting.

Police were not allowing residents of James Holmes’ apartment building to return on Tuesday, as investigators continued to work there.

Officials reportedly found 30 grenades and several gallons of gasoline inside the apartment, rigged into a booby-trap.

Twenty of the wounded remained in hospital on Tuesday, including six in critical condition.

Batman star Christian Bale visited victims at the Medical Center of Aurora in the afternoon, the hospital’s president confirmed.

“It was good for the patients,” Bill Voloch told the Denver Post.

“We hope it was therapeutic for them, and all the staff really appreciated him coming.”

Bill Voloch said that the actor had asked to visit, but requested that the media not be notified. A Facebook photo of Bale at the hospital was posted online.

The actor also met paramedics, doctors and police officers involved in treating people in the aftermath, as well as visited a makeshift memorial to the dead.

Meanwhile, a heavily pregnant 21-year-old woman who escaped the cinema shootings gave birth to a baby boy on Tuesday morning.

Katie Medley’s husband Caleb, a 23-year-old aspiring comedian, was shot in the head and remains in a critical condition.

A small group of Democratic lawmakers in Washington renewed calls on Tuesday to ban high-capacity gun magazines.

But with November’s elections looming, congressional leaders and President Barack Obama said there would be no movement on gun control in the near future.

Senator Robert Menendez, among the few calling for tougher laws, conceded calls for legislation were unlikely to succeed, but said it was important to start a debate.

“I hope that this does spark a national conversation about where we go in terms of reasonable gun control measures,” Senator Robert Menendez said.

The shooting has heightened security at cinemas, and over the weekend three men were arrested in separate incidents:

• A Maine motorist with weapons in his car was arrested after telling authorities he had been on his way to shoot a former employer, a day after watching The Dark Knight Rises

• About 50 people panicked and fled a showing of the movie at a cinema in Arizona during a confrontation involving an apparently intoxicated man

• In Los Angeles county, a 52-year-old man was arrested after reportedly shouting to moviegoers about Colorado and asking if anyone had a gun

 

 [youtube nJg-U7LDuuY]

Olympics 2012: London Games kick off with women’s football

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympics 2012: London Games kick off with women’s football

Women’s football is the first event of the Olympics and is to kick off later, two days before the official opening ceremony.

The Team GB women’s football side will get 18 days of sport under way at 16:00 BST against New Zealand at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Designated Games Lanes, covering about 30 miles of roads and off limits to the public, have begun operating in London.

And government lawyers will go to court to try to stop a public sector workers’ strike on the eve of the Games.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt will join Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan in Cardiff for the first event of the 2012 Games.

Women’s football is the first event of the Olympics and is to kick off later, two days before the official opening ceremony
Women’s football is the first event of the Olympics and is to kick off later, two days before the official opening ceremony

Team GB coach Hope Powell said opening the Games was a “great honour” and would hopefully give people “a greater appreciation of how good women’s football actually is”.

And captain Casey Stoney said she hoped the fixture could “raise the profile of women’s football”.

“It’s a global thing, not just for our nation, and hopefully we can put on a good show – but we are just focused on getting the job done.”

Team GB drew 0-0 against Sweden in their final warm-up fixture at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium last Friday.

Relative unknowns Cameroon and heavily fancied Brazil will take each other on at the stadium after the GB game, and four other matches in the same competition are also taking place later in the day at Hampden Park in Glasgow and the City of Coventry Stadium.

The Olympic Route Network (ORN), made up of 175 miles of roads connecting up the main Olympic venues across the country, comes into force on Wednesday.

It is designed to make it easier for athletes and officials to get around the Games and has seen junctions blocked off, bus stops moved and parking bays suspended.

As part of the ORN, the designated Games Lanes in London will be in operation between 06:00 BST and midnight and only open to VIPs, athletes and accredited media.

Ordinary motorists going into the lanes face fines of £130 ($205).

Mark Evers, Transport for London’s (TfL) director of Games transport, said commuters must leave more time for their journeys.

“The worst case scenario for us is that people try to chance it and, those first few days of the Games, that they try to do what they ordinarily do – and I can guarantee all people that travel around London, those first few days of the Games are going to be really busy,” Mark Evers said.

“It’s vitally important that they come up with a plan that takes into account the busy parts of the network.”

TfL commissioner Peter Hendy said the early signs were positive: “We’ve seen a marked reduction in road traffic in the last 10 days, which is along the lines of what we asked Londoners and people who work in London to do.”

In the High Court, the government is to argue for an injunction to prevent public sector workers, including immigration and passport workers at Heathrow and other airports, taking strike action on Thursday.

Thousands of spectators are expected to arrive at Heathrow Airport on that day.

The Home Office says it believes there was a “procedural error” in the ballot of members of the Public and Commercial Services union.

But the PCS said it was “confident” the strike was legal and would happen.

The government insists contingency plans are in place in the event of industrial action.

 

Greenland’s massive ice sheet melted at Summit station, NASA satellite reveals

James J. Williams
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Greenland’s massive ice sheet melted at Summit station, NASA satellite reveals

Greenland’s massive ice sheet has melted this month over an usually large area, NASA has said.

Scientists said the “unprecedented” melting took place over a larger area that ever detected in three decades of satellite observation.

Melting even occurred at Greenland’s coldest and highest place, Summit station.

The thawed ice area jumped from 40% of the ice sheet to 97% in just four days from 8 July.

Although about half of Greenland’s ice sheet normally melts over the summer months, the speed and scale of this year’s melting surprised scientists, who described the phenomenon as “extraordinary”.

Scientists said the "unprecedented" melting took place over a larger area that ever detected in three decades of satellite observation
Scientists said the "unprecedented" melting took place over a larger area that ever detected in three decades of satellite observation

NASA said that nearly the entire ice cover of Greenland, from its thin, low-lying coastal edges to its centre, which is 3 km (two miles) thick, experienced some degree of melting at its surface.

“When we see melt in places that we haven’t seen before, at least in a long period of time, it makes you sit up and ask what’s happening?” NASA chief scientist Waleed Abdalati said.

“It’s a big signal, the meaning of which we’re going to sort out for years to come.”

He said that because this Greenland-wide melting has happened before they are not yet able to determine whether this is a natural but rare event, or if it has been sparked by man-made global warming.

Scientists said they believed that much of Greenland’s ice was already freezing again.

Until now, the most extensive melting seen by satellites in the past three decades was about 55% of the area.

Ice last melted at Summit station in 1889, ice core records show.

The news comes just days after NASA satellite imagery revealed that a massive iceberg, twice the size of Manhattan, had broken off a glacier in Greenland.

“This event, combined with other natural but uncommon phenomena, such as the large calving event last week on Petermann Glacier, are part of a complex story,” said NASA’s Tom Wagner.

 

Looper, Bruce Willis sc-fi, will launch Toronto Film Festival 2012

Sonia Pantiss
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Looper, Bruce Willis sc-fi, will launch Toronto Film Festival 2012

Science-fiction thriller Looper will launch this year’s Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on 6 September.

Directed by Rian Johnson, it features The Dark Knight Rises actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an assassin ordered to kill an older version of himself.

Bruce Willis and Britain’s Emily Blunt co-star in the time-travel film.

It is one of a number of titles to have its world premiere at the event, which runs this year until 16 September.

Science-fiction thriller Looper will launch this year's Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on 6 September
Science-fiction thriller Looper will launch this year's Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on 6 September

Others include Cloud Atlas, an adaptation of the David Mitchell novel starring Hugh Grant and Halle Berry that was partly shot in Scotland.

Ben Affleck drama Argo, about the rescue of US diplomats from Iran in 1979, will also make its debut.

So will an adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s 1980 Booker winner Midnight’s Children, directed by India’s Deepa Mehta.

New versions of Dickens’s Great Expectations, Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing are also in the line-up.

Toronto is now the leading film festival in North America and often serves as a launch pad for high-profile awards contenders.

The event runs concurrently with the Venice Film Festival in Italy, which opens on 29 August with Mira Nair’s film of 2007 novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

That film will also screen at Toronto, as will Jayne Mansfield’s Car – a family drama from the actor and film-maker Billy Bob Thornton that was seen earlier this year at Berlin.

Another actor turned film-maker – one Dustin Hoffman – will unveil his directorial debut Quartet during the busy Toronto showcase.

Costa-Gavras, Neil Jordan, Robert Redford and David O. Russell are among the other notable directors to have films in the programme.

The festival will also feature documentaries about Marilyn Monroe and the late Monty Python member Graham Chapman.

 [youtube 0uIWGOKW5OM]

 

Oprah Winfrey criticized for being ignorant about Indian tradition

Lisa.Felice
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Oprah Winfrey criticized for being ignorant about Indian tradition

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey has been criticized after the broadcast of a two-part TV special about her trip to India in January.

The Oprah’s Next Chapter special was called “myopic, unaware, ignorant and gauche” by one Indian commentator and “snobbish” and “snooty” by another.

The Daily Bhaskar website said the “ill picturized and badly scripted show” portrayed India “in poor light”.

Oprah Winfrey, 58, drew particular criticism for remarking on the Indian tradition of eating with one’s hands.

Oprah Winfrey has been criticized after the broadcast of a two-part TV special about her trip to India in January
Oprah Winfrey has been criticized after the broadcast of a two-part TV special about her trip to India in January

“I heard some Indian people eat with their hands still?” Oprah Winfrey is seen asking a Mumbai family she joins for dinner.

“Using our hands to eat is a well-established tradition and a fact none of us are ashamed of,” blogged Rituparna Chatterjee of the CNN-IBN news channel.

“As a responsible public figure about to air a show that will be beamed across the world, you should have done your homework.”

Oprah Winfrey’s week in India saw her rub shoulders with Bollywood royalty, attend a literary festival in Jaipur and visit the Taj Majal in Agra.

The result, according to the Wall Street Journal’s India Real Time blog, typified: “India as Westerners imagine it, one stereotype at a time.”

The programme was originally shown in the US this April, but premiered in India over the weekend.

 

Ghana’s President John Atta Mills dies from throat cancer at 68

Diane A. Wade
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Ghana’s President John Atta Mills dies from throat cancer at 68

Ghana’s President John Atta Mills has died from throat cancer aged 68.

A statement from his office said John Atta Mills died in the country’s capital Accra a few hours after being taken ill, but did not give details.

“It is with a heavy heart…that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement said.

John Atta Mills has ruled the West African country since 2009.

Ghana's President John Atta Mills has died from throat cancer aged 68
Ghana's President John Atta Mills has died from throat cancer aged 68

John Atta Mills’ voice has been degenerating in the last few months.

A presidential aide said the leader had complained of suffering pains on Monday evening and he died on Tuesday afternoon, Reuters reports.

John Atta Mills had returned to Ghana after visiting the US for medical checks, the news agency says.

John Atta Mills came to power after narrowly winning against a candidate from the then governing New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, in polls in December 2008.

He was to run for a second term in December.

 

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