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Iraq: 82 people killed in Baghdad in a wave of bomb attacks and shootings

Roy Siemens
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Iraq: 82 people killed in Baghdad in a wave of bomb attacks and shootings

Waves of bomb attacks and shootings in north of Baghdad have killed at least 82 people, say security and medical officials.

Many of those killed were security forces – who appear to have been a prime target.

One of the worst-hit places was Taji, a Sunni neighbourhood some 20 km (12 miles) north of Baghdad, where at least 18 people were killed.

At least 112 people were wounded on one of the bloodiest days of the year.

Deadly car bombings hit Baghdad, and a government building in Sadr city was attacked. At least seven car bombs hit the northern oil city of Kirkuk.

Waves of bomb attacks and shootings in north of Baghdad have killed at least 82 people
Waves of bomb attacks and shootings in north of Baghdad have killed at least 82 people

Dhuluiya, Saadiya, Khan Beni-Saad, Tuz Khurmatu and Dibis were also said to have suffered attacks.

The security forces suffered badly in Monday’s attacks, with at least 15 Iraqi soldiers killed in a single attack on a base in Salaheddin province.

Police checkpoints were hit by car bombs, army bases were struck by mortar fire, and one policeman was even attacked in his home.

Those in Taji died in a string of explosions.

“What is the guilt of these poor people?” asked resident Ali Hussein.

“They are working to earn a living. It is a poor market and people were here to shop in this market when the blast happened. Why did this happen?”

It is the deadliest day in Iraq since 13 June, when another wave of bombings killed 84 people and injured nearly 300.

On Sunday bombings south of the capital killed at least 17.

Violence dipped in Iraq following the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, but sectarian violence has returned across the country in recent months amid worsening political tensions.

At least 237 people were killed during June, making it one of the bloodiest months since US troops withdrew in December.

Deadliest attacks in 2012:

• 3 July: At least 40 killed and many more wounded in series of attacks across Iraq

• 13 June: Wave of bombings kills 84 and injures nearly 300 in deadliest day since US troops withdrew last December

• 4 June: More than 20 people killed in bomb attack in Baghdad

• 20 March: At least 45 people die in series of co-ordinated attacks including car bombs in Kerbala city that kill at least 13

• 23 February: At least 55 people killed and hundreds injured in wave of bombings and shootings across the country

• 27 January: A suicide car bomb kills at least 32 and injures about 60 in predominantly Shia Muslim district of Baghdad

 

Spain rattles markets as Valencia is seeking for funding help

Clyde K. Valle
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Spain rattles markets as Valencia is seeking for funding help

Fears that other Spanish regions may follow Valencia in seeking a bailout from Madrid have rattled markets.

A local newspaper in Murcia, one of Spain’s smallest regions, quoted the regional government’s head as saying it would ask for funding help of up to 300 million Euros.

On Friday Valencia asked the central government for a financial lifeline.

The yield on Spain’s 10-year bond jumped to 7.4%, while the euro fell to an 11-year low against the yen.

On Friday the bond yield – which implies the interest rate the government would have to pay to borrow new money, and acts as a measure of investor confidence in Spain’s creditworthiness – was at 7.28%.

 

Fears that other Spanish regions may follow Valencia in seeking a bailout from Madrid have rattled markets
Fears that other Spanish regions may follow Valencia in seeking a bailout from Madrid have rattled markets

 

Many of Spain’s regions have high borrowing needs, and speculation is growing that a number of them will follow Valencia and ask formally money from Madrid at a time when the central government itself is having trouble borrowing money.

In Asian trading overnight, the euro fell to an 11-year low against the Japanese yen – which has acted as a safe haven currency since the 2008 financial crisis – amid fears that debt problems in Spain are worsening.

The euro fell to 94.37 yen, its lowest level since November 2000.

Analysts said the developments in Spain had raised fears that the eurozone debt crisis was worsening and spreading to the region’s biggest economies.

Asian stock markets also fell on Monday amid fears that the ongoing debt problems in eurozone will hurt the region’s growth.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 1.9%, South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.8% and Australia’s ASX 200 index shed 1.7%.

The eurozone is a key market for Asian exports and there are concerns that demand from the region may decline in the near term.

At the same time, a weaker euro has also added to the woes of Asian exporters, as it makes their goods more expensive for buyers from the region.

 

Drug-resistant HIV increasing in parts of sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade

Kathryn R. Bown
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Drug-resistant HIV increasing in parts of sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade

Experts writing in the Lancet have explained that drug-resistant HIV has been increasing in parts of sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade.

Studies on 26,000 untreated HIV-positive people in developing countries were reviewed by the team.

They said resistance could build up if people fail to stick to drug regimes, and because monitoring could be poor.

The researchers, from the World Health Organization (WHO) and University College London (UCL) found the most rapid increase in drug resistance occurred in East Africa, at 29% per year. In Southern Africa, it was 14% per year.

Drug-resistant HIV has been increasing in parts of sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade
Drug-resistant HIV has been increasing in parts of sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade

There was no change in resistance over time in Latin America and in West and Central Africa.

Writing in the Lancet, authors Dr. Silvia Bertagnolio from the WHO and Dr. Ravindra Gupta at UCL said: “Without continued and increased national and international efforts, rising HIV drug resistance could jeopardize a decade-long trend of decreasing HIV/Aids-related illness and death in low- and middle-income countries.”

Dr. Ravindra Gupta said: “Drug resistance is a consequence of people not taking their medication properly.

“We do expect to see drug resistance, and it’s at around 10% in the UK and US. But here, we monitor people regularly and switch people to different drugs if they develop resistance.”

He said that quite basic measures could help people to better adhere to drug regimes in developing countries, such as access to food and clean water so they can take their drugs, and monitoring patients as effectively as possible.

The researchers said no changes were needed to the drug regimes, but Dr. Ravindra Gupta said: “This work gives us an early-warning that things could get worse.”

 

Chirp birdsong app will become the next Twitter

Nancy Clayson
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Chirp birdsong app will become the next Twitter

Chirp, a new app that transmits data via a burst of “digital birdsong”, aims to simplify the way users share images and other files between smartphones.

Chirp plays a two-second long noise that sounds as if it was made by a robotic bird. When heard by other devices it triggers a download.

The software was developed by Animal Systems, a spin-off business from University College London (UCL).

It is free to use, but companies will be charged a fee for add-on services.

At the moment users are limited to sending pictures, website links or 140-character text messages. These appear in a feed similar to Facebook’s timeline.

Other applications such as Android Beam, Bump, Datasync and Dropbox allow users to swap material via bluetooth, wi-fi or links to cloud-based storage.

But Chirp has the advantage that it can quickly send data to multiple devices at once without them needing to be either paired or have a wireless connection.

If recipients are offline their devices will remember the “chirp” and download associated content later.

 

Chirp transmits data via a burst of "digital birdsong" and aims to simplify the way users share images and other files between smartphones
Chirp transmits data via a burst of "digital birdsong" and aims to simplify the way users share images and other files between smartphones

 

“We are pretty sure this is unique,” said Patrick Bergel, the firm’s chief executive.

“We solve the problem of having to pair devices to move data. It’s fairly novel to be able to transmit information to anyone who is in earshot – a large number of devices can share the same information at the same time using sound.

“You can also use it as a device shifting mechanism. In the future you will be able chirp yourself a link to a map from your laptop.”

Patrick Bergel says Chirp’s distinctive sound allows it to work at low volumes in relatively noisy locations such as pubs, clubs or busy streets.

It can also work over public address systems or radio transmissions – potentially allowing broadcasters a way to send up-to-date pictures or links to background information; or an advertiser to send coupons or snippets of a song or promotional video.

Animal Systems subscribes to a “blacklist” service to prevent users transmitting known pornographic or illegal-content website links. However, it does not plan to moderate other material.

The application works by uploading a user’s material to the firm’s servers. The data is then identified with a 50-bit address space: one of trillions of available identifiers.

This location is then sent to the sender’s device. When the user presses a button in the app it plays an audio-encoded version of the address.

Data has long been passed between machines in the form of sound, including recordings on tapes used to load programs into 1980s home computers and early modems dialling into networks.

Even so, Patrick Bergel said he had taken steps to prevent others copying his product.

“We have a systems patent on moving short codes over the air,” he said.

“We have [also] solved a lot of difficult problems. There’s a lot of technical issues around moving data and making it robust against noise and echoes.”

Having launched the app the five-man team behind it will now focus on offering premium services to marketers and other businesses.

Patrick Bergel said these could include:

• A guarantee that uploaded content would be permanently kept on the firm’s servers.

• Access to analytical data letting firms track whose devices have “listened” to their chirp.

• The ability to send video messages that play within the Chirp app.

Patrick Bergel said the ultimate goals was to see manufacturers pre-install Chirp on handsets.

However, he must first convince users that they need the service at a time when wi-fi, 4G data and advanced bluetooth connectivity are becoming increasingly common.

For now Chirp is only available as an iPhone app. An Android version is promised “soon”.

 

Cutting back on salty foods may reduce risk of stomach cancer

Kathryn R. Bown
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Cutting back on salty foods may reduce risk of stomach cancer

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has advised that cutting back on salty foods such as bacon, bread and breakfast cereals may reduce people’s risk of developing stomach cancer.

It wants people to eat less salt and for the content of food to be labelled more clearly.

Too much salt is bad for blood pressure and can lead to heart disease and stroke, but it can also cause cancer.

The recommended daily limit is 6 g, about a level teaspoonful, but the World Cancer Research Fund said people were eating 8.6 g a day.

WCRF estimated that 14% of cases, around 800, could be avoided if everyone stuck to their 6 g a day.

Too much salt is bad for blood pressure and can lead to heart disease and stroke, but it can also cause cancer
Too much salt is bad for blood pressure and can lead to heart disease and stroke, but it can also cause cancer

Kate Mendoza, head of health information at WCRF, said: “Stomach cancer is difficult to treat successfully because most cases are not caught until the disease is well-established.

“This places even greater emphasis on making lifestyle choices to prevent the disease occurring in the first place – such as cutting down on salt intake and eating more fruit and vegetables.”

Eating too much salt is not all about sprinkling it over fish and chips or Sunday lunch, the vast majority is already inside food.

It is why the WCRF has called for a “traffic-light” system for food labelling – red for high, amber for medium and green for low.

However, this has proved controversial with many food manufacturers and supermarkets preferring other ways of labelling food.

 

Oswaldo Paya, top Cuban dissident, dies in car crash

Diane A. Wade
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Oswaldo Paya, top Cuban dissident, dies in car crash

Top Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya has died in a car crash, according to fellow activists.

Oswaldo Paya, 60, was travelling near the city of Bayamo, in the eastern province of Granma, when the accident happened, they said.

He is known as the founder of the Varela Project – a campaign to gather signatures in support of a referendum on laws guaranteeing civil rights.

Oswaldo Paya was seen as a key spokesman for Cuba’s small opposition.

A Catholic church official in Bayamo told AFP that a local hospital had told him and other activists that Oswaldo Paya was dead, and had shown them identification.

His death was reported on Twitter by prominent dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez, who described him as “irreproachable” and his death as a great loss to Cuba.

Top Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya has died in a car crash
Top Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya has died in a car crash

The circumstances of the accident are still unclear. A usually well-informed pro-government blogger says Oswaldo Paya’s car crashed into a tree.

A state media website said there had been a “regrettable traffic accident” that killed two Cubans, while two other people, one Swiss and one Spanish, were injured.

Oswaldo Paya’s death comes after another prominent Cuban dissident, Laura Pollan, founder of the protest group Ladies in White, died last October.

In 2002, Oswaldo Paya won the Sakharov Prize – the European Union’s human rights award – for his work with the Varela Project, which was created in 1998.

In May 2002, he presented Cuba’s National Assembly with a petition of more than 10,000 signatures calling for an end to four decades of one-party rule.

He has since repeatedly delivered petitions to the body, including one in 2007 calling for an amnesty for non-violent political prisoners.

The Cuban government described him as an agent of the United States who was working to undermine the country’s revolution.

A devout Christian, Oswaldo Paya was also the founder of the Christian Liberation Movement, which campaigns for political change, civil rights and the release of political prisoners.

His influence is seen has having waned recently, with a new generation of internet-based activists, such as Yoani Sanchez, coming to the fore.

Born in 1952, Oswaldo Paya became a critic of the communist government as a teenager. In 1969, he was sent to a work camp as punishment.

 

Why men fall asleep after sex?

Kathryn R. Bown
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Why men fall asleep after sex?

It is well known that many men nod off straight after sex and now scientists conducted research which involved scanning the brains of men during and after orgasm.

In the case of the latter, they found that the cerebral cortex – which plays a vital role in attention, consciousness and perceptual awareness – shut down almost immediately after orgasm.

Serge Stoleru, a French government scientist, said that the research offers the “first hints” of what happens in the brain during sex.

He told the Sunday Times: “For women, it seems to be different.

“They don’t seem to have such a strong refractory period and may be asking for more when their partners just want a rest.”

Scientists have found that man’s cerebral cortex shut down almost immediately after orgasm
Scientists have found that man’s cerebral cortex shut down almost immediately after orgasm

The study also showed that the brain switched off almost all sexual desire after orgasm.

And as well as this, men have a further reason for feeling drowsy: their brains become flooded with sleep-inducing chemicals such as serotonin after they have had sex.

Earlier studies have also suggested that men aren’t to blame for wanting to take a well-earned break after sex.

In 2005, research found the blood rush after climax depletes the muscles of energy-producing glycogen.

And because men typically have higher muscle density than women, they become more tired after sex.

The survey showed the majority of men did feel more relaxed straight after sex.

80% of men said they felt able to drift off without any problems after making love, compared with just 46% of women.

They were amongst 10,000 adults surveyed by organizers of The Vitality Show, Europe’s largest health and beauty exhibition.

The survey also found 48% of men had actually fallen asleep during the act itself.

And whilst scientists might have rescued men from a telling off for sleeping straight after orgasm, it seems perhaps understandable that the latest research won’t do the same for those who doze before reaching climax.

 

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis spotted openly kissing and cuddling

Lisa.Felice
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Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis spotted openly kissing and cuddling

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were spotted openly kissing and cuddling yesterday as Mila joined the actor at the wrap party for his Steve Jobs biopic.

Despite being surrounded by a host of fellow attendees at the Hollywood venue, Demi Moore’s estranged husband Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis only had eyes for each other.

They were seen sharing a kiss and put on a tactile show, with Mila Kunis caressing Ashton Kutcher’s face and putting her arm around him.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were spotted openly kissing and cuddling
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were spotted openly kissing and cuddling

The pair is yet to confirm their relationship status, but it looks now like the cat is well and truly out of the bag.

Only last week they went on a romantic motorcycle ride in Hollywood.

Ashton Kutcher, 34, met up with Mila Kunis, 28, after she’d worked out at the gym.

They headed to the Hollywood Forever cemetery along with her family on what is understood to have been the anniversary of her grandmother’s death.

They have been increasingly inseparable in recent times, making it clear that the pair’s relationship is no longer platonic.

The pair also celebrated the Fourth Of July together at his family’s house last week, where they were seen kissing and cuddling during the day.

 

New clashes rock Syria’s main cities

Diane A. Wade
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New clashes rock Syria’s main cities

New fighting is reported in Syria’s two biggest cities – Damascus and Aleppo – as government forces seek to regain control of rebel-held areas.

The army’s elite fourth division, backed by helicopters, has reportedly launched an assault on the capital’s north-eastern suburb of Barzeh.

Troops were also said to have deployed in the western suburb of Mezzeh.

Fighting also continued for a third day in Aleppo, where activists said a building had collapsed under tankfire.

The violence follows a week in which rebels made major advances, taking control of several parts of Damascus, seizing border crossings and claiming an attack that killed four top security officials, including the defence minister and President Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law.

Meanwhile, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that at least 19,106 people had been killed since March 2011.

They included 13,296 civilians, including those who had taken up arms, as well as 4,861 security personnel and 949 army defectors, it said.

The UN said in May that at least 10,000 people had been killed, while in June the Syrian government reported that 6,947 Syrians had died, including at least 3,211 civilians and 2,566 security forces personnel.

New fighting is reported in Syria's two biggest cities, Damascus and Aleppo, as government forces seek to regain control of rebel-held areas
New fighting is reported in Syria's two biggest cities, Damascus and Aleppo, as government forces seek to regain control of rebel-held areas

The government forces seem determined to drive the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) completely out of Damascus and are setting about it quite systematically.

Having regained one district close to the centre of the capital and another on its north-eastern edge, troops are now focusing on Mezzeh and Barzeh.

The attack on Barzeh by the army’s fourth division, which is commanded by the president’s brother Maher, had sent residents fleeing from the area, the Syrian Observatory reported.

Helicopter gunships were firing rockets and snipers were deployed on rooftops, the group’s director, Rami Abdul Rahman, told the AFP news agency.

State television later denied reports that helicopter gunships were being used in the assault. But pictures it broadcast of captured districts showed huge destruction, which activists say was cause by massive bombardments.

State TV also showed pictures of many bodies of what it called “terrorists” killed in the counter-attacks, as well as quantities of weapons and ammunition it said were seized.

Clearly, our correspondent says, in a straight fight, the lightly armed rebels are no match for the massive firepower and greater manpower of the state’s forces.

Reports from activists in Aleppo said there had been more clashes during the night and on Sunday morning between the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) and security forces.

They said a building in the Seif al-Dawla district collapsed under tank fire.

Residents also told the Reuters news agency that rebels were fighting government forces near the headquarters of an intelligence agency in the city centre.

An Aleppo-based activist, Mohammed Saeed, said rebels were still in control of the central Salah al-Din district and nearby Sakhour.

“Aleppo is witnessing serious street battles,” he told the Associated Press.

Mohammed Saeed also said there had been clashes on the road leading to the city’s international airport, as rebels tried to prevent military reinforcements being flown in.

State TV played down the scale of the violence, saying troops were merely hunting down “terrorists”.

The commander of FSA forces in Aleppo province has vowed to “liberate” the whole city.

In a video posted online, Col. Abdul Jabbar Mohammed Aqidi also called on government troops to defect to the opposition, and said the FSA would protect members of the president’s minority Alawite sect, saying: “Our war is not with you but with the Assad family.”

There were also reports of violence in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour on Sunday. Witnesses told Reuters that it was being attacked with artillery and rockets from helicopter gunships.

Rebels were now in control of the Bab al-Salam border crossing with Turkey. Turkey is not allowing non-Syrian nationals through so the border remains effectively closed.

President Bashar al-Assad was meanwhile shown on state TV receiving his new armed forces chief-of-staff, Gen Ali Abdullah Ayub, giving him his instructions, and wishing him success in his mission.

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Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s mother, reported missing

Lisa.Felice
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Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s mother, reported missing

Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s mother, was reported missing late Saturday night after her grandchildren have been unable to contact her for a week, according to reports.

Katherine Jackson’s nephew, Trent Jackson, filed the missing persons report for the 82-year-old with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office, according to police.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says Katherine Jackson may be with family members but have reached out to her to contact them.

Michael Jackson’s three children have lived with their grandmother since their father died in 2009. She has not spoken to them for a week which is unheard of, according to Katherine Jackson’s lawyer, Sandra Ribera.

The Jackson matriarch has gone missing in the middle of a family dispute between several Michael Jackson’s children and the executors of the megastar’s estate.

Katherine Jackson was reported missing late Saturday night after her grandchildren have been unable to contact her for a week
Katherine Jackson was reported missing late Saturday night after her grandchildren have been unable to contact her for a week

The siblings claim Michael Jackson’s will, which stated that his assets be placed in a family trust and that Katherine Jackson was guardian of her grandchildren, was forged and have demanded that the executors of his estate are fired.

A letter to executors, made public on Wednesday, from two of Katherine Jackson’s daughters, Rebbie and Janet, and three sons, Jermaine, Randy and Tito, also states that their mother had a “mini-stroke”, reported CNN.

However, Paris Jackson, Michael’s 14-year-old daughter, initially disputed the claims about the stroke and tweeted that “nothing had happened to her”. The tweet was later deleted.

According to Sandra Ribera, on July 15 Katherine Jackson left her Calabasas, California, home with her daughter Rebbie to attend a Jackson brothers concert in Albuquerque, New Mexico a few days later.

However, when Paris has called her grandmother she has been told she cannot speak to her, Sandra Ribera said.

Paris tweeted Sunday morning: “yes, my grandmother is missing. i haven’t spoken with her in a week i want her home now.”

She also tweeted that anyone who sees her grandmother to call the authorities and gave out a security number to call.

Paris later posted: “the same doctor that testified on behalf of dr murray saying my father was a drug addict (a lie) is caring for my grandmother… just saying.”

Sandra Ribera said that Katherine Jackson “has never gone 24 hours without talking to her kids”, and added that she was concerned the 82-year-old was not safe.

The sheriff’s homicide-missing persons unit has been asked to investigate, Sandra Ribera confirmed.

Jermaine Jackson tweeted on Friday: “I want to reassure everyone (inc all sudden medical experts) that Mother is fine but is resting up in AZ on the orders of a doctor, not us.”

A second tweet read: “This is our mother and her health is paramount. We are not inventing or plotting anything. We are following doctor’s advice. Period.”

 

Lindsay Lohan reveals blotchy fake tan and bruised legs

Lisa.Felice
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Lindsay Lohan reveals blotchy fake tan and bruised legs

Lindsay Lohan revealed blotchy fake tan and bruised legs as she spent a night off at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood.

Lindsay Lohan, 25, who is currently shooting The Canyons, then went off to a house party in Loz Feliz where she stayed until 2:30 a.m.

The actress rounded off her night with a fast food fix, stopping by a nearby Jack In The Box with some friends.

Lindsay Lohan recently finished shooting her Elizabeth Taylor biopic, Liz&Dick, before going straight into work for Paul Schrader-directed film, The Canyons.

Lindsay Lohan revealed blotchy fake tan and bruised legs as she spent a night off at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood
Lindsay Lohan revealed blotchy fake tan and bruised legs as she spent a night off at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood

Earlier this week the director shared a picture of Lindsay Lohan filming a love scene with porn star James Deen, who is the male lead in the movie.

Lindsay Lohan as apparently agreed to appear fully nude in the movie, which has been written by controversial American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis.

The film is described as a LA noir, and will explore the seedy underbelly of LA life not seen in glossy shows such as MTV reality show The Hills.

It appears Lindsay Lohan and James Deen are finding the necessary chemistry, with the porn star sharing details of his rehearsals with the Mean Girls star on his blog.

Writing about his last rehearsal with the actress earlier this week, James Deen recalled: “My favourite part of the day was sitting with Lindsay Lohan (who is amazing) and our director Paul Schrader (who is also amazing) and planning out how we would shoot our love scenes in the movie.”

 

Global super-rich elite hiding at least $21 trillion in secret tax havens

Clyde K. Valle
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Global super-rich elite hiding at least $21 trillion in secret tax havens

A major study has found that global super-rich elite had at least $21 trillion hidden in secret tax havens by the end of 2010.

The figure is equivalent to the size of the US and Japanese economies combined.

The Price of Offshore Revisited was written by James Henry, a former chief economist at the consultancy McKinsey, for by the Tax Justice Network.

James Henry said his $21trillion is actually a conservative figure and the true scale could be $32 trillion. A trillion is 1,000 billion.

He used data from the Bank of International Settlements, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and national governments.

James Henry’s study deals only with financial wealth deposited in bank and investment accounts, and not other assets such as property and yachts.

A major study has found that global super-rich elite had at least $21 trillion hidden in secret tax havens by the end of 2010
A major study has found that global super-rich elite had at least $21 trillion hidden in secret tax havens by the end of 2010

The report comes amid growing public and political concern about tax avoidance and evasion. Some authorities, including in Germany, have even paid for information on alleged tax evaders stolen from banks.

The group that commissioned the report, Tax Justice Network, campaigns against tax havens.

James Henry said that the super-rich move money around the globe through an “industrious bevy of professional enablers in private banking, legal, accounting and investment industries.

“The lost tax revenues implied by our estimates is huge. It is large enough to make a significant difference to the finances of many countries.

“From another angle, this study is really good news. The world has just located a huge pile of financial wealth that might be called upon to contribute to the solution of our most pressing global problems,” he said.

The report highlights the impact on the balance sheets of 139 developing countries of money held in tax havens that is put beyond the reach of local tax authorities.

James Henry estimates that since the 1970s, the richest citizens of these 139 countries had amassed $7.3 trillion to $9.3 trillion of “unrecorded offshore wealth” by 2010.

Private wealth held offshore represents “a huge black hole in the world economy,” James Henry said.

Other findings in James Henry’s report include:

• At the end of 2010, the 50 leading private banks alone collectively managed more than $12.1 trillion in cross-border invested assets for private clients

• The three private banks handling the most assets offshore are UBS, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs

• Less than 100,000 people worldwide own about $9.8 trillion of the wealth held offshore.

James Henry said it was difficult to detail hidden assets in some individual countries because of restrictions on getting access to data.

 

Clueful watchdog app removed from Apple’s store in mysterious circumstances

Nancy Clayson
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Clueful watchdog app removed from Apple’s store in mysterious circumstances

Clueful, an app that told iPhone users whether their other apps were breaching data privacy, has been removed from Apple’s store in mysterious circumstances.

Clueful would say if your other programmes were accessing your address book, tracking your GPS co-ordinates or farming information from social networking accounts.

Neither Apple nor the app’s developers, Romanian-based Bitdefender, have revealed why, after just two months, the program has been pulled.

The app was approved by Apple on May 22, but the company has now reversed its decision, it was reported by Security Week.

Clueful app has been removed from Apple's store in mysterious circumstances
Clueful app has been removed from Apple's store in mysterious circumstances

In a statement on Wednesday, Bitdefender said: “Apple informed Bitdefender’s product development team of the removal – for reasons we are studying – after it was approved under the same rules. iPhone owners who already use Clueful privacy may continue to do so.”

Apple has been even more tight-lipped and have not responded to requests for an explanation.

Digital commentators have been left speculating that Apple may have been concerned that Clueful was putting users off purchasing apps or perhaps that the tech giant found a technicality that violated its terms of service.

Speaking at the launch of Clueful, Bitdefender’s chief security researcher Catalin Cosoi highlighted the vast amount of data that other apps can harvest.

Catalin Cosoi said: “App developers can ask for, and receive, access to your precise location, your contact list and more information about you when you install their products on your iPhone.

“Your iPhone is probably the most personal device you own, holding vast amounts of information about what you do, who you are and where you go.

“While most app developers use this information for legitimate purposes, others might not.”

 

Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, described as a “weirdly Earth-like place”

James J. Williams
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Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, described as a “weirdly Earth-like place”

It is well known that Earth is unique as the only planet in the solar system which can sustain life.

However, in other respects, Earth may not be quite as unusually as is often thought.

Astronomers studying Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, have described it as “a weirdly Earth-like place” when it comes to geology.

Titan boasts landscapes shaped by the flow of rivers – though they are rivers of liquid methane, not of water.

And, like Earth, the surface of Titan is surprisingly free of craters, implying that geological activity is constantly reshaping the moon, as also happens here.

The icy landscape of Titan was first discovered by Earth-bound researchers in 2004, when the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft which orbits Saturn first broke through the moon’s atmosphere.

Astronomers studying Titan, Saturn's largest moon, have described it as "a weirdly Earth-like place" when it comes to geology
Astronomers studying Titan, Saturn's largest moon, have described it as "a weirdly Earth-like place" when it comes to geology

Scientists had previously been unable to see the amazing rivers which carve out channels in the moon’s surface, as its atmosphere is so thick with methane and nitrogen that the landscape is not visible from Earth.

Intrigued by the discovery of the methane rivers, researchers from MIT and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville wanted to investigate the history of Titan’s geology.

However, despite the visible river networks, the astronomers found less erosion than they had expected, given that Titan has been orbiting Saturn for four billion years.

Similarly, when they looked for craters which could have been caused by meteorites, there were far fewer than on most other moons in the solar system.

In fact, the number of craters was more reminiscent to the situation on Earth, where plate tectonics and volcanic explosions have covered up much of the impact of foreign bodies on the planet.

“Earth’s continents are always eroding or being covered with sediment,” said Taylor Perron, assistant professor of geology at MIT.

“That may be the case on Titan, too.”

Discovering which factors were responsible for shaping Titan’s landscape could be a challenge, as the satellite images do not give a good impression of the ups and downs of the moon’s terrain.

“It’s almost like we were thrown back a few centuries, before there were many topographic maps, and we only had maps showing where the rivers are,” Taylor Perron added.

Despite the challenges, Taylor Perron said he expected the similarities between Titan and Earth would give scientists an ongoing insight into how the moon’s surface has changed over millennia.

“It’s a weirdly Earth-like place, even with this exotic combination of materials and temperatures.

“And so you can still say something definitive about the erosion. It’s the same physics.”

 

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis reconciliation?

Lisa.Felice
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Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis reconciliation?

Johnny Depp has flown to his home in the South of France for a family holiday with Vanessa Paradis and their two children, Lily-Rose and Jack.

While the couple had agreed to keep a cordial relationship for the sake of their kids, it appears as if Johnny Depp has now decided he wants more.

Instead of spending his break from filming The Lone Ranger in New Mexico with rumored new girlfriend Amber Heard, Johnny Depp rushed to see Vanessa Paradis and presented her with an antique gold pendant inscribed with a message about how he will always love her.

A friend told The Sun: “They are having a family holiday to show the kids they are still a strong family even if those two are split or not.

“But the fact he presented her with such a touching gift, it’s almost as if they could make another go of things.

“Johnny wants to be with his family, he’s a very family oriented man, his kids mean everything to him.”

Johnny Depp has flown to his home in the South of France for a family holiday with Vanessa Paradis and their two children
Johnny Depp has flown to his home in the South of France for a family holiday with Vanessa Paradis and their two children

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis need to spend time together with their kids away from the distractions of Hollywood, according to the friend and they decided on France where they have spent some of their happiest times.

Johnny Depp, 48, and Vanessa Paradis, 39, got together in 1998 when they met in the Costes Hotel in Paris while he was filming the Roman Polanski film The Ninth Gate.

The actor previously had a high-profile engagement to Winona Ryder and a long-term relationship with Kate Moss and Vanessa Paradis had just come out of a relationship with French-Slovenian actor Stanislas Merhar, having been reportedly engaged to singer Lenny Kravitz before that.

A year after they got together, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis’ first child, daughter Lily-Rose, now 13, was born, followed by their son Jack in 2002.

They never married but Johnny Depp has stated that having children cemented roots for him and added that they gave him “real foundation, a real strong place to stand in life, in work, in everything”.

Johnny Depp added: “You can’t plan the kind of deep love that results in children. Fatherhood was not a conscious decision. It was part of the wonderful ride I was on. It was destiny; kismet. All the math finally worked.”

 

Yevgeny Nikitin quits Bayreuth Festival in Germany over swastika tattoo

Sonia Pantiss
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Yevgeny Nikitin quits Bayreuth Festival in Germany over swastika tattoo

Russian opera singer Yevgeny Nikitin has pulled out of a star role at this year’s Bayreuth Festival in Germany following publicity about a swastika tattoo.

Yevgeny Nikitin was to have debuted in the lead role of a new production of the Flying Dutchman opera on Wednesday.

He said the tattoos were a mistake of his youth, but had to quit because the German media drew attention to them.

The Nazi past is a sensitive issue for the festival, which only shows operas by composer Richard Wagner.

Baritone Yevgeny Nikitin has pulled out of this year's Bayreuth Festival in Germany following publicity about a swastika tattoo
Baritone Yevgeny Nikitin has pulled out of this year's Bayreuth Festival in Germany following publicity about a swastika tattoo

Richard Wagner’s daughter-in-law, Winifred Wagner, who headed the festival under Nazi rule, was a strong admirer of Adolf Hitler. Richard Wagner himself often expressed anti-Semitic views in his writings.

An avid Richard Wagner fan, Adolf Hitler was a frequent guest at the festival and helped fund it during his dictatorship.

“I was not aware of the extent of the irritation and offence these signs and symbols would cause, particularly in Bayreuth given the context of the festival’s history,” Yevgeny Nikitin was quoted as saying by the DPA news agency.

“I had them done in my youth. It was a big mistake and I wish I’d never done it,” he added.

The tattoo shows a swastika, with another image superimposed, according to German media reports.

The controversy was sparked when a culture programme on German ZDF television mentioned the tattoos in a report on baritone Yevgeny Nikitin, 38, on Friday.

“They were just part of our underground culture,” he told the programme.

The singer decided to resign after organizers confronted him about the images, a statement on the festival’s website said.

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Norway commemorates Utoeya and Oslo victims

Diane A. Wade
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Norway commemorates Utoeya and Oslo victims

Norway is today commemorating one year since 77 people were killed and 242 hurt in gun and bomb attacks in Oslo and on the island of Utoeya.

Church services, a concert and other events are being held around Norway.

PM Jens Stoltenberg will lay wreaths and is expected to be joined by hundreds of people on Utoeya, including the families of those who were killed.

Anders Behring Breivik, who has admitted carrying out the two attacks, remains on trial.

Most of the dead were young activists with the Labour Party who had been staying on Utoeya as part of a summer camp.

Thousands of people are expected to gather in Oslo for a day of events, including a memorial service at the city’s cathedral.

Norway is commemorating one year since 77 people were killed and 242 hurt in gun and bomb attacks in Oslo and on the island of Utoeya
Norway is commemorating one year since 77 people were killed and 242 hurt in gun and bomb attacks in Oslo and on the island of Utoeya

Jens Stoltenberg will lay a wreath at the site of the Oslo bombing at 09:30 and then travel to Utoeya to give a speech to Labour Party youth, before laying a wreath there at 18:45 – the time Anders Breivik was arrested a year ago.

In the evening there will be a national memorial concert with mainly Norwegian musicians.

Many of the buildings that were damaged in the bomb attack have not yet been fully repaired.

The prime minister’s office and the ministry of health buildings are still covered in plastic.

The attacks, regarded as the worst act of violence in Norway since World War II, sparked a national debate about the nature of tolerance and democracy in the country.

Anders Breivik, who has been on trial for three months, has tried to justify the attacks by claiming he was trying to stop Muslims from taking over Norway.

But the government, and much of the population, have actively promoted tolerance and openness to counter Anders Breivik’s views.

“I think that people thought it a bit naive to cling to these values of openness in a situation like that,” said Vegard Groeslie Wennesland, a Labour Party activist who survived the attack.

“But I think it’s more naive to think that brutal police, or more restrictive policies will bring you a safer society.”

Judges are to announce next month whether Anders Breivik is sane or insane, and therefore whether he will be given a long prison sentence or be sent to a secure psychiatric ward.

 

Aurora shooting: explosives cleared at James Holmes’ apartment

Diane A. Wade
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Aurora shooting: explosives cleared at James Holmes’ apartment

The apartment of James Holmes, the man suspected of killing 12 people at a Batman movie screening in the US state of Colorado, has now been cleared of explosives, police say.

Robots were initially used at James Holmes’ home in Aurora, but agents still had to enter without setting off any remaining devices.

Police said the suspect had acted with “calculation and deliberation”, taking ammunition deliveries for months.

The Arapahoe county coroner has now released the names of the dead.

Michael Dobersen said all the victims’ deaths were related to gunshot wounds.

In addition to those killed, 58 people were also hurt in the attack at a Century 16 cinema in Aurora, a suburb of Denver.

The apartment of James Holmes, the man suspected of killing 12 people at a Batman movie screening in Colorado, has been cleared of explosives
The apartment of James Holmes, the man suspected of killing 12 people at a Batman movie screening in Colorado, has been cleared of explosives

A man in a gas mask and body armor threw tear gas canisters at a midnight screening, then fired on the crowd in the cinema.

James Holmes, 24, was arrested outside the cinema, police said.

President Barack Obama is to visit Aurora on Sunday to honor the victims, the White House said. He will visit bereaved families and meet local officials.

FBI agents and police discovered the home was booby-trapped when they used a camera at the end of a 12-foot pole to look inside.

Aurora police chief Dan Oates said: “I’ve personally never seen anything like what we’ve found in there.”

Early on Sunday the bomb squad staged a small controlled explosion in the building and officers disarmed trip-wires and an incendiary device.

The first trip wire was strung across the doorway of the flat, and inside were reported to be jars filled with accelerants, chemicals that would explode when mixed together and more than 30 improvised grenades.

Dan Oates said: “This apartment was designed to kill whoever entered it,” adding that would most probably have been a police officer.

“If you think we are angry, we sure as hell are angry about what has happened to our city, to the wonderful people who live here and what he threatened to do to one of our police officers,” he said.

In terms of laying charges, Dan Oates said: “Everything is pointing to a state prosecution on all charges.”

Residents were evacuated from the building and four other premises nearby.

Hundreds of mourners joined a vigil near the cinema in Aurora on Friday night, leaving candles and flowers outside.

James Holmes was said to be armed with a rifle, a shotgun and two pistols when he launched his assault on the midnight screening of the new Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises.

He also bought 6,000 rounds of ammunition over the internet, Dan Oates said.

The police chief said that all weapons and ammunition were purchased legally within the past few months, and that the suspect had received a high volume of packages to his home and work place.

In a statement released late on Saturday, British actor Christian Bale, who plays Batman in the film, said: “Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them.”

Among the dead listed by the coroner were a six-year-old girl whose mother was injured and two US servicemen.

The University of Colorado Hospital said it was still treating five patients in critical condition.

The Medical Center of Aurora said four of its patients remained in intensive care.

Authorities have established no terrorism link, nor any motive, and James Holmes had no criminal record other than a speeding fine.

Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson told Reuters news agency that James Holmes was being held in solitary confinement for his own protection.

“We typically do this in high-profile cases. It has nothing to do with any specific threat,” he said.

James Holmes will appear at Arapahoe County District Court, in nearby Centennial, Colorado, on Monday at 09:30 local time.

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Beijing hit by deadly deluge following heavy rainfall

Diane A. Wade
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Beijing hit by deadly deluge following heavy rainfall

China’s capital Beijing has been hit by the heaviest rainfall in 60 years and has left 10 people dead and stranded thousands at the main airport.

The deluge struck on Saturday afternoon and continued into the night, flooding major roads, state media said.

Roof collapses, lightning strikes and electrocution from downed power lines were among the causes of the deaths.

More than 500 flights were cancelled at the main airport, the Beijing News reported.

Beijing has been hit by the heaviest rainfall in 60 years and has left 10 people dead and stranded thousands at the main airport
Beijing has been hit by the heaviest rainfall in 60 years and has left 10 people dead and stranded thousands at the main airport

State media said flooding and landslides also killed four people in northern Shanxi province and six in south-western Sichuan province.

State news agency Xinhua said 460 mm (18.1 in) fell in the capital’s Fangshan district, with the capital as a whole averaging 170 mm.

It said 14,500 people, mostly in outlying districts, had to be evacuated.

“There could be further large-scale storms or extreme weather,” the Beijing city government’s website said.

 

King Juan Carlos sacked by Spanish WWF over elephant hunt

Diane A. Wade
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King Juan Carlos sacked by Spanish WWF over elephant hunt

Spanish affiliate of the conservation group WWF has removed King Juan Carlos as its honorary president for going on an elephant hunting trip in Botswana.

The WWF’s Spanish chapter voted overwhelmingly to abolish the post, a statement said, adding that the safari did not sit well with WWF goals.

King Juan Carlos was widely criticized after news of the trip emerged in April, in the middle of a severe economic crisis.

Spain’s royal family has faced a series of embarrassments this year.

King Juan Carlos apologized to the Spanish people for the hunting trip, which only came to light when he was flown home from Africa after breaking a hip.

Spanish affiliate of the conservation group WWF has removed King Juan Carlos as its honorary president for going on an elephant hunting trip in Botswana
Spanish affiliate of the conservation group WWF has removed King Juan Carlos as its honorary president for going on an elephant hunting trip in Botswana

An online petition calling for his resignation from the WWF post accumulated almost 85,000 signatures by the time he made his public apology.

The controversy prompted Spanish newspapers to publish a photo of the king on a previous safari, in which he is seen standing with a gun beside a dead elephant.

“Although this type of hunting is legal and regulated, many members consider it to be incompatible with the position of honorary patron of an international organization that aims to protect the environment,” the WWF statement said on Saturday.

The vote to abolish the position of honorary president was carried by a 94% majority, it said.

The king is generally popular in Spain, but the royal family has been beset by a series of embarrassing news stories this year.

King Juan Carlos’ son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin, has been questioned in connection with a corruption scandal involving claims that he used public funds to organize sports events.

 

Tara Reid says she was hospitalized with food poisoning, not acute pancreatitis

Lisa.Felice
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0
Tara Reid says she was hospitalized with food poisoning, not acute pancreatitis

Tara Reid’s holiday in France has come to an abrupt halt after she was hospitalized earlier this week.

The American Pie actress has spent the last several days in a medical facility.

According to TMZ.com, Tara Reid was taken in after suffering from acute pancreatitis.

The news comes just days after she was photographed looking uncomfortable as she clutched her stomach during a stroll.

Tara Reid's holiday in France has come to an abrupt halt after she was hospitalized earlier this week
Tara Reid's holiday in France has come to an abrupt halt after she was hospitalized earlier this week

But Tara Reid has now taken to her Twitter page she reassure fans she was in fact suffering from food poisoning, and then hurt her back during a jet ski ride.

The actress wrote: “Don’t worry everyone I’m all good and heathy (sic) I got a seafood poisening (sic) and hurt my back on the jetski but I’m all better thanks for caring!

“Jetski’s are fun but you have to be safe they can be very dangerous!”

Tara Reid has been spotted several times sunning herself on a yacht or partying the nights away over the last few weeks.

But she’s not been seen since Tuesday, when she wore an unflattering bright pink tracksuit looking miserable as she walked along with a friend.

It now seems her unhappy demeanour is a result of her being in pain from food poisoning.

Photos seem to show she was partying and letting her hair down a fair bit before the hospitalization, while she’s looked happy and relaxed in Twitter photos she’s shared with her fans.

 

Kyle Glover, Usher’ stepson, dies after being taken off life support

Lisa.Felice
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0
Kyle Glover, Usher’ stepson, dies after being taken off life support

Kyle Glover, Usher’s 11-year-old stepson, has died today.

Kyle Glover passed away this morning according to TMZ, from the injuries he obtained in a tragic jet ski accident in Georgia earlier this month.

The young boy was reportedly taken off life support by doctors, who determined that he would not recover from his injuries.

TMZ reports that Kyle Glover’s mother and Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Foster is said to have grappled with the difficult decision to disconnect the life support, and is said to be understandably “devastated”.

Kyle Glover was struck in the head during a jet ski collision while riding an inner tube on Lake Lanier in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this month.

According to authorities, a family friend who was riding a jetski behind the pontoon lost control and collided with Kyle Glover’s tube.

Kyle Glover, Usher's 11-year-old stepson, has died today
Kyle Glover, Usher's 11-year-old stepson, has died today

Kyle Glover was with an unidentified 15-year-old girl at the time and both children were airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.

He was later declared brain dead.

A friend of the family, 38-year-old Jeffrey S. Hubbard, was allegedly operating the jet ski at the time of the collision.

Sergeant Mike Burgamy of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said: “A pontoon was pulling the two adolescents on an inner tube, and the personal water craft went over the top of them.”

He added about the driver: “He was interviewed, and it’s possible he may be reinterviewed.”

Last week Kyle Glover’s family asked for prayers as they keep a bedside vigil following the tragic accident.

Kyle Glover’s family said in a statement to CNN: “We know God’s in control, and are leaning on our faith in Him and His word at this most difficult time.

“We firmly believe in the power of prayer and ask that you all continue to pray and lift Kile up, as it’s the best way we can all support him now.”

Usher (real name: Usher Terry Raymond IV), 33, and Tameka Foster, who divorced in 2009 after two years of marriage, were in the throes of a bitter custody battle over their sons Usher Raymond V, four, and Naviyd, three.

But they are understood have put their differences in the wake of the devastating accident.

Last week it was also reported that Tameka Foster may be forced to take her son off life support – because her health insurance coverage was about to expire.

Tameka Foster had still not lost hope that Kyle Glover could make a recovery – despite being declared brain dead by doctors.

But while Tameka Foster was praying for a miracle, she could only keep him on life support if her insurance company agreed to pay the enormous hospital bills, TMZ reported.

The website claimed the insurance firm had not set an exact deadline yet – but would only cover the costs for two months maximum.

The insider also added that Usher has been incredibly supportive – but has not offered to pay the medical bills and that Tameka Foster did not see him as a “viable financial option”.

Meanwhile Investigators analyzing the collision were waiting to see the outcome of his condition before they came to a conclusion surrounding the accident.

Sergeant Mike Burgamy explained that the accident was still under investigation, and that the lead investigators had yet to talk with the district attorney’s office.

Mike Burgamy told ABC News last week: “I don’t know what’s going to happen with the 11-year-old. We’re going to have to see what his condition is going to be before we present findings of the case.”

 

Incendiary device dismantled at James Holmes’ flat

Diane A. Wade
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0
Incendiary device dismantled at James Holmes’ flat

Colorado police have entered the flat of James Holmes, the man suspected of shooting dead 12 people at a Batman film screening, and dismantled an incendiary device.

Police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson said officers had “defeated the first threat” by disarming a trip-wire and an incendiary device.

Cassidee Carlson warned there were other devices, and bomb squad personnel later set off a small explosion at the building.

Some 58 people were also hurt in the attack at a Century 16 cinema in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

Colorado police have entered the flat of James Holmes, the man suspected of shooting dead 12 people at a Batman film screening
Colorado police have entered the flat of James Holmes, the man suspected of shooting dead 12 people at a Batman film screening

A man in a gas mask and body armor threw tear gas canisters at a midnight screening, then fired on the crowd in the cinema.

James Holmes, 24, was arrested outside the cinema, police said.

FBI agents and police discovered his flat was booby-trapped when they used a camera at the end of a 12-foot pole to look inside.

Technicians made a first attempt on Friday to disarm the traps, believed to include explosives, but withdrew when it became clear the property was too dangerous to enter.

Sgt. Cassidee Carlson said the device was set up to detonate when the first person entered the flat.

“We’ve defeated first threat. It was set up to kill, and that could have been police officers or anything,” she said.

“There are other devices inside, I’m not going into detail about what those devices are.”

Earlier, Aurora police chief Dan Oates said the apartment contained “things that look like mortar rounds”, adding: “I’ve personally never seen anything like what we’ve found in there.”

Residents were evacuated from the building and four other premises nearby.

Firefighters are monitoring the block of flats for gases in an effort to identify what chemicals might have been used in the booby-traps.

Hundreds of mourners joined a vigil near the cinema in Aurora on Friday night, leaving candles and flowers outside.

James Holmes was said to be armed with a rifle, a shotgun and two pistols when he launched his assault on the midnight screening of the new Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises.

He also bought 6,000 rounds of ammunition over the internet, Dan Oates said.

All weapons and ammunition were purchased legally within the past few months, he said.

Thirty people remained in hospital, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said, with 11 of those in a critical condition.

Authorities have established no terrorism link, nor any motive, and James Holmes had no criminal record other than a speeding fine.

James Holmes will appear at Arapahoe County District Court, in nearby Centennial, Colorado, on Monday at 09:30 local time.

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Vatileaks scandal: Paolo Gabriele released from custody and moved to house arrest

Diane A. Wade
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0
Vatileaks scandal: Paolo Gabriele released from custody and moved to house arrest

Paolo Gabriele, Pope Benedict’s butler, has been released from custody and moved to house arrest.

The Vatican said that Paolo Gabriele will remain under house arrest pending a decision on whether he should stand trial for leaking confidential papers to the media.

Paolo Gabriele was charged in May after a series of leaks exposed alleged corruption and internal conflicts at the Holy See.

His lawyer Carlo Fusco said his client had operated on his own in an “act of love” toward the Pope.

The so-called “Vatileaks” scandal saw an Italian investigative journalist publish hundreds of secret documents detailing fraud scandals, nepotism and cronyism within the Holy See.

Paolo Gabriele, Pope Benedict's butler, has been released from custody and moved to house arrest
Paolo Gabriele, Pope Benedict's butler, has been released from custody and moved to house arrest

Italian media reported in May that a stash of confidential documents had been found in the apartment Paolo Gabriele shares with his wife and three children inside the Vatican.

“There are definitely no networks, no internal or external plots in which Paolo was involved. His motivations were all internal,” AFP news agency reported Carlo Fusco as saying.

“He wanted the Church to be more alive. He had an idea to help a situation.”

The Vatican’s judge, Piero Antonio Bonnet, has been instructed to examine the evidence of the case and to decide whether there is sufficient material to proceed to trial.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said a magistrate would decide whether to proceed by early August.

Italian media reported that if convicted, Paolo Gabriele could face a sentence of up to 30 years for illegal possession of documents of a head of state, probably to be served in an Italian prison due to an agreement between Italy and the Vatican.

 

Ali Wanis, Egypt Salafist ex-MP, convicted of violating public decency

Diane A. Wade
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Ali Wanis, Egypt Salafist ex-MP, convicted of violating public decency

Ali Wanis, an Egyptian radical Islamist politician, has been convicted in absentia of violating public decency after police found him fondling a woman in a car.

Ali Wanis was sentenced to a year in prison for the incident and six months for abusing the policemen. The woman involved got a six month jail term.

Both can avoid prison by posting bail.

Ali Wanis became an MP for the Salafist Nour party earlier this year, but parliament was dissolved in June after a court said the election was invalid.

Police officers told the Misdemeanour Court in Tukh, outside Cairo, that they had found Ali Wanis caressing a fully-veiled woman student who was sitting on his lap in his car while it was parked on an agricultural road near the town last month.

Ali Wanis has been convicted in absentia of violating public decency after police found him fondling a woman in a car
Ali Wanis has been convicted in absentia of violating public decency after police found him fondling a woman in a car

When they knocked on his window asking to see his driving license and car registration, the Islamist called them “sons of dogs”, they added.

Ali Wanis denied violating public decency, claiming that he had pulled the car over to assist his ill niece. But the police said he was not her uncle.

On Saturday, the court found Ali Wanis guilty of committing an obscene act on a main road and contempt of police, and sentenced him to jail.

The Islamist, whose whereabouts are unknown, was tried in absentia and is allowed a retrial. The woman, who has been in custody for about a month, has the right to appeal.

Ali Wanis can avoid jail by paying 1,000 Egyptian pounds ($165) in bail, while the woman can also do so by paying 500 Egyptian pounds ($82).

Earlier this year, the Nour party was forced to apologize after another of its MPs resigned after apparently lying over whether he had plastic surgery. He said his bandaged face was the result of a car-jacking.

 

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