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Sky Broadband blocks access to The Pirate Bay file-sharing site

Nancy Clayson
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Sky Broadband blocks access to The Pirate Bay file-sharing site

Sky Broadband has decided to block access to file-sharing site The Pirate Bay (TPB).

It follows Virgin Media and Everything Everywhere which have already taken similar action.

The High Court had demanded the move after complaints by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) that TPB facilitated copyright infringement by providing magnetic links to movies, music and other media.

O2 and Talktalk said they were still working to implement the ban.

A sixth operator, BT, has been given extra time to make the necessary arrangements. It is expected to act within the next fortnight.

A statement from Sky said: “We have invested billions of pounds in high-quality entertainment for our customers because we know how much our customers value it. It’s therefore important that companies like ours do what they can, alongside the government and the rest of the media and technology industries, to help protect their copyright.”

A spokesman noted that it had acted ahead of a June 1st deadline.

This is the second court order of its kind that Sky has complied with following its block on Newzbin 2 in December.

The High Court issued different time limits to the different ISPs.

Sky Broadband has decided to block access to file-sharing site The Pirate Bay
Sky Broadband has decided to block access to file-sharing site The Pirate Bay

O2 has until June 13 to act, by which time it said it would block access to The Pirate Bay’s main site as well as other IP addresses that the BPI successfully claimed had been set up to enable access to the service.

However, the Torrentfreak news site has reported that The Pirate Bay has since set up a new IP address giving access to its contents. It added the site was willing to play “an extended game of whack-a-mole” in which it would publicize new locations every time the courts ordered one of its addresses to be blocked.

A spokesman for the BPI said it was working with ISPs and the courts to ensure that existing orders were effective, but would not comment on whether it would seek to block further addresses.

Meanwhile, O2 is set to return to the High Court on Thursday for a hearing into a separate copyright complaint.

A judge will hear evidence in a dispute with Golden Eye International, a limited company which trades as Ben Dover Productions making pornographic films.

In March the firm won an order demanding O2 release details of thousands of its customers whose IP addresses it said had been linked to illegal downloads of Ben Dover’s films.

At the time O2 said it had no option but to “co-operate fully”.

The hearing is for the court to “approve the form of a letter” that Golden Eye wishes to send to its customers.

“In our first letter we seek to find out more information regarding evidence of an infringement of our copyright,” said Julian Becker, director of Golden Eye.

“Depending on the response to our letters we will then decide our next action.

“Fundamentally we are pursuing those that are uploading not downloading. In effect these violations are unauthorized distribution, we are not pursuing those who have simply downloaded one film.”

Julian Becker added that he was awaiting guidance from the court as to how much compensation his firm could seek.

Golden Eye previously said it wanted £700 ($1,100) for each infringement – a sum watchdog Consumer Focus described as “unsupportable”.

 

Barack Obama causes outcry in Poland after referring to a Nazi death camp as “Polish”

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama causes outcry in Poland after referring to a Nazi death camp as “Polish”

Barack Obama has caused an outcry in Poland after referring to a Nazi death camp as “Polish”.

President Barack Obama made the remark at a ceremony in which he posthumously awarded Polish resistance fighter Jan Karski with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The White House says Barack Obama “misspoke” and regrets the comment but prominent Poles want an apology.

Poles suffered a brutal Nazi wartime occupation and reject any suggestion of responsibility for Nazi crimes.

Poles are particularly sensitive to comments linking their country to the Holocaust.

For years, they have objected to any description of Nazi German death camps as “Polish” because it can indicate involvement in the mass murder of millions of European Jews in camps built on their land.

Barack Obama has caused an outcry in Poland after referring to a Nazi death camp as "Polish"
Barack Obama has caused an outcry in Poland after referring to a Nazi death camp as "Polish"

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stopped short of calling for an apology but said he wanted to see more than an expression of regret.

“I am convinced that today our American friends are capable of a stronger reaction… than just the correction itself and the regret which we heard from the White House spokesperson,” Donald Tusk said in a statement.

But Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski was more forthright.

“The White House will apologize for the outrageous mistake,” he tweeted.

At the Medal of Freedom ceremony, Barack Obama spoke of Jan Karski’s efforts to draw attention to Nazi crimes in Poland.

Jan Karski had travelled first to London and then to the US to tell wartime President Franklin Roosevelt what he had witnessed.

“Before one trip across enemy lines, resistance fighters told him that Jews were being murdered on a massive scale, and smuggled him into the Warsaw Ghetto and a Polish death camp to see for himself,” Barack Obama said.

Jan Karski later became professor of history at Georgetown University and died in Washington aged 86 in 2000.

Almost six million Poles died in World War II. More than half were Jews, many of them killed in Nazi death camps including the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau camp.

Some 1.1 million people were killed at Auschwitz, including 300,000 Polish Jews.

Polish diplomats and overseas organizations have campaigned to stop the use of the phrase “Polish death camps” as a shorthand description of Auschwitz or Treblinka.

“We should use this huge gaffe to make sure nobody, nowhere in the world, ever says that again,” Polish Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa said.

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Martian Pink diamond sold for $17.4 million at Hong Kong auction

Diane A. Wade
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Martian Pink diamond sold for $17.4 million at Hong Kong auction

Rare pink diamond Martian Pink has been auctioned for $17.4 million – far higher than expected – after six minutes of frenzied bidding in Hong Kong.

Auctioneers Christie’s say that the diamond – the biggest of its kind ever to be sold – was bought by an anonymous telephone bidder.

The Martian Pink diamond is extremely rare. Its owner believed it would fetch the best price in Hong Kong.

The diamond had been expected to sell for between $8 million and $12 million.

“The bids were very competitive… there was a lot of excitement… when it finally did come up for sale the buzz in the room was sensational,” said Christie’s auctioneer Rahul Kadakia.

 

Rare pink diamond Martian Pink has been auctioned for $17.4 million
Rare pink diamond Martian Pink has been auctioned for $17.4 million

The 12-carat gem got its name in 1976 when it was sold by US jeweller Harry Winston. It was the same year the US sent a satellite to Mars, and the gem was named for the colour of the planet.

“It comes from Harry Winston, who was so impressed that the Americans had landed on Mars in 1976 that he looked at his inventory and he found a rough diamond which probably could come out as pink,” said Francois Curiel, from Christie’s jewellery department.

“So he cut it, and he cut it in such a way that the intensity of the thing was larger than any of the other things that he had ever cut before.”

The current American owner had wanted the diamond to be sold in Hong Kong, Francois Curiel said.

“He had studied the market pretty well and seen that all the top prices recently were obtained in Hong Kong because of the presence of the Chinese, and several other countries from South East Asia were very, very keen on diamonds,” he said.

The most famous pink diamond in the world belongs to Queen Elizabeth II.

The Williamson Pink was given to the British queen for her wedding in 1947 – the cut, 23.6-carat round stone was later set in a brooch.

 

Robin Gibb funeral will take place on June 8

Diane A. Wade
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Robin Gibb funeral will take place on June 8

Robin Gibb’s funeral will take place next week, on June 8, it emerged today.

Only “close family and friends” will attend the event, but a memorial service is being arranged for later in the year.

There has been speculation that this will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

The Bee Gees star, who racked up decades of hits, died 10 days ago after a lengthy battle with colon cancer at the age of 62.

Robin Gibb’s funeral will take place next week, on June 8
Robin Gibb’s funeral will take place next week, on June 8

After having surgery for an intestinal problem Robin Gibb contracted pneumonia.

At one point he spent a short period in a coma, although he regained consciousness several days before his death.

Robin Gibb’ son RJ has since said that kidney failure was the cause of death.

In a statement the family requested that there should be no flowers but called instead for donations to two children’s charities on the Isle of Man, “both of which were close to the heart of Robin Gibb and his family”.

They asked for the money to go to Rebecca House hospice and Wish Upon A Dream.

Robin Gibb’s family said further details about the memorial will be announced “in due course”.

Although details of the funeral’s location have not been announced, it has previously been reported that it will take place near to where he lived in Thame, Oxfordshire, with a service including music by the Bee Gees and Roy Orbison.

Robin Gibb’s death led to tributes from across the music world, as well as from figures such as former prime minister Tony Blair, who was a friend of the star.

 

Mary-Kate Olsen is dating Nicolas Sarkozy’s brother Olivier

Lisa.Felice
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Mary-Kate Olsen is dating Nicolas Sarkozy’s brother Olivier

Former child star Mary-Kate Olsen is reportedly dating Nicolas Sarkozy’s younger half brother, Olivier.

Sources say Mary-Kate Olsen, 25, has been dating the 42-year-old asset manager for a month.

Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy are “head over heels” for one another and spent Memorial Day weekend together in the Hamptons, the New York Post reported.

Olivier Sarkozy, the managing director for Washington, D.C.-based asset managing firm the Carlyle Group, has previously been married.

After Olivier Sarkozy and his wife Charlotte, who have two children together, had separated, he dated actress Stella Schnabel for a year before their split in March.

He further stirs up the eclectic mix of Mary-Kate Olsen’s boyfriends, who have included artists, actors and shipping heirs.

Mary-Kate Olsen is reportedly dating Nicolas Sarkozy's younger half brother, Olivier
Mary-Kate Olsen is reportedly dating Nicolas Sarkozy's younger half brother, Olivier

Mary-Kate Olsen – who shot to fame as a child star with her twin sister Ashley – dated New York artist Nate Lowman for two years before their split in 2010.

She has also hinted at how breaking up with her one-time boyfriend, Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos led to her drop out of NYU in 2005.

She has also been linked to shoe designer Seth Campbell and the late actor Heath Ledger before his death in 2008.

News of her blossoming love life comes as business also appears to be doing well. Along with twin sister Ashley, Mary-Kate Olsen was recently listed in a list of the fashion’s top 30 names under 30.

The former child stars, who shot to fame on Full House, made the list thanks to their multimillion dollar clothing empire.

They have worked on a string of fashion labels, and last July debuted their high-end handbag line for The Row at Barneys.

The line includes a croc backpack retailing at a lavish $39,000. They have also been spotted out toting mini handbags, sold at $3,200 apiece.

As well as The Row, which has been worn by Michelle Obama, the women are behind mid-priced labels Elizabeth & James and teen line Olsenboye.

They also created website StyleMint, which recently collaborated with Rachel Bilson.

 

Jessica Simpson baby picture published by People magazine

Lisa.Felice
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Jessica Simpson baby picture published by People magazine

Jessica Simpson gave birth to her first child Maxwell Drew Johnson nearly a month ago but has resolutely refused to share any pictures of her little girl with her fans.

Now Jessica Simpson, 31, has posed up with her daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson on the cover of People magazine.

Holding Maxwell tenderly, Jessica Simpson is seen beaming with pride as she tells the publication that the little girl, her first child with fiancé Eric Johnson, has completely changed her life.

Jessica Simpson said: “My life has completely changed. From how I sleep to what I think about, Maxwell has definitely taken over everything!”

She added: “We stare at her all the time. We can’t get enough!”

 

Jessica Simpson has posed up with her daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson on the cover of People magazine
Jessica Simpson has posed up with her daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson on the cover of People magazine

In the cover shot, Maxwell Drew Johnson, who weighed 9lb 13oz when she was born on May 1, looks adorable in a white dress and matching headband.

Jessica Simpson is also seen wearing a white nightdress style outfit as she cradles her child.

The former singer, who delivered her child via Caesarean section, also told People magazine that nursing her little girl has “become a full-on job”.

Jessica Simpson said: “It’s the worst if I have to pump and give Eric a bottle to give her. I miss holding her and having that closeness.”

It was recently reported that the highly-anticipated first pictures of Maxwell Drew Johnson were sold for $800,000.

However, the amount is significantly less that some other stars received for baby pictures – Jennifer Lopez is understood to have received $6 million from People for snaps of her twins Max and Emme.

The same publication reportedly gave Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt around $11 million for the exclusive on their twins Vivienne and Knox.

 

Vatileaks: Pope Benedict XVI speaks for the first time on the scandal and denounces media coverage

Diane A. Wade
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Vatileaks: Pope Benedict XVI speaks for the first time on the scandal and denounces media coverage

Pope Benedict XVI has broken his silence on the Vatileaks scandal, expressing his anger at the way some parts of the media are covering the story.

Pope Benedict said “exaggerated” and “gratuitous” reports were painting a false image of the Holy See.

A series of leaks has revealed allegations of corruption, mismanagement and internal conflicts.

Paolo Gabriele, the Pope’s butler, has been charged with illegally obtaining private papal documents and memos.

Paolo Gabriele, 46, who lives with his wife and children in a Vatican flat, where a stash of confidential documents was allegedly discovered, has pledged “full co-operation” with the investigation.

Paolo Gabriele, the Pope's butler, has been charged with illegally obtaining private papal documents and memos
Paolo Gabriele, the Pope's butler, has been charged with illegally obtaining private papal documents and memos

The Vatican has denied Italian media reports suggesting that Paolo Gabriele had not acted alone, but was part of a group of 20 or so whistleblowers led by a cardinal.

During his weekly address in St Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI said: “Suggestions have multiplied, amplified by some media, which are totally gratuitous and which have gone well beyond the facts, offering an image of the Holy See which does not respond to reality.”

He also spoke of the impact of the charges against Paolo Gabriele, his valet for many years and one a very limited number of people who had access to his private apartments.

“The events of recent days about the Curia [Vatican ecclesiastical officials] and my collaborators have brought sadness in my heart,” Pope Benedict said.

He added that he was grateful to those who had continued to work alongside him “every day, with loyalty and a spirit of sacrifice and in silence”.

On Tuesday, the Vatican undersecretary of state, Archbishop Angelo Becciu, called the reports a “brutal” attack on the Pope.

“It’s not just that the Pope’s papers were stolen, but that people who turned to him as the vicar of Christ have had their consciences violated,” he told the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

The scandal began in January, when Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi revealed letters from a former top Vatican administrator begging the Pope not to transfer him for having exposed alleged corruption.

The prelate involved, Monsignor Carlo Maria Vigano, is now the Vatican’s US ambassador.

Last month, the Pope set up a special commission of cardinals to find the source of the confidential memos.

But in the space of a few days last week, the head of the Vatican’s own bank was abruptly dismissed, Paolo Gabriele was arrested and an entire book by Gianluigi Nuzzi was published with reproductions of the Pope’s private correspondence.

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Jacob Zuma painting, The Spear, removed from Goodman Gallery

Sonia Pantiss
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Jacob Zuma painting, The Spear, removed from Goodman Gallery

Goodman Gallery in South Africa has agreed not to display the controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma after reaching a deal with the ANC.

The painting has sparked fierce debate about the balance between freedom of expression and the right to dignity.

Hundreds of ANC supporters protested outside the gallery on Tuesday.

The painting, The Spear, was defaced last week. It will also be removed from the Goodman Gallery’s website.

Goodman Gallery in South Africa has agreed not to display the controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed after reaching a deal with the ANC
Goodman Gallery in South Africa has agreed not to display the controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma after reaching a deal with the ANC

Under the deal, the ANC has agreed to drop its legal action demanding that the gallery remove the painting from its exhibition and the website.

The red, yellow and black acrylic painting showing Jacob Zuma echoing Soviet images of Lenin was taken down after it was covered in red and black paint.

On Monday, South Africa’s City Press newspaper said it was removing the image of the painting from its website following threats by the ANC.

In a joint news conference, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said: “Maybe we should not have gone to through lawyers, we should have talked directly.”

Goodman Gallery director Liza Essers said: “I believe in the right to freedom of expression and the South African constitution.”

“Brett [Murray, the artist] is very saddened by the hurt that the painting has caused,” she said.

The ruling party said the painting was “rude, crude and disrespectful” towards President Zuma and wants all images of the painting online and elsewhere taken down.

In an affidavit served on the City Press newspaper, Jacob Zuma said: “The portrait depicts me in a manner that suggests I am a philanderer, a womanizer and one with no respect.”

President Jacob Zuma, who has four wives, has previously sued local media companies 11 times for defamation.

 

Kim Kardashian accuses British Airways workers of stealing sunglasses inherited from Robert Kardashian

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian accuses British Airways workers of stealing sunglasses inherited from Robert Kardashian

Kim Kardashian has sparked a new row over Heathrow baggage handlers after she accused British Airways workers of stealing “irreplaceable” items from her luggage after a recent flight.

Kim Kardashian, 31, says staff at the airport, which is already facing claims it will struggle to cope with the surge in passengers during the Olympics, took several handbags and “priceless” sunglasses she inherited from her late father, Robert Kardashian.

The allegations spark new fears that security at Heathrow may be returning to the lax levels last seen in the 1980s when it was nicknamed Thiefrow due to its reputation for high rates of luggage theft.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell also accused BA staff of stealing her possessions during the 2008 baggage debacle and claimed she was a “martyr” after being arrested following a row at Terminal 5.

Kim Kardashian, whose father Robert was the lawyer who sensationally helped clear OJ Simpson of murder, is said to have arrived back in Los Angeles from France on Friday night to find that her luggage was significantly lighter than it had been on the way out.

Kim Kardashian says staff at Heathrow airport took several handbags and “priceless” sunglasses she inherited from her late father, Robert Kardashian
Kim Kardashian says staff at Heathrow airport took several handbags and “priceless” sunglasses she inherited from her late father, Robert Kardashian

On further inspection, Kim Kardashian is reported to have discovered that the sunglasses, which Robert Kardashian gave her before he died in 2003, were missing from her case.

U.S. website TMZ.com also claim that “several extremely expensive purses and Tumi luggage” were missing.

Kim Kardashian had earlier written on her Twitter page: “Very disappointed in British Airways for opening my luggage & taking some special items of mine! Some things are sentimental &not replaceable.

“What happened to the days when you could lock your bags! We need to get back to that. There’s no sense of security & no trust! Shame on you(sic)”

Kim Kardashian, who is back in Los Angeles after a whistle-stop promotional tour of London, and then a week at the Cannes International Film Festival, is now said to have approached BA to look into the apparent theft by analyzing CCTV footage.

It is understood that the reality star may take the matter to the police if the airline do not provide a satisfactory response.

British Airways, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2009, is expecting to have one of its busiest summer ever as the main airliner carrying visitors to the Olympics.

Heathrow, which will handle 80% of Games traffic, is expected to handle 50,000 extra bags a day as it deals with an extra 600,000 passengers during the course of the sporting spectacle.

Last week staff successfully carried out a dry run in practice for the Olympics when the processed 3,000 extra bags an hour.

But memories of the 2008 Terminal 5 baggage debacle – when thousands of passengers at BA’s exclusive hub – were left waiting days to be reunited with their luggage have triggered fears of fresh chaos this summer.

British Airways said that they “have received a complaint and are investigating”.

 

Julian Assange has lost extradition appeal at UK Supreme Court

Diane A. Wade
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Julian Assange has lost extradition appeal at UK Supreme Court

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has lost his extradition appeal at UK Supreme Court.

Julian Assange, 40, fights against extradition to Sweden to face accusations of sex offences.

Lord Phillips, the court’s president said he had lost by a majority of five justices to two.

The court ruled the extradition request had been “lawfully made”.

However, Julian Assange’s lawyers have been given 14 days to consider challenging the ruling, saying it could have been reached unfairly.

Dinah Rose QC, for Julian Assange, said the Supreme Court’s decision could have been made on legal points not argued during the appeal – and she needed time to consider asking the court to reopen the case.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has lost his extradition appeal at UK Supreme Court
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has lost his extradition appeal at UK Supreme Court

Julian Assange, who has been on conditional bail in the UK, did not attend the hearing in central London. His lawyer later told reporters he had been “stuck in traffic”.

The Australian is accused of raping one woman and “sexually molesting and coercing” another in Stockholm in August 2010, but he claims the allegations against him are politically motivated.

Julian Assange’s lawyers had asked the court to block his removal, arguing that a European arrest warrant issued against him was “invalid and unenforceable”.

The key legal question for the seven judges was whether the prosecutor who issued the arrest warrant had the “judicial authority” to do so under the 2003 Extradition Act.

Lord Phillips said five of the justices agreed the warrant had been lawful because the Swedish prosecutor behind the warrant could be considered a proper “judicial authority” even it they were not specifically mentioned in legislation or international agreements.

This point of law had not been simple to resolve, said Lord Phillips, and two of the justices, Lady Hale and Lord Mance, had disagreed with the decision.

But Dinah Rose immediately indicated she could challenge the judgement saying that it relied on a 1969 convention relating to how treaties should be implemented. She said this convention had not been raised during the hearing.

In a statement, the Supreme Court said: “Following this morning’s judgment by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in Assange v The Swedish Prosecution Authority, Ms Rose has indicated that she may make an application to re-open the court’s decision.

“Ms Rose suggested that the majority of the court appear to have based their decision on the interpretation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, on which no argument was heard and no opportunity of making submission was given.

“The Supreme Court has granted Ms Rose 14 days to make such an application. If she decides to do so, the justices will then decide whether to re-open the appeal and accept further submissions either verbally through a further hearing, or on paper on the matter.”

The decision to stay the extradition order means that it cannot become active until 13 June – but it would be further delayed were there to be additional submissions.

Julian Assange’s Wikileaks website published material from leaked diplomatic cables embarrassing several governments.

 

Charles Taylor, Liberia’s ex-president, sentenced to 50 years in jail

Diane A. Wade
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Charles Taylor, Liberia’s ex-president, sentenced to 50 years in jail

Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, has been sentenced to 50 years in jail by a UN-backed war crimes court.

Last month Charles Taylor was found guilty of aiding and abetting rebels in Sierra Leone during the 1991-2002 civil war.

Special Court for Sierra Leone judges said the sentence reflected his status as head of state at the time and his betrayal of public trust.

Charles Taylor, 64, insists he is innocent and is likely to appeal against the sentence, correspondents say.

The appeal process could last up to six months.

During the sentencing, Judge Richard Lussick said the crimes in Sierra Leone were some of the most heinous in human history.

The prosecution had wanted an 80-year prison term, but the judge said that would have been excessive – taking into account the limited scope of his involvement in planning operations in Sierra Leone.

However, Judge Lussick said in return for a constant flow of diamonds, Charles Taylor provided arms and logistical and moral support to the Revolutionary United Front rebels – prolonging the conflict and the suffering of the people of Sierra Leone.

“While Mr. Taylor never set foot in Sierra Leone, his heavy footprint is there,” the judge said.

Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, has been sentenced to 50 years in jail by a UN-backed war crimes court
Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, has been sentenced to 50 years in jail by a UN-backed war crimes court

In its landmark ruling in April, the court found Charles Taylor guilty on 11 counts, relating to atrocities that included rape and murder.

He became the first former head of state to be convicted of war crimes by an international court since the Nuremburg trials of Nazis after World War II.

In response, Charles Taylor accused the prosecution of paying and threatening witnesses in his war crimes trial.

He also told the judges to consider his age when making their decision, saying he was “no threat to society”.

But the trial chamber said given his social background, “rehabilitation” was not likely.

The fact that he had not expressed remorse also affected the sentence, the judge said.

He had condemned atrocities across the world, and had the “deepest sympathy” for victims in Sierra Leone, but stopped short of apologizing for his part in the conflict.

The judges agreed with the prosecutors that Charles Taylor’s age, or the fact that he has a family, should have no impact on the sentence.

In written filings, prosecutors said a sentence of 80 years would reflect the severity of the crimes and the central role that Taylor had in facilitating them.

“The purposely cruel and savage crimes committed included public executions and amputations of civilians, the display of decapitated heads at checkpoints… public rapes of women and girls, and people burned alive in their homes,” wrote prosecutor Brenda Hollis.

But defense lawyers said the recommended sentence was “manifestly disproportionate and excessive”, and that Taylor had only been found guilty of an indirect role – aiding the rebels, rather than leading them.

They said their client should not be made to shoulder the blame alone for what happened in Sierra Leone’s war.

The court should not support “attempts by the prosecution to provide the Sierra Leoneans with this external bogey man upon whom can be heaped the collective guilt of a nation for its predominantly self-inflicted wounds”, his lawyers wrote.

During the Sierra Leone civil war, Charles Taylor supported RUF rebels who killed tens of thousands of people.

The war crimes included murder, rape, the use of child soldiers and the amputation of limbs.

Taylor was accused of channelling weapons to them in return for “blood diamonds” but the judge said the prosecution had failed to prove their case that he had given orders to the RUF.

The case is being heard in The Hague for fear that a trial in Sierra Leone could destabilize the region. The Dutch government only agreed if Taylor would serve any sentence in another country, so he will serve any prison term in the UK.

 

Tuatara has steak-knife teeth and chews like no other land animal

James J. Williams
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Tuatara has steak-knife teeth and chews like no other land animal

Tuatara, a reptile living in New Zealand, has a unique way of chewing its food, say scientists who have studied its jaws in detail.

This beak-headed reptile uses a “steak-knife sawing motion” as it chews.

This could help explain how the species has continued to adapt to a changing world – and changes in available prey – over more than 200 million years.

A computer model of the tuatara, recreating its jaws as it munched on prey, has revealed that it chews like no other land animal.

This seems to allow it to “slice up” food that is too big for its mouth.

Tuatara, a reptile living in New Zealand, has a unique way of chewing its food, say scientists who have studied its jaws in detail
Tuatara, a reptile living in New Zealand, has a unique way of chewing its food, say scientists who have studied its jaws in detail

In their paper in the journal The Anatomical Record, the researchers describe how the teeth of the tuatara’s lower jaw close between two upper rows of teeth “before sliding forward to slice food apart like a draw-cut saw”.

Lead researcher Marc Jones from University College London said this was very unlike any living lizard or snake, which used “more of a simple opening and closing” motion.

The UK-based researchers were able to observe and film chewing tuataras at Chester Zoo.

Dr. Marc Jones and his colleagues from the universities of Hull and York then used this footage to accurately digitise and simulate the creature’s characteristic chomp.

He said that the “slicing jaws” of the tuatara allowed it to eat a wide range of prey including beetles, spiders, crickets and small lizards.

But he added that this study helped to explain some rather gruesome discoveries in the reptile’s habitat.

“People have described finding seabirds with their heads sawn off,” said Dr. Marc Jones.

“Tuatara will tend to go for hatchlings if they can, but as far as I can make out [they] do sometimes take small adults.

“[We think] they change their diet seasonally – eating lots more seabirds during the summer.”

Although the tuatara looks very much like a lizard, it actually belongs to a group of animals commonly known as beak heads, or Rhynchocephalia in the formal terminology.

The reptile, found wild only in New Zealand, is the last surviving species of its group. Its relatives died out more than 200 million years ago.

At that time, the creatures were spread throughout the globe; scientists have found some the fossilised remains of the tuatara’s extinct relatives in the UK.

It is not entirely clear how and why the rest of these ancient reptiles became extinct, but the tuatara’s ability to saw up its food could be a secret to its continued survival.

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How Andie MacDowell looks younger at 54

Lisa.Felice
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How Andie MacDowell looks younger at 54

Andie MacDowell celebrated her 54th birthday last month, but she certainly looks younger than her years.

In fact, Andie MacDowell seems to be getting younger every day.

And now it has been suggested that she may be attempting to turn back the clock – just like in her hit movie Groundhog Day.

Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn, who has not treated the star, told Radar Online: “Andie looks like she’s used her Green Card for plastic surgery.”

Dr. Anthony Youn suggested Andie MacDowell may have had fillers in her face to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

He explained: “It appears that she’s undergone significant plumping and softening of her cheeks, likely by injections of her own fat.”

Adding: “Her forehead also looks relaxed, an appearance consistent with Botox injections. Her upper lip is also plump, causing her smile to look a bit Julia Roberts-esque.”

Andie MacDowell celebrated her 54th birthday last month, but she certainly looks younger than her years
Andie MacDowell celebrated her 54th birthday last month, but she certainly looks younger than her years

Andie MacDowell has not admitted to plastic surgery, but said when quizzed by Hello! magazine back in November: “I don’t judge anyone for what they do.

“But that said I have also known people who have had it done expecting it to change them and make them happy. Cutting a bit off this or that is not going to change the way you feel inside.”

Andie MacDowell was in Cannes for the International Film Festival last week.

And her fresh-faced look was only further enhanced when she posed up with her 17-year-old daughter Sarah on the red carpet at the event’s closing ceremony on Sunday.

Andie MacDowell wore a pale Giorgio Armani strapless, draped gown, while her daughter turned heads in a stunning Elie Saab design.

Sarah is Andie MacDowell’s youngest child with her first husband Paul Qualley; the former couple also have a son Justin, born in 1986, and a 22-year-old daughter Rainey, who was named as Miss Golden Globe 2012.

Andie MacDowell is currently starring in comedy Jane by Design, in which she plays a world-famous fashion designer.

 

Tori Spelling shows off her baby bump wearing a very daring monokini at a family BBQ

Lisa.Felice
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0
Tori Spelling shows off her baby bump wearing a very daring monokini at a family BBQ

Pregnant Tori Spelling was spotted yesterday wearing a very daring monokini as she enjoyed a family BBQ in Los Angeles.

Tori Spelling, 39, who announced her fourth pregnancy in March, showed off her burgeoning belly in the black ensemble.

The swimsuit was held together by a stringy midsection, with the scant material barely able to save her blushes.

Tori Spelling was pictured with husband Dean McDermott, who went shirtless in a pair of shorts, and their youngest child, seven-month-old Hattie.

Hattie looked cute in a polka-dot swimsuit, complete with a floppy white hat to keep her shaded from the California sun.

Pregnant Tori Spelling was spotted yesterday wearing a very daring monokini as she enjoyed a family BBQ in Los Angeles
Pregnant Tori Spelling was spotted yesterday wearing a very daring monokini as she enjoyed a family BBQ in Los Angeles

Mother and father were seen doting other their little daughter as they relaxed yesterday for the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S.

Dean McDermott and Tori Spelling also have two other children, five-year-old Liam and Stella, who turns four next month.

Tori Spelling became pregnant for the fourth time just a month after giving birth to Hattie – and Dean McDermott said in an interview at the time it is partly her fault that they ignored doctor’s orders and fell pregnant so soon after.

Dean Mcdermott told Celebuzz: “It’s so funny how everyone blames the man.

“It’s like, <<Oh my God, will you leave your wife alone?>> But it takes two to tango. She wasn’t putting up that much of a fight. But I have big shoulders. I’ll take it.”

Tori Spelling also revealed her latest pregnancy has been the easiest on her out of them all.

The actress said: “My pregnancy is going great. Knock on wood, this has been my best pregnancy. I’ve been feeling great. With the first three pregnancies, I was super sick all the time and nauseous.”

She added that her husband finds her sexy when she is pregnant.

“I’m never as happy as when I’m pregnant.

“And Dean can’t keep his hands off me! He’s like, <<You’re the sexiest pregnant woman>>.

“I literally would have 10 babies if I could!”

 

Sharon Stone and her boyfriend Martin Mica romping on Venice Beach

Lisa.Felice
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0
Sharon Stone and her boyfriend Martin Mica romping on Venice Beach

Sharon Stone was spotted getting more than a little frisky on the beach with her Argentinian boyfriend Martin Mica in Los Angeles yesterday.

Sharon Stone, 54, got carried away as she romped with her toyboy on Venice Beach.

It started off with an innocent looking back and neck massage, with the bearded beefcake straddling her back so he could rub her shoulders, with the pair looking even closer than when they left a Vogue party in Brazil together last month.

But it soon got steamier, with Sharon Stone turning around so they could share a sizzling kiss.

However their fun on the golden sands was far from over, as he tried to give the old warhorse a gymnastic lesson.

Martin Mica demonstrated how to do a handstand, and then tried to help her perform one of her own.

Unfortunately, while Sharon Stone earned top marks for effort she definitely needed more practice.

Sharon Stone was spotted getting more than a little frisky on the beach with her Argentinian boyfriend Martin Mica in Los Angeles
Sharon Stone was spotted getting more than a little frisky on the beach with her Argentinian boyfriend Martin Mica in Los Angeles

Afterwards they then went for a romantic beach side stroll, and he decided to pick her up and spin her round like a ragdoll.

Sharon Stone laughed as she was given a budget tilt-a-whirl by her long-haired lover Martin Mica.

Afterwards the adventurous pair went for a walk together, before stopping off for lunch.

And they were obviously not shy about being seen in public, for they even shared a passionate kiss as they stood in the street. It was a pleasant respite for Sharon Stone following revelations she is being sued by her former nanny.

According to the LA Times former live-in nanny filed suit against Sharon Stone in Los Angeles Superior Court on alleging she was fired for accepting overtime pay and repeatedly subjected to derogatory comments about her Filipino heritage and religious beliefs.

Erlinda Elemen was fired in February 2011 when Sharon Stone learned that she was paid overtime, the suit alleges.

State law requires that non-salaried employees must be paid for additional work over eight hours per day or 40 hours per week.

But the suit alleges Sharon Stone found out that her staff had paid her overtime and accused Erlinda Elemen of “stealing” and that it was “illegal” for her to have taken the pay, and asked for the money back.

 

Mitt Romney secures his Republican nomination following Texas primary

Diane A. Wade
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0
Mitt Romney secures his Republican nomination following Texas primary

Republican Mitt Romney has secured his place as the challenger to Barack Obama in November’s US presidential election, following a primary in Texas.

Projections show Mitt Romney easily won enough votes to pass the threshold of 1,144 delegates needed for the nomination.

Mitt Romney said he was “humbled”. He is the first Mormon from a major party to contest the presidential election.

He is set to be officially anointed as the Republican nominee at the party convention in Florida in late August.

Mitt Romney has been the presumptive nominee for several weeks as his rivals withdrew or suspended campaigning.

With 1,086 delegates secured as he entered the Texas race, Mitt Romney only needed 58 to pass the 1,144 mark.

Republican Mitt Romney has secured his place as the challenger to Barack Obama in November's US presidential election, following a primary in Texas
Republican Mitt Romney has secured his place as the challenger to Barack Obama in November's US presidential election, following a primary in Texas

In early returns, Mitt Romney had captured more than 70% of the vote. Texas awards 152 delegates proportionally.

He will surpass his father, George Romney, a former Michigan governor who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 1968.

Opinion polls suggest Mitt Romney is locked in an extremely close race with Barack Obama in November.

“I am honored that Americans across the country have given their support to my candidacy and I am humbled to have won enough delegates to become the Republican Party’s 2012 presidential nominee,” Mitt Romney said in statement.

As polls closed, the former Massachusetts governor was attending a fundraiser in Las Vegas with real estate tycoon Donald Trump.

He spent the day campaigning in Colorado and Nevada.

Ahead of Tuesday’s private fundraiser, the Obama campaign released a video focusing on Donald Trump’s comments falsely alleging that the president was born in Kenya.

The video seeks to draw a contrast between Mitt Romney and Senator John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, who once corrected a woman after she called Barack Obama a Muslim.

“Why won’t Mitt Romney do the same?” asks the clip.

On Monday, Mitt Romney stopped short of condemning Donald Trump’s comments.

“I don’t agree with all the people who support me. And my guess is they don’t all agree with everything I believe in,” Mitt Romney told reporters.

The Obama campaign video against Donald Trump is the latest in a series of attack ads.

On Monday, the Romney campaign released an attack ad criticizing Barack Obama over a federal loan to a solar panel maker which later went bankrupt.

On Tuesday Mitt Romney also met casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson, who gave millions to supporters of Newt Gingrich’s campaign during the primary season.

Experts say the outcome of November’s election could depend on what happens in a handful of battleground states, including Colorado and Nevada, as the candidates vie for the support of independent voters.

The next question of the campaign is who Mitt Romney will pick as his vice-presidential running mate.

 [youtube Y8N36kEqOSk]

Blackberry maker warns of loss in Q1 and announces job cuts

Clyde K. Valle
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1
Blackberry maker warns of loss in Q1 and announces job cuts

Research In Motion (RIM), the company behind the Blackberry smartphone, has warned it will make a loss in its latest quarter and make “significant” job cuts.

RIM also said it was hiring JPMorgan and RBC Capital Markets to help with a “strategic review” of the business.

It has lost ground as its traditional business clients have switched to iPhones or Android phones.

RIM shares fell 10% in after-hours trading.

Research In Motion (RIM), the company behind the Blackberry smartphone, has warned it will make a loss in its latest quarter and make "significant" job cuts
Research In Motion (RIM), the company behind the Blackberry smartphone, has warned it will make a loss in its latest quarter and make "significant" job cuts

Some have speculated that the strategic review may lead to a sale of the firm.

“The on-going competitive environment is impacting our business in the form of lower volumes and highly competitive pricing dynamics in the marketplace, and we expect our first-quarter results to reflect this, and likely result in an operating loss for the quarter,” chief executive Thorsten Heins said.

“There will be significant spending reductions and headcount reductions in some areas throughout the remainder of the fiscal year,” he added.

In the last financial year, RIM made a net profit of $1.2 billion, down from $3.4 billion in the previous year.

Thorsten Heins added: “Our global subscriber base continued to grow this quarter to approximately 78 million, driven primarily by growth in international markets, which is partially offset by high churn in the United States.”

Once heralded as one of the fastest-growing companies in the world, RIM has struggled to keep up with rivals in the smartphone market, such as Apple’s iPhone and handsets running on Google’s Android operating system.

It has also struggled to gain a foothold in the tablet market.

The launch of Blackberry 10, expected later this year, and a much-delayed new operating system, are expected to be crucial to its turnaround plan.

 

Italy earthquake UPDATE: death toll rises to 17 and 350 people have been injured

Diane A. Wade
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0
Italy earthquake UPDATE: death toll rises to 17 and 350 people have been injured

Seventeen people are now known to have died and another 350 were hurt in the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit northern Italy yesterday.

The tremor was the second in just over a week.

Dozens of aftershocks have shuddered through Italy’s northern Emilia Romagna region overnight.

The latest victim has been pulled from the rubble in the town of Medolla, some 27 miles (45km) north-west of Bologna, Italian media report.

Officials say the strongest overnight tremor had a magnitude of 3.54.

The first quake on May 20 killed seven people and left thousands homeless with the 6.0 magnitude tremor causing significant damage to the region’s cultural heritage, destroying churches and historic buildings.

Seventeen people are now known to have died and another 350 were hurt in the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit northern Italy yesterday
Seventeen people are now known to have died and another 350 were hurt in the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit northern Italy yesterday

After the second quake, the number of people made homeless has now gone up from 6,000 to 14,000, the Italian government says.

A woman who was saved in the small town of Cavezzo reportedly spent 12 hours in the rubble in her kitchen. The 65-year-old managed to survive because a piece of furniture had toppled over, preventing her from being crushed by the wreckage.

She was taken to hospital.

Prime Minister Mario Monti has pledged that his government will do everything possible to restore normal life to the area, which he said was “so special, so important, so productive for Italy”.

Government troops are now deployed in the affected areas, and an emergency cabinet meeting will be held later on Wednesday.

The latest quake struck 40 km (25 miles) north of Bologna at a depth of 9.6 km (6 miles) at about 09:03 local.

Thousands of residents ran out of buildings after the tremor, which was felt as far away as Venice and the Austrian border.

The towns of Mirandola, Medolla and Cavezzo were closest to the epicentre, but the northern cities of Milan and Bologna were shaken too.

Among the dead were four people in Mirandola, including two who were in a factory that collapsed. Three people also died in San Felice, and two in Cavezzo.

In Mirandola, the San Francesco church collapsed, leaving only its facade standing.

Three people were killed at a factory that had only just been cleared for re-entry, following the earlier quake, reports said.

A parish priest in the town of Rovereto di Novi was said to have been killed by a falling beam when he went back into his church to save a Madonna statue.

“It’s a disaster, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Cavezzo Mayor Stefano Draghetti was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Emilia Romagna – one of Italy’s most agriculturally productive areas famous for many delicacies – has been struggling to recover from the previous quake.

Reports say that Tuesday’s tremor dealt a blow to the region’s world-famous balsamic vinegar industry – after the previous quake nine days ago hit Parmesan production.

In 2009, an earthquake in L’Aquila, central Italy, killed nearly 300 people.

 [youtube qQbUiJYtk1s]

Chagas disease, a parasitic illness, is the new AIDS of the Americas, say experts

Diane A. Wade
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0
Chagas disease, a parasitic illness, is the new AIDS of the Americas, say experts

Chagas disease, a little-known illness caused by blood sucking insects, has been labeled the ”new AIDS of the Americas” by experts.

The parasitic illness has similarities to the early spread of HIV, according to a new study.

Similar to AIDS, Chagas disease is difficult to detect and it can take years for symptoms to emerge, according to experts writing in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

An estimated 10 million people worldwide are infected with most sufferers in Bolivia, Mexico, Columbia and Central America, as well as approximately 30,000 people in the U.S., reported the New York Times.

Once largely contained to Latin America the disease has spread to the U.S due to increases in travel and immigration.

Due to the severity of the illness, the amount of people infected and the ability of prevention, Chagas disease is considered one of the Neglected Parasitic Infections, a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by CDC for public health action.

Chagas disease commonly affects people in poverty-stricken areas and most U.S. cases are found in immigrants.

If caught early enough, the disease can be cured with an intense 3-month drug treatment. However, because of the lengthy incubation period, Chagas disease is often left untreated.

Also known as the American trypanosomiasis, the disease spreads easily either through blood transfusions or, less commonly, from mother to child.

All blood banks in the U.S. and Latin America screen for traces of the disease.

Most blood banks in the U.S began screening for it in 2007.

Chagas disease is usually transmitted from the bite of blood-sucking insects that release a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi into the person’s bloodstream.

Chagas disease, a little-known illness caused by blood sucking insects, has been labeled the ”new AIDS of the Americas” by experts
Chagas disease, a little-known illness caused by blood sucking insects, has been labeled the ”new AIDS of the Americas” by experts

The disease comes in two phases – acute and severe.

The acute phase may have no symptoms but can present a fever, general feeling of being unwell and swelling in one eye.

After the acute phase the disease goes into remission and it can take years before symptoms, such as constipation, abdomen pain and digestive problems, emerge again in the severe stage.

The parasite can eventually make its way to the heart, where it can live and multiply.

About a quarter of the people who contract Chagas disease, develop enlarged heart or intestines that can burst causing sudden death.

Although the drugs available are not as expensive as those for AIDS, there are shortages of the medication in poorer countries and little money is being spent on discovering new treatments.

Chagas disease is named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, a Brazilian doctor who first discovered the disease in 1909.

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine said last year that they believed Charles Darwin suffered from three different illnesses, including a Chagas infection.

The experts believe he contracted the disease during a five-year trip around the globe on the HMS Beagle in his 20s – and attributed it to his death of heart failure 47 years later.

The father of modern life scientists wrote in his journal that he had been bitten by a “wingless black bug” during the expedition, where he visited South America.

 

CHAGAS DISEASE

Named after the Brazilian doctor who discovered it in 1909, Chagas disease is a potentially deadly illness spread by blood-sucking insects including Triatomids most commonly known as “kissing bugs”.

Like AIDS, the illness is difficult to detect and has a long remission period.

It spreads easily through blood transfusions and from mother to child.

Approximately a quarter of victims who contract the disease develop enlarged heart or intestines that can burst causing sudden death.

An estimated 10 million people worldwide are infected, including 30,000 people in the U.S.

Chagas disease is considered one of the Neglected Parasitic Infections, a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by CDC for public health action.

It is estimated that in 2008 Chagas disease killed more than 10,000 people.

 

Chromebook and Chromebox are updated with faster processors, Google announces

Nancy Clayson
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2
Chromebook and Chromebox are updated with faster processors, Google announces

Google announces that Chromebook and Chromebox, its computers using Chrome operating system, have been updated with faster processors.

The Samsung-manufactured laptop and desktop PCs include processors based on Intel’s Sandy Bridge technology, addressing criticism that the launch models were underpowered.

Chrome-based computers run all their applications through the firm’s web browser and store their files online.

Google has not released sales numbers for the previous range, but analysts said demand had been very low.

Tech consultants IDC said that 50,000 Chromebooks had shipped in the US in the first three months of the year in a market that had absorbed about 10 million laptops over the same period.

An earlier study by Gartner suggested there would be fewer than 300,000 Chromebooks sold worldwide this year.

Google says software updates had helped boost the computers’ speed so that they ran 2.5 to 3.5 times faster than before. Improvements include greater use of the machines’ GPUs (graphic processing units) and tweaks to ensure the system runs Javascript more efficiently.

An upcoming software release will also enable the firm’s Google Drive cloud storage service to act as the computers’ file system, making it easier for users to manage their documents.

It will also allow users to edit Google Documents files when offline. The files will subsequently be synchronized when a network connection is restored tackling complaints that the machines were of limited use when not on the internet.

Google announces that Chromebook and Chromebox, its computers using Chrome operating system, have been updated with faster processors
Google announces that Chromebook and Chromebox, its computers using Chrome operating system, have been updated with faster processors

The search giant’s decision to build in a limited 16 gigabyte hard drive has helped it keep costs relatively low.

The Chromebook laptop is marketed for $449 while the desktop Chromebox is $329.

The firm highlights the fact that the devices need “zero administration” because files are stored in the cloud, system updates are controlled by Google and the computers have virus protection built-in.

Linus Upson, Google’s vice president of engineering, said this had already encouraged more than 500 schools across 41 US states to “deploy” Chromebooks to their students. He said he hoped businesses would now follow.

“From a security standpoint just about every major corporation in the world is under continuous attack by various governments around the world as well as criminal enterprises,” he said.

“Probably the single most important thing companies can do to secure their network is to secure the PCs that their employees use because that’s normally the way in.

“Everything from a phishing email saying ‘hey install this thing’ to exploiting flaws in browsers or plug-ins. At Google we see deploying Chromebooks broadly as being one of the best ways we can protect our user data.”

He admitted that the computers were not suitable for people wanting to use traditional software packages such as Photoshop and Microsoft Office. But he suggested such programs were “legacy” products that would “decline over time” as users opted for the type of browser-based software available via the Chrome Webstore.

David Daoud, personal computing research director at IDC, is skeptical about the platform’s prospects.

“The issue with Chromebook is the fact that it is in a sort of grey zone,” he said.

“It has neither the power of a laptop in the productivity world, nor the appeal of an iPad or an Android tablet.

“It is confined to a web environment that may not be so appealing in emerging economies where the wireless infrastructure may be limited. In such environments, characterized by tight budgets, consumers do not see why they would spend some $400 on a system that does not fully deliver on a more comprehensive user experience.”

But Frank Gillett, principal analyst at Forrester Research, said he believed there was a niche for the machines: first-time users looking for a low-cost simple device.

“It’s cheap, good enough for most of the things you want to do when you’re starting out and it’s just less complicated to figure out than alternatives out there,” he said.

“This is the first interesting version of the product – the launch models were more proof of concept. The Google Drive capability clears the bar to making Chrome-based computers useful to enough of the population to keep it going.”

Google says the computers will go on sale in the US and UK, adding that devices would come to other European markets “soon”.

 

Facebook shares go below $29 as they plunge to lowest point yet

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Facebook shares go below $29 as they plunge to lowest point yet

Facebook shares have fallen below $29 for the first time since their flotation to a new low.

The shares were launched at $38 less than two weeks ago during its high-profile flotation, which valued the firm at $104 billion.

Since then, Facebook’s shares have lost almost a quarter of their value.

Russia’s biggest social network, VKontakte, has now postponed its stock market launch, fearing a repeat of Facebook’s problems.

“The IPO of FB [Facebook] destroyed the faith of many private investors in social networks,” said chief executive Pavel Durov in a message posted on Twitter.

Facebook shares fell more than 9% to a low of $28.78.

Facebook shares have fallen below $29 for the first time since their flotation to a new low
Facebook shares have fallen below $29 for the first time since their flotation to a new low

One reason for the fall in shares since its initial public offering (IPO) is that Tuesday was the first day that options on Facebook stock began trading.

Options are a form of derivative, that allow bets on the future direction of the stock. It appears that most investors are betting Facebook shares will head lower.

The situation is a remarkable turnaround from recent weeks, when the eight-year-old firm’s share sale was over-subscribed.

The social networking site has transformed the way in which hundreds of millions of people around the world communicate. It is also transforming the way companies advertise to existing and potential customers.

But Facebook’s 900 million users helped the company generate just $1billion in profit last year, and there are concerns about its ability to increase profits in the future.

The flotation was disrupted on its first day of trading by technical glitches on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The share price has since slumped amid worries that the company was over-valued by advisers marketing the float.

Now, a group of investors has issued a class-action lawsuit alleging that Facebook revenues were revised down because of a surge in the number of people using mobile devices for apps and connection to websites.

The suit targets Facebook, its founder Mark Zuckerberg and the banks behind the flotation, including lead underwriter Morgan Stanley.

The share sale in New York raised $16 billion for Facebook.

Recent reports suggested that Facebook is to launch its own smartphone by next year.

 

Samsung Galaxy S3 faces shipping delays for blue models

Nancy Clayson
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0
Samsung Galaxy S3 faces shipping delays for blue models

Customers who pre-ordered new smartphone Samsung Galaxy S3 face weeks of delays in receiving their handsets.

Samsung signalled that it had faced issues in manufacturing blue models of the Galaxy S3.

Vodafone added that it had also been advised of “shipping delays” to the 32GB version of the white version of the handset.

Available devices went on sale in 28 European and Middle Eastern countries earlier.

“Samsung’s Galaxy S3 Pebble Blue version comes with a newly invented blue colour and special hyperglaze material,” said a statement from Samsung.

“In order to meet the highest internal quality standards and to provide the best quality Galaxy S3 to customers, a short supply of [the] Pebble Blue version is expected in some regions in the next two to three weeks.”

Samsung signalled that it had faced issues in manufacturing blue models of the Galaxy S3
Samsung signalled that it had faced issues in manufacturing blue models of the Galaxy S3

Vodafone – which has an exclusive deal to distribute white 32GB models in the UK for four weeks – noted that it might take up to that period for customers to receive the delayed models.

It added that “all customers who have pre-ordered the marble white 16GB version… should expect to receive their new phone on the UK launch date”.

O2, Everything Everywhere and Three also confirmed their customers would be affected by the “shortage of blue” models.

The Android-based phone is expected to prove highly popular. It features a 4.8 inch (12.2 cm) screen, a “natural language user interface” and can track users’ eye movements to ensure the screen does not dim while they are looking at it.

The success of its predecessor, the Galaxy S2, helped Samsung overtake Nokia as the world’s best-selling phone maker, according to the research firm Strategy Analytics.

Reviews have compared the device favorably with Apple’s smaller-screened iPhone.

The Verge declared it a “a technological triumph”, although Engadget suggested that HTC’s One X had a superior user-interface and design.

Samsung has said it expects the S3 to outsell the S2. It is scheduled for release in 145 countries by July.

 

Cassandra Bankson shared her acne ordeal on YouTube and had millions of viewers

Diane A. Wade
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0
Cassandra Bankson shared her acne ordeal on YouTube and had millions of viewers

Cassandra Bankson, a teenager from California, hoped that by sharing her problem with acne and how she has learnt make-up tricks to hide it would help at least one person going through the same ordeal, but she has actually reached out to millions thanks to bravely taking to the internet to show off her severe skin complaint.

Cassandra Bankson, 19, posted a video on YouTube showing her red and blemished skin before applying make-up – and how she managed to make her face look flawless in just ten minutes thanks to her beauty tricks.

The video has since had 7.6 million hits worldwide.

As a result of the success, Cassandra Bankson was asked to appeared on Good Morning America to share her story.

The teen explained how she was bullied at school for her acne but she learnt how to conceal it by practicing different make-up techniques. Her blemish-concealing make-up application became so expert that the teenager was able to become a model with her skin appearing flawless in her portfolio shots.

She eventually plucked up the courage to share her beauty tips via a YouTube video but she never expected the overwhelming response it received.

Cassandra Bankson explains: “I got my first pimple in the third grade and it progressively got worse, I had to work out how to deal with it.

“I filmed the video last November but it took me a month to post it, I thought I was going to get the same hate I got at school over my skin. But I thought if it could help one person, one girl or guy with the same condition, it would be worth it.”

Cassandra Bankson’s video went far beyond helping just one person as people clicked to view it in their millions. Viewers thanked her for sharing her story and urged her to share more of her tips on her You Tube channel “diamondsandheels14”.

Cassandra Bankson posted a video on YouTube showing her red and blemished skin before applying make-up and how she managed to make her face look flawless in just ten minutes thanks to her beauty tricks
Cassandra Bankson posted a video on YouTube showing her red and blemished skin before applying make-up and how she managed to make her face look flawless in just ten minutes thanks to her beauty tricks

Now Cassandra Bankson, who is studying to be a nurse, has uploaded other people beauty tips videos and writes her own blog. Her dream is to create her own skin care range.

She said the response to her first video was overwhelming.

“It was a real eye opener,” Cassandra Bankson told Good Morning America.

“It [acne] is such epidemic for adults as well as teens.”

At the start of her video, which was shot in her parent’s lounge, Cassandra Bankson is seen wearing full make-up and looking picture-perfect. It’s only as she starts stripping back the expert layers of primers, foundation, powders and setting sprays, that the true extent of her pimpled and blemished skin is revealed.

The teen, a horse-back riding and hiking fan, returns to the camera in a bathrobe at her ‘most insecure,’ with bare skin and looking a very different person.

“I feel really disgusting, this is probably the most nerve-wracking thing I could possibly do because it is my biggest insecurity… But this is my face.”

She goes to show the extent of the problem as the acne has spread to her neck, shoulders and back.

Cassandra Bankson admits: “The sad part is it’s a lot better than it used to be. I mean it’s still all over my chest, all over my back, it’s everywhere and you can see it goes down my neck, it’s all to the side, it even got on my ear. It’s gotten a lot better but it’s still really, really bad. It’s my biggest insecurity.”

It is a far cry from the modelling portfolio shots that can be seen on her YouTube channel, where the striking brunette lounges on car bonnets, takes to the catwalk and poses in cut-out swimsuits with flawless skin.

The teen, then takes viewers on a step-by-step lesson on how to achieve her look by applying foundation.

“I have extremely oily skin,” she says, giving tips about the primers and oil-reducing tricks.

Applying liberal amounts of cosmetics, Cassandra Bankson seems well ahead of her years, confident and knowledgeable about the complex potions upon which she relies.

She is frank, even wry, about her spots: “I always carry everything down my neck because, well, I have acne there.”

Cassandra Bankson has become something of a skin expert, with other videos explaining the physiology of skin and acne and the treatments that best target the skin condition.

By the end of the video, Cassandra Bankson is transformed – her flawless complexion giving no hint of the severe breakouts

“Voila! I have somewhat clear looking skin,” she tells the camera.

“I hope that you guys enjoy this. I hope you can have flawless skin too.”

 [youtube ex33wtqnNz8]

George Lagen is suing United Airlines over stripping away his Million Miler status due to merger

Diane A. Wade
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0
George Lagen is suing United Airlines over stripping away his Million Miler status due to merger

George Lagen, a top traveller from Chicago, is protesting United Airlines after the airline company took away some of the “perks” that he became accustomed to while flying.

The man isn’t complaining about a lack of baggage room or having to pay for snacks, however.

George Lagen is one of the insightful few to buy an unlimited lifetime travel ticket that came fully-loaded with bonuses.

The tickets, originally sold by American Airlines in a push for instant cash, were bought by 66 passengers before they stopped the offer.

After paying $350,000 for the ticket in 1987, George Lagen and one other passenger were able to travel the world in first class on as many of the airline’s flights as he desired.

George Lagen, a top traveller from Chicago, is protesting United Airlines after the airline company took away some of the “perks” that he became accustomed to while flying
George Lagen, a top traveller from Chicago, is protesting United Airlines after the airline company took away some of the “perks” that he became accustomed to while flying

That he did, George Lagen took 1,000 trips to New York, 500 to Los Angeles, San Francisco and London. Another 80 of his trips landed in Sydney and 50 more in Hong Kong.

All told, George Lagen estimates that he has earned 40 million miles, deservedly earning him the status of a “Million Miler”.

Those select few to gain that elusive title were treated to seat upgrades, early boarding, and the second-highest status given to travellers: “premier executive”.

Additionally, for every flight Million Milers took, they were given the same amount back in frequent flier miles that they could then use towards future flights.

George Lagen told ABC that he is now suing the airline because a number of those perks, to which he had become accustomed, were taken away after United merged with Continental Airlines.

The Million Milers are now handled by the MileagePlus program which has demoted them to the third level of flier (called “Premier Gold” rather than “executive”), fewer upgrades, and half of the frequent flier miles per flight.

The suit alleges that the merger with Continental caused “immediate and significant retroactive demotion of benefits to Million Milers”.

“In stark contrast to the gutting of promised and bargained-for benefits for Million Milers, the new MileagePlus Program perversely and arbitrarily rewards former members of Continental Airlines former Continental One Pass frequent flier program.

“United’s egregious actions, if left unabated, will result in its unlawlly, not to mention immorally, retaining the millions upon millions of dollars it received from Million Miler members.”

In spite of the breach of contract, good faith and fair dealing suit, the company maintains that they have done nothing wrong and that the suit is meritless.

“We greatly value our Million Milers and are continuing to deliver valuable and highly competitive benefits with our lifetime program. One Million Milers receive benefits at the 50,000-mile premier status level – the same as before,” a spokesman for United Airlines said in a statement.

That means little to George Lagen, who puts it simply: “A deal’s a deal.”

 

Major Western states are expelling senior Syrian diplomats over Houla killings

Diane A. Wade
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Major Western states are expelling senior Syrian diplomats over Houla killings

Major Western countries have decided to expel senior Syrian diplomats following the killing of 108 people in the Houla region of Syria on Friday.

France, the U.S., UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands all took action against Syria’s envoys.

Most of the victims in Houla were summarily executed, the UN says.

Residents said pro-government shabiha militia had entered homes and opened fire indiscriminately.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan in Damascus that terrorists had stepped up their operations across Syria, including killing and kidnapping. His remarks were quoted by state TV.

UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said initial investigations had suggested that most of those killed in the village of Taldou, near Houla, were summarily executed.

Rupert Colville said 49 children and 34 women were among the victims. UN observers who visited Taldou said many of the victims had been killed by close-range gunfire or knife attacks.

Eyewitnesses said pro-government shabiha militiamen had carried out the killings. Survivors said they had hidden or played dead.

Syrian leaders insist that the massacre was the work of “terrorists”, aiming to derail the peace process and provoke intervention by Western powers.

Major Western countries have decided to expel senior Syrian diplomats following the killing of 108 people in the Houla region of Syria on Friday
Major Western countries have decided to expel senior Syrian diplomats following the killing of 108 people in the Houla region of Syria on Friday

US state department spokesperson Victoria Nuland announced that the Syrian charge d’affaires in Washington had been given 72 hours to leave the country.

“We hold the Syrian government responsible for this slaughter of innocent lives [in Houla],” Victoria Nuland said.

Canada denounced the Syrian government’s “heinous and murderous acts” while Australia described the Houla massacre as a “hideous and brutal crime”.

Spain talked of “unacceptable repression” and France’s new Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, described President Assad as “the murderer of his people”.

The French government said “the murderous folly” of the Damascus regime threatened regional security.

The Dutch declared Syria’s ambassador to the Netherlands, who is also ambassador to Belgium and lives in Brussels, as “persona non grata”.

Fellow EU state Bulgaria said it was expelling Syria’s interim ambassador and two other diplomats in protest at the killings in Houla.

Despite the show of protest, it is unclear whether the mass diplomatic expulsions will change much on the ground.

Syria’s charge d’affaires in London has been given seven days to leave.

“The international community is appalled by the violence that has continued, by the behavior of the regime, by the murder of so many innocent people,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

President Assad said the success of Kofi Annan’s peace plan depended on halting what he called terrorist actions and stopping arms-smuggling.

Kofi Annan conveyed “the grave concern of the international community about the violence in Syria, including in particular the recent events in Houla”, the UN envoy’s office was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

“He conveyed in frank terms his view to President Assad that the six-point plan cannot succeed without bold steps to stop the violence and release detainees, and stressed the importance of full implementation of the plan.”

Russia, which supplies arms to the Syrian government and has blocked UN resolutions calling for action against Damascus, has blamed both sides for Friday’s massacre.

Its Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, expressed concern that “certain countries” were beginning to use the Houla massacre “as a pretext for voicing demands relating to the need for military measures to be taken”.

A meeting of the so-called Friends of Syria group is to meet in France in July, President Francois Hollande’s office said.

 

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