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FBI plans an app to combine information from Twitter, Facebook and Google Maps

Nancy Clayson
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Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking to develop an early-warning system based on material “scraped” from social networks.

FBI says the application should provide information about possible domestic and global threats superimposed onto maps “using mash-up technology”.

FBI has asked contractors to suggest possible solutions including the estimated cost.

Privacy campaigners say they are concerned that the move could have implications for free speech.

The FBI’s Strategic Information and Operations Center (SOIC) posted its “Social Media Application” market research request onto the web on 19 January, and it was subsequently flagged up by New Scientist magazine.

The document says: “Social media has become a primary source of intelligence because it has become the premier first response to key events and the primal alert to possible developing situations.”

The FBI says the application should collect “open source” information and have the ability to:

• Provide an automated search and scrape capability of social networks including Facebook and Twitter.

• Allow users to create new keyword searches.

• Display different levels of threats as alerts on maps, possibly using colour coding to distinguish priority. Google Maps 3D and Yahoo Maps are listed among the “preferred” mapping options.

• Plot a wide range of domestic and global terror data.

• Immediately translate foreign language tweets into English.

It also says the information would be used to help it to predict the likely actions of “bad actors”, detect instances of people deliberately misleading law enforcement officers and spot the vulnerabilities of suspect groups.

The FBI issued the request three weeks after the US Department of Homeland Security released a separate report into the privacy implications of monitoring social media websites.

It justified the principle of using information that users have provided and not opted to make private.

“Information posted to social media websites is publicly accessible and voluntarily generated. Thus the opportunity not to provide information exists prior to the informational post by the user,” it says.

It noted that the department’s National Operations Center had a policy in place to edit out any gathered information which fell outside of the categories relevant to its investigations.

It listed websites that the centre planned to monitor. They include YouTube, the photo service Flickr, and Itstrending.com – a site which shows popular shared items on Facebook.

It also highlighted words it looked out for. These include “gangs”, “small pox”, “leak”, “recall” and “2600” – an apparent reference to the hacking-focused magazine.

Australia: PM Julia Gillard rescued after becoming trapped in a restaurant by angry protesters

Diane A. Wade
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Australia: PM Julia Gillard rescued after becoming trapped in a restaurant by angry protesters

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and leader of the opposition Tony Abbott had to be rescued after becoming trapped in a restaurant by angry protesters, local media reports.

Riot police formed a shield around the prime minister as they helped her force a path through the protesters who surrounded a restaurant where she was attending an awards ceremony to mark Australia Day.

About 50 police escorted PM Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott from Canberra’s Lobby restaurant after it was surrounded by some 200 supporters of the city’s Aboriginal Tent Embassy.

Julia Gillard stumbled after losing a shoe in the scuffle, but was caught by her personal security guard and managed to get into a waiting car.

About 50 police escorted PM Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott from Canberra's Lobby restaurant after it was surrounded by some 200 supporters of the city's Aboriginal Tent Embassy
About 50 police escorted PM Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott from Canberra's Lobby restaurant after it was surrounded by some 200 supporters of the city's Aboriginal Tent Embassy

Tony Abbott had reportedly angered them by suggesting it was time for the camp – marking its 40th year – to come down.

The pair had been at a ceremony for the inaugural National Emergency Medals.

The honours – presented as the country marked Australia Day – were introduced to recognize those who served their communities during events such as the 2009 bushfires in Victoria and the floods in Queensland in 2010 and 2011.

Australia’s newspapers reported that riot police were called to the restaurant at about 14:30 local time as protesters gathered outside, with people banging on the glass yelling “shame” and “racist”.

Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott were reportedly forced to wait 20 minutes before police escorted them through a side door.

Chaos ensued as a bodyguard grabbed Julia Gillard by the shoulders and shoved her into a waiting car.

The prime minister appeared to have stumbled in the process and was missing a shoe. Protesters continued to bang on the car’s roof and the bonnet as it sped off.

Supporters had gathered for a three-day Corroborree for Sovereignty to mark the 40th anniversary of the tent embassy.

Media reports suggested some had been angered by Tony Abbott’s suggestion in a TV interview that it was “time to move on” from the camp in light of current plans to recognize indigenous people in the country’s constitution.

The tent embassy was established in 1972 by four men as a protest against the prime minister of the time’s refusal to acknowledge indigenous land rights.

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3-D object has been cloaked from all angles

James J. Williams
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3-D object has been cloaked from all angles

Researchers from Austin, Texas, have “cloaked” a 3-D object, making it invisible from all angles, for the first time.

However, the demonstration works only for waves in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The demonstration uses a shell of what are known as plasmonic materials; they present a “photo negative” of the object being cloaked, effectively cancelling it out.

The idea, outlined in New Journal of Physics, could find first application in high-resolution microscopes.

Most of the high-profile invisibility cloaking efforts have focused on the engineering of “metamaterials” – modifying materials to have properties that cannot be found in nature.

The modifications allow metamaterials to guide and channel light in unusual ways – specifically, to make the light rays arrive as if they had not passed over or been reflected by a cloaked object.

3-D object cloaking demonstration works only for waves in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum
3-D object cloaking demonstration works only for waves in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum

Previous efforts that have made three-dimensional objects disappear have relied upon a “carpet cloak” idea, in which the object to be cloaked is overlaid with a “carpet” of metamaterial that bends light so as to make the object invisible.

Andrea Alu and colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin have pulled off the trick in “free space”, making an 18 cm-long cylinder invisible to incoming microwave light.

Light of all types can be described in terms of electric and magnetic fields, and what gives an object its appearance is the way its constituent atoms absorb, transmit or reflect those fields.

Prior metamaterial approaches sidestep these effects simply by channeling light around an object, using carefully designed structures that bounce light in prescribed way, like a pinball machine.

By contrast, plasmonic materials can be designed to have effects on the fields that are precisely opposed to those of the object.

“What we do is different; we realize a shell that scatters [light] by itself, but the interesting point is that if you combine the shell with the object inside, the two counter out and the object becomes completely invisible,” said Prof. Andrea Alu.

The plasmonic material shell is, in essence, a photo-negative of the object being cloaked.

As a result, the cloak has to be tailored to work for a given object. If one were to swap different objects within the same cloak, they would not be as effectively hidden.

But the success with the cylinder suggests further work with different wavelengths of light is worth pursuing: “It’s a real object standing in our lab, and it basically disappears,” said Prof. Andrea Alu said.

However, the idea is unlikely to work at the visible light part of the spectrum.

Prof. Andrea Alu explained that the approach could be applied to the tips of scanning microscopes – the most high-resolution microscopes science has – to yield an improved view of even smaller wavelengths of light.

Ortwin Hess, professor of metamaterials at Imperial College London, said the work was a “very nice verification that this approach works”.

“There are some limits on where these things can be applied, but nevertheless it’s really, really interesting and fundamental indeed,” he said.

Prof. Ortwin Hess explained that for future applications, plasmonic materials could be combined with the structured metamaterials idea already in development elsewhere. Light can be channelled where it needs to go, or its effects undone, as need be.

Cloaking in visible light, hiding more complex shapes and materials – that is, a cloak of Harry Potter qualities – remains distant, but Prof. Andrea Alu pointed out that the steps in the meantime will be put to use.

“There is still a lot of work to do,” he said.

“Our goal was just to show this plasmonic technique can reduce scattering from an object in free space.

“But if I had to bet in five years what kind of cloaking technique might be used for applications, for practical purposes, then I would say plasmonic cloaking is a good bet.”

Brazil: two high-rise buildings have collapsed in Rio de Janeiro

Diane A. Wade
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Brazil: two high-rise buildings have collapsed in Rio de Janeiro

Streets in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have been filled with masonry and cars have been covered with debris after two buildings – one nearly 20 storeys high – have collapsed in the city.

According to officials, up to 11 people are believed to be inside the buildings and five people have been rescued.

The cause of the collapse remains unclear, but witnesses spoke of an explosion and a strong smell of gas.

City Mayor Eduardo Paes said that they were focusing on rescue efforts before looking into the incident’s cause.

Rescue workers were able to pull a cleaner from inside one of the elevators in the rubble after he managed to call a friend on his mobile phone.

Streets in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have been filled with masonry and cars have been covered with debris after two buildings - one nearly 20 storeys high - have collapsed in the city
Streets in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have been filled with masonry and cars have been covered with debris after two buildings - one nearly 20 storeys high - have collapsed in the city

The buildings – located near the Municipal Theatre and the headquarters of oil giant Petrobras – crushed a four-storey construction site on their way down.

The area surrounding the buildings is now covered in rubble, with several cars partially covered by debris.

Dozens of emergency workers are at the scene and police have cordoned off the area.

Electricity to the street has been cut off for safety reasons.

One witness, who identified himself as Gilbert, told Reuters news agency: “It was like an earthquake. First some pieces of the buildings started to fall down. People started to run. And then it all fell down at once.”

The incident comes a little over three months after a suspected gas explosion at a restaurant in the city left three people dead.

Concerns have been raised about the state of Rio de Janeiro’s infrastructure as Brazil prepares to host football’s World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games two years later.

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Jean-Claude Mas, PIP breast implant owner, has been arrested in southern France

Kathryn R. Bown
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Jean-Claude Mas, PIP breast implant owner, has been arrested in southern France

French Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) founder Jean-Claude Mas has been arrested at his home in Six-Fours-les-Plages, southern France, according to police.

In 2010, France banned PIP breast implants made with low-grade industrial silicone, amid fears they could rupture and leak.

Up to 400,000 women in 65 countries are believed to have been given implants.

Jean-Claude Mas, 72, remains at his home while police search it – as required by French law.

PIP owner is believed to have been detained as part of a judicial investigation started in December into manslaughter and involuntary injuries.

A second PIP executive, former chief financial officer Claude Couty, has also been arrested

Jean-Claude Mas has been under investigation since he revealed in a police interview last year that PIP ordered employees to hide the unauthorized silicone when inspectors visited its factory.

He told police that PIP had deceived European safety inspectors for 13 years.

But Jean-Claude Mas has insisted they posed no threat to health and attacked the French authorities for offering to pay for their removal because it put women through a “surgery risk”.

Jean-Claude Mas has been under investigation since he revealed in a police interview last year that PIP ordered employees to hide the unauthorized silicone when inspectors visited its factory
Jean-Claude Mas has been under investigation since he revealed in a police interview last year that PIP ordered employees to hide the unauthorized silicone when inspectors visited its factory

PIP owner also said he had “nothing” to say to women facing surgery for their removal and that victims had only filed complaints “to make money”.

Excerpts from Jean-Claude Mas’s interview have been re-examined by a French magistrate.

In France, 30,000 women have been advised to remove the implants and 2,700 have filed complaints against Jean-Claude Mas.

Women in 65 countries – mainly in Latin America and elsewhere in Europe – have received implants made by the company, which closed down in March 2010.

Health officials in Germany, the Czech Republic and Venezuela have advised women to have them removed.

The medical advice in the UK, where 40,000 are affected, is that there is no need for all the implants to be removed, only those causing problems such as pain or tenderness.

In England, the NHS will only replace them in exceptional circumstances, and the NHS in Wales said it would only do so when it was deemed medically necessary.

Women in Northern Ireland who received PIP implants for health reasons will have them replaced, but the NHS will only remove, not replace, those inserted for cosmetic reasons.

Scotland’s Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said concerned women who had them fitted privately would be offered advice and the option of removal if necessary. There are no records of PIP implants being used by the NHS.

The international police agency Interpol has said Jean-Claude Mas is wanted in Costa Rica over a drunk driving charge.

It said the “red notice” over an alleged incident in June 2010 was “totally unconnected” to PIP.

Demi Moore allegedly collapsed after taking laughing gas, US reports claim

Lisa.Felice
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Demi Moore allegedly collapsed after taking laughing gas, US reports claim

Reports claim that Demi Moore collapsed after taking nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, while at her LA home.

Demi Moore, 49, allegedly inhaled the laughing gas out of a canister commonly used in whipping cream cans. She allegedly collapsed after having a bad reaction, according to TMZ.

A source told TMZ Demi Moore started to show symptoms of a seizure after ingesting large amounts of the substance.

“Whip-it” is the street name for nitrous oxide contained in a small metal canister and usually used for recharging whipping cream cans in restaurants.

According to TMZ, a female friend who was with the actress while she was inhaling gas told hospital staff she became distressed when Demi Moore had a reaction and was rendered semi-unconscious.

The “whip-it” charger is sold separately and users inhale it from the canister to receive a “quick high”.

It is typically used by young teenagers and is popular because it can easily be bought over the counter from the supermarket.

Prescription medication is also said to have played a part in her hospitalization and that her consistent use was one of the causes of her marriage collapse.

“It was a sticking point for Ashton,” a source told People magazine. “He wanted her to take care of herself and get a hold of things, and she wouldn’t.

“Her family and friends have been really worried.”

Demi Moore has become frighteningly thin since her split with Ashton Kutcher
Demi Moore has become frighteningly thin since her split with Ashton Kutcher

Insiders have also told People magazine that Demi Moore was troubled and not looking after herself long before Monday night’s hospital dash.

They say the problems began as she endured her break-up with Ashton Kutcher.

“Really, it was over the last year her friends saw a change,” a source told the magazine. “She wasn’t sleeping as well, didn’t seem to be eating and looked really gaunt.”

Demi Moore was rushed to hospital on Monday night.

The actress, who has appeared increasingly frail in recent weeks, was taken to hospital by ambulance following a call to 911 just before 11:00 pm.

Shortly after being admitted to hospital, website Radar claimed Demi Moore was being treated for anorexia, among other substance abuse issues.

The news emerged as Ashton Kutcher, 33, from whom she is estranged, was pictured enjoying a beer as he partied with friends at a Bruno Mars gig in Brazil.

Ashton Kutcher has been in the South American country for its fashion week.

Demi Moore has become frighteningly thin since her split with Ashton Kutcher, and a source close to the actress described what happened to her.

A source told Radar: “She collapsed after having an epileptic seizure… she has not taken care of her health at all lately and has lost a ton of weight.”

“Demi is in getting treated for anorexia, as well as other issues that caused her seizure,” the source added.

In the weeks before her hospitalization, Demi Moore was spotted letting loose on a wild night out with her daughter Rumer, 23.

On the night of January 11 she joined her eldest child at Hollywood hot spot Beacher’s Madhouse where sources tell Us Weekly magazine she was “table dancing while three guys sat there watching”.

At least one onlooker claims Demi Moore appeared intoxicated, although others only saw her drinking Red Bull.

Representatives for Demi Moore refused to directly comment on the substance abuse allegations. But her spokesperson said the actress is seeking “professional assistance” after the stresses of recent months.

Starbursting activity in the early Universe lead to biggest galaxies

James J. Williams
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Starbursting activity in the early Universe lead to biggest galaxies

A new research suggests that frenetic star-forming activity in the early Universe is linked to the most massive galaxies in today’s cosmos.

This “starbursting” activity when the Universe was just a few billion years old appears to have been clamped off by the growth of super massive black holes.

An international team gathered hints of the mysterious “dark matter” in early galaxies to confirm the link.

The findings appear in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Being able to see objects at great distances in the cosmos allows astronomers to look into the past, at light that departed when the Universe was young.

A new research suggests that frenetic star-forming activity in the early Universe is linked to the most massive galaxies in today's cosmos
A new research suggests that frenetic star-forming activity in the early Universe is linked to the most massive galaxies in today's cosmos

Using the 12-metre Atacama Pathfinder Experiment telescope in Chile, an international team led by Ryan Hickox of Dartmouth College studied the way distant galaxies from the early Universe grouped together.

Galaxies are understood to be surrounded by “haloes” of a mysterious material called dark matter, which clearly exerts a force but has never been detected. The team’s experiments measured the effects of this gravitational force on the galaxy clusters.

With these measured dark matter haloes, and the help of a computer model that describes how the galaxies and their haloes should evolve, the team showed that the frenetic “starbursting” galaxies develop into the enormous elliptical galaxies we see more nearby.

“This is the first time that we’ve been able to show this clear link between the most energetic starbursting galaxies in the early Universe, and the most massive galaxies in the present day,” said Dr. Ryan Hickox.

However, these bouts of star formation appear to only last about 100 million years, seeming to come to an abrupt halt.

The team’s new work adds weight to the idea that the starburst feeds material into the super massive black holes at their centers.

These in turn emit powerful blasts of energy as they consume the stars, blowing away the very clouds of gas that could otherwise have coalesced into even more stars.

Titanic alike scene in pictures of Costa Concordia moments after cruise ship ran aground

Diane A. Wade
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Titanic alike scene in pictures of Costa Concordia moments after cruise ship ran aground

Dramatic pictures, released this evening, show the aftermath of the Costa Concordia disaster as like a scene from the Titanic.

Lifeboats can be seen spilling from the sides of the ship into the gloomy waters off the island of Giglio as Costa Concordia cruise liner sinks into the sea.

Passengers can be clearly seen on the stardboard side waiting to climb aboard those lifeboats which haven’t already been deployed.

Holidaymakers, who moments earlier had been enjoying dinner on the luxury vessel, can also be seen making their way around the heavily-banking prow of the ship.

And the whole dramatic scene is lit up like a Hollywood movie by the many lights on the cruise ship, which would soon plunge into darkness as it sank into the water, claiming at least 16 lives.

Today, search efforts aboard the doomed liner continued, but an official overseeing the operation acknowledged for the first time that it would take a miracle to find any more survivors.

Like a Titanic scene, lifeboats can be seen spilling from the sides of the ship into the gloomy waters off the island of Giglio as Costa Concordia cruise liner sinks into the sea
Like a Titanic scene, lifeboats can be seen spilling from the sides of the ship into the gloomy waters off the island of Giglio as Costa Concordia cruise liner sinks into the sea

Franco Gabrielli, head of Italy’s national civil protection agency, said rescuers would keep searching the ship, which is half-submerged in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the island, until every reachable area is inspected.

“Finding someone alive today belongs in the realm of miracles,” Franco Gabrielli said.

“But since none of us, at least inside, wants to give up on that possibility, we will continue.”

Operations today saw search teams set off more explosions on the submerged third floor deck to allow easier access for divers.

Seventeen people are still unaccounted for, but the last person to be found alive was on January 15 when a senior crew member was discovered less than 36 hours after the grounding.

Costa Concordia ran aground after Captain Francesco Schettino veered from his approved course and gashed the ship’s hull on a reef, forcing the panicked evacuation of the 4,200 passengers and crew.

On Wednesday, the chief executive of Costa Crociere SpA, Pier Luigi Foschi, insisted that Francesco Schettino didn’t have approval to change the ship’s routing and was going far too fast to be so close to shore.

But he defended the practice of so-called “tourist navigation”, whereby enormous cruise ships steer close to shore to give passengers a look at the sites. Luigi Foschi said it was part of the “cruise product” that passengers demand and that cruise lines are forced to offer to stay competitive.

“It’s something that enriches the cruise product,” Luigi Foschi told a parliamentary committee.

“There are many components of the cruise product, and we have to do them like everyone else because we are in a global competition.”

Costa is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise company.

Luigi Foschi stressed that such deviations from charted routes are supposed to follow strict protocols that ensure safety: ports are informed, the company is informed, and certainly no ship of the Costa Concordia’s size would be charging 200-300 yards (meters) off shore at 16 knots.

“For anyone who knows that zone, that ship with those characteristics shouldn’t have been there,” Luigi Foschi said.

Francesco Schettino is under house arrest, facing accusations of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning a ship before all passengers were evacuated.

On Wednesday, Francesco Schettino’s lawyer filed a motion challenging the house arrest, saying the captain wasn’t a flight risk and asserting that there was no risk that he would repeat the crime since no cruise line would hire him, the ANSA news agency reported.

Potential way to prevent death from metastatic melanoma: Photoacoustics identifies cancer cells when they spread into the blood stream

Kathryn R. Bown
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Potential way to prevent death from metastatic melanoma: Photoacoustics identifies cancer cells when they spread into the blood stream

A team of researchers from University of Missouri Columbia has developed a method to detect melanoma cells when they start to spread into the blood stream and before they develop into tumors.

It is extremely important to identify the cell into the blood stream before they start to grow into a tumor. This may make the difference between curable an incurable melanoma.

Using photoacoustics, or laser-induced ultrasounds, cancer cells can be detected with higher efficiency than using current methods.

According to John Viator photoacoustics can identify metastasis before a tumor can be detected with MRIs or CT scans. The method is more sensitive and less expensive because the action can be performed on equipment that is more simplistic than the methods used to diagnose melanoma (MRIs or CT scans).

“Currently, metastatic disease, the phase of cancer where it is spreading throughout the body, is detected by performing body scans, looking for macroscopic tumors that are greater than a few millimeters in size. This method is a new paradigm where we detect cancer’s spread in the bloodstream by detecting single cells in blood samples. The ability to detect metastatic disease when it is still at the single cell level may allow treatment to be done in much lower doses, so that chemotherapy can be performed in such a way that is much easier on the patient,” said by John Viator, associate professor of biological engineering and associate professor of biomedical engineering and dermatology, who is leading the team.

Photoacoustics are being produced commercially for various cancer studies and clinical trials to receive the United States Food and Drug Administration’s approval.

 

Detecting melanoma cells when they start to spread into the blood stream, might be a way to improve treatment and prevention.
Detecting melanoma cells when they start to spread into the blood stream, might be a way to improve treatment and prevention.

 

“We hope one day to use this method as a general screening tool for everyone, just like women have to get mammograms. After a certain age, it would be part of your routine physical. If you’re predisposed to metastatic melanoma and if the disease is ‘caught early’ by our detection system before the patient shows symptoms, then the chances of survival can be up to 90 percent,” said biological engineering graduate Ben Goldschmidt.

He has worked with the MU researchers team on designing a disposable flow cell for a melanoma detection system to make the device to be used commercially.

Melanoma is a malignant tumor developed from cells that produce the dark pigment (melanin), called melanocytes.

Melanin induces the color of the skin. Melanocytes are found mostly in skin, but they are also presents in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye (uveal melanoma). Melanoma can develop in any part of the body that contains melanocytes.

Melanoma is occurs less frequent than other skin cancer, but is more severe and causes the most of the deaths from skin cancer. The disease can start from a mole that is scratched very often, or cut or too exposed to the ultraviolet radiation. Melanoma can become metastatic and spread rapidly into other organs, and the treatment is difficult.

This year around 76,250 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed and about 9,180 from this cancer will occur, according to the estimations made by the National Cancer Institute.

 

Thorpe Park: rollercoaster The Swarm needs urgent redesign after dummies return from test run with limbs snapped off

Diane A. Wade
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Thorpe Park: rollercoaster The Swarm needs urgent redesign after dummies return from test run with limbs snapped off

Officials at Thorpe Park in Surrey, UK, needed to take “drastic measures” after a number of dummies sent on $30 million ride The Swarm came back with limbs missing.

The affected dummies were left “visibly damaged” after being exposed to some of the “extreme <<near miss>> spots”.

The bosses at Thorpe Park said the dummies had experienced a “terrifyingly close call” on a test run on the ride, which opens in less than two months.

The missing limbs could, of course, be the latest sophisticated stunt by a PR team which has devised a string of headline-grabbing “events”.

These include a contest where the public was asked to donate urine to create a “signature stench” for its horror maze SAW Alive and a ban on rollercoaster riders putting their hands in the air due to body odour.

The park even sought the help of a paranormal expert after a late-night Ouija board séance at the park was blamed for a series of spooky incidents. Six members of staff were suspended over the incident.

Officials at Thorpe Park in Surrey, UK, needed to take “drastic measures” after a number of dummies sent on $30 million ride The Swarm came back with limbs missing
Officials at Thorpe Park in Surrey, UK, needed to take “drastic measures” after a number of dummies sent on $30 million ride The Swarm came back with limbs missing

 

Thorpe Park, however, claims the dummies lost their limbs in the pursuit of pushing The Swarm to the “absolute limit” because customers wanted the most extreme experience possible.

Mike Vallis, divisional director at the theme park said he was now 100% satisfied the ride met safety standards.

On the ride’s website it boasts: “The Swarm takes you on a death defying flight through apocalyptic devastation. Picking you up and ripping through the sky on a mission of total annihilation, you’ll feel totally vulnerable as you hurtle through near misses and twisted inversions.”

It adds: “Experience the unique head first, inverted drop from 127 ft as you are flung into this merciless flight for your life.”

The Swarm is on its own island and takes thrill-seekers past a life-size church, and wreckages of a plane and helicopter, at speeds of up to 100 kph.

But the dummies were apparently damaged when the ride took them too close to the church, which measures 23m x 17m x 9m.

An emergency response team was called in to work on the ride ahead of the opening in March.

Thorpe Park insisted despite the “costly operation”, which only took a week to carry out, officials are now satisfied that the ride fully complies with health and safety requirements.

Experts adapting the new ride have remodeled the church to avoid any nasty accidents when the ride officially opens on March 15.

Mike Vallis said: “We have been planning for The Swarm for almost two years now, and we’ve pushed the boundaries to the absolute limit because <<extreme>> is what our thrill-seeking customers demand.

“The ride-testing phase is absolutely crucial in ensuring extreme fun doesn’t compromise safety, and we work with the very best teams in the world to ensure we reach the gold standard in safety.

“So if that means re-modeling a church it’s taken us a year to build, then so be it.

“To lift the lid on what goes on behind-the-scenes of building a monster roller-coaster such as The Swarm is quite unprecedented.

“We want people to understand the level of planning, precision and care that goes into creating their ultimate thrill-seeking experience.”

[youtube XzTCakQDk4s]

[youtube IMPju71rMpc]

 

LA adult filmmakers slapped by condom law

Lisa.Felice
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Actors in adult movies in Los Angeles will be required to use condoms while filming, under a new law signed by the city mayor.

The new regulation, also known as “condom law”, has been welcomed by health officials but pornography industry leaders say it could force them to abandon the city.

LA’s San Fernando Valley is considered the capital of the multibillion-dollar US adult film industry.

It is not yet clear how the new law will be enforced.

The Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation welcomed the move saying it was crucial in protecting adult film actors from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The foundation, which has campaigned for the measure for six years, said it would now seek similar condom requirement elsewhere in the US.

“The city of Los Angeles has done the right thing. They’ve done the right thing for the performers,” said foundation president Michael Weinstein.

Michael Weinstein said his group would also be vigilant in keeping track of where porn producers might move to.

Several of the industry’s biggest adult filmmakers have said they might consider moving just outside city boundaries.

They insist that adult films featuring condoms are not as popular and that some actors prefer not to use them.

“Condom law” was signed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday.

The city council has now asked the police, city attorney’s office and workplace safety officials to figure out how they enforce the rule, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Industry experts estimate as many as 90% of all pornographic films produced in the US are made in Los Angeles.

In 2011, pornographic film productions across the US were temporarily shut down after an adult film performer tested positive for HIV.

Jay Leno sued over Golden Temple of Amritsar jibe

Diane A. Wade
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Jay Leno sued over Golden Temple of Amritsar jibe

Jay Leno has been sued for what it calls “racist” comments on the Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

Indian-American Randeep Dhillon says Jay Leno “hurt the sentiments of all Sikh people in addition to the plaintiff”.

A recent Jay Leno skit showed the shrine as the summer home of Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

Mitt Romney has faced questions over his wealth and Sikhs are angry the temple was shown as a place for the rich.

Jay Leno has been sued for what it calls "racist" comments on the Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple of Amritsar
Jay Leno has been sued for what it calls "racist" comments on the Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple of Amritsar

An Indian minister called Jay Leno’s comments “objectionable” and said “freedom does not mean hurting the sentiments of others”.

But US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the US Constitution strictly protected freedom of speech.

Randeep Dhillon filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, seeking unspecified damages.

Jay Leno’s joke “clearly exposes plaintiff, other Sikhs and their religion to hatred, contempt, ridicule and obloquy because it falsely portrays the holiest place in the Sikh religion as a vacation resort owned by a non-Sikh”, Randeep Dhillon said in his petition.

Earlier, a US Sikh group launched an online petition over Jay Leno’s comment, also accusing the comedian of making previous derogatory remarks about Sikhs.

Some Sikhs also demanded action against the NBC channel for airing the “racist and derogatory” depiction of the Golden Temple.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi joined the protest, saying: “It is quite unfortunate and quite objectionable that such a comment has been made after showing the Golden Temple.”

Victoria Nuland said: “I hope [Leno will] be appreciative if we make the point that his comments are constitutionally protected in the United States under free speech and, frankly, they appeared to be satirical in nature.”

She said the US had “absolute respect” for all Indians, including Sikhs, and that “President Barack Obama was the first president to celebrate the birthday of the religion’s founder, Guru Nanak, at the White House.”

Jay Leno has not yet commented on the matter.

Somalia: hostages Jessica Buchanan and Poul Thisted freed in US Navy Seals raid

Roy Siemens
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Somalia: hostages Jessica Buchanan and Poul Thisted freed in US Navy Seals raid

Two foreign aid workers, American Jessica Buchanan and Danish Poul Thisted, kidnapped in Somalia three months ago, have been freed in a rare US Navy Seals raid there.

US officials have confirmed that elite US Navy Seals were dropped into Somalia to carry out the overnight operation which resulted in a shoot-out.

A number of the captors were killed, according to local officals. However the two hostages were freed unharmed, a Danish humanitarian group says.

Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Thisted, 60, were seized on 25 October.

American Jessica Buchanan and Danish Poul Thisted, kidnapped in Somalia three months ago, have been freed in a rare US Navy Seals raid there
American Jessica Buchanan and Danish Poul Thisted, kidnapped in Somalia three months ago, have been freed in a rare US Navy Seals raid there

Jessica Buchanan and Poul Thisted had been working for the Danish Demining Group when they were abducted by gunmen near the north-central town of Galkayo, hundreds of kilometres from the capital Mogadishu.

At the time of the raid they were being kept about 40 km east of the town of Adado and 100 km south of Galkayo – in a semi-autonomous area controlled by a local administration opposed to the Islamist al-Shabab militants but which has no official links to the transitional government in the capital, Mogadishu.

US officials said the captors were not al-Shabab, “these were criminals”.

Other remaining hostages in Somalia include a UK tourist and two Spanish medics who were abducted in neighboring Kenya.

An US official has said the Seals parachuted from a plane into an area near the compound where the two hostages were being held near Adado.

Shots were fired as the team approached the compound, but there were no US casualties, say US officials.

Local officials said that eight or nine of the captors were killed.

The rescue team was on the ground for about an hour and the raid was over by 03:00 (24:00 GMT).

Afterwards, the two freed hostages and the Seals left the area by helicopter for the nearby tiny Horn of Africa state of Djibouti, where the US has a military presence.

The Danish Refugee Council, which had been involved in efforts to free them via mediation, said they were unharmed and “at a safe location”.

Denmark’s foreign minister has suggested that a rescue had become a pressing issue because one of the hostages had a “very serious” disease, although no further details were given.

The first hint of the successful operation appeared to come from US President Barack Obama himself – as he prepared to give the State of the Union address, he turned to his Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and said “Good job tonight.”

The aid workers have been taken to Camp Lemonnier, in Djibouti, which “serves as a key location from which US and coalition forces operate in the Horn of Africa” according to its website.

About 2,500 personnel – including civilians and defence contractors – are based there as well as armour, fighters and drones.

Correspondents say that following the killing in 1993 of 19 US soldiers and the wounding of 70 others in Mogadishu, there is no appetite for full-scale US ground operations in Somalia.

LA Police shot dead man in hail of bullets in the parking lot of Carl’s Jr. restaurant

Diane A. Wade
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LA Police shot dead man in hail of bullets in the parking lot of Carl’s Jr. restaurant

LAPD gunned down a man who was preparing to swing a metal pipe at them in the parking lot of a Carl’s Jr. fast food restaurant.

The entire shooting – 10 shots in all – was captured on video by two teens with a cell phone camera, who watched as the man walked out of the Carl’s Jr. about 9:30 a.m. Monday and apparently refused officers’ commands to surrender.

The dead man’s name is unknown and the names of the officers involved in the shooting have not been released.

The man appears to be casually walking out of the burger joint after smashing windows at the restaurant.

Officers approach and shoot him in the face with a Taser stun gun.

The man pulls the electric probes and wires out, takes a step then turns toward one of the officers and swings the metal bar.

That’s when one officer, holding a pistol in one hand and the leash of a police dog in the other, opens fire, shooting five times.

The man stumbles backwards and spins. He is still on his feet with his back to the shooter when a second officer fires five more times.

He was taken to the hospital, where he died, police say.

One officer, holding a pistol in one hand and the leash of a police dog in the other, opens fire, shooting five times
One officer, holding a pistol in one hand and the leash of a police dog in the other, opens fire, shooting five times

The cameramen, who react with shock at what they see, apparently set up in their car to film the man’s encounter with officers after they saw him causing a disturbance in the restaurant.

“Dude they shot him so many times!” one of the onlookers says.

Before the video surfaced, police claimed the man had swung the pipe at officers. However, the footage does not show he actually took a swing.

Rather, it appears the man gripped the pipe like a baseball bat and was preparing to hit out with it.

The target of the man’s fury, the officer with the Taser, appearing to be fumbling in his pocket for a cartridge to reload the stun gun.

He backed up quickly to avoid the man’s swing.

Police were originally called to the restaurant on reports that a man was trying to break in. When they arrived, they spotted several people running from the restaurant.

The video shows police hide beside the door so the man will not see him until he walks outside.

“Get your cameras out, they’re gonna drop him right here,” one of the teens behind the camera says as the man steps out the door.

After the shooting, one of the teens comments: “They could have done something f**** different than f****** shoot him, use a baton or something.”

The video quickly became viral after the teens uploaded it to YouTube. It had more than 2600,000 views since it was uploaded Monday.

[youtube bY5ioBvrYIg]

Francesco Schettino’s wife Oggi interview: “My husband is not a monster”

Diane A. Wade
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Francesco Schettino’s wife Oggi interview: “My husband is not a monster”

Fabiola Russo, the wife of Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino has defended her husband in the Italian magazine Oggi interview, claiming: “He is not a monster.”

Fabiola Russo spoke out as calls increased for prosecutors to widen their probe into the Costa Concordia luxury liner disaster, in which 16 people have been confirmed dead and another 16 people still are missing.

In an interview with glossy Italian weekly Oggi, Fabiola Russo said there was a witch-hunt against her husband – who is under investigation for multiple manslaughter, abandoning ship and causing a ship wreck.

Francesco Schettino is currently under house arrest following the disaster which happened earlier this month, after he recklessly steered his 114,000 tons ship, carrying more than 4,000 passengers and crew, on to rocks close to the island of Giglio in a “sail by” salute to impress a crew member.

Fabiola Russo, 48, who lives with Francesco Schettino and their 17-year-old daughter in Meta di Sorrento near Naples, said: “My husband is not a monster. He was always the go to guy for the crew.

“I am the wife of a seaman, so I am used to doing things on my own. I tackle situations and I resolve them.

“This is a witch hunt, everyone is out to get my husband. The media has made out he is to blame.

“He loves ships, he knows all about them and has never stopped studying them, to learn what they are capable of and what their limits are.

“He didn’t stop at just sailing ships. That’s why for his crew he was always the go to man, a maestro. He is decisive, stable and lucid, he analyses situations, understands them and then acts.

“At times Francesco seems arrogant because he puts himself above the people he is speaking to and often tells them to shut up.

“He wasn’t in charge of the Concordia by chance, he knows how to do his job but sometimes even those who know how to do their job can make mistakes – that’s if he did make a mistake.”

Fabiola Russo, the wife of Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino has defended her husband in the Italian magazine Oggi interview
Fabiola Russo, the wife of Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino has defended her husband in the Italian magazine Oggi interview

Extracts from the interview were also posted on Oggi’s website along with a gallery of photographs provided by Fabiola Russo among them a series of pictures showing her husband giving a safety demonstration when he was a captain with Renaissance cruise lines in 2000.

Other pictures showed Francesco Schettino at a desk in his cabin on another ship, or where was sat on a lifeboat of a tanker while working for American petrol giants Sunoco.

Amazingly Fabiola Russo also revealed how they had once been fined for sailing too close to the shore in their sailing boat and added: “What we really like is canoeing and to row together you need to be in harmony and my husband and I are.”

It comes as Beniamino Deidda, prosecutor general of Tuscany, the Italian region Giglio is in, called for attention in the investigation to also focus on the Concordia’s owners Costa Cruises.

Beniamino Deiddo said: “For the time being the main focus of attention is the captain, who it has been shown was tragically inadequate but who chose him?

“The lifeboats did not lower properly, the crew didn’t know what to do, they were unprepared in dealing with an emergency, wrong orders were given such as being told to return to cabins.

“The confusion that has emerged shows that there was an incredible lack of attention to safety procedures. Safety should have been rehearsed beforehand.

“You cannot blame all of this carelessness on the conduct of the captain. That’s why this investigation cannot exclude others.”

Yesterday the death toll of Costa Concordia ship disaster rose to 16 as the body of a woman was found on deck three of the vessel after a hole had once again been blown into the side of the ship.

The victim was found with a life jacket and her body was taken to a mortuary on the mainland.

Cold smoked salmon product destroyed after Listeria had been detected

Kathryn R. Bown
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Cold smoked salmon product destroyed after Listeria had been detected

Mill Stream Corp. of Hancock, Maine, has destroyed its cold smoked salmon products after Listeria monocytogenes had been found in the manufacturing facility and on processing equipment.

The action was taken voluntarily under the supervision of the FDA. Mill Stream Corp. is a Maine food processing and storage company. Cold smoked salmon needs no cooking, being a ready-to-eat product and the presence of Listeria monocytogenes implies a high risk for public health.

 

Cold smoked salmon is a ready-to-eat food and has to be destroyed if Listeria monocytogenes is found.
Cold smoked salmon is a ready-to-eat food and has to be destroyed if Listeria monocytogenes is found.

 

The FDA has detected Listeria bacteria during an inspection in December 2011 and has ordered an administrative detention of the cold smoked salmon.

“FDA will not hesitate to take immediate steps to protect the public’s health. We will aggressively use our enforcement tools to prevent potentially adulterated food from reaching the public,” said Dara A. Corrigan, the FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs.

The FDA acts under the administrative detention authority for foods as amended as part of the FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act. When an investigator has a reason to believe that the food is adulterated or misbranded, the FDA may order the detention of food. A detention order may remain in place for up to 30 days.

No illnesses connected to Mill Stream’s cold smoked salmon products have been reported. Illnesses or adverse events related to use of these products should be reported to the FDA at http://www.foodsafety.gov/report/index.html.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis. The disease is rare, but severe and one can become ill by eating food contaminated with the bacteria.

In healthy persons only short-term symptoms (high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea) may occur. In elders, in persons with an weak immune systems (such AIDS), or in persons suffering from cancer, or other chronic medical conditions Listeriosis can be fatal. Listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and serious illness or death in newborn babies. The mother herself rarely becomes seriously ill.

 

Demi Moore rushed to hospital to be treated for exhaustion

Lisa.Felice
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Demi Moore rushed to hospital to be treated for exhaustion

Demi Moore was rushed to hospital last night where is being treated for “exhaustion”.

Demi Moore, 49, who has appeared increasingly frail in recent weeks, was taken to a health facility by ambulance just before 11:00 p.m. last night.

The actress was with a female friend when she began shaking, it has been reported.

According to E! news, Demi Moore was “acting like she was suffering from a seizure”.

A spokesperson for the star said: “Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health.

“She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends.”

Demi Moore, 49, who has appeared increasingly frail in recent weeks, was taken to a health facility by ambulance just before 11 pm last night
Demi Moore, 49, who has appeared increasingly frail in recent weeks, was taken to a health facility by ambulance just before 11 pm last night

However, TMZ are reporting that Demi Moore is being treated for substance abuse.

Representatives for the star refused to comment on the allegations.

According to TMZ, a 911 call was placed at 10:45pm last night which resulted in an ambulance taking the star to hospital.

TMZ also reports that Demi Moore will now no longer be appearing in the film about porn star Linda Lovelace.

Demi Moore’s frail and gaunt and appearance in recent weeks has caused considerable concern.

The mother-of-three, who announced she was divorcing husband Ashton Kutcher last November, has lost a considerable amount of weight over the past four months.

Demi Moore last appeared in public on January 14 at the Cinema For Peace event at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Her frail appearance shocked fans, although she appears to have been loosing weight steadily since claims emerged Ashton Kutcher had cheated on her with 22-year-old Sara Leal.

Demi Moore, who looked a shadow of her former self, wore a slim fitting black dress which showed just how much weight she had lost from her usually toned physique.

On November 17, 2011, Demi Moore announced that she was filing for divorce from Ashton Kutcher after six years of marriage.

In a statement Demi Moore said: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton.

“As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life.”

While Demi Moore is seeking treatment, Ashton Kutcher is currently in Sao Paulo where he has been attending the Fashion Week.

Yesterday Ashton Kutcher shared a snap of himself joking around pretending to surf on a street during a spot of rain.

Ashton Kutcher is also said to have moved on following the breakdown of his marriage to Demi Moore.

The actor is now reportedly dating screenwriter Lorene Scafaria, who, at 33, is his own age.

The pair spent Christmas together in Europe.

Earlier this month, Demi Moore was seen in a parking lot with a 26-year-old actor and personal trainer Blake Corl-Baietti.

Her reps refused to comment on speculation that the actress was in a relationship with the younger man.

Demi Moore recently opened up about her fears and heartache in an interview with US Harper’s Bazaar.

She admitted: “What scares me is that I’m going to ultimately find out at the end of my life that I’m really not lovable, that I’m not worthy of being loved.

“That there’s something fundamentally wrong with me.”

Fried food may not be bad for your heart, if is cooked with olive oil

Kathryn R. Bown
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Fried food may not be bad for your heart, if is cooked with olive oil

Experts say that eating fried food may not be bad for the heart, as long as you use olive or sunflower oil to make it.

The specialists found no heightened risk of heart disease or premature death linked to food that had been cooked in this way.

But the investigators stress that their findings, from studying the typical Spanish diet in which these “healthy” oils are found in abundance, do not apply to lard or other cooking oils.

So, traditional fry ups should not be the order of the day, according to a bmj.com report.

When food is fried it becomes more calorific because the food absorbs the fat of the oils.

And experts know that eating lots of fat-laden food can raise blood pressure and cause high cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart disease.

Experts say that eating fried food may not be bad for the heart, as long as you use olive or sunflower oil to make it
Experts say that eating fried food may not be bad for the heart, as long as you use olive or sunflower oil to make it

For the study, the researchers at the Autonomous University of Madrid surveyed 40,757 adults about their diet.

The participants were asked about what types of food they ate in a typical week and how that food was prepared and cooked.

None of the adults had any sign of heart disease at the start of the 11-year study, but by the end of it 606 heart disease events and 1,134 deaths had occurred.

When the researchers looked at these heart events in detail, they could find no link with fried food in the diet.

This, they believe, is down to the type of oil the food is cooked in.

In an accompanying editorial, Professor Michael Leitzmann from the University of Regensburg in Germany said: “Taken together, the myth that frying food is generally bad for the heart is not supported by available evidence.

“However, this does not mean that frequent meals of fish and chips will have no health consequences.

“The study suggests that specific aspects of frying food are relevant, such as the oil used, together with other aspects of the diet.”

Mediterranean diets have long been hailed as healthy, being packed full of low-fat, high-fibre fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh fish.

And numerous studies have shown a balanced diet such as this can cut the risk of illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

Victoria Taylor, a senior heart health dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Before we all reach for the frying pan, it’s important to remember that this was a study of a Mediterranean diet rather than British fish and chips. Our diet in the UK will differ from Spain, so we cannot say that this result would be the same for us too.

“Participants in this study used unsaturated fats such as olive and sunflower oil to fry their food. We currently recommend swapping saturated fats like butter, lard or palm oil for unsaturated fats as a way of keeping your cholesterol down and this study gives further cause to make that switch.

“Regardless of the cooking methods used, consuming foods with high fat content means a high calorie intake. This can lead to weight gain and obesity, which is a risk factor for heart disease. A well-balanced diet, with plenty of fruit and veg and only a small amount of high fat foods, is best for a healthy heart.”

JFK’s final recordings released by presidential library

James J. Williams
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JFK’s final recordings released by presidential library

John F. Kennedy’s presidential library has released the final 45 hours of his private recordings, representing the last months of JFK’s life.

The recordings include discussions on the growing conflict in Vietnam and plans for the 1964 election.

JFK recorded many of his White House meetings secretly, keeping their existence away from top aides.

The library has declassified and released portions of the tapes since 1993.

John F. Kennedy's presidential library has released the final 45 hours of his private recordings, representing the last months of JFK's life
John F. Kennedy's presidential library has released the final 45 hours of his private recordings, representing the last months of JFK's life

Among the conversations recorded is JFK discussing his ill-fated trip to Dallas, Texas in November 1963, and what would become the day of his funeral.

“Monday?” he asks during a discussion about scheduling. “Well that’s a tough day.”

“It’s a hell of a day, Mr. President,” a staffer replies.

“Although on the one hand releasing the final recordings is a bittersweet milestone, on the other, we hope that the public will appreciate having the opportunity to hear these important discussions first hand,” Maura Porter, the library’s archivist, said in a statement.

Maura Porter told the Associated Press news agency that Kennedy may have been saving the tapes for a potential memoir.

Another possible reason for making the tapes was JFK’s concern that US military leaders had given a different public account of a discussion over the botched Bay of Pigs invasion.

In a meeting between John F. Kennedy and advisers about developments in South Vietnam, the president seems both frustrated and amused that his military and diplomatic advisors have given him contradictory reports on the state of the country.

General Victor Krulak reported “the Viet Cong war will be won” with the US military and social programmes in place in the country at that time.

Meanwhile, state department advisor Joseph Mendenhall told the president that many in the South Vietnamese government considered the war against the Viet Cong “secondary” to concerns about the regime in Saigon, and that student groups were considering moving to Viet Cong’s side.

“You both went to the same country?” JFK asks.

By November 1963 Kennedy’s mind was already focusing on the 1964 presidential election that he would not live to campaign in. As the incumbent, he worried about how to bring young voters to the Democratic Party.

“The younger people, party label – what is it that’s going to make them go for us,” JFK asks. “What is it we have to sell them? We hope we have to sell them prosperity but for the average guy, the prosperity is nil… And the people who really are well off, hate our guts.”

There is also discussion about the impact of filming the Democratic convention in colour, even when most TV viewers would still see it in black and white.

“I don’t know if maybe they’d come over the NBC one in colour,” he says. “Probably a million watching it in colour and it would have an effect… Be quite an effect on the convention. The colour is so damn good. If you do it right.”

John F. Kennedy made over 260 hours of recordings of both meetings and telephone conversations during almost three years in office.

Of the final hours of recordings released on Tuesday, Maura Porter said officials excised about five to 10 minutes of family-related discussions and about 30 minutes because of national security concerns.

Nigeria: 158 members of Boko Haram organization has been arrested after Kano blasts

Roy Siemens
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Nigeria: 158 members of Boko Haram organization has been arrested after Kano blasts

158 suspected members of the Islamist Boko Haram organization has been arrested in raids in the northern city of Kano by Nigerian forces.

Boko Haram said it carried out a series of bombings in Kano last Friday in which at least 185 people died.

The organization says it wants to overthrow the Nigerian government and impose Islamic law.

There were two casualties from Tuesday’s dawn raids, carried out by the Nigerian Joint Military Task Force.

One resident of Kano said officers had encircled a house where a Boko Haram suspect was believed to be hiding. The shoot-out lasted several hours.

“They began shooting, and he fired back… This was followed by a barrage of gunfire by the security men,” Mohammed Maikubi Bala told AFP news agency.

A man and his wife were killed in the raid, residents said.

158 suspected members of the Islamist Boko Haram organization has been arrested in raids in the northern city of Kano by Nigerian forces
158 suspected members of the Islamist Boko Haram organization has been arrested in raids in the northern city of Kano by Nigerian forces

Attacks by Boko Haram killed close to 1,000 people last year, according to campaign groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Amnesty said the Nigerian government should do more to tackle the group.

“The Nigerian government has repeatedly failed to prevent, investigate, prosecute or punish these acts,” it said.

The key suspect in a Christmas Day bombing on a Catholic church – believed to be a member of the Islamist sect Boko Haram – escaped from police custody earlier this month.

At least 40 people died in that attack.

A top African Union official warned that the radical sect was escalating its activities.

“The possibility of this group expanding its activities into the neighboring countries, deep into the Central African region should not be discarded,” said Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira, in charge of counter terrorism co-operation for the AU.

Costa Concordia: death toll raised to 16 after another body was found inside the wreck of the ship

Diane A. Wade
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Costa Concordia: death toll raised to 16 after another body was found inside the wreck of the ship

Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster is raised to 16 after another body has been found inside the wreck of the vessel, officials say.

Salvage crews have begun preparations to empty the ship’s fuel tanks but officials say it will be days before the actual pumping process can begin.

It is likely to take about four weeks to complete the operation.

The Costa Concordia hit rocks off the Tuscan coast on 13 January with more than 4,200 people on board.

Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster is raised to 16 after another body has been found inside the wreck of the vessel, officials say
Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster is raised to 16 after another body has been found inside the wreck of the vessel, officials say

Italian officials have not confirmed reports that the body was that of a woman.

Divers are continuing to search for at least 16 more missing people on the 290 m-long vessel.

Navy explosive experts have blasted a hole into the submerged third deck of the ship to allow the search to continue.

A Dutch salvage company has brought a barge alongside the giant hulk as divers install external tanks that will collect more than 2,300 tons of diesel to be pumped out of the Concordia.

“While this operation is under way, rescue efforts are continuing simultaneously,” fire services spokesman Claudio Chiavacci said, according to Reuters news agency.

The head of Italy’s civil protection agency, Franco Gabrielli, said the salvage workers were likely to begin collecting oil by Saturday.

They are expected to use a so-called “hot-tapping” operation, in which the fuel will be pumped out into a nearby ship and replaced with water so as not to affect the ship’s balance.

The captain of the Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino, is under house arrest in his home town of Meta di Sorrento, near Naples, while his actions are investigated.

Francesco Schettino is accused of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, and abandoning ship before all passengers were evacuated. He denies the allegations.

Afghan mother gave birth to sextuplets

Diane A. Wade
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Afghan mother gave birth to sextuplets

Sharah is an Afghan mother who has given birth to sextuplets at a hospital in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

The mother was not aware she was carrying more than one child and had not received fertility treatment.

Doctors say Sharah, 24, arrived in hospital on Monday and gave birth on the same day to three boys and three girls. It was her first pregnancy.

Doctors say that having six children without fertility treatment is extremely rare.

Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world.

Sharah arrived in Mazar-e-Sharif hospital from a remote village in Balkh province.

Provincial Health Director Mirwais Rabi said that all six babies are well but under-weight, with one only weighing about 700g (25oz).

Mirwais Rabi said the sextuplets were being kept inside incubators and a special team of nurses and doctors are looking after them.

The sextuplets’ mother is said to be in good health but exhausted.

Doctors say that had they been aware that Sharah was carrying six children, she would have been in hospital at least several days in advance.

All six babies are well but under-weight, with one only weighing about 700g
All six babies are well but under-weight, with one only weighing about 700g

Her story has made headlines on Afghan television and radio stations.

“She is brave, she is amazing,” one resident said.

“I don’t know how she carried six children. The government should help her now.”

A 2010 survey revealed that infant and under-fives mortality rates appeared to be decreasing.

Experts say that despite recent improvements, Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a pregnant woman or a young child.

One in 10 children in Afghanistan still dies before they are five years old, the survey said.

Pakistan: Over 36 deaths caused by contaminated heart drugs

Ricky Robinson
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Pakistan: Over 36 deaths caused by contaminated heart drugs

Over 36 people have died in the past four weeks from taking oral drugs in Punjab province, Pakistan.

The medicines were provided for free to cardiovascular patients at the government-owned Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore city.

Thousands of prescriptions of these drugs were given to the patients during last month, said hospital officials.

“More than 100 patients brought to various hospitals in Lahore for suspected drug reactions have all been recently under treatment at Punjab Institute of Cardiology, and were given these drugs… We are trying to retrieve all the medicines given out at this hospital,” said Jehanzeb Khan, Punjab provincial Health Secretary.

One or more of at least four medicines taken by the patients caused their deaths.

These drugs include Alfagril (Clopidogrel), Cardiovestin (Simvastatin), Concort (Amlodipine) and Soloprin (Aspirin).

On or more drugs caused a rapid depletion of bone marrow, with a dramatic decrease in white cells and platelets counts that led to bleeding and death, Dr Javed Ikram of the Allama Iqbal Medical College told BBC.

 

Deaths drom heart pills in Punjab, Pakistan
Over 36 people have died from taking contaminated heart medicines in Punjab, Pakistan.

 

The presence of some bits of metal in the pills is presumed to be the cause of the symptoms.

The drugs by themselves can cause heavy bleeding if they are taken in high doses, if the patient has certain diseases (such ulcer or gastritis, renal failure) or a particular sensitivity to the substance (allergy). It is possible that the faulty pills to have had an improper dosage of the active substance.

A commission was formed by the provincial government to investigate the deaths. “Patients were coming in with symptoms similar to dengue fever. But then we realized it wasn’t that. The one thing common in all patients was heart disease, and that they were getting medicines from the Punjab Institute of Cardiology,” said Faisal Masood, member of the committee.

The owners of two local pharmaceutical firms were arrested. There have not been any comments from them.

One pharmaceutical firm has been sealed off and the drugs would be sent for testing abroad, officials said.

Pakistan Medical Association asked the government in a statement to buy life-saving drugs from other suppliers.

Pakistan’s government was accused of ineptitude and corruption, and of spending a small amount of funds on health. Apparently Pakistanis have little faith in state-run medical centers.

These oral drugs were purchased at competitive rates, said officials. Hospitals have to buy drugs from the lowest bidder, because if they do not, they can be sued by local pharmaceutical companies and even be issued with an injunction against all future purchases, hospital sources told BBC.

 

Oscar 2012: Martin Scorsese’s Hugo leads the charge with 11 nominations

Diane A. Wade
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Oscar 2012: Martin Scorsese’s Hugo leads the charge with 11 nominations

Hugo, the 3D epic adventure film directed by Martin Scorsese, leads the charge at 2012 Academy Awards with 11 nominations, including best film and director.

The second in line come The Artist, the French comedy which is up for 10 awards, including best film, director, actor and supporting actress.

Meryl Streep receives her 17th Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, while George Clooney and Brad Pitt are up for best actor.

The winners will be announced in Los Angeles on 26 February.

Seven other films are in competition for the best picture prize alongside The Artist and Hugo.

They are War Horse, Moneyball, The Tree Of Life, Midnight In Paris, The Help, The Descendants, and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

Both Hugo and The Artist are love-letters to cinema and reflect an appreciation for the silent era.

Hugo is a heartwarming family tale about an orphaned boy living in a French railway station.

Hugo, the 3D epic adventure film directed by Martin Scorsese, leads the charge at 2012 Academy Awards with 11 nominations
Hugo, the 3D epic adventure film directed by Martin Scorsese, leads the charge at 2012 Academy Awards with 11 nominations

The Artist tells the story of an actor put out of work by the advent of the “talkies”.

Michel Hazanavicius received nods for writing and directing the comedy, while his wife Berenice Bejo was named in the best supporting actress category.

Berenice Bejo said she was “overjoyed and filled with happiness” after hearing of the nominations, while Michael Hazanavicius said the film’s impressive tally of nominations was “far beyond what I ever imagined”.

Jean Dujardin, who stars in the film, will compete for best actor along with George Clooney (The Descendants), Demian Bichir (A Better Life), Brad Pitt (Moneyball) and British actor Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).

It is Gary Oldman’s first nomination, after more than 30 years on the big screen.

He said: “You may have heard this before, but it has never been truer than it is for me today: It is extremely humbling, gratifying, and delightful to have your work recognized by the Academy, and to join the celebrated ranks of previous nominees and colleagues. Amazing.”

Meryl Streep, 62, who is up for best actress, already had more Oscar nominations than any other actor before the Academy announced its 2012 shortlist.

She has now pulled further ahead from Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson, who have 12 nods each and are in second place.

Meryl Streep won twice, for Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie’s Choice.

Other contenders in this year’s best actress category are Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Viola Davis (The Help), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn).

Woody Allen picked up a best director nomination for his 41st movie Midnight In Paris. His competition comes from Martin Scorsese, Hazanavicius, Terrence Malick (The Tree Of Life) and Alexander Payne (The Descendants).

Co-stars of The Help Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain will go head to head for the best supporting actress prize.

Melissa McCarthy and Britain’s Janet McTeer complete the category for their roles in Bridesmaids and Albert Nobbs respectively.

It is Janet McTeer’s second Oscar nod, following recognition for 1999’s Tumbleweed.

British star Kenneth Branagh will vie for the best supporting actor title, after playing one of his childhood idols in My Week With Marilyn.

“It was a rare honor to play Sir Laurence Olivier,” he said. “To be recognized by the Academy for doing so is overwhelming. I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Kenneth Branagh’s challengers are Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Nick Nolte (Warrior), Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close).

Christopher Plummer, 82, is also on the shortlist for the movie Beginners, in which he plays an elderly father who comes out of the closet.

With a career that spans 60 years, Christopher Plummer’s work largely went unrecognized until two years ago, when he was nominated in the supporting actor category for his portrayal of Leo Tolstoy in The Last Station.

If he wins this time, Christopher Plummer will become the oldest ever actor to receive an Oscar, surpassing Jessica Tandy who was 80 when she was named best actress for Driving Miss Daisy.

The honor could alternatively go to supporting actor nominee Max von Sydow, who is also 82.

Kung Fu Panda 2 was recognized in the animated film category, along with A Cat In Paris, Chico And Rita, Puss In Boots and Rango.

Iranian film A Separation, which recently triumphed at the London Critics Circle awards, received two nods, including best foreign language movie and original screenplay.

As always, there were some surprises. Steve McQueen’s controversial film Shame, starring Michael Fassbender as a sex addict, was notably absent from the nominations.

We Need To Talk About Kevin and Drive, both of which have proven popular with voters at other awards ceremonies, were also missing from the Academy’s longlist.

Oscar nomination film tally

• Hugo – 11

• The Artist – 10

• The Help – 6

• Moneyball – 6

• War Horse – 6

• The Descendants – 5

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – 4

• Midnight in Paris – 4

Oscars 2012: Nominees Full List

Diane A. Wade
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BEST PICTURE

War Horse

The Tree of Life

The Artist

Moneyball

The Descendants

Midnight in Paris

The Help

Hugo

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

BEST DIRECTOR

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist

Alexander Payne – The Descendants

Martin Scorsese – Hugo

Woody Allen – Midnight in Paris

Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life

BEST ACTOR

Jean Dujardin – The Artist

Demian Bichir – A Better Life

Brad Pitt – Moneyball

George Clooney – The Descendants

Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

BEST ACTRESS

Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis – The Help

Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady

Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn

Jonah Hill – Moneyball

Nick Nolte – Warrior

Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Max von Sydow – Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Berenice Bejo – The Artist

Jessica Chastain – The Help

Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer – The Help

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Bullhead – Belgium

Footnote – Israel

In Darkness – Poland

Monsieur Lazhar – Canada

A Separation – Iran

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius

Bridesmaids – Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig

Margin Call – JC Chandor

Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen

A Separation – Asghar Farhadi

BEST ANIMATION

A Cat in Paris

Chico and Rita

Kung Fu Panda 2

Puss in Boots

Rango

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Descendants – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Hugo – John Logan

The Ides of March – George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon

Moneyball – Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Story by Stan Chervin.

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy – Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan

BEST ART DIRECTION

The Artist

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2

Hugo

Midnight in Paris

War Horse

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Artist

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Hugo

The Tree of Life

War Horse

BEST SOUND MIXING

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Hugo

Moneyball

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

War Horse

BEST SOUND EDITING

Drive

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Hugo

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

War Horse

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Man or Muppet from The Muppets – music and lyrics by Bret McKenzie

Real in Rio from Rio – music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown and lyrics by Siedah Garrett

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The Adventures of Tintin

The Artist

Hugo

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

War Horse

BEST COSTUMES

Anonymous

The Artist

Hugo

Jane Eyre

W.E.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Hell and Back Again

If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Pina

Undefeated

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement

God is the Bigger Elvis

Incident in New Baghdad

Saving Face

The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

BEST FILM EDITING

The Artist

The Descendants

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Hugo

Moneyball

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

Dimanche/Sunday

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore

La Luna

A Morning Stroll

Wild Life

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

Penecost

Raju

The Shore

Time Freak

Tuba Atlantic

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Hugo

Real Steel

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

BEST MAKE-UP

Albert Nobbs

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

The Iron Lady

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