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Star Wars jet: All Nippon Airways unveils B787 Dreamliner R2-D2 plane

Nancy Clayson
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Star Wars jet: All Nippon Airways unveils B787 Dreamliner R2-D2 plane

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) has unveiled a Boeing 787 Dreamliner decorated to look like Star Wars’ robot R2-D2.

The cockpit and front half of the white fuselage are painted with blue panels in the shape of those on the droid.Star Wars plane ANA

Star Wars is also written on the body of the plane behind the wing.

Images released by the airline show the tail in ANA’s normal livery.

All Nippon Airways says the jet will go into service on an international route later this year ahead of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens release in December.

Barbie sales fall 14% in Q1 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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Barbie sales fall 14% in Q1 2015

Barbie maker, Mattel, saw its sales drop for a sixth consecutive quarter as the appeal of its iconic doll continued to wane.

Net sales fell by 2.5% in Q1 2015 from a year ago, while global sales of Barbie fell 14% in the same period.

The toymaker’s net loss also widened more than four-fold to $58.2 million.

Fifty-six year old Barbie has been facing stiff competition from a range of new toys and gadgets.Barbie sales

Electronic toys, tablets and merchandise from popular films such as Disney’s Frozen, along with competition from rivals Hasbro and Denmark’s Lego have all led to sliding sales of the doll.

Barbie accounts for a quarter of Mattel’s sales.

In an attempt to revive Barbie’s lagging popularity, Mattel had fired chief executive Bryan Stockton in January and replaced him with board member Christopher Sinclair.

“We’re starting to see progress with our core brands like Barbie and Fisher-Price, and I am confident we are making the changes necessary to perform better in the future,” Christopher Sinclair said in a statement on April 16.

Mattel’s New York listed shares were up 6.5% in after-hours trading after its sales decline was not as bad as analysts had feared.

WikiLeaks releases Sony attack documents and emails

Nancy Clayson
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WikiLeaks releases Sony attack documents and emails

Hundreds of thousands of emails and documents from a cyber-attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014 have been now published by WikiLeaks.

The archive apparently includes Sony conversations with Downing Street and with Hollywood figures.

In November, Sony suffered a cyber-attack weeks before releasing The Interview, a movie criticized by North Korea.

Sony said it “strongly condemns” the WikiLeaks release.

“We vehemently disagree with WikiLeaks’ assertion that this material belongs in the public domain,” Sony said in a statement.WikiLeaks Sony attack documents

The WikiLeaks dump includes more than 170,000 emails and over 20,000 documents.

After November’s hack, an unknown organization published the documents online, but it was not in an easily-searchable form.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange justified the publication by saying the documents show the inner functioning of a multinational company and are “at the centre of a geo-political conflict”.

The attack came just weeks before Sony was set to release The Interview about a fictional American plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

North Korea denied involvement in the attack but praised it as a “righteous deed”.

In December 2014, a group calling itself the “Guardians of Peace” threatened 9/11-type attacks on theaters showing the movie, spurring Sony to cancel the movie’s release.

Days later, amidst growing public pressure to show the movie, Sony bosses appeared to change their minds and said they would give it a limited Christmas Day release.

In January 2015, the US imposed new sanctions on North Korea in response to the attack. And, in April, President Barack Obama ordered the creation of a program that would allow the US government to sanction foreign hackers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXLWNzSe8TI

Star Wars Episode VII: Second trailer features Han Solo and Chewbacca

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Wars Episode VII: Second trailer features Han Solo and Chewbacca

A new trailer for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens gives fans a first glimpse of Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Harrison Ford, who plays space smuggler Han Solo, last appeared in a Star Wars movie more than 30 years ago when Return of the Jedi was released in 1983.

The footage from Episode VII was included in a trailer shown at an official fan convention in California.

The Force Awakens is set for release on December 18 and is the first in a new series of the sci-fi franchise.

The event was also streamed live on the internet.

Harrison Ford, 72, is still recovering after crashing his plane onto a golf course and was unable to attend the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim.

Original trilogy actors Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, who also return after three decades as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in The Force Awakens, were on stage to answer fans’ questions.Star Wars Episode VII trailer features Han Solo and Chewbacca

Mark Hamill paid tribute to the franchise’s supporters.

“Over the years, all my entire life, I’ve felt such love from you,” he told the thousands in the audience.

“You’re more than just fans. You’re family.”

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were joined by other cast members, including Daisy Ridley and John Boyega.

The relatively unknown Daisy Ridley, speaking for the first time about her role in Star Wars as a scavenger called Rey, described her as “very solitary until she meets another character and an adventure begins”.

She added: “[I] cannot wait to show you guys what we’ve done.”

John Boyega said he was excited but also nervous.

“I was scared to tell my parents that I’d got the part of Finn”, he admitted.

He added he had only told them once the official casting announcement had been made.

Director JJ Abrams was also on the special panel which launched the four-day Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim.

Glastonbury 2015: Pharrell Williams and Florence And The Machine confirmed as lineups

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2015: Pharrell Williams and Florence And The Machine confirmed as lineups

Pharrell Williams and Florence And The Machine will headline this year’s Glastonbury festival.

Florence Welch says she hopes her foot, which she broke at Coachella, will have fully healed in time.Glastonbury 2015

This year will also be a first for the singer Mary J. Blige and Motorhead, while the likes of Alt-J and Rudimental are returning to Somerset.

Indie fans can enjoy the likes of Suede, The Vaccines, The Maccabees and Franz Ferdinand and for those who prefer dance DeadMau5, The Chemical Brothers, Jamie XX and Caribou are among those performing.

The lineup also includes Patti Smith, Jungle, La Roux, Hot Chip, Rudimental, Super Furry Animals, Charli XCX, Clean Bandit, Alabama Shakes and Future Islands.

The festival takes place in June and it still keeping things a little bit mysteryous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrMQD5-dC4A

Cannes Film Festival 2015: Lineups announced in Paris

Sonia Pantiss
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Cannes Film Festival 2015: Lineups announced in Paris

This year’s Cannes Film Festival lineups have been announced at a press conference in Paris.

The festival begins on May 13 and ends on May 24 with a jury chaired by Joel and Ethan Coen.

Festival director Thierry Fremaux announced the lineup in Paris on April 16, simultaneously launching a campaign to stem the tide of “selfies” on the red carpet.

“We don’t want to prohibit it, but we want to slow down the process of selfies on the steps,” said Thierry Fremaux.

“We think it’s ridiculous and grotesque and really slows things down.”

“You never look as ugly as you do in a selfie,” he added.Cannes Film Festival 2015

Cate Blanchett, Matthew McConaughey, Marion Cotillard and Michael Caine are among those with films competing at this year’s festival.

The lineup sees many returning auteurs including new films from Gus Van Sant, Nanni Moretti and Jacques Audiard.

Films from Woody Allen and new Pixar animation Inside Out will play out of competition, alongside Asif Kapadia’s Amy Winehouse documentary.

Today’s press conference follows earlier announcements regarding the opening film – La Tete Haute (Standing Tall), by French actress-director Emmanuelle Bercot – and the worldwide premiere of Fury Road, the latest chapter in the revived Mad Max franchise.

Seventeen films were unveiled in competition and 14 in Un Certain Regard, although Thierry Fremaux noted there would be more films added to the lineup in the coming days.

Cate Blanchett will star alongside Rooney Mara in Carol, based on a novel by The Talented Mr. Ripley author Patricia Highsmith. The 1950s New York-set drama is directed by Todd Haynes of Far From Heaven fame.

In Gus Van Sant’s The Sea of Trees, Matthew McConaughey and Ken Watanabe play two men who meet by chance in Japan’s Suicide Forest, where both have gone to end their lives; Naomi Watts also stars.

Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard will co-star in a new adaptation of Macbeth, from up-and-coming Australian director Justin Kurzel, while Italy’s Paolo Sorrentino follows up 2013’s The Great Beauty with the English-language drama Youth starring Michael Caine as a retired orchestra conductor who receives an invitation to perform for the Queen.

This year’s lineups also include two other Italian directors, Gomorrah‘s Matteo Garrone – premiering his The Tale of Tales – and Cannes regular Nanni Moretti, with My Mother.

As tradition dictates, France is represented by four directors – including Jacques Audiard, Maiwenn Le Besco, Valerie Donzelli and first-timer Stephane Brize.

Asia is represented by The Assassin, from Taiwan’s Hou Hsiao-hsien, China’s Jia Zhangke whose Mountains May Depart marks his fourth film at Cannes and Our Little Sister, from Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda.

Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario – a crime drama starring Emily Blunt and Benecio Del Toro – rounds out the trio of directors from the US, alongside Gus Van Sant and Todd Haynes.

Screening out of competition, Woody Allen’s 45th film, Irrational Man, sees Joaquin Phoenix star as a college professor who starts a relationship with one of his students (Emma Stone).

In 2014, the Palme d’Or was won by Winter Sleep, from Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnBknYJws5I

Tribeca Film Festival 2015: Robert De Niro’s festival kicks off in New York

Sonia Pantiss
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Tribeca Film Festival 2015: Robert De Niro’s festival kicks off in New York

This year’s Tribeca Film Festival kicked off on April 15 in Lower Manhattan, with the world premiere of a documentary about Saturday Night Live.

Bao Nguyen’s Live from New York! documentary explores 40 years of the comedy sketch show and its impact on US culture.

The festival, founded by actor Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, has now been running for 14 years.

The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival closes on April 26 with a remastered print of Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, marking the film’s 25th anniversary.

Robert De Niro, who starred in the original 1990 film, will be joined by fellow cast members at the screening.Tribeca Film Festival 2015

Other festival highlights include a screening of Harold Lloyd’s New York-set silent classic Speedy, with a live soundtrack provided by DJ Z-Trip; Arnold Schwarzenegger in the premiere of zombie drama Maggie – described by the star as “the most human role you’ve ever seen me take on”; and Simon Pegg in the screwball romantic comedy Man Up.

There will also be documentaries on the National Lampoon films (Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon) and the international premiere of Michael Winterbottom’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, made in conjunction with Russell Brand.

There will also be talks with filmmakers including George Lucas, Christopher Nolan and Bennett Miller.

On April 16, Mary J. Blige will follow the screening of music documentary The London Sessions with a live performance.

Jane Rosenthal said she was most looking forward to Monty Python’s 40th anniversary celebration, which will see screenings of classic Python films and bring together, once again, the five surviving members of the comedy troupe.

For his part, Robert De Niro told reporters he just had fun…”showing up”.

Banking and Card Fraud Increases in the UK

Dana R
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Banking and Card Fraud Increases in the UK

Online fraud has increased over the last few years, as the popularity of handling money online has grown. A recent report from the UK revealed that there had been a 48% rise in losses from online banking fraud in 2014, compared to 2013. According to the organization that produced the report, Financial Fraud Action, the losses amounted to £60 million. Credit and debit card losses from fraud added up to £479 million, which is a 6% increase from the previous year. The growing problem is being blamed on an increase in malware and con-artists using online methods. Consumers are often duped into providing fraudsters with their personal details.

credit-card-fraud

Simon Cunningham

Financial Fraud Action says that the total loss from banking fraud is “relatively modest”. The increase in fraud is not that significant considering the proportion of people who use online banking. But consumers aren’t the only people being targeted, as businesses also fall victim to the same problem. Victims of fraud usually receive a refund if their card details are stolen. But it is possible for their bank to prove that they have been negligent and refuse to refund them. Fraud from the use of UK cards abroad also rose. Fraudsters can manage to bypass some security features when they’re out of the country. The increase from 2013 was 23%.

Some campaigners say that banks need to provide more options for people who would rather bank offline. But for both banking and card fraud, better education and security features would help many people. Many banks and card providers have strong systems in place. It’s also important that businesses use the sort of service provided by IDology to combat fraud. These services can help protect themselves and their customers. But consumers also need to be aware of the tricks that criminals use to try and get hold of their details. Fraud has been around for a long time, whether it takes place in person, over the phone or via an email or website. Consumers should also play their part and be aware of the risks involved in online banking and shopping.

Financial Fraud Action wants a campaign across the UK. They want to help raise awareness of the kind of crimes people fall victim to online and over the phone. They also stress the importance of customers keeping their anti-virus software updated and even point out that some banks offer it for free. On the business end, companies can help their customers by making it clear when and how they will contact them. Many people fall victim to phone calls or emails they believe to be from someone they trust. For example, a company can tell their customers that they never ask for personal details by email. Or they could point out that they always ask for a security question over the phone before requesting any sensitive information.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to tackle online fraud, from businesses and banks to consumers and the police. It’s essential for everyone to be vigilant and be aware of the risks and the precautions they can take.

Memory loss linked to sleep apnea

Kathryn R. Bown
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Memory loss linked to sleep apnea

According to a study published in the journal Neurology, people who have difficulty breathing while asleep (sleep apnea) are more likely to develop memory problems early on.

US scientists checked medical databases involving 2,400 people aged over 55.

Those who said they suffered from sleep apnea reported problems with their memory and thinking skills a decade earlier than people who slept well.

Further work is under way to clarify the link. It adds to growing evidence poor sleep is associated with illness.

Scientists involved in a large Alzheimer’s research project in the US looked specifically at volunteers who said they experienced sleep apnea.

In this condition the muscles around the throat relax and can block the airways, making it hard to breathe.

Patients often snore loudly and wake up several times a night.

Researchers are concerned in some cases this could mean vital organs – including the brain – are at risk of not getting the oxygen they require.

Scientists found people with the condition were more likely to report memory and thinking problems in their late 70s, on average 10 years before those who breathed easily while asleep.

The small number of patients who received treatment – using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that keeps the airways open and forces air in – did not report memory problems early on.

Researchers are now conducting larger studies to see whether CPAP therapy could help preserve memory and thinking power.

World Athletics 2021: Eugene awarded championships without bidding process

Clyde K. Valle
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World Athletics 2021: Eugene awarded championships without bidding process

Eugene, Oregon, has been awarded the 2021 World Athletics Championships without a bidding process.

The sport’s governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) bypassed the normal bidding process saying it was “a unique strategic opportunity” to hold the event in the United States for the first time.

IAAF chief Lamine Diack said the decision was taken “in the interest of the global development of our sport”.World Athletics 2021 Eugene

Eugene missed out on the 2019 event.

Doha in Qatar was awarded that championships, but a recent presentation to the IAAF persuaded the governing body that the American city has what it takes to stage a major event.

Lamine Diack added: “In granting the championships to Eugene the IAAF Council have made a clear choice on a strategic decision that enables us to take advantage of a unique opportunity that may never arise again.

“It will see public authorities, the private sector, the national Olympic Committee, NBC and a particularly enthusiastic public joining forces.”

The 2007 World Championships held in Osaka, Japan, was also awarded without a bidding process.

Vladimir Putin quizzed in annual live phone-in

Diane A. Wade
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Vladimir Putin quizzed in annual live phone-in

In a live televised phone-in, President Vladimir Putin says Russia can use Western sanctions to boost economic development by becoming more self-reliant.

Vladimir Putin said he had told business leaders that he did not expect EU-US sanctions – imposed over Russia’s actions in Ukraine – to be lifted soon.

“We need to use the situation to reach a new level of development,” the president said.

It is the 13th such annual phone-in – and usually they last about 4 hours.

The event is highly choreographed but does reveal Russians’ concerns.Vladimir Putin live phone in 2015

About two million people have submitted questions – and more will come in during the broadcast. Russia’s ailing economy is a national preoccupation.

Vladimir Putin said the Russian economy would take about two years to bounce back, or less as the Russian ruble’s value was rising again. But industrial output may shrink further, he warned.

He said there were encouraging signs that Russian agriculture was growing and replacing imports of Western food.

Vladimir Putin is said to have taken two days out to prepare for the phone-in by consulting ministers and other experts. The broadcast began at 12:00 local time from a studio near the Kremlin.

The Kremlin says there has been an increase in questions about foreign policy, including calls to give formal recognition to the two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Vladimir Putin is likely to face complaints about healthcare, pensions and rising food prices, as Russians’ real incomes have fallen this year for the first time since he came to power.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said about 23% of the questions submitted concerned social welfare issues, and the second biggest area of concern was housing and local services.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laSTEqD39q0

Sewol ferry disaster: President Park Geun-hye promises to raise ship

Diane A. Wade
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Sewol ferry disaster: President Park Geun-hye promises to raise ship

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has promised to raise the Sewol ferry, as the Asian country marks a year since the disaster.

A total of 304 people, mostly school students, were killed when the Sewol ferry – which was overloaded and illegally redesigned – sank off Jindo island.

The disaster triggered nationwide grief and outrage and led to severe criticism of safety standards and rescue efforts.

Divers have recovered all but nine of the bodies. Relatives say the ship must be raised and their remains found.

The government says salvaging the ship will cost $110 million and has previously refused to commit to doing so.

However, President Park Guen-hye, speaking at a port in Jindo, said she would take “the necessary steps to salvage the ship at the earliest possible date”.

South Korea’s legislative National Assembly adopted a resolution calling on the government to ensure the Sewol ferry’s speedy recovery, which it said “is the path toward healing the minds of the victims, survivors and bereaved families… as well as those of all the citizens”, reported Yonhap.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Memorial ceremonies are being held in some 300 places across South Korea.

The largest took place in the afternoon at a hall in Ansan city, the home of the students. A private ceremony will also take place at their school in the evening.

In the morning, PM Lee Wan-koo was prevented from entering the memorial hall by angry relatives of those who died.

Investigators say the Sewol ferry sank after an inexperienced crew member made too fast a turn. The combination of an illegal redesign and overloaded cargo meant the ship was unstable.

However, some relatives say they want an independent and more thorough inquiry into the disaster, which sparked countrywide debate about regulatory failings and official incompetence.

Most of the crew of the Sewol survived.

The captain and three senior crew members have since been given long jail terms for failing to adequately protect passengers, while 11 other crew members were also imprisoned.

The captain of the first coast guard vessel on scene was also jailed for negligence relating to the botched rescue effort.

Separate trials were held for employees of the ferry operator, Chonghaejin Marine Co. The company’s billionaire owner, Yoo Byung-eun, disappeared after the disaster and was eventually found dead.

MH370: Search area to be doubled if nothing is found

Diane A. Wade
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MH370: Search area to be doubled if nothing is found

According to the Australian, Malaysian and Chinese officials, the search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will be doubled if nothing is found in the current search zone, officials say.

The Australian, Malaysian and Chinese ministers have met to discuss progress.

Malaysia Airlines plane, flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, disappeared on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board.MH370 Search area

It is believed to have crashed off Western Australia, but so far no trace has been found.

At the moment teams using sophisticated sonar equipment are scouring a 23,000 sq mile area of seabed far west of the Australian city of Perth. About 40% of this remains to be searched.

If nothing is found, the search will be extended by another 23,000 sq mile to “cover the entire highest probability area identified by expert analysis”, a joint statement from the ministers said.

The additional search area could take up to a year to complete given adverse weather conditions in the upcoming winter months, the statement said.

Investigators still do not know what happened to the plane.

The search zone has been defined based on analysis of hourly “handshakes” between the plane and a communications satellite.

There is still no explanation as to why it flew so far off course – making finding the plane and its “black box” voice recorders key to understanding its fate.

Infographic: 5 Careers You Can Jump Into With A Master Of Science In Sport Management

Dana R
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Infographic: 5 Careers You Can Jump Into With A Master Of Science In Sport Management

Your path to a successful career in the sports industry starts with the right education. While a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or even sports management is a great first step, you’ll need a master’s degree to pursue high-level positions as well as higher pay.

At Adelphi University, you can earn a Master of Science in Sport Management (MSSM) in as little as 24 months, helping to jumpstart your career faster. But what can you do with your degree once you graduate? Sports management is a dynamic field with a wide variety of career options. So whether you prefer working directly with athletes, managing team affairs or writing about the sports world, a master’s in sport management can help you attain your career goals.

Today, there are over 300 undergraduate sports management programs in the U.S. However, graduate programs in this field only number around 30. By taking the next step to get your master’s, you’ll put yourself among an elite group of individuals who are dedicated to achieving top positions in the sports industry. Plus, you’ll learn the skills you need to succeed in a competitive industry. And when you attend a highly reputable sports management graduate program like the one offered at Adelphi, you’ll also be able to make connections with important players in your field (so to speak). In just two years, you can put your career into overdrive and get in the fast lane to success.

The_Sporting_Life_Master_of_Science_in_Sport_Management

Buckingham Palace guard slips and falls in front of tourists

Nancy Clayson
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Buckingham Palace guard slips and falls in front of tourists

A Buckingham Palace guard slipped on a manhole cover and fell in front of hundreds of tourists during the famous Changing of the Guard.Buckingham Palace guard slips and falls in front of tourists

The Queen’s Guard lost his footing and slid sideways, knocked his bearskin on the side of the box and dropped his rifle.

The soldier quickly scrambled to his feet as his colleagues marched past as if nothing had happened.

Aaron Hernandez verdict: Former Patriots tight end found guilty of first-degree murder

Clyde K. Valle
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Aaron Hernandez verdict: Former Patriots tight end found guilty of first-degree murder

Aaron Hernandez has been found guilty of the first-degree murder of his friend, Boston Bandits linebacker Odin Lloyd.

Odin Lloyd’s relatives wept in the Massachusetts courthouse as the verdict was announced on live TV.

Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Aaron Hernandez arrested on June 26, 2013, 9 days after the murder of Odin Lloyd.

He was charged with killing Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro player who was dating the sister of Aaron Hernandez’s fiancée.

Odin Lloyd’s body was found with six bullet wounds less than a mile from Aaron Hernandez’s home.Aaron Hernandez guilty of first degree murder

At the time, Aaron Hernandez had a contract worth $40 million.

Within hours of his arrest, the Patriots sacked Aaron Hernandez, considered one of the top tight ends playing the game.

Aaron Hernandez is not an isolated case.

NFL players have been charged with any number of crimes over the years, from rape to dog-fighting.

Active NFL players are aged, in the main, between 21 and 34 and the arrest rate for that demographic is one in eight.

The arrest rate for people of Aaron Hernandez’s age – he was 23 – is a startling one in six.

During closing arguments, his defense team acknowledged that he was present during the murder but said others committed the crime.

Prosecutors say Aaron Hernandez planned the “orchestrated execution” because of an incident in a night club, and then helped to cover it up.

He was found guilty of murder and other weapons charges on the seventh day of jury deliberations.

In a tearful statement to the court, Odin Lloyd’s mother Ursula Ward called him the “backbone of the family”.

Rita Wilson undergoes double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer

Lisa.Felice
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Rita Wilson undergoes double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer

Rita Wilson has had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Tom Hanks’ wife, 58, told People magazine that she had undergone the procedure – the same one that Angelina Jolie underwent in 2013 – and was “expected to make a full recovery”.Rita Wilson breast cancer double mastectomy

Rita Wilson, who took a break from her Broadway play Fish in the Dark last week to have surgery, said she had been diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma after seeking a second opinion from pathologists.

“I share this to educate others that a second opinion is critical to your health,” the actress wrote.

“You have nothing to lose if both opinions match up for the good, and everything to gain if something that was missed is found.”

Rita Wilson, who appeared with Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle and has a recurring role in TV series The Good Wife, is expected to return to Fish in the Dark on May 5th.

Daniel Craig Becomes UN Global Mine Action Advocate

Sonia Pantiss
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Daniel Craig paid a visit to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, April 14

Daniel Craig, 47, met up with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to accept a new role: as global advocate for the elimination of mines and explosive hazards.

“As 007, you have a license to kill,” said Ban Ki-moon.

“Today, we are giving you a license to save.”

“I’m honored to accept this role [and] humbled that I’ll get the chance to work next to people who are risking their lives every day to help ordinary people live ordinary lives,” said Daniel Craig.

Daniel Craig is heading back to the set of the latest James Bond film, Spectre, after his recent knee surgery.

Joss Whedon and Lionsgate sued for allegedly stealing idea for Cabin in the Woods

Sonia Pantiss
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Joss Whedon and Lionsgate sued for allegedly stealing idea for Cabin in the Woods

Avengers: Age of Ultron director Joss Whedon and Lionsgate Films have been sued by author Peter Gallagher, who claims 2012’s The Cabin in the Woods movie infringes his copyright.

Peter Gallagher, who says that the damages equal or exceed $10 million, claims that the movie was ripped straight from the pages of his book.

In the lawsuit, filed in California on April 13, Peter Gallagher claims that the horror film and his book are “virtually identical” in numerous respects.

The writer claims that he published The Little White Trip: A Night in the Pines in 2006 and registered the book with the Writers Guild of America in 2007. According to the lawsuit, Peter Gallagher published two runs of the book totaling 7,500 copies and hawked them in areas including Santa Monica, California, the Venice Beach boardwalk and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Cabin in the Woods copyright infringement

The similarities between Peter Gallagher’s book and the film are myriad, the suit claims.

“Comparing the Book to the Film, the plots, stories, characters, sequence of events, themes, dialogue, and incidents portrayed in the two works are fictional and, in many respects, the elements in the two works are virtually identical,” the complaint claims.

The suit also claims: “Like the book, <<Cabin in the Woods>> tells the story of five friends (three guys and two girls) between the ages of 17 and 22 who take a trip to a remote cabin in the woods. The cabin’s previous inhabitants were murdered by the father of the family, who returns to terrorize the group of friends.

In the end, it is revealed that the friends are being filmed and manipulated by persons behind the scenes, thus becoming inadvertent characters in a real-life horror show for the enjoyment of others.”

Peter Gallagher even says that the two main female characters in his book are named Julie and Dura, whereas in the film they’re named Jules and Dana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEqIy6NfTao

Robin Gibb’s lost solo album Sing Slowly Sisters to be released after 45 years

Sonia Pantiss
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Robin Gibb’s lost solo album Sing Slowly Sisters to be released after 45 years

Robin Gibb’s lost solo album Sing Slowly Sisters will be released 45 years after it was recorded.

The album forms part of a collection of albums capturing the late Bee Gee’s entire musical output at 19 years old, recorded over a 12-month period from 1969 to 1970.

Robin Gibb had planned to complete the album prior to his death from cancer in May 2012.Robin Gibb Sing Slowly Sisters

Saved by the Bell – The Collected Works of Robin Gibb: 1969-70 will be released on June 1st.

It features Robin Gibb’s first solo album, 1969’s Robin’s Reign, as well as Sing Slowly Sisters.  The set also contains a variety of alternate takes and versions, demos, unreleased tracks and other bonus material.

China’s economic growth slows to 7% in Q1 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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China’s economic growth slows to 7% in Q1 2015

China’s growth slowed further in Q1 2015, expanding 7% compared to a year earlier, its slowest pace since the global financial crisis in 2009.

The rate was lower than the 7.3% posted for Q4 2014.

In 2014, China’s economy, which is the world’s second largest, grew at its slowest pace since 1990.

It expanded by 7.4% in 2014, missing its annual growth target of 7.5% for the first time in 15 years.

Despite the slowdown, the Chinese economy was still one of the world’s fasting-growing and analysts have said it was proving to be more resilient than expected.

However, they have also said that slower growth, together with China’s cooling property market – a key economic driver – was likely to mean further easing by its central bank this year, including further rate cuts among other measures.China economy 2015

In February 2015, the People’s Bank of China unexpectedly cut interest rates for the second time since last November.

Interest rate cuts together with injections of liquidity are some of the tools Beijing uses to fine tune its economic growth.

The latest growth numbers were by no means a hard landing – which some had feared – and were in line with the latest government target, analysts said.

In Q1 2009, amid the financial crisis, China’s economy expanded 6.6% from a year earlier.

China also released industrial production (IP) figures on April 15 which fell to 5.9% month-on-month in March, down from forecasts for an expansion of 6.9% and the lowest since 2008.

Analysts said these figures were more glaring than the growth data.

Markets were lacklustre following the numbers however, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index up 0.7% and the benchmark Shanghai Composite flat, up just 0.01% at 4,135.91.

Nokia to buy Alcatel-Lucent for $17 billion

Clyde K. Valle
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Nokia to buy Alcatel-Lucent for $17 billion

Nokia is to buy France’s Alcatel-Lucent in a €15.6 billion ($17 billion) takeover deal.

Under the all-share deal, Alcatel-Lucent shareholders will own 33.5% of the new combined company, and Nokia shareholders 66.5%.

Both companies said their boards had agreed the takeover and they expected it to go through in the first half of 2016.

The merger will form a European telecoms equipment group worth more than €40 billion.

Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri said the companies’ complementary technologies would give them “the scale to lead in every area in which we choose to compete”.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

“I firmly believe that this is the right deal, with the right logic, at the right time,” Rajeev Suri said.

Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent are currently among the weakest players in the telecoms equipment industry. However, the combined company will have a market share of 35%, making it second only to Swedish rival Ericsson, which has 40%, according to Bernstein Research.

The companies expect the merger to cut operating costs by €900 million by 2019, but Nokia said it would not cut jobs beyond what Alcatel had already planned.

“No job cuts” in France was the condition under which the French government said on April 14 that it would back the deal.

Alcatel-Lucent’s shares fell 10% in early trading, with traders attributing the fall to shareholders’ disappointment that the deal did not have a cash element.

However, Nokia’s shares rose almost 5%, despite some analysts saying that the deal could take a long time to pay off.

5 Reasons to Choose Xamarin for Cross-Platform Development

Ricky Robinson
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5 Reasons to Choose Xamarin for Cross-Platform Development

Xamarin is one of the best tools for cross-platform mobile development. This powerful and easy-to-use framework brings .NET/C# to both iOS and Android. Mobile apps created with Xamarin meet the distribution requirements of Apple Store and Google Play. IT specialists, choosing Xamarin for cross-platform development, save much time and effort working on their apps.

Here are 5 basic reasons to choose Xamarin for cross-platform development:

1. Easy to Learn

To create decent mobile applications, developers need to learn lots of things, like the platform SDK, user interface norms, process life-cycle and so on. This list is pretty long, so adding several programming languages to it will be too much. With Xamarin you can develop apps for iOS and Android without learning two different programming languages (Objective-C and Java), as it allows building applications for multiple platforms using just one programming language – C#.

2. Faster application development

Xamarin, with its absolute code re-usability, allows saving much time on the application development. In other words, you create one application logic and then share it across multiple platforms. There is no need developing similar apps for different platforms, as mobile applications created with Xamarin are compliant with the native development requirements of all major platforms.

3. Absence of limits

One of the best features of Xamarin is that is does not hide uniqueness of each platform. In fact, it does the opposite – embraces specific features of every platform. Thus, applications written with Xamarin never feel foreign to the platforms on which they are run.

4. Fewer bugs

It is proven that applications created with Xamarin have fewer bugs. Moreover, it allows testing apps and detecting bugs right in the cloud. Consequently, there is no need testing the app’s performance, feel or look on multiple devices. Otherwise speaking, testing is also faster and easier with Xamarin.

5. Saves money

Faster application development requires fewer investments. Thus, when choosing Xamarin for application development, you save company’s money, which is especially beneficial for startups.

When entrusting Xamarin application development to FreeZe Pro Software, you get all the mentioned above advantages coupled with superior customer service. This premium software development company has a great experience in developing custom software solutions. When choosing FreeZe Pro Software, you choose 8 years of software development experience, exceptional customer services, high-quality software solutions and timely product delivery.

Cuba hails US decision to remove it from terror list

Diane A. Wade
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Cuba hails US decision to remove it from terror list

Cuba has welcomed US decision to remove it from the state department’s terror list, saying it should never have been on the list in the first place.

The move comes amid a normalization of ties between the US and Cuba.

Cuba’s presence on the list alongside Syria, Iran and Sudan was a sticking point for Cuba during talks to reopen embassies.

A US trade embargo against Cuba remains and can only be ended by Congress.

Barack Obama met Cuban President Raul Castro at the Summit of the Americas in Panama last week, four months after he announced a historic thaw in ties with the communist island nation.

He said on April 14 that the government of Cuba had “not provided any support for international terrorism” over the past six months.

Barack Obama added that it had “provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future”.Barack Obama Raul Castro Cuban thaw

A statement from Josefina Vidal, Cuba’s top diplomat responsible for dealing with the US, said: “The Cuban government recognized the fair decision made by the president of the United States to eliminate Cuba from a list that it never should have been included on, especially considering our country has been the victim of hundreds of acts of terrorism that have cost 3,478 lives and maimed 2,099 citizens.”

In Havana, ordinary Cubans welcomed the move.

Cuba was first placed on the state department list in 1982, for what the US called efforts “to promote armed revolution by organizations that used terrorism”.

The US believes Cuba had long provided a safe haven for members of the Basque separatist group ETA and Colombia’s FARC guerrilla group, according to its 2013 Report on Terrorism.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the US still had differences with Cuban policies and actions, but they were not “relevant” to the terror list.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a candidate for the US presidency, condemned the White House decision, saying Cuba remained a state sponsor of terrorism.

V. Stiviano must pay back $2.6 million to Shelly Sterling

Clyde K. Valle
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V. Stiviano must pay back $2.6 million to Shelly Sterling

Shelly Sterling, the wife of the former Clippers owner, is owed $2.6 million by V. Stiviano who was showered with gifts by Donald Sterling, a Los Angeles court has ruled on April 14.

Judge Richard Fruin Jr. awarded Shelly Sterling most of the nearly $3 million she had sought.

Shelly Sterling had claimed that money used to buy V. Stiviano a house, luxury cars and stocks was her community property.

V. Stiviano’s lawyer had argued the gifts were made when Donald and Shelly Sterling were separated and that Shelly Sterling couldn’t seek them from a third party.

The ruling comes nearly a year after V. Stiviano’s recording of Donald Sterling making racially offensive remarks bounced him from the NBA and cost him team ownership.V Stiviano Shelly and Donald Sterling

Shelly Sterling’s lawyers used other recordings to show Donald Sterling bought V. Stiviano a house, a Ferrari and other things.

In the recordings on V. Stiviano’s iPhone, she and the 80-year-old billionaire are heard discussing how to shield gifts from his wife.

“The truth is that everything that I have, you’ve given me from your heart without me begging or asking or throwing myself all over you,” V. Stiviano said in snippet played in court.

During the course of their 2 and a half years together, Donald Sterling gave her a Ferrari, a Bentley and a Range Rover, and paid the lion’s share of a $1.8 million duplex.

Donald Sterling testified that he paid for the entire house, though V. Stiviano said she had contributed an unknown amount of money given to her in small bills by family members that she saved in a bedroom drawer.

Shelly Sterling said V. Stiviano hadn’t contributed “50 cents” to the house and, noting that she is part black and Hispanic, said she illegally got her name inserted into escrow documents by befriending Hispanic bank and escrow employees.

Shelly Sterling filed the suit against V. Stiviano about a month before the recording of Donald Sterling telling Stiviano not to associate with black people created an uproar and led the NBA to ban him for life and fine him $2.5 million.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2ape1a7JCQ

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