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Patriots’ Day: Mark Wahlberg to co-produce Boston Marathon bombing movie

Sonia Pantiss
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Patriots’ Day: Mark Wahlberg to co-produce Boston Marathon bombing movie

Mark Wahlberg has been announced as co-producer and potential star of CBS movie Patriots’ Day about the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon and the city-wide manhunt that followed.

Patriots’ Day will be based on the first-hand account of Ed Davis, whom Mark Wahlberg may play in the drama.

The Boston Police commissioner played a key role in the hunt for the brothers held responsible for the attack.

“There is nothing more compelling than a real story populated by real heroes,” said CBS Films president Terry Press.Mark Wahlberg to co-produce Boston Marathon bombing movie

He said the film will “give audiences a very personal look at what occurred during the days when the eyes of the world were on the city of Boston and how a group of contemporary patriots faced this crisis”.

Three people, including an 8-year-old boy, were killed after two pressure cooker bombs packed with nails, ball bearings and other shrapnel detonated in April 2013.

A police officer was fatally shot days after the attack, in which more than 260 people were injured.

One of the bombers, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, died during a shootout with police. His younger brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured a day later and is currently on trial.

According to CBS Films, Patriots’ Day will be “an intense thriller, spanning the five-day search up to the infamous siege… in Watertown” near Boston.

20th Century Fox is working on a rival project, entitled Boston Strong, about the deadliest terror attack on US soil since 9/11.

Mark Wahlberg appeared last year in Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Gambler and will be seen this year in the sequel to his 2012 comedy Ted.

Lauren Bacall’s personal collection fetches $3.6 million at New York auction

Sonia Pantiss
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Lauren Bacall’s personal collection fetches $3.6 million at New York auction

Lauren Bacall’s collection of art, jewellery, furniture and clothing has fetched $3.64 million at two-day Bonhams auction in New York.

A hand-colored etching of an American white pelican by John James Audubon sold for $173,000 – three times more than was expected, according to auction house Bonhams.

A granite games table from the home Lauren Bacall shared in Los Angeles with her husband Humphrey Bogart sold for $26,250.Lauren Bacall art collection auction

Lauren Bacall died in August 2014 at the age of 89.

The New York home in which the star died, in the Dakota building where John Lennon was shot, is on the market for $26 million.

Lauren Bacall’s Tiffany necklace, a brass Japanese tea set and sculptures by Henry Moore were among other lots to be sold on March 31 and April 1.

Bonhams’ vice president Jon King said the “extremely personal” collection “truly reflected Lauren Bacall’s formidable collecting sense and uniquely intuitive style”.

Proceeds from the auction will go to Lauren Bacall’s three children: Stephen and Leslie, the son and daughter she had with Humphrey Bogart, and Sam, the son she had with second husband Jason Robards.

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Cynthia Lennon dies from cancer aged 75

Sonia Pantiss
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Cynthia Lennon dies from cancer aged 75

John Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia, has died at her home in Spain at the age of 75.

A message on her son Julian’s website said she died “following a short but brave battle with cancer”.

The statement said: “Her son Julian Lennon was at her bedside throughout. The family are thankful for your prayers.”

Julian Lennon also tweeted a picture of his mother inside a heart with the message “In Loving Memory”.

Cynthia Lennon was born Cynthia Lillian Powell in Blackpool on September 10, 1939.

She grew up in Hoylake with her parents and two elder brothers and started at Liverpool College of Art in 1957.

Cynthia met John Lennon at art school when he tapped her on the back in class and simply said: “Hi, I’m John.”Cynthia Lennon dead at 75

They married just before Beatlemania transformed John Lennon into one of the most famous men in the world.

At the height of The Beatles’ early success Cynthia Lennon was, at the insistence of the band’s management, kept in the background so their legions of female fans were not aware of her existence.

She stayed at home bringing up Julian while The Beatles toured the world and topped the charts.

John and Cynthia Lennon divorced in 1968 after she discovered her husband’s affair with Japanese artist Yoko Ono.

Paul McCartney said: “She was a lovely lady who I’ve known since our early days together in Liverpool.

“She was a good mother to Julian and will be missed by us all but I will always have great memories of our times together.”

John Lennon’s second wife Yoko Ono said: “She had such a strong zest for life and I felt proud how we two women stood firm in the Beatles family.

“Please join me in sending love and support to Julian at this very sad time. Love, Yoko.”

Former Beatle Ringo Starr also tweeted: “Peace and love to Julian Lennon God bless Cynthia love Ringo and Barbara xx.”

Cynthia Lennon published memoirs of her time with John and when she was publicizing one of the books in 2005, she told Good Morning America she “couldn’t resist being around him”.

“You couldn’t resist watching what he was up to,” she said.

“I mean, he was a total rebel. Everybody was amazed by him.”

“I have read so many books and seen so many films, and it’s like we don’t really exist. We are like walk-on parts in his life. We did spend 10 years together,” she added.

After divorcing John Lennon, Cynthia married three more times.

In 1970, Cynthia Lennon wed Italian hotelier Roberto Bassanini and six years later married engineer John Twist from Lancashire. Both relationships ended with divorce.

Cynthia Lennon later wed former nightclub owner Noel Charles in 2002. He died in 2013.

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Kenya: Two dead in Garissa University College hostage crisis

Roy Siemens
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Kenya: Two dead in Garissa University College hostage crisis

Masked gunmen have stormed Kenya’s Garissa University College near the Somali border, killing at least two people and injuring about 30.

Troops have surrounded the university and are engaging the attackers.

Witnesses spoke of the gunmen firing indiscriminately and there are fears the casualty toll could rise.

It is not clear who is behind the attack, but Somali al-Shabab militants have regularly targeted Kenya.

Garissa and other border areas have been regularly attacked.

Some five masked gunmen are said to have stormed the university. There are reports that hostages have been taken.

Kenyan police said the gunmen shot guards at the main gate at about 05:30 local time.Somali al-Shabab militants suspected to be involved in Garissa University attack in Kenya

Nearby policemen then engaged in a fierce exchange of fire and the gunmen escaped into the university buildings.

Security forces were now trying to “flush them out”, a police statement said. It urged people to stay away from the area.

Two guards were confirmed killed at the main university gate, with two policemen and a student among the injured. But eyewitnesses spoke of many casualties inside the building.

The gunmen reportedly ordered students to lie down on the floor, but at least 27 are known to have escaped and are at a military facility.

Kenyan Red Cross spokeswoman Arnolda Shiundu said there were about 30 casualties, four of whom were critical.

Three people – two soldiers and a civilian – had been airlifted to the capital, Nairobi, Arnolda Shiundu said.

The university opened in 2011 and is the only place of higher education in the region. It has some 900 students, 700 of them from other parts of Kenya.

Garissa, 90 miles from the border with Somalia, has a large population of Kenyan Somalis.

Al-Shabab has carried out a number of attacks in Kenya since 2011, when Kenyan troops were sent to Somalia to help fight the militant group there.

The deadliest attack targeted the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi in September 2013, when 67 people were killed.

Al-Shabab is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia and is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and Western Europe.

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Easter Recipe: Creme Egg Cupcake

Kathryn R. Bown
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Easter Recipe: Creme Egg Cupcake

It’s Easter! Follow the steps in this movie and have fun making Easter cupcakes looking like eggs.Easter Creme Egg Cupcake

Dalniy Vostok: Russian trawler sinks off Kamchatka peninsula killing at least 54

Diane A. Wade
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Dalniy Vostok: Russian trawler sinks off Kamchatka peninsula killing at least 54

Russian trawler Dalniy Vostok has sunk off the Kamchatka peninsula, with 54 sailors so far confirmed dead.

So far, 63 people have been rescued with many suffering from hypothermia, according to a maritime rescue centre in Russia’s Far East.

The Dalniy Vostok freezer trawler had 132 people on board when it sank.

Seventy-eight of the crew members were Russian, with the remainder coming from countries including Latvia, Ukraine, Myanmar and Vanuatu.

The Dalniy Vostok went down in the Sea of Okhotsk, 205 miles west of Krutogorovsky settlement, at around 06:30 local time on April 2.

“The rescue operation is going on, we are still looking for 15 people,” Viktor Klepikov, coordinating captain of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky maritime rescue coordination centre, told Reuters news agency.Russian trawler Dalniy Vostok sinks off Kamchatka peninsula

“At this time we do not know what might have caused the tragedy.”

One theory is that drifting ice may have holed the vessel, according to Russian emergency services.

Water flooded the engine compartment and the trawler then sank within 15 minutes, a local branch of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.

However, Russian news agency Tass quoted a senior official in Kamchatka as saying the boat foundered while trawling a 100-tonne dragnet.

Sergei Khabarov said that safety rules might have been flouted with cargo limits being exceeded.

The ship did not send out a distress call before sinking, according to local media.

Some two dozen ships and a rescue helicopter are involved in searching for remaining survivors in freezing waters around zero degrees C (32F).

The 15 people who are still missing are thought to have been in the ship’s hold as the trawler sank, reported Tass.

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California announces first-ever mandatory water restrictions

Diane A. Wade
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California announces first-ever mandatory water restrictions

California Governor Jerry Brown has ordered the implementation the first mandatory water restrictions in the state’s history.

The order implements a 25% reduction in water usage for cities and towns across the parched state.

Vast areas of government-owned lawns will be replaced by drought-tolerant landscaping, and towns will be banned from watering ornamental grass.

In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown proclaimed a state of emergency after years of drought.

The snow in the mountains is at its lowest level since records began, so water supplies from melting snow will be lower than normal in coming months.

“We are standing on dried grass, and we should be standing in five feet of snow,” said Gov. Jerry Brown, speaking in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

“People should realize we’re in a new era. The idea of your nice little green grass getting lots of water everyday – that’s going to be a thing of the past,” he said.California water restrictions 2015

The new order will require university campuses, cemeteries, golf courses and other large landowners to make major cuts in their water usage.

Farmers in the United States’ largest farm state have been hit hard in recent years.

Jerry Brown’s critics said his order did not go far enough to address agricultural use of water.

“In the midst of a severe drought, the governor continues to allow corporate farms and oil interests to deplete and pollute our precious groundwater resources that are crucial for saving water,” said Adam Scow, California director of the group Food & Water Watch.

Previous extremely dry years led to catastrophic wildfire seasons in California in 2003 and 2007.

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Bob Menendez indicted on federal corruption charges

Diane A. Wade
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Bob Menendez indicted on federal corruption charges

New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been charged with corruption.

The Democrat is accused of using his influence to illegally benefit a Florida eye doctor, who he admits is a long-time friend.

Bob Menendez is charged with 14 counts including bribery and conspiracy, but insists he did nothing wrong.

He is the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee and an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama’s policies relating to Iran and Cuba.

The 14 counts include conspiracy and making false statements, as well as eight counts of bribery.Senator Bob Menendez charged with corruption

Bob Menendez is considered one of the most influential Hispanic American lawmakers in Congress, and is the lead author of legislation that would tighten sanctions imposed against Iran.

The multi-year investigation first came to light in 2013, when federal authorities raided the office of Dr. Salomon Melgan – who was also indicted.

Their investigation focused on whether Bob Menendez used his office to advocate in favor of Dr. Salomon Melgan including by intervening in a Medicare billing dispute.

Dr. Salomon Melgan attracted more attention last year when government data revealed that he had received more money from Medicare reimbursements in 2012 than any other doctor in the United States.

He donated large sums of money to Bob Menendez’s re-election campaign.

“We celebrated holidays together,” he once told journalists.

“We have been there for family weddings and sad times like funerals and have given each other birthday, holiday and wedding presents, just as friends do.”

Bob Menendez has admitted to taking multiple trips to the Dominican Republic on the doctor’s private jet and initially failed to properly pay for the trips. In 2013, he reimbursed Dr. Salomon Melgan for two of the flights.

Later, his office admitted to another flight on the jet – from Florida to New Jersey in 2011 – and said that the senator had repaid Dr. Salomon Melgan for it.

Bob Menendez, 61, has served in the Senate since 2006, and was in the House of Representatives for more than a decade before that.

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Mia Robertson recovering from cleft palate surgery

Sonia Pantiss
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Mia Robertson recovering from cleft palate surgery

Duck Dynasty’s Mia Robertson is slowly recovering after she underwent another surgery on Friday, March 27, to repair her cleft palate and lip.

Mia’s mom, Missy Robertson, wrote on her Facebook page: “Mia’s recovery has been slow and painful, but today has been a good day. Cousin Bella brought her a snow cone and that seemed to do the trick. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. She still has a tough road ahead, but we can see a glimpse of light that has been hiding for the past 5 days. She is definitely a brave kid!

Photo Mia Moo
Photo Mia Moo

This is a video of her hospital room. Each paper doll was made by a child from either our WFR church or our OCS school family and have a scripture or a message telling Mia to “Be Brave and Keep Going”. Over 500! What a blessing to this mom to know so many kids (and adults) love and are praying for my child!

Thank you all!”

Mia Elaine Robertson, 11, was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Zayn Malik’s first solo song I Won’t Mind removed from SoundCloud

Sonia Pantiss
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Zayn Malik’s first solo song I Won’t Mind removed from SoundCloud

Zayn Malik’s first solo song has been taken down, less than a day after it was shared on SoundCloud.

Producer Naughty Boy tweeted a link to the track on March 31, with the words “let the music do the talking”.

The song was uploaded less than a week after Zayn Malik confirmed he was quitting One Direction.

Louis Tomlinson accused Naughty Boy of being “inconsiderate” to fans after he re-tweeted a video about Zayn Malik.

The pair argued on Twitter hours before the demo was made public.

Zayn Malik quit One Direction last week saying he wanted to be a “normal 22-year-old”, but early on March 31 Naughty Boy tweeted a link to his first solo song I Won’t Mind.Zayn Malik first solo song

The track on SoundCloud is now unavailable, but it included the caption: “There is nothing but love for what was left behind. That’s why we don’t mind. 😉 #zaughty #zinabad.”

Naughty Boy, whose real name is Shahid Khan, has previously worked with Emeli Sande, Tinie Tempah, Ed Sheeran, Leona Lewis and Rihanna.

The producer tweeted the song hours after having an argument with Zayn Malik’s former One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson.

Louis Tomlinson accused the producer of “trying to wind the fans up” after he re-tweeted a video saying “Zaughty will rise”, a reference to working with Zayn Malik.

He later tweeted: “Wow @NaughtyBoyMusic you’re so inconsiderate pal, seriously how old are you? Grow up! #masterofallwisdom.”

So far, Zayn Malik hasn’t commented on the solo material.

As One Direction carries on as a four-piece, Zayn Malik has been removed from the video montage which plays at the beginning of the band’s shows.

Fans in Johannesburg, South Africa, noticed Zayn Malik was missing from the footage at One Direction’s show on March 29.

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Jeremy Clarkson to appear with Richard Hammond and James May on Top Gear Live shows

Clyde K. Valle
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Jeremy Clarkson to appear with Richard Hammond and James May on Top Gear Live shows

Jeremy Clarkson will appear on rebranded Top Gear Live shows with his fellow presenters Richard Hammond and James May.

A deal has been done to fulfill a series of live shows that were planned before Jeremy Clarkson was dropped from the show for hitting Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon.

The shows will be stripped of all BBC branding and content and will be called Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.

The first live show will take place in Belfast on May 22.

BBC said it had agreed the tour could continue “so as to not disappoint fans”.Top Gear Live Jeremy Clarkson

A spokesman called it “a sensible approach in the circumstances”.

Thousands of people around the world had already bought tickets.

A spokesman for Brand Events, who are co-producing the shows, said they wanted to thank “ticket holders for their continued patience”.

“The fans are the most important people to Jeremy, Richard and James so we’re delighted to be able to say <<we’re still coming>>. We’re sure it’ll be something you won’t want to miss.”

Top Gear Live shows will take place in venues around the world including Australia, Norway, South Africa and the UK.

Live shows that were due to take place in Stavanger, Norway earlier this month have been re-scheduled to June 20 and 21.

A Top Gear Festival planned for Sydney in April will instead become an indoor arena show staged in both Melbourne on July 18-19 and Sydney on July 25 -26.

Top Gear Live show dates are:

  • May 22 – 24 – Belfast
  • June 5 – 7 – Sheffield
  • June 13 – 14 – South Africa
  • June 20-21 – Norway
  • November 28 – 29 – London O2

EU milk quota system lifted after more than 30 years of efforts to prevent overproduction

Clyde K. Valle
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EU milk quota system lifted after more than 30 years of efforts to prevent overproduction

The EU milk quota system has come to an end after more than 30 years of efforts to prevent overproduction.

The system, set up in 1984, is ending so EU dairy businesses can compete with international rivals in supplying fast-growing markets in Asia and Africa.

The Irish Republic, the Netherlands and Germany are all expected to increase production sharply.

The European Commission believes the changes will not bring back butter mountains and milk lakes and says China and other international markets are hungry for European farmers’ produce.

EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan said the ending of quotas was both a challenge and an opportunity for the EU.

Photo AFP/Getty Images
Photo AFP/Getty Images

“It is a challenge because an entire generation of dairy farmers will have to live under completely new circumstances and volatility will surely accompany them along the road,” he said.

“But it certainly is an opportunity in terms of growth and jobs.”

The EU milk quota system was set up after subsidized European milk production persistently outstripped consumer demand.

This led to the so-called milk lakes and butter mountains. From 1984, member states were fined heavily if they produced too much milk.

Quotas have been raised steadily in the past seven years in preparation for being lifted altogether.

The abolition of the system affects farmers in all 28 EU member states.

Belgian and other EU dairy farmers staged a protest in Brussels on March 31, fearing the lifting of quotas will drive small farms out of business.

They have argued the lifting of quotas helps only big food companies and the largest milk producers, whose efficiency allows them to operate with slim margins.

German dairy industry association president Karl-Heinz Engel said he was happy quotas were being scrapped.

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Storm Niklas: At least nine people killed in northern Europe

Diane A. Wade
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Storm Niklas: At least nine people killed in northern Europe

Nine people are reported dead after a strong storm hit Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK.

Seven people were killed in Germany, including two men whose car was hit by a tree.

German media reports that there have been dozens of injuries from flying branches.

In Austria, a man fell from a ladder and suffered fatal head injuries while securing an awning over his patio.Storm Niklas Europe 2015

Forecasters said that on Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, winds of more than 118 mph were recorded.

Rail services were disrupted and the main station in Munich had to be evacuated due to concerns that parts of the roof might collapse.

A man in the UK was seriously injured when his car was crushed by a falling tree.

The biggest winds in the Netherlands were put at 75mph by weather site Weeronline. Toppled trucks were left scattered across Dutch roads.

As the storm, dubbed Niklas, swept from the west across Germany, regional rail services came to a halt in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, while many Germans were trying to get away ahead of the Easter holiday period.

A man was killed when a concrete wall fell on top of him in the eastern town of Gross Santersleben, police said.

Flights were disrupted at airports in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich.

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Easter Recipe: Hatching Chick Deviled Eggs

Kathryn R. Bown
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Easter Recipe: Hatching Chick Deviled Eggs

Learn how to prepare egg appetizers for the celebration of the coming Easter.

Chicks are cute even when they are made of boiled eggs .Hatching Chick Deviled Eggs

The idea to arrange a platter full of chick tasty snacks can be easily put into practice if you follow the steps in the movie .

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

Dutch royals to return Joris van der Haagen painting looted by Nazis

Sonia Pantiss
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Dutch royals to return Joris van der Haagen painting looted by Nazis

The Dutch royal family has announced it will return a painting by Joris van der Haagen from its collection thought to have been looted by the Nazis during World War Two.

The Hague Forest with a View of Huis ten Bosch Palace painted by 17th century Dutch master Joris van der Haagen had been bought by Queen Juliana from a Dutch art dealer in 1960.

The palace said an investigation looked at tens of thousands of art works in the House of Orange’s collection.

Photo ANP
Photo ANP

Officials have contacted the heirs of the original owner, who was not named, to arrange its return.

“A Jewish collector was forced in 1942 to hand over the painting Haagse Bos with view over Huis Ten Bosch Palace by Joris van der Haagen to the (Nazi) bank Lippmann, Rosenthal & Co in Amsterdam,” said the report, which was commissioned by the palace in 2012.

It said after the war and the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands “the painting ended up with a Dutch art dealer where Queen Juliana bought it in 1960 without knowing about its history.”

No further details were given, due to privacy concerns.

The inquiry ruled that another painting in the collection, Landscape with St Hubert, whose provenance had been questioned, was not stolen.

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Misao Okawa: World’s oldest person dies at 117

Nancy Clayson
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Misao Okawa: World’s oldest person dies at 117

Japanese Misao Okawa, known as the world’s oldest living person, has died from heart failure at the age of 117.

Misao Okawa died in a nursing home in Osaka, the city she was born in on March 5, 1898.

She is survived by three children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Misao Okawa was recognized in 2013 as the world’s oldest living person, as well as the world’s oldest living woman, by Guinness World Records.

While celebrating her birthday earlier this month, Misao Okawa said that 117 years did not seem such a long time.Misao Okawa world's oldest person

She also said the key to a long life was getting at least eight hours of sleep a night and eating sushi – her favorite food.

Misao Okawa said she particularly enjoyed mackerel on vinegar-steamed rice.

Her birthday celebration was shown on national television in Japan.

Born to a kimono-maker, Misao Okawa married her husband Yukio in 1919. They lived in Kobe where he ran a business. When Yukio died in 1931, Misao Okawa moved back to Osaka.

Misao Okawa lived across three centuries, seeing four emperors of Japan, six British monarchs, and 20 US presidents.

Craig Glenday, the editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said previously of Misao Okawa: “Her impressive longevity… is an inspiration and a testament to the Japanese lifestyle.”

Misao Okawa’s name has since been taken down for the entry for the world’s oldest living person on the organization’s site.

It is not yet known who now holds that record, but the site does state that the oldest living man is Sakari Momoi, also of Japan, who turned 112 in February.

The oldest person who has ever lived according to Guinness was Jeanne Calment of France, who lived 122 years and 164 days. She died in August 1997.

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Nigeria elections 2015: Muhammadu Buhari wins presidential polls

Diane A. Wade
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Nigeria elections 2015: Muhammadu Buhari wins presidential polls

Nigeria’s former military Muhammadu Buhari has won the country’s presidential election.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has hailed his victory as a vote for change and proof the nation has embraced democracy.

He also praised outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan as a “worthy opponent” who peacefully relinquished power.

Muhammadu Buhari beat Goodluck Jonathan by 15.4 million votes to 13.3 million.

Observers have generally praised the election, though there have been allegations of fraud.

Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, has become the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election in Nigeria.

He said: “President Jonathan was a worthy opponent and I extend the hand of fellowship to him.

“We have proven to the world that we are people who have embraced democracy. We have put the one-party state behind us.”

The former military ruler added: “Your vote affirms that you believe Nigeria’s future can be better than what it is today. You voted for change and now change has come.

“You, Nigerians, have won. The people have shown their love for this nation and their belief in democracy.”Muhammadu Buhari wins Nigeria presidential election 2015

On March 31, Goodluck Jonathan said in a statement: “I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word.

“Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else.”

Goodluck Jonathan said he had conveyed his “best wishes” to Muhammadu Buhari, and urged “those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process… in seeking redress”.

However, analysts say the margin of victory is likely to prevent any successful legal challenge.

Goodluck Jonathan must officially hand over power on May 29.

This election was the fourth time that Muhammadu Buhari, 72, had sought the presidency.

He ruled Nigeria from January 1984 until August 1985, taking charge after a military coup in December 1983.

Goodluck Jonathan had led Nigeria since 2010, initially as acting leader before winning elections in 2011.

Nigeria has suffered from attacks by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people in its drive to establish an Islamic state.

Many voters have said that they believe Muhammadu Buhari is better positioned to defeat Boko Haram.

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Joni Mitchell hospitalized after being found unconscious

Sonia Pantiss
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Joni Mitchell hospitalized after being found unconscious

Joni Mitchell is in intensive care after being found unconscious at her Los Angeles home.

The singer-songwriter was rushed to hospital on March 31.

A statement released on Joni Mitchell’s website said she “regained consciousness on the ambulance ride to an LA area hospital.”

Photo NY magazine
Photo NY magazine

It went on to add that the eight-time Grammy winner is “currently in intensive care undergoing tests and is awake and in good spirits”.

In December Joni Mitchell told Billboard magazine that she has a rare skin condition, Morgellons Disease, which prevents her from performing.

The singer’s website urged fans to keep her in their thoughts: “Light a candle and sing a song, let’s all send good wishes her way.”

Best known for her 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

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Mehmet Selim Kiraz killed in Istanbul hostage operation

Diane A. Wade
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Mehmet Selim Kiraz killed in Istanbul hostage operation

Turkish prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz and two gunmen who took him hostage were killed in a shootout with security forces in Istanbul.

Thousands of people have attended the funeral ceremony for Mehmet Selim Kiraz inside the courthouse in Istanbul where he died on March 31.

On April 1, a man who burst into a district office of Turkey’s ruling AK Party was detained by security forces.

The intruder, said to be armed, entered the building in the Kartal district ordering those inside to leave.

Photo Hurriyet
Photo Hurriyet

Mehmet Selim Kiraz had been investigating the case of a teenager who died nine months after being hit on the head by a police tear gas canister during anti-government protests in 2013.

The hostage-taking was blamed on a banned Marxist revolutionary group.

Turkish TV broadcast footage of Wednesday morning’s security incident, showing a man flying a Turkish flag with a sword on it from a window of the AKP office.

It was not clear if the attacker was politically motivated.

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Mehmet Selim Kiraz hostage crisis: Prosecutor badly wounded and gunmen killed

Diane A. Wade
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Mehmet Selim Kiraz hostage crisis: Prosecutor badly wounded and gunmen killed

Turkish prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz has been badly wounded and two gunmen who took him hostage killed after a shootout at a courthouse in Istanbul, officials say.

Gunshots were heard and smoke was seen rising from the scene, after special forces reportedly entered the building.

Mehmet Selim Kiraz was apparently taken hostage because he had headed an inquiry into the death of teenager Berkin Elvan during anti-government protests in 2013.

A banned Marxist revolutionary group is said to be behind the incident.

A statement posted online had said Mehmet Selim Kiraz would be killed if the group’s demands were not met.

Istanbul’s police chief Selami Altunok said that police had negotiated with the gunmen for six hours, but eventually stormed the courthouse “because of gunshots heard from inside the prosecutor’s office”.Mehmet Selim Kiraz hostage crisis

“Our prosecutor is in hospital and seriously wounded,” he said, adding that he would require an operation.

The gunmen had released dramatic images of a gun being held to the head of Mehmet Selim Kiraz as the hostage crisis unfolded.

The Turkish government banned live TV coverage of the incident, citing security concerns.

Sukriye Erden, a lawyer negotiating with the hostage takers, said they had demanded that the police announce the names of four members of the security services whom they said were connected to the death of Berkin Elvan.

Berkin Elvan, who was then 14, was struck in the head by a police tear gas canister in June 2013 as he went to buy bread during mass demonstrations that began in Istanbul and spread across Turkey.

He died in an Istanbul hospital last year, after spending nine months in a coma.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, now Turkey’s president, inflamed passions shortly after the teenager’s death when he said the boy had been carrying a slingshot and had been “taken up into terrorist organiations”.

Suspected members of the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) took the prosecutor hostage on the sixth floor of the Caglayan court house, reports said.

The DHKP-C is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and US. It said it carried out a suicide bombing in February 2013 at the US embassy in Ankara, where a security guard was killed.

In January, a man linked to the banned Marxist group was arrested near the prime minister’s offices in Istanbul, reportedly after throwing two grenades that failed to explode.

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Lufthansa knew of Andreas Lubitz’s depression

Nancy Clayson
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Lufthansa knew of Andreas Lubitz’s depression

Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz suspected of deliberately crashing Germanwings flight 4U 9525 into the Alps had disclosed an earlier bout of depression, Lufthansa has said.

Lufthansa, which owns Germanwings, said last week that Andreas Lubitz had taken a break from flight school training, but refused to say why.

It has now shared emails from 2009 which show Andreas Lubitz told instructors he had suffered from “severe depression”.

Meanwhile, all human remains from the crash have reportedly been recovered.

French authorities told AFP news agency that the remains of all the victims had been removed from the remote ravine where the plane went down, but mountain troops would return to the scene on Wednesday to search for personal belongings.

The search for the second flight recorder will also continue.

A recording from the cockpit of the aircraft suggests Andreas Lubitz, 27, deliberately caused the disaster on March 24, which killed 150 people.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr previously said that the company was not aware of anything that could have driven the co-pilot to crash the Airbus A320.

“He was 100% fit to fly without any restrictions or conditions,” he told reporters.Andreas Lubitz depression

It has now emerged, as part of the airline’s internal research, that Andreas Lubitz had sent information about his depressive episode to the Lufthansa flight school in Bremen, when he resumed training after an interruption of several months.

Andreas Lubitz subsequently passed all medical tests and eventually secured his license. He started working with Lufthansa subsidiary Germanwings in 2013.

German prosecutors said on March 30 that Andreas Lubitz had received treatment for “suicidal tendencies” before completing his training.

However, Lufthansa said his medical records were subject to doctor-patient confidentiality and it had no knowledge of their contents.

The airline has set aside an additional $300 million (€280 million) to cover possible costs arising from the crash.

The money is separate from the $54,250 available to the relatives of each passenger to cover short-term expenses.

Airlines are obliged to compensate relatives for proven damages of up to a limit of about $157,000, regardless of what caused the crash. Higher compensation is possible if an airline is held liable.

None of the victims’ bodies were found intact after the plane’s 430mph impact, but different strands of DNA have been identified.

French President Francois Hollande said on March 31 that all 150 victims would be identified by the end of the week.

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Mehmet Selim Kiraz: Turkish prosecutor investigating Berkin Elvan’s death taken hostage

Diane A. Wade
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Mehmet Selim Kiraz: Turkish prosecutor investigating Berkin Elvan’s death taken hostage

Turkish prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz, who is heading the inquiry into the death of teenager Berkin Elvan during anti-government protests in 2013, has been taken hostage by gunmen in Istanbul.

Dramatic images have emerged on social media of a gun being held to the head of Mehmet Selim Kiraz at a court house in Istanbul.

A banned Marxist revolutionary group is said to be behind the incident.

A statement posted online said Mehmet Selim Kiraz would be killed if their demands were not met.

Turkish special forces entered the court house, which was evacuated, and gunshots were heard from inside the building, Turkish news agencies reported.

City police chief Selami Altinok told reporters that negotiations with the hostage takers were under way.

“We are trying to resolve the issue without anyone being hurt,” he said.

The Turkish government has banned live TV coverage of the incident, citing security concerns.

Berkin Elvan, who was then 14, was struck in the head by a police tear gas canister in June 2013 as he went to buy bread during mass demonstrations that began in Istanbul and spread across Turkey.

After nine months in a coma Berkin Elvan eventually died in an Istanbul hospital.Turkish prosecutor investigating Berkin Elvan's death taken hostage

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inflamed passions shortly after Berkin Elvan’s death when he said the boy had been carrying a slingshot and had been “taken up into terrorist organizations”.

Suspected members of the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) took the prosecutor hostage on the sixth floor of the Caglayan court house, reports said.

A website close to the group has published a series of demands, including calls for an immediate confession from police officers responsible for the boy’s death, and for an end to prosecutions of protesters charged over the clashes.

Berkin Elvan’s father appealed for the prosecutor to be freed: “My son is dead but let no-one else die.”

The DHKP-C is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and US. It said it carried out a suicide bombing in February 2013 at the US embassy in Ankara, where a security guard was killed.

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Germanwings crash: Lufthansa puts aside $300 million to cover possible costs

Clyde K. Valle
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Germanwings crash: Lufthansa puts aside $300 million to cover possible costs

Lufthansa has put aside an additional $300 million to cover possible costs arising from last week’s Germanwings plane crash.

The German airline, which owns low-cost Germanwings, said the money would cover “all costs arising in connection with the case”.

Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande said the 150 victims would be identified by the end of the week.

An access road to the crash site has been completed to help speed up the recovery of bodies.

However, rescuers have warned the operation could still take several months.

Speaking at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, President Francois Hollande praised the work of scientists at the scene in the French Alps.

“The French interior minister confirmed that by the end of the week at the latest it will be possible to identify all of the victims thanks to DNA samples,” he added.Lufthansa Germanwings crash

None of the victims were found intact after the plane’s 430mph impact, but different strands of DNA have been identified at the site.

Germany says that the $300 million being put aside by Lufthansa is separate from the $54,250 (€50,000) available to the relatives of each passenger to cover short-term expenses.

Airlines are obliged to compensate relatives for proven damages of up to a limit of about $157,000 (€135,000) – regardless of what caused the crash – but higher compensation is possible if an airline is held liable.

On March 30 it emerged that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, had at one point received treatment for suicidal tendencies before getting his pilot license.

Andreas Lubitz, 27, is suspected of deliberately crashing the plane in the Alps, killing all 150 people on board.

Officials in Duesseldorf said the investigation so far had revealed no clue as to his motives.

German prosecutors say he underwent psychotherapy before getting his pilot’s license and that medical records from that period referred to “suicidal tendencies.”

Lufthansa says that Andreas Lubitz’s medical records were subject to doctor-patient confidentiality and it had no knowledge of their contents.

Lufthansa also announced on March 31 that it had cancelled plans to celebrate its 60th anniversary on April 15.

On April 17, the airline will broadcast live coverage of a state memorial service at Cologne Cathedral.

Germanwings flight 4U 9525 crashed near the French Alpine village of Le Vernet on March 24, flying from Barcelona to Duesseldorf.

The cockpit voice recorder suggested Andreas Lubitz crashed the plane deliberately after locking pilot Patrick Sondenheimer out of the cockpit.

The data recorder, which tracks the plane’s altitude, speed and direction, has not yet been found.

Lufthansa board chairman Kay Kratky on March 30 warned it may have been too badly damaged and may not be sending signals.

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Nigeria elections 2015: Muhammadu Buhari ahead as vote count resumes

Diane A. Wade
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Nigeria elections 2015: Muhammadu Buhari ahead as vote count resumes

Nigeria’s former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari has a narrow lead over incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the country’s presidential election, partial results show.

With more than half of Nigeria’s 36 states declared, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) is ahead by half a million votes.

A victory for Muhammadu Buhari would make President Goodluck Jonathan the first incumbent to lose an election in Nigeria.

Correspondents say it is likely the loser will allege foul play.

More than 800 people were killed in protests after Goodluck Jonathan beat Muhammadu Buhari in the previous election.

Muhammadu Buhari’s lead was cut from two million votes, after Goodluck Jonathan gained a landslide in Rivers State, where there have been widespread reports of irregularities and a curfew imposed.

Nigeria’s electoral commission (INEC) chairman, Attahiru Jega, said the fact-finding team sent to the state found there were some voting irregularities with the poll but not enough “to warrant a cancellation of the election”.

However, many of the states still to declare are in the north, where Muhammadu Buhari is seen as favorite.

Earlier, the announcement of results was disrupted when an agent of Goodluck Jonathan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) launched a tirade against Attahiru Jega in Abuja.Muhammadu Buhari Nigeria elections 2015

“We have lost confidence in what you’re doing, we don’t believe in you anymore,” Elder Orubebe said.

Rejecting the allegation, Attahiru Jega replied: “Let us be careful about what we say or do and let us not dispute a process that has begun peacefully.”

Muhammadu Buhari has won the two biggest states, Lagos in the south and Kano in the north, while Goodluck Jonathan won a huge majority in his home state of Bayelsa, as well as Rivers.

The candidate with the most votes will only avoid a run-off if they gain at least 25% of the votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states.

International observers have broadly praised the conduct of the vote but there has been some concern over possible efforts to rig the outcome during the count.

The US and UK have expressed their concerns over potential “political interference” during the count.

A spokesman from INEC dismissed these fears, saying that “there is absolutely no basis” to talk of meddling.

Authorities in Rivers State announced a curfew on March 30 after protests over alleged vote rigging.

Earlier, police in the state used teargas against female opposition protesters who were attempting to lodge complaints with election officials.

Voting spilled into Sunday in some parts of Nigeria after problems were encountered with new electronic card readers, which were introduced to prevent fraud.

President Goodluck Jonathan, whose PDP has dominated Nigerian politics since 1999, was among those whose registration to vote was delayed by the technology.

Attahiru Jega said only a fraction of the 150,000 card readers being used nationwide had failed.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari: 10,454,137 votes;

Passed 25% threshold in 16 states

Goodluck Jonathan: 9,953,432 votes;

Passed 25% threshold in 20 states

Results from 25 states + Abuja

Candidates needs 25% in 24 states for first-round victory

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Andy Wilman denies leaving Top Gear after Jeremy Clarkson’s departure

Clyde K. Valle
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Andy Wilman denies leaving Top Gear after Jeremy Clarkson’s departure

Andy Wilman, the executive producer of BBC’s motoring show Top Gear, has announced he is not quitting the show after Jeremy Clarkson’s departure.

A leaked email from Andy Wilman to Top Gear staff had seemed to suggest he was resigning, but he said it was a private “note of thanks” marking the an end of an era.

Andy Wilman, an old school friend of Jeremy Clarkson, helped re-launch Top Gear in 2002.

Jeremy Clarkson, 54, was dropped by the broadcaster earlier this month following a “fracas” with show producer Oisin Tymon.

Andy Wilman has issued a statement about the email, saying: “The email I wrote yesterday was not a resignation statement, and nor was it meant for public consumption.

“It was a private note of thanks to 113 people who have worked on the show over the years, but clearly one of those 113 is a bit of a tit, because they shared it with a website.

“I don’t get this modern obsession with sharing, linking, forwarding, retweeting; whatever happened to a private moment?

“And if I were to resign, I wouldn’t do it publicly, I’d do it old school by handing in my, er, notice, to someone upstairs in HR.

“I work behind the camera and I wouldn’t presume for one moment to think people are interested in what I do. Now, everyone back to work.”

Photo Top Gear
Photo Top Gear

In the leaked email Andy Wilman started with: “Well, at least we left ’em wanting more.

“And that alone, when you think about it, is quite an achievement for a show that started 13 years ago.”

As well as thanking staff, he assured them that the show will continue.

“For those of you who still rely on it for work, don’t worry, because the BBC will make sure the show continues.

“Our stint as guardians of Top Gear was a good one, but we were only part of the show’s history, not the whole of it. Those two words are bigger than us.”

BBC director general Tony Hall announced on March 25 that the broadcaster would not be renewing Jeremy Clarkson’s contract.

Jeremy Clarkson was suspended on March 10, following what was called a “fracas” Oisin Tymon.

The row, which took place in a Yorkshire hotel, was said to have occurred because no hot food was provided following a day’s filming.

There is no news yet as to whether Top Gear presenters James May and Richard Hammond will return to the show.

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