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Barack Obama reacts to Benjamin Netanyahu’s Iran speech

President Barack Obama has dismissed a speech by Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu that castigated his policy towards Iran.

In a speech to the US Congress, Benjamin Netanyahu warned that a deal under discussion on Iran’s nuclear program could “pave Iran’s path to the bomb” rather than block it.

Barack Obama said Benjamin Netanyahu had offered no viable alternative.

Other senior Democrats – and Iran – also criticized Benjamin Netanyahu.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit was controversial from the start, because Republican speaker John Boehner invited him without consulting the White House.

President Barack Obama announced he would not meet Benjamin Netanyahu, who is fighting in a closely contested national election in just two weeks’ time.

Talks on Iran’s nuclear program are nearing a critical late-March deadline for an outline agreement to be reached.

In a speech to the Congress regularly punctuated by standing ovations Benjamin Netanyahu depicted Iran as a “threat to the entire world”.

He insisted Iran had proven time and time again that it could not be trusted.Barack Obama on Benjamin Netanyau speech

Benjamin Netanyahu went on to criticize the likely contours of the deal currently being negotiated in Switzerland, where Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met Secretary of State John Kerry on March 3.

“We’ve been told that no deal is better than a bad deal,” he said.

“Well this is a bad deal, a very bad deal, We’re better off without it.”

Benjamin Netanyahu said it relied heavily on international monitoring, when Iran “plays a pretty good game of <<hide and cheat>> with UN inspectors”.

The Israeli prime minister received a rapturous reception for his speech, but dozens of Democrats – including Vice President Joe Biden – stayed away.

House minority leader Nancy Pelosi at times refused to clap and later issued a statement saying Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech had been an “insult to the intelligence of the United States” that had left her near tears.

Barack Obama said he had been unable to watch the speech as it was given, but found “nothing new” when he read the transcript.

“The alternative that the prime minister offers is <<no deal>>, in which case Iran will immediately begin once again pursuing its nuclear program, accelerate its nuclear program without us having any insight into what they are doing and without constraint,” he said.

The president said sanctions alone were not sufficient without offering Iran an alternative path.

Other Democrats criticized the speech, with Representative John Yarmuth calling it “straight out of the Dick Cheney playbook – fear mongering at its worst”.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry said Benjamin Netanyahu’s words were “boring and repetitive”, Fars news agency reported.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the “Iranophobic” speech was a “deceitful show and part of the election campaign of Tel Aviv’s hardliners”.

The US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China are seeking to reach agreement to curtail Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

They fear Iran has ambitions to build a nuclear bomb – something Iran denies, insisting it is merely exercising its right to peaceful nuclear power.

Negotiators are currently working towards a late-March deadline for an outline agreement with Iran, which would be followed by a detailed deal by the end of June.

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GDC 2015: Sony’s new Morpheus VR helmet to be launched in 2016

Sony has revealed a new edition of its virtual reality helmet Morpheus, which it says it plans to put on sale in 2016.

The new edition of Project Morpheus now features an OLED display, rather than an LCD one, letting it show more vibrant colors. That brings it in line with Facebook’s rival Oculus Rift.

The new virtual reality (VR) helmet is also capable of showing graphics at 120 frames per second (fps).

That beats the figure given by HTC for its recently unveiled Vive VR headset.

The frame rate is important as the higher the number, the smoother moving objects appear. It also reduces the risk of nausea.

HTC said on March 1 that its helmet provided a refresh rate of 90fps.

Oculus has not confirmed its specifications, but recent demonstrations of the recent Crescent Bay version of its kit have also been reported to run at 90fps.

Sony’s announcement is a surprise, because until now, the PlayStation console – which Morpheus depends on to play games – had not been thought to be able to render games at this rate.

However, speaking at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida revealed that a software update would allow the machine to create an “in-between frame” to double its current maximum of 60fps.Sony Project Morpheus PS4

“Higher frame rates are definitely important because they are going to translate into higher responsiveness of the gaming environment,” explained Brian Blau, an analyst at the Gartner tech consultancy who previously worked in the virtual reality industry.

“That’s going to mean people who are wearing the device aren’t going to feel as sick. 120fps approaches the range where you don’t notice the changes in the graphics – they will be smooth and fluid.”

Other details revealed at GDC include:

  • Morpheus now has a 0.018 second latency rate – the gap in time between the user moving their head and the headset responding. It was previously 0.04 seconds. Shuhei Yoshida suggested this meant the lag had now become imperceptible
  • The headset’s screen is now 5.7in – up from 5in before – and provides a 100-degree field of view, which should cover most of what the user sees
  • The number of LEDs used to track head movement has been increased from six to nine. Sony says this will improve the stability of the 360-degree tracking provided by its separate PS4 camera
  • A quick-release button has been added to make it easier for users to remove the headset

The screen resolution remains at 1080p high definition, providing 960 pixels by 1080 pixels per eye.

Shushei Yoshida said the current version was “near final”, suggesting there were further improvements to be made before it goes on sale, which is scheduled to happen within the first six months of 2016.

He added that more details would be unveiled at the E3 video games expo in June.

The release date is later than that of HTC’s Vive headset – a collaboration with video games publisher Valve – that is set to launch before the end of this year.

HTC’s kit is expected to be designed for games sold via Steam’s PC-focused Steam online marketplace, meaning it may not directly compete with Sony’s machine. PCs can generate higher quality moving images than the PS4 if fitted with special graphics cards.

Valve also released more details about how its VR system would work.

It said a tracking-system called Lighthouse would let users explore a virtual space and the objects within it from different angles by moving about in real life.

“In order to have a high quality VR experience, you need high-resolution, high-speed tracking,” said Valve’s Alan Yates in a statement released by HTC.

“Lighthouse gives us the ability to do this for an arbitrary number of targets at a low enough bill-of-materials cost that it can be incorporated into TVs, monitors, headsets, input devices, or mobile devices.”

HTC said it would allow manufacturers to build Lighthouse into their products without charging them a fee.

It also announced the Source 2 games engine – software used to create video games with 3D graphics – which it is making available to third-party developers.

The original version, which is 10 years old, was used to make games including Half-life 2, Portal and Titanfall.

Valve may provide more details about its VR platform later this week when selected GDC attendees will be among the first to try out the HTC Vive.

Oculus has yet to set a release date for its PC-connected virtual reality helmet.

However, Samsung already sells Oculus-branded VR kit that uses its smartphones as screens.

“I think 2015 and 2016 are going to be seminal years for VR,” said Sony’s Brian Blau.

“There’s a lot of products coming to market, which is going to mean consumers get to experience it in a way they haven’t been able to do before: at home and in high quality.

“Here at GDC, there are a lot of developers who are interested in VR.

“But the big issue is, will the helmets be affordable or expensive. The early adopters will probably pick one up and pay whatever price is asked, but a higher price will limit sales for mainstream gamers.”

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Why The Business Auto Leasing Market Boomed In 2014

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You would think that the auto market is still suffering because of the global economic slowdown. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth! More people are getting new vehicles than ever before.

The same can also get said for the business market as well. According to Edmunds, 27% of all new cars sold were done so through lease deals. In the middle of the recession that figure was 16%. And before the recession, it was only 19%.

auto-business

Image Source: Flickr

Part of the reason for that improvement is down to lease transfers. As the name might suggest, it’s where one entity takes over the lease of vehicles from another. The third parties that take over might be subsidiary companies, car dealers or individuals.

But what are the other reasons why auto leasing growth improved back in 2014? The following will give you an insight:

Better choice of vehicles

These days car drivers and fleet managers have one thing in common: fuel-efficient cars. Gone are the days where business executives drove around in gas-guzzlers with a BMW or Mercedes-Benz badge on the hood.

It’s now possible to enjoy high performance AND high efficiency thanks to the marvels of engine technology.

One of the world’s favorite vehicles for business is the BMW 3 Series. In particular, the 320d EfficientDynamics. That’s because it makes use of the company’s twin-scroll turbo technology. For those seeking the ultimate in greener luxury, there’s always the Tesla Model S.

Better lease deals

Lease companies are falling over themselves to get you to sign up with them. They each offer attractive deals designed to tempt you to their fold. For instance, some might offer free servicing and maintenance for the duration of your term. Others might offer to pay your car tax for you.

One thing that many lease firms have in common is that they’ll charge the lowest amount of interest on the cars they offer as possible. Often, that means fleet managers can afford to upgrade to better models without a significant increase in cost.

Cheaper insurance

With commercial insurers like Insure Fleet around, it’s easy to find the best deals on company car insurance. Some fleet managers would let their lease companies take care of insurance matters for them. But what many didn’t realize is that they make a commission on new policies sold! By going direct to insurers, firms have made large savings on their fleet insurance costs.

Thanks to the Internet, it’s now possible to get quotes from many different insurers at once. With all of them fighting to get your custom!

People are spending more money

Even though our economy is still not what you’d consider “great” people are spending money. And when they spend money with you, it means you have the cash flow to afford new car leases!

Part of that reason is down to the unemployed setting up their own businesses. Rather than staying jobless for a long time, many people decided to work for themselves. And I’m pleased to report, a lot of those folks are making more money now than they ever did working for “the man”!

Kate Middleton prank call: Australian radio station 2Day FM broke the law

Australia’s High Court has upheld a ruling that radio station 2Day FM broke the law by airing a hoax call to a hospital which was treating Kate Middleton for morning sickness.

DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian made international headlines in 2012 when nurse Jacintha Saldana who fell for their prank later killed herself.

On March 4, the High Court overturned a previous decision which cleared 2Day FM.

The station could now be fined or see its license suspended or revoked.

2Day FM said Wednesday’s decision “means that there is a serious defect in Australian broadcasting law”.

The High Court ruling upheld an earlier finding by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) that the station broke the law by not obtaining consent to air the call from either of the hospital staff featured.DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian 2Day FM

Mel Greig and Michael Christian called King Edward VII’s Hospital in London on December 2012 pretending to be the Queen and Prince Phillip.

Nurse Jacintha Saldana, 46, answered the call and transferred it to a colleague, who gave details of Kate Middleton’s condition. Following widespread media coverage Jacintha Saldanha was found hanged three days later.

ACMA had ruled in November 2013, nearly a year after the prank took place, that the radio station had broken the law by broadcasting the call.

The station successfully sued the ACMA in the Federal Court, arguing that the media watchdog did not have the authority to decide whether a criminal offence had been committed and overturned its decision.

Wednesday’s High Court ruling reverses that Federal Court decision, finding that the ACMA does have that power. The authority can now decide whether to issue a penalty to the station of a fine or suspension of license.

In February 2013, the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service said there was no evidence to support a charge of manslaughter against Mel Greig and Michael Christian.

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MWC 2015: Ford unveils two electric bike models

Ford has launched e-bikes at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC), as part of its plans to extend its footprint beyond cars.

Increasingly car manufacturers are looking to new ways to make money with many developing so-called smart transportation systems.

Ford’s electric bicycles come in two versions – one for use by commuters, MoDe:Me, and one as a commercial bike for couriers, MoDe:Pro.

Both are linked to a smartphone app that provides step-by-step navigation.

The experiment with e-bikes is part of Ford’s smart mobility plan – it is keen to study how such bicycles integrate with cars and public transport.

“There are so many ways to get around a city, but what is really needed is a way to connect all of these transport options together,” said Ken Washington, vice president of Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.Ford electrical bike MWC 2015

“Being able to seamlessly move between cars, buses, trains and e-bikes and react to changing traffic situations can make a big difference both for commuters and for those delivering goods, services and healthcare.”

Traffic problems and overly long commutes have been proved to have a significant economic and social impact on cities. According to the European Commission, congestion within the EU costs about 100 billion euros each year.

Both Ford’s e-bikes are equipped with a 200-watt motor with a 9-amp-hour battery that provides electric pedal assistance for speeds of up to 15mph. Both can also be folded.

Rear-facing sensors offer riders an alert system that warns the cyclist when a vehicle is overtaking by vibrating both handlebars. Sensors also alert motorists to the presence of the e-bike by lighting up the handlebars.

An app – currently only available on the iPhone 6 – provides step-by-step navigation – it plans an entire route for commuters, from driving to a train station to taking a train and completing a journey via an e-bike. It also offers information about the routes – so if a train service in cancelled it may offer an alternative method of transport.

It also provides navigation for riders, via a Bluetooth headset that uses haptic touch technology to notify the rider of whether to turn left or right.

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Rihanna is dating Leonardo DiCaprio, but they are not exclusive

Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio have been linked since January, but it seems that they are no closer to being exclusive than when they first got together.

According to celebrity website TMZ, Rihanna is way more committed than Leonardo DiCaprio is. The actor likes her, but he is not willing to settle down with her into a full-blown relationship.Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna

Recently though, Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio got cozy as they celebrated RiRi’s 27th birthday, an event Leo helped organize.

Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio, 40, reportedly engaged in some heavy PDA at the party, but they are just in the “more than friends” category right now.

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Kylie Jenner reveals she gained 15 lbs

Kylie Jenner has tackled Throwback Thursday with a photo of herself from just a few months ago.

“Throwback to when I was 15 pounds skinnier & had a little blonde goin on,” Kylie Jenner wrote alongside a snapshot of her pumping gas for her Mercedes SUV in leather leggings and a baggy white T-shirt.

Kylie Jenner was seen running errands in her PacSun line, showing off her killer figure and toned abs.Kylie Jenner weight gain 2015

The reality star also seemed to be sporting long locks for her day out, considering that just weeks ago her hair was above her shoulders.

During a recent interview with Fault magazine issue 20, Kylie Jenner opened up about how the limelight has affected her and the way she lives her life in the public eye.

“I never feel pressure to be a good role model,” Kylie Jenner told the magazine.

“I always try to do my best to inspire people to be good and do the right thing, but I just can’t live my life always trying to be a good role model…We’re all human. I just like to live each day and just be me and be real.”

Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry welcome baby boy Rhodes

Sara Gilbert and her wife Linda Perry welcomed a baby boy, The Talk co-host Julie Chen announced on March 2.

Sara Gilbert, 40, gave birth to the couple’s first child, named Rhodes Emilio Gilbert Perry, on Saturday, February 28.
Explaining Sara Gilbert’s absence, Julie Chen said: “Sara is on maternity leave. She just delivered over the weekend.
“Our very own Sara and her wife Linda Perry are the proud parents of a new baby boy. Rhodes Emilio Gilbert Perry was born on Saturday and both mother and child are doing well.”Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry welcome baby boy
Sharon Osbourne then shared the first photo of little Rhodes with fans.
Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry wed on March 2014. Sara Gilbert is also a mother to son Levi and daughter Sawyer from her previous relationship with TV producer Allison Adler.
Baby Rhodes is the second Sara Gilbert has carried – she gave birth to Sawyer in 2007, while Allison Adler carried Levi in 2004.

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Benjamin Netanyahu Congress speech: “Iran nuclear deal could pave its way to bomb”

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has begun his speech to US Congress warning that a deal under discussion on Iran’s nuclear program could “pave its way to the bomb”, rather than block it.

In a speech punctuated by standing ovations, Benjamin Netanyahu depicted Iran as a “threat to the entire world”.

Talks on Iran’s nuclear program are nearing a critical late-March deadline for an outline agreement to be reached.

It also comes just two weeks before a closely fought election in Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that he was not trying to meddle in internal US politics.

The White House had criticized Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to address Congress on the matter.Benjamin Netanyahu Congress speech 2015

It had complained that the speech – at Republican invitation, without consulting the White House – was interfering in domestic politics by trying to swell domestic opposition to any Iran deal.

The US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China are seeking to reach agreement to curtail Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Benjamin Netanyahu was greeted with whoops and cheers as he made his way to the podium, shaking hands as he went.

He insisted the Israel-US relationship “must remain above politics” and that he was “grateful for the support of the American people”.

The Israeli prime minister quickly went on to the meat of his speech, saying Iran had proven time and time again that it could not be trusted.

Iran was on a “march of conquest, subjugation and terror”, he said.

“Iran’s regime is as radical as ever, the ideology is deeply rooted in militant Islam… it will always be an enemy of US.”

Its participation in the battle against Islamic State (ISIS) did not make it a friend, Benjamin Netanyahu said: “This enemy of your enemy is your enemy.”

He went on to criticize the likely contours of the deal currently being negotiated in Switzerland.

Benjamin Netanyahu said it relied heavily on international monitoring, when Iran “plays a pretty good game of hide and cheat with UN inspectors”.

He said it would leave in Iran with a vast nuclear infrastructure and lift restrictions on its nuclear programs in a decade.

“This deal doesn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb, it paves Iran’s path to the bomb,” he said, claiming Iran could have 100 nuclear bombs in five years.

“The days when the Jews remain passive in the face of genocidal enemies are over,” Benjamin Netanyahu said to big cheers.

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David Petraeus reaches plea deal with Department of Justice

Former CIA director David Petraeus has reached a plea deal with the US Department of Justice in which he will admit to mishandling classified materials.

It ends a long investigation into whether he provided secret information to his mistress Paula Broadwell.

David Petraeus resigned from his post at the CIA in 2012, after it emerged he was having an affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell.

A DoJ statement said a plea agreement had been filed.

The deal means that David Petraeus will plead guilty to one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, but could avoid an embarrassing trial.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, the New York Times reported.

Photo AP
Photo AP

The retired four-star general was in charge of America’s recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was once considered a contender for the Republican presidential ticket.

David Petraeus had an affair with Paula Broadwell in 2011 during which time she was interviewing him for a biography she was writing.

Three days after the 2012 general election, David Petraeus resigned as the director of the CIA and admitted to the affair but at the time he denied any criminal wrongdoing.

The FBI discovered the affair during a cyberstalking investigation following allegations made by one of the former general’s friends, Jill Kelley.

They determined that Paula Broadwell had been sending threatening emails to Jill Kelley, and during the investigation they discovered evidence that suggested David Petraeus had shared the classified information.

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Villarrica volcano eruption: More than 3,000 people evacuated in southern Chile

Chile’s Villarrica volcano erupted in the early hours of March 3, spewing ash and lava up to 3,300ft into the air.

More than 3,000 people have been evacuated from the volcano’s vicinity in southern Chile. The mayor of the nearby town of Pucon said residents had left “calmly”.

President Michelle Bachelet said she would travel to the area on the same day to assess the situation.

The 2,840m-high Villarrica is an active volcano with a lava lake in its crater.Chile Villarrica volcano eruption 2015

It is a popular destination for hikers. Hundreds climb the peak each summer to peer inside the crater.

According to Chile’s Ministry of Mining, Villarrica’s last major eruption was in 1985.

More than 100 people are thought to have died in mudflows on the slopes of the volcano during the 20th Century.

Chilean police said the towns of Pucon and Conaripe had been evacuated as a precaution.

Pucon Mayor Carlos Parra said that after 20 minutes, the volcano’s activity seemed to have calmed down again.

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Red Nose Day 2015: Daniel Craig to appear in James Bond sketch for Comic Relief

Daniel Craig will appear in a special James Bond sketch for Comic Relief, to be broadcast as part of Red Nose Day on March 13.

The skit will feature in Face the Funny, the charity’s first show to be broadcast live from the London Palladium.

Professor Stephen Hawking will appear in a new Little Britain sketch, featuring David Walliams as carer Lou.

The physicist will take Matt Lucas’s role as the fake wheelchair-bound Andy.

It is the second Comic Relief sketch for Daniel Craig, who is currently filming new James Bond movie Spectre.Daniel Craig Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2015

Daniel Craig appeared in a sketch with Catherine Tate in 2009, which saw her character Elaine Figgis dating a spy played by the actor.

Stephen Hawking’s Little Britain cameo follows Kate Moss’ appearance during a Comic Relief show at Hammersmith Apollo in 2006, when she joined Matt Lucas on stage as Katie Pollard, the sister of Vicky Pollard.

Other previously announced sketches to feature during this year’s charity appeal include Rowan Atkinson’s return as Mr. Bean, Dawn French in the Vicar of Dibley and highlights of Peter Kay’s live Phoenix Nights show.

John Bishop, Eddie Izzard, Davina McCall and David Walliams will also take to the stage for a reinvention of Monty Python’s Four Yorkshiremen sketch.

Dermot O’Leary will complete his 24-hour dance marathon live at the London Palladium.

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Boris Nemtsov murder: Alexei Navalny and EU politicians barred from attending funeral

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and several EU politicians have been barred from attending the funeral of murdered politician Boris Nemtsov in Moscow.

A Polish politician was denied a visa under existing Russian sanctions while a Latvian MEP was turned back after arriving at a Moscow airport.

Alexei Navalny was denied permission to leave jail, where he is serving a 15-day sentence.

Mourners are filing past Boris Nemtsov’s coffin at Moscow’s Sakharov centre.

His funeral will be held in the afternoon at a Moscow cemetery, Troyekurovskoye, where murdered journalist Anna Politkovskayta was buried in 2006.

Boris Nemtsov, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was killed on a bridge near the Kremlin wall on Friday night.

No arrests have been made and no clear motive has been established for the crime.

New CCTV footage of the presumed getaway car has been released by a pro-Kremlin Russian news website, LifeNews. The video shows a vehicle making its way along Moscow streets but there is no close-up on the suspects inside.Boris Nemtsov funeral

Former British PM John Major, who was in Moscow to pay his respects, called for a full, transparent investigation into Boris Nemtsov’s murder, saying his voice would not be silenced.

It was, he added, his “saddest ever visit to Moscow”.

Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete was refused entry into Russia at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow without a proper explanation.

Sandra Kalniete said she had been made to wait two hours at the airport before being denied entry.

Bogdan Borusewicz, the Polish senate speaker who was to have led a delegation from his country, was denied a visa.

Russia said Bogdan Borusewicz was on a list of Polish officials barred from travelling to Russia, drawn up after the EU imposed sanctions on Russia over its involvement in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin will not attend the funeral, the Kremlin said, but will send a representative in his place.

Alexei Navalny is currently in custody for 15 days for handing out leaflets publicizing a demonstration.

He appealed against a court decision not to release him temporarily but the appeal is only going to be heard on Wednesday, the day after the funeral.

Tens of thousands of people marched through central Moscow on March 1 to honor Boris Nemtsov, with the opposition claiming some 50,000 people had attended the event.

Boris Nemtsov, 55, had been due to lead an opposition march that day, but his killing turned the event into a mourning rally.

His allies have accused the Kremlin of involvement but President Vladimir Putin condemned the murder as “vile” and “provocative”, vowing to find the killers.

Boris Nemtsov had been walking home from a restaurant with his Ukrainian girlfriend, Anna Durytska, when he was shot four times.

Anna Durytska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian model, was allowed to return to Ukraine after being questioned by Russian police.

She told Russian media she had not seen the killer, who struck from behind.

Russia’s Federal Protective Service, in charge of presidential security, has said its surveillance cameras did not record the shooting because they were pointed towards the Kremlin.

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Study: Drinking few cups of coffee a day may cut risk of clogged arteries

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According to South Korean researchers, drinking a few cups of coffee a day may help people avoid clogged arteries – a known risk factor for heart disease.

They studied more than 25,000 male and female employees who underwent routine health checks at their workplace.

Employees who drank a moderate amount of coffee – three to five cups a day – were less likely to have early signs of heart disease on their medical scans.

The findings reopen the debate about whether coffee is good for the heart.

There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the effect of coffee on heart health.

Some studies have linked consumption to heart risk factors, such as raised cholesterol or blood pressure, while others suggest the beverage may offer some heart protection.

There is no conclusive evidence either way, and the latest research from South Korea, which is published in the journal Heart, only adds to the discussion.Coffee and clogged arteries risk

In the study, the researchers used medical scans to assess heart health.

Specifically, they were looking for any disease of the arteries supplying the heart – the coronary arteries.

In coronary heart disease, the coronary arteries become clogged by the gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls.

The scan the researchers used looks for tiny deposits of calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries to provide an early clue that this disease process may be occurring.

None of the employees included in the Korean study had outward signs of heart disease, but more than one in 10 of them were found to have visible calcium deposits on their scans.

The researchers then compared the scan results with the employees’ self-reported daily coffee consumption, while taking into account other potential heart risk factors such as smoking, exercise and family history of heart problems.

People who drank a few cups of coffee a day were less likely to have calcium deposits in their coronary arteries than people who drank more than this or no coffee at all.

The study authors say more research is needed to confirm and explain the link.

Coffee contains the stimulant caffeine, as well as numerous other compounds, but it’s not clear if these might cause good or harm to the body.

How much coffee to drink?

  • In the US, experts say up to 400mg a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults
  • If you’re pregnant, you should limit the amount of caffeine you have to 200mg a day – equivalent to two mugs of instant coffee
  • one mug of instant coffee: 100mg
  • one mug of filter coffee: 140mg
  • one mug of tea: 75mg
  • one can of cola: 40mg

Venezuela: US has 15 days to cut 80 diplomats in Caracas

Venezuela has given the United States 15 days to dramatically reduce the number of diplomats it has in the country.

Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said the US should decide which of its 100 diplomats should be sent home.

She said the goal was to bring the balance down to 17 – the number of Venezuelan diplomats in the US.

On February 28, President Nicolas Maduro said the US had been meddling in Venezuela’s affairs.

He said American citizens visiting Venezuela would now be required to apply for visas charged at the same rates levied on Venezuelans wishing to visit the US.

Nicolas Maduro said Venezuela would also issue a list of banned politicians who it considered to have promoted human rights abuses.Delcy Rodriguez Venezuela

Earlier this month the US imposed visa restrictions on unnamed Venezuelan officials it accused of human rights violations and corruption.

The move builds on sanctions imposed last year on Venezuelan officials alleged to have violated the rights of protesters during demonstrations that shook the country in the first six months of 2014.

Nicolas Maduro has frequently accused the US of working with opposition groups against his government.

Earlier this year Nicolas Maduro said the US had attempted to encourage a coup that involved bombing the presidential palace. Washington rejected the accusations as ludicrous.

Venezuela and the US have not exchanged ambassadors for the last five years.

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Barack Obama: Iran must halt nuclear program for at least a decade

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Iran must halt its nuclear program for at least a decade if it wants to strike a deal with the US, President Barack Obama has said.

However, the odds are against talks with Iran ending with an agreement, Barack Obama told Reuters.

Negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program are at a critical stage, with an outline agreement due on March 31.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to urge the US Congress on March 3 to oppose a deal.

He was invited to speak at the US Capitol by Republican House Speaker John Boehner, angering Democrats.

Benjamin Netanyahu – who faces domestic elections in two weeks’ time – will not meet President Barack Obama during his visit to the US.

In his interview, Barack Obama said disagreements over Iran would not be “permanently destructive” to the US-Israel relationship.

However, Benjamin Netanyahu had been wrong on Iran before when he opposed an interim nuclear agreement struck last year, Barack Obama said.

“Netanyahu made all sorts of claims – this was going to be a terrible deal, this was going to result in Iran getting $50bn worth of relief, Iran would not abide by the agreement.”Barack Obama on Iran nuclear deal

None of that has come true, the president said.

“During this period we’ve seen Iran not advance its program. In many ways, it’s rolled back elements of its program.”

The US, along with the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China, are seeking to reach agreement to curtail Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

They are trying to address concerns that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons technology, something Tehran denies.

Secretary of State John Kerry is holding talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the ongoing negotiations ahead of a March 31 deadline for a framework agreement.

The aim is then to secure a final deal by June 30.

Barack Obama said that if Iran was willing to agree to “double-digit years of keeping their program where it is right now and, in fact, rolling back elements of it that currently exist… and we’ve got a way of verifying that, there’s no other steps we can take” to ensure Iran does not have nuclear arms.

Barack Obama said that while a deal was still unlikely, it would be better than the alternatives.

“If they do agree to it, it would be far more effective in controlling their nuclear program than any military action we could take, any military action Israel could take, and far more effective than sanctions will be,” Barack Obama told Reuters.

The US goal is to make sure “there’s at least a year between us seeing them try to get a nuclear weapon and them actually being able to obtain one,” he said.

The Israelis say any agreement that leaves Iran with a workable nuclear industry, now or in the future, is too dangerous.

“I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them,” Benjamin Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington on March 2.

The leading Republican and Democrat on the House foreign relations committee have sent a letter to Barack Obama highlighting their concerns about a deal.

They said Congress must be convinced that any pathway Iran might have to developing a nuclear weapon is shut off before Congress considers easing sanctions.

US national security adviser Susan Rice has warned Congress not to seek new sanctions against Iran while the talks with world powers are ongoing.

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Hyeon Soo Lim: Canadian pastor fails to return from North Korea

Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim has failed to return from a humanitarian visit to North Korea, an official from his church says.

Reverend Hyeon Soo Lim of the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Toronto, 60, travelled to North Korea on January 31 and was due to leave on February 4.

Hyeon Soo Lim has made hundreds of trips to North Korea, where he helps oversee a nursing home, a nursery and an orphanage, his church said, but this was the longest he had been out of touch.Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim missing after North Korea trip

Canadian officials said they were in contact with Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim’s family and had offered consular assistance.

North Korea periodically detains visiting foreign nationals, particularly those linked to religious activity – which is restricted inside the country.

US citizens are generally held the longest. North Korea is seen as using them to try to extract political concessions.

Citizens from nations of less political importance to Pyongyang can be freed quickly. An Australian missionary detained in February 2014 for leaving Christian material at a tourist site was swiftly deported.

Church officials initially wondered whether Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim had become caught up in a 21-day quarantine North Korea said it was imposing on travelers potentially exposed to Ebola.

Canada advises against all travel to North Korea and has no diplomatic presence in the country.

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LAPD shooting: Homeless man reached for officer’s gun

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has presented evidence he claims shows that a homeless man reached for an officer’s gun before being shot dead.

Charlie Beck also said two officers were wearing body cameras, but he has declined to release the footage.

He did not release any details about the man – known as Africa – who was shot by three officers just after 12:00 local time on March 1.

Protests about police actions have been held across the US in recent months.

They were sparked by a number of instances where police shot dead black men after a confrontation.

In the latest incident in Los Angeles, a footage released on social media shows a violent struggle between the homeless man and several officers in the city’s Skid Row area.

Chief Charlie Beck said the man engaged them in what he called a “brutal, brutal fight”.

Photo KTTV
Photo KTTV

Officers are said to have used a Tazer in an attempt to subdue him but the struggle continued.

Flanked by a poster featuring several blown-up images related to the case, Chief Charlie Beck reiterated claims that the homeless man had attempted to grab an officer’s weapon.

Video showed the man reaching toward the officer’s waistband, he said, and the way that officer’s gun was later found partly cocked and jammed suggested a struggle for the weapon had occurred.

“You can hear the young officer who was primarily engaged in the confrontation saying that <<He has my gun. He has my gun>>,” said Charlie Beck.

Footage from the two body cameras being worn by police officers would not be released imminently, he said, but would be submitted as evidence if a criminal or civil case is brought against the officers.

Charlie Beck said all the officers had been specifically trained in dealing with people living in Skid Row and initially dealt with the man “with compassion.” At least one of the officers was African American.

The incident comes as police departments around the country face intense scrutiny for their tactics. Last year, highly publicized killings of black men sparked weeks of protests in the US.

Hours after the latest shooting, the hashtag #LAPDShooting was trending on Twitter in the US.

Video of the incident – posted on Facebook and played widely by media – begins with what appears to be a black man swinging punches at police officers, and more officers soon arrive.

A voice can be heard shouting “Drop the gun!” four times before five shots ring out.

Two officers were injured in the incident. Both have been released from hospital, and one is currently using crutches.

Some of the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on leave, according to a police spokeswoman, but she declined to say how many, or release their names.

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MWC 2015: Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint Technology

Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint Technology – a new type of fingerprint sensor said to be able to read prints through glass, metal and plastic smartphone covers – at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC).

The Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint Technology is the latest product from the chipmaker.

Qualcomm says its ultrasonic sound wave-based solution can scan through sweat, hand lotion and condensation.

Experts say it has the potential to outclass Apple’s Touch ID.

However, they add that Qualcomm needs to provide more data before the two technologies can be properly compared.Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint Technology

Qualcomm said that its sensor works by using sound waves to penetrate the outer layers of the user’s finger.

The information gathered is then used to create a surface map of the person’s skin including the ridges of their fingerprints and sweat pores.

By contrast, Apple and others use capacitive sensors – which make use of the human body’s electrical properties – to take high-resolution scans of sub-epidermal skin below the outer layer of a user’s finger.

Qualcomm suggests its method is superior because it scans through both contaminants and smartphone covers.

“Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint Technology’s unique use of ultrasonic technology revolutionizes biometrics from 2D to 3D, allowing for greater accuracy, privacy and stronger authentication,” said Raj Talluri, a Qualcomm executive.

Qualcomm is pitching its forthcoming component to manufacturers as part of a chipset package that would also include its processors.

The launch at MWC comes a day after Samsung confirmed that its latest Galaxy S6 phones would exclusively use its own Exynos chips.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors had featured in versions of Samsung’s past flagship handsets.

The US chipmaker has also suffered other setbacks recently including a $975 million fine by China’s competition regulator and news that a South Korean watchdog is also investigating whether it abused a dominant position by demanding too much money for its 3G and 4G wireless chip technologies.

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Natalia Revuelta dead: Fidel Castro’s revolutionary lover dies at 89

Fidel Castro’s revolutionary lover, Natalia Revuelta, has died at the age of 89 in Havana.

Natalia Revuelta, a Cuban socialite, emptied her bank account and sold her jewelry to support Fidel Castro when he was planning his insurgency.

She caught the eye of Fidel Castro when he was a young revolutionary in 1952.

Fidel Castro used her home for meetings when he was plotting the start of the revolution.

They later had an affair that produced a daughter, Alina, but they never married.

Natalia Revuelta, known as Naty Revuelta, was considered one of the most beautiful women in Cuba.Natalia Revuelta Fidel Castro

Blonde and green-eyed, Natalia Revuelta was a noticeable figure in Havana’s social scene when she met Fidel Castro in 1952.

She was married at the time to a heart surgeon nearly twenty years her senior but observers said she appeared to have had an appetite for revolution and adventure.

Natalia Revuelta allowed Fidel Castro to use her home for meetings when he was beginning to plot his insurgency.

She handed over all her savings to support Fidel Castro’s movement and later pawned her sapphires, emeralds and diamond jewelry for his cause.

The couple never married and Fidel Castro initially refused to recognize his daughter.

When he did, the girl was 12 years old and struggled to reconcile with her natural father.

In 1993, Alina Fernandez Revuelta left Cuba disguised as a Spanish tourist to live in the US.

Although Natalia Revuelta had little contact with Fidel Castro once their affair was over, she remained in Cuba holding various government jobs.

In an interview Naty Revuelta once said she was never bitter that Fidel Castro put his revolutionary project first. She also said: “It took years to get him out of my heart.”

Fidel Castro had many out-of-wedlock affairs – one, briefly, with the famous Ava Gardner and others with not-so-famous beauties such as Marita Lorenz. But the most fascinating, by far, was the one with Naty Revuelta because it is that prism that provides the deepest insight into the historic figure known as Fidel Castro.

Dakota Johnson’s SNL ISIS skit sparks anger on Twitter

Dakota Johnson’s spoof advert for ISIS on Saturday Night Live show has caused a furor on Twitter.

Fifty Shades of Grey actress plays a girl saying goodbye to her father in the skit, which appeared on SNL.

Dakota Johnson appears to be leaving for college, but it transpires she is actually joining the Islamic State group.

“It’s just ISIS, dad,” she says.

One Twitter user wrote: “I found NOTHING funny about that ISIS #SNL skit. Sorry but no laughing matter. Ever.”

Later in the sketch, Taran Killam, who plays the father, tells the ISIS recruiter to “take good care” of his daughter, to which the ISIS member replies: “Death to America.”

Photo SNL
Photo SNL

The skit ran shortly after the news broke that three British schoolgirls had run away from home to join the terrorist organization.

On Twitter, another user, Mike Smith, wrote: “Make sure you send a copy to the families of the people murdered… See if they think it’s funny. SNL went too far for a laugh.”

However, some users were more supportive. Pam Bell wrote: “Seems this may have been controversial, but SNL does this better than anyone, & if we don’t laugh, they win.”

Dakota Johnson, who can currently be seen in Fifty Shades of Grey also hosted this week’s SNL.

Her parents, actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffiths, were in the audience.

Dakota Johnson joked with them that she was conceived during SNL when her mother hosted the show in 1988.

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Leonard Nimoy funeral: Spock buried in LA in private memorial service

Leonard Nimoy has been buried in Los Angeles in a private funeral.

The 83-year-old Star Trek actor died on February 27 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is often caused by smoking.

It is Jewish tradition for the dead to be buried within 24 hours but, as the practice is forbidden on a Saturday, the actor was laid to rest at 09:00 PST on Sunday, March 1.

Leonard Nimoy was most famous for playing Spock, the science officer and first officer on Star Trek’s Starship Enterprise.

His career also took in acting, directing, writing and photography. The tributes were led by President Barack Obama, who said in a statement: “Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy.

“Leonard was a lifelong lover of the arts and humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his time and talents.

“And of course, Leonard was Spock. Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the centre of Star Trek’s optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity’s future.”Leonard Nimoy funeral

The details of Leonard Nimoy’s memorial service were deliberately kept private, foiling the Westboro Baptist Church, which had planned to picket the event.

The group is known for its aggressive campaigning, often protesting outside the funerals of celebrities and servicemen and women.

However, the Westboro Baptist Church tweeted on March 1 it could not locate the actor’s funeral and was cancelling its plans.

According to US media, the service was restricted to close family and friends including Leonard Nimoy’s wife, Susan, the couple’s children Adam and Julie, and the star’s stepson Aaron Bay Schuck.

Although fans could not attend, they paid their respects in other ways.

A moment of silence was held at the Long Beach Comic Expo, a two-day comic book convention in California, with many attendees also dressed as Spock.

Meanwhile, Leonard Nimoy’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was adorned with flowers, photographs and messages of condolence.

Canadian fans have been altering the $5 bill to show Leonard Nimoy’s face, after Canadian Design Resource encouraged people to “Spock” their cash.

The note, which normally depicts Canada’s seventh prime minister, Wilfrid Laurier, can easily be defaced with Spock’s distinctive hairstyle and eyebrows.

Following the funeral, Leonard Nimoy’s family posted on his Facebook page: “Thank you for all the love and kind words to Leonard.

“We lost a wonderful, talented, sweet man, a great father, husband, grandpa, and friend.

“RIP and LLAP [live long and prosper].”

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Iraq: Government forces retake districts from ISIS in Tikrit

Iraqi troops have retaken some districts around Tikrit in their fight to recapture the city from Islamic State (ISIS).

A force of about 30,000 soldiers and militia are said to be attacking on different fronts, backed by air strikes from Iraqi jets.

Tikrit, north of the capital Baghdad, fell to ISIS militants last June.

The troops had seized control of the two districts of al-Tin, near Tikrit university north-east of the city, and the district of al-Abeid, in the west.

Earlier, fighting was also reported in al-Dour, south-east of Tikrit, as well as in al-Alam, north of the city, and nearby Qadisiya.

There were few details of the operation but army and medical sources were quoted as saying that five soldiers and 11 militia fighters had been killed.

The Pentagon said that the US was not providing any air power in support of the operation.Iraq forces Tikrit

Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi declared the start of the operation late on March 1, as tens of thousands of troops and militia massed in the central town of Samarra.

Tikrit, in Salahuddin province, lies on the road to Mosul – Iraq’s second city which was also seized by ISIS last year.

Correspondents say the current operation is crucial to any Iraqi plans to retake Mosul.

Iraqi forces are being helped by Iran’s Gen. Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, Iranian and Iraqi media reported.

Since the ISIS advance across Iraq last summer, Gen. Qasem Soleimani has personally overseen the defense of Baghdad and helped to organize pro-Iranian Shia militia.

He has been pictured visiting the front lines north of the capital on several occasions.

Tikrit is the hometown of deposed leader Saddam Hussein and was seized last year by IS militants backed by anti-government Sunni allies loyal to Saddam’s banned Baath party.

Iraq is split between a Sunni Muslim minority, many of whom supported Saddam Hussein, and the Shia Muslim majority.

Since Saddam Hussein was toppled, Sunnis have felt increasingly marginalized by the Shia-led government in Baghdad.

Shia militia has done much of the fighting against ISIS militants but have also been accused of killing scores of Sunni civilians in apparent revenge attacks.

ISIS militants hold several areas of Salahuddin, a predominantly Sunni Muslim province.

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Anna Duritskaya: Boris Nemtsov’s girlfriend still detained by Russian police

Anna Duritskaya, Boris Nemtsov’s Ukrainian girlfriend who was with him when he was shot dead in Moscow, is still questioned by the Russian police.

Anna Duritskaya’s lawyer told Russian media that she was anxious to go home temporarily to see her mother in Kiev.

“I don’t understand why I’m still on Russian territory,” she told Russia’s independent TV Rain (Dozhd).

Police were holding Anna Duritskaya for safety reasons. But her lawyer said the police “are acting correctly”.

The killing took place on Friday night, February 27, on Great Moskvoretsky Bridge, near the Kremlin wall.

Boris Nemtsov, 55, had just been dining at a restaurant with Anna Duritskaya.

They left together to walk to his flat, crossing the bridge, where a white car drew up and Boris Nemtsov was shot four times with a pistol at around 23:40. Anna Duritskaya was not injured.

According to website Vesti.ru, Anna Duritskaya phoned the police and her mother immediately after Boris Nemtsov was shot and fell.Anna Duritskaya Boris Nemtsov girlfriend

Her mother said Anna “was holding his hand and then heard the bangs”.

“Boris slumped and fell. Anya was very frightened, she started calling the police and me immediately. She said on the phone: <<Mama, Boris has been killed! He’s been shot in the back, he’s fallen and now he’s lying beside me>>,” Anna Duritskaya’s mother was quoted as saying.

In her Dozhd TV interview, via Skype, Anna Duritskaya said the police “took a statement from me, they checked all my things, checked my phone calls, they took all the information”.

The Federal Protective Service (FSO), in charge of presidential security, said its surveillance cameras did not record the shooting because they were pointed towards the Kremlin.

Tens of thousands of people marched through central Moscow on Sunday, March 1, to honor Boris Nemtsov.

Boris Nemtsov had been due to lead an opposition march on March 1 but his killing turned the event into a mourning rally.

At the weekend police searched the offices of Boris Nemtsov in the northern city of Yaroslavl, Vesti reports.

They also questioned a local parliamentary aide of Boris Nemtsov, Mikhail Konev.

A witness statement from Anna Duritskaya, quoted by Vesti, described the gunman as wearing jeans and a sweater, about 5ft 7in tall, with an average build, and close-cropped dark hair.

Boris Nemtsov’s allies have accused the Kremlin of involvement, but President Vladimir Putin condemned the murder as “vile” and vowed to find the killers.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said it was looking into a number of possible motives for Boris Nemtsov’s murder.

They include his opposition to the Ukraine conflict, Islamic extremism – Boris Nemtsov had Jewish ancestry although he had become Orthodox Christian – and an opposition “sacrifice” of its leader to destabilize the state and undermine the president.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin had noted “that this cruel murder has all the makings of a contract hit and is extremely provocative”.

The investigators offered a reward of 3 million rubles ($48,000) for information leading to the killers.

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