Jack White’s keyboardist Isaiah “Ikey” Owens died on Mexico tour at the age of 38.
The band has cancelled the remaining concerts in Mexico after Ikey Owens was found dead in his hotel room in Puebla. The cause of his death has yet to be established.
Ikey Owens, from California, had played in other bands including The Mars Volta and had worked with the former White Stripes star since 2012.
Jack White’s Third Man Records label said Isaiah Owens was “an incredible artist”.
Jack White and his backing musicians were due to play further concerts in Mexico, including shows in Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Ikey Owens performed on both of Jack White’s solo albums and was a regular fixture in his backing band The Buzzards
A statement posted on the websites of Jack White and Third Man said: “It is with great sadness that we tell the world of the passing of the incredible musician Isaiah <<Ikey>> Owens.
“He will be missed and loved forever by his family, friends, bandmates and fans.
“Ikey Owens was an astounding keyboard player in Jack White’s backing band. He also played with Mars Volta, Free Moral Agents, and many other projects.
“Out of respect for Ikey, the remaining shows of the Jack White Tour in Mexico have been cancelled.
“We will all miss you Ikey. You were and are an incredible artist.”
The keyboardist performed on both of Jack White’s solo albums and was a regular fixture in his backing band The Buzzards.
Ikey Owens, along with the rest of the Mars Volta, won a Grammy Award in 2009 for best hard rock performance.
Toyota is recalling 1.75 million vehicles worldwide over faulty brake installations and fuel component issues.
The latest brake defect is found in some models of Toyota’s Crown Majesta, as well as the Noah and Voxy models produced between June 2007 and 2012.
The Japanese carmaker said approximately 802,000 vehicles globally had a faulty brake system, which could crack and result in the brake fluid leaking.
This recall affects the Crown Majesta, Crown, Noah and Voxy models produced between June 2007 and June 2012.
Toyota will replace a rubber seal ring in the brake master cylinder to prevent brake fluid from leaking. If brake fluid has already leaked, the brake booster will be replaced.
Toyota is recalling 1.75 million vehicles worldwide over faulty brake installations and fuel component issues
In another set of recalls announced at the same time, Toyota said 759,000 vehicles globally had a faulty fuel delivery pipe system which could result in a leak and increased the risk of the vehicle catching fire.
The fuel pipe issue applies to various Lexus models manufactured between January 2005 and September 2010.
This fuel delivery pipe problem affects about 423,000 vehicles in the US, 240,000 cars in Japan and nearly 70,000 vehicles in Europe and the Middle East combined.
Toyota also disclosed that approximately 190,000 vehicles had faulty fuel suction plates in them, which could lead to a fuel leak and increase the risk of the cars catching fire.
This recall affects only vehicles in Japan, specifically the Corolla Rumion and Auris models manufactured between October 2006 and October 2014.
Last month, Toyota recalled 690,000 Tacoma pickup trucks in the US because of a potential vulnerability in the vehicles’ suspension systems.
Earlier this year in April, Toyota issued a recall of 6.4 million cars worldwide because of several issues, including problems with the airbag cable and windscreen wiper motors not working properly.
The latest recalls came to light after the close of trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Before the news, Toyota shares closed up by 0.2% at 5,990 yen ($55) apiece.
The Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania was abandoned after a drone carrying a political message sparked clashes involving players and fans on the Partizan Stadium pitch.
The match, refereed by English official Martin Atkinson, was suspended in the 41st minute at 0-0.
Trouble flared when an Albanian flag and message flew above the pitch and was caught by a Serbia player.
Albania players tried to take it before several fans broke onto the pitch.
Martin Atkinson led the players off the field and, after a delay of around 30 minutes, UEFA confirmed the match had been abandoned.
Albanian fans had been banned from attending the qualifier between the two Balkan rival nations.
The Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania was abandoned after a drone carrying a political message sparked clashes involving players and fans on the Partizan Stadium pitch
Serbia and Albania have a history of turbulent relations, predominantly in relation to the former Serbian province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.
Kosovo has been recognized by the United States and major European Union countries, but Serbia refuses to do so, as do most ethnic Serbs inside it.
“It is a regretful situation on which we will report; the referee, myself and the security adviser. The circumstances were such that we couldn’t continue the match,” UEFA match delegate Harry Been said.
“You all saw what happened and I cannot comment on who is to blame or what to blame. I will submit a report with my colleagues to UEFA and UEFA will decide what will happen further.”
Serbian national broadcaster RTS reported that Olsi Rama, the brother of Albanian PM Edi Rama, was arrested in the stadium’s VIP box for instigating the drone stunt, but this could not be confirmed.
Hong Kong police is investigating reports that officers used excessive force against pro-democracy protesters.
Local TV showed images of officers apparently beating a handcuffed protester on October 15 in some of the worst clashes since the protests began.
Hong Kong’s security chief said the officers had been “temporarily removed from their current duties”.
The incident occurred as police cleared an underpass near government buildings.
The police advance came when protesters blockaded the underpass after being cleared out of other areas of the city on October 14.
Overnight police used pepper spray and batons to remove protesters from Lung Wo Road which they said earlier had to be cleared as it was a major thoroughfare. They also arrested 45 people for “unlawful assembly”.
Local TV network TVB aired footage that appeared to show a group of plainclothes policeman dragging a handcuffed and unarmed protester and placing him on the ground.
Hong Kong police is investigating reports that officers used excessive force against pro-democracy protesters
They then assault him, kicking him repeatedly.
The man was named as Ken Tsang, a social worker and member of the opposition Civic Party. He was later taken to hospital.
Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said there was “concern” over a video clip “showing police officers who used inappropriate force against an arrested person”.
He said the officers seen on the video would be removed from their current duties and that an investigation would be carried out.
The protesters are now in their third week of occupying key parts of the city in a bid to put pressure on China and Hong Kong’s authorities to answer their calls for political reform.
Thousands of people took to the streets at the beginning of the demonstrations but the numbers have dwindled in recent days.
They are demanding fully free elections in the next vote for the territory’s leader. China, which has control over Hong Kong, says residents can vote – but it will vet which candidates are eligible to stand.
The clashes came on the third day of operations that police say are necessary to ease traffic disruption, but which they insist are not aimed at clearing the protesters.
Tsui Wai-Hung, a police spokesman, said none of the 37 men and eight women who were arrested had been hurt. Four police officers were said to have been injured.
Joshua Wong, a prominent student leader, told AFP news agency that trust between police and the activists was at a low point.
“The proper action police should take is to bring the protester to the police car, not to take him away and then punch and kick him for four minutes,” he said.
On October 15, China’s The People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official newspaper, said the protests were “doomed to fail” in a front-page editorial.
“Numerous facts and history tell us that if people start radical and illegal acts and there is submission to political blackmail, it will only result in more and more illegal activities and exacerbate instability and chaos,” the paper said.
Oscar Pistorius offered a lump sum of $34,000 to the parents of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after he killed her, a South African court has heard.
However, Reeva Steenkamp’s family rejected the sum as “blood money”, prosecutor Gerrie Nel revealed during his sentencing hearing.
Earlier, a defense witness told the court that Oscar Pistorius, 27, would be physically at risk if sent to prison.
The Paralympic champion has been found guilty of culpable homicide, but cleared of murder.
The defense is trying to show that prison would be an inappropriate punishment.
Oscar Pistorius’ offer of a lump sum of 375,000 rand to the Steenkamp family emerged on the second day of his sentencing hearing, during the cross-examination of defense witness Annette Vergeer.
Oscar Pistorius offered a lump sum of $34,000 to the parents of Reeva Steenkamp after he killed her
Gerrie Nel told Annette Vergeer that Oscar Pistorius raised the funds from selling his car.
The prosecutor added that Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June, had rejected the offer.
“She does not want blood money,” he said.
Gerrie Nel also highlighted separate monthly payments of 6,000 rand ($540) made by Oscar Pistorius to the Steenkamps – who were short of money after their daughter’s death.
The prosecutor said these funds – mentioned in Annette Vergeer’s report – would be “paid back to the accused in full – every cent”.
The Steenkamps’ lawyer, Dup De Bruyn, explained that the couple were now “reasonably comfortable” after he had negotiated a series of media deals concerning their daughter’s death.
The Pistorius family later accused Gerrie Nel of giving a distorted picture in court of the financial agreement with the Steenkamps, and said they would provide a full statement on Wednesday, October 15.
Islamic State (ISIS) has killed two Iraqi journalists in the past four days, Reporters Without Borders says.
Mohanad al-Akidi, the correspondent for the Sada news agency in the ISIS-held northern Iraqi city of Mosul, was shot dead at the Ghazlani base on October 13.
He was abducted in July while he travelled to Dohuk province.
On October 10, Raad Mohamed al-Azzawi, a cameraman for Sama Salah Aldeen TV, was beheaded by IS militants in the city of Samarra. He had been held for a month.
Reporters Without Borders, which promotes and defends world media freedom, said it was “horrified by the jihadist group’s constant crimes of violence”.
“Islamic State is pursuing a policy of indiscriminate criminal violence that shows no pity towards journalists and does not hesitate to kidnap, torture and murder them,” said its program director, Lucie Morillon.
Islamic State militants has killed two Iraqi journalists in the past four days
“Media personnel need the support and protection of the local authorities more than ever,” she added.
The vast majority of foreign journalists have fled the large parts of Iraq and Syria controlled by ISIS because of the danger, leaving local reporters to document events.
ISIS has beheaded the American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff in the past two months, and is holding the British journalist John Cantlie, who has appeared in a series of propaganda videos.
Earlier this month, ISIS issued guidelines for journalists operating in the Syrian province of Deir al-Zour.
They were told to swear allegiance as “subjects of the Islamic State”, submit stories for approval, and inform the group of any social media accounts. Anyone violating the guidelines will be “held accountable”.
Reporters Without Borders said Raad Mohamed al-Azzawi had been threatened with death by ISIS in September because he refused to work for the group.
A new research suggests that middle-aged women with a neurotic personality style and prolonged stress may have a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The Swedish study on 800 women over nearly four decades found that those who were most anxious, jealous and moody – which they defined as neurotic – and experienced long-standing stress had double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to women scoring lowest in these traits.
Study author Lena Johansson, a researcher at University of Gothenburg, said: Continue reading below…
“No other study has shown that [one style of] midlife personality increased the risk of Alzheimer’s disease over a period of nearly 40 years.”
However, the study results don’t prove that neuroticism triggers Alzheimer’s, but they do suggest an association between the two.
The study was published this month in the journal Neurology.
The most common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease causes profound memory loss and impairments in language, focus, judgment and visual perception, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Middle-aged women with a neurotic personality style and prolonged stress may have a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
About 5.2 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which is progressive, incurable and ultimately fatal.
Lena Johansson said she believes the results would also be true for men. But study data – pulled from research that began in the 1960s – happened to include only women in an era when few medical studies focused on females.
In the new study, participants with an average age of 46 were tracked for 38 years and given memory tests and personality tests measuring their levels of neuroticism and extraversion (defined as being outgoing) and introversion (defined as reserved or shy).
Study authors defined neuroticism as being easily distressed and exhibiting personality traits such as anxiety, jealousy or moodiness. People with this personality style are more likely, they said, to express guilt, anger, envy, worry and depression.
The women were also asked if they had experienced any period of prolonged stress lasting one month or longer and to rate their stress on a scale from zero to five, which represented constant stress during the previous five years. Stress responses included nervousness, sleep disturbances, fearfulness, irritability and tension.
Being introverted or extroverted alone didn’t seem to affect dementia risk, but women who were both easily distressed and withdrawn (introverted) had the highest risk of Alzheimer’s among all women analyzed. One-quarter of them developed the disease, compared to only 13% of those considered outgoing (extroverted) and not easily distressed.
Ariana Grande has confirmed her relationship with Big Sean for the first time.
In a recent interview with the Telegraph Magazine, Ariana Grande was asked if it’s true that she is dating Sean Anderson, aka Big Sean.
The 21-year-old replied: “Yes, he is one of the most amazing men in the whole world, and that includes my grandfather and my brother. I think the world of him, and he’s an amazing person. That’s kind of all there is to it.”
Ariana Grande has confirmed her relationship with Big Sean for the first time
Ariana Grande and Big Sean have been linked since the 26-year-old hip hop artist contributed to her second album My Everything.
Big Sean is a featured artist on album track Best Mistake and stars as the uncredited “whisperer” on Ariana Grande’s breakthrough single Problem.
Ariana Grande recently became the first female solo artist in the US to achieve two number one albums within 12 months since 2010.
George Clooney’s new wife, Amal Alamuddin, has professionally changed her last name to Clooney.
Her London law firm’s website, Doughty Street Chambers, now shows a stunning photo of the newlywed and her bio reads “Amal Clooney”.
The 36-year-old human rights lawyer and George Clooney married in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy, over the weekend of September 27 at the seven-star Amana Canal Grande hotel.
On Doughty Street Chambers’ website now Amal Alamuddin’s bio reads Amal Clooney (photo Doughty Street Chambers)
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin exchanged vows in front A-lists guests including Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Bill Murray, Cindy Crawford and more.
Nine days after becoming husband and wife, George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin closed a deal on a dream home, The Mill House, which is a 17th-century manor on the River Thames in the British countryside.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly bought two adjacent chunks of land in Hawaii for more than $100 million.
Mark Zuckerberg bought part of Kauai, the fourth largest of the Hawaiian islands, Forbes magazine reported.
The 700 acres on the north shore of the island includes Pila’a Beach – an isolated 393-acre swathe of land with a pristine white sand beach – and the adjacent 357-acre Kahu’aina Plantation, and an organic farm reports the Daily Mail.
Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly bought two adjacent chunks of land in Hawaii for more than $100 million
The Pila’a Beach property consists of five separate parcels, each which could be developed into private homes.
However, according to Forbes, Mark Zuckerberg, 30, plans to build just one home.
Facebook chief executive plans to create a private getaway for his family but the beach will have to remain open to public as the state has no private stretches of sand.
Mark Zuckerberg, who is worth around $33 billion, is the second Silicon Valley billionaire to buy up part of Hawaii, reports the Telegraph.
Ferrari has unveiled the new F60 America, a car designed to celebrate the carmaker’s 60th anniversary in North America, on October 10.
F60 America is the latest in a long line of beautiful one-offs and limited-run cars based on standard Ferrari models, with bespoke bodywork and interior clothing the mechanicals of an F12 Berlinetta.
In the tradition of pure roadsters of the Fifties, the F60 America has a light fabric top that Ferrari promises will remain in place up to 75 mph. But the twin roll hoops and flying buttresses notwithstanding, this is about as pure a roadster as one can hope to buy in the 21st Century, meant to be driven with the top completely removed, the cabin open to the sky.
Ferrari has unveiled the new F60 America, a car designed to celebrate the carmaker’s 60th anniversary in North America
F60 America is powered by a variation on the 731 horsepower 6.3-liter V12 of the F12berlinetta, mounted front-mid-engine. With all that power shooting through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, F60 America should run past 60 MPH in about three seconds, and beyond 100 MPH in just over seven seconds.
Just 10 F60 Americas will be built and Ferrari says that they have already been sold, with each car costing an eye-watering $2.5 million.
Richard Gere has split from Top Chef star Padma Lakshmi after six months of relationship.
According to reports, the stars have called time on their romance because they were too busy with their respective careers.
A source added to the New York Post newspaper’s Page Six column: “They decided they would be better as friends.”
Richard Gere, 65, who split from Carey Lowell after 11 years of marriage last September, has been busy filming Time Out of Mind in New York, in which he plays a homeless man.
Richard Gere has split from Padma Lakshmi after six months of relationship
Last week, the actor joked of filming: “What probably really helped was I was right in the middle of a divorce, so the emotions were right on the surface.”
Meanwhile, Padma Lakshmi, 44, was filming a new season of Top Chef in Boston over the summer and then went travelling. The couple were first romantically linked in April but stayed low key and were not spotted together very often.
Richard Gere and Carey Lowell – who have 14-year-old son Homer together – never officially confirmed they were separating but were said to have been living apart for some time before their split.
He was also previously married to Cindy Crawford for four years until 1995.
Former model Padma Lakshmi was previously married to author Salman Rushdie for three years until 2007 and dated billionaire Teddy Forstmann until he died of brain cancer in 2011 at the age of 71.
Padma Lakshmi has a three-year-old daughter, Krishna, with Adam Dell.
JP Morgan Chase has reported a $5.6 billion profit for Q3 2014.
The quarterly results represent a marked improvement on a year earlier, when the bank made a $380 million loss.
This was the result of setting aside billions of dollars to settle charges relating to the sale of mortgage-related investment products.
Separately, rival Citigroup posted profits of $3.44 billion and said it would exit consumer banking in 11 markets.
JP Morgan and Citigroup are the first major US banks to report third-quarter results.
Other big US banks will post their results later this week.
The JP Morgan results were due to be published at 08:30 local time, but were posted early.
JP Morgan Chase has reported a $5.6 billion profit for Q3 2014
They showed total revenue for the quarter of $25.2 billion, up 5% on a year earlier. Revenue at the investment banking business fell by $600 million, with profits down by 34%.
Revenue at the asset management arm grew by $250 million to $3 billion, with profits up 20%.
“Our businesses continue to perform well,” said chief executive Jamie Dimon.
“While challenges remain in the global economic recovery, the US economy is an exception, showing signs of steady improvement.
“Corporate America is in good shape, with strong balance sheets, and employment trends continue to be positive.”
Citigroup saw its profits rise 7% to $3.44bn on revenues of $19.6 billion.
The bank also said it would accelerate plans to focus on markets “where it has the greatest scale and growth potential”.
As a result, it said it would be exiting consumer banking in 11 markets – Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru, as well as its consumer finance business in South Korea.
“Our consumer bank and institutional business each had solid performance during the quarter and generated stronger revenues both sequentially and year-on-year,” said the bank’s chief executive Michael Corbat.
“I am committed to simplifying our company and allocating our finite resources to where we can generate the best returns for our shareholders.”
Meanwhile, smaller rival Wells Fargo reported a $5.7 billion profit for the third quarter, up 1.7% on the same period last year.
Mel Greig, the Australian radio DJ who took part in the royal hoax call after which nurse Jacintha Saldanha killed herself, has told of her own fears after receiving death threats and bullets in the post.
In a recent interview with BBC Two’s Newsnight, Mel Greig said: “I was in lockdown for months. There were bullets with our name on it sent to police stations.”
She also revealed that that at one point someone had rung her mother and said “eye for an eye, you deserve to die”.
Nurse Jacintha Saldanha died in 2012, after the hoax call to a London hospital treating the pregnant Kate Middleton.
Mel Greig and colleague Michael Christian made their prank call to King Edward VII’s Hospital in December 2012.
Mel Greig took part in the royal hoax call after which nurse Jacintha Saldanha killed herself
They pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles asking about Kate Middleton’s treatment for severe morning sickness.
Jacintha Saldanha, 46, answered the call and transferred it to a colleague, who gave details of the duchess’s condition.
The nurse was found hanged three days later.
In her first UK broadcast interview, Mel Greig said she will always feel at fault “to an extent” about her death.
“I was mentioned in Jacintha’s suicide note – not the Australian DJ, my name,” she said.
“She thought of me before she took her own life. How can you not feel guilt and blame? And I always will, but I have learnt to deal with it now.”
Mel Greig revealed how she had been the victim of death threats since the incident.
“I don’t want to sit here and go <<poor me, it was terrible>>,” she said.
“[The Saldanha family] have lost a wife and a mother, but the trolling and the death threats were disgusting.”
Mel Greig said as well as the bullets being sent in the post, she had been stalked and harassed for 18 months.
She said the worst point was when someone rang her mother and threatened her with revenge.
Mel Greig and Michael Christian were working for Sydney’s 2Day FM when they made the hospital call.
She quit at the end of last year.
Mel Greig said she would urge anyone in the radio industry thinking about making a prank call to seriously consider the potential consequences.
The Walking Dead Season 5 opener has been watched by 17.3 million people, breaking cable viewing records.
It marks the biggest cable audience for a non-sports program in the US, according to television viewing figures tracking company Nielsen.
The Walking Dead, which stars British actor Andrew Lincoln, held the previous record of 16.1 million for its fourth season debut last year.
The end of the series also set a new benchmark for a finale with 15.7 million.
The Walking Dead Season 5 opener has been watched by 17.3 million people, breaking cable viewing records
Sunday’s return to the air also triumphed in the valuable 18-49 age range with 11 million viewers. Its nearest scripted rival was popular comedy The Big Bang Theory, which pulled in 6.9 million people in that key demographic.
Variety reported that the AMC show also reached record levels for the number of people obtaining the show illegally, with piracy tracking firm Excipio logging 1.27 million downloads in the first 24 hours after transmission.
But the level of piracy for TV series Game of Thrones pushes The Walking Dead into second place, with its fourth series premiere registering 1.86 million illicit downloads.
It added that Fox has rushed the show to some 125 markets around the world in a bid to thwart piracy.
The hit show tracks the fortunes of sheriff Rick Grimes – played by Andrew Lincoln – as he attempts to survive flesh-eating zombies.
A UN medical worker infected with Ebola has died at St Georg hospital in Leipzig, Germany.
The 56-year-old man, originally from Sudan, died despite receiving experimental drugs to treat the virus, German doctors say.
The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 4,000 people since March – mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the outbreak is the “the most severe, acute health emergency in modern times”.
The man had been working as a UN medical official in Liberia – one of the worst affected countries – when he caught Ebola.
A UN medical worker infected with Ebola has died at St Georg hospital in Leipzig
He arrived in Germany on October 9 for treatment and was put into a hermetically sealed ward, accessed through airlock systems.
“Despite intensive medical measures and maximum efforts by the medical team, the 56-year-old UN employee succumbed to the serious infectious disease,” a statement from St Georg hospital said.
He was the second member of the UN team in Liberia to die from the virus.
The man was the third Ebola patient to be treated for the deadly virus in Germany after contracting the disease in the outbreak zone in West Africa.
One patient – a Ugandan doctor infected in Sierra Leone – is still receiving treatment in a hospital in Frankfurt, while a Senegalese aid worker was released from a hospital in Hamburg after five weeks of treatment.
The WHO says it is alarmed by the number of health workers who have been exposed to the disease.
Oscar Pistorius’ charity work has been scrutinized by the prosecution on a second day of his sentencing hearing in Pretoria court.
The South African athlete’s main motive was to further his career, the prosecutor said, in an attempt to show he deserves jail for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp last month – but was cleared of murder.
The defense is trying to show prison would be an inappropriate punishment.
It produced a second witness to say Oscar Pistorius showed real remorse and his disability would be a problem in jail.
On October 13, the prosecutor was angered by a call for the sentence to be house arrest and community service.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel labeled the suggestion as a “shockingly inappropriate” punishment.
Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said Oscar Pistorius had acted negligently when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last several days, with lawyers for Oscar Pistorius hoping they can prevent a jail sentence.
Proceedings began with Gerrie Nel’s cross-examination of Oscar Pistorius’ manager Peet Van Zyl.
Oscar Pistorius’ charity work has been scrutinized by the prosecution on a second day of his sentencing hearing in Pretoria court
At Tuesday morning’s session, Gerrie Nel tried to show that Oscar Pistorius’ honorary doctorate at the UK’s Strathclyde University was for his achievements “from a young age”, rather than recent charitable work.
Peet Van Zyl had said that the doctorate was for the athlete’s support for prosthetic limb development, but Gerrie Nel said there was no mention of that in the citation.
And he suggested to Peet Van Zyl that sportsmen often took on charity work for pragmatic reasons.
Later the prosecutor questioned whether Oscar Pistorius used his own funds to pay for prosthetics for disadvantaged young people, but Peet Van Zyl insisted that money earned for speaking which he asked to be paid not to himself but to charity was his own funds.
He also asked whether Peet Van Zyl had discussed future plans with the athlete, to which he replied that everything depended on the outcome of the trial.
Defense counsel Barry Roux then continued the line of questioning about Oscar Pistorius’ motivation for his charity work.
The athlete’s manager said that while he had contractual obligations to his sponsors, he was always available for them and never complained.
He also made himself available on other occasions and “went the extra mile” for disabled children, Peet Van Zyl added.
The prosecutor has reminded the court that the relationship between celebrity, charity and business is a quid pro quo, but it is not clear that he has done any more than that.
He says the judge’s verdict suggests that Gerrie Nel’s aggressive style may not work with her.
The next defense witness was Annette Vergeer, a probation officer who said she was working in a private capacity.
Reading out what she said was an objective report, she said Oscar Pistorius should receive a suspended sentence, community work, therapy, and correctional supervision.
Prison would punish him in a way that was not constructive, Annette Vergeer said, adding that he was “extremely broken” and would “only deteriorate” there.
“It is virtually impossible in prison to teach a person how to become a useful member of society, as there is no opportunity to practice these skills,” she said.
She said he had showed what she believed to be sincere grief and regret at the crime scene, and subsequent depression.
Oscar Pistorius had denied murdering Reeva Steenkamp after a row on Valentine’s Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake.
London’s Heathrow airport is to start screening for Ebola among passengers flying into the UK from countries at risk.
A “handful” of cases – thought to be fewer than 10 – are expected to reach the UK before Christmas.
Screening will start at Terminal 1, before being extended to other terminals, Gatwick airport and Eurostar by the end of the week.
In September, around 1,000 people arrived in the UK from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa.
People flying from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea will be identified by Border Force officers.
Nurses and consultants from Public Health England will then carry out the actual screening.
Passengers will have their temperatures taken, complete a risk questionnaire and have contact details recorded.
Anyone with suspected Ebola will be taken to hospital.
Heathrow airport is to start screening for Ebola among passengers flying into the UK from countries at risk
Passengers deemed to be at high risk due to contact with Ebola patients, but who are displaying no symptoms, will be contacted daily by Public Health England.
Ebola has killed more than 4,000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
A spokesman for Heathrow said the welfare of “our passengers and colleagues is always our main priority”.
He added: “We would like to reassure passengers that the government assesses the risk of a traveler contracting Ebola to be low.”
There is no direct flight to the UK from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea so people could arrive at airports that do not screen passengers.
Instead “highly visible information” will be in place at all entry points to the UK.
The Department of Health estimates that 85% of all arrivals to the UK from affected countries will come through Heathrow.
However, screening arrivals marks a rapid shift in policy from the UK government.
Just last week, it said there were no plans for screening as people were tested before leaving affected countries.
The WHO said it was unnecessary and that it would mean screening “huge numbers of low-risk people”.
Anyone in the UK with suspected Ebola will be taken to hospital and blood samples will be taken to Public Health England’s specialist laboratory for rapid testing.
If the test is positive, then the patient will be transferred to an isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London. It is the centre that cared for the British nurse William Pooley, who contracted Ebola in West Africa.
Hospitals in Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield are on standby to offer similar facilities if there is a sudden surge in Ebola cases. A total of 26 isolation beds could be prepared at the four hospitals.
Kim Jong-un has made his first public appearance since September 3, the North Korean official news agency says.
The KCNA agency said on October 14 that Kim Jong-un “gave field guidance” at a newly-built scientists’ residential district.
Rodong Sinmun daily newspaper carried several photographs of Kim Jong-un using a walking stick as he inspected the site.
The absence of the North Korean leader had prompted a flurry of speculation about his health.
Some observers said Kim Jong-un, 32, could be suffering from gout or problems in his hip joint. Others even questioned if he remained in control of the state.
Official media have cited unspecified personal “discomfort” as grounds for Kim Jong-un’s absence from public view.
Kim Jong-un has made his first public appearance since September 3 at a newly-built scientists’ residential district
KCNA said that Kim Jong-un was briefed on the Wisong Scientists Residential District “before a map showing its bird’s-eye view” and that he then “overlooked it”.
“Looking over the exterior of the apartment houses and public buildings, decorated with diverse colored tiles, [Kim Jong-un] expressed great satisfaction, saying they looked very beautiful,” the agency said.
It also said that Kim Jong-un visited the newly-built Natural Energy Institute of the State Academy of Sciences.
Although the news release was dated October 14, it did not specify on which day he made the visits.
During his absence, Kim Jong-un missed two high-profile public events – the October 10 anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Worker’s Party and the September 9 Foundation Day of the North Korean State.
Analysts said they were two days in the political calendar when the leader would be expected to make an appearance.
Kim Jong-un took office on the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in December 2011 and was quickly named head of the party, state and army.
In 2012 he was appointed marshal – the highest military rank – following a high-level military reshuffle.
In December 2013, Kim Jong-un purged and executed his uncle, Chang Song-thaek, who state media said had been plotting a coup.
Catalonia’s government has called off plans to push ahead with a contested independence referendum, Spanish media says.
A spokesman for Catalan President Artur Mas said he would be holding a news conference at 08:00 GMT on October 14.
Spain’s government said the November 9 vote was unconstitutional but Catalan’s leaders had vowed to hold it.
Support for independence has increased among the 7.5 million Catalans following Spain’s economic crisis.
On September 19, the regional parliament voted by 106 to 28 in favor of granting Catalan’s president the power to hold a referendum.
Catalonia’s government has called off plans to push ahead with the independence referendum
Spain’s central government protested against the move and the Constitutional Court agreed to hear their case against the referendum – a process that could take years.
The pro-independence Catalan government had previously said it was examining legal arguments to persuade the court to lift its suspension of the vote while the case is heard.
However, Joan Herrera, of the Initiative for Catalonia party, told reporters that the regional government had “determined that the consultation can’t take place” after meeting with pro-referendum parties on Monday.
Spanish media said that President Artur Mas was now looking for other mechanisms to consult the public.
Hundreds of thousands of Catalans have protested on the streets in recent weeks, demanding their own vote.
Polls suggest most Catalans favor holding the vote, but are roughly evenly split on independence.
With about 16% of the Spanish population and a distinct language and culture, Catalonia is one of Spain’s richest and most independent-minded regions.
Queen Elizabeth II is having health problems as she shows early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a Globe Magazine report.
Queen Elizabeth, 88, has long been subject to rumors and speculation. The same magazine reported late last year that the queen was suffering continuous shortness of breath, and that doctors didn’t really know what was wrong with her.
The report even claimed that the Queen informed Kate Middleton to make sure her funeral arrangements were ready because she could die at any time.
The new report from Globe Magazine says that the queen is actually fighting Alzheimer’s disease.
“The palace is desperately trying to hide the new health crisis Queen Elizabeth is facing–the 88-year-old monarch is reportedly showing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,” the magazine reported in the cover story of its October 20 edition.
Queen Elizabeth II is reportedly having health problems as she shows early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (photo Getty Images)
The Queen has been found wandering “lost and confused” in the palace garden, the tabloid claims.
She also can’t remember the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and she has mistaken her son Prince Charles for her husband Prince Philip, it says.
Sources told the magazine that that queen has multiple symptoms and that some fear that Prince Charles’ wife Camilla Parker-Bowles, with whom the queen reportedly has an ongoing feud, will try to take advantage of the queen’s plight.
The claim that the Queen has Alzheimer’s is unverified, though the royal has acknowledged her failing health recently.
She began handing over power to Prince Charles earlier this year leading up to her birthday, having him take on more head of state-style responsibilities as the Palace starts to make tentative plans for his eventual succession, the Daily Mirror reported.
One sign of the historic “job-share” agreement with Prince Charles, a first for the royals, was the merging of their press offices.
“This is about passing the baton to the next generation. The Prince of Wales’s diary is chock-full. Even he realizes with the best will in the world he can’t go on like that. This is not going to be a sudden shift. It is a gradual process which will be borne out over the next few years. It’s a gentle succession,” one aide said.
“It’s important to note that the Queen is still working very hard. Every day you see her with the red box of Government papers and giving audiences.
“Charles will be doing less of his campaigning and the things he likes to do and more of the head of state role.
“While the Queen is still in excellent health, she is inevitably becoming a little more frail because of her age. Charles and Camilla will be doing much more of the public work on her behalf.”
Prince Charles and courtiers have been studying the Regency Act, which would enable him to take over the throne even if Queen Elizabeth is still alive.
Britain’s last regency happened in the early 1800s, when King George III’s mental illness left him unable to carry out his duties, prompting his son, George IV, to be given his father’s powers under the Regency Act.
Prince Charles became the longest serving heir to the throne in April 2011, beating Edward VIII’s record of 59 years, two months, and 13 days.
Woolworths has removed a top tank bearing a slogan seen by many as racist from supermarket shelves in Australia after it was “inadvertently” stocked.
The singlet with Australia’s flag and the slogan “If you don’t love it, leave” was on sale at two Woolworths stores in Queensland and New South Wales.
A spokesman said Woolworths would review its processes to “ensure this sort of error cannot happen again”.
Racial tensions in Australia have been high after recent terror raids.
Australia has also committed troops to the conflict in the Middle East.
The singlet bearing a slogan seen by many as racist was on sale at two Woolworths stores in Queensland and New South Wales (photo Twitter)
Woolworths said the garment had been put on sale accidentally.
“It has come to our attention that two Woolworths stores were inadvertently stocking a singlet that we consider totally unacceptable,” the spokesman told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“The singlet was not one we ordered. It was delivered to us in error and should never [have] been allowed on our shelves.
“The sentiment expressed on the singlet does not reflect the views of Woolworths.”
A customer posted a photo of the garment on a social media account and several dozen customers complained after the image went viral.
Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson congratulated his nephew John Luke for his engagement to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn.
John Luke Robertson popped the question on his 19th birthday on Saturday, October 11.
He is the eldest son of Korie and Willie Robertson.
John Luke Robertson got engaged to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn on his 19th birthday (photo Facebook)
Uncle Si Robertson wrote on his Facebook page: “Hey JACK! John Luke found his own Smokin Hot Honey! Congrats to my nephew and soon to be niece!”
“Shakin’ the hand of a newly engaged man! Congrats John Luke Robertson and Mary Kate! #UncleSitheChristmasElf #GreatParty #CrazyFireworks #LoveOurFamily.”
Oscar Pistorius should not go to jail over the killing of Reeva Steenkamp, his sentencing hearing has been told.
A probation officer appearing for the defense said Oscar Pistorius should serve house arrest and community service.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel described the suggestion as “shockingly inappropriate”.
Oscar Pistorius, 27, was found guilty of the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp last month – but was cleared of murder.
The decision was criticized by the victim’s family.
Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said the Paralympic champion had acted “negligently” when he shot his girlfriend through a toilet door, but had genuinely thought her to be an intruder.
At the sentencing hearing, Joel Maringa, a prison service officer summoned by the defense, said Pistorius should perform community service and receive three years of house arrest rather than imprisonment.
“The accused will benefit from correctional supervision,” Joel Maringa said, adding that this will give him an “opportunity to restructure and modify his behavior”.
Oscar Pistorius faces up to 15 years in jail, although Judge Thokozile Masipa may suspend the sentence or impose a fine
“We are basically not saying that he should be destroyed because he will still be coming back into the community,” he said.
Gerrie Nel described Joel Maringa’s suggestions as “shockingly inappropriate”, adding that they would amount to “no sentence”. He questioned whether Joel Maringa understood the gravity of Oscar Pistorius’ crime.
Reeva Steenkamp’s father, Barry, held his head in his hands as Joel Maringa spoke, while her friends shook their heads in disbelief.
The sentencing hearing, which has now been adjourned, is expected to last several days.
Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius are hoping they can prevent a jail sentence.
His psychologist, Lore Hartzenberg, was the first defense witness to speak at the sentencing hearing.
She described Oscar Pistorius as a “broken man” after the killing. She said he was “very emotional” during grief therapy sessions, which were often disrupted by his weeping and retching.
Gerrie Nel said it was “very strange” that Lore Hartzenberg was “avoiding” answering questions about Oscar Pistorius having a new relationship.
Lore Hartzenberg said Oscar Pistorius had never mentioned a new girlfriend in the therapy sessions. She said she had only heard about the relationship from reports in the press.
The Paralympic sprinter had strenuously denied murdering Reeva Steenkamp after a row on Valentine’s Day in 2013, saying he shot her by mistake.
Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Oscar Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria.
The parents of Reeva Steenkamp said “justice was not served” after Oscar Pistorius was acquitted of murder.
