LinkedIn has agreed to pay $6 million in wages and damages after regulators found it failed to account for all the hours worked by its employees.
This includes $3.3 million in unpaid wages and $2.5 million in damages to be paid to 359 former and current employees.
It also agreed to provide compliance training and distribute its policy on overtime work to all applicable staff.
LinkedIn has agreed to pay $6 million in wages and damages after regulators found it failed to account for all the hours worked by its employees
The company said talent was its “number one priority” and it was eager to “rectify the situation”.
“This was a function of not having the right tools in place for a small subset of our sales force to track hours properly,” said Shannon Stubo, vice president of corporate communications at LinkedIn.
According to the US Department of Labor, the affected employees worked at the firm’s offices in California, Illinois, Nebraska and New York.
“Off the clock hours are all too common for the American worker. This practice harms workers, denies them the wages they have rightfully earned and takes away time with families,” said Susana Blanco, of the US Labor Department.
However, the regulator added that LinkedIn had cooperated with the investigation and had agreed to take proactive steps to prevent future violations.
“This company has shown a great deal of integrity by fully cooperating with investigators and stepping up to the plate without hesitation to help make workers whole,” said David Weil, administrator of the Wage and Hour Division.
“We are particularly pleased that LinkedIn also has committed to take positive and practical steps towards securing future compliance.”
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger were deadly enemies at the height of their careers, and Stallone has now opened up about their intense rivalry.
Meanwhile, Hollywood’s toughest men buried the hatchet and appear together new action sequel The Expendables 3.
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger were deadly enemies at the height of their careers (photo Getty Images)
Sylvester Stallone says: “There were times when we could not even be in the same room. I was always like <<Oh it’s him>>. Arnold was like someone you wanted to strangle every day, like in the morning and at night. We were so competitive. He was Mr. Olympia. We came along at the same time, of course I was first but he was bigger.”
A judge has approved Jodi Arias request to represent herself in Travis Alexander murder trial.
Jodi Arias, 34, admitted killing Travis Alexander at his suburban Phoenix home in 2008 but said it was self-defense.
Prosecutors argued it was premeditated murder carried out in a jealous rage when Travis Alexander wanted to end their affair.
Jodi Arias was found guilty of first-degree murder last year but jurors couldn’t reach a decision on sentencing. Under Arizona law, while Jodi Arias’ murder conviction stands, prosecutors have the option of putting on a second penalty phase with a new jury in an effort to secure the death penalty.
Jodi Arias will represent herself in Travis Alexander murder trial (photo Getty Images)
Jodi Arias will have the task of arguing a death penalty case just four weeks from now despite having no legal experience and no college degree or high school diploma. She got her GED in jail.
Travis Alexander’s family, who lauded Jodi Arias’ conviction after spending every day of the trial sitting in the front row of the gallery, often sobbing and looking away from horrific crime scene photographs, will now have to see Arias argue her own case in an attempt to save her life.
Her defense lawyers will remain on as advisory council.
Jodi Arias has long clashed with her defense attorneys and tried to fire them previously. The feud only intensified after she gave a series of media interviews following her May 2013 conviction. Her lawyers also have tried to withdraw several times, but the judge rebuffed their requests.
The five-month trial that began in January 2013 was broadcast live and provided seemingly endless amounts of cable TV and tabloid fodder.
Jodi Arias told jurors of an abusive childhood, cheating boyfriends, dead-end jobs, relationship with Travis Alexander and her contention that he had grown physically violent.
This time around the trial will not be broadcast live after the judge ruled footage may not be used until after a verdict.
If the new jury fails to reach a unanimous decision during the second penalty phase set for September 8, the death penalty will be removed from consideration. The judge would then sentence Jodi Arias to spend her life behind bars or to be eligible for release after 25 years.
Hidden germs like Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, plus mold and yeast are lurking in your kitchen and have the potential to make you and your family very sick if you don’t know where to look.
Cheryl Luptowski, a Home Safety Expert at the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF International) said: “People think that the bathroom is the dirtiest place in their house. When in fact the kitchen has the most germs.”
Cheryl Lupotowski and University of Arizona-Tucson Professor and Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba (AKA Dr. Germ) reveal the 10 dirtiest spots in the average home kitchen, plus expert advice on how to banish germs.
1. Sponges and Dishcloths Microbe: E. coli
According to a study by the NSF, more than 75% of dish sponges and rags have some sort of coliform bacteria–a family of bacteria that includes Salmonella and E. coli and is an indicator of potential fecal contamination. EXPERT ADVICE: Microwaving your sponges and dishcloths on high for about 30 seconds will kill most bacteria, according to Dr. Germ.
2. Sink Microbe: E. coli
You may think that this is one of cleanest spots because everything gets washed in the sink. 45% of kitchen sinks were found to have coliform bacteria. EXPERT ADVICE: Dr. Germ advises disinfecting the sink with a kitchen cleaner and just to be safe, don’t apply the 10 second rule when you drop food in the sink.
3. Refrigerator Vegetable Compartment Microbes: Salmonella, Listeria, yeast and mold “Dark moist environments tend to breed germs, even in the refrigerator. Produce should always be stored on a separate shelf above meat, poultry and seafood to avoid raw juices dripping onto the produce. First, avoid cross-contamination by separating ready-to-eat and unwashed produce. Also, keep them separate in your grocery cart, during food preparation, and when using kitchen tools and appliances,” said Cheryl Luptowski.
Hidden germs like Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, plus mold and yeast are lurking in your kitchen
EXPERT ADVICE: To effectively clean the compartment, first remove the drawer from the refrigerator if possible. Cheryl Lupotowski advises washing the bin using a clean sponge or soft cloth and a mild detergent mixed with warm water. Rinse with tap water and wipe dry with a paper towel. To help control odors, use warm water mixed with a baking soda solution (about 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of water). Rinse and wipe dry.
4. Refrigerator Meat Compartment Microbes: Salmonella, E. coli, yeast and mold
This is another dark moist environment that’s a breeding ground for bacteria. Store meat and seafood on a separate shelf below produce to avoid raw juices from dripping onto the produce. EXPERT ADVICE: “Clean monthly the same way you clean the vegetable compartment and whenever you see any spilled meat juices,” says Cheryl Lupotowski.
5. Cutting Board Microbe: E. coli
In a study by the NSF, 18% of cutting boards were found to have coliform bacteria. EXPERT ADVICE: Dr. Germ recommends using separate cutting boards: one for produce and one for meat, seafood, and poultry to avoid cross-contamination. Wash each one in hot soapy water and dry with a paper towel since bacteria thrive in moist environments.
6. Blender Gasket Microbes: Salmonella, E. coli, yeast and mold “Appliances and utensils that are not properly disassembled and cleaned can harbor microorganisms,” says Cheryl Luptowski.
EXPERT ADVICE: “To clean properly, completely disassemble the blender, removing the jar, lid, plus the blade and gasket at the bottom and place them all in the dishwasher after each use. If the pieces are not dishwasher safe, hand them thoroughly in hot soapy water, then rinse and dry before re-assembling,” says Cheryl Lupotwoski.
7. Kitchen Countertops Microbe: E. coli
32% of kitchen countertops were found to have coliform bacteria, according to an NSF study. EXPERT ADVICE: Wiping down countertops with dirty sponges and dishcloths increases the chance that this area will be a germ hot spot in your kitchen. Break out the kitchen disinfectant again and use disposable paper towels to clean up this area.
8. Can Opener Microbes: Salmonella, E. coli, yeast and mold
Simply rinsing this tool isn’t enough to safeguard it from germs because it comes into direct contact with food. EXPERT ADVICE: “To effectively clean, place the can opener in the dishwasher after each use (if dishwasher safe). If hand washing, wash in hot soapy water, rinsing thoroughly with clean tap water before air drying after each use. If hand washing, pay special attention to the area around the cutting blades to be sure all food residue is removed,” says Cheryl Luptowski.
9. Rubber Spatula Microbes: E. coli, yeast and mold
For two-piece spatulas, it’s important to separate the handle from the spatula portion before cleaning. EXPERT ADVICE: “If they are dishwasher safe, place both sections in the machine after each use. If hand washing, wash in hot soapy water, rinsing thoroughly with clean water. For one-piece spatulas, hand wash it thoroughly in hot soapy water, paying special attention to the area where the handle joins the spatula. Rinse thoroughly and dry,” says Cheryl Luptowski.
10. Food Storage Container with Rubber Seal Microbes: Salmonella, yeast and mold
Containers that have not been cleaned thoroughly have high counts of yeast and mold which may make food spoil quickly. EXPERT ADVICE: “If dishwasher safe, place both the container and the lid in the dishwasher and wash after each use. If hand washing, wash both the container and lid in hot soapy water, paying special attention to the area around the seal as well as any grooves where the cover attaches to the container. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry,” says Cheryl Lupotowski.
Salmonella: “Within 8 to 12 hours after eating a contaminated food item, a person may develop abdominal pain and diarrhea, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Symptoms generally last a day or less, but can be more serious in older or debilitated people,” says Cheryl Lupotowski.
Listeria: “Within 7 to 30 days after eating a contaminated food item, a person may develop symptoms including fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. Listeria primarily affects pregnant women and their fetuses, newborns, the elderly, people with cancer, and those with impaired immune systems. Can cause fetal and infant death,” says Cheryl Lupotowski.
E. coli: “Within 2 to 5 days after eating a contaminated food item, a person may develop severe diarrhea (possibly bloody) and abdominal cramps. Usually little or no fever is present, and the illness resolves in 5 to 10 days,” says Cheryl Lupotowski.
Whoopi Goldberg lashed out at Donald Trump on Monday’s The View when discussing his tweets about two Americans who contracted the Ebola virus while treating an outbreak in West Africa.
“I don’t really know how to respond to it in a polite way,” the actress said.
“I like Donald, I try to be respectful, but this was an idiotic comment.”
Whoopi Goldberg lashed out at Donald Trump on Monday’s The View when discussing his tweets about two Americans who contracted the Ebola virus while treating an outbreak in West Africa
Donald Trump took to Twitter on August 1 to protest the return of Dr. Kent Brantly and nurse Nancy Writebol to the US, where they are receiving treatment for the deadly virus at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
“Stop the EBOLA patients from entering the US. Treat them, at the highest level, over there. THE UNITED STATES HAS ENOUGH PROBLEMS,” Donald Trump tweeted.
“The US cannot allow EBOLA infected people back. People that go to far away places to help out are great-but must suffer the consequences!”
Whoopi Goldberg said she understands why Donald Trump would be fearful of the virus hitting American soil, but stressed it “doesn’t carry in the wind” and can only be spread through bodily fluids.
“I’m not defending him, but he is also a friend of mine, so I don’t want to be disrespectful to him, but that was a stupid comment,” Whoopi Goldberg said.
“Do your homework, Donald. Just do your homework.”
Former American Idol alum Dexter Roberts has revealed he was forced to drop out of this summer tour after being diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).
“After months of hospital and doctor visits, I finally have a diagnosis. I have Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever, with symptoms of fever, rash, headache, abdominal issues, shortness of breath and muscle pain,” the country singer wrote on his Facebook page on July 31.
Dexter Roberts has revealed he was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever (photo Getty Images)
Dexter Roberts made it to the Top 7 on the most recent season of American Idol before being eliminated. He believes he contracted the disease shortly after the American Idol Season 13 finale in May, while on a turkey hunt in Kentucky.
“I found several ticks on me throughout the four-day hunt, but that is nothing unusual for turkey hunting,” he wrote.
“Shortly after the <<American Idol>> tour started, I started having severe headaches, chest pains and muscle weakness on my left side, along with tremendous abdominal issues and shortness of breath. The medical facilities, while on tour, were unable to make a diagnosis. After my return home from the tour I found myself, once again, back at a hospital emergency room, where the doctor discovered a rash in my head from the tick bite.”
RMSF is a commonly reported yet potentially fatal disease.
Dexter Roberts said he started taking medication last week.
A study by Oxford University suggests that playing video games for a short period each day could have a small but positive impact on child development.
Scientists found young people who spent less than an hour a day engaged in video games were better adjusted than those who did not play at all.
However, children who used consoles for more than three hours reported lower satisfaction with their lives overall.
The research is published in the journal Pediatrics.
Experimental psychologist Dr. Andrew Przybylski analyzed British surveys involving 5,000 young people aged 10 to 15 years old.
Some 75% of those questioned said they played video games daily.
Children were asked to quantify how much time they spent gaming on a typical school day – using consoles or computers.
Playing video games for a short period each day could have a small but positive impact on child development (photo Getty Images)
They then rated a number of factors, including:
Satisfaction with their lives
How well they got on with peers
How likely they were to help people in difficulty
Levels of hyperactivity and inattention
The answers were combined to assess levels of psychological and social adjustment.
When compared with all other groups, including those who played no video games at all, young people reporting under an hour of play each day were most likely to say they were satisfied with their lives and showed the highest levels of positive social interactions.
The group also had fewer problems with emotional issues and lower levels of hyperactivity.
According to the results, people who spent more than three hours playing games were the least well adjusted.
Dr. Andrew Przybylski points out that though the effect of video games on children is statistically significant in this study, factors such as the strength of family relationships play a larger role.
Over 400 Ukrainian troops have crossed into Russia during heavy fighting with pro-Russian separatists at the Gukovo checkpoint in eastern Ukraine.
A Ukrainian security spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said the 311 soldiers and border guards “had to cross into Russian territory”.
Ukraine is trying to get them back now through diplomatic channels, he said.
Earlier a Russian security official said 438 Ukrainian troops had been given refuge in Russia as “defectors”.
The border area is very tense amid Ukrainian allegations that Russian forces have been helping the separatists with rocket barrages.
Over 400 Ukrainian troops have crossed into Russia during heavy fighting with pro-Russian separatists (photo EPA)
Russia has announced that it will hold an air force exercise this week near the border. A Russian defense ministry spokesman said 100 aircraft would take part in the operation.
The Russian foreign ministry meanwhile accused Ukrainian forces of deploying tactical missiles and launchers near the city of Donetsk
In his statement on the Ukrainian troops at the border Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (SNBO), dismissed Russia’s claim that the troops had defected.
He also denied reports that the separatists had captured some Ukrainian National Guard servicemen during the fighting.
Another Ukrainian military spokesman said the group of soldiers had retreated into Russia after running out of ammunition and other supplies during the fighting. He said they belonged to the 72nd motorized brigade.
Recently Kiev has been gaining ground against the rebels and claims to have retaken more than 60 towns in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Civilians are preparing for a siege as government forces close in on the rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Residents are stockpiling food and supplies and are sleeping in basements, with reports suggesting Luhansk is virtually surrounded and without power.
Western governments and Ukraine accuse Russia of supplying heavy weapons and volunteers to the pro-Russian rebels, who have declared independence from Kiev.
Russia denies supplying such hardware to the rebels, while condemning Kiev’s military offensive in the east.
At least 27,000 Russian tourists are stranded abroad after tour operator Labirint suspended its activity.
A company statement blamed the move on the deterioration in the rouble exchange rate and the “negative political and economic situation”.
There are signs that EU-US sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis are hurting the wider economy, including Western investment in Russia.
A Russian tycoon says his executive jet is grounded because of US sanctions.
At least 27,000 Russian tourists are stranded abroad after tour operator Labirint suspended its activity (photo AFP)
Billionaire businessman Gennady Timchenko – close to President Vladimir Putin – told Russia’s ITAR-TASS news agency that Gulfstream was no longer servicing his jet and the pilots were not allowed to use its navigation equipment.
He is reckoned to have a fortune of $14.4 billion, owning big stakes in gas and infrastructure firms. He is among dozens of Russians hit by sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.
An agency assisting Russian tourists, Turpomoshch (Tour Help), said in a statement it is now trying to book Russians onto return flights in various countries, including Bulgaria, Egypt and Tunisia.
Labirint’s sudden failure on Saturday left some 27,000 Russian tourists without return tickets, Turpomoshch said.
Anxious Labirint customers are bombarding Turpomoshch with calls at a rate of five per minute, the agency says, adding that “our managers are working flat-out” to help them.
Another reason Labirint gave for its move was the Russian state’s advice that military or security service officials should not go abroad.
Last month another Russian tour operator, Neva, also went bust.
Italian prosecutors have reopened an inquiry into the death of cyclist Marco Pantani after his family presented what it says is evidence he was murdered.
Marco Pantani, who won the 1998 Tour de France, was ruled to have died of a cocaine overdose after being found dead in his room on February 14, 2004.
His mother believes Marco Pantani, who was 34 when he died, was murdered.
Italian prosecutors have reopened an inquiry into the death of cyclist Marco Pantani (photo Il Calcio Magazine)
Tonina Pantani alleges he was beaten and forced to drink a lethal dose of cocaine dissolved in liquid.
“We have just received documents sent by those close to [Marco Pantani] and we have opened an investigation,” said Paolo Giovagnoli, the public prosecutor in Rimini, where Marco Pantani’s body was found.
“We will read them and if we decide to proceed with a new investigation, we will appoint an examining magistrate to do so.”
In the year of his victory in the Tour de France, Marco Pantani also won the Giro d’Italia.
Tonina Pantani told La Repubblica newspaper: “I will never stop until I see the truth written about Marco…”
The Pantani family says the marks found on Marco Pantani’s body show he had been beaten, and the high amount of cocaine found in his system suggested he had swallowed the drug, which it claims is something he would not have done willingly.
World leaders and royals have gathered for ceremonies marking 100 years since Britain joined World War One.
Prince Charles and UK’s PM David Cameron attended a service in Glasgow, while Prince William and Kate Middleton are in Belgium with many heads of state.
At the Liege ceremony, Prince William paid tribute to the soldiers who “died to give us our freedom”.
The day concludes with a candle-lit vigil at Westminster Abbey and a “lights out” event around the UK.
The public can join the switch-off ending at 23:00 – the time Britain declared war on Germany in 1914.
World leaders and royals have gathered for ceremonies marking 100 years since Britain joined World War One
About 17 million soldiers and civilians were killed between 1914 and 1918.
The day’s events began in Liege, Belgium, where 50 heads of state gathered for a service to mark the invasion of Belgium.
French President Francois Hollande said Belgium had been the first battleground of WWI and had offered “solid resistance” in Liege.
Speaking to the gathered European leaders, Prince William said: “We were enemies more than once in the last century and today we are friends and allies.
“We salute those who died to give us our freedom. We will remember them.”
Prince Harry unveiled a memorial arch in Folkestone, Kent – where a parade followed the route taken by millions of soldiers who marched to the harbor to begin their voyage to France in WWI.
Tara Reid has introduced a new fragrance inspired by Sharknado 2: The Second One called Shark by Tara, billed as a “light and refreshing perfume perfect for day-to-day wear”.
Tara Reid has introduced her new fragrance inspired by Sharknado
The actress is hawking the perfume for $24.95 via her website.
A description of Shark – which has a bottle featuring a fin in place of an “r,” natch – explains that it “incorporates a plethora of lavender-colored flowers, which is Tara’s favorite color”.
According to the description on Tara’s website, Shark is a mix of iced mint, violet, lemon, jasmine, tuberose, muguet, cool blue rose, amber and, last but not least, musk.
The Australian couple and the Thai surrogate mother of baby Gammy who has Down’s syndrome have given conflicting accounts of how he was left behind.
Pattharamon Chanbua, 21, was paid by the Australians to have their child. But they took home only one baby when she had twins, leaving behind Gammy.
The parents of baby Gammy have told local media that they only knew about his healthy twin sister.
However, the surrogate mother said the father visited the twins in the hospital.
Pattharamon Chanbua has claimed that she was asked by the couple to have an abortion once they knew about Gammy’s condition. But she refused as it was against her Buddhist beliefs.
She plans to keep Gammy and raise him as her own child. Besides Down’s syndrome, the six-month-old baby has a congenital heart condition and a lung infection.
Pattharamon Chanbua has claimed that she was asked by the Australian couple to have an abortion once they knew about Gammy’s condition (photo Reuters)
The case has made international headlines and caused an uproar particularly in Australia, where both Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Immigration Minister Scott Morrison have expressed regret over the situation.
The parents reportedly told Channel 9 that they had a daughter of Gammy’s age but she did not have a brother.
They said they had experienced trouble with the surrogacy agency, describing it as “traumatizing”.
The unnamed couple, who live south of Perth, also denied any knowledge of a son to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
“We saw a few people at the hospital. We [didn’t] know who the surrogate was – it was very confusing. There was a language barrier,” they said.
They added that they had saved for a long time to pay for the surrogacy and it had “taken every cent we have”. They have been told that the agency now no longer exists, claims the father.
But Pattharamon Chanbua told Fairfax Media that the father, who is in his 50s, “came to the hospital to take care of the girl but never looked Gammy in the face or carried him”, even though the two babies stayed next to each other.
She also said she was now considering suing the parents.
Politicians have since weighed in, with Australian PM Tony Abbott calling it an “incredibly sad story”. He said the Australian government would look into the case.
It is illegal to pay for surrogacy in Australia, so couples have to find a surrogate who is happy to carry the child for no payment beyond medical and other reasonable expenses.
The difficulty in finding such surrogates has prompted some Australians to head overseas for commercial surrogacy arrangements.
Portugal’s central bank has announced a plan to rescue Banco Espirito Santo (BES).
The group will be split into two – a “good bank” with the healthy assets and a “bad bank” with the riskier ones.
The “good bank”, which will be called Novo Banco, will be loaned 4.9 billion euros ($6.6 billion) from what is left of Portugal’s bailout fund.
The move had been expected after BES on Friday reported a record loss of 3.6 billion euros for the first half of the year.
Since June, when concerns about the financial health of the company first came to light, its shares have plunged 89%.
BES, which is Portugal’s largest listed lender, will be delisted from the stock market on Monday, with shareholders set to lose almost all their investment.
All of BES’s depositors will be protected.
BES will be delisted from the stock market, with shareholders set to lose almost all their investment
“The plan carries no risk to public finances or taxpayers,” said Carlos Cosa, Portugal’s central bank governor at a late night news conference in Lisbon.
“There was an urgent need to adopt a solution to guarantee the protection of deposits and assure the stability of the banking system,” he added.
Novo Banco will consist of the bank’s core business of taking deposits and lending to home-buyers and companies.
It is so far unclear what will happen to the “bad bank”, most of which relates to other businesses in the Espirito Santo Group, which include tourism, health and agriculture.
The cash injection for Novo Banco comes from a so far unused part of Portugal’s bailout fund from the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The idea is that Novo Banco will be run by the “resolution fund” – set up as part of the eurozone’s banking reforms and funded by Portugal’s financial institutions. The bank will eventually be sold off, with the proceeds used to pay back the 4.9 billion euro loan from the bailout fund.
In a statement, Novo Banco’s chief executive, Vitor Bento said “the key uncertainties that have been hanging over the institution for some time have now been removed”.
“Novo Banco is also taking with it… a dedicated workforce, a strong customer focus and comprehensive banking services that help to drive the Portuguese economy,” he added.
Vitor Bento was installed as chief executive of BES just three weeks ago as part of a management reshuffle designed to restore confidence in the bank.
The European Commission said it approved of the rescue plan.
“The adoption of this resolution measure is adequate to restore confidence in financial stability and to ensure the continuity of services and avoid potential adverse systemic effects,” it said in a statement.
Portugal itself only recently emerged from a three-year bailout plan. It was lent 78 billion euros in total by the EU and the IMF on the condition that it implemented severe austerity measures.
Marvel adventure Guardians of the Galaxy has topped the North American box office in its debut weekend, taking $94 million.
Guardians of the Galaxy, which stars some of the lesser-known characters from the comic book universe, knocked science fiction thriller Lucy off the top spot.
The space adventure’s takings set a record for a film opening in August.
Get On Up, a biography of the soul singer James Brown, debuted in third with $14 million.
The Guardians of the Galaxy ensemble casts includes Zoe Saldana and Chris Pratt plus the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper.
Guardians of the Galaxy has topped the North American box office in its debut weekend, taking $94 million
The film also secured the third biggest opening of 2014, coming just behind the $95 million debut of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in April and the $100 million launch of Transformers: Age of Extinction in June.
A Galaxy sequel is already set for release in 2017. Marvel’s next films are the The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, starring Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas. Both movies are due for release in 2015.
Marvel comic book adaptations The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past have also enjoyed success this year.
Israel has announced a seven-hour humanitarian ceasefire in parts of Gaza.
A senior Israeli military official said the truce would not apply to the town of Rafah and that Israeli troops would respond if they were attacked.
Earlier, UN chief Ban Ki-moon described an Israeli strike near a UN-run school in Gaza as “a moral outrage and a criminal act”.
Palestinian officials said at least 10 people died in the attack on Sunday.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Sunday that they had begun withdrawing some troops from Gaza, saying it was “extremely close” to completing its mission to destroy a network of tunnels.
Health officials in Gaza say 1,800 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed and more than 9,000 injured since the conflict began nearly four weeks ago.
Sixty-six Israelis have died, all but two of them soldiers. A Thai national working in Israel was also killed.
Israel has announced a seven-hour humanitarian ceasefire in parts of Gaza
In the outrage that followed Sunday’s attack on the UN school, Israel announced it would hold a “humanitarian window” in its Gaza offensive to allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
The ceasefire would not include Rafah because there was an “Israeli military presence” there and “clashes were still ongoing”, an IDF statement said.
It said the truce would last from 10:00 local time until 17:00.
The Israeli army warned that it would “respond to any attempt to exploit this window” by Islamist militants in Gaza.
Hamas responded to the truce with suspicion and its spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, accused the IDF of attempting to “divert the attention from Israeli massacres”.
Israeli air strikes on Gaza and Palestinian militant rocket fire launched at Israel continued on Monday morning ahead of the planned ceasefire.
The Islamic Jihad group said its commander in northern Gaza, Daniel Mansour, died when Israeli forces struck his home just before dawn.
More than a quarter of the 1.8 million residents in the Palestinian territory have been displaced.
Many of those who have fled their homes have taken refuge in UN shelters across Gaza, including the UN-run school in Rafah which was hit on Sunday.
The IDF said it had targeted three Islamist militants near the school.
Ban Ki-moon described the attack as “yet another gross violation of international humanitarian law”, adding that Israel had regularly been informed of the precise location of the school.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US was appalled by the “disgraceful shelling”.
Israel said it was investigating the incident.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was “sorry for any attack that unintentionally hits civilians”, but accused Hamas of turning UN facilities into “terrorist hotspots”.
“Hamas has an interest in Gaza residents suffering, thinking that the world will blame Israel for their suffering,” Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Monday.
The IDF says 2,560 rockets and mortars fired from Gaza have landed in Israel since 8 July, with its Iron Dome defense system having intercepted another 556 rockets.
If you’ve ever had a prescription filled in the United States, you’re aware that American drug prices can be ridiculously high. But some drugs are pricier than others — and health insurance providers are fighting back.
The recently released prescription drug Solvadi (sofosbuvir) is a case in point. Solvadi is the only cure for hepatitis C, a liver infection that can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and ultimately death. You’d think this drug would be a godsend for the many patients struggling with hepatitis C — until you got a look at the price.
Solvadi costs a staggering $1,000 a pill, or $84,000 for a full, 12-week course of treatment. Other specialty drugs, like those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and multiple sclerosis can cost patients an average of $10,000 a month. Even drugs for more common conditions can be prohibitively expensive for most people, which is why many Americans turn to online pharmacies like Medicines Mexico to cut their prescription drug costs.
Health insurance providers say drug prices that high simply can’t be borne. Many insurers are now refusing to cover the costs of expensive drugs at all, at least in cases where the drug’s perceived benefit doesn’t justify its price, or there are other drugs available that do the same thing for less money. Patients will be forced to use similar drugs with lower price tags.
Prescription Drug Access Is a Problem for Many Americans
Prescription drug sales topped out at $326 billion in the 12 months prior to September 2013, and Americans’ prescription drug spending is expected to grow by three to five percent by the end of 2014. The high price of prescription drugs is to blame, and physicians around the nation are aware that, for most people, affording prescription drugs is difficult, especially when it comes to obtaining some of the most expensive treatments.
Jerry Avorn, a Harvard Medical School professor and chief of the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told CNBC, “Access really is a problem for a lot of patients in relation to these very costly medicines. We sometimes think, ‘Well, people have insurance, and under Obamacare there’s a lot more coverage,’ but what that doesn’t take into account is that very often there is a very big co-payment that the patient has to come up with that is often many, many hundreds or thousands of dollars.”
In 2012, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center chose to stop prescribing the costly cancer medication Zaltrap (ziv-aflibercept) on the grounds that the drug didn’t provide any additional benefit over older drugs, despite its substantially higher cost. In response, the drug’s French manufacturer, Sanofi, cut the price of Zaltrap in half.
Insurers Forcing Drug Price Negotiations
While the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services are prohibited by law from attempting to negotiate lower drug prices, health insurance providers are not. With rising health care prices affecting everyone, insurance providers are now giving pharmaceutical manufacturers a choice. Either drug manufacturers can slash the prices of their most expensive drugs, or insurers will remove those drugs from their formularies. A drug not listed in an insurance provider’s formulary won’t be covered under any plans — patients who want it will have to pay full list price out of their pockets.
Of course, health insurance providers aren’t going to dump drugs just because they’re expensive. If there’s no equivalent drug available yet — such as in the case of Solvadi — insurers will likely still cover it regardless of cost. But patients are already being asked to switch to less expensive equivalents of the medications they need — CVS Caremark dumped around 30 expensive drugs from its formulary in 2012 and 70 more this year; next year’s formulary will exclude 200 drugs. Express Scripts dumped 48 drugs and medical products this year. A new Catamaran formulary is 54 drugs lighter this year. Some of the drugs dumped include popular prescriptions like Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol) and Victoza (liraglutide).
So far, American drug manufacturers haven’t responded by lowering the prices they charge insurance companies. Nor will the strategy affect list prices, the prices paid by patients who must buy their drugs out of pocket, without help from an insurance provider. List prices will remain the same. Instead, insurers hope that by dumping costly drugs or forcing manufacturers to bargain, they can keep premium costs low.
Drug prices are astronomical, especially for some specialty drugs used to treat cancer, hepatitis C, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Insurance providers, in a bid to keep premiums manageable, are dumping expensive drugs by the dozens. Unless drug manufacturers decide to start bargaining with insurers, patients will find their prescription drug options dwindling by the year.
While Google has created an operational prototype of their self-driving car, they are not alone.
Downside? Google’s cutesy and fun looking vehicle shares a resemblance with a children’s toy. In today’s society where image is everything, this could definitely be a deal breaker for some potential buyers. Even if you customize it with a vinyl wrap, it’s still not going to compare to your coworker’s fancy sports car. However, Google isn’t the only manufacturer looking to make automated driving a reality.
Cruise RP-1
The Cruise RP-1 is a new system created as a major step towards hands-free driving. While it’s not a self-driving car, it definitely lends a hand to those of us with long highway commutes.
When activated, the Cruise takes care of maintaining the appropriate speed, remaining within the lane and keeping an appropriate distance from cars around it.
The roof-mounted cameras and radar sensors help the internal computer control the car’s steering. It constantly scans to ensure it is still within the lane and away from other vehicles.
Only 50 units will be offered to the public for now, but $10k is how much it will take to snag one of those limited systems. Installation will take place in California, sometime in 2015.
BMW Track Trainer 330i
The BMW Group also has their hands on a self-driving system. Though not as commonly known as Google’s autonomous vehicles, news of BMW’s self-driving car has been around since 2011. Although intended for the race track rather than public roadways, this technology is definitely a step in the right direction for autonomous technology.
BMW M235i
More recently, the M235i has shown the ability to safely steer through a variety of driving hazards. While states are still working out laws for self-driving cars, the BMW prototype will have to stick to closed-off tracks. But it definitely brings hopes for a future of autonomous cars hitting the highway.
2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class comes with a boatload of the most technologically advanced options. From cameras, radar, and hundreds of LED lamps, this vehicle is undoubtedly the best luxury sedan on the highway. While all of these features are amazing, the optional driver assistance package on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class takes the vehicle to new heights.
With stereo cameras, radar, ultrasonic systems, 100 microprocessors, and several other technologies, the S-Class is the most technologically advanced premium sedan on the market. Astonishingly, the S-Class is able to navigate itself for approximately 15 seconds by using radars, sensors, and cameras.
Optical Mounted Cameras
The S-Class gets it 3D vision from a pair of optical mounted cameras in the windshield. These cameras are instrumental in helping the vehicle decide whether it should pay attention to the vehicle in front of it or on the lane markings. In addition, these cameras enable the Benz to more effectively recognize and respond to traffic and objects that may quickly dart out in front of it.
Lane Keep Assist
While most lane keep assists will simply warn you if you begin to veer into an adjacent line, this vehicle takes it one step farther. If there is a vehicle in the lane you are attempting to merge with, the break on the corresponding front wheel is applied gently to assist the vehicle to maneuver back into the right lane.
Brake Assist
This technology effectively monitors vehicles for oncoming vehicles veering into your lane or for crossing traffic. If the sensors recognize either of these scenarios, the S-Class alerts you with audio visual signals. When you apply the brakes, the vehicle helps you by adding additional braking pressure.
Active Parking Assist
While most people are comfortable parking their vehicle into a space, the S-Class makes more difficult parking simple.
If your vehicle detects an open space suitable for backing in or for parallel parking, you only have to put the vehicle in reverse and the S-Class will maneuver into the spot for you.
Nurse Nancy Writebol, the second American missionary stricken with Ebola, is expected to fly Tuesday to the US for treatment, following her colleague, Dr. Kent Brnatly, who was admitted over the weekend to Emory University Hospital’s infectious disease unit in Atlanta.
A Liberian official confirmed to the Associated Press plans for Nancy Writebol to depart with a medical evacuation team. The evacuation flight was scheduled to leave West Africa between 1 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
Nancy Writebol is in good spirits despite her diagnosis, said the pastor of her hometown church in Charlotte, North Carolina, who has spoken with her husband, David.
“She is holding her own,” the Rev. John Munro said.
John Munro’s Calvary Church is a nondenominational evangelical congregation that sponsors the Writebols as missionaries in Liberia, one of the West African nations grappling with the worst outbreak of Ebola ever recorded there.
Nnacy Writebol’s mission team partner, Dr. Kent Brantly, was improving Sunday after he was admitted to Emory’s quarantine unit a day earlier, according to a statement from his wife.
Nurse Nancy Writebol is expected to fly Tuesday to the US for treatment
“Our family is rejoicing over Kent’s safe arrival, and we are confident that he is receiving the very best care,” Amber Brantly said, adding that she was able to see her husband Sunday.
Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol served on the same mission team treating Ebola victims when they contracted the virus themselves. Kent Brantly was serving as a physician in the hospital compound near Monrovia, Liberia, when he became infected. They said Nancy Writebol worked as a hygienist whose role included decontaminating those entering or leaving the Ebola treatment area at that hospital.
There is no cure for Ebola, which causes hemorrhagic fever that kills at least 60% of the people it infects in Africa. Ebola spreads through close contact with bodily fluids and blood, meaning it is not spread as easily as airborne influenza or the common cold. Africa’s under-developed health care system and inadequate infection controls make it easier for the Ebola virus to spread and harder to treat.
Any modern hospital using standard infection-control measures should be able to handle it, according to medical experts, and Emory’s infectious disease unit is one of about four in the US that is specially equipped to test and treat people exposed to the most dangerous viruses.
Patients are quarantined, sealed off from anyone who is not in protective gear. Lab tests are conducted inside the unit, ensuring that viruses don’t leave the quarantined area. Family members can see and communicate with patients only through barriers.
Dr. Kent Brantly arrived Saturday under stringent protocols, flying from West Africa to Dobbins Air Reserve base outside Atlanta in a small plane equipped to contain infectious diseases. A small police escort followed his ambulance to Emory, where he emerged dressed head to toe in white protective clothing and walked into the hospital on his own power.
The US public health officials continue to emphasize that treating Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol in the US poses no risks to the public here.
Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton reunited in Ibiza, Spain, on Saturday, August 2, at designer Riccardo Tisci’s birthday party, and appeared to pick up where they’d left off.
Kim Kardashian, 33, posted a picture with her former heiress best friend with their arms wrapped around one another laughing.
“Reminiscing about the 1st time we went to Ibiza in 2006! @parishilton it was so good to see you & catch up!! Loves it lol,” Kim Kardashian captioned the picture.
Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton reunited in Ibiza at designer Riccardo Tisci’s birthday party, and appeared to pick up where they’d left off (photo Instagram)
Long before she became the world’s biggest reality star, Kim Kardashian was Paris Hilton’s assistant during her time on the hit reality show The Simple Life, and the childhood pals were inseparable for years.
However, in 2008, Paris Hilton mocked Kim Kardashian’s curvaceous backside in a radio interview, comparing it to “cottage cheese inside a big trash bag.”
Since then they haven’t been spotted together, despite Paris Hilton, 33, issuing a formal apology.
Earlier this month, Paris Hilton played on the same charity kick ball team as Kim Kardashian’s younger half sister Kendall Jenner, and they were photographed laughing together.
A giant tortoise was spotted ambling down a street in suburban Los Angeles.
Police in Alhambra say they found the 150-pound reptile on August 2. It took two officers to heft the creature into a patrol car so they could take it to the local police station.
Police then turned over the reptile to animal control authorities.
Giant tortoises are not indigenous to the Los Angeles area.
Authorities are asking anyone whose big tortoise went missing this weekend to contact them.
Alhambra police ask for public’s help in identifying the owner of 150-pound tortoise (photo Alhambra Police Department)
They say the reptile has some distinctive markings. They aren’t revealing them for now, however, to ensure that whoever claims the tortoise is its rightful owner.
Alhambra police released multiple photos of the 150-pound tortoise on Saturday, August 2, 2014.
Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying the animal’s owner. “The tortoise did try to make a run for it, but our officers are pretty fast,” the department said in a statement.
“Almost had a pursuit!” Due to the tortoise’s weight, “it took two officers to take this guy into custody,” the statement continued, adding that handcuffs were “not practical in this situation”.
It was unclear exactly when and where the animal was found.
Alhambra police released multiple photos of the tortoise, and speculated that it might be a female because “it did not respond to Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael or Donatello” – a light-hearted reference to the fictional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Authorities said the animal has distinctive markings and would be turned over to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control location in Downey.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Alhambra Police Department’s dispatch center at 626-570-5151.
Robert Kennedy Jr. and actress Cheryl Hines married on August 2 before family and friends gathered at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod.
Robert Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines married before family and friends gathered at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod (photo Getty Images)
RFK Jr., 60, is an environmental lawyer and activist who lives in New York. He is son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the late Senator Edward Kennedy. It is his third marriage.
Cheryl Hines, 48, has been nominated twice for Emmys for her role playing Larry David‘s wife on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.
The US will send at least 50 public health experts to West Africa to help fight the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola.
A senior US health official said the Ebola outbreak was out of control but insisted it could be stopped.
Ebola has claimed 728 lives in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone this year. The current mortality rate is about 55%.
Meanwhile, an American doctor infected with the virus is improving in hospital after returning to the US from Liberia.
Dr. Kent Brantly arrived at a military base in Georgia on Saturday before being driven to Emory University Hospital.
Another infected American, aid worker Nancy Writebol, is expected to arrive in the US soon.
The US will send at least 50 public health experts to West Africa to help fight the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola
The virus spreads through human contact with a sufferer’s bodily fluids.
Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external hemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure.
Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced the new US measures in an interview with ABC’s This Week.
“We do know how to stop Ebola. It’s old-fashioned plain and simple public health: find the patients, make sure they get treated, find their contacts, track them, educate people, do infection control in hospitals.”
The experts would arrive in West Africa within 30 days to fight what he called the “scary” disease.
He rejected fears that this would put more US citizens in harms way.
“The single most important thing we can do to protect Americans is to stop this disease at the source in Africa” he said.
The plane carrying Dr. Kent Brantly was outfitted with a special portable tent designed for transporting patients with highly infectious diseases.
The same aircraft is due to bring missionary Nancy Writebol from West Africa.
The hospital facility which will treat both patients is one of four in the US able to handle Ebola patients.
US officials say they are confident the patients can be treated without putting the public in any danger.
The National Institutes of Health in the US has said it will begin testing a possible Ebola vaccine in September.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck south-west China killing at least 367 people, state news agency Xinhua says.
Other 1,300 people are reported injured in the disaster.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck about 7 miles north-west of Wenping in Yunnan province at 16:30 local time.
A major rescue and relief operation is under way.
State broadcaster CCTV said the earthquake was the strongest to hit the province in 14 years.
The quake struck about 7 miles north-west of Wenping in Yunnan province (photo Reuters)
The USGS said the quake struck at a depth of about 6 miles in a remote mountainous area in Yunnan province.
The tremor was also felt in the neighboring provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan.
Xinhua said about 12,000 homes had collapsed in Ludian, a county of some 439,000 people, north-east of Yunnan province’s capital, Kunming.
All of the casualties reported so far are in Qiaojia County of the Zhaotong region, which appeared to be the hardest hit.
The government is sending 2,000 tents, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 quilts and 3,000 coats to the disaster zone, the report said.
After initial reports of a death toll of 26, the numbers of casualties rose sharply, passing 150 before Xinhua reported a figure of 367 killed.
The news agency says the epicentre of the earthquake was in Longtoushan in Yunnan’s Ludian county.
Chen Guoyong, the head of Longtoushan township, told Xinhua that many houses had fallen and rescuers had been sent to the epicenter.
Many people rushed out of buildings onto the street after the quake hit, electricity supplies were cut and at least one school collapsed, Xinhua reports.
Communications have also been seriously affected.
South-west China lies in an area that is prone to earthquakes. An earthquake in Sichuan in 2008 killed tens of thousands of people.
Solvadi costs a staggering $1,000 a pill, or $84,000 for a full, 12-week course of treatment. Other specialty drugs, like those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and multiple sclerosis can cost patients an average of $10,000 a month. Even drugs for more common conditions can be prohibitively expensive for most people, which is why many Americans turn to online pharmacies like 
