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Huawei sales rise 19% on smartphones in first six months of 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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Huawei sales rise 19% on smartphones in first six months of 2014

Huawei has reported a 19% jump in sales to 135.8 billion yuan ($21.9 billion) for the first six months of the year.

The Chinese telecom equipment maker said it expects to make an operating profit margin of 18.3% for the period.

Huawei has traditionally concentrated on making telecoms network equipment, but has benefited by diversifying into fast-growing sectors such as smartphone manufacturing.

It is now one of the world’s largest smartphone makers.

Cathy Meng, the company’s chief financial officer, said the firm “achieved quality and sustainable growth in our consumer business thanks to the increase of brand awareness and smart devices sales worldwide”.

According to IDC, Huawei shipped 13.7 million smartphones in the first three months of this year – making it the third-biggest smartphone vendor in the world.

Huawei is now one of the world's largest smartphone makers
Huawei is now one of the world’s largest smartphone makers

Huawei did not give a breakdown of its latest sales numbers.

The company has also been looking to tap into the market for wearable technology and introduced its hybrid Talkband smart device earlier this year.

Furthermore, China’s investment in fourth-generation mobile network technology has led to a steady stream of revenue for the company.

“Driven by increasing investments in LTE networks worldwide, Huawei has further solidified its leadership position in mobile broadband,” Cathy Meng said in the statement.

Huawei’s growth comes despite it coming under scrutiny in key markets in recent years.

In 2012, US politicians claimed that the company posed a security threat because of its alleged links to China’s government and military.

The concerns over its association with the Chinese authorities have been driven in part, by the fact that the company’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, was a former member of the People’s Liberation Army.

However, Huawei has repeatedly denied those claims and has stressed that it is 100%-owned by its employees and founder.

Earlier this year, a report in the New York Times alleged that the National Security Agency (NSA) had infiltrated Huawei’s servers.

In response, China has demanded a clear explanation from the US government.

Early HIV treatment may not cure virus

Kathryn R. Bown
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Early HIV treatment may not cure virus

According to new research, early HIV treatment may not cure the virus as it can rapidly form invulnerable strongholds in the body.

A baby was thought to have been cured with treatment hours after birth, but the virus emerged years later.

Monkey research, published in the journal Nature, suggests untouchable “viral reservoirs” form even before HIV can be detected in the blood.

Experts described it as a “sobering” and “striking” finding.

Reservoirs of HIV in the gut and brain tissue are the massive obstacle in the way of a cure.

Remarkable progress in developing antiretroviral drugs means HIV can be kept in check in the bloodstream and patients have a near-normal life expectancy.

But if the drugs stop, the virus will emerge from its reservoirs.

Early HIV treatment may not cure the virus as it can rapidly form invulnerable strongholds in the body
Early HIV treatment may not cure the virus as it can rapidly form invulnerable strongholds in the body

International research is focused on flushing the virus out of its reservoirs, but there had been hope that early treatment could prevent them forming in the first place.

In the study, rhesus monkeys were infected with the monkey equivalent of HIV – simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).

The monkeys were then given antiretroviral drugs as early as three days or as late as two weeks after infection.

Treatment stopped after six months, but the virus re-emerged irrespective of how quickly antiretroviral treatment started.

It showed that viral reservoirs formed incredibly early in the course of the infection.

Dan Barouch, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said: “Our data show that in this animal model, the viral reservoir was seeded substantially earlier after infection than was previously recognized.

“We found that the reservoir was established in tissues during the first few days of infection, before the virus was even detected in the blood.”

It had been believed a baby girl born with HIV had been cured after very early treatment.

The “Mississippi baby” was given HIV drugs for the first 18 months of life, but then they were stopped.

Initially the virus did not return and there was hope she had been effectively cured.

But last week it was announced that the girl, now four years old, was no longer in remission after nearly two years off the drugs.

“The unfortunate news of the virus rebounding in this child further emphasizes the need to understand the early and refractory viral reservoir that is established very quickly following HIV infection in humans,” Prof. Dan Barouch added.

Kai Deng and Robert Siliciano, of the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, commented: “These data indicate that the viral reservoir could be seeded substantially earlier than previously assumed, a sobering finding that poses additional hurdles to HIV eradication efforts.

“Although early treatment may not prevent reservoir seeding, it has been consistently shown to reduce the size of the reservoir.”

They highlighted significant differences between these experiments and the human HIV infection, but concluded that the findings “suggest new approaches in addition to early treatment will be necessary to eradicate HIV infection”.

Malaysia Airlines crash: Victims bodies loaded on train

Roy Siemens
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Malaysia Airlines crash: Victims bodies loaded on train

According to new reports, the remains of up to 196 people from Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash in Ukraine have been loaded on to refrigerated rail wagons, to be taken to an unknown destination.

All 298 people on board of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 died when a missile reportedly hit the plane on July 17.

Western countries have criticized pro-Russian rebels controlling the area for restricting access to the crash site.

The rebels say they will hand MH17’s flight recorders to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Ukraine’s government and the rebels have accused each other of shooting down the Boeing 777, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

The remains of up to 196 people from Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash have been loaded on to refrigerated rail wagons, to be taken to an unknown destination
The remains of up to 196 people from Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash have been loaded on to refrigerated rail wagons, to be taken to an unknown destination

The US state department said there had been multiple reports of bodies and aircraft parts being removed, and potential evidence tampered with, by rebels.

Heavy machinery could be seen moving plane debris around at the crash site, AP news agency reported.

Separately, UK broadcaster Sky News apologized after one of its presenters was shown going through items in a suitcase belonging to one of the passengers.

Fighting is reportedly continuing in eastern Ukraine between the separatist rebels and government forces in a conflict which erupted in April and is believed to have claimed more than 1,000 lives.

The freight train with its five sealed wagons has been standing at Torez railway station, 9 miles from the crash site.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission in the region said in a tweet it had been told that 196 bodies were on the rail wagons in Torez.

An OSCE team was allowed to see three of the wagons and observed “tagged body bags”, without being able to verify the figures. It’s not clear where the train will take the bodies.

In a mark of respect to the dead, Malaysia Airline says it is retiring the MH17 flight number. The airline did the same for MH370, which disappeared in March with 239 passengers and crew on board.

Russia denies any involvement in the downing of the Malaysian plane, and has rejected Western allegations that it is stoking the Ukraine conflict.

The passenger list released by Malaysia Airlines shows the plane was carrying 193 Dutch nationals (including one with dual US nationality), 43 Malaysians (including 15 crew), 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians and 10 Britons (including one with dual South African nationality), four Germans, four Belgians, three from the Philippines, and one each from Canada and New Zealand.

Memorial services and vigils have been held in many countries, including Australia, Malaysia and the Netherlands.

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Gaza Strip conflict in deadliest day since beginning of current offensive

Roy Siemens
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Gaza Strip conflict in deadliest day since beginning of current offensive

Gaza and Israel have both suffered their deadliest day since the beginning of the current offensive.

Israel says that 13 of its soldiers died since Saturday night, the biggest one-day loss for its army in years.

At least 87 Gazans were reported killed on Sunday – 60 of them in the district of Shejaiya alone. The total death toll in Gaza now stands at more than 425.

Hamas said on Sunday evening that it had captured an Israeli soldier, but this has not been confirmed by Israel.

Celebratory gunfire and shouts could be heard in Gaza City after the claim was made.

Sunday’s death toll for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is higher than that sustained by the IDF during the entire three-week duration of Operation Cast Lead in 2008-2009, the last time that Israel sent ground troops into Gaza.

It brings the number of Israeli soldiers killed in the current offensive to 18.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue operations in Gaza “as much as we need to” despite the casualties.

He said the Israeli government felt “deep pain” over deaths of its soldiers, and that Hamas, not Israel was responsible for the escalation in Gaza.

The UN says 83,695 people have now been displaced in Gaza and have taken refuge in 61 shelters
The UN says 83,695 people have now been displaced in Gaza and have taken refuge in 61 shelters

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the deaths in the Shejaiya district east of Gaza City were a “massacre”.

The UN says 83,695 people have now been displaced in Gaza and have taken refuge in 61 shelters and that the figure is “rising all the time”.

Witnesses spoke of bodies lying in the street.

A humanitarian truce was agreed in the area, but lasted less than an hour with both sides blaming each other for violating the truce.

Paramedics said that rescue workers had not been able to get to the eastern part of Shejaiya, an area very close to the Israeli border and about 1.2 miles away from Gaza City, which has seen heavy shelling.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops had no choice but to enter densely populated areas and that they had asked civilians to leave.

The death toll in Gaza rose sharply over the weekend, with the number of Palestinians killed now standing at more than 425 since the operation began, according to Palestinian health officials.

They say the number of wounded from the operation now stands at more than 3,000.

The majority of those killed are civilians, the UN says.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sent ground troops into Gaza on Thursday after days of heavy air and naval barrages failed to stop rocket fire from Gaza.

Two Israeli civilians have died since the offensive began on 8 July.

Israel says the operation is necessary to target Hamas tunnel networks, which it says it could not do from the air alone.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesman, said the offensive was being expanded “to restore security and stability to Israel’s residents and citizens”.

Meanwhile, the UN warned it was running out of supplies to help more than 50,000 Palestinians who have sought shelter at its schools in Gaza.

Qatar is expected to host a meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Ban Ki-moon on Sunday before the UN chief continues on to Kuwait, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan.

Mahmoud Abbas is also due to meet Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.

Hamas rejected an Egypt-brokered ceasefire last week, saying any deal with Israel must include an end to a blockade of Gaza.

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Typhoon Rammasun hits southern China

Nancy Clayson
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Typhoon Rammasun hits southern China

Rammasun, the biggest typhoon to hit southern China in 40 years, has killed 17 people, after wreaking death and destruction on the Philippines.

Typhoon Rammasun killed at least eight people on the island of Hainan, with others missing, and nine in the Guangxi region, state media say.

It made landfall on Friday with winds exceeding 124mph.

At least 94 people were killed when Rammasun ravaged the northern Philippines earlier this week.

The storm is also affecting Vietnam, where heavy rain is expected before it starts to weaken on Monday.

Rammasun is the biggest typhoon to hit southern China in 40 years
Rammasun is the biggest typhoon to hit southern China in 40 years (photo Reuters)

Air, rail and road traffic was suspended in parts of China while TV channels showed roads littered with debris including uprooted trees and rooftops.

On Hainan, another source gave the death toll as 18 while the number of people missing is said to be between two and five.

It is the strongest typhoon experienced by southern China since the 1973 typhoon season, the country’s Meteorological Administration said on its website.

That year’s Super-Typhoon Nora had maximum winds of 295km/h although it had weakened by the time it made landfall.

Most of the people killed in the Philippines were hit by falling debris and trees, disaster officials said, while some of six people reported missing had been at sea on boats.

A new typhoon, Matmo, with maximum winds of 150km/h, is now threatening the area ravaged by Rammasun, Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokeswoman Mina Marasigan told AFP news agency.

About 20 major storms hit the Philippines a year, AFP adds. The south-east Asian country often bears the brunt of the storms, which mass above the warm Pacific Ocean waters.

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James Garner dies aged 86

Sonia Pantiss
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James Garner dies aged 86

Legendary actor James Garner has died aged 86 after suffering ill health since a severe stroke in 2008.

James Garner famously played the laconic private investigator Jim Rockford.

The actor won an Emmy for the role in 1977 and starred in 122 episodes of the hugely successful show from 1974 to 1980. He returned to it in the 1990s with eight Rockford Files TV movies.

Another role, as the poker-playing Bret Maverick in the Western comedy, was also a hit with TV viewers, running for 60 episodes from 1957 to 1962. It ran again for another 18 episodes from 1981 to 1982.

James Garner famously played the laconic private investigator Jim Rockford in Rockford Files
James Garner famously played the laconic private investigator Jim Rockford in Rockford Files (photo Getty Images)

Rockford Files was later made into a film in 1992 starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, but also starred Garner – this time on the right side of the law, as Marshal Zane Cooper.

In 1963’s iconic World War Two film The Great Escape, James Garner played flight lieutenant Robert Hendley, an American in the RAF, alongside Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough and Donald Pleasence.

The film depicted the daring escape by prisoners of war from the German Stalag Luft III camp through a 336ft long tunnel. Only three reached safety and of the 73 recaptured, 50 were shot.

He also had success with films including Grand Prix in 1966, a fictional account of the Formula One season featuring actual racing footage.

James Garner went on to be Oscar-nominated for best actor in 1986 for the romantic comedy Murphy’s Romance, co-starring Sally Field, in which he played a small town pharmacist.

James Garner married his wife, the TV actress Lois Clarke, in 1957. They had two daughters, Kimberly from her previous marriage, and their daughter Greta.

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Malaysia Airlines crash: Western countries ask Russia to force Ukrainian rebels to allow access to crash site

Roy Siemens
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Malaysia Airlines crash: Western countries ask Russia to force Ukrainian rebels to allow access to crash site

Russia has been asked by the western countries to put pressure on Ukrainian rebels to allow unhindered access to the site of Thursday’s Malaysia Airlines crash.

Dutch PM Mark Rutte said he had told Russian President Vladimir Putin that time was “running out” to show he could help. Most crash victims were Dutch.

The US and Britain also told Russia full access to the area was needed.

Memorial services are being held in Australia, with more planned in other countries later on Sunday.

In Melbourne, a special mass was held for the HIV experts and campaigners on the flight who were making their way to the city for an international AIDS conference.

The passenger list released by Malaysia Airlines shows the plane was carrying 193 Dutch nationals (including one with dual US nationality), 43 Malaysians (including 15 crew), 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians and 10 Britons (including one with dual South African nationality), 4 Germans, 4 Belgians, three from the Philippines, and one each from Canada and New Zealand.

Both Ukraine and the pro-Russian rebels have accused each other of shooting down the Boeing 777, which was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Flight MH17 was reportedly hit by a missile over a rebel-held area in Donetsk region on Thursday. All 298 people on board died.

International observers have had their movements around the crash site restricted by pro-Russia militiamen.

Russia has been asked by the western countries to put pressure on Ukrainian rebels to allow unhindered access to the site of Malaysia Airlines crash
Russia has been asked by the western countries to put pressure on Ukrainian rebels to allow unhindered access to the site of Malaysia Airlines crash

The US said it was “deeply concerned” at the limited access to the site.

“It is critical that there be a full, credible, and unimpeded international investigation as quickly as possible,” said a statement from the State Department in Washington.

Ukraine has accused militiamen at the site of the Malaysia Airlines crash of trying to destroy evidence of an “international crime”.

In a news conference on Saturday, Mark Rutte said he had had an “intense” phone call with Vladimir Putin.

“I told him <<Time is running out for you to show the world that you have good intentions>>,” Mark Rutte said.

He added that Dutch people were “furious” at pictures of bodies being carried across the open country, and called on Vladimir Putin “to show that he will do what is expected of him and will exert his influence”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke to Vladimir Putin on Saturday, urging his co-operation.

Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are at the crash site.

OSCE spokesman Michael Bociurkiw said access had improved compared to Friday and that the monitors were seeing parts of the terrain they had not seen before, but that their movements were still being restricted.

The monitors are there to observe the site ahead of the arrival of international investigators.

Tougher EU sanctions against Russia will be needed if Moscow does not change its “approach” to the downing of the plane, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has indicated.

David Cameron said the EU should stand up for its principles, amid claims Russia-backed rebels were involved.

PM David Cameron and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott agreed the two countries would apply “further pressure” at the UN Security Council “for swift and unhindered access” to the site, Cameron’s office said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the disaster in a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

John Kerry made clear that the US was “very concerned” over reports that bodies and debris from the site had been removed or tampered with, the state department said.

On Friday, President Barack Obama said Malaysia Airlines plane had been destroyed by a missile fired from a rebel area, and that insurgents would not be capable of carrying out such an attack without Moscow’s support.

Russia denies any involvement and has rejected Western allegations that it is stoking the Ukraine conflict.

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JK Rowling’s crime novels written under pseudonym will outnumber Harry Potter books

Sonia Pantiss
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JK Rowling’s crime novels written under pseudonym will outnumber Harry Potter books

JK Rowling has revealed her crime novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith will eventually outnumber her Harry Potter books.

The author said her plans as Robert Galbraith were “pretty open ended” and that his books would number more than the seven Harry Potter novels she wrote.

The second novel under Robert Galbraith’s name was published in June, and she said she was half-way through writing the third.

JK Rowling was speaking at a rare public talk at Harrogate’s Crime Writing Festival.

Robert Galbraith’s novels follow private detective Cormoran Strike, a former military police investigator in the Special Investigation Branch.

JK Rowling, who began using the pseudonym for her crime writing career after completing the Harry Potter series, said the third Robert Galbraith novel would centre on returning military personnel.

JK Rowling has revealed her crime novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith will eventually outnumber her Harry Potter books
JK Rowling has revealed her crime novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith will eventually outnumber her Harry Potter books (photo CNN)

She was interviewed on stage in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Friday by fellow crime author Val McDermid.

Asked whether it was true that she would write a total of seven novels under the Galbraith name, JK Rowling replied: “It’s not seven. It’s more. It’s pretty open ended.

“I really love writing these books, so I don’t know that I’ve got an end point in mind.

“One of the things I absolutely love about this genre is that, unlike Harry, where there was an overarching story, a beginning and an end, you’re talking about discrete stories. So while a detective lives, you can keep giving him cases.”

JK Rowling added: “I’m about half-way through the third [novel] and I’ve just started plotting the fourth.”

Wearing a grey suit and pink tie, which she described as “my Robert suit”, JK Rowling told the audience that she started writing under a pseudonym because: “I wanted to prove to myself that I could get a book published on the merits of the book.”

Asked why she chose to write crime stories after the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling replied: “I love crime fiction. I’ve always loved it. I read a lot of it and I think, in many ways, that the Harry Potter books are whodunnits in disguise.

“I enjoy, I suppose, the ‘golden age’ book. That’s very much what I was trying to do in these books – to take that finite number of suspects, the genuine whodunnit style, but make it very contemporary, bring it up to date, and make sure this is a credible person with a credible back story for nowadays.”

Referring to the “golden age”, JK Rowling said she was a fan of authors Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh, who wrote in the mid-20th Century.

“My very favorite of those four is Allingham, and she’s the least known,” she said.

“The Tiger in the Smoke is a phenomenal novel.”

JK Rowling is also currently working on her first film script, for Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Casey Kasem funeral: Legal wrangle amongst family members delays burial

Lisa.Felice
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Casey Kasem funeral: Legal wrangle amongst family members delays burial

A legal wrangle amongst DJ Casey Kasem’s family has delayed the radio legend’s burial a month after his death.

A Washington state judge granted a temporary court order to Casey Kasem’s daughter, preventing his second wife from removing his remains from a funeral home in Tacoma.

Kerri Kasem is seeking authorization for a post-mortem on her father.

Casey Kasem was a voiceover artist and host of the American Top 40, and the voice of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo cartoons.

He died on June 15 after suffering from a form of dementia, with his care at the centre of a serious rift between his family.

DJ Casey Kasem died on June 15 after suffering from a form of dementia, with his care at the centre of a serious rift between his family
DJ Casey Kasem died on June 15 after suffering from a form of dementia, with his care at the centre of a serious rift between his family (photo Getty Images)

Before Casey Kasem’s death, a judge granted an order allowing his daughter to withhold food, liquids and medication from him against the wishes of his wife of 34 years.

Kerri Kasem has expressed concerns that his body could be cremated or taken to Canada by his widow Jean, negating the possibility of a post-mortem.

Jean Kasem has rights over his remains, while his daughter held the medical conservatorship in the final part of his life.

A small, private memorial service for Casey Kasem was held in California last month, but his second wife and their daughter Liberty did not attend.

The children from the 82-year-old’s first marriage are hoping to bury him in California in accordance with his final wishes.

The judge moved to ensure Casey Kasem’s body was not taken from the funeral home while a decision is being considered about allowing a post-mortem examination to take place.

Casey Kasem began his career in the 1950s and found fame with the chart program.

He famously ended his broadcasts with his signature sign-off: “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”

After spells hosting countdown shows under other titles, Casey Kasem returned to American Top 40 in the 1990s and retired from the airwaves in 2009.

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Gaza Strip: Israel expands ground operation against Hamas

Roy Siemens
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Gaza Strip: Israel expands ground operation against Hamas

Israel announces it has expanded its ground offensive in Gaza, with residents reporting the heaviest shelling since the conflict began 13 days ago.

In a statement, Israel’s military said “additional forces” had joined “the effort to combat terror” in Gaza.

Four Palestinians died, including two children and the son of a senior Hamas official, in new airstrikes on Sunday, July 19.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is due to arrive in Qatar later to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Ban Ki-moon’s visit is part of a regional tour aimed at helping Israelis and Palestinians “end the violence and find a way forward”, the UN said.

The death toll continued to rise at the weekend, with the number of Palestinians killed now at more than 350 – the vast majority of them civilians.

Israel has expanded its ground offensive in Gaza
Israel has expanded its ground offensive in Gaza

Five Israeli soldiers and two Israeli civilians have died since PM Benjamin Netanyahu launched the military offensive on July 8.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sent ground troops into Gaza on Thursday after 10 days of heavy air and naval barrages failed to stop rocket fire from Gaza.

Israel says the ground operation is necessary to target a Hamas tunnel network, which it says it could not do only from the air.

Two Israeli soldiers were killed on Saturday during a gunfight with Palestinian militants who had used tunnels to cross into Israel to launch an attack, the IDF said.

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesman, said the ground offensive was being expanded “to restore security and stability to Israel’s residents and citizens”.

Residents in Gaza reported hearing explosions throughout the night on Saturday.

An airstrike in the suburb of Shejaiya targeted the house of Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, killing four people including his son and daughter-in-law, Palestinian doctors said.

Meanwhile, the UN warned that it was running out of supplies to help more than 50,000 Palestinians who have sought shelter at its schools in Gaza.

A UN official said the number of people fleeing was much higher than expected, with both the Israeli and Egyptian borders closed to Gazans.

Diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire involving, among others, Egypt, Qatar, France and the UN, have failed to make any progress.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius met Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, but said that attempts to agree a ceasefire had failed.

“Sadly I can say that the call for a ceasefire has not been heard, and on the contrary, there’s a risk of more civilian casualties that worries us,” he told press.

Qatar is expected to host a meeting between President Abbas and Ban Ki-moon on Sunday before the UN chief continues on to Kuwait, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan.

Mahmoud Abbas is also due to meet Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in a bid to convince the Islamist group to agree to Egyptian efforts to end the fighting.

Hamas rejected an Egypt-brokered ceasefire last week, saying any deal with Israel must include an end to a blockade of Gaza.

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Prince George’s official first birthday photo released

Lisa.Felice
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Prince George’s official first birthday photo released

An official photograph of Prince George Alexander Louis – known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge – has been released to mark his first birthday.

Prince George, whose birthday is on July 22, was pictured at the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at London’s Natural History Museum.

Prince George pictured at the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at London's Natural History Museum ahead of his first birthday
Prince George pictured at the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at London’s Natural History Museum ahead of his first birthday (photo AP/ John Stillwell)

The image was taken a few weeks ago by the Press Association’s John Stillwell.

His parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, are expected to hold a birthday party on Tuesday at their Kensington Palace apartment.

John Stillwell also photographed Prince George’s first public appearance the day after he was born and his christening last October.

“Prince George was very lively and very sure of himself and confident – a very determined young boy,” the photographer said.

RJ Reynolds to pay $23.6 billion to smoker widow

Clyde K. Valle
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RJ Reynolds to pay $23.6 billion to smoker widow

RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company – America’s second largest cigarette company – has been ordered by a Florida court to pay $23.6 billion to the wife of a smoker who died of lung cancer.

RJ Reynolds was hit with the punitive fine in addition to $16.8 million in compensatory damages.

Cynthia Robinson took action against RJ Reynolds in 2008, seeking compensation for her husband’s death in 1996.

An official at the company said the court’s verdict was “far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness”.

RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company has been ordered by a Florida court to pay $23.6 billion to the wife of a smoker who died of lung cancer
RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company has been ordered by a Florida court to pay $23.6 billion to the wife of a smoker who died of lung cancer

During the four-week trial, lawyers for Cynthia Robinson argued that RJ Reynolds was negligent in informing consumers of the dangers of consuming tobacco.

This negligence, the lawyers said, led to her husband Michael Johnson Sr. contracting lung cancer from smoking after becoming “addicted” and failing multiple attempts to quit.

“RJ Reynolds took a calculated risk by manufacturing cigarettes and selling them to consumers without properly informing them of the hazards,” Cynthia Robinson’s lawyer Willie Gary said.

“We hope that this verdict will send a message to RJ Reynolds and other big tobacco companies that will force them to stop putting the lives of innocent people in jeopardy,” he added.

RJ Reynolds plans to appeal against the court’s decision, vice president and assistant general counsel Jeffery Raborn said in a statement.

“This verdict goes far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness, and is completely inconsistent with the evidence presented,” Jeffery Raborn said.

The punitive damages awarded to Cynthia Robinson were said to be the largest of any individual case stemming from a class action lawsuit filed in Florida.

Several similar cases have resulted in smaller payouts after the state’s highest court ruled that smokers and their families only had to prove addiction and that smoking caused their illness.

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Drought Alert: California is Having Major Issues

Nancy Clayson
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Drought Alert: California is Having Major Issues

Drought is the lack of rain over a long period of time, which also affects the wellbeing of both plantation and animals. Drought will dehydrate life forms and also evaporate water bodies. In this, water becomes scares yet we all know how important water is. Alternative solutions become the only way to survive with the hope that there will be a turn of events. Every living organism relies on water to function efficiently. Humans need water for much more than drinking and bathing in their homes. In times of drought, irrigation becomes the only way to grow crops. California is suffering the effects of drought.

The climate in the state is worsening by the day especially in California. This is affecting the level of soil moisture as a result of the extreme drought. Drought is affecting the production of fruits, vegetables, and other cash crops like cotton. The area has also seen more than one ‘firenado’. These are spinning column of burning debris and gas packing winds, which are as strong as 120mph.

Though you can clearly predict a drought just like you would a flood, it is however, fairly difficult to tell how dangerous or massive they may get. In this, Californians have already started to prepare as many townships have already been cut off from the main water supply of the state. For instance, Hydrocare USA have come up with devices specifically for filtering well-water, typically used only for crops, but can now be used for the whole house.

Global warming is making the drought seem even worse. This is because it dries out and heats up land. It is therefore important that the available water reserved be used efficiently. Several changes have been made in an attempt to save water after a previous drought that greatly affected southern California. The water agencies and residents adopted low-flow toilets and showerheads as well as drip irrigation.

In addition, the local government embraced water distribution systems to help treat sewage water to serve other purposes such as irrigation instead of using drinking water for some of these purposes. Massive efforts to reclaim water are underway and should be recycled to help run the day-to-day activities of larger manufacturing plants.

In an attempt to beat drought, the residents of California need alternative water supplies. In this, there is a proposed water project, the Twin Tunnel project. This is the building of two major tunnels with massive pipes under the delta which aims at carrying Northern California’s water safely, which will also have very little environmental concerns to the southern consumers.

To avoid disrupting the weakening environment, it is important to use environmentally friendly solutions. To achieve this, the use efficient water technology is the key role. The water filter systems come with a unique design and proper purification materials. The ease of using the equipment ensures that you get quality water with very little effort.

Malaysia Airlines passenger list: At least one American among crash victims

Nancy Clayson
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Malaysia Airlines passenger list: At least one American among crash victims

President Barack Obama has said a surface-to-air missile fired from a rebel-held area in east Ukraine brought down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Malaysia Airlines plane crashed on July 17, killing all 298 people on board.

Barack Obama confirmed one American was among the plane’s victims.

Confirmed death toll so far:

Netherlands: 189

Malaysia: 44 (including 15 crew)

Malaysia Airlines plane crashed in rebel-held Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board
Malaysia Airlines plane crashed in rebel-held Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board

Australian: 27

Indonesia: 12

UK: 10

Germany: 4

Belgium: 4

Philippines: 3

Canada: 1

New Zealand: 1

US: 1

Unverified: 2

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What is a Buk surface-to-air missile system?

James J. Williams
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What is a Buk surface-to-air missile system?

The Buk missile system is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the Soviet Union and its successor, the Russian Federation.

The missile, also known as SA-11 Gadfly (or newer SA-17 Grizzly) is designed to fight cruise missiles, smart bombs, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Buk missile system is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the Soviet Union
The Buk missile system is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the Soviet Union (photo RIA Novosti)

Weapons: Four surface-to-air missiles

Missile speed (max): Mach 3

Target altitude (max): 22,000 metres (72,000ft)

Source: Global Security, Wikipedia

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Barack Obama: Malaysia Airlines MH17 hit by surface-to-air missile from rebel-held Ukraine

Roy Siemens
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Barack Obama: Malaysia Airlines MH17 hit by surface-to-air missile from rebel-held Ukraine

A surface-to-air missile fired from a rebel-held area in east Ukraine brought down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, President Barack Obama has said during a press conference.

The plane crashed on Thursday, killing all 298 people on board.

Barack Obama called the attack “an outrage of unspeakable proportions”, saying he would ensure “the truth is out”.

The US and Russia clashed at the UN Security Council, with Russia’s envoy putting the blame on Ukraine for its army’s attacks on eastern areas.

Up to 20 international observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reached the crash scene near the village of Grabovo on Friday.

However, Swiss Ambassador to the OSCE Thomas Greminger said the team did not get full access and were stopped by “local illegal armed groups”.

The Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. It fell between Krasni Luch in Luhansk region and Shakhtarsk in the neighboring region of Donetsk.

Latest figures released by Malaysia Airlines show the plane was carrying 189 Dutch nationals, 27 Australians, 44 Malaysians (including 15 crew), 12 Indonesians and 10 Britons, along with a number of other nationalities.

President Barack Obama has said a surface-to-air missile fired from a rebel-held area in east Ukraine brought down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17
President Barack Obama has said a surface-to-air missile fired from a rebel-held area in east Ukraine brought down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

Confirming one American was among the plane’s victims, Barack Obama said: “Evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from an area that is controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of Ukraine.”

Thepresident said in a briefing at the White House: “I think it’s important for us to recognize that this outrageous event underscored that it is time for peace and security to be restored in Ukraine.

“Violence and conflict inevitably lead to unforeseen consequences.”

Barack Obama called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. He demanded that full access be granted to investigators and that evidence should not be tampered with.

He said: “This was a global tragedy… The eyes of the world are on eastern Ukraine, and we are going to make sure that the truth is out.”

Barack Obama said it was up to Russia to stop the flow of heavy armaments and fighters into Ukraine.

Earlier at the UN, US envoy Samantha Power said the US could not rule out that Russians had helped the separatists fire the missile.

Samantha Power added: “President Putin has committed on several occasions to working towards dialogue and peace, and every single time he has broken that commitment.

“Russia can end this war. Russia must end this war.”

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said: “Pressure should not be brought on this investigation, trying to prejudge its outcome with broad statements and insinuations that are unjustified.”

He said the Ukrainian military was responsible for “punitive operations on civilian targets and infrastructure, with dozens of civilians killed”, saying the attacks must be stopped as soon as possible.

Vitaly Churkin also criticized the US, which he said had “pushed Ukraine to escalate the crisis and passed the blame on to Russia”.

He also questioned why the Ukrainian aviation authorities had not closed the air space earlier.

The OSCE said its team spent 75 minutes at the site but its movement was restricted and it had not been able to seal off the area or secure a corridor to allow access for investigators.

OSCE spokesman Michael Bociurkiw said it discovered no information about the plane’s flight recorder and it was unclear who was in charge.

The rebels have accused the Ukrainian government of downing the airliner.

However, Ukraine called the disaster an “act of terrorism”. Ukrainian authorities released what they say are intercepted phone conversations that proved the plane was shot down by separatists.

Ukraine accuses Russia of aiding the rebels and supplying them with advanced weapons.

MH17 is the second disaster suffered by Malaysia Airlines this year.

Flight MH370 disappeared en route from Malaysia to China on March 8 and has still not been found.

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Malaysia Airlines shares close down 11% after MH17 crash

Clyde K. Valle
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Malaysia Airlines shares close down 11% after MH17 crash

Malaysia Airlines shares closed down 11% in Malaysia following the crash of flight MH17 in Ukraine on route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Some Asian stock markets also ended the day lower on fears the crash may intensify political tensions between the West, Ukraine and Russia.

This is the second catastrophe to hit the Malaysian airline this year after flight MH370 disappeared in March.

Questions are being asked about whether the carrier can now survive.

Malaysia Airlines shares closed down 11 percent in Malaysia following the crash of flight MH17 in Ukraine
Malaysia Airlines shares closed down 11 percent in Malaysia following the crash of flight MH17 in Ukraine (photo AP)

“Even if this is pure coincidence, it’s never happened in history that a flag carrier has seen two wide-body aircraft disappearing in a few months,” said Bertrand Grabowski, head of aviation at DVB Bank, which acts as a banker to Malaysia Airlines.

“The support from the government needs to be more explicit and perhaps more massive.”

Malaysia Airlines has been losing money for many years and its market value has fallen by more than 40% in the past nine months.

Reports suggest that state investment company Khazanah Nasional, the major shareholder in Malaysia Airlines, is looking to take the carrier private.

Khazanah Nasional has invested more than $1 billion into the airline in recent years and had previously indicated that a major restructuring was on the cards.

Analysts said further investment was needed if Malaysia Airlines was to survive in the short term.

Chelsea Manning to begin treatment for gender-identity condition

Nancy Clayson
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Chelsea Manning to begin treatment for gender-identity condition

The US Army will begin treatment for document leaker Chelsea Manning for her gender-identity condition.

Defense secretary Chuck Hagel has approved gender treatment for Private First Class Manning, who was formerly known as Bradley.

The move came after the bureau of prisons rejected the Army’s request to transfer her from a military facility.

Chelsea Manning is serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified files to WikiLeaks.

The US Army will begin treatment for document leaker Chelsea Manning for her gender-identity condition
The US Army will begin treatment for document leaker Chelsea Manning for her gender-identity condition

The soldier has been diagnosed by military doctors with gender dysphoria, the sense of one’s gender being at odds with the sex assigned at birth.

Following her conviction in July 2013 on 20 charges in connection with the leaks of military and diplomatic documents, Pte Chelsea Manning requested treatment including hormone therapy, and to be allowed to live as a woman.

A lawyer for Chelsea Manning threatened in May to sue the Army if she was not given gender change therapy in military prison.

Nancy Hollander argued the military had an obligation to treat the soldier’s “transgender issues”, and she would not be safe if transferred to a civilian prison for treatment there.

In April, a judge granted the soldier’s petition to change her name legally from Bradley to Chelsea, and according to a court filing by Pte Manning’s legal team, a military doctor at Fort Leavenworth had approved a treatment plan by November 2013.

The US military is required to offer medical treatment to its soldiers, but Pentagon policy prohibits transgender people from serving openly in the military.

Chelsea Manning will not be discharged from the military until she has finished her prison term.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said earlier the policy on transgender service members should be “continuously reviewed” but has not said whether he believes the policy should be overturned.

A previous study by the Palm Center estimated there were 15,000 transgender US military members and 130,000 veterans.

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Malaysia Airlines crash: Joep Lange among 100 AIDS experts who died in MH17 crash in Ukraine

Kathryn R. Bown
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Malaysia Airlines crash: Joep Lange among 100 AIDS experts who died in MH17 crash in Ukraine

Prominent AIDS expert Joep Lange was among up to 100 scientists, activists, researchers and health workers who died in the Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash in Ukraine.

They are thought to have been heading to this year’s international AIDS conference in Australia.

Prof. Joep Lange was a prominent and popular researcher and a former president of the International AIDS Society (IAS).

The IAS representatives said they would have “truly lost a giant”.

Delegates, who have already arrived at the conference in Australia said they were in “total shock”.

More than 14,000 scientists, campaigners and politicians are meeting at the AIDS 2014 conference, which starts in Melbourne at the weekend.

Prof. Joep Lange was a prominent and popular researcher and a former president of the International AIDS Society
Prof. Joep Lange was a prominent and popular researcher and a former president of the International AIDS Society

Joep Lange, was a professor of medicine at the University of Amsterdam, and has been involved in HIV research since the virus first emerged in the 1980s.

He trialed antiretroviral therapies, which have now transformed HIV into a manageable disease.

Prof. Joep Lange also worked on preventing the virus passing from mother to child during pregnancy and labor.

He is described as a leader in his field, and between 2002 and 2004 was the president of the IAS.

Malaysia Airlines plane, carrying 298 people, crashed in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine on Thursday.

Prof. Joep Lange’s partner, Jacqueline van Tongeren, was also reportedly on board.

The IAS said the conference would go ahead with “opportunities to reflect and remember those we have lost”.

It added: “The IAS is hearing unconfirmed reports that some of our friends and colleagues were on board the flight and if that is the case this is a truly sad day.

“The IAS has also heard reports that among the passengers was a former IAS president Joep Lange and if that is the case then the HIV/Aids movement has truly lost a giant.”

Another delegate, Glenn Thomas, a media spokesman from the World Health Organization (WHO), was also on board.

WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said: “For the time being we would like to give his family time to grieve.

“We have lost a wonderful person and a great professional. Our hearts are broken. We are all in shock.”

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Malaysia Airlines crash: MH17 passenger nationalities

Nancy Clayson
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Malaysia Airlines crash: MH17 passenger nationalities

Malaysia Airlines crash confirmed death toll so far:

Netherlands: 189

Malaysia: 44 (including 15 crew)

Australian: 27

Indonesia: 12

UK: 9

Germany: 4

At least 298 people perished when MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine
At least 298 people perished when MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine

Belgium: 4

Philippines: 3

Canada: 1

New Zealand: 1

Unverified: 4

Total: 298

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Sanjid Singh: Shift swap cost Malaysia Airlines steward life and saved wife earlier

Nancy Clayson
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Sanjid Singh: Shift swap cost Malaysia Airlines steward life and saved wife earlier

Malaysia Airlines steward Sanjid Singh changed shifts to fly on the plane which crashed in Ukraine on Thursday – months after such a swap saved his wife from a similar fate in MH370 tragedy.

Sanjid Singh, 40, was one of the 15 crew members on the Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The plane was carrying 298 people.

In an extraordinary twist of fate, Sanjid Singh’s wife, also a flight attendant, had switched from Malaysian jet MH370 which vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 with 239 passengers on board, according to a report in The Malaysian Insider.

Malaysia Airlines steward Sanjid Singh changed shifts to fly on the plane which crashed in Ukraine
Malaysia Airlines steward Sanjid Singh changed shifts to fly on the plane which crashed in Ukraine

“Sanjid’s wife was meant to fly on MH370 but swapped with another colleague at the last minute,” Jijar Singh, the steward’s father, told the newspaper.

Sanjid Singh lived with his wife and their seven-year-old son in Kuala Lumpur.

“He was last here [in Penang] about a month ago. He told us recently that he swapped with a colleague for the return Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight,” Jijar Singh said.

Jijar Singh said his son had been expected to visit them after his return from Amsterdam.

“His mother had prepared all his favorite dishes,” he said.

Jijar Singh’s daughter, who lives in Italy, informed him of the crash early on Friday, after learning of her brother’s death four hours earlier.

“I have undergone two heart bypasses. Our daughter waited until four in the morning to tell us. She dare not tell us earlier. I am 71 and she [Sanjid’s mother] is 73. We are in such a state. My whole body is shivering,” Jijar Singh told the newspaper.

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Ruby case: Silvio Berlusconi wins appeal against conviction

Nancy Clayson
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Ruby case: Silvio Berlusconi wins appeal against conviction

Silvio Berlusconi has won an appeal against his conviction for paying an underage prostitute.

The seven-year prison sentence has now been thrown out by judges in Milan, in the so-called “Ruby” case.

Last year a court found that Italy’s former prime minister had paid for s** with 17-year-old nightclub dancer Karima El-Mahroug known as “Ruby the Heartstealer”.

Silvio Berlusconi, 77, is doing community service after being sentenced for tax fraud.

That was a separate case involving his business empire Mediaset.

Silvio Berlusconi has won an appeal against his conviction in Ruby case
Silvio Berlusconi has won an appeal against his conviction in Ruby case (photo AFP/Getty Images)

Silvio Berlusconi helps out once a week at a home for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

He began doing that service in May – and so far it is the only final judgment against him, despite various other court cases.

In the Ruby case both Silvio Berlusconi and Karima El-Mahroug denied having had s**.

During the trial reports emerged of “bunga-bunga” parties at his private villa attended by showgirls. Some of the female guests however described them as “elegant dinner parties”.

Silvio Berlusconi was also acquitted of a charge that he abused his prime ministerial powers by pressuring the police to free Karima El-Mahroug when she was in custody.

In another separate case Silvio Berlusconi is accused of having bribed a senator.

Silvio Berlusconi was banned from holding political office for two years and expelled from the Senate.

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Cote de Pablo bio: Who is former NCIS star?

Lisa.Felice
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Cote de Pablo bio: Who is former NCIS star?

Cote de Pablo is a Chilean actress best known for playing the role of Mossad Officer Ziva David on the CBS crime drama NCIS from 2005 to 2013.

Cote de Pablo, 34, is in a long term relationship with actor Diego Serrano. The couple isn’t married yet. Nor do they have any kids.

Born on November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile, Cote de Pablo got her big break in 2005, when she landed a starring role as Mossad Officer Ziva David on the CBS crime drama NCIS. The following year, she was awarded the Imagen Award for best supporting actress – her first major award.

Cote de Pablo was born Maria Jose de Pablo Fernandez on November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile.

When she was 10, Cote de Pablo and her family moved to Miami, Florida, where her mother landed a job on the Spanish-language television channel, Telemundo.

Once in the US, Cote de Pablo began to focus her education on music and theater, including studying at Carnegie Mellon University.

Cote de Pablo left NCIS in July 2013, just before Season 11 premiere
Cote de Pablo left NCIS in July 2013, just before Season 11 premiere (photo CBS)

While at Carnegie Mellon, Cote de Pablo appeared in several plays including The House of Bernarda Alba, Cloud Techtonics, Indescretions, The Fantasticks, And The World Goes ‘Round and A Little Night Music.

Cote de Pablo graduated from Carnegie Mellon in 2000 with a BFA in Acting and Musical Theater

Her first big break was when she was the co-host of a Latin themed television talk show, Control, with co-host Carlos Ponce. Cote de Pablo hosted the show off-and-on from 1994 to 1995 on the Univision network.

In 2001, Cote de Pablo appeared in the New York City Public Theater production of Measure for Measure. After two years with the theater, she moved into small television roles on such shows as The Education of Max Bickford, All My Children, Fling and The $treet.

In 2004, Cote de Pablo appeared in a Volkswagen commercial and starred on The Jury, a short-lived television series on FOX. The show only lasted for 10 episodes before it was canceled.

The following year, Cote de Pablo made her Broadway debut in The Mambo Kings, playing the role of Dolores Fuentes.

Cote de Pablo’s big break came later that year, however, when she landed a starring role as Mossad Officer Ziva David on the CBS crime drama NCIS.

Her performance won Cote de Pablo her first major award in 2006, when she was given the Imagen Award for best supporting actress.

In 2008, Cote de Pablo was nominated for two more awards: the Alma Award for outstanding actress in a drama television series and another Imogen Award for best supporting actress.

In 2009, Cote de Pablo appeared in the film The Last Rites of Ransom Pride with Jason Priestly and Kris Kristofferson, among others.

In July 2013, just before NCIS‘s season 11 premiere, it was announced that Cote de Pablo would be leaving the show.

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Did Cote de Pablo have a baby after leaving NCIS?

Lisa.Felice
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Did Cote de Pablo have a baby after leaving NCIS?

Chilean actress Cote de Pablo is best known for playing the role of Ziva David on the CBS crime drama NCIS from 2005 to 2013.

Cote de Pablo is in a long term relationship with actor Diego Serrano. The couple isn’t married yet. Nor do they have any kids.

Cote de Pablo is best known for playing the role of Ziva David on the CBS crime drama NCIS from 2005 to 2013
Cote de Pablo is best known for playing the role of Ziva David on the CBS crime drama NCIS from 2005 to 2013 (photo CBS)

Born on November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile, Cote de Pablo got her big break in 2005, when she landed a starring role as Mossad Officer Ziva David on the CBS crime drama NCIS. The following year, she was awarded the Imagen Award for best supporting actress – her first major award.

In July 2013, just before NCIS‘s season 11 premiere, it was announced that Cote de Pablo would be leaving the show.

Speculation is rampant that Cote de Pablo, 34, is expecting a baby with Diego Serrano after she was spotted with a prominent stomach bulge on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, during romantic dinner date nearby her place.

Sherlock Holmes case: Supreme Court rejects emergency petition from Arthur Conan Doyle’s heirs

Sonia Pantiss
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Sherlock Holmes case: Supreme Court rejects emergency petition from Arthur Conan Doyle’s heirs

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea from Arthur Conan Doyle’s heirs, who are trying to stop the publication of a book based on Sherlock Holmes.

Justice Elena Kagan, who was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama, dismissed the plea without explanation.

Arthur Conan Doyle’s family says Leslie Klinger and Laurie R. King should pay a license fee for using the Scottish author’s characters.

An earlier appeals court decision ruled against Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea from Arthur Conan Doyle's heirs, who are trying to stop the publication of a book based on Sherlock Holmes
The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea from Arthur Conan Doyle’s heirs, who are trying to stop the publication of a book based on Sherlock Holmes

The seventh US circuit court of appeals in Chicago said that the character of Sherlock Holmes, along with 46 stories and four novels in which he has appeared, was in the public domain.

However, 10 further stories, published between 1923 and 1927, are still protected by US copyright, which expires in December 2022.

Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate have argued this copyright protection means that anyone creating original stories based on Sherlock Holmes should pay for the privilege.

Leslie Klinger, a known authority on the cerebral detective, handed over the $5,000 licensing fee when he published A Study in Sherlock: Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon, in 2011.

But when it came to publishing a second volume, he decided to withhold the money, leading Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate to threaten legal action.

“If you proceed instead to bring out Study in Sherlock II unlicensed, do not expect to see it offered for sale by Amazon, Barnes & Noble and similar retailers,” they wrote.

“We work with those [companies] routinely to weed out unlicensed uses of Sherlock Holmes from their offerings, and will not hesitate to do so with your book as well.”

However, Leslie Klinger sued the estate first, arguing the characters were in the public domain and no fee was due.

The appeals court sided with him on June 16 and now, it appears, the Supreme Court has agreed.

Arthur Conan Doyle’s heirs told the AFP news agency they would follow up the decision “in the coming months” and looked forward to presenting their arguments in a petition to review the lower court’s decision.

Meanwhile, Leslie Klinger has petitioned the courts to require the estate to pay his legal fees of $70,000.

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