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Transformers: Age of Extinction scores biggest opening weekend at US box office

Sonia Pantiss
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Transformers: Age of Extinction scores biggest opening weekend at US box office

Transformers: Age of Extinction has topped the North American box office, taking $100 million, the biggest opening weekend of the year so far.

The fourth installment in Michael Bay’s franchise also added another $201.3 million from 37 international territories, including $90 million in China alone.

Transformers: Age of Extinction stars Mark Wahlberg as a mechanic who helps the shape-shifting Autobots fight a new enemy.

Made for a reported $200 million, Age of Extinction met industry predictions for its opening weekend.

The new installment topped Dark of the Moon, the third film in the series, which took in $97.9 million in its opening weekend in 2011, but failed to eclipse the $108.9 milion debut of the second film, Revenge of the Fallen.

Transformers: Age of Extinction has scored the biggest opening weekend of the year so far
Transformers: Age of Extinction has scored the biggest opening weekend of the year so far

Transformers: Age of Extinction is expected to secure a strong second week of release, coinciding with the 4th of July weekend.

The three previous Transformer outings starring Shia LeBeouf as a teenager who befriends robot Optimus Prime, generated nearly $2.7 billion worldwide.

Elsewhere on the chart, 22 Jump Street held firm at number two with $15.4 million, with animation How To Train Your Dragon 2 at three with $13.1 million in box office takings.

Last week’s chart topper, Kevin Hart’s comedy Think Like a Man Too, fell to four with $10.4 million.

Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent was at five with $8.2 million, bringing its total domestic US gross to more than $201 million and its international haul to $586 million.

North American box office Top 5:

1.      Transformers: Age of Extinction – $100 million

2.      22 Jump Street – $15.4 million

3.      How To Train Your Dragon 2 – $13.1 million

4.      Think Like A Man Too – $10.4 million

5.      Maleficent – $8.2 million

Source: Rentrak

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Pakistan army launches ground offensive against Taliban militants in North Waziristan

Roy Siemens
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Pakistan army launches ground offensive against Taliban militants in North Waziristan

Pakistan’s army has launched a ground offensive against Taliban militants in North Waziristan.

According to a statement issued by the Pakistani army, operations had begun around Miranshah, the main town in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

The move follows air strikes which the army says have killed 370 militants. There is no confirmation of the figure.

North Waziristan has long been a sanctuary for militants. Correspondents say many are thought to have left the area before the offensive began.

Pakistan’s army has launched a ground offensive against Taliban militants in North Waziristan
Pakistan’s army has launched a ground offensive against Taliban militants in North Waziristan (photo AFP)

The assault comes three weeks after militants attacked Pakistan’s largest airport in Karachi, leaving more than 30 people dead.

For the past two weeks, Pakistani forces have been carrying out air strikes against what it says are militant hideouts in North Waziristan.

Among their targets, they say, have been Uzbek militants who claimed responsibility for the Karachi attack and their Pakistani Taliban (TTP) allies.

Monday’s army statement said troops were now conducting a door-to-door search in Miranshah.

“Troops have recovered underground tunnels and IED [improvised explosive device] preparation factories,” the statement said.

The town has been one of the main TTP bases during recent years when militants who had at times been tolerated by the military killed thousands of people in a bombing campaign across Pakistan.

In public statements, Pakistani commanders have said they will not discriminate between so-called good and bad Taliban.

However, there are widespread reports from within North Waziristan that many militants were allowed to escape before the operations began.

Nearly half a million people have left North Waziristan since the offensive was announced following the Karachi airport attack.

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ISIS declares Islamic state in occupied territories of Iraq and Syria

Roy Siemens
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ISIS declares Islamic state in occupied territories of Iraq and Syria

ISIS militants have announced they are establishing a caliphate, or Islamic state, on the territories the Islamist group controls in Iraq and Syria.

ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) also proclaimed the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as caliph and “leader for Muslims everywhere”.

Setting up a caliphate ruled by the strict Islamic law has long been a goal of many jihadists.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s army continued an offensive to retake the northern city of Tikrit from the ISIS-led rebels.

Tikrit was seized by the insurgents on June 11 as they swept across large parts of northern-western Iraq.

ISIS militants have announced Islamic state on the territories the Islamist group controls in Iraq and Syria
ISIS militants have announced Islamic state on the territories the Islamist group controls in Iraq and Syria

In a separate development, Israel called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to the gain made by the Sunni rebels in Iraq.

ISIS announced the establishment of the caliphate in an audio recording posted on the internet.

The group also said that from now on it would be known simply as “the Islamic State”.

The declaration harks back to the rise of Islam, when the Prophet Muhammad’s followers conquered vast territories in the Middle Ages.

The Sunni-Shia split happened because of a dispute over the succession to Muhammad, with the Sunnis following caliphs as their religious authority.

ISIS said the Islamic state would extend from Aleppo in northern Syria to Diyala province in eastern Iraq.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi would become the leader of the state and would be known as “Caliph Ibrahim”.

In the recording, the rebels also demanded that all Muslims “pledge allegiance” to the new ruler and “reject democracy and other garbage from the West”.

On Sunday, Iraqi government jets struck at rebel positions and clashes broke out in various parts of Tikrit, witnesses and officials said.

Troops had reportedly pulled back to the nearby town of Dijla as Saturday’s initial offensive met stiff resistance.

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Oscar Pistorius verdict: Athlete had no mental disorder when he killed Reeva Steenkamp

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius verdict: Athlete had no mental disorder when he killed Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius did not have a mental disorder when he killed Reeva Steenkamp, a psychological report said as his murder trial resumed in Pretoria.

The report was presented following an evaluation into his mental health.

Oscar Pistorius’ defense team has argued he was suffering from an anxiety disorder at the time of the shooting.

Oscar Pistorius did not have a mental disorder when he killed Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistorius did not have a mental disorder when he killed Reeva Steenkamp

Both prosecution and defense have accepted the results of the report.

The defense team is now hearing from Dr. Gerry Versfeld, who amputated Oscar Pistorius’ legs when he was just 11 months old.

Oscar Pistorius had been born without the fibulas in both of his legs but went on to become an Olympic athlete.

Dr. Gerry Versfeld is testifying about the impact of the disability on Oscar Pistorius, now 27, and to what extent he can walk without his prosthetic legs.

The defense is expected to finish presenting its evidence in the next few days.

Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was shot through a toilet door at Oscar Pistorius’ house in Pretoria on Valentine’s Day last year.

The couple had been dating for three months.

“Mr. Pistorius did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offence charged,” said state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, reading from the psychologist report.

The prosecution requested the evaluation after a defense witness said the double amputee was suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Gad).

Oscar Pistorius underwent a month of tests as an outpatient at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria.

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North Korea to put detained US citizens Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Fowle on trial

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea to put detained US citizens Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Fowle on trial

North Korea has announced that it will put detained US citizens Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Fowle on trial, accusing them of “committing hostile acts”.

Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Fowle had been investigated and would be brought before a court, the state news agency KCNA reported.

North Korea said that suspicions about the two men had been confirmed by evidence and the pair’s own statements, but gave no further details.

Another US citizen, Kenneth Bae, is currently serving a 15-year sentence.

Kenneth Bae was arrested in November 2012 and later convicted of trying to overthrow the North Korean government.

US attempts to secure Kenneth Bae’s release have so far proved unsuccessful, despite fears over his health.

Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Fowle entered North Korea on tourist visas.

US citizen Jeffrey Fowle was arrested in North Korea because he left a Bible at a hotel
US citizen Jeffrey Fowle was arrested in North Korea because he left a Bible at a hotel

Jeffrey Fowle, 56, entered North Korea on April 29 and was detained in early June as he was leaving the country, according to North Korean reports.

Japanese agency Kyodo said Jeffrey Fowle was arrested because he left a Bible at a hotel.

Matthew Todd Miller was detained on April 10, KCNA reported.

The North Korean state agency said Matthew Todd Miller had torn up his tourist visa, shouting that he had “come to the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] after choosing it as a shelter”.

North Korea has in the past been accused of using arrested Americans as diplomatic bargaining chips.

The US wants Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for economic and diplomatic incentives, but talks on a deal agreed in 2007 have been stalled for several years.

Last year, North Korea carried out its third nuclear test and launched a three-stage rocket that Washington called a banned test of long-range missile technology.

The US has no formal diplomatic ties with North Korea. But in the past, senior US figures including former President Bill Clinton have travelled to North Korea to ensure the release of American detainees.

Religious activity is severely restricted in North Korea and missionaries have been arrested on many previous occasions.

Kenneth Bae, the highest-profile of the currently detained Americans, was sentenced to 15 years’ hard labor in May 2013.

North Korea says Kenneth Bae used his tourism business to form groups to overthrow the government.

The US has tried on at least two occasions to arrange a visit by a senior human rights envoy, Robert King, to discuss his case, but Pyongyang has cancelled both these visits.

Detainees from other nations can be treated differently – earlier this year, Pyongyang deported Australian missionary John Short, who was detained after apparently leaving Christian pamphlets at a tourist site.

Also on Monday, North Korea proposed a suspension in hostilities and slander between the two Koreas.

The proposal comes after a volley of short-range missile launches by North Korea, and just days ahead of a visit to Seoul by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Bank for International Settlements urges central banks to normalize interest rates

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Bank for International Settlements urges central banks to normalize interest rates

The Switzerland-based Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has warned that ultra-low interest rates have lulled governments and markets “into a false sense of security”.

The BIS – usually dubbed the “central banks’ central bank” – urged policy makers to begin to normalize rates.

“The risk of normalizing too late and too gradually should not be underestimated,” the BIS said.

Markets have rallied since January.

The BIS has warned that ultra-low interest rates have lulled governments and markets into a false sense of security
The BIS has warned that ultra-low interest rates have lulled governments and markets into a false sense of security (photo Flickr)

The FTSE all-world share index is up 5% so far this year, while the VIX, a measure of implied US market volatility known as the “fear index”, is at a seven-year low.

“Overall, it is hard to avoid the sense of a puzzling disconnect between the markets’ buoyancy and underlying economic developments globally,” the BIS said in its annual report.

The BIS said that low interest rates had helped increase demand for higher risk investments on stock markets as well as in property and corporate bonds markets.

The organization doesn’t set policy but serves as a forum for central bankers to exchange views on relevant topics from the global economy to financial markets.

While global growth has improved, the BIS said it was still below its pre-crisis levels.

“Growth has disappointed even as financial markets have roared: The transmission chain seems to be badly impaired,” the BIS said.

It said policy makers should take advantage of the current upturn in the global economy to reduce the emphasis on monetary stimulus.

And it warned that taking too long to do this could have potentially damaging consequences, by encouraging investors to take too much risk.

“Over time, policies lose their effectiveness and may end up fostering the very conditions they seek to prevent,” it said.

“The predominant risk is that central banks will find themselves behind the curve, exiting too late or too slowly,” the BIS added.

The BIS was founded in 1930 and is the world’s oldest international financial institution. Its 60-strong membership includes the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the US Federal Reserve, the People’s Bank of China and the Bank of Japan.

Bulgaria set to dissolve parliament amid concerns over its banking system

Diane A. Wade
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Bulgaria set to dissolve parliament amid concerns over its banking system

Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev has announced he will dissolve parliament and appoint an interim government, amid concerns over the country’s banking system.

Rosen Plevneliev’s comments came after crisis talks with leaders of the main political parties.

Earlier today, five people were arrested on suspicion of plotting to destabilize Bulgaria’s banks.

They are suspected of spreading false information, prompting runs on two of Bulgaria’s biggest banks.

Five people were arrested on suspicion of plotting to destabilize Bulgaria's banks
Five people were arrested on suspicion of plotting to destabilize Bulgaria’s banks (photo Euronews)

On Sunday, President Rosen Plevneliev confirmed that the current parliament would be dissolved on August 6, paving the way for early elections on October 5.

The president also said he would name a caretaker cabinet in August.

The country’s Socialist-led minority government of PM Plamen Oresharski has been in power for barely a year, and the main parties had already agreed to hold early elections.

Referring to the concerns about the banking sector, President Rosen Plevneliev said: “The money of the citizens and the companies invested in the banking institutions in Bulgaria is secure and guaranteed. The banks will continue working in a normal manner.”

Bulgaria’s central bank earlier said there had been a systematic attempt to undermine the country’s banking system.

Last week, it took over Corporate Commercial Bank, Bulgaria’s fourth-largest lender, following a run on deposits.

Speculation that the run could spread hit bank share prices towards the end of the week.

On Friday, depositors rushed to withdraw savings from First Investment Bank, the country third-largest lender. The bank was forced to close until Monday after depositors withdrew 800 million lev ($525 million) in a matter of hours.

Shares in First Investment Bank plunged 23% as a result.

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Iraq: Government forces clash with Sunni rebels over Tikrit

Roy Siemens
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Iraq: Government forces clash with Sunni rebels over Tikrit

Government forces are continuing an offensive to retake Iraq’s northern city of Tikrit from Sunni rebels.

Aircraft have struck at rebel positions and clashes have broken out in various parts of Tikrit, witnesses and officials have said.

Troops had reportedly pulled back to the nearby town of Dijla as Saturday’s initial offensive met stiff resistance.

The city of Tikrit was captured by Sunni rebels on June 11 as they swept across large parts of northern Iraq.

Government forces are continuing an offensive to retake Iraq’s northern city of Tikrit from Sunni rebels
Government forces are continuing an offensive to retake Iraq’s northern city of Tikrit from Sunni rebels

“The security forces are advancing from different areas,” Lt-Gen. Qassem Atta told journalists.

“There are ongoing clashes.”

Insurgents, led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), were reported to have shot down a helicopter and captured the pilot.

The witnesses said the Iraqi forces had been hampered in their bid to retake Tikrit by the large number of improvised explosive devices laid on the approaches to the city.

Iraq said on Sunday it had received the first batch of military jets ordered from Russia in order to help fight the militants.

The defense ministry said five Sukhoi aircraft would enter service in “three to four days”.

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Jackson Galaxy weight loss: Did gastric-bypass surgery save My Cat From Hell host?

Lisa.Felice
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Jackson Galaxy weight loss: Did gastric-bypass surgery save My Cat From Hell host?

Jackson Galaxy is a cat behaviorist with more than fifteen years of experience and the host of Animal Planet’s hit show My Cat From Hell.

Like millions of other Americans, food was Jackson Galaxy’s first addiction, something he continues to battle today.

Jackson Galaxy is a cat behaviorist with more than fifteen years of experience and the host of Animal Planet's hit show My Cat From Hell
Jackson Galaxy is a cat behaviorist with more than fifteen years of experience and the host of Animal Planet’s hit show My Cat From Hell (photo Facebook)

The tipping point for the 48-year-old came when he tipped the scales at 400 pounds and almost died.

According to catwisdom101.com website, gastric-bypass surgery saved Jackson Galaxy as did A.A.

Jackson Galaxy now tries to eat healthier, exercises, stopped smoking.

The cat behaviorist never talked about his weight loss.

Jackson Galaxy, born Richard Kurschner on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, legally changed his name when he was in his twenties.

Glastonbury 2014: Dolly Parton draws larger audience than Arcade Fire and Metallica

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2014: Dolly Parton draws larger audience than Arcade Fire and Metallica

Dolly Parton took to the Pyramid Stage on day three of this year’s Glastonbury festival.

The country singer has drawn a huge crowd for her debut Glastonbury set, performing some of her biggest hits as thousands of fans chanted her name.

The audience was larger than that for Friday and Saturday’s headliners, Arcade Fire and Metallica.

Dolly Parton told the audience: “I’ve been waitin’ a long time for this.”

She sang tracks including Why D’You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That?, 9 to 5, Jolene and Coat of Many Colors.

Dolly Parton took to the Pyramid Stage on day three of this year’s Glastonbury festival
Dolly Parton took to the Pyramid Stage on day three of this year’s Glastonbury festival (photo Getty Images)

Dolly Parton said: “I’m just glad you came to see me.”

She also performed a song about the mud that she wrote in the early hours of Sunday morning, which included the lyrics: “Mud, mud, mud, mud/Up to our bums in all this crud.”

Dolly Parton, 68, wooed the crowd with lots of classics and her encore, I Will Always Love You.

The singer played for about an hour on the Pyramid Stage.

“I grew up in the country, so this mud ain’t nothing new to me – and it ain’t nothing to you either,” she said.

Before her show, Dolly Parton was presented with a special award in recognition of selling more than 100 million records worldwide. The singer said she would hang it in her Dollywood Museum in Tennessee.

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Glastonbury 2014: Dolly Parton setlist

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2014: Dolly Parton setlist

Dolly Parton has drawn a huge crowd for her Glastonbury debut.

Baby I’m Burnin’ / Girl on Fire

Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That

Jolene

Blue Smoke

Coat of Many Colors

Rocky Top

Mud Song

Banks of the Ohio

Dolly Parton has drawn a huge crowd for her Glastonbury debut
Dolly Parton has drawn a huge crowd for her Glastonbury debut (photo PA)

Hits Medley

Here You Come Again

Two Doors Down

Islands In The Stream

9 to 5

Encore:

Lay Your Hands on Me

I Will Always Love You

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Glastonbury 2014: Metallica wins over new fans after performing on Pyramid Stage

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2014: Metallica wins over new fans after performing on Pyramid Stage

Metallica played for 90 minutes on Glastonbury’s famous Pyramid Stage on Saturday, with highlights including One, Cyanide and an extended version of Master Of Puppets.

The band is the first metal act to headline the festival since its inception in 1970.

Drummer Lars Ulrich said: “That was sensational. I don’t remember much of it… the energy was fantastic.”

Asked to describe his Glastonbury experience in one sentence, Lars Ulrich simply said: “Other-worldly.”

Even the band’s detractors would have been hard-pushed to deny their musicianship.

Fans and supporters lined the back of the stage as they ended the main set with Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman.

“Metallica. Glastonbury. Together at last,” declared songwriter James Hetfield.

Metallica played for 90 minutes on Glastonbury's famous Pyramid Stage
Metallica played for 90 minutes on Glastonbury’s famous Pyramid Stage

“That felt good.”

Returning for an encore of Whiskey in the Jar and Seek and Destroy, the band launched dozens of black Metallica-branded weather balloons into the audience, triggering a giant game of dodgeball between the audience and security guards.

“Metallica loves you, Glastonbury,” said James Hetfield as the band took their final bow.

“You made us feel so good. Thank you for having us.”

Taking the microphone, Lars Ulrich added: “There’s no place on this earth like this beautiful Glastonbury Festival. Thank you for letting us be part of your experience and we hope to see you one more time.”

Formed 33 years ago, Metallica’s best-known songs include Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters and Master of Puppets.

Prior to their arrival on the Pyramid Stage, Metallica played a clip of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, in tribute to actor Eli Wallach, who died this week.

Ennio Morricone’s Ecstasy of Gold, which features in the classic Western, has been Metallica’s introduction music for many years.

The band also addressed criticism of James Hetfield’s involvement with pro-hunting groups head-on, showing an extended clip of an English fox hunt, soundtracked by Sweet’s glam rock classic Fox on the Run.

At the climax of the hunt, four men in bear costumes shot the riders from their horses.

The bear’s heads were removed to reveal the four grinning members of Metallica.

Metallica rocked Glastonbury with a strange mix of arrogance and humility.

Speaking to the crowd 15 minutes into the set, James Hetfield said: “Glasto – Metallica is grateful to be invited to such an event.

“We’re very proud to be representing the heavier side of music.”

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Glastonbury 2014: Metallica setlist

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Glastonbury 2014: Metallica setlist

Metallica won over new fans as they headlined on Glastonbury’s famous Pyramid Stage on June 28.

Creeping Death

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Wherever I May Roam

Sad But True

Fade to Black

Cyanide

Metallica won over new fans as they headlined on Glastonbury's famous Pyramid Stage
Metallica won over new fans as they headlined on Glastonbury’s famous Pyramid Stage

The Unforgiven

The Memory Remains

One

Master of Puppets

Nothing Else Matters

Enter Sandman

Encore:

Whiskey in the Jar

Seek and Destroy

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Kenneth Feinberg to reveal GM crash victim payment plan

Clyde K. Valle
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Kenneth Feinberg to reveal GM crash victim payment plan

Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, the US’s most well-known compensation expert, is scheduled to reveal the terms of General Motors’ plan to pay victims of crashes caused by bad ignition switches on Monday.

GM CEO Mary Barra has said there will be no cap on payments.

Also, GM won’t have any say in Kenneth Feinberg’s awards, she told a US House subcommittee during a hearing earlier this month.

“He will have complete independence,” Mary Barra said under questioning.

“General Motors wants to reach with this compensation program everyone who lost a loved one due to this issue, or who suffered serious physical injury.”

GM says the faulty switches are responsible for at least 54 crashes and more than 13 deaths, but lawyers and lawmakers say the death toll is closer to 100, with hundreds of injuries. That would send GM’s payments into the millions, if not billions of dollars.

Kenneth Feinberg is scheduled to reveal the terms of GM's plan to pay victims of crashes caused by bad ignition switches
Kenneth Feinberg is scheduled to reveal the terms of GM’s plan to pay victims of crashes caused by bad ignition switches

The company was sitting on a $27 billion cash stockpile as of March 31. So far, it has announced or taken charges of $2 billion for recall expenses.

Kenneth Feinberg, who also administered the government’s $7 billion fund for the 9/11 victims, is likely to follow a similar plan in the GM case, with detailed formulas setting payments based on severity of injuries and age. The average award to the 2,880 families who filed death claims from September 11, 2001, was $2.1 million. The fund also paid an average of about $400,000 each for the 2,680 accepted claims of injuries; the smallest injury award was $500, the largest $8.6 million.

The 9/11 fund was set up to protect financially troubled airlines from thousands of potential lawsuits. It was a success, limiting the number of lawsuits to about 80.

The GM compensation likely will be limited to victims of crashes of older small cars, of which GM recalled 2.6 million earlier this year because the switches can cause engines to stall, shutting off power steering and brakes. That can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and also disables the air bags. The cars include the Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion, both of which are no longer made.

Kenneth Feinberg could use air bag activation to decide if people are paid. If the air bags deployed in an accident, that means they were not disabled by the switches, so the switches were not at fault.

GM has said Kenneth Feinberg would start taking claims August 1.

Mary Barra said she did not know how much the company would have to spend to settle the claims.

To get a payment, victims would have to agree not to sue GM. The company is vulnerable to legal claims because it has admitted knowing about the switch problem for more than a decade, yet it didn’t recall the cars until this year.

Kenneth Feinberg is scheduled to hold a news conference in Washington on Monday to release details “including eligibility, scope, rules for the program, and timing of submitting claims,” a spokeswoman for the attorney said in an email. The program also will launch a website on Monday.

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5.2 earthquake strikes Arizona and New Mexico

Nancy Clayson
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5.2 earthquake strikes Arizona and New Mexico

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Arizona near the New Mexico state line on late Saturday.

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Arizona near the New Mexico state line
A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Arizona near the New Mexico state line

There were no initial reports of major damage or injuries.

According the US Geological Survey, the quake struck at 10 p.m. PT (1 a.m. ET Sunday) and was centered about 31 miles northwest of Lordsburg, New Mexico, and about 179 miles east-southeast of Phoenix. The epicenter was shallow and was in a sparsely populated area north of Interstate 10 and just south of the small town of Duncan, Arizona.

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Si Robertson offers new autograph session on July 2

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson offers new autograph session on July 2

Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson will offer another autograph session on Wednesday, July 2, at the Duck Commander Store in West Monroe, Louisiana.

Si Robertson will offer another autograph session on Wednesday, July 2, at the Duck Commander Store
Si Robertson will offer another autograph session on Wednesday, July 2, at the Duck Commander Store (photo Facebook)

Uncle Si wrote on his Facebook page: “HEY JACK! Yesterday was so much fun, I am going to take another break from napping and sign some more autographs! Next Wednesday, July 2nd! Same time, same place! (Noon-2PM at the Duck Commander Store in West Monroe). Who, knows, I may even do it again July 9th!”

Si Robertson starts 4th of July celebration with Rock Springs Church charity picnic

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson starts 4th of July celebration with Rock Springs Church charity picnic

Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si Robertson will start the 4th of July celebration early this year with a Rock Springs Church charity picnic on Sunday, June 29, in Milner, Georgia.

Si Robertson will start the 4th of July celebration early this year with a Rock Springs Church charity picnic in Milner
Si Robertson will start the 4th of July celebration early this year with a Rock Springs Church charity picnic in Milner (photo Facebook)

America’s favorite uncle wil be joined by his son, Scott Robertson, his daughter-in law, Marsha Markert Robertson, and two friends.

Si Robertson wrote on his Facebook page: “Hey JACK! I’m gonna start the celebration early this year because I love this country so much! Come celebrate with me, my son and daughter in law and my friends Diamond Rio and Mac Powell and help us raise some money for a good cause at Rock Springs Church in Milner, GA this Sunday! The party starts at 5:00pm, don’t be late, OK?! #RSPicnic.“

Facebook reveals fight over New York court data collection request

Nancy Clayson
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Facebook reveals fight over New York court data collection request

Facebook is fighting a New York court order in which the social media website was forced to hand over data belonging to 381 people involved in a benefit fraud trial.

Facebook said the request was “by far the largest” it had ever received from a government body.

Photographs, private messages and other information were supplied to a New York court last year, but the process was only made public by a judge this week.

The ruling defined Facebook as a “digital landlord”.

A judge said this definition meant the company must comply with search warrants.

The original case investigated fraudulent claimants of US federal disability benefits, whose Facebook accounts apparently showed that they were in fact healthy.

Facebook is fighting a New York court order in which it was forced to hand over data belonging to 381 people involved in a benefit fraud trial
Facebook is fighting a New York court order in which it was forced to hand over data belonging to 381 people involved in a benefit fraud trial

The social media site was ordered to hand over information from the 381 accounts, which the court said contained “evidence of criminality”.

After an appeal was denied, Facebook complied with the request but protested that it violated the Fourth Amendment of the US constitution, which protects against “unreasonable searches and seizures”.

Facebook also voiced concerns about the lack of date restrictions on the warrant, which it argued allowed the US government to keep the data indefinitely, and the range of data requested, which it said would contain private material which bore no relation to the trial.

The proceedings have been kept private by the court, but after a fresh appeal by Facebook a New York judge has now made the court filing public.

Facebook said the government had obtained “gag orders”, preventing it from telling the account holders that it had been forced to hand over their data.

“This unprecedented request is by far the largest we’ve ever received – by a magnitude of more than ten – and we have argued that it was unconstitutional from the start,” wrote Chris Sonderby, a legal adviser to Facebook.

“Of the 381 people whose accounts were the subject of these warrants, 62 were later charged in a disability fraud case.

“This means that no charges will be brought against more than 300 people whose data was sought by the government without prior notice to the people affected.”

But a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney defended the court’s actions.

“This was a massive scheme involving as many as 1,000 people who defrauded the federal government,” said Joan Vollero.

“The defendants in this case repeatedly lied to the government about their mental, physical, and social capabilities. Their Facebook accounts told a different story.”

In a summation of the legal justification for the court’s decision, the judge wrote: “Facebook could best be described as a digital landlord, a virtual custodian or storage facility for millions of tenant users and their information.

“Hence, the search warrants authorize the search and seizure of digital information contained within the Facebook server.”

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Hong Kong democracy referendum in final day

Diane A. Wade
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Hong Kong democracy referendum in final day

An unofficial referendum organized by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and denounced by Chinese authorities is now in its final day.

At least 738,000 Hong Kongers have done something China’s 1.3 billion people can only dream of: Cast a ballot to demand a democratic government.

The 10-day poll is organized by protest group Occupy Central, which says more than 700,000 have already voted online or in person.

A Hong Kong government spokesman has said the vote has no legal standing.

Campaigners want the former British colony to be able to elect their leader, or the chief executive. China has pledged direct elections by 2017.

More than 700,000 people have already voted online or in person in Hong Kong’s unofficial referendum
More than 700,000 people have already voted online or in person in Hong Kong’s unofficial referendum

However, voters will only have a choice from a list of candidates selected by a nominating committee, and China’s communist authorities have said all candidates must be “patriotic”.

The voting in polling stations or on popvote.hk website began on June 20. The deadline was originally set at June 22, but was later extended after organizers claimed were several cyber attacks on the website.

Popvote.hk was designed by the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University to measure support for Occupy Central’s campaign.

In the referendum, voters have the choice of three proposals – all of which involve allowing citizens to directly nominate Hong Kong’s chief executive – to present to the Beijing government.

Pro-democracy activists want the public to nominate the candidates.

But Chinese leaders believe this is illegal and would like to see a committee decide who is on that public ballot, effectively limiting the candidate field to those approved by the authorities in Beijing.

Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997 following a 1984 agreement between China and Britain.

China agreed to govern Hong Kong under the principle of “one country, two systems”, where the city would enjoy “a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs” for 50 years.

As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected.

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India: Two buildings collapse in Delhi and Chennai killing 16 people

Nancy Clayson
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India: Two buildings collapse in Delhi and Chennai killing 16 people

A four-storey building collapsed in India’s capital Delhi on Saturday, killing 10 people, including five children.

Just hours later, a 12-storey building under construction toppled in Chennai in heavy rain, leaving six people dead.

A four-storey building collapsed in Delhi, killing 10 people
A four-storey building collapsed in Delhi, killing 10 people

India has recently seen frequent building collapses, blamed on lax safety and substandard materials.

Rescue teams with cutters and shovels are continuing to search for survivors in the rubble in Chennai, in the southern Tamil Nadu state.

A police investigation has also been launched.

In January, at least 14 people died when a building under construction came crashing down in the western state of Goa.

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North Korea launches two short-range Scud missiles

Roy Siemens
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North Korea launches two short-range Scud missiles

According to reports from South Korea, North Korea has fired two missiles into the sea from its east coast.

A defense ministry spokesman in Seoul declined to give further details, but Yonhap news agency said they were Scuds with the range of 310 miles.

The apparent test comes just days after North Korea said it successfully fired new precision-guided missiles.

North Korea has fired two missiles into the sea from its east coast
North Korea has fired two missiles into the sea from its east coast (photo Kyodo)

North Korea frequently test-fires missiles to refine its military capabilities.

Reports of a new test come days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is due in South Korea to discuss North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

China is North Korea’s only major ally and provides an economic lifeline to the isolated nation.

North Korea is under UN sanctions over its weapons and nuclear program.

It has carried out nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, and is thought to have enough nuclear material for a small number of bombs.

However, analysts say North Korea does not appear to have successfully manufactured a nuclear warhead small enough to be carried by its missiles.

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Alex Giangreco: Who is Hollie Strano’s second husband?

Lisa.Felice
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Alex Giangreco: Who is Hollie Strano’s second husband?

WKY Channel 3 morning meteorologist and host Hollie Strano and Alex Giangreco got married earlier this month on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the groom’s hometown.

Hollie Strano and Alex Giangreco got married earlier this month on the beach in Fort Lauderdale
Hollie Strano and Alex Giangreco got married earlier this month on the beach in Fort Lauderdale (photo Facebook)

Alex Giangreco work in Fort Lauderdale as a “Private Event Bartender” for Homes, Corporate events, Theme Parties, Holiday Parties , Small Office Parties, and any other event that requires a professional bartender.
He has 10 years of bartending experience as he worked at some of the best resorts , restaurants and catering companies.

Glastonbury 2014: Metallica to make its debut

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2014: Metallica to make its debut

Glastonbury is prepared for the arrival of Metallica on a showery Saturday in Somerset.

Metallica is the first metal band to headline. Drummer Lars Ulrich said being asked to play was “the biggest honor”.

Metallica is the first metal band to headline Glastonbury festival
Metallica is the first metal band to headline Glastonbury festival

The festival was beset by a downpour for an hour, but a predicted lightning storm failed to materialize.

Acts on the main stage so far have included Nick Mulvey, Lana Del Rey and ex-Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant.

Classics such as Black Dog were given drastic West African and South East Asian overhauls, but a full-throttle rock version of Whole Lotta Love triggered a crowd surge – even after it took a detour into a violin solo.

Preceding him on the Pyramid Stage, R&B star Kelis also re-tooled some of her most famous songs, giving a jazzy big-band treatment to tracks like Milkshake and A Capella.

Famous faces spotted at the festival include Stella McCartney, Laura Carmichael, Lily James and Bradley Cooper.

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Ryanair jets collision at London’s Stansted Airport

Nancy Clayson
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Ryanair jets collision at London’s Stansted Airport

Two Ryanair jets collided on the ground at London’s Stansted Airport.

One plane was approaching the stand and the other was “pushing back” when the incident happened at about 06:45 BST.

The wing-tip of one plane and the tail-cone of another “made contact”, said Ryanair spokesman Robin Kiely.

Two Ryanair jets collided on the ground at London's Stansted Airport
Two Ryanair jets collided on the ground at London’s Stansted Airport

No passengers or crew were injured, an airport spokesman confirmed. The Air Accident Investigation Board is investigating.

Essex Police said it had conducted “routine breath tests” on both pilots after the incident, but there was no evidence of alcohol consumption.

Robin Kiely said passengers were put on other planes after a three-hour delay.

He said Ryanair’s engineering team were “investigating, and will repair both aircraft and return them to service as soon as possible”.

The crash involved a plane heading to Warsaw and an aircraft from Frankfurt Hahn that had just landed. Both were Boeing 737-800 models, which can carry up to 189 passengers.

One passenger on the Warsaw-bound flight said on Twitter: “Huge loud crashing noise and totally felt the crush sitting at the back. Thank God it only hit the wing as if it was the body of the plane it’d been apocalypse.”

Ahmed Abu Khattala: Benghazi suspect appears in Washington court

Roy Siemens
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Ahmed Abu Khattala: Benghazi suspect appears in Washington court

Ahmed Abu Khattala, the suspected ringleader of the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, has appeared amid tight security at a US federal courthouse in Washington DC.

Ahmed Abu Khattala was captured by US forces in Benghazi on June 18.

He denied a raft of terrorism-related charges. He says he was in Benghazi during the attack on the US consulate but that he did not take part.

Ahmed Abu Khattala was captured by US forces in Benghazi
Ahmed Abu Khattala was captured by US forces in Benghazi (photo AP)

The US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other people were killed in the September 2012 attack.

Ahemed Abu Khattala was charged with providing material support and resources to terrorists including himself; killing a person on a federal facility; and damaging property of the US by fire and explosives resulting in death.

The next hearing was set for July 8.

American media reported that Ahmed Abu Khattala was brought to court in Washington from a US Navy warship where he had been held since being captured two weeks ago.

The US has described Ahmed Abu Khattala as “key figure” in the attack on the consulate.

President Barack Obama praised the raid which led to his capture earlier this month.

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