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Pyongyang building collapse: North Korea in rare apology over disaster

Diane A. Wade
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Pyongyang building collapse: North Korea in rare apology over disaster

The North Korean government has apologized for the collapse of an apartment building in Pyongyang last week which is feared to have killed scores of people.

The accident in Pyongyang on Tuesday was reported on Sunday morning by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The news agency said that the collapse happened in the city’s Phyongchon district.

While it is not clear how many people died, some reports say that the “unimaginable” accident could possibly have killed more than 100 residents.

North Korea has apologized for the collapse of an apartment building in Pyongyang which is feared to have killed scores of people
North Korea has apologized for the collapse of an apartment building in Pyongyang which is feared to have killed scores of people

The construction of the apartment block “was not done properly and officials supervised and controlled it in an irresponsible manner”, the news agency said.

Correspondents say that it is extremely rare for North Korea to admit negative news, and the report from the official KCNA news agency included equally rare apologies from top officials.

An “intensive” emergency rescue effort had been carried out to rescue survivors and treat the wounded, it said.

The KCNA did not provide detailed casualty figures or explain the cause of the collapse, but said it had left Pyongyang citizens “greatly shocked”.

A South Korean official, speaking to the AP news agency on condition of anonymity, said the collapsed building was a 23-story apartment complex.

Another unidentified official told Reuters that the building was thought to have held 92 households.

“Hundreds are presumed to be dead, assuming that each family has an average of four members,” he said.

It is not uncommon for residents of partially built apartment blocks in North Korea to move into them before construction officially ends, correspondents say.

A senior Pyongyang official was quoted by KCNA as saying that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un “sat up all night, feeling painful” after being told about the collapse.

It is estimated that about 2.5 million people – mostly top party members or other privileged people – live in Pyongyang.

Pyongyang’s inhabitants are known to have more regular electricity supplies and better access to food, goods and other services compared with those living elsewhere in North Korea.

Tara the cat invited to throw first pitch at Bakersfield Blaze baseball game

Nancy Clayson
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Tara the cat invited to throw first pitch at Bakersfield Blaze baseball game

Tara, the Bakersfield cat who was caught on video saving a boy from a dog attack, has been invited to “throw” the first pitch at a baseball game.

Tara would appear at the next home game of the minor league team Bakersfield Blaze, its representatives said.

“It sounds crazy. But we’ve got a trick up our sleeve,” team member Dan Besbris said, without giving further details.

Tara the cat was caught on video saving 4-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo from a dog attack
Tara the cat was caught on video saving 4-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo from a dog attack (photo Today Show)/NBC)

Tara became a YouTube sensation after saving four-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo from the neighbor’s dog attack.

The California family’s CCTV video shows the dog biting and dragging the boy in a driveway in Bakersfield earlier this week.

The cat then pounces on and chases away the dog, described as a Labrador-Chow mix.

Jeremy Triantafilo – who needed stitches after the attack – praised his cat.

“She’s a hero,” he said.

The dog is now in quarantine and is expected to be put down.

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Balkan floods: Bodies pulled from Sava River in Bosnia and Serbia

Diane A. Wade
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Balkan floods: Bodies pulled from Sava River in Bosnia and Serbia

More than 20 people are feared dead in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia after the worst floods in more than a century.

Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as several months of rain fell in a few days and rivers burst their banks.

Landslides have buried houses in Bosnia and reports say as many as 16 people may have died.

An outer suburb of the Serb capital Belgrade has been inundated and eight people are reported to have drowned.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia have been hit by the worst floods in more than a century
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia have been hit by the worst floods in more than a century

Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic told reporters the first bodies had been recovered in Obrenovac, the worst-hit area to the south-west of the capital, and he feared more would be found.

But he said the number of deaths would not be made public until the waters had receded.

A new flood surge was expected on the Sava River late on Sunday, he said.

In some areas, flood waters reached the second floor of people’s homes.

“The flash floods woke my uncle at around 0330 so they went up to the first floor. Then they had to go to the third floor because all lower floors were flooded,” one resident from Obrenovac said.

Rescue workers have been working to bring thousands of stranded residents to safety and officials have also ordered the evacuation of another town, Baric, closer to Belgrade.

The Sava River has risen particularly high in the western town of Sabac, and volunteers have tried to shore up flood defenses there.

Rescue co-ordinator Predrag Maric appealed for food, water, and clothing to help those in need.

One of the worst-hit areas in Bosnia is the eastern town of Bijeljina where rescue teams are trying to transport 10,000 people to safety.

Among those who drowned were 10 people in the Bosnian Serb Republic, police told local media. Six bodies were found in the northern town of Doboj and there are fears that more people have lost their lives.

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Citalopram could slow onset of Alzheimer’s disease

Kathryn R. Bown
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Citalopram could slow onset of Alzheimer’s disease

Citalopram, an anti-depressant drug, could be used to slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, say scientists in the US.

Research into 23 people, and transgenic mice, found citalopram hampered a protein which helps to build destructive plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

Scientists said they hoped the study could help prevent the disease.

Experts said the study was “interesting” and that using an approved drug could be beneficial.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Citalopram could be used to slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease
Citalopram could be used to slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease

It affects the brain through protein plaques and tangles which lead to the death of brain cells, and a shortage of chemicals important for transmitting messages.

Symptoms include loss of memory, mood changes, and problems with communication and reasoning.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Washington University School of Medicine carried out the study between 2012 and 2014.

They bred mice with Alzheimer’s disease and looked at the levels of the peptide – or protein component – amyloid beta (AB), in the brain.

AB clusters in plaques which, alongside the tau protein, are thought to trigger Alzheimer’s.

After giving the mice citalopram, the level of AB fell by 25%, compared to the control group, with no anti-depressant.

And after two months of anti-depressants, the growth of new plaques was reduced, and existing plaques did not grow any further, the study said.

But it noted the drug could not cause existing plaques to shrink, or decrease in number.

The 23 people used in the study were aged between 18 and 50 and were “healthy”, researchers said.

They were given a single dose of citalopram, and the levels of AB in their cerebrospinal fluid was monitored, according to the study.

Researchers said AB levels dropped by 38% in the 37-hour period after treatment, compared to a placebo test.

Lead author, Dr. Yvette Sheline, at the University of Pennsylvania, said the antidepressants worked by “clipping” the AB molecules so they were not able to function properly.

She said: “We had predicted the results, but they were very exciting.”

Dr. Yvette Sheline stressed the study was a “proof of concept” study, hence the small number of people without Alzheimer’s, and that if the results were successful, they could be used to slow the progression of the disease 10 to 15 years before it could typically become apparent.

She added: “I am eager to get on to the next study, where we will look at whether the effect can be sustained.”

Dr. Yvette Sheline said after that a “big study” spanning several years would look at the effectiveness of the drug in people compared to a placebo.

India elections 2014: Narendra Modi becomes India’s new prime minister

Diane A. Wade
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India elections 2014: Narendra Modi becomes India’s new prime minister

Indian PM-elect Narendra Modi has received an enthusiastic welcome at his BJP party’s headquarters in Delhi after securing the most decisive election victory in three decades.

Narendra Modi was cheered by supporters after a victory parade from the airport.

Manmohan Singh, whose Congress party was crushed in the poll, has tendered his resignation as prime minister.

Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist and chief minister of Gujarat, campaigned on promises to revive the economy.

Results show the BJP gained a majority in parliament and will be able to govern without coalition partners.

However, many Indians still have profound concerns over Narendra Modi because of claims he did little to stop communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people died, most of them Muslims.

narendra Modi has always denied the allegations and was never charged.

After arriving in Delhi from his home state of Gujarat, Narendra Modi was greeted by flag-waving supporters. He stepped out of his car, flashing a victory sign.

Narendra Modi was cheered by supporters after a victory parade from Delhi airport
Narendra Modi was cheered by supporters after a victory parade from Delhi airport

A brass band, drummers and bagpipers met him at the BJP headquarters, while bunting and balloons decorated the street.

Narendra Modi will go to Varanasi for a ceremony by the river Ganges later on Saturday.

With votes still being counted, the BJP has won more than the 272 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.

With its allies, the party could get more than 330 seats out of 543.

Speaking at the BJP headquarters, Narendra Modi said: “I want to bow, I want to give my thanks… to the people of India.”

He said Indian media had created “consciousness among voters” and a “great festival of Indian democracy”.

On Friday, Narendra Modi wrote in a widely-shared tweet: “India has won, good days are about to come.”

He also told supporters he would rule for all Indians.

“The age of divisive politics has ended – from today onwards the politics of uniting people will begin.”

World leaders, including President Barack Obama and UK PM David Cameron, have congratulated Narendra Modi on his victory.

India’s new leader has received invitations to Washington and London. Previously, the US denied him visas and the UK cut off all ties with him following the 2002 riots.

Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif commended the BJP’s “impressive victory” in the election.

The Congress party, which has dominated Indian politics since independence, is only expected to win 44 seats.

Congress has been mired in serious corruption scandals and its leadership has been considered ineffective in recent years, analysts say.

Accepting defeat, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said: “We humbly respect the verdict of the people.”

Manmohan Singh met the president to hand in his resignation.

In a televised farewell address earlier on Saturday, Manmohan Singh said the government had achieved a lot in the last 10 years.

“I wish the incoming government every success,” Manmohan Singh said.

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Tim Lambesis sentenced to six years in jail for plotting to kill ex-wife

Lisa.Felice
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Tim Lambesis sentenced to six years in jail for plotting to kill ex-wife

Tim Lambesis has been sentenced to six years in prison for plotting to kill his ex-wife, Meggan Lambesis.

In February, the As I Lay Dying singer pleaded guilty to soliciting an undercover cop to murder Meggan Lambesis.

Tim Lambesis has been sentenced to six years in prison for plotting to kill his ex-wife
Tim Lambesis has been sentenced to six years in prison for plotting to kill his ex-wife

On Friday, Tim Lambesis learned of his punishment at a hearing in San Diego Superior Court, as three of his bandmates watched on.

Meggan Lambesis, who has also filed a $2 million civil suit against her former husband, spoke at the sentencing, claiming that the rocker’s behavior had changed drastically in the months leading up to his arrest in May, 2013.

Tim Lambesis was charged with one count of solicitation to commit murder and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and has been under house arrest since pleading guilty to offering a sheriff’s deputy, posing as a hitman, $1,000 to kill Meggan. He also gave the agent his wife’s address and the security code to her front door.

The singer’s bandmates have announced a hiatus to allow him time to deal with his legal woes.

As he awaited sentencing, Tim Lambesis and bandmate Jordan Mancino released a statement which read: “As I Lay Dying is sleeping rather than dead… Tim has acknowledged his guilt and clearly made some bad decisions in a period of time where he acted contrary to the person he’s been most of his life.

“He believes As I Lay Dying should only pick back up if it’s in a form restored to its roots. For Tim, the potential of pursuing As I Lay Dying again means working on a lot of other more important things in his personal life first.”

Kim Kardashian asks to have Joan Rivers moved away from her at NBC Upfronts

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian asks to have Joan Rivers moved away from her at NBC Upfronts

Kim Kardashian was seated next to Joan Rivers during NBC Upfronts on May 15, but asked to have Rivers moved because of how many times the Fashion Police host has made fun of her and her family.

“Khloe and Kim were seated next to Joan Rivers, but they had them move her,” a source tells Us Weekly.

Kim Kardashian was seated next to Joan Rivers during NBC Upfronts, but asked to have her moved
Kim Kardashian was seated next to Joan Rivers during NBC Upfronts, but asked to have her moved

Joan Rivers, 80, recently made fun of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter, North West, even going as far as to call the 11-month-old “ugly”.

The source adds that Kim Kardashian never confronted Joan Rivers about the remark, and “saw her at Jimmy Fallon and was polite and didn’t say anything”.

The source told the publication: “They even took a pic together when Joan asked.”

Joan Rivers has also spoofed Kim Kardashian’s s** tape with ex Ray J and mocked her siblings. Not to mention, she touched on Bruce Jenner’s appearance during an E!’s Fashion Police episode in the past.

“Kim and Khloe both don’t want drama and can’t fake it anymore with Joan, so they asked the staff to keep them separate,” the source told Us Weekly.

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America Ferrera at Cannes: Man dives under her dress on red carpet

Lisa.Felice
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America Ferrera at Cannes: Man dives under her dress on red carpet

A man was arrested at the Cannes Film Festival after he tried to slip his head under America Ferrera’s gown.

A man was arrested at the Cannes Film Festival after he tried to slip his head under America Ferrera's gown
A man was arrested at the Cannes Film Festival after he tried to slip his head under America Ferrera’s gown

America Ferrera, 30, was posing with her How to Train Your Dragon 2 co-stars, when suddenly a man crawled his way onto the red carpet and poked his head under her long tulle dress by Georges Hobeika Couture. Ferrara was standing in between Cate Blanchett, Jay Baruchel, Kit Harrington, and Djimon Hounsou, when the bizarre incident took place.

The stars are seen in subsequent photos, whirling around and watching security drag the man, who remains unidentified, out from under the gown.

America Ferrera is currently in the picturesque region of France with her husband, Ryan Piers Williams.

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France hosts security summit on Boko Haram threat after Nigerian girls’ abduction

Diane A. Wade
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France hosts security summit on Boko Haram threat after Nigerian girls’ abduction

France is hosting a security summit on the threat from Boko Haram Islamists, after the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria last month.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and other West African leaders will attend the talks in Paris.

France is hosting a security summit on the threat from Boko Haram Islamists, after the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria last month
France is hosting a security summit on the threat from Boko Haram Islamists, after the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria last month (photo Getty Images)

On Friday, Goodluck Jonathan was due to visit the north-eastern town of Chibok, where the girls were seized, but called it off for security reasons.

He has ruled out negotiations over their possible release, reports say.

On Thursday, relatives of the girls called for their unconditional release by Boko Haram.

This came three days after Boko Haram released a video showing more than 100 of the girls and offering an exchange for prisoners.

French President Francois Hollande is expected to open the summit later on Saturday.

The leaders of Nigeria’s neighbors – Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad – are scheduled to attend the talks, which will also include representatives from the UK, US and EU.

A statement said delegates at the meeting will “discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in West and Central Africa”.

Francois Hollande on Friday discussed the issue in a phone call with President Barack Obama.

The safe return of the 223 girls was now one of America’s main priorities, with US specialist teams and drones being involved in the rescue operation, the White House said.

France is also providing Nigeria with expert assistance to help release the girls.

US officials have criticized the speed of Nigeria’s response to the threat from Boko Haram.

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Bones of biggest dinosaur ever unearthed in Argentina

James J. Williams
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Bones of biggest dinosaur ever unearthed in Argentina

Paleontologists in Argentina have discovered fossilized bones of a dinosaur believed to be the largest creature ever to walk the Earth.

Based on its huge thigh bones, the dinosaur was 130 ft long and 65 ft tall.

Weighing in at 77 tonnes, it was as heavy as 14 African elephants, and 7 tonnes heavier than the previous record holder, Argentinosaurus.

Scientists believe it is a new species of titanosaur – an enormous herbivore dating from the Late Cretaceous period.

Paleontologists in Argentina have discovered fossilized bones of a dinosaur believed to be the largest creature ever to walk the Earth
Paleontologists in Argentina have discovered fossilized bones of a dinosaur believed to be the largest creature ever to walk the Earth

A local farm worker first stumbled on the remains in the desert near La Flecha, about 135 miles west of Trelew, Patagonia.

The fossils were then excavated by a team of paleontologists from the Museum of Palaeontology Egidio Feruglio, led by Dr. Jose Luis Carballido and Dr. Diego Pol.

They unearthed the partial skeletons of seven individuals – about 150 bones in total – all in “remarkable condition”.

By measuring the length and circumference of the largest femur (thigh bone), they calculated the animal weighed 77 tonnes.

This giant herbivore lived in the forests of Patagonia between 95 and 100 million years ago, based on the age of the rocks in which its bones were found.

But despite its magnitude, it does not yet have a name.

“It will be named describing its magnificence and in honor to both the region and the farm owners who alerted us about the discovery,” the researchers said.

There have been many previous contenders for the title “world’s biggest dinosaur”.

The most recent pretender to the throne was Argentinosaurus, a similar type of sauropod, also discovered in Patagonia.

Originally thought to weigh in at 100 tonnes, it was later revised down to about 70 tonnes – just under the 77 tonnes that this new sauropod is thought to have weighed.

The picture is muddied by the various complicated methods for estimating size and weight, based on skeletons that are usually incomplete.

Argentinosaurus was estimated from only a few bones. But the researchers here had dozens to work with, making them more confident that they really have found “the big one”.

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Laos military plane crashes with Defense Minister Douangchay Phichit and other senior officials on board

Roy Siemens
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Laos military plane crashes with Defense Minister Douangchay Phichit and other senior officials on board

A military plane with Laos’ Defense Minister and Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit and other senior officials on board has crashed in the north of the country.

The plane crashed in the province of Xiangkhouang, nearly 300 miles from the capital Vientiane where its journey began.

A military plane with Laos' Defense Minister and Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit and other senior officials on board has crashed in the north of the country
A military plane with Laos’ Defense Minister and Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit and other senior officials on board has crashed in the north of the country

About 20 people, including the mayor of Vientiane and public security minister, are thought to have been on board.

According to local reports, five bodies have been found at the scene. Other reports say up to three passengers had survived.

Major General Douangchay Phichit is reportedly dead.

The officials are believed to have been travelling to an official ceremony in Xieng Khouang for the 55th anniversary of the Second Division of the Lao People’s Army.

Laos, a landlocked country of about seven million people, has an authoritarian communist one-party government and is one of Asia’s poorest nations.

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Reed Robertson graduates from Ouachita Christian School

Sonia Pantiss
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Reed Robertson graduates from Ouachita Christian School

Duck Dynasty’s Reed Robertson graduated from Ouachita Christian School in Monroe, Louisiana, his mother announced on Facebook.

Duck Dynasty’s Reed Robertson graduated from Ouachita Christian School
Duck Dynasty’s Reed Robertson graduated from Ouachita Christian School (photo Facebook/Missy Robertson)

Missy Robertson wrote on her Facebook page: „We spent last night celebrating with Reed, his classmates and families. I couldn’t be more proud of the decisions he’s made about attending a Christian college and trying to live a pure life for Jesus. There will always be persecution for godly choices (which he is already experiencing), but it only solidifies these choices as what is best for God’s kingdom (Matt. 5:11-12). To all those <<kids>> out there who are doing the same, Godspeed! Stand in your faith! You will be blessed.”

Reed Robertson was born on January 24, 1995. H is the eldest child and first son of Jase and Missy Robertson.

Reed Robertson plays football and baseball.

Star Wars: Episode VII begins shooting in Abu Dhabi

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Wars: Episode VII begins shooting in Abu Dhabi

Star Wars: Episode VII has officially begun shooting, production company Bad Robot has announced on Twitter.

Star Wars: Episode VII has officially begun shooting
Star Wars: Episode VII has officially begun shooting (photo Bad Robot/Twitter)

Bad Robot, founded by the movie’s director JJ Abrams, tweeted a picture of a branded clapper board with the hashtag “#dayone”.

A dusting of sand on the picture appears to confirm initial scenes are being shot in Abu Dhabi.

Little is known about Isaac’s role in Star Wars: Episode VII, and the actor admitted he was under strict orders not to reveal details.

The film will be the first Star Wars title released by Disney, after creator George Lucas sold the rights to the franchise in 2012.

Star Wars: Episode VII will also see the return of the three principal characters from the original trilogy – Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford).

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Nairobi twin blasts kill at least 10 people in Gikomba market

Roy Siemens
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Nairobi twin blasts kill at least 10 people in Gikomba market

Two blasts in the Kenyan capital Nairobi has killed at least 10 people and injured scores more.

Police said two improvised explosive devices had been detonated in the sprawling Gikomba market.

Meanwhile hundreds of UK tourists were evacuated from the coastal resort area of Mombasa amid warnings of an attack.

In recent years, Kenya has been hit by a spate of attacks, mostly been blamed on the al-Shabab militant Islamist group from neighboring Somalia.

The Kenyan National Disaster Operation Centre said the first explosion occurred in a minibus, the second in the large open-air Gikomba market.

Two people were reportedly arrested near the scene of the explosions.

Police said two improvised explosive devices had been detonated in the sprawling Gikomba market
Police said two improvised explosive devices had been detonated in the sprawling Gikomba market

Pictures from the scene showed clothing blown onto telephone wires above.

Fire engines and the Red Cross were at the scene tending the injured.

Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi said at least 70 people had been wounded.

“Many of the injured are bleeding profusely. We need a lot of blood,” a spokesman said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed to fight “evil” terrorism following the attacks.

“All of us around the world must be united to ensure that we are able to fight this particular terror,” he said at a news conference.

Earlier this week, authorities tightened security at bus stations. They also ordered all vehicles to have clear glass windows.

Friday’s bombings took place two days after the UK, France and the US warned there was a high threat of attacks in Kenya.

Kenya had criticized the warnings, saying the tourism industry would be affected.

Correspondents say many Kenyans are expressing their frustration at the worsening insecurity.

The government recently rounded up refugees of Somali origin in an attempt to rid Nairobi of militants they believe to be hiding among refugees.

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Donald Sterling refuses to pay NBA fine

Clyde K. Valle
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Donald Sterling refuses to pay NBA fine

Donald Sterling has said he will refuse to pay a $2.5 million fine from the NBA for racist comments.

“We reject your demand for payment,” LA Clippers owner’s lawyer said in a letter to the NBA, Sports Illustrated magazine reports.

Donald Sterling, 81, is also reportedly threatening to sue the league.

Donald Sterling has said he will refuse to pay a $2.5 million fine from the NBA for racist comments
Donald Sterling has said he will refuse to pay a $2.5 million fine from the NBA for racist comments (photo Sports Illustrated)

He was banned from the NBA for life after he was recorded making racist remarks.

Donald Sterling was heard asking his girlfriend V. Stiviano not to associate in public with black people nor bring them to games.

In the letter, Maxwell Blecher also wrote that no punishment was warranted for Donald Sterling’s actions and that his rights for a fair investigation had been violated, according to the USA Today.

The NBA recently appointed Dick Parsons, a businessman and lawyer, as new Clippers interim president while the league attempts to force a sale of the team.

Amid the upheaval, the team was eliminated from the league play-offs on Thursday.

Coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the game “the locker room was not good in a sad way. It felt like all the stuff they have gone through came out and they released all their emotions”.

Doc Rivers himself was fined $25,000 for shouting at a game official during an earlier game.

“I know I am tired,” he said, adding he expected to return to the Clippers next season.

“I am going to go somewhere and lose some weight. I gained 40 pounds in this thing. I just felt like I had to try and protect our guys.”

GM fined $35 million for delays in recalling cars with faulty ignition switches

Clyde K. Valle
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GM fined $35 million for delays in recalling cars with faulty ignition switches

The US government has fined GM $35 million for delays in recalling small cars with faulty ignition switches.

The fine is the maximum allowed by US law.

General Motors said it had already begun reviewing its processes and policies to avoid future delays to recalls of this nature.

To date, the carmaker has recalled 2.6 million cars with the defective switch, which has been linked to 13 deaths.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Board (NHTSA) said it was the single highest civil penalty ever levied as a result of a recall investigation.

“Safety is our top priority, and today’s announcement puts all manufacturers on notice that they will be held accountable if they fail to quickly report and address safety-related defects,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement announcing the fine.

The US government has fined GM $35 million for delays in recalling small cars with faulty ignition switches
The US government has fined GM $35 million for delays in recalling small cars with faulty ignition switches

As a result of the settlement, GM has also agreed to provide NHTSA with access to the results of its internal investigation as well as to speed up its process for determining when to recall vehicles.

“We have learned a great deal from this recall [and] we will emerge from this situation a stronger company” said GM CEO Mary Barra in astatement.

GM was fined for not reporting a problem with ignition switches in its Chevrolet Cobalt and other models.

The faulty switches prevented the airbags from working and have been linked to at least 13 deaths in the US.

The NHTSA received reports in 2007 and in 2010 about the problems with the switches, but each time it “determined it lacked the data necessary to open a formal investigation”.

Both GM and the agency have been criticized by customers for their slow response to investigating safety concerns.

US car manufacturers are required to report safety defects within five days of discovering them.

In April, Mary Barra testified in front of Congress and said she was “deeply sorry” over the company’s handling of the defect.

Last month, GM revealed it had taken a $1.3 billion hit to cover the cost of the recall.

However, GM has asked a judge to ban cases “alleging purely economic damages” due to the recall, and has argued it is not responsible for problems with cars manufactured before 2009, when it was bailed out by the US government.

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Two and a Half Men to end after Season 12

Lisa.Felice
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Two and a Half Men to end after Season 12

Two and a Half Men will end after Season 12, CBS network confirmed.

“[Producer] Chuck Lorre is creating a season-long event. Chuck is very psyched about this, he’s got some great ideas and very big surprises,” said CBS entertainment executive Nina Tassler.

Nina Tassler didn’t know whether bringing Charlie Sheen’s character back from the dead would be one of the shocks in store.

CBS confirmed the last episode will air in 2015.

Two and a Half Men has seen a number of real-life controversies since it began in 2003. As producers announce it is ending, we take a look back at some of the most talked-about moments.

After months of media reports about his personal life, Warner Bros terminated Charlie Sheen’s contract after “careful consideration” in March 2011.

Production on the show stopped in February after Charlie Sheen insulted producer Chuck Lorre in several interviews.

Two and a Half Men will end after Season 12
Two and a Half Men will end after Season 12

In previous weeks, Charlie Sheen had given a number of angry, rambling interviews. He insisted he was drug-free after undergoing rehabilitation earlier in the year.

Charlie Sheen had a contract for $2 million per episode but before his sacking had said he was being paid too little and demanded $3 million.

A court had ordered Charlie Sheen to rehab in 2010 after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife at the time, Brooke Mueller Sheen.

Ashton Kutcher, known for his previous roles on That 70s Show and the prank show Punk’d, was announced as Charlie Sheen’s replacement in May 2011.

“I can’t replace Charlie Sheen but I’m going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people,” Ashton Kutcher said at the time.

Ashton Kutcher would later go on to be the highest paid actor on US TV, earning $24 million in 2012 according to the Forbes rich list.

The first episode of Season 9 was watched by 28.7 million people in the US when it was aired in September 2011, giving the show its highest ratings since it began.

It saw Charlie Sheen’s character, Charlie Harper, being killed off, after his real-life sacking from the program.

Old girlfriends turned up at his funeral before it was revealed he had been killed by a Paris Metro train. The episode also saw the arrival of Ashton Kutcher’s character.

Angus T. Jones, the child star of the show, stepped back from Two and a Half Men after describing it as a “filth” and urging viewers not to watch it.

He reportedly made $350,000 an episode.

Angus T. Jones later apologized and appeared in a number of episodes in 2013, before eventually quitting entirely.

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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding ceremony in Florence’s Belvedere Fort

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding ceremony in Florence’s Belvedere Fort

According to new reports, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West will get married at Florence’s 16th Century Belvedere Fort in Italy on May 24.

A spokeswoman at the mayor’s office said that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West rented the villa for 300,000 euros.

A Protestant minister will preside over the ceremony, said Elisa Di Lupo.

Kanye West, 36, proposed Kim Kardashian on her 33rd birthday in October 2013, renting out San Francisco baseball ground AT&T Park for the occasion.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West will get married at Florence's 16th Century Belvedere Fort in Italy on May 24
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West will get married at Florence’s 16th Century Belvedere Fort in Italy on May 24 (photo US Magazine)

This is the first marriage for Kanye West, who was previously engaged to designer Alexis Phifer.

It will be the third marriage for Kim Kardashian.

There has been no confirmation of the nuptials from either Kim Kardashian or Kanye West yet.

Kim Kardashian was married to music producer Damon Thomas from 2000 to 2003 and spent 72 days married to professional basketball player Kris Humphries in 2011.

Their ceremony was broadcast as a two-part TV special called Kim’s Fairytale Wedding.

In an interview with Florence’s La Nazione newspaper on Friday, Kanye West talked about the beauty of Florence and said he was “very excited” about the wedding.

Kanye West said he and Kim Kardashian had been to Florence last year and believed that their daughter, North, born in June 2013, was conceived “among the Renaissance masterpieces”.

“It was our first honeymoon,” he added.

“It’s one of the most beautiful cities of the world, for me the most beautiful in Europe.”

Elisa Di Lupo said the proceeds from the rental would go to fund restoration of many of Florence’s artistic treasures.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West had reportedly been planning a wedding ceremony in Paris but that’s unlikely as anyone wanting to get married there has to be resident in the French capital for four weeks before authorities will grant a marriage license.

Soma mine owner denies any negligence

Diane A. Wade
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Soma mine owner denies any negligence

Soma Holding, the operator of the mine that collapsed, killing at least 284 people in Turkey, has denied any negligence.

Representatives from Soma Holding defended their response to the disaster, telling a news conference their priority had been to save lives.

They added that an unexplained build-up of heat in the mine appeared to have caused the collapse.

It was Turkey’s worst-ever mine disaster and has sparked angry protests against the government.

There are thought to be up to 18 workers still trapped inside the mine, according to Turkish ministers and Soma Holding. It is not clear if the men are still alive.

Another 363 escaped, while 122 are injured.

At least 284 people died in Soma mine explosion in Turkey
At least 284 people died in Soma mine explosion in Turkey

The disaster began when an explosion on Tuesday sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine’s tunnels while 787 miners were underground.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that a fire was still burning inside the mine, but it was “declining”.

Anyone negligent about safety at the mine would be punished, Taner Yildiz said: “We won’t take any notice of their tears.”

Speaking to journalists, plant manager Akin Celik said: “We still do not know how the accident happened. There is no negligence of ours in this incident.”

“We want to find answers as well. We have never faced such conditions, such circumstances. We haven’t slept for three days because we’re first trying to save lives.”

Soma Holding executives said it was not clear what caused the explosion and collapse.

However, General Director Ramazan Dogru said reports that the fire began at a transformer were wrong.

“Overheating led to a collapse” at another part of the mine, he said, adding that this caused a fire which rapidly expanded. He said it was not clear why the overheating had occurred.

Much of the news conference focused on whether the mine had rescue chambers – safe rooms where miners can take refuge for an extended period of time.

Mining officials said an existing rescue chamber at the mine’s upper levels had been disassembled as production there had stopped, and work on a rescue chamber at the lower section was under way.

Rescue chambers were not a legal requirement, and the mine had an escape route for workers, they added.

Company chief Alp Gurkan said he was “saddened” by the disaster, and that he “couldn’t believe what [he] was hearing” when he heard the news.

“All the high-level mining experts in Turkey have seen this as the safest mine. We have difficulty in understanding how this event has happened,” he said.

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticized for being insensitive in his reaction to the disaster, by appearing to suggest that it was a fact of life.

His aide Yusuf Yerkel made headlines on Thursday when photos emerged of him appearing to kick a protester in Soma.

Later pictures of Recep Tayyip Erdogan appearing to slap a protester in a local supermarket were also shown in the Turkish media.

The Soma mine was privatized in 2005. The government has been accused of rejecting a recent proposal for an inquiry into mine accidents, but officials say the Soma mine was subject to regular inspections, most recently in March.

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UN report: Alarming deterioration in human rights in eastern Ukraine

Diane A. Wade
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UN report: Alarming deterioration in human rights in eastern Ukraine

In a recent report, the UN warns over an “alarming deterioration” in human rights in eastern Ukraine, where separatists are fighting security forces.

The UN also found “serious problems” of harassment and persecution of ethnic Tatars in Crimea, the mainly ethnic Russian region Moscow annexed in March.

Russia condemned the report, saying it ignored abuses by Ukraine’s government.

Meanwhile, a third-party initiative to restore law and order in one troubled city, Mariupol, seems to be succeeding.

Violence between separatists and pro-Ukrainian forces has left dozens dead in the east and south this month.

Violence between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces has left dozens dead in the east and south
Violence between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces has left dozens dead in the east and south

Separatists control towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where they have been skirmishing with units of the Ukrainian security forces, sent in to reassert government control.

The revolt in the east gained momentum after Russia annexed Ukraine’s mainly ethnic Russian region of Crimea in March.

Moscow acted after the overthrow of Ukraine’s elected pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych, during unrest in the capital Kiev in February, and his replacement with an interim government, backed by Ukrainian nationalists. A new Ukrainian president is due to be elected on May 25.

In another development, former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt has accused EU officials of risking war with Russia by displaying “megalomania” in Ukraine.

Helmut Schmidt, chancellor from 1974 to 1982, told German newspaper Bild: “The danger that the situation gets ever more tense, as it did in August 1914, is growing day by day.”

The UN’s conclusions are contained in a 37-page report, its second monthly assessment of the situation.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said in Geneva: “Those with influence on the armed groups responsible for much of the violence in eastern Ukraine [must] do their utmost to rein in these men who seem bent on tearing the country apart.”

The UN’s report details growing lawlessness in eastern and southern Ukraine:

  • Peaceful demonstrations, primarily by supporters of Ukraine’s unity, deteriorate into violence
  • Protesters are attacked and beaten
  • Local police do nothing to prevent the violence and sometimes openly co-operate with the attackers

UN monitors have also documented cases of targeted killings, torture and abduction, primarily carried out by anti-government forces in eastern Ukraine.

The report highlights threats to journalists and international observers, and abductions or attacks on some.

In its response, Russia’s foreign ministry said the report lacked any semblance of objectivity, and accused its authors of following “political orders” to whitewash Ukraine’s new, pro-Western leaders.

The report, it said in a statement in Russian, ignored “the crudest violations of human rights by the self-proclaimed Kiev authorities”.

Separatists in Donetsk announced on Thursday they were setting up their own parliament and were planning to open the border with Russia shortly.

Steelworkers in the flash-point port of Mariupol have begun citizen patrols after talks between officials from their company Metinvest, which is owned by oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, and local police and community leaders.

Nigeria girls abduction: President Goodluck Jonathan calls off visit to Chibok

Roy Siemens
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Nigeria girls abduction: President Goodluck Jonathan calls off visit to Chibok

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has canceled his visit to Chibok, the town where more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted, officials say.

Goodluck Jonathan would stop in Chibok, in the north-east, on his way to a conference in Paris on the threat from Boko Haram militants.

But the visit was called off for security reasons, the officials said.

President Goodluck Jonathan has canceled his visit to Chibok
President Goodluck Jonathan has canceled his visit to Chibok

Goodluck Jonathan – under pressure over his government’s failure to rescue the girls – will fly direct to Paris.

On Thursday, relatives of the girls called for their unconditional release by Boko Haram.

Goodluck Jonathan is said to have ruled out negotiations over a possible release of prisoners.

Nothing was seen of the girls for almost a month after they were taken from Chibok.

But on Monday the group released a video showing more than 100 of them and offering an exchange for prisoners.

President Goodluck Jonathan has been criticized for not visiting Chibok – more than a month after the girls were seized.

The president will travel to Paris to take part in a summit convened by French President Francois Hollande to discuss Boko Haram.

The leaders of Nigeria’s neighbors – Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad – are scheduled to attend the summit on Saturday, which will also include representatives from the UK, US and EU.

A statement said delegates at the meeting will “discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in west and Central Africa”.

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Two meals a day are more effective than six snacks in controlling type 2 diabetes

Kathryn R. Bown
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Two meals a day are more effective than six snacks in controlling type 2 diabetes

According to a new study, only eating breakfast and lunch may be more effective at managing type 2 diabetes than eating smaller, more regular meals.

Researchers in Prague fed two groups of 27 people the same calorie diet spread over two or six meals a day.

They found volunteers who ate two meals a day lost more weight than those who ate six, and their blood sugar dropped.

Experts said the study supported “existing evidence” that fewer, larger meals were the way forward.

Only eating breakfast and lunch may be more effective at managing type 2 diabetes than eating smaller, more regular meals
Only eating breakfast and lunch may be more effective at managing type 2 diabetes than eating smaller, more regular meals

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, which controls the amount of sugar in the blood, meaning blood sugar levels become too high.

If untreated, it can lead to heart disease and stroke, nerve damage, light-sensitive eyes and kidney disease.

Scientists at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague divided a group of 54 volunteers aged 30 to 70 with type 2 diabetes into two groups of 27 people.

Volunteers were then given either a six-meal-a-day diet (A6) for 12 weeks followed by a two-meal day diet (B2), or vice versa.

The study compared two meals with six meals – as the latter accorded with current practice advice in the Czech Republic, researchers said.

Each diet contained on average 1,700 calories a day.

The B2 group ate between 06:00 and 10:00 and then between 12:00 and 16:00, and the A6 group ate their food throughout the day.

Weight loss for the B2 group averaged 1.4 kg (3lb) more than A6, and they lost about 4 cm (1.5 in) more from their waistlines.

Lead scientist Dr. Hana Kahleova, at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, said the results were “very pleasing”.

She said: “The patients were really afraid they would get hungry in the evening but feelings of hunger were lower as the patients ate until they were satisfied.

“But when they ate six times a day the meals were not leaving them feeling satisfied. It was quite surprising.”

Dr. Hana Kahleova said the study could apply to people without diabetes who were trying to lose weight.

Malaysia Airlines net loss widens after MH370 disappearance

Clyde K. Valle
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Malaysia Airlines net loss widens after MH370 disappearance

Malaysia Airlines’ losses widen after flight MH 370 vanished over two months ago, raising questions about the future of the 76-year-old carrier.

The company’s net loss rose by 59% to 443 million ringgit ($138 million) in the January-to-March period, marking its fifth straight quarter of losses.

Malaysia Airlines attributed it to “tough operating conditions” and “negative sentiment”.

Investors shrugged off the news with shares rising 2.4%.

Only 30% of the company is able to be bought freely on the stock exchange in Kuala Lumpur, with the rest held by state investment firm Khazanah Nasional.

Malaysia Airlines’ losses widen after flight MH 370 vanished over two months ago
Malaysia Airlines’ losses widen after flight MH 370 vanished over two months ago

Of the 30% that trades on Malaysia’s stock exchange, most of that is owned by the country’s pension funds and other institutions, leaving a small proportion for retail investors to trade.

Overall though, Malaysia Airlines has lost more than 40% of its market value this year.

Flight MH370 went missing on March 8 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, leading to a massive search and rescue operation that is still ongoing and may cost millions of dollars.

The Malaysian government believes the plane ended its journey in the Indian Ocean, but no trace of the plane or wreckage has been found so far.

The crisis led to a high number of cancellations and reputational damage to the carrier, including a 60% drop in sales from China.

About two-thirds of the 239 people on board MH370 were from China, prompting boycotts by some travel agents on the Mainland.

Malaysia Airlines chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said the disappearance of MH370 added to its poor results, which were “not unexpected”.

“The results were made worse with the impact on air travel in general following the disappearance of MH370. The whole market has reacted by slowing down demand,” he said in a statement.

The company “needs to accelerate efforts to improve its revenue stream and better manage our high costs which have increased” he added.

“This need has become even more urgent for Malaysia Airlines’ future survival and sustainability in a market that is not showing any signs of letting up on competition.”

Malaysia Airlines has been struggling in the face of high fuel prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and increased competition from budget carriers in the region.

“Further efforts need to be made to manage fuel costs which increased 14% despite a decrease in jet fuel price,” the company said.

Malaysia Airlines has racked up losses of more than $1.3 billion over the last three years and analysts expect that to rise further.

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said at a news conference on Thursday that the government has no plans to financially bail out Malaysia Airlines.

Malaysia Airlines said much of the costs associated with the disappearance of MH370 will be covered by insurance.

However, the mounting red ink has increased speculation it may be forced to file for bankruptcy or possibly be broken up even though it is majority-owned by Malaysia’s state investment firm

Despite the grim outlook, Malaysia’s airline chief plans to continue with the company’s turnaround effort.

“We still have much work ahead of us to deal with the reality of the business and competition as a dynamic and nimble operation,” he said.

“MH370 has brought out the best of our Malaysia Airlines team to stand united to face the crisis. We will be leveraging on this team spirit to fight for our future.”

India elections 2014: Narendra Modi’s party heads for landslide win

Diane A. Wade
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India elections 2014: Narendra Modi’s party heads for landslide win

India’s opposition candidate Narendra Modi will be the next prime minister, with counting trends showing the pro-business Hindu nationalist and his party headed for the most resounding election victory the country has seen in thirty years.

The opposition Hindu nationalist BJP party has promised “good times ahead” as early results suggest it is on course for a landslide victory.

Narendra Modi’s landslide win was welcomed with a thundering rally on India’s stock markets and jubilant celebrations at offices across the country of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where supporters danced, exploded fireworks and handed out sweets.

Although final results are not expected until later, the scale of the predicted victory is such that the ruling Congress party has admitted defeat.

India’s opposition candidate Narendra Modi will be the next prime minister
India’s opposition candidate Narendra Modi will be the next prime minister

BJP leader Narendra Modi tweeted: “India has won. Good times ahead.”

This is the most resounding victory for a political party in India for 30 years, say correspondents.

Narendra Modi, chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, is seen as a no-nonsense, can-do leader who stands for development and muscular nationalism.

He campaigned on promises of a revival in economic growth.

But many Indians still have profound concerns over Narendra Modi because of claims he did little to stop the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat, in which at least 1,000 people died, most of them Muslims – allegations he has always denied and over which he was never charged.

The election result will be a crushing blow to the Congress party, which is led by the Nehru-Gandhi family and has dominated Indian politics since independence.

It reflects voter anger with Congress, which has been mired in serious corruption scandals and whose leadership has been considered ineffective in recent years, analysts say.

India’s PM Manmohan Singh rang Narendra Modi to congratulate him on his victory.

Narendra Modi, 63, celebrated with a visit to his elderly mother in Gandhinagar, the state capital of Gujarat.

Latest election results showed the BJP is on course to win 278 seats, surpassing the 272 seats needed to secure a majority in the lower house of parliament.

With their allies, the party could achieve more than 300 seats.

Meanwhile, the Congress party – which has been in power for the past decade – is leading in fewer than 50 seats.

Accepting defeat, the Congress Party spokesman, Shakil Ahmed, said: “We are accepting the people’s verdict in all humility.

“Trends of the counting are certainly not in our favor. The trends point out that the country has decided to vote against us,” he was quoted by news agency AP as saying.

Even before the Congress party’s announcement, there were scenes of jubilation outside the BJP’s headquarters. Firecrackers exploded and people handed out sweets.

More than 500 million people voted in what is the world’s biggest exercise in democracy.

Voter turnout in the mammoth nine-phase general election was a record 66.38%, beating the previous 1984 poll record.

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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sent joking texts to Dias Kadyrbayev during search

Nancy Clayson
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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sent joking texts to Dias Kadyrbayev during search

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev joked with a friend not to text him hours after the FBI released Tsarnaev’s photo as a suspect in the deadly attack, text messages showed.

Dias Kadyrbayev texted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev shortly after the FBI publicly released photos of Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, as suspects in the deadly 2013 attack.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev responded that he had seen the news, then texted: “Better not text me my friend.” Then: “Lol.”

In another text, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev told Dias Kadyrbayev he could go to his room and “take what’s there” followed by a smiley face.

Some of the messages had been released previously, but a complete transcript of Dias Kadyrbayev’s text messages in the days after the bombing was released by prosecutors Thursday.

Dias Kadyrbayev texted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev shortly after the FBI publicly released photos of Tsarnaev brothers
Dias Kadyrbayev texted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev shortly after the FBI publicly released photos of Tsarnaev brothers (photo VKontakte)

Dias Kadyrbayev and another friend, Azamat Tazhayakov, are accused of removing a backpack containing fireworks and a laptop from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s dorm room at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth several days after the bombings. A third friend, Robel Phillipos, is accused of lying to investigators.

None of the three men are accused of participating in the bombing or knowing about it ahead of time.

Azamat Tazhayakov and Robel Phillipos declined to testify this week during a hearing over statements they made under questioning by federal agents.

US District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock said Thursday he would not throw out their statements.

Dias Kadyrbayev had been expected to testify Friday, but Judge Douglas Woodlock said that will be postponed until after testimony from an expert witness.

The judge did not rule on Dias Kadyrbayev’s request to suppress statements he made to investigators; his suppression hearing is expected to resume in two weeks.

Prosecutors and the men’s attorneys are arguing over whether the statements were voluntary and can be used as evidence in the upcoming trials. Prosecutors have said the men willingly spoke to federal agents after being told of their right to remain silent and to contact a lawyer. Dias Kadyrbayev’s lawyer, Robert Stahl, has argued that his client, who is from Kazakhstan, did not have a complete command of the English language and did not fully understand the waiver forms he signed.

Three people were killed and more than 260 others injured in two bomb attacks at Boston Marathon in April 2013.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to 30 federal charges and is awaiting trial in November. His brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, also a suspect in the bombings, died following a shootout with police several days later.

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