The legal claim alleging the Matrix trilogy was based on The Immortals screenplay has been rejected by a judge in California.
Judge R Gary Klausner ruled there was “no substantial similarity” between the Matrix trilogy and The Immortals, a screenplay Thomas Althouse claimed he submitted to the studio in 1993.
In his complaint, Thomas Althouse listed 118 alleged similarities between the works.
The legal claim alleging the Matrix trilogy was based on The Immortals screenplay has been rejected
But the judge ruled they were “too general for copyright protection… or are commonly used, unoriginal ideas”.
Released in 1999, The Matrix tells of a computer hacker, played by Keanu Reeves, who discovers the world he lives in is a computer simulation created by machines.
Directed by Andy and Larry (now Lana) Wachowski, the film was followed by two sequels – The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions – which were shot back-to-back and released in 2003.
Thomas Althouse alleged their plots were inspired by his screenplay, in which a CIA agent tries to stop a cryogenically reanimated Adolf Hitler destroying non-immortals in the year 2235.
Yet Judge R Gary Klausner ruled “the only similarity in plot [was] that both stories portray a protagonist attempting to prevent a dominant group from oppressing and annihilating a subservient group”.
“The basic premises of The Matrix Trilogy and The Immortals are so different that it would be unreasonable to find their plots substantially similar,” his ruling continued.
“Examining the protectable details in the two works, no jury could reasonably conclude that The Immortals has substantially similar expressions of ideas to The Matrix Trilogy.”
Since making the Matrix films, the Wachowski siblings have co-directed films including Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas and Jupiter Ascending – due to be released this summer.
Paul Simon and Edie Brickell appeared in court holding hands after being arrested over a domestic dispute.
Paul Simon told a Superior Court judge in Norwalk, Connecticut, he had a rare argument with his wife on Saturday night at their home.
Edie Brickell and Paul Simon, who have been married for 22 years, held hands and said they did not feel threatened by each other.
“We’re fine. We love each other. We’re fine. We had an argument. It’s over,” Paul Simon said as he left the courthouse.
“We’re going to go back home today. We’re going to watch our son play baseball,” he added.
“Neither one of us has any fear or any reason to feel threatened.”
The arrest came on Saturday night after a caller from the singers’ home phoned the emergency services and hung up, police chief Leon Krolikowski said at a news conference on Monday.
Paul Simon and Edie Brickell holding hands at court hearing in Norwalk
Officers who responded found minor injuries and believed it was a case of domestic violence, he continued. He did not confirm who was injured.
“There was aggressiveness on both sides,” he said.
“They’re both victims and they have children involved and we’re trying to be very cautious of that.”
Paul Simon and Edie Brickell were each given a misdemeanor summons. One of them – again unspecified – agreed to leave and go to another location.
The singers’ lawyer, Alan Cramer, dismissed the severity of the argument, calling it a “one on a scale of one to 10”.
“They are here together, they get along fine with each other,” Alan Cramer told reporters before the court hearing.
“If it were Joe Blow we wouldn’t be here. You certainly wouldn’t be here. These people have had a wonderful life together and they’ve never had these types of problems.”
Paul Simon, 72, first found fame as one half of folk duo Simon and Garfunkel, while Edie Brickell, 48, was the lead singer of Edie Brickell & New Bohemians.
Earlier this year, Edie Brickell won a Grammy award with comedian Steve Martin for best American roots song, Love Has Come For You.
According to local media, the couple have lived in the Connecticut town with their three children for a number of years.
Paul Simon and Edie Brickell have been asked to return to court on May 16.
At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in a mortar attack on a technical institute in central Damascus, Syrian state media say.
Four mortar shells struck the mainly Shia Shaghour neighborhood of the city, police told the Sana news agency.
Two of the shells hit the Badr al-Din al-Hussein technical institute.
The attack comes a day after President Bashar al-Assad registered to stand for re-election defying calls to step down as a way of ending Syria’s civil war.
Four mortar shells struck the mainly Shia Shaghour neighborhood of Damascus
Bashar al-Assad’s forces have pushed back rebels from many of their strongholds around the capital, but residents say they have responded by increasing the number of rocket and mortar attacks in the centre of the city.
“Twelve citizens were killed and 50 others wounded by terrorists who targeted the Shaghour neighborhood,” Sana reported.
The word “terrorists” is used by the Syrian authorities to describe all those seeking to depose President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has also reported the mortar attack, saying that the number of fatalities is expected to rise.
It says that the Badr al-Din al-Hussein technical institute is an Islamic law studies centre, with students as young as 14.
More than 150,000 people are believed to have been killed in the three-year civil war.
Millions of people have fled their homes as fighting shows no sign of easing. The UN says that almost 3.5 million civilians are being denied vital aid, including medicine and medical care.
A group of prominent lawyers and academics has urged the UN in an open letter to deliver aid into Syria with or without the government’s consent.
The letter, signed by 35 legal experts, says permission for aid is being arbitrarily withheld.
A UN resolution adopted in February called for all sides in the conflict to allow unrestricted humanitarian access.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice-President John Coates has branded the preparations for the 2016 Rio Olympics as the “worst” ever seen.
John Coates said the IOC has taken “unprecedented” action by placing experts in the local organizing committee to ensure the Games go ahead.
“The situation is critical on the ground,” the Australian said.
The news comes as Brazil faces a race to be ready in time for the FIFA World Cup 2014, which starts in 44 days.
John Coates, who has been involved in the Olympics for nearly 40 years, has made six trips to Rio as part of the commission responsible for overseeing the preparations.
IOC Vice-President John Coates has branded the preparations for the 2016 Rio Olympics as the worst ever seen
He added that one of the experts embedded in the local committee was a construction project manager.
“The IOC has adopted a more hands-on role,” he said.
“It is unprecedented for the IOC but there is no Plan B. We are going to Rio.”
John Coates said that, in his opinion, this was “a worse situation” than in 2004, when there were concerns about preparations for the Athens Games.
“It’s the worst that I’ve experienced,” he added.
“We have become very concerned. They are not ready in many, many ways. We have to make it happen and that is the IOC approach. You can’t walk away from this.”
Preparations for the 2004 Athens Games were marred by delayed in construction and service delivery, but the venues and infrastructure was ultimately delivered in time.
John Coates said that construction has not even started on some venues in Rio, which will host South America’s first Olympics, while infrastructure is significantly delayed and the city has “social issues that need to be addressed”.
He added that Rio organizers have the same number of staff – 600 – as London did at the same stage in their preparations for 2012, but did not have the necessary experience.
John Coates, who was involved in the organization of the Sydney 2000 Games as head of the Australian Olympic Committee said it was proving difficult for the IOC to get the answers they needed.
“No-one is able to give answers at the moment,” he said.
“Can they use the car parks in the village for recovery centers? What will be the time to take from this venue to this venue?
“All of those things, they’re being fobbed off.”
John Coates also claimed that only two people were working in Rio’s test event department with tournaments scheduled to start this year.
BP has reported profits of $3.22 billion for 2014 Q1.
The figure is a fall of 23% on the $4.22 billion for the same period in 2013, but that quarter included a $12.5 billion gain from BP’s sale of its stake in Russian venture TNK-BP.
The oil giant’s latest profit figure, which strips out the effect of oil price movements, was ahead of forecasts.
BP has reported profits of $3.22 billion for 2014 Q1
BP also said it would increase its dividend by 8%.
It said it would pay 9.75 cents a share – the second dividend increase in six months.
BP said its first quarter results had been affected by write-offs in its exploration activity, as well as lower production, which it said would edge lower in the second quarter.
On Monday, BP said it would not sever its ties with Russian company Rosneft, in which it owns a 20% stake, despite Rosneft’s chief executive being the target of another round of US sanctions.
Igor Sechin is on a list of individuals thought to be in Vladimir Putin’s “inner circle”, whose assets will be blocked in the US, following Russia’s intervention in Crimea and Ukraine.
But BP said it would continue to work with Rosneft, despite the sanctions, which prevent US companies from engaging with those named.
Igor Sechin has also said sanctions imposed on him will not affect Rosneft.
South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye has presented apologies to the families of Sewol ferry disaster’s victims in a televised statement.
Park Geun-hye said that the government had failed to prevent the disaster and bungled its emergency response.
Her apology comes amid ongoing work to retrieve bodies from the sunken hull.
The Sewol ferry sank with 476 people aboard – most of them high school students and teachers – off South Korea on April 16. A total of 174 were rescued.
The remainders have been confirmed dead or missing presumed drowned.
President Park Geun-hye visited the memorial of Sewol ferry disaster
Officials have retrieved almost 200 bodies and divers are continuing to search for those still unaccounted for.
“I don’t know how to apologize for the failure to prevent this accident, and for the insufficient first response,” Park Geun-hye said in the statement.
“I am sorry to the people and heavy-hearted that many precious lives were lost.”
Park Geun-hye’s apology comes amid mounting public anger and criticism over the disaster. Most of those on board were on a trip from Danwon high school in Ansan, south of Seoul.
She had earlier paid her respects at a memorial altar set up near the school. Local media reports said she was heckled by angry family members.
Attention has focused on why so few people were evacuated from the stricken vessel, and on the possibly negligence of the captain and crew.
On Sunday, South Korean PM Chung Hong-won offered his resignation over the disaster.
In her statement, Park Geun-hye said she would create a new government agency to handle large-scale accidents, Yonhap news agency reported.
The national safety ministry would also be placed under the prime minister’s office, the agency said.
It is not yet clear what caused the incident but investigations are focusing on whether modifications made to the vessel made it more unstable.
The Sewol ferry was also reported to be carrying cargo more than three times its approved amount.
All 15 crew members involved in the navigation of the ferry are now in custody, facing criminal negligence charges.
New pictures emerged on Monday that showed ferry captain Lee Joon-seok, 69, wearing a sweater and underpants, being rescued from the tilting vessel.
He was not at the helm when the ship got into trouble – instead the vessel was being steered by a third mate.
Another focus of the investigation is why passengers were told to remain in their cabins as the ship listed.
Divers have found many bodies of passengers, wearing life jackets, in cabins and public areas inside the ship.
North Korea is holding a live-fire drill near the disputed inter-Korean western maritime border, South Korean officials say.
It is the second time in a month that Pyongyang has carried out such exercises.
South Korea’s defense ministry said it was notified early on Tuesday that drills would take place near two islands west of the Korean peninsula.
North Korea is holding a live-fire drill near the disputed inter-Korean western maritime border
A South Korean spokesman said its military was “fully prepared”.
Firing began around 14:00, Reuters news agency quoted a military official as saying, and so far, no rounds had fallen south of the border.
That was the trigger last month for the South Koreans to return fire.
The area has long been a flashpoint between the two Koreas. The UN drew the western border after the Korean War, but North Korea has never recognized it.
A similar North Korean exercise at the end of March resulted in the two sides exchanging hundreds of rounds of artillery fire.
“The North notified us there would be live-fire drills today north of the [border] near Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong islands,” a defense ministry spokesman told AFP news agency.
Both islands are hotspots. In November 2010, North Korea fired shells at Yeonpyeong, killing two marines and two civilians, in what it said was a response to South Korean military exercises.
Earlier that year, a South Korean warship sank near Baengnyeong island with the loss of 46 lives.
Seoul says Pyongyang torpedoed the vessel but North Korea denies any role in the incident.
This latest move from North Korea comes as satellite images suggest Pyongyang could be preparing to carry out a nuclear test.
South Korea’s military said it had recently detected “a lot of activity” at the North’s Punggye-ri test site.
The test, if it went ahead, would be Pyongyang’s fourth, after tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
New tornadoes struck the southern US for a second night, raising the death toll above 20.
Six deaths were reported in Alabama and seven in Mississippi after tornadoes struck on Monday evening, although not all these fatalities were confirmed.
Several tornadoes flattened buildings, overturned vehicles and brought down utility lines on a second consecutive night of devastation.
At least 16 people died in Arkansas, Iowa and Oklahoma on Sunday night.
In Limestone county, Alabama, two deaths were confirmed by the coroner’s office and four deaths were reported, although unconfirmed, elsewhere in the county.
In Mississippi, a woman died when driving her car during the storm in Verona, south of Tupelo. Officials said seven people were killed in total across the state but coroners had yet to confirm that number.
The mayor of Tupelo, Jason Shelton, told CNN the damage from the storms was widespread and “devastating”. A 21:00 local time curfew was in place on Monday.
Many homes and businesses, including a new secondary school worth $14 million, were left in ruins in Vilonia after the storm (photo AP)
Power went out in much of the city as lines went down and trees were torn up by the storm, the US National Weather Service reported.
Giles Ward huddled in a bathroom with his wife and four other relatives as a tornado destroyed his brick house and overturned his son-in-law’s four-wheel-drive parked outside his home in Louisville, Winston County, Mississippi.
Meanwhile, emergency crews are continuing to search through rubble for survivors of the severe storms which struck one day earlier.
Of the 16 people who died on Sunday night, 14 of them were in the suburbs of Little Rock, Arkansas. A preliminary death toll there was 16 but it was later amended.
But the number may yet rise as crews search the wreckage of destroyed buildings.
“We’re trying to make sure everyone is accounted for,” Brandon Morris, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, told the Associated Press news agency.
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said the storm “may be one of the strongest we have seen”.
President Barack Obama, on a trip to the Philippines, offered his deepest condolences to those affected on Sunday and said federal emergency officials would be on the ground to help.
“Your country will be there to help you recover and rebuild, as long as it takes,” he said.
Mayflower and Vilonia, two small towns in Faulkner County, appear to have borne the brunt of the damage on Sunday.
The Arkansas tornado touched down about 10 miles west of the city of Little Rock and left a 40-mile path of destruction.
It is said to have passed through several northern suburbs – including Mayflower where a witness described a twister half a mile wide crossing Interstate 40 on Sunday evening, the National Weather Service said.
Congressman Tim Griffin told Reuters news agency an “entire neighborhood of 50 homes or so” in Faulkner County had been destroyed, with many “completely gone except the foundation”.
Many homes and businesses, including a new secondary school worth $14 million, were left in ruins in Vilonia after the storm.
AstraZeneca’s shares rose by more than 14% on Monday, after pharmaceutical giant Pfizer confirmed its interest in a takeover bid.
Pfizer said it had contacted AstraZeneca over a multi-billion dollar bid for the UK-based drug maker.
If successful, the deal would be the biggest ever takeover of a UK firm by a foreign company.
Pfizer said it approached AstraZeneca on Saturday, after an initial offer in January, worth $95 billion, was rebuffed.
AstraZeneca’s shares rose by more than 14 percent on Monday, after pharmaceutical giant Pfizer confirmed its interest in a takeover bid (photo Getty Images)
AstraZeneca said the original offer “significantly undervalued” the firm, which employs more than 51,000 staff.
However, AstraZeneca said it was “confident” its strategy would create “significant value” for shareholders on its own.
“The Board remains confident in the ongoing execution of AstraZeneca’s strategy as an independent company,” it added.
Pfizer said in a statement that AstraZeneca’s refusal to engage meant it was currently “considering its options”.
AstraZeneca manufactures drugs in 16 countries focusing on treatments for diabetes, cancer and asthma as well as antibiotics.
Recently the company posted a drop in first quarter profits – and laid off thousands of staff in an effort to reduce its costs to compensate for a fall in sales – due to patent losses on blockbuster medicines.
In April, AstraZeneca posted a drop in first quarter profits after its earnings were by hit by patents expiring on some of its older medicines.
Pfizer said the deal was “a highly compelling opportunity” for AstraZeneca’s shareholders.
It said if the takeover went through, the combined company would have management in both the US and the UK, but would list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
Adjusting your lifestyle with these few simple tips can help you on your way to a smoother-looking body.
Eat more berries
A healthy diet plays an important role in keeping the signs of cellulite at bay. Toxins tend to accumulate under our skin reducing skin elasticity and restricting blood circulation in the capillaries. According to many studies, berries – especially blueberries – are the richest in antioxidants which are important toxin-fighting compounds. Blueberries also contain polyphenols, which appear to help keep the body from forming fat tissue. In a study conducted at the Texas Women’s College, subjects who had more polyphenols produced less fatty tissue than those in the control group.
Eat more liver-supporting foods
A healthy diet plays an important role in keeping the signs of cellulite at bay
Cellulite can form when toxins are built up within the body and therefore harden the septa (net-like fibrous connective tissue. When the septa are pushed downwards, the fat cells are squeezed into small bulges that translate into the “orange peel” effect). “The best way of reducing the amount of toxins in your body is to eat more liver-supporting foods,” explains Dr. Carina Norris, registered nutritionist and author of You Are What You Eat . “The best examples of these foods are artichoke, lemon juice, milk thistle and dandelion root tea.”
Drink green tea
Although green tea has not yet been specifically tested as a treatment for cellulite it has received a lot of recognition as being a possible treatment for obesity. Whilst losing fat won’t completely solve cellulite, it’s been shown to help, according to research conducted at the Laboratoires Arkopharma in France. Try sipping on 2-3 cups a day of the green stuff to get the most benefits.
Use spices and herbs
Spices and herbs contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and other ingredients that typically support connective tissue health and discourage fat cell expansion – perfect for your figure. The best spice to add to your diet is chilli, “can boost your metabolism by up to 25% for three hours after you eat them”, explains Dr. Carina Norris. Just be careful not to eat too many if you have a sensitive digestive system.
Supplement your diet with gotu kola
Gotu kola extract has been specifically researched for its benefits in reducing cellulite, and it is one of the few herbs that has been successful in garnering good results. Gotu kola extract improves elasticity and thickens the skin, helping minimise the appearance of bumpy cellulite. In a study described by Dr. Tatjana Pavicic, the Head of Dermatology at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, gotu kola extract given orally at a dose of 60 mg for 90 days was effective in the treatment of cellulite. Gotu kola extract can be found at health food stores. Speak to your doctor before taking any supplements.
Eat more lean protein
Your skin and blood vessels are made of protein – if there isn’t enough protein those tissues will suffer. “Most women simply do not eat enough protein to maintain optimum skin and blood vessel health,” explains Dr. Carina Norris. “The best sources of lean protein include chicken (without the skin), lean cuts of beef, pork and eggs. Vegans can opt for pulses such as lentils, peas, beans and chick peas”, she adds.
Cut saturated fats
As well as putting a strain on vein and artery walls, leading to circulatory problems, saturated fat is very calorie-dense (or fattening). Eating too many calories leads to cells becoming bigger. Cell walls struggle to keep their shape and cellulite forms. “Grill or steam food instead of frying it, and increase your salmon consumption, it contains fatty acids such as omega 3 and 6 as these help reduce cells sticking together,” suggests Dr. Carina Norris.
Use coffee as skin scrub
A build-up of toxins in the body can affect the dermis and contribute to cellulite formation, which is why drinking coffee is not advised if you’re trying to combat cellulite, but java does have its uses in the fight against dimply thighs. In a study by the University of Tennessee, researchers found that adding caffeine to anti-inflammatory creams significantly increased their effectiveness, so try using coffee as a skin scrub – Grab a handful of wet coffee granules to vigorously massage into dimpled skin twice a week.
Steven Spielberg will direct a new film of The BFG, Roald Dahl’s much-loved children’s book about a “Big Friendly Giant”.
Steven Spielberg will begin shooting in early 2015.
First published in 1982, the book tells of an orphaned girl named Sophie who is befriended one night by a kindly giant.
Roald Dahl considered The BFG one of his favorite books
According to the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, the film will be released in 2016 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the author’s birth.
“We are delighted that Steven Spielberg will bring his inventive genius to directing the story of The BFG,” it said in a statement.
Steven Spielberg will work from a screenplay by Melissa Mathison, who previously wrote the Oscar-nominated script for his 1982 hit E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
“The BFG has enchanted families and their children for more than three decades,” said Steven Spielberg in a statement posted on the Roald Dahl website.
“We are honored that the Roald Dahl estate has entrusted us with this classic story.”
Frank Marshall will produce the film, while Michael Siegel and John Madden will serve as its executive producers.
Steven Spielberg, 67, has not directed a film since 2012’s historical epic Lincoln.
He is also producing a Cold War thriller with Tom Hanks that he may also direct.
Roald Dahl, who died in 1990 at the age of 74, considered The BFG one of his favorite books.
Beyonce and Jay-Z have announced a live 16-date tour together across the US.
On the Run Tour: Beyonce and Jay-Z will see the husband and wife team perform dates from June 25 until August 5.
On the Run Tour: Beyonce and Jay-Z will see the husband and wife team perform dates from June 25 until August 5
Beyonce and Jay-Z were recognized in January as Billboard’s most powerful people in music.
They also hit headlines after their raunchy performance of Beyonce’s hit Drunk in Love, which opened this year’s Grammys ceremony.
One dollar from each ticket sale will be donated to Jay-Z’s self-named Shawn Carter Foundation which supports students in higher education.
Beyonce’s hits include Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), Irreplaceable and Crazy in Love, while hip-hop artist and producer Jay-Z’s successes include the celebrated albums The Blueprint and The Black Album, both of which feature on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
DJ E-Z Rock, who found fame with rapper Rob Base with 1988 hip-hop track It Takes Two, has died aged 46.
According to Rolling Stone magazine, DJ E-Z Rock – also known as Rodney “Skip” Bryce – died on Sunday, April 27. The cause of his death has yet to be revealed.
DJ E-Z Rock found fame with rapper Rob Base with 1988 hip-hop track It Takes Two
It Takes Two enjoyed modest success on its first release but was later sampled by Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown, Maxsta and many others.
Rob Base paid tribute to Bryce on Twitter, calling him his “friend” and “brother”.
Rapper Biz Markie also took to the social media platform to mourn his death, saying he would “truly be missed”.
Rodney Bryce and Rob Base – real name Robert Ginyard – became friends at school and released their first single, DJ Interview, in 1986.
It Takes Two followed two years later, accompanied by a video in which E-Z Rock made a memorable dancing cameo.
Ukraine has threatened to take Russia’s Gazprom to court over what it says are inflated gas prices if the company refuses a new payment deal.
Ukraine’s PM Arseniy Yatseniuk, said Kiev was ready to pay $268 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas and settle its $2.2 billion debt with Gazprom if it agreed to the price.
Gazprom has so far declined to comment.
Russia almost doubled Ukraine’s gas price after the toppling of President Viktor Yanukovich in February.
Ukraine has threatened to take Russia’s Gazprom to court over inflated gas prices (photo AFP)
PM Arseniy Yatseniuk has said his country is not willing to pay at those levels.
“We insist that the price set for Ukraine at the beginning of 2014 [$268 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres] is a market one,” he added.
“We insist on the continuation of this price.”
Ukraine’s state gas company, Naftogaz, has started the process of taking Gazprom to an arbitration tribunal in Stockholm if the Russian state-controlled firm does not agree to the offer within 30 days, Arseniy Yatseniuk said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s interim prime minister announced another gas deal that allows supplies from Central Europe to reach the country via Slovakia.
Under the agreement, signed on Monday, Slovakia will reinstate a disused pipeline capable of supplying three billion cubic metres of gas a year to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s energy minister, Yuri Prodan, said the country would soon start gas import talks with Hungary, as it tries to reduce its reliance on Russia, which accounts for about half of its total supply.
New US sanctions have been imposed on seven Russian individuals and 17 companies it says are linked to President Vladimir Putin’s “inner circle”.
The White House said the move was a response to “Russia’s continued illegal intervention in Ukraine”.
Those targeted include Igor Sechin, head of oil giant Rosneft, and Sergei Chemezov of the hi-tech firm Rostec.
The announcement comes after the mayor of Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine, was shot and critically wounded.
Hennadiy Kernes was recovering after an operation to repair damage to the chest and abdomen, but his life remained in danger, his office said.
Monday also saw pro-Russian separatists, whom Western nations accuse Moscow of supporting, seize a local government building in Kostyantynivka, a town in the eastern Donetsk region.
New US sanctions have been imposed on seven Russian individuals and 17 companies
In Donetsk itself, pro-Russian activists armed with clubs and chains attacked a pro-unity rally, correspondents and eyewitnesses said. A number of people were injured in the clash.
Separatists were also continuing to detain about 40 people in the town of Sloviansk, including journalists, pro-Kiev activists and seven military observers linked to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as well as three members of Ukraine’s security service, officials in Kiev said.
At a special meeting of the OSCE’s permanent council in Vienna, Russian ambassador Andrei Kelin said Moscow was taking “steps” to secure the observers’ release. But the area around Sloviansk was very tense and it had been “extremely irresponsible” to send them there, he added.
The US and EU first imposed visa bans and asset freezes on a number of senior Russian officials and companies after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine last month.
On Thursday, the White House said it was adding to its sanction list “in response to Russia’s continued illegal intervention in Ukraine and provocative acts that undermine Ukraine’s democracy and threaten its peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity”.
It accused Russia of “doing nothing to meet the commitments it made” at a meeting with Ukraine, the US and EU in Geneva on April 17, which it said had included refraining from violence or provocative acts.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow’s response would be “painful for Washington”.
He told the Interfax news agency that the Kremlin was “disgusted” by the sanctions, which he said showed the White House had “completely lost touch with reality”.
Most of the 17 companies targeted are linked to Arkady and Boris Rotenberg and Gennady Timchenko – individuals targeted in the previous sanctions list.
The latest measures also target some hi-tech exports that “could contribute to Russia’s military capabilities”.
Diplomats in Brussels also said European Union governments had reached a preliminary agreement to impose asset freezes and visa bans on another 15 people as part of expanded sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine. The names are expected to be released on Tuesday, although more could still be added.
George Clooney is to wed his girlfriend, lawyer Amal Alamuddin, her law firm has confirmed.
“The barristers and staff of Doughty Street Chambers offer their best wishes and congratulations… on their engagement to be married,” the London firm said in a statement.
George Clooney, 52, and Amal Alamuddin, 36, have been dating since last October, according to reports.
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin have been dating since last October (photo Getty Images)
The actor was previously married to Talia Balsam, whom he divorced in 1993.
Since then, George Clooney has been seen as one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors.
Amal Alamuddin was educated at Oxford and New York University and was recruited by her current firm in 2010.
The British human rights lawyer has represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in extradition proceedings and advised UN former secretary-general Kofi Annan on the Syrian crisis.
Doughty Street chief executive Robin Jackson said Amal Alamuddin had been “utterly wonderful” since she joined the firm in 2010.
A fluent French and Arabic speaker, Amal Alamuddin is said to have spent time with George Clooney in New York, Tanzania and the Seychelles.
Speculation that George Clooney was planning to remarry escalated over the weekend after his girlfriend was seen wearing a ring on her wedding finger at a Los Angeles restaurant.
Singers Paul Simon and Edie Brickell have been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, according to New Canaan Police in Connecticut.
Officers were called to the couple’s New Canaan home at about 20:00 local time on Saturday to investigate “a family dispute”.
Paul Simon and Edie Brickell, who have been married for more than 20 years, are due to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on Monday.
Singers Paul Simon and Edie Brickell have been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct
Paul Simon, 72, first found fame as one half of folk duo Simon and Garfunkel.
Edie Brickell, 48, was lead singer of Edie Brickell & New Bohemians.
The folk-rock band had a big hit with their debut single What I Am in 1988 and the track was covered by former Spice Girl Emma Bunton in 1999.
Earlier this year, Edie Brickell won a Grammy award with Steve Martin for best American roots song, Love Has Come For You.
Edie Brickell is due to start touring in May with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers across the US and Canada.
A New Canaan police news conference is expected to take place later on Monday.
According to local media, Paul Simon and Edie Brickell have lived in New Canaan with their three children for years. New Canaan Police did not want to release their address.
Apple and Samsung have both issued alerts about faults on iPhone5 and Galaxy S5 handsets.
Apple has begun a replacement program for some of its iPhone 5 handsets that have a faulty sleep/wake button.
Separately, Samsung has revealed that some of its flagship Galaxy S5 handsets have been shipped with a non-functioning camera.
It said anyone who bought an S5 with a faulty camera should contact Samsung’s customer service or their mobile operator to get the phone replaced.
Samsung has revealed that some of its flagship Galaxy S5 handsets have been shipped with a non-functioning camera
Samsung said it had found a “very limited” number of handsets had been shipped with the fault. It said it had traced the cause of the problem and had taken steps to ensure it did not re-occur in future production runs.
“We have discovered that the issue has been seen in a very limited portion of early production Galaxy S5 units, and was caused by complications in the Read Only Memory component which stores the information necessary to operate the camera,” Samsung said in a statement.
Samsung declined to say how many handsets were affected but did say that the faulty handsets had been reported in the US and several other countries.
Apple said a “small percentage” of iPhone 5 handsets were affected by manufacturing problems that meant its sleep/wake button stopped working or only worked intermittently.
It said it would replace the sleep/wake mechanism in affected phones free of charge. To help customers it has set up a webpage on which they can enter the serial number of their phone to see if it is in the affected batch.
The faulty button is believed to affect iPhone 5 handsets manufactured before May 2013.
Apple’s replacement program begins in the US on April 28 and rolls out worldwide on May 2. Customers with affected handsets can either post their device to an Apple repair centre or drop it off in person.
An Egypt court has recommended the death penalty for 683 people – including Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie – at a mass trial in Cairo.
The defendants faced charges over an attack on a police station in Minya in 2013 in which a policeman was killed.
However, the judge also commuted to life terms 492 death sentences out of 529 passed in March in a separate case.
Also on Monday, a court banned a youth group that helped ignite the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
The decision passed in Cairo to outlaw the April 6 pro-democracy movement was based on a complaint that accused the group of “tarnishing the image” of Egypt and colluding with foreign parties.
Ahmed Maher, the group’s leader, was sentenced to three years in prison in December for violating a law that bans all but police-sanctioned protests.
The cases and speed of the mass trial hearings have drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups and the UN.
The trials took just hours each and the court prevented defense lawyers from presenting their case, according to Human Right Watch.
Families outside the court were not told who of the 529 sentenced in March faced the death penalty (photo Reuters)
The sentences have been referred to the Grand Mufti – Egypt’s top Islamic authority – for approval or rejection, a step which correspondents say is usually considered a formality. A final decision will be issued in June.
Authorities have cracked down harshly on Islamists since President Mohamed Morsi, who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, was removed by the military in July.
Hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested.
The verdict was the first against Mohammed Badie in the several trials he faces on various charges along with Mohamed Morsi himself and other Brotherhood leaders.
Of the 683 sentenced on Monday, only about 50 are in detention but the others have a right to a retrial if they hand themselves in.
The group was accused of involvement in the murder and attempted murder of policemen in Minya province on August 14, the day police killed hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters in clashes in Cairo.
Defense lawyers boycotted the last session, branding it “farcical.”
The final judgement on the sentencing of the 529 Muslim Brotherhood supporters accused of attacking another police station in the same province on the same day means 37 will now face the death penalty.
Defense lawyer Khaled Elkomy said 60% of those defendants, including teachers and doctors, have evidence that “proves they were not present” when that station was attacked, a statement released by human rights group Avaaz said.
Last month, the UN human rights commissioner condemned the two trials and said they had breached international human rights law.
A spokesman for Navi Pillay said the “cursory mass trial” was “rife with procedural irregularities.”
The government had defended the court’s handling of the first mass case, insisting that the sentences were passed only “after careful study” and were subject to appeal.
At least 1,000 opponents of the military-installed regime have been sentenced since December. As well as the death sentences, the jail terms passed range from six months to life.
The authorities have designated the Brotherhood a terrorist group, blaming it for a series of bombings and attacks. The group has strongly denied the accusations.
V. Stiviano and her Instagram page was the topic of much conversation on April 26, hours after TMZ broke the news containing an explosive conversation between her and Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
Since Friday night, when TMZ posted what it said were the recordings between Donald Sterling and V. Stiviano, she has emerged as a central figure in the scandal, which has generated widespread condemnation and has prompted the NBA to launch an investigation.
On the audiotape, V. Stiviano, 31, appears to spar with the man said to be Donald Sterling, pointing out that she herself is black and Mexican. At other times, she is conciliatory, apologizing and tenderly offering him a sip of juice.
TMZ has described V. Stiviano as being a model “who loves posting hot bikini pics of herself”. She also loved posting pics at Clippers games.
It is not the first time that Donald Sterling has been at the center of a controversy. His estranged wife, Rochelle Sterling, previously filed a lawsuit against V. Stiviano, who is also known as Vanessa Perez, Monica Gallegos and Maria Valdez, alleging that Stiviano reportedly met Donald Sterling in February 2010 and began an adulterous affair with the Clippers owner.
V. Stiviano was sued last month by Rochelle Sterling, who seeks the return of the duplex as well as a Ferrari, two Bentleys and a Range Rover she said her husband bought for Stiviano.
V. Stiviano was sued last month by Donald Sterling’s wife, who seeks the return of the duplex as well as a Ferrari, two Bentleys and a Range Rover
Rochelle Sterling alleges in the lawsuit that her husband Donald Sterling met V. Stiviano at the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami. The suit describes V. Stiviano as a seductress who targets wealthy older men like the 80-year-old Donald Sterling.
According to property records, V. Stiviano purchased the duplex in December 2013. But Rochelle Sterling says that she allowed her husband to pay for the house, believing that her name would be on the deed along with his.
Donald Sterling also gave V. Stiviano $240,000 for living expenses, according to Rochelle Sterling’s lawsuit, amounting to $2 million of community property that he allegedly spent on Stiviano without his wife’s knowledge.
In a response to the lawsuit, V. Stiviano argues that Rochelle Sterling must have known that her husband of more than 50 years had romantic relationships outside of his marriage.
V. Stiviano’s court filing ridicules the notion that the “feminine wiles of Ms. Stiviano overpowered the iron will of Donald T. Sterling who is well known as one of the most shrewd businessmen in the world”. V. Stiviano’s papers, however, do not acknowledge that she was in a romantic relationship with Sterling.
Her attorney, Mac Nehoray, said Sunday the tape is authentic but that his client did not release it to TMZ.
“Neither Ms. Stiviano, nor this office has ever alleged that Ms. Stiviano is, or ever was, Mr. Sterling’s girlfriend,” Mac Nehoray said in a statement Sunday night.
Mac Nehoray wrote in court papers that his client was “a veritable fixture” at Donald Sterling’s business offices. A Clippers spokesman said V. Stiviano does not work for the team, though he said it is possible she is employed by one of Donald Sterling’s other business ventures.
An advertisement for a 2011 charity luncheon lists V. Stiviano as a director of the Donald Tokowitz Sterling Charitable Foundation, with Sterling as chairman.
In 2010, V. Stiviano legally changed her name to “V. Stiviano” from Maria Vanessa Perez. Her stated reason in a court petition: She had not “yet been fully accepted because of my race.”
Since then, she has created hats and shirts emblazoned with “V. Stiviano.” Her Instagram is dotted with photos of people posing in the “V. Stiviano” gear.
Mac Nehoray said in a statement that the tape is part of an hour-long conversation between V. Stiviano and Donald Sterling.
Rochelle Sterling, wife of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, attended the team’s Game 4 match against Golden State on Sunday and she was asked questions about the racist remarks that have been attributed to her husband.
Rochelle Sterling, wife of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, attended the team’s Game 4 match against Golden State on Sunday (photo ABC)
Donald Sterling was not in attendance at his team game.
According to ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Rochelle Sterling was adamant that she does not support the comments that have been attributed to her husband. She said that she is not a racist, never has been and never will be.
When Rochelle Sterling was asked whether it was her husband’s voice on the tapes that were released over the weekend, she said hadn’t heard the entire recording and that she wasn’t sure.
Shortly after arriving in Philippines, President Barack Obama held talks with President Benigno Aquino and was later to attend a state dinner.
Manila is the final stop of the US president’s four-nation Asia tour.
President Barack Obama says that a new US-Philippine military pact will promote stability in the region.
The deal, signed in Manila hours before Barack Obama touched down, allows a bigger US military presence in the country.
Barack Obama arrives in Philippines, the final stop of his four-nation Asia tour
Barack Obama said the deal was not intended to contain China, with whom Manila is embroiled in a bitter territorial row.
But he backed Manila’s move to seek UN arbitration over its maritime dispute with Beijing.
“Our goal is not to counter China. Our goal is not to contain China. Our goal is to make sure international rules and norms are respected and that includes in the area of international disputes,” he said.
The 10-year military deal was signed by Philippine Defense Minister Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador Philip Goldberg on Monday morning.
Under the agreement, the US will have better access to military bases, ports and airfields. US troops would rotate through these facilities and engage in joint training, officials said.
Barack Obama said the US was not planning to rebuild old bases or construct new ones under the security pact.
“We’ll work together to build the Philippines’ defense capabilities and work with other nations to promote regional stability such as in the South China Sea,” he said.
In a statement, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario described it as “milestone in our shared history as enduring treaty allies”.
“The EDCA [Enhanced Defense Co-operation Agreement] elevates to a higher plane of engagement our already robust defense alliance,” he said.
However, the presence of foreign troops is a sensitive issue in the Philippines, a former US colony.
Anti-US activists who say the deal will not benefit the Philippines and harms its sovereignty were expected to protest during Barack Obama’s visit.
The US used to have large bases in the Philippines but these were closed in the early 1990s. US troops have also been active in the southern Philippines, where al-Qaeda-linked militants are based.
In recent months, however, Washington and Manila have moved to strengthen ties again, as the Philippine relationship with China has deteriorated amid a more assertive stance from Beijing on its territorial claims.
Pfizer has confirmed it has contacted AstraZeneca over a possible multi-billion dollar takeover.
The pharmaceutical said it made an initial approach in January, but after “limited high-level discussions” AstraZeneca discontinued the talks on January 14.
However, it said recent market developments had prompted it to approach AstraZeneca for a second time.
Pfizer has confirmed it has contacted AstraZeneca over a possible multi-billion dollar takeover
“AstraZeneca again declined to engage. Pfizer is currently considering its options,” Pfizer said in a statement.
Pfizer said its initial offer in January was a combination of cash and shares worth $75 per AstraZeneca share, worth $94 billion in total.
At the time, it represented a 30% premium to AstraZeneca’s share price, although AstraZeneca’s share price has since increased and on Monday morning it jumped nearly 15% .
Pfizer said the deal was “a highly compelling opportunity” for AstraZeneca’s shareholders.
It said if the takeover went through, the combined firm would have management in both the US and the UK, but would list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
“We have great respect for AstraZeneca and its proud heritage,” said Pfizer chairman and chief executive Ian Read.
Pfizer said it would only make a firm offer if AstraZeneca directors voted unanimously in favor of the deal.
“The strategic, business and financial rationale for a transaction is compelling,” it added.
Buying AstraZeneca would give Pfizer, which makes Viagra among other drugs, access to a number of cancer and diabetes drugs.
At least 12 people have been killed by tornadoes in Arkansas and Oklahoma as a huge storm system swept across America’s midsection Sunday.
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe confirmed on Twitter Sunday that there were 11 fatalities in his state.
“There are now 11 confirmed deaths from this storm. 5 in Faulkner County, 5 in Pulaski County, 1 in White County,” Mike Beebe tweeted.
One other person was killed in the town of Quapaw in the north-east of Oklahoma where officials said many buildings were badly damaged.
Tornadoes also struck in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.
At least 12 people have been killed by tornadoes in Arkansas and Oklahoma as a huge storm system swept across America’s midsection
President Barack Obama, on a trip to the Philippines, offered his deepest condolences to those affected and said federal emergency officials would be on the ground to help: “Your country will be there to help you recover and rebuild, as long as it takes.”
Matt DeCample, a spokesman for Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, said eleven people had been killed in several suburbs west and north of Little Rock – five in Faulkner County, five in Pulaski County and one in White County.
Congressman Tim Griffin told Reuters news agency an “entire neighborhood of 50 homes or so” in Faulkner County had been destroyed, with many “completely gone except the foundation”.
First reports from Oklahoma said two people had died in Quapaw but officials later revised the figure down to one. Another six people were injured.
Quapaw, which has a population of about 900, was badly hit by the tornado, Ottawa County Emergency Management director Joe Dan Morgan said.
“Looks like about half of town got extensive damage as well as the fire department,” he said.
The tornado then headed northwards into the state of Kansas where it struck Baxter Springs, injuring several people and causing further damage.
The Arkansas tornado touched down about 10 miles west of the city of Little Rock and left a 40 mile path of destruction.
It is said to have passed through several northern suburbs – including the town of Mayflower where it destroyed several buildings.
A witness in Mayflower reported a tornado half a mile wide crossing Interstate 40 on Sunday evening, the National Weather Service said.
Over the weekend, storms struck the eastern part of the US, killing a child in North Carolina.
Tori Spelling has been hospitalized for undisclosed reasons, E! News and Us Weekly reported.
Recently, Tori Spelling, 40, has been airing her tumultuous private life for the world to see on her Lifetime reality series True Tori.
Tori Spelling has been hospitalized for undisclosed reasons
After Dean McDermott’s affair with 28-year-old Emily Goodhand, Tori Spelling and her husband have worked to salvage their turbulent marriage.
Since Dean McDermott’s betrayal, the couple has been trying to work out their issues with a therapist on the Lifetime show.
It’s unclear if Tori Spelling’s hospitalization was related to stress from filming the show.
E! says the actress was spotted on Saturday “with a pink hospital band still on her wrist as her husband helped her make her way to an awaiting SUV”.
The website also website Dean McDermott stayed by Torri Spelling’s side at the hospital, often visiting for up to 10 hours a day. Tori Spelling was hospitalized for “at least six days.”
The next episode of True Tori airs Tuesday night at 10.
