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France pulls out of Rwanda genocide memorial after President Paul Kagame’s comments

Roy Siemens
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France pulls out of Rwanda genocide memorial after President Paul Kagame’s comments

France has announced that it is pulling out of the 20th anniversary commemorations on Monday for the Rwandan genocide.

The French government’s decision follows an accusation by Rwandan President Paul Kagame that France participated in the mass killings in 1994.

Paul Kagame has previously made similar allegations, which France has denied.

The French foreign ministry said the remarks went against reconciliation efforts between the two countries.

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira has cancelled her plans to attend the events in Kigali on Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal says.

Speaking to the French-language weekly news magazine Jeune Afrique, Paul Kagame denounced the “direct role of Belgium and France in the political preparation for the genocide”.

Rwanda was a Belgian colony until 1962.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused France of participating in the mass killings in 1994
Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused France of participating in the mass killings in 1994

In the interview, due to be published on Sunday but carried out on March 27, Paul Kagame is quoted as saying that, 20 years on, “the only plausible reproach in [France’s] eyes is in not having done enough to save lives during the genocide”.

It comes as Rwanda prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the atrocities that claimed at least 800,000 lives – mostly ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus – over a period of about 100 days.

The violence was triggered by the death of President Juvenal Habyarimana, an ethnic Hutu who was killed in a plane crash on April 6, 1994.

It came to an end after Paul Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) – a Tutsi-led rebel group – defeated government troops in July that year.

His party still controls the government and has long accused France – an ally of Juvenal Habyarimana’s government at the time – of aiding the genocide.

In recent years there has been a thaw in relations between the two countries, with a visit by Paul Kagame to Paris in 2011 and the establishment by France of a genocide investigation unit.

Last month, a Paris court sentenced former Rwandan spy chief Pascal Simbikangwa to 25 years in jail for his role in the genocide – the first such conviction in France.

France has acknowledged that serious errors were made during the genocide in Rwanda.

A Rwandan commission in 2008 said France was aware of preparations for the genocide and helped train ethnic Hutu militias who participated in killings.

Paris said its forces helped protect civilians as part of an UN-mandated intervention in Rwanda. But Paul Kagame said French troops had protected the militias carrying out the killings.

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Hungary elections 2014: Viktor Orban and Fidesz tipped to win another term in office

Diane A. Wade
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Hungary elections 2014: Viktor Orban and Fidesz tipped to win another term in office

Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban and his right-wing Fidesz party are seeking another term in office in elections on Sunday.

Fidesz is expected to win between 45 and 50% of the vote, polls suggest.

The centre-left opposition is facing a close race for second place with the far-right Jobbik party.

The Hungarian left has never fully recovered from its heavy defeat in the 2010 ballot, in which Viktor Orban swept to power with a two-thirds majority.

The election is mainly being fought over the state of the economy, correspondents say.

Socialist leader Attila Mesterhazy, who heads an opposition coalition of five parties, said he could still defeat Viktor Orban, despite trailing behind in opinion polls with around 25%.

Viktor Orban and his right-wing Fidesz party are seeking another term in office in elections on Sunday
Viktor Orban and his right-wing Fidesz party are seeking another term in office in elections on Sunday (photo Daily News Hungary)

“I don’t care about the polls, people are afraid of expressing their views,” Attila Mesterhazy said Saturday at a small rally in the capital, Budapest.

“I believe I will be prime minister.”

Critics say the state of democracy in Hungary has been eroded under Viktor Orban’s premiership.

The opposition – composed of five leftist and centrist parties – also accuses Viktor Orban of curtailing civil liberties and harming free speech.

But Fidesz has insisted that reform was needed in order to complete the work of eradicating the legacy of Communism from the country, and reduce the budget deficit to below the EU’s required 3% of gross domestic product.

Viktor Orban’s populist and Eurosceptic approach has proven popular with many Hungarians.

“The left had eight years to show what they can do, and they showed us all right,” Viktor Orban told Hungarian media on Saturday.

“Why on Earth should we believe that the same people and the same parties would not do the same if given another opportunity?”

Jobbik is also expected to do well in Sunday’s election, potentially receiving up to 20% of the vote.

Observers say the far-right party’s adoption of a softer image has paid dividends, as a recent opinion poll found leader Gabor Vona to be the most popular opposition politician.

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HIV home test kits sales approved in UK for first time

Kathryn R. Bown
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HIV home test kits sales approved in UK for first time

HIV home tests can be bought over the counter in the UK for the first time.

However, none is available yet in the country.

The UK made a change in the law meaning it is now legal for people to test and diagnose themselves at home.

Previously, people could carry out tests they ordered online at home and send away their results, but were diagnosed over the phone.

HIV home tests can be bought over the counter in the UK for the first time
HIV home tests can be bought over the counter in the UK for the first time

It is hoped the move will help the UK’s 25,000 undiagnosed HIV-positive people.

No tests have yet been developed that pass European guidelines, said the government’s health regulator.

Home testing for HIV was approved by the UK’s government last September but the law only came into effect on Sunday.

The Terrence Higgins Trust HIV charity said the tests could be introduced into the UK this year or in early 2015.

The UK is leading Europe in making the kits available over the counter, but they were introduced to the US in 2012.

Testing could involve taking a small drop of blood from a finger, or a swab from the inside of the mouth.

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MH370: Second black box ping detected

Diane A. Wade
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MH370: Second black box ping detected

Australia’s Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston coordinating the search for missing Malaysian Airlines plane say a Chinese ship has detected a pulse signal for a second time, within hours of it being heard earlier on Saturday.

ACM Angus Houston called the discovery in the southern Indian Ocean an “important and encouraging lead”.

He warned that the data were still unverified.

British naval ship HMS Echo is sailing to the area to investigate further.

It is expected to arrive in the early hours of Monday.

Australian aircraft were also on their way, ACM Angus Houston told reporters. Australian naval vessel Ocean Shield would be heading to the latest search area once it had investigated a third acoustic detection elsewhere.

Both HMS Echo and ADV Ocean Shield have technology able to detect underwater signals emitted by data recorders.

A second pulse signal was detected less than 1.2 miles from the original
A second pulse signal was detected less than 1.2 miles from the original

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board. Investigators believe it crashed in the Indian Ocean although no confirmed debris has been found. The battery-powered signal from the “black box” recorders fades after 30 days.

After confirming details of the first pulse detected on Saturday which had “characteristics consistent with” an aircraft’s flight recorder, Angus Houston told a news briefing at Pearce Air Base near Perth of a second signal.

“[Saturday] afternoon Perth time, there was another acoustic detection less than 2 km [1.2 miles] from the original.”

The second signal lasted about 90 seconds, he said.

The search coordinator insisted the latest developments should be treated as unverified “until such time as we can provide an unequivocal determination”.

“We are working in a very big ocean and within a very large search area, and so far since the aircraft went missing we have had very few leads which allow us to narrow the search area,” he said.

“I assure you that we will follow up and exhaust every credible lead that we receive.”

A dozen military aircraft and 13 ships are already searching three areas about 1,240 miles north-west of the Australian city of Perth.

Australian PM Tony Abbott earlier said he was “hopeful but by no means certain” that the signal detected on Saturday was linked to missing flight MH370.

Haixun 01 picked up the first so-called “ping” signal at about 25 degrees south latitude and 101 degrees east longitude, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

The signal reportedly had a frequency of 37.5 kHz – the same as that emitted by the flight recorders.

Three people on board the boat were said to have heard the pings, which were not recorded as they came suddenly.

Xinhua also reported that a Chinese military plane had spotted a number of white floating objects about 60 miles away a few hours earlier.

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Afghanistan elections 2014: More than 7 million people voted in presidential poll

Diane A. Wade
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Afghanistan elections 2014: More than 7 million people voted in presidential poll

More than 7 million people out of an estimated eligible 12 million voted in Afghanistan’s election for a new president, the country’s electoral commission says.

It is Afghanistan’s first transfer of power via the ballot box.

There are reports of ballot paper shortages and sporadic violence from across the country.

Eight candidates are seeking to succeed President Hamid Karzai, barred by the constitution from seeking a third term.

Hamid Karzai has declared Saturday’s poll “a success”. Final results may not be declared for days.

A massive operation was launched to thwart the Taliban, who had vowed to disrupt the election, and heavy rainfall may have depressed turnout in some areas.

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairman Ahmad Yousuf Nouristani said its latest estimates were that more than seven million people had voted by 17:00 local time, when the polls had officially closed and counting began.

Two-thirds of those who voted were men and one third women, the commission believes. Some polling stations stayed open until 21:00 to allow everyone queuing to vote.

“This election was a message to the enemies of Afghanistan,” Ahmad Yousuf Nouristani said.

More than 7 million people out of an estimated eligible 12 million voted in Afghanistan's election for a new president
More than 7 million people out of an estimated eligible 12 million voted in Afghanistan’s election for a new president

“With this determination of the honorable people of Afghanistan, the enemies were defeated.”

IEC secretary Ziaul Haq Amarkhel, asked to comment on widespread reports of polling stations running out of ballot papers, said this information was “false”.

Earlier there were reports of polling centers running out of ballots hours before the polls closed in many areas, including Kabul, northern Takhar province, north-eastern Badakhshan province, eastern Paktia province, and Nimroz province in the south-west – where one man, Abdul Ahad, said he and 15 family members had been to every polling centre in their district in an attempt to vote, but all of them had run out of ballot papers.

The biggest military operation since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 was rolled out for the vote. All 400,000 of Afghanistan’s police and soldiers were said to be on duty for the election.

Traffic was prevented from entering the Afghan capital from midday on Friday, with police checkpoints erected at every junction.

However, in parts of the capital voters could be seen queuing an hour before polls opened and there was a good-natured, almost carnival atmosphere, with many people on the streets.

Across the country, 10% of stations were declared unsafe to open by the election commission.

The Afghan ministry of defense said three major incidents had taken place on polling day.

Fears of fraud, which have marred previous polls in Afghanistan, resurfaced with reports from the southern province of Kandahar that police were preventing voters and observers from reaching polling stations.

The interior ministry said two police officers were arrested in Wardak province for stuffing ballot boxes.

Concerns were also raised before the poll about the possible presence of “ghost” polling stations as well as the fact that the number of election cards in circulation appeared to be vastly more than the number of registered voters.

Speaking after the polls closed, Hamid Karzai said: “Despite the cold and rainy weather and possible terrorist attack, our sisters and brothers nationwide took in this election and their participation is a step forward and it is a success for Afghanistan.”

President Barack Obama, in a statement issued by the White House, said: “We commend the Afghan people, security forces, and elections officials on the turnout for today’s vote – which is in keeping with the spirited and positive debate among candidates and their supporters in the run-up to the election.

“These elections are critical to securing Afghanistan’s democratic future, as well as continued international support.”

There are eight candidates for president, but three are considered frontrunners – former foreign ministers Abdullah Abdullah and Zalmai Rassoul, and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has fought a polished campaign, Ashraf Ghani has strong support among the new urban youth vote and Dr. Zalmai Rassoul is believed to be favored by Hamid Karzai.

However, no candidate is expected to secure more than the 50% of the vote needed to be the outright winner, which means there is likely to be a second round run-off on May 28.

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Pharrell Williams’ Happy video inspires 1,000 remakes

Sonia Pantiss
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Pharrell Williams’ Happy video inspires 1,000 remakes

Fan-made versions of Pharrell Williams’ hit video Happy have now passed 1,000 across the globe.

Pharrell Williams’ Happy video was released last November and became an immediate sensation with over 150 million views on YouTube.

The video’s simple message, and low-fi footage of ordinary people dancing as they go about their business, make it ideal for amateur re-makes.

The project has been initiated by a French couple, designers Loic Fontaine and Julie Fersing. They were stunned by the number of people creating their own versions, but understood its appeal. They began adding them to WeAreHappyFrom.com, a site they made to showcase the huge number of videos being made.

Pharrell Williams’ Happy video was released last November and became an immediate sensation with over 150 million views on YouTube
Pharrell Williams’ Happy video was released last November and became an immediate sensation with over 150 million views on YouTube

“One of the fundamental things about the project is that it’s not commercial, religious, or political. It’s just a message to say <<we are happy, we are happy>>,” said Loic Fontaine.

The same principles apply to the videos that appear on the site – and so the number does not include some of the better known versions which have explicit political messages.

Earlier this week, a group in Brazil created Porto (un)Happy which aimed to highlight the poor conditions in Porto, one of the cities that will host the World Cup just three months from now.

A map on Loic Fontaine’s site shows the location of each video – including 170 from France alone, 98 from Germany, and 13 from the UK.

This week the 1,000th video was added, and the total currently sits at 1,032.

Launched at the end of January, the couple thought the trend would last for a month at most.

Between 20 and 40 new versions are added to the site each day, and the rate shows now signs of slowing.

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Pakistani Christian couple sentenced to death for blasphemy

Diane A. Wade
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Pakistani Christian couple sentenced to death for blasphemy

A Pakistani Christian couple has been sentenced to death for blasphemy after allegedly sending a text message insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar were found guilty of sending the text message to the imam of their local mosque.

Allegations of blasphemy against Islam are taken very seriously in Pakistan.

Several recent cases have prompted international concern about the application of blasphemy laws.

Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar were found guilty of sending a blaspheming text message to the imam of their local mosque
Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar were found guilty of sending a blaspheming text message to the imam of their local mosque

The imam brought a complaint against the couple last July.

The couple’s lawyer said he would appeal against the sentences and said the trial had not been conducted fairly.

Pakistan has a de facto moratorium on the death penalty so it is unlikely the couple will be executed.

They come from the town of Gojra in Punjab, previously the scene of communal violence.

In 2009, the rumored desecration of a copy of the Koran led to a mob burning nearly 40 houses and a church in Gojra. At least eight members of Christian community died in the violence.

Since the 1990s, scores of Christians have been convicted for desecrating the Koran or blaspheming against the Prophet Mohammed.

While most of them have been sentenced to death by the lower courts, many sentences have been overturned due to lack of evidence.

Critics argue that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are frequently misused to settle personal scores and that members of minority groups are also unfairly targeted.

Muslims constitute a majority of those prosecuted, followed by the minority Ahmadi community.

Darth Vader’s bid for Ukraine’s presidency rejected

Nancy Clayson
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Darth Vader’s bid for Ukraine’s presidency rejected

Darth Vader’s bid for Ukraine’s presidency has been rejected.

The man, who appears in the costume of Darth Vader and is often accompanied by people dressed in other Star Wars outfits, was nominated for the presidency by the Internet Party of Ukraine. Earlier he told the party’s congress that he wanted to turn Ukraine into “a galactic empire”.

Ukraine’s Central Electoral Commission says parts of Darth Vader’s application were “questionable” and some paperwork was probably forged. Apparently, the man is really an electrician called Viktor Shevchenko, who changed his name to Darth Vader in March.

Darth Vader’s bid for Ukraine's presidency has been rejected
Darth Vader’s bid for Ukraine’s presidency has been rejected (photo Reuters)

At least one commission member suggests Darth Vader’s campaign could be an attempt to discredit the upcoming election – possibly by Russia, which does not recognize the Ukraine’s interim government.

“It may seem like an innocent joke, but someone paid 2.5 million hryvnyas [$227,000] for this joke,” says Ihor Zhydenko, referring to the deposit that must be given along with the application.

Ihor Zhydenko adds that Darth Vader might run for the presidency in Russia, where he has received extensive media coverage.

“They already have little green men,” he says, referring to Russian troops in the Crimea region.

“Such a commander-in-chief would be appropriate.”

Twenty-three candidates have been registered to run in the snap presidential election in Ukraine on May 25.

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Thailand: Red Shirts warn of civil war threat

Diane A. Wade
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Thailand: Red Shirts warn of civil war threat

Thailand’s pro-government Red Shirt movement has warned that any attempt to oust PM Yingluck Shinawatra could trigger a civil war.

The movement’s leaders issued the warning at a rally outside Bangkok – the first staged by the Red Shirts near the capital since violent clashes broke out in November.

Opponents of Yingluck Shinawatra and her party have filed legal cases against her.

Months of anti-government mass protests have failed to unseat her.

Speaking to a crowd of tens of thousands, Jatuporn Promphan, the chairman of the pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), said judicial institutions were trying “to take over power without elections”.

“What we are most concerned about – that we want to warn all sides against – is a civil war, which we do not want to happen,” he said.

“It will happen if there is a coup and democracy is stolen.”

Yingluck Shinawatra’s supporters say they are holding the rally to deter her opponents from attempts to oust her
Yingluck Shinawatra’s supporters say they are holding the rally to deter her opponents from attempts to oust her

Speaking to a crowd of tens of thousands, Jatuporn Promphan, the chairman of the pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), said judicial institutions were trying “to take over power without elections”.

“What we are most concerned about – that we want to warn all sides against – is a civil war, which we do not want to happen,” he said.

“It will happen if there is a coup and democracy is stolen.”

Yingluck Shinawatra is facing mounting legal cases – including charges of neglect of duty and abuse of power – that correspondents say could see her removed from office in coming weeks.

Meanwhile anti-government protesters have continued their own demonstrations from their headquarters in Bangkok’s central Lumpini Park.

The government called an election in February, but that was obstructed by protesters.

Since then Thailand has been in a state of paralysis.

Yingluck Shinawatra’s party has won the last five elections, but her opponents argue that Thailand’s democracy is so deeply flawed that it must be reformed before another election can be held.

Another factor driving the conflict is acute anxiety over the ailing health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Red Shirts at Saturday’s rally openly showed support for his son Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn. He is the designated heir but some among traditional elite are believed to oppose him.

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Ukraine rejects Russia gas price hike and threatens legal action

Diane A. Wade
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Ukraine rejects Russia gas price hike and threatens legal action

Ukraine has rejected Russia’s Gazprom gas price hike and threatened legal action.

Ukraine’s interim PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Moscow’s hikes were a form of “economic aggression”.

His energy minister said Ukraine would try to negotiate a gas deal, but warned that if talks failed Ukrainians should prepare for Russia to cut off supplies.

Moscow says the price change is due to Kiev’s failure to pay its bills.

Russia’s state-controlled company Gazprom has raised the cost of gas to Ukraine by 81% to $485.50 (354.33 euros) from $268.50 for 1,000 cubic metres.

Ukraine has rejected Russia's Gazprom gas price hike and threatened legal action
Ukraine has rejected Russia’s Gazprom gas price hike and threatened legal action

The increase comes amid tense diplomatic relations following Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Russia was trying to punish the new leaders in Kiev after last month’s removal of the Moscow-backed government of President Viktor Yanukovych.

“Political pressure is unacceptable, and we are not accepting the price of $500,” he told ministers on Saturday.

“Russia was unable to seize Ukraine by means of military aggression. Now they are implementing plans to seize Ukraine through economic aggression.”

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said the price Russia was demanding was the highest in Europe, and that Ukraine was prepared to continue to buy at the previous rate of $268.50.

Energy minister Yuriy Prodan said that if no deal was reached, Ukraine would take action at an arbitration court in Stockholm.

“We are not trying to break our contract but to set up a fair price,” he said, adding that that Ukrainians should prepare for the possibility of supplies to be cut off.

The price increase could also affect gas supplies to Europe, as 40% of Russian gas to the continent travels through Ukraine.

Yuriy Prodan has said Ukraine would meet its commitments to supply gas to Europe no matter what happened.

Gazprom says Ukraine’s gas debts to Russia stand at just over $1.7 billion.

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Tungurahua volcano spews huge plume

Nancy Clayson
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Tungurahua volcano spews huge plume

The Tungurahua volcano, south of Ecuador’s capital Quito, has erupted, creating a spectacular plume of ash, 6 miles high.

The volcano created the huge cloud on Friday in an eruption that lasted just five minutes.

Tungurahua volcano created the huge cloud on Friday in an eruption that lasted just five minutes
Tungurahua volcano created the huge cloud on Friday in an eruption that lasted just five minutes

The Tungurahua volcano has been erupting since 1999, but has been particularly active in the last two months.

Tungurahua is one of eight active volcanoes in Ecuador, which lies in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire.

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MH370: Chinese search ship picks up pulse signal

Diane A. Wade
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MH370: Chinese search ship picks up pulse signal

One of the Chinese ships searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane in the southern Indian Ocean has picked up a pulse signal, Chinese media say.

They say the signal has a frequency of 37.5kHz – the same as those emitted by the flight recorders.

However, there is no evidence so far that it is linked to the missing flight MH370.

Dozens of ships and planes have joined the search, with the operation moving into its most intensive phase before batteries on the data recorders fade.

On Saturday the Haixun 01 – one of two Chinese ships in the area – picked up the signal at about 25 degrees south latitude and 101 degrees east longitude, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

“It is yet to be established whether it is related to the missing jet,” it cautioned.

Dozens of ships and planes have joined the search for MH370, with the operation moving into its most intensive phase before batteries on the data recorders fade
Dozens of ships and planes have joined the search for MH370, with the operation moving into its most intensive phase before batteries on the data recorders fade

China’s Liberation Daily reported that three people on board had heard the signals, which were not recorded as they came suddenly.

The head of the Australian agency co-ordinating the search said the reported signals “are consistent with the aircraft black box” but “there is no confirmation at this stage that the signals and the objects are related to the missing aircraft”.

The flight is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, although no confirmed debris has been found.

It is still not known why the plane diverted from its planned flight path from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing four weeks ago with 239 people on board.

Two of the ships searching an area of about 84,000 sq miles have underwater locator capabilities.

Australian naval vessel Ocean Shield is using a “towed pinger locator” from the US Navy, while HMS Echo, which has similar capabilities, is also searching.

They are trying to detect an underwater signal emitted by the data recorders.

The battery-powered signal fades after 30 days.

The area – about 1,000 miles north-west of Perth – has been picked on the basis of analysis of the satellite data.

On Saturday, Malaysia announced it had set up three ministerial committees to help co-ordinate the search, and a new investigation team which would include members from Australia, China, the US, the UK and France.

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Chicago train crash: Sleeping train driver sacked

Nancy Clayson
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Chicago train crash: Sleeping train driver sacked

The Chicago train operator, whose train derailed last month at O’Hare International Airport when she dozed off, has been sacked, officials say.

Thirty-two people were hurt when the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train jumped its tracks at O’Hare International Airport and hurtled up an escalator.

The woman, 25, worked as an operator for two months and reportedly admitted it was not the first time she had dozed off at work.

None of the injuries at the busy airport was said to be serious.

Thirty-two people were hurt when the Chicago Transit Authority train jumped its tracks at O'Hare International Airport and hurtled up an escalator
Thirty-two people were hurt when the Chicago Transit Authority train jumped its tracks at O’Hare International Airport and hurtled up an escalator (photo AP)

The CTA said that it did not believe the driver’s work schedule played a role in the March 24 crash,

But it said that changes to its train operator scheduling policies would be implemented as result of an internal review of the crash at O’Hare.

CTA officials were quoted in the Chicago Tribune as saying that the driver had worked 55 hours in the seven days preceding the incident but was off work for 18 hours prior to the shift in question. Officials say that she also admitted to over-running a station in February.

CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying that it could terminate the contract of an operator for two serious safety violations and that “an incident of this severity is sufficient for termination”.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that train was travelling at about 26 mph when it entered the station, a normal speed, and tripped an emergency braking system beside the track that failed to stop it before the impact.

NTSB investigator Ted Turpin said last month that the train operator had admitted that she had “dozed off” prior to entering the station.

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Fonterra fined $255,000 over botulism scare

Clyde K. Valle
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Fonterra fined $255,000 over botulism scare

New Zealand’s dairy giant Fonterra has been fined $NZ300,000 ($255,000) after it admitted four food-safety violations during a 2013 botulism scare.

The scare led to a worldwide milk product recall and to several countries blocking imports of New Zealand dairy products.

Testing later found there had been no problem with Fonterra’s products.

New Zealand’s dairy giant Fonterra has been fined $NZ300,000 after it admitted four food-safety violations during a 2013 botulism scare
New Zealand’s dairy giant Fonterra has been fined $NZ300,000 after it admitted four food-safety violations during a 2013 botulism scare

Fonterra had faced a maximum fine of $NZ500,000 for the charges, relating to breaches of an animal products act.

It had admitted the four charges in March.

Fonterra is the world’s largest exporter of dairy products and had said it would not contest the charges.

The botulism scare related to a milk product used widely in infant formula.

The milk product, which is used by several multinational companies, was suspected of containing a bacteria that could cause botulism which is a severe form of food poisoning.

Fonterra was sentenced by Judge Peter Hobbs in a district court in Wellington, New Zealand, on Friday.

“New Zealand’s reputation for high-quality dairy products was shaken,” Australia’s Fairfax News reported Judge Peter Hobbs saying on Friday.

Judge Peter Hobbs said he accepted that the scare resulted from carelessness and failure to follow procedure, rather than any deliberate action, but said Fonterra could and should have done better.

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Solomon Islands floods: Twelve people killed and dozens missing

Diane A. Wade
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Solomon Islands floods: Twelve people killed and dozens missing

At least 30 people are still missing after flash floods that have killed 12 people and left some 10,000 homeless in the Solomon Islands.

Much of the capital Honiara was inundated as thousands of people took refuge in emergency shelters.

A state of emergency has been declared amid concerns over food and water supplies and damaged infrastructure.

Solomons Red Cross Secretary General Joanne Zoleveke described the floods as “a tragedy none of us saw coming”.

At least 30 people are still missing after flash floods that have killed 12 people and left some 10,000 homeless in the Solomon Islands
At least 30 people are still missing after flash floods that have killed 12 people and left some 10,000 homeless in the Solomon Islands

Honiara’s main river, the Matanikau, burst its banks in the storm, sweeping away houses and bridges and flooding the downtown area.

Eleven evacuation centers have been set up at schools and at Honiara’s international airport, the World Vision aid agency says.

It says that the domestic airport terminal is under water and there are fears about the spread of disease once the water subsides.

Other parts of Guadalcanal province – where the capital is located – have also been declared disaster zones, officials say.

“Clean water sources have been contaminated, sanitation facilities destroyed and there is a lack of medicines to treat people who get sick,” said Lawrence Hillary, World Vision’s emergency response manager in the islands.

While water levels were reported to be subsiding on Saturday, aid agencies have warned that police still face the unpleasant task of finding more bodies in seaside and river debris.

The official number of deaths was, however, lowered on Saturday to 12 from the previous day’s toll of 16.

The impact of the flood was made worse because it struck so fast, giving people little time to escape from their homes.

Save the Children said on Friday that the scale of the damage was still unclear outside Honiara as both bridges out of the city had been cut off. However, it says that in the city itself thousands of homes have been completely washed away.

Australia has pledged at least A$50,000 ($46,200) in funds to support flood relief efforts.

New Zealand has given an initial contribution of NZ$300,000 ($256,200).

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Muhammad Mosa Khan: Pakistani baby accused of planning murder

Nancy Clayson
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Muhammad Mosa Khan: Pakistani baby accused of planning murder

According to new reports, a nine-month-old Pakistani boy has appeared in court on charges of planning a murder, threatening police and interfering in state affairs.

Baby Muhammad Mosa Khan is one of more than 30 people facing charges after a police raid to catch suspected gas thieves in the city of Lahore, The News website reports.

Police say the suspects tried to murder security officers by pelting them with stones. But the Times of India newspaper quotes the infant’s father as saying the group was protesting against an electricity shortage.

Baby Muhammad Mosa Khan is one of more than 30 people facing charges after a police raid to catch suspected gas thieves in the city of Lahore
Baby Muhammad Mosa Khan is one of more than 30 people facing charges after a police raid to catch suspected gas thieves in the city of Lahore (photo Geo TV)

The infant appeared in the courtroom sitting on his father’s lap and clasping a bottle. He was given bail and the case has been adjourned until April 12, reports from Lahore say. His father is also among the accused.

The murder charges against a baby have alarmed Punjab’s Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. He has asked for clarification from the province’s inspector-general of police and demanded “stern action” against the officials who registered the case.

The assistant superintendant who filed the charges has subsequently been suspended, The Nation website says.

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Geep: Goat-sheep hybrid born on Paddy Murphy’s farm in Ireland

James J. Williams
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Geep: Goat-sheep hybrid born on Paddy Murphy’s farm in Ireland

A rare goat-sheep – a hybrid animal that is part goat and part sheep – has been born on a farm in the Republic of Ireland.

The animal, referred to as a geep, was born about two weeks ago on Paddy Murphy’s farm in County Kildare.

The unexpected arrival is thought to be the result of mating between a goat and one of the sheep farmer’s Cheviot ewes.

Paddy Murphy said the cross-breeding was not intentional. He described it as a “pure shock to the system” and said it would be a “one-off” event on his farm.

“I’ve never seen anything like him before,” he told the Irish Farmers Jpurnal, adding that his family had been involved in sheep farming for “generations”.

Paddy Murphy confirmed that the geep appeared to be healthy and “thriving” and was able to run faster than other lambs that were born around the same time.

The geep was born about two weeks ago on Paddy Murphy's farm in County Kildare
The geep was born about two weeks ago on Paddy Murphy’s farm in County Kildare (photo Irish Farmers Journal)

“He’s unbelievable,” he said.

“He’s so fast you’d have to get him into the pen to catch him. There’s no chance you would catch him otherwise.”

The sheep farmer, who also owns Murphy’s pub in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, spoke to the journal in an interview headlined: Ewe gotta be kidding.

Paddy Murphy said he witnessed a goat mating with ewes on his farm during “tupping” season five months ago, but had given the matter little thought until the geep appeared.

He said the new arrival had created a lot of laughter in the pub, when he showed mobile phone pictures of the hybrid to his customers and friends.

“He’s an unusual character,” Paddy Murphy added, saying the animal was developing a set of horns on its head.

The Irish Farmers Journal said it was the first time it had reported the birth of a healthy geep in Ireland.

A spokeswoman for Ulster Farmers Union said the live birth of a so-called geep is a very rare event and they are not aware of any currently in existence in Northern Ireland.

She said this form of cross-breeding, on the rare occasion it does occur, is likely to involve a buck goat and a ewe.

However, the geep usually dies during the ewe’s pregnancy or is stillborn.

Paddy Murphy said the ewe in question was raising the geep “just like a lamb”.

As for the hybrid animal’s future, the farmer said he was not planning to send the geep for slaughter but would try to keep it for as long as it was practically possible to look after it.

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Boeing granted license to sell plane components to Iran

Roy Siemens
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Boeing granted license to sell plane components to Iran

Boeing has received permission from the US Treasury to export certain spare commercial parts to Iran, a company spokesman says.

Boeing has had no public dealings with Tehran since 1979.

In a statement, the plane maker said the license had been granted for the safety of flight.

Iran Air is still flying passenger planes bought before the 1979 hostage crisis
Iran Air is still flying passenger planes bought before the 1979 hostage crisis

The step is being seen as part of a temporary agreement to ease sanctions on Tehran that US Secretary of State John Kerry reached with Iran last year.

Under the deal brokered in November, Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear activities for six months in exchange for sanctions relief from nations including Britain, China and the US.

General Electric said late on Friday it had received US permission to overhaul 18 engines sold to Iran in the late 1970s. That work would be carried out at GE facilities or at German firm MTU Aero Engines, it said.

Iran Air is still flying passenger planes bought before the 1979 hostage crisis, during which 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran for 444 days.

Iran has reportedly argued that sanctions imposed after the hostage ordeal have prevented Tehran from upgrading its plane fleet and reduced the safety of its aircraft.

There have been more than 200 accidents involving Iranian planes in the past 25 years, leading to more than 2,000 deaths, reports say.

Boeing has said the license covers only components required to ensure ongoing safe flight operations of planes it sold before Iran’s revolution in 1979.

No discussions are to be allowed over the sale of new aircraft when and if sanctions are completely lifted, correspondents say. If a permanent deal is agreed, it is thought likely that Iran would require the purchase of hundreds of new aircraft.

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Fort Hood shooting: Ivan Lopez not in right mind

Nancy Clayson
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Fort Hood shooting: Ivan Lopez not in right mind

Ivan Lopez, the soldier who killed three men at US Army Forth Hood base before taking his own life has “could not have been in his right mind”, his father has said.

He has called for prayers for the victims of his son’s attack at Fort Hood in Texas on Wednesday.

A military investigator said on Friday there was evidence the soldier had been in an argument before opening fire, killing three and wounding 16 others.

But officials do not see his mental condition as the reason for the attack.

The shootings took place at two buildings at Fort Hood at about 16:00 local time, when Specialist Ivan Lopez, who had the same name as his father, is alleged to have walked into one of the buildings and opened fire with a .45-calibre semi-automatic pistol.

Ivan Lopez killed three men at US Army Forth Hood base before taking his own life
Ivan Lopez killed three men at US Army Forth Hood base before taking his own life

He then got into a vehicle and continued firing before entering another building and opening fire again. He was eventually stopped by military police, shooting himself in the head when confronted by a female officer in the car park, officials say.

The dead men were formally named on Friday as Sgt First Class Daniel Ferguson, 39. Staff Sgt Carlos Lazaney-Rodriguez, who was 38, and 37-year-old Army Sgt Timothy Owens.

“My son could not have been in his right mind. He was not like that,” Spc Ivan Lopez’s father wrote in a statement from the family’s home in Puerto Rico on Friday.

The motive for the shooting is unclear and Fort Hood’s base commander Lt. Gen. Mark Milley said on Friday that investigators did not consider his mental state the “immediate precipitating factor”.

In contrast, Lt. Gen. Milley had spoken the previous day of the post-traumatic stress disorder Spc Lopez had suffered after serving in Iraq, suggesting there was strong evidence he had “an unstable psychiatric or psychological condition”.

But in his latest remarks he said the cause “was more likely an escalating argument in his unit area”.

His words were echoed by Chris Grey, spokesman for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, who said there was “credible information he was involved in a verbal altercation with soldiers from his unit just prior to him allegedly opening fire”.

But he added there was still “no concrete motive” for the attack and it might never be known why the shooting had taken place.

Fort Hood was also the scene of a gun rampage in 2009 that left 13 soldiers dead and 32 wounded.

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Afghanistan elections 2014: First democratic transfer of power amid tight security

Diane A. Wade
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Afghanistan elections 2014: First democratic transfer of power amid tight security

Afghanistan is voting for a new president in what will be the nation’s first ever transfer of power through the ballot box.

A massive security operation is under way to thwart the Taliban which has vowed to disrupt the election.

Eight candidates are vying to succeed Hamid Karzai, who is barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term as president.

The poll has already been overshadowed by the shooting of two journalists.

Award-winning German photographer Anja Niedringhaus was killed and veteran Canadian reporter Kathy Gannon was injured when a police commander opened fire on their car in the eastern town of Khost on Friday. They had both worked for Associated Press for many years.

It was the latest in a string of deadly attacks that marred the lead-up to the election.

The biggest military operation since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 has been rolled out for the vote. All 400,000 of Afghanistan’s police and soldiers were said to be on duty for the election.

Afghanistan is voting for a new president in what will be the nation's first ever transfer of power through the ballot box
Afghanistan is voting for a new president in what will be the nation’s first ever transfer of power through the ballot box

In parts of the capital voters could be seen queuing an hour before polls opened.

However, some polling stations in the provinces of Herat in the west and Kapisa, north-east of Kabul, were closed because of a combination of the bad weather and security risks. There were also reports elsewhere of several polling centers not receiving ballot materials in time.

Independent Election Commission chairman Ahmad Yousuf Nouristani urged all Afghans to vote, as he cast his ballot live on television.

Traffic was prevented from entering the Afghan capital from midday on Friday, with police checkpoints erected at every junction.

International observers are increasingly optimistic that both the tight security and a number of new guarantees against fraud will make this a fairer election than Afghanistan has seen before.

Afghans have been barred from sending text messages until polls close at 16:00 on Saturday to prevent the service from being used for last-minute campaigning.

But there are still concerns about ballot stuffing and ghost polling stations as well as the fact that the number of election cards in circulation appears to be vastly more than the number of registered voters.

On Saturday the interior ministry said two police were arrested in Wardak province for stuffing ballot boxes.

There are eight candidates for president, but three are considered frontrunners – former foreign ministers Abdullah Abdullah and Zalmai Rassoul, and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has fought a polished campaign, Dr. Ashraf Ghani has strong support among the new urban youth vote and Dr. Zalmai Rassoul is believed to favored by Hamid Karzai.

However, no candidate is expected to secure more than the 50% of the vote needed to be the outright winner, which means there is likely to be a second round run-off on May 28.

A poll conducted by the Free and Fair Election Foundation found that more than 75% respondents planned to vote, even though faith in the electoral process was said to be decreasing.

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Monty Python last ever show confirmed for July 20

Sonia Pantiss
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Monty Python last ever show confirmed for July 20

Monty Python’s final reunion show at the O2 Arena in London on July 20 will be “the last time we’ll be working together”, Michael Palin has confirmed.

The legendary comedy group will not go on tour and will go their separate ways after 10 London performances, he said.

Tickets for the July 20 show went on sale on Friday, April 4.

Monty Python will disband after 10 London reunion shows
Monty Python will disband after 10 London reunion shows

The reunion, which begins on July 1st, will see John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin appear together on stage for the first time since 2009.

The only absent member will be Graham Chapman, who died in 1989 at the age of 48.

An earlier statement from Monty Python’s promoters said the July 20 show would “probably” be their last performance together.

“The Pythons had hoped to take up some of the many offers to perform at arenas all over the world, but individual commitments to other projects over the next three years has made this impossible,” it said.

“The septuagenarian Pythons are well aware of what these shows mean to their fans. The shows at the O2 promise to be a spectacular celebration of Britain’s most iconic and influential comedians.”

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Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith dies at 93

Sonia Pantiss
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Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith dies at 93

Country music guitarist Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith, best known for the theme tune from the 1972 film Deliverance, has died at the age of 93.

Arthur Smith was one of the most influential guitar-players in country and early rock ‘n’ roll.

He found fame with his 1948 single Guitar Boogie and enjoyed other hits including Feudin’ Banjos in 1955.

Arthur Smith found fame with his 1948 single Guitar Boogie
Arthur Smith found fame with his 1948 single Guitar Boogie

When the Warner Bros film studio used a cover version and renamed it Dueling Banjos for Deliverance, he sued them and won substantial royalties.

As well as being a musician, Arthur Smith also ran a recording studio and record labels and had a successful career as a radio and TV presenter.

The Arthur Smith Show, on WBTV, was syndicated across the US and ran for 32 years.

He was nicknamed Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith after the title of his breakthrough tune, which became a hit around the world.

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Paula Deen’s restaurant Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House closes after ten years in business

Lisa.Felice
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Paula Deen’s restaurant Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House closes after ten years in business

Paula Deen’s Savannah restaurant – Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House – which was at the center of a racially charged lawsuit against her, abruptly closed on Thursday after a decade in business.

“Thank you for 10 great years,” Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House, owned by Paula Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, told customers on its website.

“Uncle Bubba’s is now closed.”

A white employee of Uncle Bubba’s sued Paula Deen and her brother claiming she had been the victim of harassment and that there was a pattern of racial discrimination against black employees at the restaurant.

Uncle Bubba's Oyster House in Savannah has been owned by Paula Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers
Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House in Savannah has been owned by Paula Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers

Celebrity chef Paul Deen said in a deposition in the case that she had used a racial slur, which prompted Scripps Networks Interactive Inc to drop her cooking show from its cable television channel, the Food Network.

The controversy prompted companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Target Corp and Home Depot Inc to stop selling Paula Deen products.

A federal judge last summer dismissed the lawsuit.

Bubba Hiers closed the restaurant “in order to explore development options for the waterfront property on which the restaurant is located,” Jaret Keller, spokesman for the Deen family, said in a written statement.

“At this point, no specific plans have been announced and a range of uses are under consideration in order to realize the highest and best use for the property.”

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US economy gains 192,000 jobs in March 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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US economy gains 192,000 jobs in March 2014

The US economy added 192,000 new jobs in March 2014, in line with expectations, as the unemployment rate held steady at 6.7%.

Severe weather over the winter did not prevent the monthly average for new jobs from continuing a climb towards pre-economic crisis levels.

Employment grew in health care, and professional and business services, and in mining and logging.

The US Federal Reserve has been watching employment rates as an indicator of economic health.

The US economy added 192,000 new jobs in March 2014
The US economy added 192,000 new jobs in March 2014

The Fed has been using such indicators to judge whether a cutting back on stimulus for the US economy is desirable.

The March jobs figures were broadly in line with economists’ expectations of 200,000 new posts per month for 2014, while the number of people who were unemployed remained at 10.5 million.

In March, business services added 57,000 jobs, with 29,000 of those roles being in the temporary help industry.

Computer systems design and related jobs, which fall under business services, added 6,000 posts.

Healthcare gained 19,000 new jobs, and ambulatory healthcare, which includes outpatient care, rose by 20,000. Nursing care lost 5,000 jobs over the period.

Mining and logging rose by 7,000 jobs, against an average growth of 3,000 roles per month over the previous year.

On Friday, jobs figures for February were revised up from an estimate of 175,000 to 197,000 new jobs.

The estimate for January was also revised up, from 129,000 to 144,000.

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Kristoffer Von Hassel: Five-year-old boy finds Xbox Live security flaw

Clyde K. Valle
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Kristoffer Von Hassel: Five-year-old boy finds Xbox Live security flaw

Kristoffer Von Hassel, a 5-year-old boy from San Diego who worked out a security vulnerability on Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, has been officially thanked by the company.

Kristoffer Von Hassel figured out how to log in to his father’s account without the right password.

Microsoft has fixed the flaw, and added Kristoffer Von Hassel to its list of recognized security researchers.

In an interview with local news station KGTV, Kristoffer Von Hassel said: “I was like yea!”

Kristoffer Von Hassel figured out how to log in to his father'sXbox account without the right password
Kristoffer Von Hassel figured out how to log in to his father’sXbox account without the right password

The boy worked out that entering the wrong password into the log-in screen would bring up a second password verification screen.

Kristoffer Von Hassel discovered that if he simply pressed the space bar to fill up the password field, the system would let him in to his father’s account.

“I got nervous. I thought he was going to find out,” Kristoffer Von Hassel told television station, KGTV.

“I thought someone was going to steal the Xbox.”

His father, Robert Von Hassel – who works in security – sent details of the flaw to Microsoft.

In a statement, Microsoft said: “We’re always listening to our customers and thank them for bringing issues to our attention.

“We take security seriously at Xbox and fixed the issue as soon as we learned about it.”

Kristoffer Von Hassel’s name now appears on a page set up to thank people who have discovered problems with Microsoft products.

Microsoft also gave him four free games, $50, and a year-long subscription to Xbox Live.

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