Rihanna and Drake have been spotted leaving a London club together, hand in hand, late Thursday.
Sources told Us Weekly that the pair has been inching closer to a relationship.
Rihanna has been romantically linked to Drake in the past
Wearing a white ruffled minidress, jester-style hat, thigh-high boots, and oversized black fur coat, Rihanna casually draped one hand over Drake’s as the two were photographed in their car leaving Tramps Nightclub.
Drake looked happy as he flashed photographers an inquisitive stare, while Rihanna gripped his hand.
Rihanna has been romantically linked to Drake in the past and even unwittingly sparked a brutal brawl between the rapper and her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown in an NYC club back in June 2012.
Their latest outing comes several days after Rihanna enjoyed Drake’s sold-out performance at the O2 Arena on March 25.
Former boxing champion and leading politician Vitaly Klitschko has pulled out of Ukraine’s presidential elections planned in May.
Vitaly Klitschko said instead he would back tycoon Petro Poroshenko.
Both men played a key role in months of street protests that led to the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych.
Vitaly Klitschko, 42, announced his decision to pull out of the presidential race at his Udar (Punch) party’s gathering in Kiev on Saturday.
“The only chance of winning is to nominate one candidate from the democratic forces,” he said.
He stressed that a contender with “the highest chances to win should be running” for the presidency.
“Today, Petro Poroshenko is this candidate,” Vitaly Klitschkosaid, reminding supporters that the two politicians had stood and fought shoulder-to-shoulder at the protesters’ main camp in Kiev – the Maidan.
Petro Poroshenko, 48, has already declared his intention to enter the race.
Vitaly Klitschko has pulled out of Ukraine’s presidential race and he will back tycoon Petro Poroshenko (photo AFP)
The owner of the popular Roshen chocolate company, Petro Poroshenko is widely known in Ukraine as the “chocolate king”.
He has held a number of cabinet portfolios under different presidents in the past decade.
On Saturday, Petro Poroshenko said that – together with the Udar party – “we declare our goal is a new Ukraine”.
“Our goal is to live in a new way. To form Ukraine in a way that there will be rich, free and honest citizens happy to be Ukrainians and to live in a country respected by the whole world.”
Vitaly Klitschko’s withdrawal means the race is likely to be between Petro Poroshenko and former PM Yulia Tymoshenko.
Several former supporters of Viktor Yanokovych have also announced they will run. The Party of Regions, to which Viktor Yanukovych belonged, on Saturday backed former Kharkiv governor Mykhailo Dobkin to run for the presidency.
The May 25 elections are seen as a crucial step in leading Ukraine out of the country’s deepest political crisis since its independence in 1991. An interim administration is currently in place in Kiev, led by acting President Olksandr Turchynov and PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Russia says the current authorities in Kiev came to power in a coup and are, therefore, illegitimate.
Ukraine – backed by the West – denies the claim.
Moscow formally annexed Crimea after the predominantly ethnic Russian region held a referendum earlier this month which backed joining Russia.
Latest opinions polls give Petro Poroshenko about 25% of the vote, ahead of his presidential rivals, while Vitaly Klitschko and Yulia Tymoshenko are lagging far behind.
However, Yulia Tymoshenko, 53, who was released from prison last month following the overthrow of Viktor Yanukovych, is expected to mount a strong campaign.
In all, 15 contenders are planning to challenge for Ukraine’s presidency.
Lady Gaga celebrated her 28th birthday on March 28 with a short concert at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City in her first of seven concerts at the closing venue.
Lady Gaga performed for an hour Friday night in front of a feverish crowd. She started with a slow version of Born This Way on piano, with the audience joining in.
The singer followed that with the jams Monster and Bad Romance. She danced and sang on the side of the stage in a red tight leotard.
Lady Gaga celebrated her 28th birthday with a short concert at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City
“Thank you so much for spending my birthday with me,” Lady Gaga yelled to the audience, which included her boyfriend Taylor Kinney and Nate Ruess.
Lady Gaga was in top form as she sang nearly a dozen of her songs, including Just Dance, an acoustic version of Poker Face, and the recent hit Applause. After Lady Gaga ended, fans waited for her to hit the stage again.
She performed some tracks from her recent album, ARTPOP, which has struggled to match the success of her other releases. But onstage, she showed no signs of slowing down.
The New York-born singer closed with the new single, G.U.Y., now wearing an all-white ensemble (her sixth costume change for the night).
Lady Gaga will perform six more shows at the Roseland Ballroom, helping close the famed venue that opened eight decades ago. Her final show at the Roseland Ballroom will be on April 7.
Chinese and Australian ships have failed to identify objects from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 after their first day in a new search area.
The two ships retrieved objects from the Indian Ocean but none was confirmed to be from missing flight MH370, Australia’s maritime authority said.
Chinese aircraft also flew over the area, north-east of the previous zone, and have spotted more objects.
Malaysia Airlines jet disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01 and Australia’s HMAS Success “reported they have retrieved a number of objects from the ocean but so far no objects confirmed to be related to MH370 have been recovered”, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said late on Saturday.
Eight aircraft also took part in the operation. One Chinese plane reported spotting spotted three orange, white and red objects floating in the sea.
Chinese and Australian ships have failed to identify objects from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
Some of the objects seen in the area have been very small, and officials cautioned that they may be sea junk.
AMSA said that “at least one distinctive fishing object has been identified”.
On Friday five search planes spotted multiple objects of various colors in the same area – about 700 miles north-east of the previous search zone.
Bad weather has hampered the search efforts in recent days.
Meanwhile Malaysia’s acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says he has reassured the families of the missing passengers that the search for any survivors will continue.
Some relatives of the flight’s 153 Chinese passengers have refused to accept the Malaysian account of events and have accused officials of withholding information.
Acting Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein: “If there is any lead or information that involves survivors, that has been our priority.”
“No matter how remote the search, I am always hoping against hope that we will find survivors,” Hishammuddin Hussein told the latest news conference following a meeting with the families on Saturday.
The Australian and Malaysian governments said on Friday the search area had been changed following further analysis of radar data that showed the plane had been travelling faster, thus burning more fuel.
This would reduce the possible distance the aircraft travelled south into the Indian Ocean, officials said.
Search efforts had until Friday morning focused on an area some 1,550 miles to the south-west of the Australian city of Perth.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow has no intention of sending troops into Ukraine.
Sergei Lavrov’s comments came after Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama discussed a possible diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The US-backed plan calls for Russia to halt to its military build-up on the border with Ukraine and withdraw its troops in Crimea to their bases.
Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Paris on Sunday.
Reports say John Kerry was flying home from the Middle East on Saturday when he abruptly changed travel plans and instructed his plane to fly to Paris.
Tensions over Ukraine rose following the overthrow of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February, following months of street protests.
Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow has no intention of sending troops into Ukraine (photo Interfax)
Moscow later intervened in Crimea, a predominantly ethnic Russian region of Ukraine where its troops are stationed, saying the takeover in Kiev was a pro-fascist coup.
Russia then annexed Crimea after the region held a referendum which backed joining the Russian Federation.
Western countries condemned the vote as illegal and imposed sanctions on members of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
Meanwhile Ukraine’s interim authorities have been pressing ahead with elections due in May.
On Saturday boxer and opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko pulled out of the race for president.
He announced he was supporting billionaire Petro Poroshenko saying: “The only chance of winning is to nominate one candidate from the democratic forces.”
Former Ukraine’s PM Yulia Tymoshenko has also said she will stand.
In an interview with state TV channel Rossiya 1 on Saturday, Sergei Lavrov said: “We have absolutely no intention of – or interest in – crossing Ukraine’s borders.”
Sergei Lavrov added that Russia was ready to protect “the rights of Russians and Russian-speaking people in Ukraine, using all available political, diplomatic and legal means”.
After the interview was broadcast, it emerged Sergei Lavrov had spoken by phone to John Kerry, in a conversation that Russian officials said was initiated by the US.
Kanye West turned himself in to LAPD on Thursday to be formally booked in connection to his misdemeanor battery case involving photographer Daniel Ramos at Los Angeles International Airport last year.
Kanye West, 36, was booked at the LAPD’s Hollywood Division station Thursday afternoon in a process that took less than an hour.
Kanye West turned himself in to LAPD on Thursday to be formally booked in connection to his misdemeanor battery case involving photographer Daniel Ramos at Los Angeles International Airport
The singer was recently sentenced to two years of probation in the case and was required to turn himself in for booking. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and was also ordered to perform 250 hours of community service and undergo 30 days of anger management counseling.
The incident took place on July 19 when Kanye West was accused of attacking a photographer, trying to wrestle the camera away from him.
Honey Boo Boo’s big sister Anna “Chickadee” got engaged in “redneck style”.
Anna Shannon’s boyfriend, Michael, managed to ask her in a way that was not only unique and unforgettable, but also extremely personal and romantic.
The romantic moment came after Michael, Anna’s boyfriend of one year, secretly asked her parents for her hand in marriage.
Michael served up one steaming hot “redneck proposal” complete with a “Marry Me?” (spelled in pepperoni) pizza and group of dancing hillbillies.
The proposal, which took place on New Year’s Eve, didn’t come as a surprise to the entire family.
Anna “Chickadee” and her boyfriend Michael got engaged in redneck style (photo TLC)
“Her and Kaitlyn… I love them with all my heart,” Michael said, referring to Anna and her one-year-old daughter.
“I wouldn’t trade them for nothing.”
When it came time for the life-changing moment, Honey Boo Boo’s family and all their friends danced for the soon-to-be-married sister, creating a path for Michael and Kaitlyn so they could walk down to Anna.
Michael then got down on one knee and opened the pizza box.
“Will you marry me, Anna?” Michael said.
“I think I’m gonna cry” Anna said, which was followed by a “yes”.
Anna “Chickadee” smooched her new fiancé as he slipped the engagement ring on her finger.
Keeping up with the “redneck proposal” theme, Michael even managed to snag camouflage bling.
Duck Dynasty’s Mia Robertson, the 10-year-old daughter of Jase and Missy Robertson, was born with a cleft lip and palate.
Missy and Jase Robertson recently launched the Mia Moo Fund, whose slogan is “Because Every Kid Deserves A Smile,” to raise awareness and help children with similar problems.
Missy Robertson revealed the story of Mia’s cleft lip and palate on the fund website:
“Jase & I learned that Mia had a cleft lip and possible cleft palate at 31 weeks gestation, thanks to a 4-D ultrasound. We were able to prepare ourselves and our boys, as best as we knew how, for a few weeks before she was born at 37 weeks gestation.
Mia Elaine Robertson was born on September 12, 2003, with a bilateral cleft lip and palate & it was through a mutual friend, we met a family in our area who had a son born with this same condition just a few months before Mia. This family lead us to the International Craniofacial Institute in Dallas, Texas, where we traveled when Mia was 17 days old. They checked her from head to toe and fitted her with a palatal appliance in order to give a “fake roof” to her mouth.
Ten-year-old Mia Robertson was born with a cleft lip and palate
This helped tremendously in the feeding process as it aided in allowing her milk to travel down her throat instead of out her nose. We did our best to fatten her up over the next few weeks in order to get her healthy enough for her first surgery, correction of the cleft lip. At 3 months old, Mia underwent her first corrective surgery. Jase and I were prepared to physically take care of our daughter, but we were not prepared emotionally as to how different she would look after this surgery. We had fallen in love with that sweet face for 3 months and were not prepared for the swelling and stitches that we saw in the recovery room. It was a very emotional time.
Our baby looked so different, and we actually wondered if it would have been better if we had chosen not to put her through the surgery. In just a couple of days, the swelling diminished entirely, and we soon realized that this indeed was the best thing to do for our child. I try to help parents in this regard so they do not experience the same trauma that we did. Mia healed quickly, and we continued to prepare her for the next surgery. She had palate correction surgery at 7 months old. After having her palatal appliance cleaned 3-5 times a day for 7 months, Mia now had her own natural palate. She was a happy baby who loved her mama and hardly ever wanted to be away from me. This is extremely common with babies who need so much medical attention. No worries. I took her to work with me at Duck Commander, and she played on the floor and with her Mamaw Kay while we worked…”
Duck Dynasty Season 5 ended this week with one of its most touching episodes yet – the Robertson family showed its support as Mia Robertson pursued another cleft palate surgery.
However, in spite of all the praise on Facebook, Duck Dynasty Season 5 finale still performed at a lower level comparing with Season 4 finale.
Duck Dynasty Season 5 finale drew 6.0 million viewers overall with 3.2 million among adults 18-49. That’s a 28% drop from the 8.4 million total viewers who watched the Season 4 finale on October 23 last year and a fall of 27% in the key demo result of 4.4 million.
This week’s finale was also down 29% from the 8.5 million overall viewers who tuned in for the Season 5 premiere on January 15.
Duck Dynasty Season 5 finale showed the Robertson family support for little Mia before another cleft palate surgery
Analysts say Phil Robertson last year’s controversy is to blame for the continuous fallout of the show.
Several months later, Phil Robertson is still dealing with the backlash from the controversial comments he made in his fateful GQ magazine interview. In spite of accusations related to homophobia and racism, the Duck Dynasty patriarch managed to maintain a presence on the popular reality series. Unfortunately, ratings for Season 5 finale were a huge disappointment, particularly when compared to the show’s performance at the end of Season 4.
Some fans are wondering whether the low ratings could be the result of continued boycotting from those still bothered by Phil Robertson’s statements. After all, a number of dedicated viewers changed their mind about the show in the aftermath of his controversial GQ interview. But other fans made it clear on Twitter that the debacle had convinced them to stand strong for Phil Robertson they were glad to see a reality star speaking out on his Christian beliefs and they wanted more.
However, Phil Robertson still retains the support of his family.
During a recent interview with CNN, Phil Robertson’s son, Willie, explained: “Anybody who knows [Phil Robertson] – any gay, straight, black, white – anybody who knows Phil knows that he is about love and his message is about God’s love, and God’s grace, and God’s forgiveness, ultimately.”
A new search area of the Indian Ocean is being scoured by Chinese ships in the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.
The two vessels are trying to find and retrieve a number of items spotted by planes on Friday.
Chinese aircraft are also flying over the area, north-east of the previous zone, and have spotted more objects, China’s Xinhua news agency says.
Chinese ships are scouring a new search area of the Indian Ocean in the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet
The Beijing-bound airliner disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01, and a navy vessel, Jinggangshan, which carries two helicopters, reached the new search area in the past few hours.
Xinhua said the Jinggangshan was expected to focus on searching for debris, oil slicks and life jackets.
Eight aircraft are also taking part in the operation, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the authority confirmed in a statement.
Later on Saturday one of them, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft, spotted three orange, white and red objects floating in the ocean. Some were very small, and officials have cautioned that they may be sea junk.
On Friday five search planes spotted multiple objects of various colors in the same area – about 700 miles north-east of the previous search zone.
Investigators will not know whether the objects are connected to the missing plane until they have been recovered by ships.
Bad weather has hampered the search efforts in recent days.
Saturday’s conditions are expected to be favorable initially but to deteriorate later in the day.
Meanwhile Malaysia’s acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says he has reassured the families of the missing passengers that the search for any survivors will continue.
Some relatives of the flight’s 153 Chinese passengers have refused to accept the Malaysian account of events and have accused officials of withholding information.
Hishammuddin Hussein: “If there is any lead or information that involves survivors, that has been our priority.”
“No matter how remote the search, I am always hoping against hope that we will find survivors,” Hishammuddin Hussein told the latest news conference following a meeting with the families on Saturday.
The Australian and Malaysian governments said on Friday the search area had been changed following further analysis of radar data that showed the plane had been travelling faster, thus burning more fuel.
This would reduce the possible distance the aircraft travelled south into the Indian Ocean, officials said.
Search efforts had until Friday morning focused on an area some 1,550 miles to the south-west of the Australian city of Perth.
The headquarters of the Afghan election commission in Kabul have been attacked by insurgents, a week before the presidential election, police say.
Gunmen have entered a nearby building and are firing at the election commission with automatic weapons.
The attack comes a week before presidential elections which the Taliban have vowed to disrupt.
Insurgents attacked the headquarters of the Afghan election commission in Kabul (photo AP)
It comes a day after a major attack on a building housing foreign aid workers in the Afghan capital.
A police officer quoted by Associated Press news agency says the assailants have not entered the heavily secured compound of the International Election Commission and are based in a house about 500 m away.
The insurgents are attacking the commission headquarters with assault rifles and some heavier weapons.
The commission is on a specially built site on a main road out of the centre of Kabul to the east, he adds. It is not yet clear if there are any casualties.
“We heard two explosions inside the IEC compound, the sound of firing is still ongoing, but people are safe and are in (reinforced) safe rooms,” IEC spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor tells AFP news agency.
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake has struck the Los Angeles area of southern California, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says.
The quake happened at about 21:10 local time on Friday and its epicentre was 1 mile east of the town of La Habra.
The 5.1-magnitude earthquake has struck the Los Angeles area of southern California
There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries.
A 4.4-magnitude quake was felt near Los Angeles earlier this month, rattling nerves but causing no major damage.
The latest earthquake was shallow at only 1.2 miles deep, according to the USGS.
It was felt across four counties, from Palm Springs in the east and Ventura County to the north, Reuters news agency reported.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it was checking buildings and transport infrastructure for damage.
It said the quake was a reminder for people to be prepared.
The San Andreas fault, on the edge of the Pacific tectonic plate, runs directly through California, and the western US state has long braced for a devastating quake.
Thailand’s anti-government protesters have resumed demonstrations in Bangkok demanding the resignation of PM Yingluck Shinawatra.
Large crowds carrying Thai flags marched along several routes from the main park in Bangkok.
It was the first major protest rally to take place since a Thai court ruled the February 2 general election invalid.
Until recently, Thailand had seen an ease in tensions since anti-government demonstrations began four months ago.
Anti-government activists want PM Yingluck Shinawatra to step down and the political system to be reformed.
At the height of the demonstrations, which began in November, protesters shut down key road junctions in Bangkok and blockaded government ministries.
Thailand’s anti-government activists want PM Yingluck Shinawatra to step down and the political system to be reformed
Saturday’s demonstrators, led by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, marched from Bangkok’s Lumpini Park along six different routes through the city centre.
”We want to tell the government that the people don’t accept them anymore and the people really want reform of the country immediately,” Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters.
Suthep Thaugsuban warned the authorities against attempting to organize a re-run of the elections, saying any future poll would be boycotted.
The march comes a week after Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled the February 2 general election invalid.
Yingluck Shinawatra’s ruling party was expected to win the poll, but the opposition boycotted it and protesters disrupted voting, meaning the election has not been completed.
The protesters, who are mainly urban and middle class, want Yingluck Shinawatra’s government replaced by an unelected “people’s council”.
They accuse the Thai government of being run by PM Yingluck Shinawatra’s brother and ousted former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Yingluck Shinawatra, who has dismissed calls to step down, is currently facing charges of negligence over a government rice subsidy scheme, which critics say was rife with corruption.
She is expected to submit her defense to the National Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday.
If found guilty, Yingluck Shinawatra could be removed from office and faces a five-year ban from politics.
General Motors is recalling 824,000 more cars over defective ignition switches that have caused some engines to shut off and to disable airbags.
GM said it was recalling a variety of models made between 2008 and 2011, in addition to 1.6 million cars made before 2007 that were recalled last month.
The carmaker said it was unaware of deaths caused by the flaw in the 2008-2011 models.
But the problem has been linked to between 12 and 303 deaths in crashes.
Separately on Friday, GM halted sales of some models of the popular Chevrolet Cruze car.
General Motors is recalling 824,000 more cars over defective ignition switches
GM did not give details of the reasons behind its move, which affects models with 1.4 litre turbo diesel engines, nor did it say whether the sales halt affects markets outside the US.
The recall of the 2008-2011 models announced on Friday adds to the 1.6 million cars the company has already recalled over reports of the faulty ignition switch.
“We are taking no chances with safety,” GM chief executive Mary Barra said in the company’s announcement.
“Trying to locate several thousand switches in a population of 2.2 million vehicles and distributed to thousands of retailers isn’t practical. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recalling the rest of the model years.”
The models affected by Friday’s recall are the Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR, Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and the Saturn Ion and Sky.
At issue is a flaw in the manufacture of the ignition switch that causes the key to shift on its own from the “run” position to the “accessory” or “off position”, even while the car is driving at full speed on the road.
That can shut off the car’s engine and disable the airbags, with potentially disastrous consequences.
Until the cars can be recalled and the ignition switches replaced, GM recommends customers remove all items, including the key fob, from their key rings, using only the vehicle key in the ignition switch.
GM has admitted that some employees knew about the issue as early as 2004.
The carmaker has linked the issue to 12 deaths. But a report by the Center for Auto Safety has put the number at 303 – a figure that GM has disputed.
The delay in recalling the vehicles has triggered two congressional enquiries against General Motors.
Mary Barra is scheduled to testify to both chambers of Congress next week on the issue and address why it did not recall vehicles earlier.
CinemaCon 2014, the Official Convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from March 24 to 27.
Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler and Kevin Costner were among the winners at an awards ceremony to mark the close of the CinemaCon convention.
The festival allows cinema exhibitors to get a first look at new films as studios and actors present footage from their most-hyped forthcoming projects.
This week, the first scenes from the eagerly-anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation were unveiled.
The new Hobbit, X-Men and The Amazing Spider-Man films were also teased.
Sony Pictures debuted 30 minutes of 3D footage from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone – including scenes explaining the death of Peter Parker’s parents.
They also introduced Max Dillon who becomes Electro – played by Jamie Foxx; and Harry Osborn who becomes the Green Goblin – played by Dane DeHaan.
CinemaCon 2014 took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from March 24 to 27
Jupiter Ascending, the new sci-fi fantasy adventure from the Wachowski siblings Andy and Lana, who created The Matrix trilogy, was also unveiled.
Mila Kunis joined her co-star Channing Tatum to promote the film in which Tatum plays a “genetically engineered human and wolf”.
Other films included Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and The Fault of Our Stars, based on John Green’s best-selling tearjerker about two young people with cancer who fall in love.
Its star Shailene Woodley was handed the female star of tomorrow award.
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were awarded a prize for comedy filmmakers of the year after unveiling scenes from their new film The Interview, which stars Rogen and James Franco as two friends asked to assassinate Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea.
Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann – who was named comedy star of the year – attended the convention to promote their forthcoming film The Other Woman.
The movie sees Cameron Diaz’s character discover her boyfriend is actually married to Leslie Mann’s character, before the pair team up to seek revenge.
Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler were handed the awards for male and female star of the year, after attending the festival to promote Blended.
The comedy about two families who embark on a trip to Africa reunites the pair who previously starred in 50 First Dates and The Wedding Singer.
Fifty Shades of Grey directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.
Exhibitors were shown scenes featuring Christian Grey whisking Anastasia Steel off her feet with a joyride in his helicopter and a fancy make-over.
Johnny Depp presented clips of his new sci-fi drama Transcendence, in which he plays a terminally ill scientist-turned-unruly computer system.
A fourth death has been reported after a car crashed into crowds at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas.
Austin police named De’Andre Tatum, 18, as the latest victim of the crash, which happened on March 13.
Suspected driver Rashad Charjun Owens, 21, currently faces two capital murder charges after a man and a woman were killed in the collision in Austin.
On March 17, Sandy Thuy Le, 26, was named as the third victim of the crash.
Following the incident, Jamie Ranae West, 27, was the first named victim.
Austin police named De’Andre Tatum as the latest victim of SXSW car crash
Jamie Ranae West was on a moped with her husband Evan West, 29, when they were hit.
Evan West is listed as one of the people still being treated in hospital. It had been previously reported that both of the fatalities had been on the moped.
The man who died in the crash was on a bicycle, police said, although they did not release his name.
Massive Music, a company with offices in Amsterdam, New York and London, said employee Steven Craenmehr, 35, died suddenly in Austin.
Rashad Charjun Owens is also charged with 23 counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said an officer on a drink-driving patrol had initially tried to stop Rashad Charjun Owens, who then tried to escape.
Blood samples from the accused are currently being tested.
Local students have started fundraising initiatives to help the victims, while medical teams have also been appealing for people in the area to donate blood.
Images of ambulances and fire engines and people being treating at the scene were shared on social media.
Police confirmed the news on Twitter and also appealed for people who had been in the area at the time to come forward.
“If you witnessed the incident that took place at 9th and Red River please make sure you talk with an officer on the scene. #SXSW,” they wrote.
The collision happened outside of the Mohawk venue. According to its website, Tyler the Creator was due to perform at the venue.
SXSW festival, which ran from March 11 to March 16, is known as one of the world’s best platforms for rising talent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called President Barack Obama to discuss the US proposal for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine, the White House announces.
Barack Obama suggested that Russia put a concrete response in writing, his spokesman said in a statement.
According to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin suggested examining how the situation could be stabilized.
Russia’s annexation of Crimea has sparked international condemnation.
Vladimir Putin has called Barack Obama to discuss the US proposal for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine
Barack Obama urged Vladimir Putin to avoid the build-up of forces on the Russian border with Ukraine.
The White House said the two countries’ foreign ministers would meet soon to discuss the next steps.
The US proposal was developed in consultation with Ukraine and other European countries.
Barack Obama received Vladimir Putin’s call in Saudi Arabia – the latest leg of a trip which also took him to Europe where the Ukraine crisis dominated discussions.
The Kremlin said in a statement that Vladimir Putin drew Barack Obama’s attention to “the continued rampage of extremists” in Kiev and various regions of Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin suggested examining possible steps the global community could take to help stabilize the situation, the Kremlin statement said.
Meanwhile in New York, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he had been assured by Vladimir Putin that the Russian leader “had no intention to make any military move”.
Russia’s reported troop movements near Ukraine’s eastern border – described as a “huge military build-up” by NATO – has triggered fears that Vladimir Putin’s interest in Ukraine is not limited to Crimea.
BlackBerry has reported a net loss of $5.9 billion for its latest financial year.
However, in the first quarter of 2014, BlackBerry recorded a smaller-than-expected loss of $423 million, compared with a loss of $4.4 billion in the previous quarter.
BlackBerry said it was pleased with its fourth quarter performance, and that it was on “a path to returning to growth and profitability”.
BlackBerry has reported a net loss of $5.9 billion for its latest financial year
CEO John Chen said the company was moving to a “sounder financial footing”.
BlackBerry devices have recently lost out in the high-end smartphone market to Apple’s iPhone and phones powered by Google Android operating system.
During the financial year, BlackBerry’s losses included $934 million on unsold Z10 smartphones, and restructuring costs of $512 million.
Fourth quarter revenues fell to $976 million, below analysts’ expectations of $1.1 billion.
As part of its turnaround plan BlackBerry is focusing on its services arm, and is also putting renewed emphasis on its keyboard devices.
John Chen was appointed as interim chief executive in November 2013.
BlackBerry’s shares fell nearly 5% on Friday, reversing initial gains of over 5%.
British director Derek Martinus, who directed some of Doctor Who‘s best known episodes between 1965 and 1970, featuring the first three Doctors, has died aged 82.
Derek Martinus died on Thursday evening having suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years, his family said.
He directed the introduction of the Cybermen in The Tenth Planet.
Derek Martinus directed some of Doctor Who’s best known episodes between 1965 and 1970
The four episodes culminated in first Doctor William Hartnell regenerating into Patrick Troughton.
Derek Martinus also directed the first ever Doctor Who episodes to be made in color, the Spearhead from Space serial – which introduced third Doctor Jon Pertwee – as well as The Ice Warriors serial.
His career took in several other long-running series such as United, Z-cars, The Doctors, Angels, Blake’s 7 and Penmarric.
Derek Martinus was born on April 4, 1931, and went to school in Essex, later studying acting and directing at Yale Drama School after some time in the RAF. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and three grandchildren.
Facebook has revealed its plans to connect the two-thirds of the world that has no net access, using drones, satellites and lasers.
The announcement has been made on Facebook platform by founder Mark Zuckerberg.
The move will put Facebook in direct competition with Google, which is planning to deliver net access via balloons.
Facebook and Google want to extend their audiences, especially in the developing world.
Facebook has revealed its plans to connect the two-thirds of the world that has no net access, using drones, satellites and lasers
Details about Facebook’s plan were scant but it will include a fleet of solar-powered drones as well as low-earth orbit and geosynchronous satellites. Invisible, infrared laser beams could also be used to boost the speed of the net connections.
Last year Facebook and other technology companies launched internet.org to help bring net access to the huge swathes of the globe that are still not connected.
Facebook has already teamed up with telecoms operators in the Philippines and Paraguay to double the number of people using the internet in that region.
“We’re going to continue building these partnerships, but connecting the whole world will require inventing new technology too,” Mark Zuckerberg said in his post.
To bring the project to fruition, Facebook has set up a Connectivity Lab that will include experts in aerospace and communication technology, from NASA’s jet propulsion lab and its Ames research centre.
It has also hired a five-member team that worked at British firm Ascenta, whose founders developed the Zephyr, which holds the record for the longest-flying solar-powered unmanned aircraft.
Earlier this month there were rumors that Facebook was interested in buying drone-maker Titan but there was no mention of this in the announcement.
Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s ex-prime minister, has been appointed NATO’s next secretary general, replacing Denmark’s Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Jens Stoltenberg will take over as leader of the 28-nation military alliance in October, when Fogh Rasmussen steps down after a NATO summit in Wales.
Fogh Rasmussen has headed NATO for the past five years.
Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s ex-prime minister, has been appointed NATO’s next secretary general
Jens Stoltenberg was prime minister of Norway at the time of Anders Breivik’s bomb and gun attacks in 2011.
Anders Breivik killed 77 people when he targeted government buildings in Oslo and young people and officials at a youth camp run by Jens Stoltenberg’s Labor party.
Jens Stoltenberg served as Norway’s prime minister twice, for 18 months in 2000-01 and again from 2005 to 2013.
Fogh Rasmussen said on Twitter that Jens Stoltenberg was “the right man to build on NATO’s record of strength and success”.
In its statement, NATO said: “Mr. Stoltenberg will assume his functions as secretary general as from 1 October 2014, when Mr. Fogh Rasmussen’s term expires after five years and two months at the helm of the alliance.”
