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Oscar Pistorius trial day 11: Athlete had good knowledge of gun use and dealing with intruders

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius trial day 11: Athlete had good knowledge of gun use and dealing with intruders

On the eleventh day of Oscar Pistorius trial, the court has heard from a firearm specialist that the athlete had good knowledge of the rules on gun use and dealing with intruders.

Oscar Pistorius said one could discharge a firearm if one feared for one’s life.

The Paralympic champion denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

The prosecution says Oscar Pistorius intentionally shot Reeva Steenkamp after an argument at his house on Valentine’s Day 2013.

Sean Patrick Rens is involved in firearms assessment for licenses and met Oscar Pistorius in 2012 through a mutual friend.

Oscar Pistorius had bought a gun from Sean Patrick Rens, a Smith and Wesson 500, day 11 of the trial heard. He then ordered six more guns from him.

The order was cancelled a month after Reeva Steenkamp was killed.

Sean Patrick Rens read out a competency questionnaire and examination that Oscar Pistorius had completed before he could be issued with a firearm.

He scored top marks in these tests, which included questions about the rules on when you are legally allowed to shoot intruders.

One question was: “There is no security gate between you and the burglars. They are armed and they advance towards you. Can you discharge your firearm because you fear for your life?”

Oscar Pistorius replied: “Yes.”

The next question was: “Explain the legal requirements when using a firearm for private use”, to which Oscar Pistorius answered: “Attack must be against you, it must be unlawful, it must be against persons.”

Oscar Pistorius had good knowledge of the rules on gun use and dealing with intruders
Oscar Pistorius had good knowledge of the rules on gun use and dealing with intruders

The final question on the importance of target identification elicited this answer from Oscar Pistorius: “Always know your target and what lies behind.”

Sean Patrick Rens also relates an incident when Oscar Pistorius told him about going into “code red”, or “combat mode”, after hearing a noise in the house and thinking there was an intruder.

Oscar Pistorius, 27, got his gun and cleared the house by drawing his gun and checking rooms, Sean Patrick Rens said, and when he got to the source, he found it was a tumble drier.

Oscar Pistorius had tweeted about the incident in November 2012: “Nothing like getting home to hear the washing machine on and thinking it’s an intruder to go into full combat recon mode into the pantry!”

The questioning of Sean Patrick Rens at the end of his testimony was the briefest cross-examination of the trial by Barry Roux.

The next witness was police crime scene photographer Bennie Van Staden, whom Barry Roux accuses of failing to label his pictures correctly.

Bennie Van Staden was called to the scene at around 04:50 and took pictures of the accused and the deceased, as well as pictures in the different rooms of the house.

His photographs show the bloodied bat Oscar Pistorius used to smash open the bathroom door, the damaged door itself, blood-soaked towels, two mobile phones, blood puddles on the bathroom tiles, as well as the toilet bowl covered in blood, with streaks on the inside.

Bennie Van Staden says that you can see the date and time of the photo in his pictures, rejecting defense claims that his picture timeline was jumbled or unclear.

He explained how he set out cones to highlight certain objects in the bathroom, e.g. cartridge cases, and moved some objects for visibility.

The trial has now been adjourned until Tuesday.

Oscar Pistorius trial is expected to call on more than 100 witnesses. It had been set to last for three weeks, but looks likely to be extended.

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Flight MH370: Co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid spoke last words to ground controllers

Roy Siemens
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Flight MH370: Co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid spoke last words to ground controllers

According to Malaysian officials, the co-pilot of missing flight MH370 spoke the last words to ground controllers before it vanished.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that Malaysia Airlines jet’s crew were involved in its disappearance.

The search for the plane has extended into two vast air corridors.

Twenty-six countries have been asked to help find the jet, which went missing over a week ago with 239 people on board.

Malaysia says the plane was intentionally diverted and could have flown on either a northern or southern arc from its last known position.

Ahmad Jauhari Yahy, chief executive of Malaysia Airlines, told a press conference on Monday that initial investigations had indicated that co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid had calmly said: “All right, good night” shortly before the plane disappeared.

However, it is not clear whether the last words came before or after one of the plane’s tracking devices was switched off. Officials believe the communications systems were deliberately disabled.

Missing flight MH370’s co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid spoke the last words to ground controllers before the plane vanished
Missing flight MH370’s co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid spoke the last words to ground controllers before the plane vanished

Police have searched the homes of Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, and Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27.

A flight simulator taken from Zaharie Ahmad Shah’s home was being reassembled and examined at police headquarters, officials said.

Investigators are also looking at passengers, engineers and other ground staff who may have had contact with the aircraft before take-off.

The plane left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing at 00:40 local time on March 8.

Officials say the sign-off to air traffic controllers came at 01:19 as it left Malaysian airspace.

The last transmission from the plane’s Aircraft and Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) was received at 01:07.

“We don’t know when the ACARS was switched off after that,” Ahmad Jauhari Yahy said.

“It was supposed to transmit 30 minutes from there, but that transmission did not come through.”

The plane disappeared off air traffic controllers’ screens at 01:21, when it was over the South China Sea.

Searches have started in two air corridors – one stretching from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, and another from Indonesia to the Indian Ocean.

Two-thirds of flight MH370 passengers were from China and the country’s state media has been criticizing the Malaysian operation.

Chinese PM Li Keqiang in a phone call asked the Malaysian PM Najib Razak to provide more detailed information about the missing flight “in a timely, accurate and comprehensive manner”, state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday.

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Navy SEALs take control of rogue Libya oil tanker Morning Glory

Roy Siemens
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Navy SEALs take control of rogue Libya oil tanker Morning Glory

The US Navy SEALs have taken control of Morning Glory tanker full of oil loaded from a rebel-held port in Libya, the Pentagon says.

The raid by Navy SEALs took place in international waters south of Cyprus, said Rear Admiral John Kirby.

The Morning Glory’s evasion of a naval blockade at the eastern port of Sidra prompted Libya’s parliament to sack PM Ali Zeidan last week.

The oil terminal has been under the control of militia wanting autonomy for eastern Libya since July 2013.

The US Navy SEALs have taken control of Morning Glory tanker full of oil loaded from a rebel-held port in Libya
The US Navy SEALs have taken control of Morning Glory tanker full of oil loaded from a rebel-held port in Libya

This was their first attempt to export oil from rebel-held areas. It is not clear where the tanker was headed.

Admiral John Kirby said the operation had been authorized by President Barack Obama and that no-one had been hurt.

“The Morning Glory is carrying a cargo of oil owned by the Libyan government National Oil Company. The ship and its cargo were illicitly obtained,” he said, adding that it would now be returned to a Libyan port.

Morning Glory was flagged in North Korea but officials in Pyongyang said it had been deregistered because of the incident.

The oil tanker was said to have been operated by an Egyptian company.

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Mr. Peabody and Sherman tops US box office with $21 million

Sonia Pantiss
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Mr. Peabody and Sherman tops US box office with $21 million

Animated adventure Mr. Peabody and Sherman has beaten high-octane action movie Need For Speed at the US box office this weekend.

Need For Speed, starring Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul, was largely tipped for pole position, but it entered at number three with takings of $17.8 million.

Mr. Peabody and Sherman 3D cartoon rose to top spot with $21.2 million after making its debut in second place last week.

However, at the global box office, Need For Speed came first.

Mr. Peabody and Sherman finished in third spot in countries outside of the US and Canada.

Need For Speed is based on the popular video game featuring the street-racing character Tobey Marshall.

In North America, 300: Rise of an Empire took second place after a hefty $45.1 million number one opening last week.

Mr. Peabody and Sherman has beaten high-octane action movie Need For Speed at the US box office
Mr. Peabody and Sherman has beaten high-octane action movie Need For Speed at the US box office

But the film failed to match the debut of its predecessor 300, which starred Gerard Butler.

Other new entries included Tyler Perry’s latest offering, The Single Moms Club, at number five, seen as a relatively poor performance for the US hit film-maker and actor.

Wes Anderson’s latest film The Grand Budapest Hotel came in at number eight on the back of screenings in just 66 cinemas.

North American box office Top 5:

1. Mr. Peabody & Sherman – $21.2 million

2. 300: Rise of an Empire – $19.1 million

3. Need For Speed – $17.8 million

4. Non-Stop – $10.6 million

5. The Single Moms Club – $8.3 million

Source: Rentrak

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David Brenner dies from cancer at 78

Sonia Pantiss
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David Brenner dies from cancer at 78

Comedian David Brenner died Saturday at the age of 78.

David Brenner, who had been fighting cancer, died peacefully at his home in New York City with his family at his side, according to Jeff Abraham, his friend and publicist.

The tall, thin and always sharply dressed david Brenner became one of the most frequent visitors to Johnny Carson’s Tonight show in the 1970s and ’80s.

His 150-plus appearances as guest and substitute host turned the former documentary filmmaker into a hot comedian, one who was ubiquitous on other talk shows and game shows.

David Brenner also briefly hosted his own syndicated talk show in 1987 and starred in four HBO specials.

David Brenner, who had been fighting cancer, died peacefully at his home in New York City with his family at his side
David Brenner, who had been fighting cancer, died peacefully at his home in New York City with his family at his side

He moved with the times, trading routines about the humor of everyday life for jokes about social and political issues, and appearing on MSNBC and Fox News Channel cable programs.

Although his career faltered, David Brenner worked steadily through 2013 doing standup. A four-day gig last December included a New Year’s Eve show at a Pennsylvania casino-resort in which he showcased young comedians.

Although David Brenner took a brief stabs at TV fame, with the 1976 sitcom Snip and the talk show Nightlife he hosted in 1987, he didn’t achieve the success of Jerry Seinfeld’s self-titled NBC sitcom or Paul Reiser’s Mad About You, and he saw Jay Leno follow Johnny Carson as Tonight host.

Funeral plans for David Brenner were not immediately announced.

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Crimea referendum: EU and US to impose sanctions against Russia

Roy Siemens
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Crimea referendum: EU and US to impose sanctions against Russia

EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels are discussing the bloc’s response, including imposing a visa ban and an asset freeze against a number of Russian officials following Crimea’s controversial referendum on Sunday.

According to Crimean officials, Sunday’s referendum overwhelmingly backed leaving Ukraine.

Ukraine’s chief electoral official, Mikhail Malyshev, said the vote was nearly 97% in favor of joining the Russian Federation, with a turnout of 83%.

The EU has already suspended talks on an economic pact with Russia and an easing of visa restrictions.

The EU will impose a visa ban and an asset freeze against a number of Russian officials following Crimea’s controversial referendum
The EU will impose a visa ban and an asset freeze against a number of Russian officials following Crimea’s controversial referendum

Speaking in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the “so-called referendum” was “illegal under the constitution of Ukraine and under international law”.

“I call upon Russia yet again to meet with Ukrainian leaders and to start a dialogue with them, and to try to move to de-escalation, please, as quickly as possible. We’ve seen no evidence of that,” Catherine Ashton told reporters.

The baroness said the EU “can’t simply sit back and say this situation can be allowed to happen”, but that ministers needed to think carefully about what their response should be.

The White House has also described Russia’s actions in Crimea as “dangerous and destabilizing”, and said the international community would not recognize the results of a poll “administered under threats of violence”.

President Barack Obama has warned Moscow that Washington is also ready to impose “costs” over its actions in Ukraine.

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Crimea parliament declares independence from Ukraine

Diane A. Wade
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Crimea parliament declares independence from Ukraine

Crimean parliament has formally declared independence from Ukraine and asked to join the Russian Federation.

The move follows Sunday’s controversial referendum which officials say overwhelmingly backed joining Russia.

The government in Kiev has said it will not recognize the results. The US and EU say the vote was illegal and have vowed to impose sanctions on Moscow.

The Crimean peninsula has been under the control of pro-Russia forces since late February.

Moscow says the troops are pro-Russian self-defense forces and not under its direct control.

The crisis follows the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych on February 22, following months of street protests and deadly clashes.

Ukraine’s interim PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk has called the vote “a circus performance” which had been backed up by “21,000 Russian troops, who with their guns are trying to prove the legality of the referendum”.

Crimean parliament has formally declared independence from Ukraine and asked to join the Russian Federation
Crimean parliament has formally declared independence from Ukraine and asked to join the Russian Federation

The vote was boycotted by many among Crimea’s minority Ukrainian and Tatar population, and the election process has been widely criticized.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev has formally approved the partial mobilization of 40,000 reservists, in response to what it called the “war-time situation”.

Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov described the referendum as a “great farce” which “will never be recognized either by Ukraine or by the civilized world”.

According to the vote in Crimea’s parliament on Monday, Ukrainian laws now no longer apply in the region and all state Ukrainian state property belongs to an independent Crimea.

The region will adopt the Russian currency, the rouble, and will move to Moscow time – two hours ahead – by the end of March.

The document approved by Crimean lawmakers also appealed to “all countries of the world to recognise it as an independent state”.

The referendum on breaking from Ukraine and joining Russia was called in early March by the Crimean parliament, with voters asked to choose between joining Russia, or having greater autonomy within Ukraine.

There was no option for those who wanted the constitutional arrangements to remain unchanged.

Ukraine’s chief electoral official, Mikhail Malyshev, said the vote was 96.6% in favor of joining the Russian Federation, with a turnout of 83%.

Crimea’s Tatar population – about 12% of the population – said they would boycott the vote, fearing their lives would be worse under the Kremlin.

The Tatars were deported to Central Asia by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1944. They were only able to return with the fall of the Soviet Union and many want to remain in Ukraine.

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Vigorous exercise each week cuts flu risk

Kathryn R. Bown
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Vigorous exercise each week cuts flu risk

A new research suggests that doing at least two and a half hours of vigorous exercise each week cuts the chance of developing flu.

Around 4,800 people took part in this year’s online Flu Survey, run by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Moderate exercise did not appear to have a protective effect, the researchers said.

Overall, flu rates have been relatively low this winter.

Doing at least two and a half hours of vigorous exercise each week cuts the chance of developing flu
Doing at least two and a half hours of vigorous exercise each week cuts the chance of developing flu

One of the questions people must answer when they register, as well as their age, if they are around children and if they have been vaccinated, is how many hours of “vigorous exercise” they do each week, such as running, fast cycling or competitive sports, ranging from none to more than five hours.

They are then asked to log in each week and note how they are feeling, and whether or not they have any flu-like symptoms.

The research findings suggest 100 cases of flu per 1,000 people could be prevented just by engaging in vigorous exercise.

Researchers also said this year’s survey found some of the lowest reports of flu-like illness in recent years.

Over the winter flu season, only 4.7% of reports were positive for flu-like symptoms compared with 6% last year.

Children also appear to have had lower levels of flu-like illness than last year with just 5% reporting symptoms this flu season compared with 7.9% last year.

El Salvador presidential elections 2014: Salvador Sanchez Ceren’s victory confirmed

Diane A. Wade
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El Salvador presidential elections 2014: Salvador Sanchez Ceren’s victory confirmed

Left-wing rebel Salvador Sanchez Ceren’s victory in a tight presidential run-off election has been confirmed by El Salvador’s electoral court.

The electoral court said Salvador Sanchez Ceren won 50.11% of the votes in the March 9 poll, defeating conservative candidate Norman Quijano, who polled 49.89%.

Norman Quijano had challenged the result, alleging fraud.

The court’s decision makes Salvador Sanchez Ceren the country’s first ex-rebel to serve as president.

Salvador Sanchez Ceren won 50.11 percent of the votes in the March 9 presidential poll
Salvador Sanchez Ceren won 50.11 percent of the votes in the March 9 presidential poll (photo Reuters)

On Sunday, the court said that there was not enough evidence to back Norman Quijano’s claim.

“Based on the results, Salvador Sanchez Ceren and Oscar Samuel Ortiz are declared president and vice-president elect respectively, for the period from 1 June 2014 to 1 June 2019,” court president Eugenio Chicas was quoted as saying by Reuters.

El Salvador’s outgoing President Mauricio Funes said he would meet Salvador Sanchez Ceren later on Monday to begin the handover process.

Salvador Sanchez Ceren became vice-president of El Salvador in 2009, while Norman Quijano was the mayor of the capital, San Salvador.

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Crimea referendum final results: 96.6% of voters backed joining Russia

Diane A. Wade
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Crimea referendum final results: 96.6% of voters backed joining Russia

Crimea referendum showed support for a split from Ukraine with election officials saying that 96.6% of voters backed joining Russia.

The government in Kiev described the vote as a “circus performance” and said it would not recognize the result.

The EU and US say the referendum was illegal, but Russia says it was consistent with international law.

President Barack Obama has warned Moscow that Washington is also ready to impose “costs” over its actions in Ukraine.

Crimea PM Sergei Aksyonov celebrated referendum results
Crimea PM Sergei Aksyonov celebrated referendum results

As polls closed on Sunday night, the White House said the international community “will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence”, describing Russia’s actions as “dangerous and destabilizing”.

The new authorities in Kiev say Russian troops moved in to Crimea after Ukraine’s pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted following months of street protests.

Crimean leaders are expected to formally apply to the Kremlin on Monday to join Russia.

The Russian parliament had been expected to wait until Friday to begin debating the relevant legislation. It is now believed the process of absorbing Crimea could take place under existing laws.

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Flight MH370: Australia takes control of southern vector search

Roy Siemens
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Flight MH370: Australia takes control of southern vector search

Australia is taking control of the “southern vector” search for the missing Malaysian Airlines jet, Australian PM Tony Abbott says.

According to Malaysian officials, flight MH370 was intentionally diverted and could have flown on either a northern or southern arc from its last known position.

More than 20 nations have been asked to help search for the missing jet, and evaluate radar and satellite data.

There has also been scrutiny of the last communication from the plane.

Malaysian officials said on Sunday that the last words from the cockpit – “All right, good night” – came after the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), which transmits key information about the plane to the ground, had been deliberately switched off.

On Saturday, Malaysian police searched the homes of Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah and co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid. A flight simulator taken from the captain’s home was being re-assembled and examined at police headquarters, officials said.

Friends of both pilots – who investigators say did not ask to fly together – have expressed disbelief at the possibility of their involvement.

Australia is taking control of the "southern vector" search for the missing Malaysian Airlines jet
Australia is taking control of the “southern vector” search for the missing Malaysian Airlines jet

Investigators are also looking at passengers, engineers and other ground staff who may have had contact with the aircraft before take-off in their search for clues.

Malaysia Airlines plane, carrying a total of 239 passengers and crew, left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing at 00:40 local time on March 8.

The plane disappeared off air traffic controllers’ screens at about 01:20, when it was over the South China Sea.

Malaysian officials said on Saturday that according to a military radar, the aircraft then turned and flew back over Malaysia before heading in a north-west direction.

A satellite was able to pick up a signal from the plane until 08:11 local time, although it was unable to give a precise location.

Investigators are now looking at two possible corridors – a northern corridor stretching from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan through to northern Thailand, and a southern corridor stretching from Indonesia to the southern Indian Ocean.

Australian PM Tony Abbott said he was adding more resources to the search in response to a request from Malaysia.

Tony Abbott told parliament on Monday that Malaysian PM Najib Razak asked Australia to “take responsibility for the search on the southern vector, which the Malaysian authorities now think was one possible flight path for this ill-fated aircraft”.

“I agreed that we would do so. I offered the Malaysian prime minister additional maritime surveillance resources which he gratefully accepted.”

Malaysia’s navy and air force were also deploying assets to the southern corridor on Monday, Malaysia’s transport ministry said.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Authority said it was not possible for the plane to have reached its airspace undetected.

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority said it had checked its radar recordings but “found no clue” connected to the flight.

Aside from Australia, Malaysia has sent diplomatic notes requesting assistance to 25 countries.

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Paris pollution: Police monitor traffic as car ban starts

James J. Williams
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Paris pollution: Police monitor traffic as car ban starts

Police will monitor traffic in Paris on Monday after pollution levels prompted the French government to impose major restrictions.

Only motorists whose cars have odd-numbered registration plates will be allowed to drive.

On Tuesday, if the restrictions remain in place, it will be the turn of those with even-numbered plates.

Ministers acted after air pollution exceeded safe levels for five days running in Paris and surrounding areas.

The smoggy conditions have been caused by a combination of cold nights and warm days, which have prevented pollution from dispersing

The measure has been tried once before, in 1997. Paris air quality monitoring body Airparif says it had a noticeable impact on improving air quality, although critics have disputed its findings.

Motorcycles will also be covered by the ban, which runs from 05:30 local time to midnight on Monday. There are exceptions for electric and hybrid vehicles, and for cars carrying three or more passengers.

Police will monitor traffic in Paris on Monday after pollution levels prompted the French government to impose major restrictions
Police will monitor traffic in Paris on Monday after pollution levels prompted the French government to impose major restrictions (photo AP)

Those flouting the restrictions will face a small fine although there will be free parking for those with number-plates ending in an even number.

Delivery companies are already complaining of lost income. Politically the stakes are high, with elections for Paris mayor due to start next week.

Opposition leader Jean-Francois Cope complained that the ban “lacks coherence, explanation and on the ground it’s really panic”.

On Friday, public transport was made free of charge for three days in an attempt to encourage people to leave their cars at home. This measure will continue on Monday.

The capital’s air quality has been one of the worst on record, French environmental agencies say, rivaling the Chinese capital, Beijing, one of the world’s most polluted cities.

On Friday, pollution levels hit 180 microgrammes of PM10 particulates per cubic metre, more than double the safe limit of 80.

PM10 particulates are emitted by vehicles, heating systems and heavy industry.

Pollution levels were said to have fallen on Sunday but were expected to rise again on Monday.

The government is to review pollution levels again, before deciding whether to extend the driving restrictions for longer.

Officials say one heavy rainfall would have more effect than a one-day ban.

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Chile: 6.7 earthquake strikes offshore Tarapaca

Nancy Clayson
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Chile: 6.7 earthquake strikes offshore Tarapaca

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit off the northern coast of Chile on Sunday evening, prompting a brief evacuation of part of a coastal area but not causing any injuries or significant damage.

The strong quake – originally measured as a 7.0 – was centered 37 miles west-northwest of Iquique and struck at a depth of 12.4 miles, the US Geological Survey said Sunday. It hit at 6.16 p.m. local time.

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit off the northern coast of Chile on Sunday evening
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit off the northern coast of Chile on Sunday evening

An emergency office said there was no major damage resulting from the quake, except for two small roadside rock falls in the Arica and Parinacota region.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami was expected.

A second quake, a 5.1 at almost the exact same location, followed 10 minutes later. An aftershock at 6.2 followed about six hours later.

How to make St Patrick’s Day green beer in three steps

Nancy Clayson
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How to make St Patrick’s Day green beer in three steps

You can show your St. Patrick’s Day spirit by drinking an ice-cold mug of green beer.

 1. Choose a light colored beer. You can make darker beer green, but it requires so much food coloring that your teeth will turn green.

St Patrick’s Day green beer
St Patrick’s Day green beer

2. Squirt 4 – 6 drops of green food coloring in the bottom of a beer glass. Use more drops for beer of a darker hue. Use liquid food coloring, as opposed to gel; it’ll mix with the beer much more easily.Don’t use blue food coloring. You may think it will mix with yellow beer to make green, but since the colors aren’t pure pigments, you’ll end up with something closer to turquoise.

3. Fill the mug with beer. The food coloring will mix with the beer as you pour, tinting your beer a lovely green. Don’t stir the beer, or it’s likely to go flat.

Or… You can try this recipe…

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St Patrick’s Day cupcakes recipe

Kathryn R. Bown
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St Patrick’s Day cupcakes recipe

St Patrick’s Day cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix

1 1/4 cups water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 egg whites

8 drops red food coloring

2 drops raspberry candy oil

St Patrick’s Day cupcakes
St Patrick’s Day cupcakes

Directions:

  1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a standard muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
  2. Beat the cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and egg whites together on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium for 2 minutes, until smooth. Fill cupcake liners 1/3 full with white batter; set aside.
  3. Stir 4 drops of red food coloring into the remaining bowl of batter to make the batter pink, stir in the raspberry oil. Pour 1/3 of pink batter into a resealable plastic bag and set aside.
  4. Mix more food coloring into the remaining bowl of pink batter until it is an orange/red color and pour the batter into a resealable plastic bag. Cut a corner off the bag, stick the open tip into the center of each cup of white batter and squeeze in about two tablespoons of red batter.
  5. Cut the corner off the bag with the pink batter, stick the open tip into the center of the red batter and squeeze about 1 tablespoon pink batter into each cup.
  6. Bake the layered cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Crimea referendum results: 95.5% of voters back joining Russia after half ballots counted

Diane A. Wade
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Crimea referendum results: 95.5% of voters back joining Russia after half ballots counted

After half the votes have been counted, some 95.5% of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia in a disputed referendum, officials announce.

Crimea’s leader Sergei Aksyonov says he will apply to join Russia on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will respect the Crimean people’s wishes.

Many Crimeans loyal to Kiev boycotted the referendum, and the EU and US condemned it as illegal.

Pro-Russian forces took control of Crimea in February.

Some 95.5 percent of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia in a disputed referendum
Some 95.5 percent of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia in a disputed referendum

They moved in after Ukraine’s pro-Moscow president was ousted by street protests.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama had spoken over the phone and agreed to seek a way to stabilize Ukraine.

Shortly after polling stations closed, however, the US renewed its threat to put sanctions on Russia.

White House spokesman Jay Carney condemned the vote as “dangerous and destabilizing” and said it would have “increasing costs for Russia”.

The EU said in a statement that the vote was “illegal and illegitimate and its outcome will not be recognized”.

EU foreign ministers are due to meet on Monday and are expected to consider imposing sanctions on Russian officials.

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Duck Dynasty stars to feature Accuform workplace safety signs

Sonia Pantiss
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Duck Dynasty stars to feature Accuform workplace safety signs

Florida-based safety sign company Accuform Signs has teamed up with the A&E television network to create a new line of Duck Dynasty-inspired workplace safety signs meant to catch the attention of employees.

The company has signed a two-year licensing deal with the A&E to use characters from the Duck Dynasty reality show on their products.

The purpose of the new signs, according to Accuform CEO Wayne Johnson, is to attract and keep an employee’s attention, thus ensuring better safety measures in the workplace.

“Featuring pop culture icons like Duck Dynasty on workplace identification products is a unique way for workers to connect with their company’s safety program,” Wayne Johnson told the Tampa Bay Times in a recent interview.

Accuform Signs has teamed up with the A&E to create a new line of Duck Dynasty-inspired workplace safety signs
Accuform Signs has teamed up with the A&E to create a new line of Duck Dynasty-inspired workplace safety signs

Instead of using the traditional workplace safety sign that often depicts simple wording warning against a safety violation, the new Duck Dynasty-themed signs will be multi-colored and feature a Duck Dynasty character acting out the safety situation. For example, one sign shows Willie Robertson wearing an orange hard hat. Another sign for protective eye-wear will reportedly show a member of the Duck Dynasty clan wearing protective goggles.

The new safety-sign campaign proves fitting, as a major theme on the Duck Dynasty reality show revolves around the Duck Commander business and often shows the Robertson family members working in the Duck Commander warehouse, either handling heavy machinery for packaging their products or making duck calls. Another theme of the show is the Robertson family’s love for hunting, which also carries its only necessary safety precautions.

Since its first airing in 2012, Duck Dynasty reality show has hit mainstream success and the Robertson family has been signed to various marketing deals.

In January, the Robertson family teamed up with the Mossberg gun company to produce a new line of shotguns, semiautomatic rifles and a semiautomatic pistol that feature the Duck Commander company name and the slogan “Faith. Family. Ducks”.

Retail stores across the US also carry Duck Dynasty merchandise, such as camouflage clothing, hunting gear, and of course, duck calls. Big-name brands and stores that have teamed up with the Duck Dynasty name include Walmart, Under Armour, and Target, among others.

Flight MH370: 25 countries helping Malaysia in complex search

Roy Siemens
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Flight MH370: 25 countries helping Malaysia in complex search

Twenty five countries are now involved in a vast search operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 that disappeared over a week ago, Malaysian officials say.

The search area – from central Asia to the southern Indian Ocean – takes in large tracts of land and sea.

An already complex search operation has become even more difficult, Malaysia’s acting transport minister says.

Crew, passengers and ground staff are being investigated after it was confirmed the jet was commandeered.

Investigators are trying to obtain more radar and satellite data from any of the countries that flight MH370 may have passed over, with its 239 crew and passengers.

The leaders of several Asian countries have been briefed by the Malaysia government in what acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has described as a new phase of the search.

“From focusing mainly on shallow seas, we are now looking at large tracts of land, crossing 11 countries, as well as deep and remote oceans,” he said at a news conference.

Malaysian officials are contacting countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and France.

Twenty five countries are now involved in a vast search operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
Twenty five countries are now involved in a vast search operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370

They are also asking countries to provide assistance in the search for the plane, including satellite data and analysis, ground-search capabilities, and maritime and air assets.

After checking their radar recordings, Pakistani civil aviation officials said they had found no sign of the missing jet.

Malaysian national police chief Gen Khalid Abu Bakar said background checks had been requested on all passengers aboard the plane, but that so far nothing suspicious had been reported – though some intelligence agencies still had to respond.

The police are also reportedly looking at the family life and psychological state of the plane’s pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, and co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid, and searched their homes on Saturday.

Zaharie Shah and Fariq Abdul had not asked to fly together, Hishammuddin Hussein confirmed at the news conference.

Officers spoke to relatives of Zaharie Shah and experts are examining the pilot’s personal flight simulator. Police have visited his house for a second day.

Those who know Zaharie Shah, 53, insist he is a normal family man.

With 18,000 hours of flying experience, Zaharie Shah is a self-confessed “aviation geek” and proudly posted pictures online of the flight simulator he built at home.

Fariq Hamid was said to be engaged, and had just graduated to the cockpit of the Boeing 777. A local community leader described him as a “good boy, a good Muslim, humble and quiet”. The only known blot on his record is that he invited two female passengers into the cockpit of a 2011 flight from Thailand to Kuala Lumpur, in breach of regulations.

As well as the crew and passengers, police are investigating the engineers and other ground staff who may have had contact with the aircraft before take-off.

A team from British telecommunications company Inmarsat team arrived on Saturday in Malaysia.

An Inmarsat satellite is said have continued receiving signals from flight MH370 at least five hours after the plane was reported lost.

A team of French investigators is to travel to Malaysia on Monday to help with the search, the French transport ministry has said in a statement. They will join members of the US National Transportation Safety Board already in Malaysia.

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John Luke Robertson attends SLE Rodeo 2014 in Montgomery

Sonia Pantiss
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John Luke Robertson attends SLE Rodeo 2014 in Montgomery

Duck Dynasty’s John Luke Robertson attended the annual Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) Rodeo at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama.

John Luke Robertson, 18, spoke with attendees prior to the rodeo’s start, took part in a meet-and-greet and participated in the opening ceremonies with his sister, Sadie Robertson, during Saturday’s matinee performance.

While speaking with the crowd, John Luke Robertson answered several questions, including one about how filming impacts his family and the way they spend time together. He responded by saying that while sometimes it can be stressful, they still enjoy being with one another.

John Luke Robertson attended the annual Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery
John Luke Robertson attended the annual Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery

Following his appearance, fans lined up at the coliseum hoping for a chance to meet John Luke Robertson and get their picture taken with him.

In addition to seeing the reality star, attendees were able to watch some of the top cowboys and cowgirls compete for record prize money during today’s rodeo.

Other entertainers set to appear at this year’s rodeo, which will continue at 7 p.m. tonight, include world champion bull rider Donnie Gay and local musical act Trotline. In addition, this year’s clown, Keith Isley, will keep rodeo lovers entertained throughout the performance.

The SLE Rodeo tickets, which are $16 for adults and $9 for kids, are on sale at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Office located at 201 S. Bainbridge.

Alibaba announces plans for US flotation

Clyde K. Valle
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Alibaba announces plans for US flotation

Online retailer Alibaba Group has announced plans for a flotation in the US.

The Chinese e-commerce giant said the move will make it “a more global company”.

The move had been widely predicted by analysts, who expect it to be the biggest share offering by a tech firm since Facebook’s flotation in 2012.

They predict that the listing will raise up to $15 billion.

However, Alibaba did not reveal when the initial public offering (IPO) would take place or on which exchange.

The move is expected to benefit Yahoo, which owns a significant stake in Alibaba and could see the value of its investment rise considerably.

Alibaba Group has announced plans for US flotation
Alibaba Group has announced plans for US flotation

“Alibaba Group has decided to commence the process of an initial public offering in the United States,” the firm’s statement said.

“This will make us a more global company and enhance the company’s transparency, as well as allow the company to continue to pursue our long-term vision and ideals.”

The news comes two days after another Chinese tech giant, Twitter-like service Weibo, announced plans for a $500 million US listing.

Speculation about a New York listing for Alibaba began last September, when the company abandoned plans for a stock offering in Hong Kong after talks with regulators broke down.

Alibaba’s management structure, which allows senior executives to retain control of the board of directors, fell foul of Hong Kong’s listing rules.

Alibaba Group is already the world’s largest online retailer, with more than 500 million customers and more than 800 million product listings.

Venice referendum on splitting from Italy

Diane A. Wade
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Venice referendum on splitting from Italy

Venice and the surrounding region are voting on whether to break away from Italy.

Recent opinion polls suggest that two thirds of the 4 million electorate favor splitting from Rome, but the vote will not be legally binding.

The poll was organized by local activists and parties, who want a future state called Republic of Veneto.

This would be reminiscent of the sovereign Venetian republic that existed for more than 1,000 years.

Venice and the surrounding region are voting on whether to break away from Italy
Venice and the surrounding region are voting on whether to break away from Italy

A focal point for culture, architecture and trade, Venice lost its independence to Napoleon in 1797.

Online voting is due to continue until Friday.

The vote received very little coverage in Italy’s national media but the organizers said they expected as many as two million people to take part.

It also reflects a growing separatist mood in parts of Europe, such as Spain’s Catalonia region and Scotland, which votes on whether to become independent in September.

Moves towards independence often evoke more sympathy in wealthy northern Italy, where many resent what they see as the poorer south’s waste and corruption.

Luca Zaia, governor of Veneto, the Venice region, rejected suggestions that the Italian constitution would prevent secession.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard celebrate engagement with intimate party in LA

Lisa.Felice
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0
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard celebrate engagement with intimate party in LA

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard celebrated their engagement with an intimate party in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.

According to Us Weekly, Johnny Depp, 50, and Amber Heard, 27, enjoyed a party at The Carondelet House. They reportedly arrived an hour after guests, which included Marilyn Manson, Steven Tyler, Mandy Moore, Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and Rick Ruben.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard celebrated their engagement with an intimate party in downtown Los Angeles
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard celebrated their engagement with an intimate party in downtown Los Angeles

Amber Heard wore a white silk spaghetti-strap “vintage dressy” ensemble for her big night, with her blonde locks down.

Johnny Depp went for a casual black suit and matching top hat.

Amber Heard’s sister arrived with the couple, as well as Johnny Depp’s 11-year-old son, Jack.

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Chris Brown arrested at rehab centre

Lisa.Felice
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Chris Brown arrested at rehab centre

Chris Brown has been reportedly arrested at the rehab centre where he was being treated in California.

Whilst the exact details are not known, Chris Brown was discharged from the facility for failing to comply with its rules and regulations.

Chris Brown was then taken to a Los Angeles jail where he’ll stay until a court appearance on Monday.

Chris Brown was discharged from the rehab facility for failing to comply with its rules and regulations
Chris Brown was discharged from the rehab facility for failing to comply with its rules and regulations

In November, the singer was sentenced to three months of in-patient rehab.

It was suggested by probation officers overseeing him following the punishment for the 2009 attack on his ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

Police officials in California said Chris Brown co-operated with officers when he was arrested at the Malibu treatment facility but a probation spokesman wouldn’t reveal what he had done.

More information is likely to come out when he appears before a judge next week.

Chris Brown had been ordered to remain in rehab for anger management treatment.

A letter from the facility in January stated that Chris Brown was also being treated for bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and past substance abuse.

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Future Music Festival 2014: Kuala Lumpur final day cancelled after death at event

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Future Music Festival 2014: Kuala Lumpur final day cancelled after death at event

The Future Music Festival final day has been cancelled in Malaysia following a death at the event.

Acts including Rudimental, Eric Prydz and Pharrell Williams were due to perform in Kuala Lumpur.

Organizers say they have taken local authorities’ advice to not proceed with Day 3 of the festival.

Details of who died are not known, but reports of five deaths linked to drugs have been dismissed.

The Future Music Festival final day has been cancelled in Malaysia following a death at the event
The Future Music Festival final day has been cancelled in Malaysia following a death at the event

In a post on the festival’s Facebook page, organizers wrote: “A police report has been filed and we are working very closely with all relevant authorities in examining and determining the cause of this very unfortunate incident.

“In the interest of public safety we have heeded the authority’s advice to not proceed with Day-3 of Future Music Festival Asia 2014.

“This is also to help in the ongoing investigation. We appreciate the understanding of all parties and will share updates on this matter as soon as possible. “

Refunds are being offered through the event’s website.

The Future Music Festival (FMF) has been running in Malaysia since 2012. It’s a spin-off of the same event which has been held in various Australian cities since 2006.

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Nicolas Maduro urges US to discuss peace and sovereignty in a high level commission

Diane A. Wade
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0
Nicolas Maduro urges US to discuss peace and sovereignty in a high level commission

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has urged the US to discuss “peace and sovereignty” in a high level commission mediated by the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

Nicolas Maduro also asked President Barack Obama not to heed US factions that he says want to kill him.

Venezuela blames the US for the anti-government protests that have left 28 people dead in the past month.

The US says Venezuela is using it as a scapegoat for its internal problems.

Earlier, thousands of government supporters marched through the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to thank the country’s security forces for their policing of the recent unrest.

Nicolas Maduro and several military leaders held speeches praising the “civic-military” partnership.

The president also proposed the creation of a “high-level commission” to discuss “peace and respect to the sovereignty” in Venezuela.

Nicolas Maduro has urged the US to discuss peace and sovereignty in a high level commission mediated by the UNASUR
Nicolas Maduro has urged the US to discuss peace and sovereignty in a high level commission mediated by the UNASUR

Nicolas Maduro said he wanted the head of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, to negotiate with a “high-level officer” of the US administration under the auspices of UNASUR.

“President Obama: give peace, and respect, a chance and let’s set the foundation for a new type of relations between the US, Venezuela and if possible, Latin America and the Caribbean,” Nicolas Maduro told the crowd in a speech broadcast on radio and TV.

He also warned Barack Obama against agreeing to alleged plans to kill him, put forward by “extremists” in the US administration.

“It would be the worst mistake in your life to authorize the assassination of President Nicolas Maduro and fill [Venezuela] with violence,” he told the crowd, adding he was a “humble president and bus driver” who like Barack Obama also had “African grandparents”.

Venezuela’s opposition has called for further protests on Sunday against “Cuban repression” in the country and criticized the government’s march.

“We know soldiers and officials are against this act ordered by Cuba,” Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader, wrote on Twitter.

The opposition says it will continue to protest against Venezuela’s high inflation, food shortages and violence levels until there is a change of government.

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