Eighty nine beauties from all over the world have gathered at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas to battle it out for the much coveted title of Miss Universe 2012.
This preliminary stage helps to determine the 16 semi-finalists that will be announced on pageant night on December 19th together with results of the ongoing online voting on the Miss Universe website.
“Rounds” at this stage in the competition included posing in bikinis and evening gowns, but unfortunately for Miss Guyana Ruqayyah Boyer , she became a fashion victim of her floor-sweeping evening dress and crashed to the floor in front of the judges last night in Las Vegas.
Miss Guyana Ruqayyah Boyer became a fashion victim of her floor-sweeping evening dress and crashed to the floor in front of the judges at Miss Universe 2012 in Las Vegas
The remaining 88 contestants must have assumed they were all one step closer to winning the Diamond Nexus Crown as the combination of a shiny catwalk, skyscraper heels and a floor-skimming gown proved disastrous for the pretty South American.
The pageant began as a local “bathing beauty” competition spearheaded by Catalina Swimwear in Long Beach, California, and is now an international annual tradition.
The contest has evolved into a year-round international organization that claims to advance and support opportunities for these young women.
The competition aims to award women who are savvy, goal-oriented and aware and believes that women compete with the hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals.
Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, a former Russian police officer, has been jailed for 11 years for his role in the murder of prominent journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov was found guilty by a court in Moscow of tracking Anna Politkovskaya’s movements and providing the killer with a gun.
He struck a plea bargain to qualify for a reduced sentence.
Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov was tried separately from five other men accused of the 2006 murder, which shocked human rights campaigners.
The court also ordered Lt. Col. Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov to pay 3 million rubles ($97,500) in compensation to Anna Politkovskaya’s children.
Anna Politkovskaya’s family had demanded 10 million rubles.
After the verdict, Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov was immediately led away from the courtroom by guards.
Anna Politkovskaya’s family had opposed the plea bargain, under which Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov was allowed to admit his guilt without testifying.
The other defendants include three members of the same Chechen family: Rustam Makhmudov, who is accused of firing the fatal shots, and his brothers Dzhabrail and Ibragim, who are accused of acting as getaway drivers.
All three men were tried and acquitted for lack of evidence in 2009 but the verdict was overturned by Russia’s supreme court, which ordered them to be retried.
Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, a former Russian police officer, has been jailed for 11 years for his role in the murder of prominent journalist Anna Politkovskaya
The prosecutors said Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov was part of the gang formed by Chechen crime boss, Lom-Ali Gaitukayev, who was himself allegedly in the pay of an unidentified mastermind.
Lom-Ali Gaitukayev was arrested in 2007 in a separate case and is currently serving a jail sentence for the attempted murder of a businessman. He was charged over the Politkovskaya murder last year.
Another former police officer, Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, has been charged with providing logistical support in the crime.
Anna Politkovskaya was an investigative journalist who wrote highly critical reports on the Kremlin and of Russian military actions in Chechnya.
On 7 October 2006, she was found shot dead in a lift at her block of flats in Moscow.
At the time, the 48-year-old was working for a small-circulation Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, known for its fierce attacks on the country’s authorities.
Anna Politkovskaya’s brutal murder shocked the media in Russia and abroad, and led to calls for better protection of journalists in the country.
The late journalist’s family had argued in vain that the plea bargain would not help establish who had ultimately ordered the murder.
Their lawyer said they would appeal against Friday’s verdict for being too lenient.
Novaya Gazeta’s editor-in-chief said earlier there was a “political taboo” on identifying the person who had ordered the killing.
Dmitry Muratov said he wanted any plea-bargaining in the case to require that suspects name this person.
A new research has found that women’s tastes change as they get older and proving that there is indeed a “perfect man” for every stage in a woman’s life.
From bright young things on the hunt for a hunk to “later daters” looking for a cerebral soulmate, the research shows that a woman’s age will often dictate the different characteristics they look for in a partner.
The research in match.com’s annual LoveGeist report, which tracks the nation’s changing attitudes towards dating and relationships, also disproves the notion that standards drop later in life, as women over 55 were shown to be most picky about who they date.
Dr. Cecilia D’Felice, clinical psychologist and relationship expert at match.com, said: ‘It is natural that, as women mature, our tastes adjust to our developing expectations.
“When younger, looks predominate as we seek out someone with whom we want to share our genes, but these <<surface attributes>> become less important as we look for depth and new experiences later in life.”
So what makes a perfect man for each age in a woman’s life?
Age 18-24
First and foremost, young women want a man they can show off to their friends. 47% said they would look for a relationship with someone their friends would approve of
They are also suckers for a six-pack: 18-24s are most willing to date a man in better physical shape than them
Shared tastes in music, films and books are far more important at this age than later in life
Dr. Cecilia D’Felice said: “When we first start dating we carry over the desire to fit in and belong from our adolescence, and seek approval from our friends to validate our choices. We are building confidence at this age, and it’s important to us to know that we are choosing well.”
Age 25-34
As they forge ahead in their careers, women at this age begin to take a more long-term view, but are still susceptible to a dashing man; physical attraction is more important than ever
Sexual compatibility is more important to 25-34s than at any other stage in their lives
Ambition is also important, with almost two thirds citing this as a key trait in a man
Dr. Cecilia D’Felice said: “As we grow in confidence and invest in our own careers, partners who are doing the same become very attractive to us.
“And while we’re young and sexy it is natural that we want our dates to reflect this aspect of ourselves as well.
“This mirroring of ambition and looks reflects these years when we are consolidating our persona; working out who we are and what we want.”
LoveGeist report has found that women’s tastes change as they get older and proving that there is indeed a perfect man for every stage in a woman’s life
Age 35-44
As they look to settle down, women aged 35-44 are most likely to have their head turned by an older man. 73% would be willing to date someone more than five years their senior
Social graces are also an absolute must-have at this stage in life. Less than 1% of the females surveyed said they would date a man with bad manners
Dr. Cecilia D’Felice: “Priorities shift as we begin to think of commitment and family life.
“Men who are established, stable, and successful and have life experience become very attractive to women at this age, offering the depth of resources (both material and emotional) required for successful partnership.”
Age 45-54
Security is a key concern, with 95% looking to find a partner with whom they felt secure
Finding a man with a high income is as important to this age group as any other
Women in this age range are less picky about who they date than any other
In contrast to those just a few years younger, women aged 45-54 are most likely to consider dating a younger man. 54% would be willing to date someone more than five years younger
Dr. Cecilia D’Felice said: “At this stage women are becoming increasingly confident.
“With hormone levels changing they become more assertive, experimenting more and celebrating their wisdom.
“They are prepared to take risks and perhaps seek out new adventures; they are not afraid to search for passion, but still understand that feeling secure is a vital ingredient for happiness.”
Age 55+
In later life, women look for more cerebral delights. Intelligence and shared values are more important to the over-55s, as is sharing a similar sense of humor
But they don’t drop their standards as they get older. In fact, those aged 55 and over are pickier about who they romance than at any other age
They also continue to value sexual compatibility: 45% strongly agreed that this was an important factor when forming a relationship
Dr. Cecilia D’Felice said: “Subtle shifts in development create a well-rounded perspective on relationships, stressing the importance of friendship as well as sexual resonance.
“These women take the long-term view that commitment requires humor, intelligence and shared values to stand the test of time, meaning they are not prepared to settle for anything else. Having experienced different relationships, they know exactly what they want and, importantly, what they don’t.”
Two elephants have been saved from the deadly Siberian cold by drinking vodka, officials say.
They say the elephants had to be taken out into the bitter cold after the wooden trailer they were travelling in caught fire in the Novosibirsk region.
The elephants, aged 45 and 48, suffered frostbite to the tips of their ears amid temperatures of -40C (-40F).
But they were warmed up by two cases of vodka mixed with warm water, one official was quoted as saying.
“They started roaring like if they were in the jungle! Perhaps, they were happy,” the official told Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency.
Two elephants have been saved from the deadly Siberian cold by drinking vodka
The animals continued their recovery in a heated garage of a local college where they were brought by a truck under police escort.
The elephants belong to a Polish circus, which has been touring the region, reports say.
Like with humans, alcohol can make animals feel warmer but it actually lowers their core body temperature, scientists say.
But Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper quoted Novosibirsk zoo director Rostislav Shilo as saying that the elephants were not harmed or intoxicated by the vodka, and that without it they would have died of hypothermia or pneumonia.
At least 27 people have been killed, including many children, in a shooting attack at a primary school in the US state of Connecticut, US media say.
At least 18 children are among the dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, the Associated Press reported.
Earlier, the gunman was reported to have been killed and at least three people were taken to hospital.
A news conference is imminent and the state Governor Dannell Malloy is on his way.
Police arrived at the school soon after 09:40 local time, answering reports that a gunman was in the school’s main office and one person had “numerous gunshot wounds”.
Scores of officers at the scene carried out a full search of the site.
Schools across the district were immediately on lock-down as a preventive measure, officials said.
Meanwhile, the three people who have been taken to hospital are in “very serious condition”, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton told CNN.
One witness speaking to CNN said that shots were heard coming from the hall. There “must have been 100 rounds” fired, she told the channel.
Local media have reported that firefighters instructed children to close their eyes and run past the school’s office as they exited the building.
Other sources suggest that some of the shots were fired in a school classroom.
According to CNN, the shooter’s body was in one of the school’s classrooms.
At least 18 children are among the dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown
There were unconfirmed reports of two shooters, according to a report in the local Hartford Courant newspaper.
With the children now evacuated, aerial images of the school show several emergency vehicles still at the scene and scores of cars surrounding the area.
Teams of officers are on the scene, some with dogs, as a thorough search of the school continues.
A local NBC news channel said that a hospital in nearby Danbury had reported receiving three injured patients.
Several parents are reportedly at the school, standing by and waiting for more information. Officials say they are trying to unite children with their parents.
Sandy Hook School – described by correspondents as a highly rated school – has cancelled its kindergarten class on Friday and will not operate midday bus runs, the school’s website says.
The public school has more than 600 students in classes from Kindergarten to 4th Grade – including students aged from five to 10.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that US President Barack Obama had been informed of the incident and was receiving regular updates.
On its website, Danbury Hospital said it was aware of a “situation” at the school.
“Please know we’re collecting facts now and will be back to you as soon as possible with the most accurate information,” the hospital said in a statement.
Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins dead before shooting himself because she told him he was not the father of their baby daughter, it was revealed today.
The Long Island mother of Kansas City Chief’s player, Cheryl Shepherd, said the couple argued over the paternity of their three-month-old daughter right before the murder suicide at her son’s home in Missouri.
Cheryl Shepherd was in the home when her son shot Kasandra Perkins, 22, nine times before fleeing. He is believed to have kissed her dying body and their baby daughter goodbye before he left.
A source told the New York Post: “The mother believed that there was an issue over whether [Belcher] was the father. She said he believed he wasn’t necessarily the father of the child.”
A Kansas City law-enforcement source confirmed: “She told police there was a question about the paternity.”
It is unclear if the paternity issue was the reason why the rocky relationship ended in such a violent and tragic way.
The source added: “The implication was that paternity was what the two of them were fighting about – that the baby might not have been his.”
Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins dead before shooting himself because she told him he was not the father of their baby daughter
The couple had been receiving counseling for relationship and financial problems, police said.
A spokeswoman said she would not comment on the doubts raised over baby Zoey’s paternity.
According to the New York Post, she is set to receive more than $1 million over the years until she reaches 18. It is not clear if this was based on the results of a pregnancy test.
Jovan Belcher’s beneficiary will also get $600,000 in life insurance, a $100,000 retirement account and $200,000 for each of the four seasons played.
A Kansas City police spokeswoman said the baby’s paternity wouldn’t be part of the department’s murder-suicide probe.
“That would not be something they’re going to investigate,” said Sgt Marisa Barnes.
“It’s a <<he-said, she-said>> so there’s no way to investigate. It would be nothing more than a civil matter.”
Jovan Belcher was memorialized as a “humble, kind young man” at his funeral on Wednesday – despite the brutal murder of the mother of his child and shooting himself in front of his coaches.
Jenni Rivera’s family are said to be disgusted over the gruesome video leaked on the internet which shows parts of her bloodied dismembered body strewn amongst the wreckage.
The family wants the people responsible to be brought to justice after the leaked footage – which shows a severed foot with painted toenails – spread like wildfire across the internet.
Two Mexican police officers were arrested yesterday for looting from the wreckage site. One of these officers is thought to have sold the images to the media.
Though the video was not confirmed as being authentic, the Rivera family said they believe it is due to the items in the video and images of the mangled body parts.
It also emerged the company that owns the luxury jet Jenni Rivera was traveling in is under investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the agency seized two of its planes earlier this year as part of the ongoing probe.
DEA spokeswoman Lisa Webb Johnson confirmed on Thursday the planes owned by Las Vegas-based Starwood Management were seized in Texas and Arizona.
The agency also has subpoenaed all the company’s records, including any correspondence it has had with a former Tijuana mayor who U.S. law enforcement officials have long suspected has ties to organized crime.
Sources close to the Riveras told TMZ the family is appalled that anyone would even think about leaking something like that, especially if it was a first responder.
“We’re told the severed foot was the most painful part to watch because Jenni was very particular about her feet and toes,” the source said.
Jenni Rivera’s family are said to be disgusted over the gruesome video leaked on the internet which shows parts of her bloodied dismembered body strewn amongst the wreckage
The officers were caught after images of the crash site were found on one of the arrested officers’ cell phones.
The extremely graphic photos depicted body parts and personal documents belonging to those aboard the doomed flight, including Jenni Rivera, 43, a singer and reality star known as the “Queen of Banda”.
The Spanish news agency EFE identified the arrested officers as Luis Antonio Ávila Moreno, 23 and Mario Alberto García Pacheco, 24.
The items that the duo allegedly stole from the plane were not identified by investigators.
As the issue of police corruption rears its ugly head, Mexican authorities hope to continue with the investigation of the tragic crash on Sunday.
A person speaking on behalf of the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles told TMZ: “We have over 2,000,000 police officers [in Mexico], and unfortunately some of these officers have been corrupt in the past, but we cannot generalize that the whole force is corrupt.”
The rep added: “Mexico has been working very hard to make their citizens and tourists safe, however it is not fair to judge the whole tree based upon a few bad apples.”
The body of Jenni Rivera was found in the wreckage along with the bodies of six others, including her publicist, lawyer, make-up artist and two pilots.
News of the arrests came as Rivera’s family identified her remains.
Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Jorge Domene said DNA tests are still pending. Jenni Rivera’s remains will be given to the family once the tests are completed in coming days.
It was also revealed this week that Jenni Rivera was in the final states of buying the Learjet plane from business executive Christian E. Esquino Nunez, 50, who has a long and checkered legal past.
Corporate records list his sister-in-law as the company’s only officer, but insurance companies that cover some of the firm’s planes say in court documents that the woman is merely a front and that Christian E. Esquino Nunez is the one in charge.
Christian E. Esquino Nunez’s legal woes date back decades. He pleaded guilty to a fraud charge that stemmed from a major drug investigation in Florida in the early 1990s and most recently was sentenced to two years in federal prison in a California aviation fraud case.
Christian E. Esquino Nunez, a Mexican citizen, was deported upon his release.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has been forced to resign after prosecutors decided to charge him with breach of trust.
Avigdor Lieberman has also resigned as deputy prime minister, and said he would fight to clear his name of the charges.
The case against him relates to a financial scandal dating back more than a decade.
His resignation comes five weeks before Israel’s general election.
“Though I know I committed no crime… I have decided to resign my post as foreign minister and deputy prime minister,” Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement released by his office.
He also said he would waive his parliamentary immunity and suggested he hoped to settle the case before the elections, due on January 22nd, allowing him to stand as a candidate as planned.
“I am doing this because I am convinced that Israel’s citizens should be able to go to the polls after this matter has been settled… and I can continue to serve the state of Israel and Israel’s citizens as part of a strong united leadership,” Avigdor Lieberman said in the statement.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has been forced to resign after prosecutors decided to charge him with breach of trust
Avigdor Lieberman is the leader of Yisrael Beitenu, the second largest party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led coalition government.
The two parties were due to run together in January’s general election, with polls suggesting they were on course to win before the charges against Avigdor Lieberman were announced.
Police had been investigating allegations of money laundering and bribery against Avigdor Lieberman, but prosecutors instead announced plans to charge him with the lesser offence of breach of trust.
That relates to him receiving confidential documents concerning the investigation against him from the former Israeli ambassador to Belarus, who he later promoted to another post.
The more serious charges of bribery and money laundering relate to allegations that Avigdor Lieberman received millions of dollars from businessmen with interests in Israel, and laundered the money through shell companies and bank accounts.
Israeli prosecutors said they had been forced to close the case due to a lack of evidence.
Avigdor Lieberman has denied any wrongdoing, and described the investigations as a witch hunt.
He is seen as one of Israel’s most outspoken politicians. Born in Moldova, he is one of the million Israelis who immigrated from the former Soviet Union.
Seen as to the right of Benjamin Netanyahu, Avigdor Lieberman has been a harsh critic of the Palestinian Authority and its leader Mahmoud Abbas. He lives in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.
Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse found dead following a hoax call to the hospital treating Kate Middleton, criticized senior colleagues over her treatment in one of three suicide notes, it has emerged.
An inquest heard that Jacintha Saldanha, 46, left three emotional suicide notes following the prank call by Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian.
But it has emerged today that in one of the notes she has criticized colleagues at the King Edward VII hospital over her treatment following the controversial call.
It is believed Jacintha Saldanha’s suicide note has left her grieving family furious, with husband Ben Barboza understood to want an inquiry into the hospital.
He is also believed to want an independent investigation into what happened in the days leading up to the death of his wife, for whom student nurses in Bangalore, India, held a candlelit vigil overnight.
The nurses, who were seen walking the streets holding candles and reciting prayers in tribute to the mother of two, demanded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death.
“It is very unfortunate for a nurse, who was in a peak of her career had to die in a very bad way from the royal prank played by some foolish people,” said one attendee named as Ravi.
“This nurse was traumatized so much that she could not face anybody and committed a suicide. We pray for her soul to rest in peace and her family to come out of the incident.”
A nurse named as Vijaylaxmi said at the march organized by a local politician: “We are here to pray for nurse Jacintha’s family, so my kind request is that proper investigation has to be done and it is a major issue, we cannot leave this issue.”
A vigil in memory of Jacintha Saldanha was organized by a local politician in Bangalore
Speaking to the Daily Mirror about Jacintha Saldanha’s suicide notes, a source close to the family said: “One of the letters, which is the longest, deals with the hospital and is critical in its tone.
“Needless to say, Ben wants a full inquiry into what happened and he wants to make sure the truth comes out. Within the letter, Jacintha calls into question some of the treatment she received at the hospital.”
In another note, Jacintha Saldanha describes how she struggled to come to terms with the prank call by the two Australian DJs. The third and final letter is practical and deals with her funeral plans.
The body of the mother-of-two was discovered in her room in staff quarters last Friday. Two of the notes were found nearby and a third was among her possessions.
Jacintha Saldanha had also sent a number of emails and made telephone calls that police believe might help explain what happened.
During a five-minute hearing at Westminster Coroner’s Court yesterday it was revealed that attempts were made to revive the nurse but they were “to no avail”.
Detective Chief Inspector James Harman said: “Jacintha Saldanha was found by a colleague and a member of security staff. Sadly she was found hanging.
“There were also injuries to her wrist. The London Ambulance Service was called to the scene. At this time there are no suspicious circumstances.”
Scotland Yard detectives are examining the notes, as well as interviewing Jacintha Saldanha’s friends, family and colleagues at London’s King Edward VII hospital.
After months of speculation, Katy Perry was finally heard introducing John Mayer as her “boyfriend” Wednesday night.
And Katy Perry certainly looked like one smitten kitten the following evening as she and John Mayer went on a date to a Rolling Stones concert in New Jersey.
While they were clearly enjoying the music, the couple was more interested in each other.
As well as gazing adoringly at one another, John Mayer was spotted whispering sweet nothings into Katy Perry’s ear.
Katy Perry wore a cute skyline printed top with a patterned blazer for the performance while John Mayer sported a casual jacket and shirt.
After months of speculation, Katy Perry was finally heard introducing John Mayer as her boyfriend Wednesday night
A series of posts on The Rolling Stones’ official Twitter account read: “#StonesNJ Respectable ‘Take it away John!’ Incredible @johnmayerguitar solo
“John Mayer! Take a bow John, fantastic! Thank you!’ #StonesNJ@johnmayer (sic)”
After the music, they went backstage to pose for pictures with the show’s child-filled cast, which was precisely the moment when Katy Perry decided to make their pairing official.
“This is my boyfriend John,” Katy Perry told the smiling kids.
According to Us Weekly, a witness then overheard the singer say: “Come on, baby, let’s take a picture.”
The on-off couple seem thrilled to spend their first Christmas together after a brief split in August.
Katy Perry split from ex-husband Russell Brand last December after just 14 months of marriage, and she admitted the experience had made her realize she is the only person who can make herself happy.
Meanwhile, John Mayer has a notorious reputation for loving and leaving some of Hollywood’s most eligible ladies, including Taylor Swift, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston, and Jennifer Love-Hewitt.
European Union leaders have agreed on a roadmap for eurozone integration beyond the deal on centralized banking supervision, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
Specific dates have not yet been agreed for the phases of integration.
But the EU summit chairman, Herman Van Rompuy, said a deal should be reached next year on a joint resolution scheme for winding up failed banks.
Herman Van Rompuy’s far-reaching roadmap was the main topic of the two-day Brussels summit.
Speaking after the summit talks, French President Francois Hollande said: “There is no doubt today about the integrity of the eurozone – Europe cannot now be taken by surprise.”
But beyond the banking reforms, he said, Europe must address the problems of unemployment and feeble growth.
The deal to make the European Central Bank (ECB) the chief regulator should pave the way for direct recapitalization of struggling eurozone banks by the main bailout fund, the 500 billion-euro ($654 billion) European Stability Mechanism (ESM).
Spain is especially anxious to get that help for its debt-laden banks.
Direct recapitalization would help break the “vicious circle” in which bank debts have put a crippling burden on national budgets and led to massive taxpayer-funded bailouts.
However, Germany insists that the ESM should not be used to write off the existing “legacy” debts that have burdened Spain, Greece and the Republic of Ireland. Any ESM loans will be accompanied by tough rules on budget discipline.
At a late-night news conference, Angela Merkel said “we agreed a roadmap for the future development of the currency union and talked about different aspects of this that are important.
“Above all, it was important to define when we do what.”
Herman Van Rompuy aims to present detailed plans for deeper economic integration in time for the June 2013 EU summit. They would include “mutually agreed contracts for competitiveness and growth between governments and EU institutions”.
Much closer EU scrutiny of national budgets is envisaged, including penalties if governments rack up unsustainable debts.
Contractual agreements on things such as taxation and labor market policy are likely to require changes to the EU treaties – so these are likely to be put off until after the European elections in mid-2014.
The UK, along with Denmark, has a formal opt-out from joining the euro, and will not be part of the new banking union. But the UK’s banking pre-eminence in Europe means it is taking an intense interest in the negotiations.
New rules on prudent banking are seen as vital to bolster the euro, as bank failures triggered the financial crash.
Under the deal expected to take effect in March 2014, banks with more than 30 billion euros ($39 billion) in assets will be placed under ECB oversight.
The ECB would also be able to intervene with smaller lenders and borrowers at the first sign of trouble.
Speaking after the summit, Francois Hollande said Europe had been unprepared for the financial crisis but now had a “crisis management authority” which allowed for the “return of confidence and growth”.
The agreement on a financial transactions tax was, he told reporters, a good example of how countries could be brought into eurozone integration through closer co-operation, signing up to agreements at a later stage.
A non-eurozone country, Lithuania, joined the group adopting a financial transaction tax.
Eurozone integration – next steps
ECB takes charge of bank supervision no later than March 2014
Joint scheme to wind down broken banks, planned for launch in mid-2014
Joint deposit guarantee scheme, to prevent bank runs
Main bailout fund – ESM – gets power to recapitalize banks, under strict conditions
More centralized economic governance, including enforceable “contracts” between governments and EU Commission
Tighter co-ordination of national budget targets
Eurozone banking deal
ECB to act as chief supervisor of eurozone banks and lenders
ECB to co-operate closely with national supervisory authorities
Direct oversight of banks with assets greater than 30 billion euros ($39 billion) or with 20% of national GDP
National supervisors to remain in charge of other tasks
Non-eurozone countries that wish to take part can make close co-operation arrangements
English has become a common language for internet users from around the world. In the process, the language itself is changing.
When America emerged from the ashes of a bruising war with Britain in 1814, the nation was far from united. Noah Webster thought that a common language would bring people together and help create a new identity that would make the country truly independent of the British.
Webster’s dictionary, now in its 11th edition, adopted the Americanized spellings familiar today – er instead of re in theatre, dropping the u from colour, and losing the double l from words such as traveller. It also documented new words that were uniquely American such as skunk, opossum, hickory, squash and chowder.
An American Dictionary of the English Language took 18 years to complete and Webster learned 26 other languages in order to research the etymology of its 70,000 entries.
The internet is creating a similar language evolution, but at a much faster pace.
There are now thought to be some 4.5 billion web pages worldwide. And with half the population of China now on line, most of them are written in Chinese.
Still, some linguists predict that within 10 years English will dominate the internet – but in forms very different to what we accept and recognize as English today.
That’s because people who speak English as a second language already outnumber native speakers. And increasingly they use it to communicate with other non-native speakers, particularly on the internet where less attention is paid to grammar and spelling and users don’t have to worry about their accent.
“The internet enfranchises people who are not native speakers to use English in significant and meaningful ways,” says Naomi Baron, professor of linguistics at American University in Washington DC.
Users of Facebook already socialize in a number of different “Englishes” including Indian English, or Hinglish, Spanglish (Spanish English) and Konglish (Korean English). While these variations have long existed within individual cultures, they’re now expanding and comingling online.
“On the internet, all that matters is that people can communicate – nobody has a right to tell them what the language should be,” says Prof. Naomi Baron.
“If you can talk Facebook into putting up pages, you have a language that has political and social standing even if it doesn’t have much in the way of linguistic uniqueness.”
Some words are adaptations of traditional English: In Singlish, or Singaporean English, “blur” means “confused” or “slow”:
“She came into the conversation late and was blur as a result.”
Others combine English words to make something new. In Konglish, “skinship” means intimate physical contact: handholding, touching, caressing.
Technology companies are tapping into the new English variations with products aimed at enabling users to add words that are not already in the English dictionary.
And most large companies have English websites, while smaller businesses are learning that they need a common language – English – to reach global customers.
“While most people don’t speak English as their first language, there is a special commercial and social role for English driven by modern forms of entertainment,” says Robert Munro, a computational linguist and head of Idibon, a language technology company in California.
“The prevalence of English movies in regions where there is not much technology other than cell phones and DVDs makes English an aspirational language. People think it’s the language of the digital age.”
In previous centuries, the convergence of cultures and trade led to the emergence of pidgin – a streamlined system of communication that has simple grammatical structure, says Michael Ullman, director of research at George Washington University’s Brain and Language Lab.
When the next generation of pidgin speakers begins to add vocabulary and grammar, it becomes a distinct Creole language.
“You get different endings, it’s more complex and systematized. Something like that could be happening to English on the web,” he says.
Take Hinglish.
Hinglish is a blend of Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English and is so widespread that it’s even being taught to British diplomats.
Mobile phone companies are also updating their apps to reflect its growing use.
In Hinglish, a co-brother is a brother-in-law; eve-teasing means sexual harassment; an emergency crew responding to a crisis might be described as “airdashing”, and somewhat confusing to football fans, a “stadium” refers to a bald man with a fringe of hair. There’s even a new concept of time – “pre-pone”, the opposite of postpone, meaning “to bring something forward”.
The increasing prevalence of the internet in everyday life means that language online is not a zero sum game. Instead, it allows multiple languages to flourish.
“Most people actually speak multiple languages – it’s less common to only speak one,” says Robert Munro.
“English has taken its place as the world’s lingua franca, but it’s not pushing out other languages.”
Instead, other languages are pushing their way into English, and in the process creating something new.
In real-life, Hugh Grant is a “big pain in the a**”, according to Jon Stewart.
The Daily Show host Jon Stewart has gone so far as to say that Hugh Grant will never again be allowed on his show.
Hugh Grant was blasted by Jon Stewart for being rude to his staff and the show host says he will never be invited back.
Speaking at a fundraiser for the Montclair Film Festival in New Jersey recently, Jon Stewart said: “He’s giving everyone s*** the whole time, and he’s a big pain in the a**. And we’ve had dictators on the show.”
Jon Stewart also revealed Hugh Grant complained about the clip of his flop movie Did You Hear About The Morgans?, which was played on the show, asking: “What is that clip? It’s a terrible clip” to which the host replied: “Well, then make a better f***ing movie.”
The Daily Show host Jon Stewart has gone so far as to say that Hugh Grant will never again be allowed on his show
Hugh Grant welcomed his first child Tabitha last September after a “fleeting affair” with Chinese actress Tinglan Hong but insisted while he likes her “very much”, that she hasn’t changed his life.
He said: “(People) said never let anyone know, but the baby period is not that exciting. But I am excited, actually.
“I thought, well, I’ll bluff through – but very little bluffing has been required. I like my daughter very much. Fantastic. Has she changed my life? I’m not sure. Not yet. Not massively, no. But I’m absolutely thrilled to have had her, I really am.
“And I feel a better person. There probably is some truth that one of our main functions on the planet is to reproduce, because it feels like more of an achievement than it should do.”
Experts claim that the longevity Olympians enjoy is within the reach of everyone.
Research published on the British Medical Journal (BMJ) website suggests athletes live 2.8 years longer on average than the average lifespan.
The research indicated those who took part in non-contact sports such as cycling, rowing and tennis enjoyed the longest life of all.
But the general population could have a similar “survival advantage” by doing a little more exercise, experts said.
The conclusion by two public health professors came after they reviewed two studies of Olympic athletes published by the BMJ website.
The studies looked at the lifespan and health of 25,000 athletes who competed in Games dating back to 1896.
Those taking part in contact sports such as boxing had the least advantage, while cyclists and rowers enjoyed the best health.
But the researchers also found those who played lower intensity sports such as golf enjoyed a boost.
Experts claim that the longevity Olympians enjoy is within the reach of everyone
Possible explanations put forward for the finding included genetic and lifestyle factors and the wealth and status that comes with sporting success.
However, the findings prompted public health experts Prof. Adrian Bauman, from Australia’s Sydney University, and Prof. Steven Blair, from South Carolina University in the US, to suggest others could live as long as Olympic athletes.
The recommended level of physical activity for adults is 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week.
Studies suggest people who manage that amount or more live for up to several years longer than those that do not.
Writing for the BMJ website, the professors said: “Although the evidence points to a small survival effect of being an Olympian, careful reflection suggests that similar health benefits and longevity could be achieved by all of us through regular physical activity.
“We could and should all award ourselves that personal gold medal.”
But they said governments were still not doing enough to promote the benefits of physical activity, calling it a “public health failure”.
A man with a knife has stabbed 22 children and an adult at a primary school in central China, state media report.
The attack happened at the gate of a school in Chenpeng village in Henan province, Xinhua news agency said. It did not give further details of the extent of the victims’ injuries.
Police had arrested a 36-year-old local man, Xinhua added.
It is the latest in a series of attacks on schoolchildren in the country.
The Associated Press news agency quotes a police officer as saying that the attack happened as pupils were arriving for classes.
A man with a knife has stabbed 22 children and an adult at a primary school in central China
The agency also quotes a county hospital administrator as saying that the man first attacked an elderly woman, then the children, before being overpowered by security guards. He added that two of the injured pupils had been transferred to better-equipped hospitals outside the county.
Some of the attacks in recent years have been carried out by people who have lost their jobs or otherwise felt left out of China’s economic boom.
In 2010, a man slashed 28 children, two teachers and a security guard at a kindergarten in eastern China.
Security guards have been posted across China in response to the attacks.
NASA has admitted it mistook a mountain in India for Mount Everest when it posted online a picture taken from space.
NASA initially said the photo – by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko – showed the world’s tallest summit.
The image was quickly picked up by a number of media outlets, but NASA removed it after a Nepalese expert spotted the error.
Everest, which is 8,848 m (29,028 ft) high, straddles the Nepal-China border.
“It is not Everest. It is Saser Muztagh, in the Karakoram Range of the Kashmir region of India,” a Nasa spokesman said.
“The view is in mid-afternoon light looking north-eastward,” the spokesman added.
NASA has admitted it mistook a mountain in India for Mount Everest when it posted online a picture taken from space
NASA said that Yuri Malenchenko had taken the picture from the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this month.
The photo quickly spread on Twitter, triggering criticism from the Nepalese community.
Journalist Kunda Dixit, an authority on the Himalayas, tweeted: “Sorry guys, but the tall peak with the shadow in the middle is not Mt Everest.”
However, he himself first wrongly guessed that it was “Xixapangma in Tibet”.
On Thursday, Ron Garan – a US astronaut who lived aboard the ISS last year – tweeted: “We r still looking 4 a good view of illusive #Everest #FromSpace Apparently Yuri’s ISS pic’s not Everest It’s Saser Muztagh.”
A new species of small nocturnal primate has been discovered by scientists in Borneo.
The primate is a type of slow loris, a small cute-looking animal that is more closely related to bushbabies and lemurs than to monkeys or apes.
Uniquely among primates, they have a toxic bite, belying their appearance.
Two previously known subspecies of slow loris have also been accorded full species status.
Details of the discoveries are published in the American Journal of Primatology.
The new species of slow loris, named Nycticebus kayan, has gone unrecognized until now, in part due to its nocturnal lifestyle.
Animals that are active by night often rely less on visual clues, and can therefore appear more similar to one another.
So the scientists had to look hard to discover the differences between the new species.
An international team of researchers, led by Professor Anna Nekaris of Oxford Brookes University in the UK, and Rachel Munds from the University of Missouri in Columbia, US, surveyed slow lorises living in the forests of Borneo and the Philippines.
They focused on studying the primates’ facial markings, which take the appearance of a mask, with the eyes being covered by distinct dark patches and the heads by varying patterns.
The primate is a type of slow loris, a small cute-looking animal that is more closely related to bushbabies and lemurs than to monkeys or apes
This research has revealed there are actually four species of slow loris in the Philippines and Borneo, each with their own, subtly different but distinct head markings.
Originally there was thought to be just a single species, called N. menagensis.
Two of these new species, N. bancanus and N. borneanus, were previously considered subspecies of N. menagensis.
While, N. kayan, is new to science.
“In Borneo in particular, from where three of the new species hail, this will mean that three new lorises will be added as threatened to some degree on the IUCN Red List of threatened species,” says Prof. Anna Nekaris.
“With more than 40% of the world’s primates already threatened with extinction, this brings the toll even higher.”
Outside of Borneo and the Philippines, four other slow loris species are known, living across south and southeast Asia.
All have a difficult relationship with humans.
They are the only primates with a toxic bite, secreting the toxin from glands in their elbows.
Slow lorises lick this toxin, and mix it with their saliva. They then use it when they bite, or to coat the fur of their offspring, possibly as a way to deter predators from attacking their young.
The toxin is powerful enough to potentially cause fatal anaphylactic shock in people.
But the slow lorises’ cute appearance also makes them a favored target of the pet trade.
Captured animals often have their canine and incisor teeth pulled out before being sold on as pets, in a bid to protect their potential owner.
Harming the animals this way, though, can quickly lead to their death, as the toothless primates are unable to feed properly.
The discovery that more slow loris species exist also has implications for their survival.
“Well-meaning groups rescue lorises and rarely follow proper guidelines when releasing them back to the wild,” says Prof. Anna Nekaris.
“That means that the wrong species of loris has found itself in many a new place throughout Asia, if they have survived the traumatizing practice of hard release to the wild in the first place.”
North Korean people have gathered in Pyongyang for a mass rally to celebrate Wednesday’s long-range rocket launch.
State television showed huge crowds cheering to mark the launch, which has been condemned by many nations as a banned test of missile technology.
South Korea, meanwhile, says its navy has retrieved debris from the rocket and will study it.
The first stage of the rocket fell west of the Korean peninsula. South Korea’s navy located it shortly afterwards.
It was North Korea’s first successful use of a three-stage rocket to put a satellite into orbit. North Korea said on Friday that more launches would go ahead.
The UN Security Council has condemned the launch, calling it a missile test that violated two UN resolutions banning Pyongyang from such activities passed after its nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
The US, South Korea and Japan – who believe North Korea is working to develop long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads – want action such as the strengthening of sanctions.
But China – North Korea’s main ally – says any UN response should be “conducive to peace” and avoid escalating tensions.
North Korean people have gathered in Pyongyang for a mass rally to celebrate Wednesday’s long-range rocket launch
In Pyongyang, state television showed pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the control room for the launch, and another of him celebrating with members of the military after it successfully went up.
It also broadcast images of ranks of North Koreans massed in central Pyongyang on Friday to listen to congratulatory speeches.
Kim Ki-nam, party secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, told crowds in Kim Il-sung Square that the satellite was “necessary for the building of our national economy”.
“This is an international trend and the justified independent right of our people,” he said.
“Any hostile forces cannot cling to the insistence that our satellite launch is a ballistic missile launch anymore.”
Ro Gwang-chol, vice-chief of the general staff of the army, said that every soldier in the North celebrated the moment and “have been full of delight and strong emotions”.
There was also much praise for the leader.
“This was achieved thanks to the Great Marshall Kim Jong-un’s endless loyalty, bravery and wisdom,” said Jang Chol, president of the State Academy of Sciences.
The rocket was launched from the North Korean coast early on Wednesday. South Korea says a fuel container was found where the first stage of the rocket separated.
“The Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle retrieved the debris of the rocket’s first stage at 00:26 and was delivering it to the Second Command Fleet in Pyeongtaek,” Yonhap news agency quoted a defence ministry official as saying.
It would be “useful material for analysis”, another ministry spokesman said.
On Friday a statement from North Korea’s KCNA news agency said Kim Jong-un had called for more such launches.
North Korea “showed at home and abroad the unshakable stand… to exercise the country’s legitimate right to use space for peaceful purposes”, the KCNA statement quoted him as saying.
The US, meanwhile, said it was holding talks with key players on how to respond to the launch.
“We are working with both our six party partners and with our UN Security Council partners – China is in both of those categories – on a clear and credible response to what the North Koreans have done,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
A coffee brewer in Oregon is offering to pass coffee beans through his digestive system creating what could only be described as a truly dark blend.
Inspired by the animal-passed brew called kopi luwak, which can sell for as much as $600 a pound due to a boost in flavor, the seller in Portland is offering to copy the same process for only $30 a pound.
“I’m 47, healthy, and will guarantee you’ll like my kopi luwak style coffees,” the ad since removed on Craigslist reads.
Naturally passed through the digestive track of palm civets, a cousin of the mongoose, the coffee beans are retrieved from their waste are said to receive an extra flavor from its body’s enzymes.
Supplying a photo with the ad, pieces of digested coffee beans are seen, though presumably by a palm civet.
“I will be able to harvest only a couple of pounds of this special kind of coffee so act now before it’s too late,” the ad warns for interested buyers.
“Fecal specimens available for inspections upon request,” it added.
A coffee brewer in Oregon is offering to pass coffee beans through his digestive system creating what could only be described as a truly dark blend
FULL CRAIGSLIST AD:
“I’m a home roaster and I’m noticing in the newspaper that animal poop coffee is really popular and expensive.
“I’ve been growing yellow bourbon arabica in my greenhouse for a couple years and it’s finally starting to produce quality cherry. I will personally ingest this cherry and mimic the <<kopi luwak>> progress. I will roast this coffee so that it’s ready to brew, in time for the holidays.
“I will be able to harvest only a couple of pounds of this special kind of coffee so act now before it’s too late.
“I’m 47, healthy, and will guarantee you’ll like my kopi hopi luwak style coffees.”
Two Mexican officers have been arrested this week for looting from the site of music superstar Jenni Rivera’s fatal plane crash.
The officers were caught after images of the crash site were found on one of the arrested officers’ cell phones – the same images leaked to the Mexican media this week, according to the Nuevo Leon state government.
The extremely graphic photos depicted body parts and personal documents belonging to those aboard the doomed flight, including Jenni Rivera, 43, a singer and reality star known as the “Queen of Banda”.
The Spanish news agency EFE identified the arrested officers as Luis Antonio Ávila Moreno, 23 and Mario Alberto García Pacheco, 24.
The items that the duo allegedly stole from the plane were not identified by investigators.
Two Mexican officers have been arrested this week for looting from the site of music superstar Jenni Rivera’s fatal plane crash
As the issue of police corruption rears its ugly head, Mexican authorities hope to continue with the investigation of the tragic crash on Sunday.
A person speaking on behalf of the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles told TMZ: “We have over 2,000,000 police officers [in Mexico], and unfortunately some of these officers have been corrupt in the past, but we cannot generalize that the whole force is corrupt.”
The rep added: “Mexico has been working very hard to make their citizens and tourists safe, however it is not fair to judge the whole tree based upon a few bad apples.”
The body of the singer and reality star from California was found in the wreckage along with the bodies of six others, including her publicist, lawyer, make-up artist and two pilots.
News of the arrests came as Jenni Rivera’s family identified her remains.
Max Clark from Leiths School of Food and Wine in UK is on hand to help ensure that your Christmas cooking runs smoothly.
Max Clark says: “My best piece of advice for the perfect, stress free celebration? Keep it simple.
“You are not the hired help, but part of the festivities! Quality should reign over quantity, and simple, beautifully presented food will be appreciated and enjoyed more than a complicated menu that doesn’t quite deliver.
“Prepare what you can before the big day, then relax and open your pressies.”
Ten tips from Leiths cooking school for a perfect Christmas dinner
Decadence is the order of the day, so start by beguiling your loved ones with a bubbly flourish of fantasy and romance. Fill glasses of pomegranate juice with icy Prosecco and float edible rose petals on top for a glamorous breakfast cocktail.
Serve the cocktails with toasted panettone. Top with warm, roasted figs, pomegranate seeds and a drizzle of honey, and you’re off the starting blocks without even breaking into a sweat.
Don’t bother with a formal starter. You’ve had a rich breakfast and you’ll be eating all day. Simply thread some fat, fresh tiger prawns onto skewers, interleaved with citrusy, kaffir lime leaves and marinade in a little oil, root ginger and red chilli. Bake in a hot oven (in a disposable aluminium tray) until pink and juicy and serve as a pre-lunch nibble with a glass of fino sherry.
If lunch is just going to be for you and your partner (and perhaps the future in laws…), why not try something different, such as roast quail? Quail take 20 minutes to cook and lend themselves well to the traditional trimmings. After all, why spend hours battling with a bird that’s bigger than your dog, only to eat turkey curry for the next three days?
Serve the quail with glazed cocktail sausages, bacon rolls and individual Christmas bubble and squeak cakes. Mix together cooked crushed potatoes, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and chestnuts, stir in a few cranberries and season to taste. Shape into patties and chill until required. They can be made up to two days in advance and are equally good baked or fried. You have just saved yourself an hour in the kitchen, with cheeks rosy enough to compete with Santa Claus.
Now just add some seasonal leafy greens and baby carrots to bring the contemporary feast to life. Parboil and refresh the carrots after breakfast, ready to reheat in foaming, seasoned butter.
A jar of cranberry sauce can be jazzed up with a grating of orange zest and a splash of port.
Make your bread sauce on Christmas Eve, cool and refrigerate. Stir in a little cream and heat in the microwave when required.
Good gravy can be the bane of the most experienced cooks’ lives, so practice it some other time. This isn’t the day for heroics. Buy a pouch of fresh, quality gravy and up the ante with a generous slurp of Madeira. Its rich, caramel flavor will add extra body and flavor, and a teaspoon of unsalted butter whisked in before serving will make it appear glossy in look.
Swap hours of boiling a Christmas pudding (that you are too full to eat), for a clementine compote, fragrant with sultry spices. Make it up to 24 hours in advance, and serve well chilled with hot white chocolate sauce. Peel two clementines per serving, place in a bowl and pour over boiling water. Drain and scrape off the white pith. Add a cinnamon stick, star anise and a bay leaf to a pan of sugar syrup, laced with Cointreau and orange blossom water. Bring to the boil and cook until syrupy. Pour over the fruit, leave to cool and chill until needed. So, there you have it; all of the traditional courses and seasonal ingredients, in a fresh, stress free, and most importantly, calamity-free format. This will allow you plenty of time for fireside naps and maybe even some mulled wine; so sit back, relax, and enjoy a romantic and festive day with your loved ones.
Kim Kardashian was seen spilling over the top of her peplum skirt on Wednesday afternoon.
Kim Kardashian, 32, who is currently filming her spin-off reality show Kourtney and Kim Take Miami, looked full of confidence despite the unfortunate look.
The reality star was unable to keep her renowned curves inside her leather skirt as she wore the crop top and skirt.
Kim Kardashian wore the tight-fitting skirt in leather, her favorite fabric, and teamed it with a black crop top in order to flash some of her midriff.
Kim Kardashian was seen spilling over the top of her peplum skirt
White House has announced that UN Ambassador Susan Rice has withdrawn her name for consideration to succeed Hillary Clinton as US secretary of state.
In a letter to President Barack Obama, Susan Rice said her confirmation process would be “disruptive and costly”, NBC News said.
Susan Rice has been at the centre of Republican criticism over the Obama administration response to a deadly attack on a US consulate in Libya.
Hillary Clinton has said she will not serve a second term at the state department.
In a letter to President Barack Obama, Susan Rice said that she was “highly honored” to be considered for the post of secretary of state and was “fully confident that I could serve our country ably and effectively in that role”.
But she added: “I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly – to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities.”
“That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country,” Susan Rice wrote.
UN Ambassador Susan Rice has withdrawn her name for consideration to succeed Hillary Clinton as US secretary of state
Barack Obama said in a statement: “I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks.”
He added that her decision to withdraw from consideration reflected strength of character and an ability to rise above politics.
Days after the September 11th assault on the US consulate, Susan Rice, 48, said in a series of TV interviews that it seemed to have developed out of protests over an anti-Islamic film.
But later intelligence reports suggested the attack was carried out by al-Qaeda affiliates.
Her comments triggered a major political row over who knew what and when.
The attack left four Americans dead, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
A North Korean animated female anchor appears exhilarated as she describes the rocket launch, which was reported by state media as the successful positioning of a weather satellite in space.
The video clip has been watched over 130,000 times on YouTube.
In the U.S., the White House labeled the rocket test a “highly provocative act that threatens regional security”.
North Korea’s Unha-3 rocket, named after the Korean word for “galaxy”, blasted off from the Sohae launch pad in Tongchang-ri, north-west of Pyongyang, yesterday.
Pride in the scientific advancement appeared to outweigh the fear of greater international punishment and isolation, with people dancing in the streets in Pyongyang as vans drove around announcing the news.
North Korean animated female anchor appears exhilarated as she describes the rocket launch, which was reported by state media as the successful positioning of a weather satellite in space
The world’s most dangerous terror group foiled by a killer blonde in Calvin Klein who wars with her superiors? Only in Hollywood’s dreams, surely.
But, astonishingly, it has now emerged that truth may indeed be as strange as fiction. According to Zero Dark Thirty, a forthcoming film about the hunt for Bin Laden – whose makers were given top-level access to those involved – he might never have been found if it hadn’t been for an attractive young female CIA agent every bit as troublesome as Homeland’s Carrie Mathison.
CIA insiders have confirmed claims by the film’s director Kathryn Bigelow that she is entirely justified in focusing on the role played by a junior female CIA analyst, named Maya in the film and played by Jessica Chastain. And just as in Homeland, the real agent has been snubbed by superiors and fallen out with colleagues since the Bin Laden raid in May 2011.
But who is this CIA super sleuth? Although the woman is still undercover and has never been identified, Zero Dark Thirty’s emphasis on Maya’s importance tallies with the account of a U.S. Navy SEAL involved in the raid who later wrote about it in a book.
Matt Bissonnette writes in No Easy Day of flying out to Afghanistan before the raid with a CIA analyst he called “Jen” who was “wicked smart, kind of feisty” and liked to wear expensive high heels.
She had devoted the best part of a decade to finding Bin Laden and had become the SEALs’ go-to expert on intelligence matters about their target, he said.
And while her colleagues were only 60% sure their quarry was in the compound in Abbottabad, she told the SEAL she was 100% certain.
“I can’t give her enough credit, I mean, she, in my opinion, she kind of teed up this whole thing,” Matt Bissonnette said later.
The commando saw a very different side of her days later when they brought Bin Laden’s body back to their Afghan hangar. Having previously told Matt Bissonnette she didn’t want to see the body, “Jen” stayed at the back of the crowd as they unzipped the terrorist’s body bag.
She “looked pale and stressed and started crying.
“A couple of the SEALs put their arms around her and walked her over to the edge of the group to look at the body,” wrote Matt Bissonnette.
“She didn’t say anything . . . with tears rolling down her cheeks, I could tell it was taking a while for Jen to process.
“She’d spent half a decade tracking this man. And now there he was at her feet.”
Jen’s role in the operation passed largely unremarked when Matt Bissonnette’s book came out but now the new film has confirmed his estimation of her importance.
Although she remains active as a CIA analyst, it is believed Mark Boal, Bigelow’s screenwriter, was allowed to interview her at length. It has emerged that she is in her 30s and joined the CIA after leaving college and before the 9/11 attacks turned American security upside down.
According to the Washington Post, she worked in the CIA’s station in Islamabad, Pakistan, as a “targeter”, a role which involves finding people to recruit as spies or to obliterate in drone attacks.
But CIA insiders say she worked almost solely on finding Bin Laden for a decade. She was still in Pakistan when the hunt heated up after Barack Obama became President in 2008 and ordered a renewed effort to find him.
According to colleagues, the female agent was one of the first to advance the theory – apparently against the views of other CIA staff – that the key to finding Bin Laden lay in Al Qaeda’s courier network.
The agency was convinced Osama Bin Laden, who never used the phone, managed to communicate with his disparate organization without revealing his whereabouts by passing hand-delivered messages to trusted couriers.
The agent spent years pursuing the courier angle, and it was a hunch that proved spectacularly correct when the U.S. uncovered a courier known as Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti and tracked him back to a compound in the sleepy Pakistan town of Abbottabad.
It was a stunning success for the dedicated agent, though she hardly endeared herself to her colleagues in the process.
CIA agent Maya, played by Jessica Chastain in the film Zero Dark Thirty, spent the best part of a decade to finding Bin Laden and became the SEALs’ go-to expert on intelligence matters about their target
As one might expect of a woman working in the largely male world of intelligence, colleagues stress she is no shrinking violet but a prickly workaholic with a reputation for clashing with anyone – even senior intelligence chiefs – who disagreed with her.
“She’s not Miss Congeniality, but that’s not going to find Osama Bin Laden,” a former colleague told the Washington Post.
Another added: “Do you know how many CIA officers are jerks? If that was a disqualifier, the whole National Clandestine Service would be gone.”
In the film, Maya is portrayed as a loner who has a “her-against-the-world” attitude and pummels superiors into submission by sheer force of will. CIA colleagues say the film’s depiction of her is spot-on.
If this is the case, then she shows little of the feminine tenderness that serves Carrie Mathison so well in Homeland and which Hollywood usually uses to soften female protagonists like Maya.
Instead, the film shows her happily colluding in the torture by water boarding of an Al Qaeda suspect.
And Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette reported how she had told him she wasn’t in favor of storming the Bin Laden compound but preferred to “just push the easy button and bomb it”. Given that the bombing option would almost certainly have killed the women and children the CIA knew were inside, her comment suggests a cold indifference to “civilian” casualties.
But then the real female agent is hardly your archetypal film heroine. She has reportedly been passed over for promotion since the Bin Laden raid, perhaps adding to her sense of grievance.
Although she was among a handful of CIA staff rewarded over the operation with the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the agency’s highest honor, dozens of other colleagues were given lesser gongs.
Fellow staff say this prompted her anger to boil over: she hit “reply all” to an email announcing the awards and added her own message which – according to one – effectively said: “You guys tried to obstruct me. You fought me. Only I deserve the award.”
Although colleagues say the intense attention she received from the film-makers has made many of them jealous, they are shocked she was passed over for promotion and merely given a cash bonus for her Bin Laden triumph.
She has also been moved within the CIA, reassigned to a new counter-terrorism role.
Kathryn Bigelow, who won an Oscar as director of the Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker, has said it was like being dealt a Royal Flush at poker when she discovered a woman at the heart of the story.
“The juicy thing about Maya was the surprise of it,” she said.
One thing is certain: The emotional cost of her achievement took its toll on her.
Matt Bissonnette recalls seeing her again as he and his comrades got on to a plane back to their main base at Bagram in Afghanistan.
She was sitting on the floor of the plane sobbing, “hugging her legs to her chest in the fetal position”.
Her eyes were “puffy and she seemed to be staring into the distance”. When he tried to reassure her that the mission had been a “100 per cent” success, she simply nodded and started crying again.
He put it down to a mixture of exhaustion and relief for a woman who had, with almost messianic zeal, dedicated her life to hunting down the architect of 9/11.
