"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Star Taylor Armstrong Marries John Bluher Taylor Armstrong finally got her very own happy ending!

The former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star tied the knot with attorney fiance John Bluher on Friday at the Bel-Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades. 


The couple -- who got engaged last year -- said "I do" in front of their closest friends and family members. Even a few of the Bravo star's costars showed up for their beautiful nuptials, including Kim and Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump and Adrienne Maloof ... according to People.


The pair hired well-known wedding planning David Tutera to help plan out the festivities for the big day, and their wedding was filmed for a We TV series. "Wedding is on! @davidtutera has his hands full this time. #love #marriage #celebration," Armstrong tweeted in March. This is the second marriage for the blonde beauty, who was previously married to ex-husband Russell Armstrong.


Russell infamously took his own life in August of 2011, while the ladies were filming the reality series.  

Taylor also penned a book about her abusive relationship with Armstrong titled, "Hiding From Reality: My Story of Love, Loss and Finding the Courage Within" following his death. 

We're happy to see that the "Housewives" star is in a much better place these days. Congratulations to the happy couple!
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"Real Housewives of Atlanta" Star Kandi Burruss Marries Todd Tucker Pop the champagne!

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kandi Burruss married Todd Tucker in front of family and friends on Friday in Atlanta."This is one of the best days of my life!

I never imagined that I would marry my best friends. Todd's been that to me," she told In Touch. "And to have just had the wedding of my dreams, it's all been so beautiful.


Now it's time to party!"Leading up to her big day, Kandi posted pictures from a wild bachelorette party, where she was toasted by her fellow Housewives Phaedra Parks and Porsha Williams.


The reality star announced her engagement in January 2013. The couple met in 2011 while filmed the fourth season of the hit Bravo show.Burruss was previously engaged to the late A.J. Jewell. She has a 10-year-old daughter, Riley, with ex-boyfriend Russell Spencer.


This is Tucker's first marriage.  Congrats to the happy couple!Click "Launch Gallery" above to see more celebrity weddings, including "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong, who also tied the knot on Friday.
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"Real Housewives of Atlanta" Star Kandi Burruss Marries Todd Tucker Pop the champagne!

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kandi Burruss married Todd Tucker in front of family and friends on Friday in Atlanta."This is one of the best days of my life!

I never imagined that I would marry my best friends. Todd's been that to me," she told In Touch. "And to have just had the wedding of my dreams, it's all been so beautiful.


Now it's time to party!"Leading up to her big day, Kandi posted pictures from a wild bachelorette party, where she was toasted by her fellow Housewives Phaedra Parks and Porsha Williams.


The reality star announced her engagement in January 2013. The couple met in 2011 while filmed the fourth season of the hit Bravo show.Burruss was previously engaged to the late A.J. Jewell. She has a 10-year-old daughter, Riley, with ex-boyfriend Russell Spencer.


This is Tucker's first marriage.  Congrats to the happy couple!Click "Launch Gallery" above to see more celebrity weddings, including "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong, who also tied the knot on Friday.
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Apple releases second OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 beta developer build in the past week

Apple has released yet another build of the OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 beta to developers this week, according to MacRumors. The newest build, dubbed 13D33, is the fifth version of the beta sent to developers in the past month, including version 13D28, which Apple seeded last week. As is typically the case, the new build is available to developers through the Mac App Store and Mac Dev Center.


Like with Mavericks 10.9.3 beta build 13D28, Apple is asking developers to focus on graphics drivers and audio, as well as Safari, Apple's Web browser. The OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 beta includes support for 4K displays, offers Retina display resolution settings, and adds 60 Hz support for the MacBook Pro with Retina. These features were spotted in the first beta build.


Last week, Internet advertising network Chitika reported that OS X Mavericks has been adopted by 40 percent of U.S. and Canadian-based OS X users since it was launched back in October. However, those numbers have varied slightly from one stat tracker to another. For instance, Net Applications indicates that adoption was at 45 percent in February.


It's currently unclear when the final version of OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 will be released to the public, but we doubt that the wait will take much longer.


What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.
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This luxury phone’s screen has an amazing built-in solar charging panel

Don't be fooled by this new luxury phone from Tag Heuer. It may look just like another, expensive device for rich folk, but it actually hides a really exciting piece of brand new tech. The device is called the Meridiist Infinite, and it is described as the "World's first perpetual power reserve mobile phone." What does that mean? It has a solar charging panel built into its screen.

The Merediist Infinite is the result of a collaboration between two firms, Atelier Haute Communication – a company which specializes in tailor made phones – and Sunpartner Technologies, the company behind Wysips Crystal technology. We had the chance to check out Wysips tech during CES. It's the name given to a transparent photovoltaic layer placed between the glass and the screen on a phone or similar device. The cells automatically charge the battery when they're exposed to sunlight, or even artificial light.

This is the first commercial example of the tech, and it was revealed during the Baselworld 2014 Watch and Jewellery show, which closed its doors yesterday. Although details on how much energy the Wysips panel will provide isn't stated, we were told to expect around 15 percent charge over the course of a normal day. Trickle charging your phone's battery this way could end up making a big difference.

The solar charging screen on the Merediist Infinite is its standout feature. The Wysips panel is sandwiched between a sapphire crystal piece of glass, and a 2.4-inch, 320 x 240 pixel, monochrome OLED screen. Beneath this is an alphanumeric keyboard, and on the rear of the phone is a 5-megapixel camera. The body is made from grade 5 titanium with carbon fiber inserts. 

If you don't mind it being a feature phone, and just want to get your hands on the solar charging screen, you'll have to be both quick and rich. Tag Heuer will only be producing 1,911 Merediist Infinite phones, and the price hasn't been confirmed yet. A regular Merediist, without the solar charging tech, costs around $5,500, so expect to have to dig deeper than this if your mind is made up.

At CES, we saw SunPartner's screen working on a Huawei phone, and were told to expect the first mainstream phones to arrive in 2015.
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Xbox Live password hack outed by 5-year-old criminal mastermind

All it took was the space bar to bypass Microsoft's password security protections on Xbox Live, as 5-year-old Kristoffer Von Hassel. No, the young'un isn't actually a criminal mastermind; he accidentally made the discovery when he input nothing but blank spaces into the password verification field when attempting to sign into his dad's account, as local San Diego news station KGTV reports.


Kristoffer's parents noticed just after Christmas 2013 that he was logging into his father's account and playing games he wasn't allowed to touch. Confronted by his father, Richard Davies, the pint-sized hacker demonstrated how he bypassed the password verification by simply hitting the space bar until the field was full and pressing enter.


Davies, who works in computer security, reported the flaw to Microsoft, which quickly responded with a fix and credited young Kristoffer on its website as one of the security researchers that have helped make the company's online services safer. He also received $50, a complimentary one-year Xbox Live Gold subscription, and four free games.


Microsoft addressed the matter with a public statement: "We're always listening to our customers and thank them for bringing issues to our attention. We take security seriously at Xbox and fixed the issue as soon as we learned about it."
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Protect your S-Pen with these 20 Galaxy Note 3 cases

It's the perfect device for power users looking to boost their productivity, but there are plenty of other reasons to opt for a Galaxy Note 3. We've already had a look at some Galaxy Note 3 problems, but there's one that's very easy to prevent. A cracked or smashed screen, scuffed up body, or dented sides can all be avoided with the right case. We've got tough cases for serious protection, stylish options that offer basic coverage, and a couple of functional choices to help you make the most of your Note 3.

Updated on 4-4-2014 by Simon Hill: Added the Cruzerlite Androidified A2 Case, Fosmon Hybo Fender Case, Caseology Carbon Fiber Hybrid Case, Minisuit Rugged Hybrid Case, and the Evecase Leather Flip Case.

Cruzerlite Androidified A2 Case ($13)

Cruzerlite Androidified A2 Case
You don't have to spend much to get a simple TPU shell for your Note 3. This is flexible, so it's easy to fit. It's slightly translucent, and it comes in a wide range of colors. There's an Android mascot design on the back and you'll find ridges on the sides that help to add a little extra grip. There are cut-outs for the ports, buttons are covered, and there's a lip on the front that prevents screen damage if you lay it face down.

Fosmon Hybo Fender Case ($6)

Fosmon Hybo Fender Case
You'll find a big range of cheap case for your Galaxy Note 3 offered by Fosmon. This one is white with a rainbow finish on the back. The frame is malleable TPU to absorb impacts and the back translucent rainbow plate is tough polycarbonate. It has a full range for cut-outs for access to ports and buttons and it fits well. This is a decent, lightweight option for anyone on a budget.

Caseology Carbon Fiber Hybrid Case ($9)

Caseology Carbon Fiber Hybrid Case
You'll find loads of cases at reasonable prices from Caseology. This one has a carbon fiber finish on the back. They all offer a good fit with precise cut-outs and blend soft TPU for the bumper with a toughened polycarbonate shell. These cases look a lot more expensive than they are, but they will add some bulk and the protection is fairly minimal. You won't have to worry about small bumps or scratches, but major drops could still be a problem.

Minisuit Rugged Hybrid Case ($10)

Minisuit Rugged Hybrid Case
This is a tough case with a rubber tire tread finish that adds grip. There's also a built-in kickstand that flips out the back and allows you to prop up your Note 3. The inner shell is polycarbonate and it's surrounded by rubberized TPU, so drop damage and bumps should not pose a problem. You've got full access to use the phone and ports with the case on.

Evecase Leather Flip Case ($8)

Evecase Leather Flip Case
It's obviously not real leather at this price, but the synthetic leather exterior and suede interior are pretty decent looking. This is a flip case with a front flap that falls forward. It's padded to protect the screen when closed, and it has a snap closure to keep it securely shut. The corners of your Note 3 are protected, but you've got unfettered access to all the ports and buttons on the sides and the top edge. 

Seidio Ledger View with Metal Kickstand ($55)

Seidio Ledger View with Metal Kickstand
Here's a smart design that combines a few useful features. There's a solid, slim case to protect your Note 3. It has cut-outs for all the ports and functions, and it won't block NFC. It also has a fold-out kickstand on the back which tucks away and stays in place thanks to magnets. The front cover is fake leather with a microfiber lining with a window in the front for checking alerts and other information at-a-glance. The magnetic cover also supports the automatic sleep/wake functionality. What else do you need?

Belkin Wallet Folio Case ($50)

Belkin Wallet Folio Case
For a touch of understated class, you might like Belkin's real leather wallet cases, which come in brown or black. The natural grain leather exterior opens to reveal a microfiber lining and an inner pocket that can hold a credit card and ID. There's a clasp to make sure the cover stays closed and you can fold it to create a good widescreen stand. All the cut-outs you need, including the camera are there. It's a slim and stylish option if you like the wallet style.

Speck CandyShell Grip Case ($40)

Speck CandyShell Grip Case
The rubber ribs give this case a really eye-catching look, but they're not just for decoration, they also provide some additional grip. The combination of hard, glossy shell with rubber interior for shock absorption, and then the ribs on the back adds up to a decent case that will protect your Note 3 from drop damage. The raised edges on the front ensure that the screen is protected when placed face down, the ports are all open, and it fits the Note 3 perfectly. You can get it in a few different contrasting color combinations.

Zerolemon Extended Battery Rugged Case ($60)

Zerolemon Extended Battery Rugged Case
If you find yourself disappointed at the battery life of your Note 3 then this is the case for you. It packs a 10,000mAh battery which will keep your Note 3 going for at least a couple of days between charges. You don't have to sacrifice protection either because this case has a hard polycarbonate layer and a TPU wraparound. There's also a belt clip holster that can serve as a multi-position stand. The NFC still works and there are protective tabs for your ports and covers for the keys. It is heavy and seriously bulky, but it offers a lot for the money.

Amzer Snap On Case with Kickstand ($11)

Amzer Snap On Case with Kickstand
You don't need to spend much to get a basic snap on shell. This one has a nice soft touch matte finish which adds a little grip. The back is textured and there's a sliding kickstand feature that supports portrait or landscape view. The ports, controls, and camera are fully accessible, and this is a pretty slim, lightweight case. You can pick it up in white, pink, or black.

OtterBox Defender Series Case ($60)

For a truly rugged case that offers real protection, OtterBox is always worth a look. You'll find the standard malleable inner, with a polycarbonate frame, a built-in screen protector, and a holster attachment that doubles up as a stand. Since the Note 3 is already big, this case makes it seriously bulky, but there's no way round that if you want solid drop protection. The screen protector does impact touchscreen sensitivity, somewhat.

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case ($35)

Sleek and stylish, this case from Spigen manages not to compromise too much on the level of protection it offers. There's a basic flexible TPU case in black, with a durable polycarbonate frame that wraps round the outside and offers a color contrast. The fit is good and the ports and stylus are easily accessible. The frame is glossy and eye-catching, but it doesn't improve grip.

Samsung S-View Cover ($60)

On the plus side this flip-open cover fits perfectly and, because it replaces the back cover, it is very slim. It also has the window in the front for the limited S-View display, which allows you to interact with certain apps without opening the cover. Cons include the high price tag, the fact it doesn't stay shut, the fact that wireless charging doesn't work with it on, and the limited protection it offers.

Incipio Watson Wallet Case ($45)

This is a more traditional folio style case for the Note 3. It's fake leather on the outside, with a microsuede lining inside. It has three slots for cards and an elastic enclosure. There's also an inner case and a tough frame that holds the Note 3 in place and should safeguard against drop damage. It is big, but you can actually detach the cover if you want to travel light, just with the slim inner case.

Trident Aegis Case ($35)

Another brand that should make your shortlist, if your main aim is to keep your Note 3 pristine, is Trident. This mid-level Aegis case boasts military standards for drop and vibration protection. The inner silicone absorbs shock and there are plugs to protect your ports from dust. There's a standard outer polycarbonate shell with a lanyard loop, and you get a screen protector, too. The colored cases are a bit loud, though there is a black option, and they're definitely bulky, but your Note 3 will be safe inside.

Ballistic SG Maxx Case ($50)

It's not pretty, but with four layers and heavily reinforced corners, this case is going to keep your Note 3 ticking after a fall. It's the usual blend of tough shell and shock absorbing inner, but there's also a tough, solid screen protector. The case provides grip in the hand and prevents it from slipping on surfaces. It's chunky, and you will lose some touchscreen sensitivity, but you'll have nothing to fear from drops.

Urban Armor Gear Aero Case ($35)

This sexy industrial design combines a lightweight armor shell with an impact resistant core and reinforced corners. The cut outs are precise and a screen protector is supplied as well. It's definitely bulky and it does remind you just how big the Note 3 is, but the angular look is pretty stylish and it can take some damage. It's also available in white, orange, and black.

Luvvitt Clearview Hybrid Slim Case ($15)

You don't have to cover up Samsung's design; you could always opt for a clear case like this one. The design is smart as it combines a kind of soft TPU bumper with a hard polycarbonate back, but it's all in one piece. It's light, slim, fits properly, and it's easy to use your Note 3 with the case on. It's probably not going to deal with serious falls and the back will pick up scratches, but it's a decent minimalist option.

Hyperion Extended Battery and Back Cover ($35)

There aren't too many extended battery options for the Note 3. This Hyperion offering will roughly double your battery life, and it comes with a replacement back cover. It is big and heavy. The back cover replaces the Samsung one with a glossy, slick finish which slides in and out of your pocket easily enough, but does mean that you lose the fake leather look and Samsung logo. It's not built for protection and it changes the size of the device, so you might have to go for a sleeve style cover to protect it.

Case Mate Slim Folio Case ($35)

Here's a nice folio case with an executive look. It's textured for a nice feel with soft material on the inside to protect the screen. The closure is magnetic and you can fold the cover back to create a stand position in landscape. Cut outs give access to everything you need. The Note 3 is actually held in place by residue-free adhesive which is designed to be reusable, but if you repeatedly remove the Note 3 it may become an issue.

So ends our Galaxy Note 3 cases roundup, but we will add new entries when we discover them. If you want to recommend a case or share your experiences with one, good or bad, please do post a comment.

Updated on 2-03-2014 by Simon Hill: Added the Seidio Ledger View, Belkin Wallet Folio, Speck CandyShell Grip, Zerolemon Extended Battery Rugged Case, and Amzer Snap On Case.
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Microsoft details final Windows XP and Office 2003 security updates

Microsoft has released details regarding the final patches for Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003, which it will push to users on Tuesday, April 8. That's also the company's end-of-support deadline for both pieces of software. According to Microsoft's advance notification for the updates, users will get two updates apiece for XP and Office 2003. All four updates address remote code execution vulnerabilities, including one "Critical" issue for both XP and Office.

According to ZDNet, the "Critical" Windows XP fix addresses problems in Internet Explorer versions 6-9 and 11, though it doesn't apply to Internet Explorer 10. Meanwhile, the second update is marked "Important" for all versions of Windows, including XP.

The "Critical" Microsoft Office 2003 patch deals with a Microsoft Word exploit allowing hackers to remotely take control of a compromised user's PC. The update comes almost two weeks after Microsoft issued a security bulletin warning users of the threat.

Despite multiple warnings from a variety of sources, including a bulletin from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, many users plan to continue running XP after Microsoft drops support. If you're one of those people, you should take a look at our guide to keeping your system secure after Microsoft abandons Windows XP.
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The Covr case for iPhone 5 and 5S makes candid photography more stealthy (or creepy)

When it comes to street photography and achieving candid pictures, the most important thing is stealth. As professional photographer and Pulitzer Prize-finalist Thomas Hurst puts it, "When people stop seeing the camera, you really begin to see them." In essence, this means that when your subjects are aware of you pointing a camera at them, they will immediately change their behavior. What candid photography is all about, though, is capturing scenes of everyday life, with people behaving as naturally as possible.

Even though a smartphone is much less obtrusive than a proper camera, the sight of a phone raised to an eye-level position will immediately give away the user's intention of taking a photograph. So Hurst set out to find a solution to this conundrum, and what he came up with is the Covr iPhone case that lets you shoot stealthily – though some might argue creepily – from your waist.

The Covr iPhone case comes with a built-in, slidable angle prism which, when positioned over the iPhone camera, makes it possible to take pictures from a waist-level perspective. Thanks to the prism, the phone can be held with the screen facing upward, the same way you would when reading an email or typing a text message. When the prism is retracted, the camera works normally, as it would without the case attached.

The makers of Covr, Hurst and Steve Vincent, argue that the case helps you with capturing candid moments that would be impossible or at least difficult to photograph in a regular, more obvious manner. These moments can be anything from candid street shots to family gatherings. However, some might argue that the stealthy nature of the Covr case will support creepy behavior, as the people photographed might not be aware that their picture is being taken.

The Covr case for iPhone 5 and 5S currently seeks $80,000 in funding over on Kickstarter, $20,000 of which have already been pledged for. If you like the idea of the Covr case and could see yourself using it for non-creepy candid photography, then you can secure your own copy for $55 out of the first batch, which is $15 less than the final retail price of $70. The Covr iPhone case's Kickstarter campaign continues through May 6, 2014.
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The White House is upset with Samsung about this Obama selfie By Christian Brazil Bautista

Why President Barack Obama poses for selfies as often as a teenage girl, we may never understand, but we now know that he objects to corporations sponsoring his up-close and off-kilter snapshots.

Last Tuesday, the White House hosted the Boston Red Sox to celebrate the team's World Series victory, with Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz tasked with presenting an honorary jersey to the president. After posing for photographers with the president, Ortiz reached into his pocket and asked, "Do you mind if I take another one, with my own?"

"He wants to do a selfie. It's the Big Papi selfie," Obama said before placing himself within selfie range.

The selfie went out to Ortiz's 638,000 followers.

What an honor! Thanks for the #selfie, @BarackObama pic.twitter.com/y5Ww74sEID

— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) April 1, 2014

Samsung quickly shared the photo with its five million followers.

Big Papi, Big Selfie. RT @DavidOrtiz What an honor! Thanks for the #selfie, @BarackObama pic.twitter.com/3I7ckLjquf

— Samsung Mobile US (@SamsungMobileUS) April 1, 2014

The White House was not happy.

"Without getting into council's discussions, I can tell you that as a rule, the White House objects to attempts to use the president's likeness for commercial purposes, and we certainly object in this case," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

In an interview with ESPN, Ortiz, who admitted to having a promotional deal with Samsung, insisted that the selfie was more about capturing a rare moment rather than fulfilling promotional obligations. "It just came right in the moment when I gave him the jersey and he asked to pictures … It was like, 'Oh, wait a minute, let me see if I can get away with this.' I was lucky that I was right there. It was fun. It was something I'll never forget," he said.

So far, there have been no requests to take down the tweets. According to CBS News, the White House doesn't want to appear "heavy handed."
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(Forged) ticket to ride: Hacker claims he can fly for free using Passbook exploit

A Greek hacker claims that he has found a way to generate free boarding passes that bypass airport security for any flight departing from a European airport using Apple's virtual wallet app, Passbook. According to iTNews, 18-year-old Andrew Hariton plans to open up about the exploit in a presentation at the upcoming Hack in the Box security convention in Amsterdam on May 29.


"A computer and a smartphone is all that's required for a method that puts to the test both physical and digital security," Hariton writes in his Hack in the Box presentation abstract. "We will be using tools available to everyone to forge passes and look into methods of getting in the Security Restricted Area and even more importantly into the flight we desire."


The alleged exploit lets users bypass the security protocols of ticket scanners used by airport staff before passengers board a flight. Normally those scanners check each boarding pass against the list of registered fliers. According to Hariton, however, the "malfunctioning" scanner software for EU airports does not have "direct access to the airliner database."


Once he found a way in, Hariton said he could create boarding passes using Java and CSS in a web browser, which he could add to Passbook using the same interface developers use to send coupons and tickets to the app.


Hariton would not confirm or deny whether he has tested the exploit himself, though we're willing to bet that he hasn't, considering that an attempt to board a flight using a false ticket would likely result in his arrest.
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41 problems with iOS 7.1, and how to fix them

Every new operating system has its issues and Apple's iOS 7 is certainly no exception. We've seen a multitude of bug reports rolling in and, while many people have updated successfully, there's no shortage of people encountering glitches or even major problems. We discussed how to prepare for and download iOS 7, and we've suggested some helpful iOS 7 tips and tricks, now it's time to review some common iOS 7.1 (and iOS 7.0) problems and, where possible, identify solutions. We'll refer to the iPhone throughout the article, but the majority of the problems and fixes will apply to the iPad and iPod Touch as well.

Updated on 3-19-2014 by Simon Hill: Apple's iOS 7.1 update offers some snazzy new features and some welcome bug fixes. CarPlay tops the bill of iOS 7.1 features, but it's not all peaches and cream. It seems there are some iOS 7.1 problems that might spoil your day. We've added them in and pushed iOS 7.0 problems back to page 2, though they may still affect those who've upgraded.

Here are the iOS 7.1 issues we're hearing about with some advice on how to deal with them.

Problem: Rapid battery drain

This was an issue for a lot of people when the original iOS 7 update rolled out, but after updating to iOS 7.1 many users are reporting serious battery drain. Updated iPhones and iPads are proving slightly more power hungry than before for most people, but a few owners have encountered unusually rapid drops, with claims that as much as 50 percent of the battery life is disappearing within an hour, and that the remaining juice is draining away unusually quickly even when the device is not in use. There are various things worth trying.

Workarounds:

There are many ways to squeeze more juice from your battery and you may also consider some iOS specifics, such as turning off Background App Refresh in Settings > General, turning off AirDrop in the Control Center, turning off Location Services in Settings > Privacy, and consider turning off at least some push notifications via Settings > Notifications.
You should also keep an eye out for rogue apps guzzling more juice than they should. Double click the Home button and swipe away anything you aren't using. Be vigilant for battery drain when you use specific apps.
Potential fixes:

Hold down the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button until you see the Apple logo to restart your device.
Try going to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
You could try erasing everything. Make sure all your precious content is backed up then take a look at how to factory reset an iPhone.
Glitch: Freezing and lag

A few people have run into an issue where the screen just freezes for a few seconds. It will just be entirely unresponsive at apparently random intervals and then start working again without any obvious cause. Sometimes it happens when opening or closing an app, or it may occur when a notification comes in. There's a chance this is linked to a specific app, so keep an eye on what's running.

Workaround:

Hold down the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button until the device restarts and you see the Apple logo.
Double tap the Home button and make sure you swipe to close anything you don't need running, and stay on top of this.
Potential fixes:

Make sure that your apps are up to date. The quickest way is to go to Settings > iTunes & App Store and make sure that Apps is toggled on under Automatic Downloads.
You could try resetting your settings via Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
You could also try a factory reset and restore via iTunes or iCloud.
If that doesn't work then contact Apple.
Problem: Touch ID not working

The iOS 7.1 update was supposed to improve the Touch ID feature, but for many users it seems to have broken it. Some people are reporting that Touch ID is now working much better for them, but others are struggling to get it to work at all after the update.

Potential fixes:

Head into Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and make sure that iPhone Unlock is still on. Try turning it off and on again.
Try going into Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and then tap on each fingerprint listed and choose Delete Fingerprint. When they're all deleted, try Add a Fingerprint to set it up again. Make sure that the Home button and your hands are clean.
If that didn't work, fire up iTunes on your computer and attach your iPhone 5S to try a restore. Choose your device in iTunes and click Restore iPhone … then work through the instructions. You can use iCloud instead, just make sure you have a recent backup first in Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup then go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase all content and settings and when you set up your iPhone 5S again choose Restore from a Backup and sign in to iCloud to choose the backup you want.
Your last option is to take it into an Apple Store and show them the problem.
Bug: Wi-Fi not working or unavailable

We're not surprised to see people encountering Wi-Fi issues after the iOS 7.1 update; this seems like a common complaint every time there's a new platform version. Some people are finding that previously good Wi-Fi connections are now a bit flaky, others are reporting that Wi-Fi is completely unavailable and they can't connect at all.

Potential fixes:

Try switching Airplane mode on for 30 seconds or so, then turn it off and try connecting to Wi-Fi again.
Try holding down the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button until your device restarts.
Turn your router off for 30 seconds and then switch it on again.
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings and then set up your Wi-Fi network again from scratch.
Try changing the channel on your router and check the rest of the settings.
Make sure that your router firmware is up to date.
Try a factory reset of your iPad or iPhone.
Problem: Bluetooth not working properly

Here's another common problem that also cropped up when iOS 7 came out. If you've been having trouble getting Bluetooth devices to connect properly, or your Bluetooth streaming has been choppy then you're not alone.

Potential fixes:

Start by holding down the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button until your device restarts.
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings and then set up your Bluetooth pairings again.
Check the manual for your Bluetooth device. Is there a pairing button? Can you delete the saved pairings? Is there a firmware update?
Try a factory reset of your iOS device.
Glitch: Keyboard lag

Quite a few people have been reporting a significant lag on the keyboard when they type on their iPad or iPhone after the iOS 7.1 update. Luckily there's an easy fix for this one.

Fix:

Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
Problem: Full screen caller photo gone

A lot of people are complaining that the full screen caller photo has been replaced in iOS 7.1 with a grey screen that has a photo of the contact in a small circle. This means it's harder to see who is calling at a glance.

Potential fix:

Sadly there's no way to get the full screen caller photos back right now, but a lot of people are complaining online and you can join them by submitting feedback to Apple. If enough people make a noise about this then Apple might just bring it back as an option in the next update.

Glitch: Sound muffled or low volume

A few people are reporting that the sound is muffled after the iOS 7.1 update and that the volume won't go as high as it used to go. This seems to be mostly affecting iPads and it should be easy to fix.

Potential fixes:

Always start by trying a soft reset by holding down the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button until the device restarts and you see the Apple logo.
There's a side switch on the iPad that can be used for mute. Check in Settings > General and see what is ticked under Use Side Switch To.
Plug in some headphones and test them and then unplug them again.
Try going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings and see if makes a difference.
If nothing works then head to an Apple Store and see what they can tell you.
Glitch: Auto-brightness not working

If you've run into issues with the brightness on your iPhone or iPad and it doesn't seem to be behaving as it should, then don't panic.

Potential fixes:

Go to Settings > Brightness & Wallpaper and toggle Auto-Brightness to off. Go into a dark room and slide your brightness bar to the bottom, all the way to the left. Now toggle Auto-Brightness back on again.
Try going into Settings > General > Accessibility > Increase Contrast and see if Reduce White Point is on.
That's all the iOS 7.1 problems and fixes we have for now, but we will add more as we find them. Please post a comment and share any issues or fixes you've encountered.

iOS 7.0 Bugs, problems, and fixes

These problems are for those of you still running iOS 7.0, though many of them may still impact or be useful to those running iOS 7.1. Let us know if any are helpful to you!

Updated on 2-11-2014 by Simon Hill: Added unable to send email problem and disappearing contacts glitch.

———

Problem: Unable to send email

Some people have found that they are unable to send emails after the iOS 7 update. They can still receive emails, but when they try to send emails it doesn't work. For some people it's failing to send with an error message, for others email appears to send, but never arrives in the recipient's inbox. This seems to occur intermittently and it can potentially happen on various types of email account. There are a few things you can try.

Workarounds:

Double tap the Home button and swipe the email app up to close it. Then try restarting it again. It may work properly for a while.
Restart your iPhone by holding down the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button until you see the Apple logo.
Enable Airplane mode and wait 30 seconds then turn it off again and try again.
Potential solutions:

Select the email account that's giving you problems from Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars and tap on the Account section at the top where your email address is listed. Now tap on Outgoing Mail Server listed at the bottom and then tap on the Primary Server at the top of the next page. Make sure your email address is listed under User Name and then tap on the Password and re-enter it, even if it's already filled in.
You could try deleting the problem email account. Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars select your email account and tap the Delete Account option at the bottom of the screen. Now make sure you have all the correct setup details and go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account to add it again.
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings and set up your Wi-Fi connection again.
Bug: Disappearing contacts

Do you find that your contacts sometimes disappear? You'll open up the Contacts app on your iPhone and find that it's empty, or some of the contacts are missing. You may find that they randomly return after a few minutes or a couple of hours. You could start by going to iCloud.com and logging in to check that your contacts are all listed correctly.

Potential solutions:

Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > iCloud and make sure that Contacts is toggled on.
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings and then set up your Wi-Fi network again from scratch.
Go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and make sure iCloud Backup is toggled on.
If none of that works for you then you could always restore a backup from iTunes, assuming you made one. Launch iTunes on your computer, and go to Edit > Preferences > Devices to check Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically. Now plug your iPhone in, click on it in iTunes and choose Restore Backup from the Summary tab then follow the instructions.
Bug: White screen of death

A bug that seems to have cropped up for a lot of people, particularly on the iPad, but also various iPhone models is a random crash from the home screen which soft reboots the device and brings up a screen with the Apple logo. The background color matches the device, so a white iPhone will have a white boot up screen with a black Apple and vice versa. There's some suggestion that this is linked to the battery, but it's not clear.

Workarounds:

Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button until you see the Apple logo to restart your device.
Try DFU mode, explained below under the Glitch: Stuck on Apple logo.
Backup and factory reset your iPhone.
Potential solution:

Apple has acknowledged this issue, Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller told Mashable "We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash."
Problem: Can't make or receive calls

If you've run into problems with making or receiving calls after updating to iOS 7 then you are not alone. You might find that people are trying to call you, but your iPhone is not ringing, or perhaps you are unable to make a call. Some people report calls apparently connecting, but the line seems to be dead and they can't hear the other person. Assuming you're not just in a dead spot (try making the call from another location), there are a few things you can try.

Potential solutions:

Go to Settings and toggle Airplane Mode on for five seconds and then turn it off again.
Make sure that Do Not Disturb in Settings is not turned on.
Go to Settings > Phone and make sure Call Forwarding is not turned on.
Go to Settings > Phone and check under Blocked.
Make sure you have the latest carrier update by going to Settings > General > About. If there's something available then you should be prompted to download it (make sure you're connected the Wi-Fi and your mobile network).
Make sure there isn't another iOS update by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Try removing the SIM card, make sure it's clean and replace it carefully.
Try resetting your network settings via Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Go to Settings > Cellular and try toggling Enable LTE and/or Enable 3G.
Contact your carrier and make sure there's no problem on their end.
Try factory resetting your iPhone.
Glitch: Keyboard is orientated the wrong way

Occasionally, iOS 7 fails to identify the correct orientation of your device and produces a keyboard that is only partially on the screen, rendering it useless. It is a common occurrence after using the camera from the lock screen. 

Solutions:

Slide across the screen and the keyboard will correctly orientate itself to the screen.
The glitch appears to be fixed in iOS 7.1 beta. 
Bug: Control Panel and Notification Center don't appear

There have been some reports of an issue in iOS 7.0.4 that the Control Panel and Notification Center aren't accessible by swiping up or down respectively, or will work for a short period of time but eventually become unavailable.

Potential Solution:

Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Assistive Touch. Turning this setting on and off seems to provide a fix for the issue, albeit it sometimes only a temporary one.
Glitch: Stuck on Apple logo

If your update went wrong then you may well find that your iPhone is stuck on a blank boot screen or on the Apple logo and it won't start up properly. You're going to want to connect to iTunes and try DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode.

Potential solution:

Hold down the Sleep/Wake button to turn your iPhone off.
Open iTunes on your computer and connect your iPhone.
Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button together for ten seconds, and then release the Sleep/Wake button.
Continue to hold down the Home button until you see a pop-up on iTunes stating that "iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. You must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes."
Your iPhone screen should be blank, if you see a logo or message on it then you are not in DFU mode.
Select your iPhone in the left hand column of iTunes and select Summary then Restore.
You may need to install the iOS 7 update again.
Problem: Rapid battery drain

Many people are finding iOS 7 is more power hungry than iOS 6 was. You can find some general help
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Premier League Today's Fixtures

Currently viewing: 5 April 2014 Go to next day: 6 April 2014 Go to previous day: 4 April 2014

Calendar

PREMIER LEAGUE
Man City V Southampton
12:45kick off

Aston Villa V Fulham
15:00kick off

Cardiff V Crystal Palace
15:00kick off

Hull V Swansea
15:00kick off

Newcastle V Man Utd
15:00kick off

Norwich V West Brom
15:00kick off

Chelsea V Stoke
17:30kick off

CHAMPIONSHIP

Wigan V Leeds
12:15kick off

Barnsley V Brighton
15:00kick off

Blackburn V Ipswich
15:00kick off

Blackpool V Yeovil
15:00kick off

Bournemouth V QPR
15:00kick off

Charlton V Reading
15:00kick off

Doncaster V Birmingham
15:00kick off

Huddersfield V Bolton
15:00kick off

Middlesbrough V Derby
15:00kick off

Nottm Forest V Millwall
15:00kick off

Watford V Burnley
15:00kick off

Please note: All times UK. Matches are subject to change. BEN Latest News is not responsible for any changes that may be made. FA Premier League, Football League and Scottish Professional Football League fixtures reproduced under licence from Football DataCo Limited. All rights reserved. Licence number NEWMEDIA/BBCINT/147806a.
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Injured Rooney doubt for Bayern tie

Wayne Rooney is a doubt for Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final second-leg trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday because of a toe injury.

The 28-year-old England striker, who suffered the injury in Tuesday's 1-1 first-leg draw, will miss Saturday's Premier League game at Newcastle.
Manager David Moyes said: "He's got a badly bruised toe. It could be a problem for the Munich match.

"We'll get him treatment all over the weekend and see if we can speed it up."

Rooney's absence would be a big blow to United's hopes of progressing.

Along with Robin van Persie, who has a knee injury, he is the club's joint-top scorer this season with 17 goals, two of which were in the Champions League.
It is not the first time Rooney has been injured after the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final tie with Bayern.

Previous United manager Sir Alex Ferguson ruled the forward out of the second leg in 2010 after he suffered an ankle injury in the opening game in Munich.

Rooney recovered to start the second leg at Old Trafford, but could not prevent United going out on away goals.
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Live: Davis Cup: Italy v Great Britain Italy v GB

Summary
 Live now - Murray v Seppi
 The doubles rubber to follow
 Italy lead Great Britain 1-0 after day one
 GB's first Davis Cup quarter-final since 1986
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
Recent live reporting posts
Murray wins
Murray 6-4 7-5 6-3 Seppi
Posted at
Job done.

Andy Murray is romping now. Even when he loses points, he is demanding pinpoint precision from Andreas Seppi or missing clever angles by millimetres. Seppi is clinging on by his fingernails at 30-30, but Murray stomps out the dying embers of his challenge and he punches a double backhand out to clinch the second singles rubber.

GAME, SET AND MATCH
Murray 6-4 7-5 6-3 Seppi
Posted at
Andy Murray wins the second singles rubber, beating Andreas Seppi 6-4 7-5 6-3 to level the tie 1-1 against Italy.
Posted at 11:28
There are three other Davis Cup quarter-finals under way across the globe and we already have one semi-finalist. Defending champions the Czech Republic, without Tomas Berdych, have taken a 3-0 lead over Japan, without Kei Nishikori in Tokyo.

A big shock is developing in Nancy where Germany, without their top four players, lead France 2-0 after the little-known Peter Gojowczyk beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets. And the winner in Naples will face Switzerland or Kazakhstan, who are tied at 1-1 in Geneva after Andrey Golubev stunned Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka. Follow all the action with the official Davis Cup live blog.

Murray 6-4 7-5 5-3 Seppi*
Posted at
Make that one hold away from levelling the tie. Andy Murray can sniff his stable and dusts off a love service game to send the balls back up Andreas Seppi's end. The spotlight is also back on the Italian, can he keep the surging Murray at bay?

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent live sports extra
Posted at
"I think there's very little doubt that it will be Murray playing with Colin Fleming in the doubles, subject to a quick health-check from Andy Murray. He got his knee caught up in the clay soon after today's resumption, but 'Plan A' is for Murray to team up with Fleming, and I think Murray wants to get the job done himself."

Murray breaks
*Murray 6-4 7-5 4-3 Seppi
Posted at
What a point! Andreas Seppi is retrieving from the ends of the earth at 30-30. Andy Murray lobs and the Italian improvises a frying-pan style return over his own head as he chases back. Murray wallops a smash down into the clay and out to the right and Seppi moonballs back from out wide. This time surely... No! Murray cracks his overhead into the net when Seppi looks like he is finally on his knees.

That Italian fans loved that. They don't love what follows. Murray gets a glint in his eye and rattle through the next three points, grinding his opponent to dust with some string-stretching hitting from the baseline, mixed with some slice and craft.
Murray is two holds away from levelling the tie.

Murray 6-4 7-5 3-3 Seppi*
Posted at
Andy Murray is back in the groove after a ropey start to the third set. Andreas Seppi has gone back into his shell as well. The off forehands that were causing Murray so many problems earlier today have dried up for the time being. Murray is looking classy off that wing though, finding corridors of space down the side of Seppi.

John Lloyd
Former British number one
Posted at
"Murray did well then to break back - his level had dropped a little in the third. Once he won the second set, I thought he'd go away with it and the opposite happened as Seppi opened his shoulders and got loose, which is dangerous. But Murray showed what a wonderful competitor he is by bouncing straight back with a break, and that's what separates the great players from the rest. There's still a long way to go here though."
Posted at 11:15

We are looking for your tennis glamour spots. This one is not too shabby. Monte Carlo Tennis Club. Suggestions welcome via social media and text.

Murray breaks
*Murray 6-4 7-5 2-3 Seppi
Posted at
Andy Murray is back to make amends after that eyesore of a game.
A deft little pick-up sets up a second break point from deuce as Andreas Seppi skids in and clumps a clumsy forehand long. It is the Italian's turn for a spot of introspection as he rages against his own limitations.
Seppi has not collected his composure by the time he reaches the baseline and a double fault hands Murray the break back.

Dominic Inglot
British doubles player
Posted at
"As soon as Andy misses a few first serves, he lets it slip. Even when you're as good as Andy from the back of the court, if you're not making a high percentage of first serves, you give your an opponent a look."

Seppi breaks
Murray 6-4 7-5 1-3 Seppi*
Posted at
There is trouble brewing upstairs in the Andy Murray game. His groundstrokes are suddenly spraying, he is peeved by the time taken by the ballkids to get the balls and the VIPs to get their seats and his body language is not too polite.
Seppi breaks to 15 and Murray needs to knuckle down if he is to get back onto the masseuse's table in plenty of time ahead of this afternoon's doubles.

*Murray 6-4 7-5 1-2 Seppi
Posted at
Andy Murray has had enough of that end of the court. It is the one with a dodgy, soggy back corner and the Briton gives up on a ball that he could have slid after, but might have ended up knee-deep in the crumbly clay surface.

A casual forehand chop ends in the net as Murray gives way to love and heads for a sit-down en route to the opposite end.

Murray 6-4 7-5 1-1 Seppi*
Posted at
Ai ai ai! Andy Murray, with the whole court to aim at and the ball hanging enticingly in front of him at 30-30, crashes a volley into the top of the net. Murray under pressure and it is all of his own making. Break point Andrea Seppi.

Murray fixes up quick sharp though, thrashing away a high bounce inside the baseline. The ball homing in on the line perfectly there and the Scot is out of danger.

*Murray 6-4 7-5 0-1 Seppi
Posted at
Andreas Seppi holds, but Andy Murray has been crawling all over his serve and there is plenty of hope there that the Italian's serve might be ripe for the picking soon.

Seppi, still attracting some strong backing from the stands, signals his intention to keep fighting, but Murray sends a forehand zipping across the face of him for 30-30.

A bit of an irregular bounce foxes Seppi as he chases down a drop-shot and Murray has a break point at 30-40 to play with. Seppi sees it off, but is back in the deep stuff as a netted forehand give Murray another look at his serve and a break point.

Seppi summons up his courage and unleashes a pair of laser-guided forehands to give himself advantage. That is a useful shot for him, especially when he hits it to the Murray backhand.

It forces Murray deep to see off a third break point. Seppi is playing his best stuff when he has been backed up to the edge of defeat in the game. Finally the Italian gets over the line, swatting away a forehand volley with authority.
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MH370: Underwater scanners scour ocean depths

Australia leads Flight 370 search

A month after MH370 disappeared, the search operation has been arduous, but Malaysia's determination remains undiminished, said Hishammuddin Hussein, the nation's acting transportation minister. The country is forming three committees to tackle the disappearance of the flight, he said. One will tend to the families of passengers aboard the missing flight. The second one will oversee the investigation team. The third committee will handle the deployment of assets.

[Previous story, 1 a.m.]

MH370: Scanners scour ocean depths for pings; no hard clues on flight simulator

Four weeks to the day since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing, the trawling for clues goes on.

The search for physical evidence continues Saturday -- both on the surface of the southern Indian Ocean and deep below it.

The search for digital clues on the hard drives of a flight simulator in the home of one of the pilots turned up nothing conclusive. There was no "we got it" information, a U.S. official with knowledge of the investigation told CNN late Friday.

There were some "curious" things, given the situation, the official said. The captain, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, had programmed several alternate routes into the simulator, but it appeared he had done so to come up with safe plans of action in case of emergencies aboard the plane, the official said.

The searches appear to be what an experienced and professional pilot would do, the official said.

In the choppy waters of the Indian Ocean, the hunt is not letting up.

The British Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo and the Australian naval supply ship Ocean Shield began scouring for the plane's pingers and possible wreckage about 6,500 feet to 13,000 feet deep on the ocean floor Friday.

The search was along a single 150-mile (240-kilometer) track, said retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, the head of the Australian agency coordinating the operation.

Time is ticking fast to find the missing Boeing 777's locator pingers: If functioning as expected, their batteries will run out of juice in the next few days.

The Ocean Shield has high-tech gear borrowed from the United States. That includes a Bluefin-21, which can scour the ocean floor for wreckage, and a Towed Pinger Locator 25, with its underwater microphone to detect pings from the jet's voice and data recorders as deep as 20,000 feet (6,100 meters).

"It is a very slow proceeding," U.S. Navy Capt. Mark M. Matthews said of the second tool, which is towed behind a vessel typically moving at 1 to 5 knots.

Bill Schofield, an Australian scientist who worked on developing flight data recorders, said: "If they do find it, I think it'll be remarkable."

Up to 10 military planes and three civilian aircraft -- in addition to 11 ships -- will be looking Saturday for any sign of Flight 370, according to the Australian government.

The search area will be just under 84,000 square miles (217,000 square kilometers), which is slightly less than the area searched Friday, and will focus some 1,050 miles northwest of Perth. This is about 50 miles further from the western Australian city than was the case a day earlier.

Is this the right spot? Will they find anything? So far, all efforts to locate signs of the airliner have proven unsuccessful. Still, those involved have vowed to keep trying.

"Really, the best we can do right now is put these assets in the best location -- the best guess we have -- and kind of let them go," U.S. Navy Cmdr. William Marks told CNN. "Until we get conclusive evidence of debris, it is just a guess."

'Long way to go'

Officials have repeatedly warned that the massive international search to find signs of the Kuala Lumpur-to-Beijing flight may not conclude any time soon.

In the case of Air France Flight 447, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009, officials found debris on the surface after five days of searching. But it took them nearly two years to find the main pieces of wreckage, the flight recorders and many of the bodies of those on board.

With Flight 370, the search teams have even fewer clues.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned that "we cannot be certain of ultimate success in the search" for the Malaysian aircraft. He described it as the most difficult search "in human history."

Authorities have yet to explain why the plane flew off course or where it ended up.

Investigations into the 227 passengers and 12 crew members have yielded no suggestion that any of them might have been behind the disappearance.
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3 get death sentence in India gang rapes

Three men were sentenced to death Friday for the gang rapes of two women in the Indian city of Mumbai last year, public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.


The men -- Vijay Jadhav, Mohammad Qasim and Salim Ansari -- were sentenced to die under an amended Indian law that sets death as the maximum sentence if convicted of more than one sexual assault, according to Nikam. The three were found guilty of gang-raping a telephone operator a month before attacking a photojournalist in a deserted Mumbai mill in August.

Five people, including a young boy, were involved in the photojournalist rape case, Nikam said. One of them has been sentenced to life in prison, while the youngest is facing a trial before a juvenile justice board. Those convicted can appeal their sentences to a higher court.

Violent crimes against women have been in the spotlight in India since a 23-year-old woman was raped and beaten by several men on a bus in December 2012.

The victim later died in a Singapore hospital. The shocking attack provoked outrage across India, leading to calls for improved safety and treatment of women.

Since then, the Indian media have intensified their focus on rape cases. Attacks against foreign women have also been reported.

The 2012 case prompted lawmakers to change statutes to fast-track the arrest and questioning of anyone implicated in a rape.
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Afghanistan votes in historic presidential election

Lyse Doucet says voting is brisk at Kabul polling station
People in Afghanistan are voting for a new president in what will be the nation's first ever transfer of power through the ballot box.

Turnout is reported to be brisk despite heavy rain and worries over security.

A massive operation is under way to thwart the Taliban who have vowed to disrupt the election.

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

Large queues

Heavy rain was falling in Kabul early on Saturday and BBC correspondents said young voters in particular were defying the conditions and the security threats.

Many women are taking part in the polls, although not in the same numbers as men.

"I'm not afraid of Taliban threats, we will die one day anyway. I want my vote to be a slap in the face of the Taliban," Kabul housewife Laila Neyazi told AFP.

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

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

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

The BBC's Karen Allen in northern Afghanistan says that large queues also formed there as people waited to cast their ballots. One young voter told our correspondent he had defied his father's warning not to vote because of the threat of violence.

However, some polling stations in the provinces of Herat in the west and Kapisa, north-east of Kabul, were closed because of a combination of the bad weather and security risks.

There were also reports elsewhere of several polling centres not receiving ballot materials in time and of ballot papers running out at some stations.

All 400,000 Afghan police and soldiers have been deployed to provide security for voters

The vote was taking place amid heavy rainfall in Kabul, which was devoid of traffic

Many women have been turning out to vote, including here in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif
However, international observers are increasingly optimistic that both the tight security and a number of new guarantees against fraud will make this a fairer election than Afghanistan has seen before, our correspondent says.

Afghans have been barred from sending text messages until polls close at 16:00 (12:30 GMT) on Saturday to prevent the service from being used for last-minute campaigning.

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

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

Strong resolve

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

Dr Abdullah has fought a polished campaign, Dr Ghani has strong support among the new urban youth vote and Dr Rassoul is believed to favoured by Hamid Karzai, our correspondent says.

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

In the latest in a string of deadly attacks that marred the lead-up to the election, award-winning German photographer Anja Niedringhaus was killed and veteran Canadian reporter Kathy Gannon was injured when a police commander opened fire on their car in the eastern town of Khost on Friday.

Video of the scene of the attack shows bullet holes in the rear doors of the car
The run-up to the historic poll has been the bloodiest since the fall of the Taliban, says the BBC's Lyse Doucet.

The heavily-guarded interior ministry, the main compound of the Independent Election Commission and the popular five-star Serena Hotel have all been attacked.

In many parts of the country donkeys have been deployed to take ballot boxes to remote areas

The election is a major logistical challenge for the authorities, with some areas only accessible on foot

Associated Press journalists Anja Niedringhaus (left) and Kathy Gannon were accompanying election workers in Khost when they came under attack on Friday
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T-Mobile boss ‘disappointed’ at BlackBerry’s decision to end ties, makes new offer to users

T-Mobile boss John Legere published an open letter Thursday expressing disappointment in BlackBerry's decision earlier this week to end licensing ties with the wireless carrier.

Addressing his BlackBerry customers directly, Legere said, "We hear you and stand with you," adding, "Obviously, we were disappointed in BlackBerry's decision to end their agreement with us."

He also assured them that although it has to stop selling BlackBerry products come April 25, the service it offers to its current BlackBerry mobile customers would stay the same.

"Here's what really matters most for BlackBerry owners," Legere said, "Whether you're an individual customer or business customer, nothing changes. Nada. Zero. Zilch."

BlackBerry announced its intention to sever ties with T-Mobile following an episode a couple of months back when the carrier emailed its BlackBerry customers with a "great offer" encouraging them to switch to an iPhone 5S.

Fans of the Canadian mobile company were not best pleased by T-Mobile's marketing move, expressing their anger on social media sites. BlackBerry boss John Chen stepped into the dispute a few days later, saying the mobile maker was "outraged" at the "inappropriate and ill-conceived" promotion. Legere apologized for any upset he'd caused among BlackBerry fans, though the damage was done.

Things went quiet until Tuesday, when BlackBerry announced its licensing agreement with T-Mobile would not be renewed.

In Thursday's open letter, Legere said he wanted to show the company's "appreciation for all current consumers so passionate and loyal to all things BlackBerry" by offering a $100 credit toward any new handset, including BlackBerry's more recent Q10 or Z10 devices. The offer runs till the end of the year.

T-Mobile was offering a $250 credit toward the Q10 and Z10 devices back in February in apology for its poorly received iPhone promotion, though that offer was for a limited time only.

In a final bid to placate BlackBerry-owning T-Mobile customers, Legere said another offer would soon be announced, and ended his message by telling BlackBerry users he would "always fight" for them.
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Project Ara, Google’s modular smartphone, gets closer to reality, as new video shows

The team working on the Project Ara modular smartphone has released a new video. The three-minute film is produced by Phonebloks, the company whose project eventually was absorbed into Ara, and is a fascinating glimpse at how the phone is progressing.

Project Ara, in case you haven't been following it, is a smartphone which can be specced up by the owner, using removable blocks containing key parts of the device. For example, you could choose to have a massive battery and no camera. Google is also considering multiple chassis, so you could take the brain out of a big screen device, and put it in one which is more portable, with no additional setup needed.

In the video, we're shown the small modules being plugged into a development Ara chassis, when it's explained that electro-permanent magnets will be used to keep them in place. These are super secure electromagnets which can be turned on and off, making it easy to swap components, while keeping them in place once they're docked.

We also get to see the work 3D Systems is doing on Project Ara. Originally brought onto Ara by Motorola late last year, 3D Systems is concentrating on the casings and chassis of the phone. The components shown in the video have bright patterns, small images, and textures too. The impression is, the outside of Project Ara will be equally as customizable as the inside.

The head of design at Google's advanced technology and products group also revealed the phone will keep its skeletal, Lego-style look, with which we've already become familiar. He says the modular, blocky style has been embraced by the team, and it won't be hidden away under a cover.

Finally, we get a glimpse of the Project Ara configurator app, which lets owners browse the catalog of parts available for the phone, then play around with where they will fit on the phone. We're also reminded that Project Ara isn't going to be a high-end, incredibly expensive device. "Some of the people won't have used a smartphone before," says team leader Eric Gunther about the challenges the team faces, "so we're trying to make the interface as simple and spatially intuitive as we can."

Previously, Google has said Project Ara will be ready for sale in the first few months of 2015.
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If the FuelBand is too bulky, you’ll love the Goccia, the world’s smallest fitness tracker (Updated)

If the idea of a fitness tracker appeals to you, but the thought of wearing a wristband does not, then your choices are relatively limited. However, a new Kickstarter campaign may provide the device for you. It's called the Goccia, which means drop of water in Italian, a name which refers to its discrete size and styling. The company which produces it, G-Wearables, says we're looking at the world's smallest, and simplest, fitness tracker.


Updated on 04-04-2013 by Andy: Added in confirmation G-Wearables aims to have Android device support ready for launch.


Made from aluminum and Gorilla Glass, the tiny device measures 18mm wide, and can be worn either in a small clip, a necklace, or in a subtle wristband. It weighs only three grams, so you won't even know its there. There's no display, only a series of LEDs indicating how close you are to meeting your daily goal. This means the battery, although small, lasts for 14 days on a single charge. There are no ports, so the Goccia is waterproof, and it's wirelessly recharged.


You may be wondering, if there are no ports, how the Goccia syncs with your phone. Surprisingly, it doesn't use Bluetooth, and instead the company has chosen something called LED light syncing technology. It works by placing the Goccia on your phone's front facing camera, when data is transferred using the built-in LEDs. It's this unusual tech which keeps the overall size and power consumption of the device down.
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CONGRATULATION Microsoft: Office for iPad hits 12 million downloads after only a week

Microsoft's Office for iPad apps have only been out a week and they've already hit 12 million downloads.


The computer company announced the giant download number via its 'Office' Twitter feed, thanking users for grabbing copies of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote from Apple's iOS store.


More than 12 million downloads of Word, Excel, PPT & OneNote for #iPad from the @AppStore <3 #OfficeforiPad pic.twitter.com/iT2egNPDkj

— Office (@Office) April 3, 2014

It would've been interesting to know the download figures for each app, but Microsoft declined to give such information in its tweet. However, looking at their positioning in the US app store, we see Word for iPad leading the pack, with Excel in second, and PowerPoint third. Microsoft's "digital notebook," OneNote, is a little behind, in seventh spot.


In contrast, the UK app store shows PowerPoint second and Excel in third spot, with Word again out in front.


Of course, while Microsoft will surely be happy with the initial download figures, what really matters is how many it can convert to paid subscriptions. Users can view documents for free using the apps, but need to hand over $100 annually to unlock the apps' editing functionality. The subscription also lets you create new documents.

Office for iPad has the potential to be a huge money-spinner not only for Microsoft but for Apple too, as it'll take a 30 percent cut of every subscription bought from within the app. Of course, if a user takes a subscription direct from Microsoft's website, or via Amazon, Apple gets nothing.

In an effort to tempt a few extra iPad owners into downloading its new Office apps, Microsoft has also been dishing out free subscriptions for visitors to its retail stores, though presumably the limited-number offer is long finished.

For the Redmond-based computer giant, Office for iPad is a great opportunity to pull more users into its ecosystem, as a Microsoft account is required to use the software, with files saved on the company's cloud-based OneDrive server.
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Swimming Lessons Paul Okoye And Family Take Swimming Lessons

Paul Okoye and wife Anita has been absent on the social media since their traditional wedding. Paul took to his Instagram page to post some family pictures and we think they look great.

Paul Okoye Shared the pictures of himself, his beautiful wife Anita and his son on his Instagram page with the caption " First swimming lesson!!!! Done!!!.

Swimming is obviously a good exercise for the body and the musician is trying to teach his son one of the ways to relax and keep fit.

We think they look so cute. What do you think?
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Empowering women We’re connecting women to economic advancement in the U.S. and around the world.

Through strategic partnerships, investments, and programs, we're connecting women to the human, social, and financial capital resources they need to maximize their potential. Our efforts are empowering women to enrich their lives, as well as those of their families and communities, and helping create stronger economies worldwide.
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See how we're providing mentoring, education, and technical assistance to connect emerging women leaders around the world.

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Spotted! Beverly Naya Is Errm... Naked?

What do you make of this look?

Beverly Naya: Hot? Too Much? Not?


Nollywood actress, Beverly Naya is known for her head-turning, show-stopping red carpet looks and she goes al the way!

We got a hold of Beverly Naya in this outfit and don't know what to make of it! She has a hot body no doubt but this look....err

«What do you guys think, be the judge!
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Nollywood Actresses We Miss Seeing On Our Screens!

There are lots of Nollywood actresses who made waves in the 90's, they have been absent for years and we really miss seeing them on our screens.

Regina Askia Williams

Born in Lagos Nigeria, Regina hails from Cross River State. She is popular for her roles in movies like Festival Of Fire, Vuga, Most Wanted and popular series Fortunes. She is a practising nurse in New York where she resides with her family.

Victoria Inyama Okiri

The beautiful actress hails from Abia State. She has been absent since she got married and travelled to UK with her spouse. She is popular for her roles in movies like Blind love, Gangster Paradise, Glamour Boys, The Cross among others.

Obot Etuk

The beautiful actress just went off the radar and has not appeared in movies for years now. She ruled the screens in the nineties appearing in movies like Rituals, Deadly Proposal among others.

Sandra Achums

She used to be on the cover of every movie, the beautiful actress relocated to Germany after her marriage. Popular for her roles in movies like: Deadly Affair, Just A Mission, Ashanti, Outcast among others.

Susan Patrick

She can't be forgotten thanks to her outstanding performance in Sakobi the Snake Girl. Susan hails from Akwa Ibom state. She is popular for movies like Sakobi, Tears In Heaven, Love Is Blind among others.

Who are the actresses you missing seeing on the screen?
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