EXCLUSIVE 14-year-old girl tweets terror threat to American Airlines and get arrested for it

When done right, jokes can be funny, even inspirational. However, when done wrong, jokes can get you arrested. The latter happened when a 14-year-old girl from the Netherlands decided it was time to joke around with American Airlines by tweeting a terror threat.

"Hello my name's Ibrahim and I'm from Afghanistan. I'm part of Al Qaida and on June 1st I'm gonna do something really big bye," tweeted the teen. American Airlines did not find the joke funny, responding that it "takes these threats seriously" and that her IP address and tweet would be "forwarded to security and the FBI."

All of a sudden, the teen went on the defensive, saying that she "was kidding" and that she's "just stupid okay." If there was a silver lining in this, it's that the teen was happy to report that she "gained 3k followers today." Whatever good times she was having were cut short, because Rotterdam police confirmed that she was arrested today.

In a statement sent to Business Insider, an official spokesperson for the Dutch police Wessel Stole said, "We're not in a state that we can communicate any state of charges at this point, we just thought it was necessary to bring this out mostly because of the fact that it caused a great deal of interest on the Internet."

Dutch girl (14) from Rotterdam arrested after American Airlines threat. Investigation continues. #Rotterdam #Police #Force @americanair

— Politie Rotterdam eo (@Politie_Rdam) April 14, 2014

American Airlines deleted its tweet "after it had been addressed in order to be able to focus on our customers." In the statement, the airline also said, "At American, the safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority. We take security matters very seriously and work with authorities on a case by case basis."

So what are the main takeaways from this?

Whether you're kidding or not, don't make terror threats of any kind. That's just dumb
.
Apparently, American Airlines knew her IP address, which is weird. Either that, or the airline was bluffing and simply reported the tweet to the authorities.
You can bet she's going to get grounded by her parents for this.
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New Discovery Research shows people share more photos through their TV than other kinds of media

These days it's neither incredibly difficult nor outrageously expensive to fill a home with interconnected devices and set up seamless content-sharing across an array of gadgets. Modern consumers are looking for cross-compatibility, and, further, studies are reinforcing the fact that televisions aren't just for watching Seinfeld anymore. In fact, a study released last week finds that the most popular form of content-sharing between devices is viewing photos via TV.

With the advent of cloud computing, exponentially increasing broadband speeds, and expanded accessibility to 4G mobile network connectivity, consumers are now able to surround themselves with machines that not only achieve each of their own individual functions — they also serve to enhance and complement one another. Central to the study — Connected Devices, 2014; published by YouGov, a London-based research firm — is a somewhat understated statistic that indicates a sea change for the home media world: more than a quarter (26 percent) of adults have shared media and/or content across separate devices via their home Wi-Fi network.

Furthermore, more than a third (34 percent) of adults specifically look for devices they can connect to their existing devices across their home network. And while looking at photos via TV is the most popular form of this content-sharing, close behind is streaming music from a smartphone, laptop or tablet to a home speaker system.

We've closely followed the wireless home audio trend — recent data from CEA projects an extremely rapid increase in popularity for synchronized multi-room audio systems. Some companies are even designing audio devices that tie in lighting, security and other home automation technologies, hoping to create an all-in-one Internet of Things-connected household.

It's important to look at these rapid transformations from a behavioral standpoint, too. YouGov's study finds that, behind all of these industry changes and technological advances, there lie new methods of interacting with media. More than half (56 percent) of adults now watch TV while browsing on the Internet, and more than one in five (21 percent) start an activity on one screen and continue it on another.

These changes all seem to be converging toward a specific end goal: the seamlessly interconnected home in which all media is easily accessed and immediately available on any device — it's a reality we may see sooner rather than later.
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Pandora launches iOS app for the Pebble smartwatch

Detailed on the official Pandora blog earlier today, anyone that owns both an iOS device and the Pebble smartwatch will be able to control streaming music service Pandora directly from the watch interface. While Android support is also in the works for Pandora users, iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad users first need to download Pandora within the Pebble app store for iOS. Once installed, Pebble users will be able to view the name of the song and artist currently playing as well as skip tracks and play or pause the music as well as change to another station entirely.  

Pandora users can also provide feedback through the watch interface, basically giving a thumbs up or thumbs down to the song. For those unfamiliar with the feedback system, a thumbs up means the user likes the song and wants to hear more songs like it. Alternatively, a thumbs down means that the user never wants to hear the song on that particular station again.

All of these features are definitely helpful for anyone that likes to exercise regularly. For instance, anyone that enjoys running can skip between songs with greater ease than having to pull out the smartphone during the run. It's also helpful when performing chores around the home as you don't have to track down your mobile device to change the music.

In addition to the official launch of Pebble support, representatives at Pandora also released an update to the iPad version of the application that includes the alarm clock feature that was rolled out for the iPhone during December 2013. This feature lets the user wake up to a specific Pandora station in the morning as well as hit the snooze button repeatedly to avoid getting out of bed. There's also a sleep timer function that offers users the ability to fall asleep listening to music before turning off the station at a predetermined time in the evening. 
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God said "on the last day the moon will be red as blood" End of days or stellar photo op? Rare ‘blood moon’ eclipses start tonight

The moon will have a crimson glow during the April 15 total lunar eclipse.
In the early morning of April 15, the sky will host a rare type of lunar eclipse – one in which the moon will have a crimson coloration.

Around 2 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the moon will begin to pass through the Earth's shadow. The refraction of the sun's light will give the appearance of a red-colored moon, according to NASA officials. This event will be visible from virtually anywhere in North America without the aid of a telescope or similar ocular devices.

The upcoming eclipse, which is being referred to as a "blood moon," is the first in a series of four – called a tetrad – that will occur throughout 2014 and 2015 in six-month intervals.

Eclipses only occur about twice a year, and NASA has confirmed that the tetrad has only occurred three times in the last 500 years. The blood moon phenomenon is being called a rare occurrence by many people, but others speculate that this event could be an apocalyptic sign from the heavens; we'll let you pick the side you want to be on.

The Weather Channel forecasts heavy cloud cover over most of the U.S. during the eclipse. If the weather obstructs the view in your city or if you're located in another country, you can view the entire event online courtesy of NASA.

To those spectators who remain deterred by lowered visibility, a U.S. Naval Observatory site allows you to input your location and get specific times for the phases of this and other lunar eclipses.

In any case, this cosmic event is a must-see and you should have a camera handy to record the historic experience. Should you happen to miss it, the next blood moon in the series will occur in October of this year. Click here to read more about this phenomenon.

Here's how to photograph the event, the simplest way: If you're using a compact point-and-shoot, you're not going to get an up-close view of the moon, but that doesn't mean you can't capture something. Your camera, however, has to be able to take long exposures, which many advanced models can do (check your instruction manual); if it's a basic point and shoot, look for a scene mode for night photography or fireworks. Set the camera on a tripod and make sure the lens is at the widest angle (so, do not zoom out).

If  you have a camera that lets you make adjustments, make sure you choose a low ISO like 400, the widest aperture available (the smallest f-stop number), and a shutter speed of 5 seconds – you can set your camera to manual mode. Practice taking a few shots a day or few hours before the event (when it's dark), and if you're satisfied with your results, get ready to snap away when the moon turns blood red. If you have a long telephoto zoom, you can try zooming all the way, but always use a tripod. For more advanced photography tips, like shooting star trails and telephoto, check out these guides from Nikon and Mr. Eclipse.
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Sigma sets pricing for new 50mm f/1.4 DSLR, 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3

[Update on April 14, 2014: Pricing for the 50mm lens will be set at $949, available in late April for Canon, Nikon, Sigma, and Sony mounts.]

[Update on January 18, 2014: Some new photos, and pricing for the 18-200mm has been set at $399.]

Sigma used CES 2014 to unveil two new lenses for DSLR users, the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM and 50mm F1.4 DG HSM. Both are updated versions of existing lenses. 

The 18-200mm is an improved and redesigned successor to the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 II DC OS HSM by including improved macro capabilities. It's also smaller and lighter (15.2 ounces, 2.8 x 3.4 inches) and now has a minimum focusing distance of 15.4 inches; the previous lens had a 17.7-inch distance and weighed 17.3 ounces and measured 3 x 3.5 inches. There are Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements with high refractive index for correcting chromatic aberration at full telephoto, while aspherical lens elements keep the whole thing compact while correcting distortion. The lens works with DSLRs with APS-C sensors, which are the majority of consumer DSLRs. According to Sigma, the letters on the front of the lens are engraved as to not reflect into the image – little attentions to details, the company says.

The 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is designed for full-frame DSLRs, ideal for portraits, landscapes, or anything that isn't moving. It's been updated with SLD glass elements and "optimized for rich peripheral brightness with improved large aperture performance by positioning wide elements into the front groups." In other words, great bokeh/background defocusing. To achieve that, there's a lot of glass elements in here, making it hefty. An enhanced algorithm offers smoother focusing, plus it has a floating system to reduce lens movement. Close-up focusing has also been improved to 15.7 inches when compared to previous version.

Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art
The two lenses have Hyper Sonic Motor for quiet and fast autofocusing – handy if you're recording video. The glasses are also coated to reduce flare and ghosting. Both can utilize Sigma's USB dock that lets you easily update the firmware, and can have the mounts updated should you ever switch camera brands via Sigma's Mount Conversion Service.

This article was originally published on January 8, 2014
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Pot brownie, anyone? First marijuana vending machine shown in Colorado

Detailed by Time earlier today, Colorado's first marijuana snack dispensing vending machine was on display this weekend at a restaurant called Montana Smokehouse. Created by a Tranzbyte-owned company called American Green, the machine is being called the "ZaZZZ" and is very similar to the automated express checkout machines that grocery stores have become dependent on in the past few years. Of course, you won't find these machines next to the vending machines that dispense Coke, Pepsi or sugar filled candy bars. Operational versions of the ZaZZZ will be found at licensed marijuana dispensaries within Colorado. 

In order to use the vending machine to obtain a typical snack like a pot brownie, the customer must first swipe their driver's license. Using the same active biometrics that check age/ID fraud under the Control Meth Act, the customer's identity is verified in order to complete the purchase.

In addition, customers will likely have to be verified at the marijuana dispensaries, thus providing an additional layer of security. Products that are dispensed from the machine will be tracked with radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, thus allowing tight inventory controls on the marijuana-laced snacks within the vending machine.

Speaking about the typical ZaZZZ customer in an interview with The Cannibist, Tranzbyte COO Stephen Shearin said "I see someone who knows what they want approaching the machine, purchasing and departing — all within regulatory guidelines, but without the counter lines. Great for shy folk as well. Swipe ID and get verified. Select products and pay. Retrieve products and depart using appropriate bagging solution."

Hypothetically, these vending machines could eventually exist outside of licensed marijuana dispensaries. However, additional security would need to be added to the machine and lawmakers in Colorado would need to expand the areas where marijuana and marijuana-related edibles could be sold within the state.
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Restaurant researches diners on Google, social media before reservation

Detailed on Grub Street, a maître d' at NYC restaurant Eleven Madison Park spends his afternoon Googling anyone that will be dining at the restaurant later in the evening. Attempting to glean information off social networks and other public sites, maître d' Justin Roller searches for clues about special dates like birthdays or anniversaries as well as information about hometowns. For instance, Roller states "If I find out a guest is from Montana, and I know we have a server from there, we'll put them together."

Conceptually, the restaurant is attempting to use familiarity to improve on the guest's experience. Even further, the maître d' will look for specific interests. For example, if a guest publicly likes jazz music on their Facebook page or Twitter feed, they are paired up with a server that has similar interests and can naturally bring it up in conversation. Beyond personal information, Roller also scans through publicly posted pictures to link a face with a name as well as look for pictures of wine glasses or white coats. Those pictures could indicate that a wine connoisseur or a chef will be dining with the restaurant that evening.

Hypothetically, this type of research could benefit any restaurant that needs to make sure important guests are taken care of, especially guests that are particularly active on Yelp or food blogs. Of course, there's a definite element of creepiness that could come across if someone's private information isn't handled properly.

There's also the potential that this type of research could completely backfire. For instance, someone from a particular state or city may absolutely hate their hometown and wouldn't appreciate talking to someone from the same region. The same goes for someone that's trying to avoid celebrating their birthday and simply wants to have a private meal without any fanfare. 
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Google acquires drone company Titan Aerospace

Adding to the already long list of companies Google has purchased in the past six months, news surfaced today that the search giant has acquired Titan Aerospace – a New Mexico-based company that specializes in high-altitude drones. News of the acquisition comes shortly after a similar purchase by Facebook, which acquired UK-based drone company, Ascenta, just last month. 

For those of you who may be unaware, Google and Facebook are currently involved in an unofficial race to blanket the globe in cheap, omnipresent wireless Internet connectivity and bring online the remaining five billion people in the world who don't have reliable Internet access. Both camps plan to create networks in Earth's upper atmosphere with cheap aircraft, and thereby provide wireless web access to remote areas of the world without spending billions of dollars on infrastructure. They're working toward the same goal, but in the early stages, the two companies had different approaches to how they would achieve it: Google planned on using high-altitude balloons to build the network, whereas Facebook opted to use drones.

In light of this recent acquisition, however, it seems that Google might be ditching the balloons and jumping on the drone bandwagon. Here's our best guess as to why they switched gears:

Despite their sophistication, Google's helium-filled balloons can only stay aloft for around 100 days, and can only handle a payload of a couple dozen pounds. They also aren't particularly easy to maneuver, and rely on currents in the upper atmosphere to steer and change position. In contrast, Titan Aerospace's Solara 60 UAV is a solar-powered aircraft that can stay aloft for up to five years at a time, is easy to maneuver, and can carry a payload of up to 250 pounds. In other words, they're a bit more expensive, but high-altitude drones are much better suited for Google's purposes.

Additionally, thanks to the increased payload capacities of the Titan drones, Google will be able to outfit them with better technology and use them for more than just network building. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, a Google spokesperson mentioned that the drones might be used to provide high-quality images in real-time for Google Maps initiatives, which in turn could be used for things like disaster relief and addressing deforestation.

Bringing Internet access to five billion people across the globe, improving disaster relief, and fighting deforestation are all worthy pursuits; but don't forget that the purpose of this project isn't purely philanthropic. Google's main goal here (and Facebook's as well) is likely to spread the reach of it's network, and ultimately gather more data from the new users it connects to the Internet. Five billion new Internet users is a whole lot of potential data, and Google wants a piece of that pie. 
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Ikea just bought a massive wind farm in Illinois to power all of its US stores

As part of an ongoing effort to reduce the company's energy footprint by 2020, Swedish home goods retailer Ikea recently announced that it is making its first wind energy investment in the US with the purchase of Hoopeston Wind in Illinois.

The 98-megawatt wind farm is Ikea's largest renewable energy investment to date, and when construction on the site is completed in mid-2015, the farm will produce enough energy to power all of the company's U.S. retail locations. In fact, when all of the farm's 49 turbines are up and running, they'll produce 65 percent more power than what's needed to power all the company's stores and distribution centers.

However, the power produced at Hoopeston likely won't go directly to powering your local Ikea. Most Ikea stores already sport large solar panel arrays that produce some of their own juice, and the Illinois wind farm is remote enough that it doesn't make sense to channel the electricity to stores in other parts of the country. Instead, the company plans to sell most of the energy it produces and use that to offset its electricity costs. The idea is to hedge itself against volatile and steadily increasing fossil fuel prices.

Hoopeston Wind isn't the first renewable energy investment by the Ikea Group. The company has invested in wind farms in eight other countries, including Canada (where Ikea is now the largest retail wind energy investor), Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

This push toward clean energy is part of a larger trend amongst large businesses that consume a lot of power — not necessarily because it's green and good for the environment, but because it's a cost-effective long-term business strategy. Lately, big tech companies have been scooping up renewable power facilities by the handful. Microsoft, for example, announced late last year that it plans to purchase a 55-turbine wind farm in Texas to power one of its data centers. Around the same time, Facebook announced that its new Iowa data center would run entirely on wind power; and today, news surfaced that Apple has purchased a hydroelectric power facility to run its data center in Prineville, Oregon.

It seems like this "going green" thing might finally be catching on.
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Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept: The future of Cars or techno overload?

Land Rover has long been the off-road standard of the world. And even though its most famous model, the Defender, wildly lacks in tech, the British carmaker just might lead the world in automotive tech – from this moment forward.

The Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept is perhaps one of the most important and impressive vehicles I've ever covered. It uses lasers. It has touch screens, everywhere. Heck, it is a touch screen. It knows where you're looking and puts information there. It can be driven remotely. And that's just the beginning. 

Vision technology

We already reported that the Discovery Vision Concept has a "Transparent Hood" which uses cameras and augmented reality to make the hood disappear during off-road and parking scenarios.

This, as it turns out, is just the tip of the iceberg. Not only is the windshield of the Discovery Vision capable of displaying images; every single piece of body glass – including the panoramic moon roof – is as well.

Called "Smart Glass", the entirely transparent glass can display images just like a computer screen. This allows for all kinds applications. Perhaps most exciting is combining eye-tracking sensors and navigation information to relay point of interest (POI) information to passengers.

That information can then be swiped – like on a smartphone – on one of four seatback-mounted 10-inch touchscreens or to a docked tablet.

The Smart Glass can be used for more than just data. It can also be used to tint and dim the interior, with infinite gradients – or just blacked-out with the swipe of a finger. Imagine, too, using the panoramic moon roof to display a screensaver image or mood lighting.

This isn't the only use of screens in the cabin. Two small OLED screens are embedded into the steering wheel and can be used to operate the infotainment system. Glance through the steering wheel and the driver is privy to a digital instrument cluster on a three-million pixel high-res screen.

In the center of the cabin are two more high-res touch screens, which display system menus. The lower of the two screens flips up to reveal a storage cubby, which also includes an inductive smartphone-charging tray.

Interior comfort

The interior isn't all about tech, though, it's also loaded with comfort; Land Rover describes it as "cozy and secure." The first two rows of seats are covered in oil- and water-resistant Nimbus white leather, while the third row is covered in Navy blue leather, which is nicely accented by open pore wood trim and polished and machine-finished aluminum.

Take the Discovery Vision out for a backcountry day-trip picnic and passengers can use the included picnic blanket, sleeping blankets and cushions to get comfy in that perfect, secluded oasis. Hit the town, though, and hard case roller luggage with extendable handles can be detached from the rear-hinged coach-style doors and used to carry your belongings.

Lasers galore

On your way home from that backcountry day-trip, the landscape is brightly illuminated by the Discovery Vision's laser headlights, which are backed by LED daytime running lights. The laser beams project bright, white light nearly 1,000 feet and use cameras to automatically dip and adjust for oncoming drivers, ensuring the Discovery Vision driver has the ideal on- or off-road view.

When the going gets a bit tougher, though, the foglights on the Discovery Vision double not only as, well, foglights, but also laser terrain scanners. Emitting infrared lasers, the foglights can map the terrain ahead for the driver in the high-definition cluster screen.

These same lasers can be tuned to project visible light, too. This comes in handy for projecting symbols onto the ground – perfect for, as Land Rover puts it, "projecting warning triangles onto the pavement behind the car for other motorists to see in the event of a stoppage."

Remote Control Drive

Should the driver find himself in an extreme off-roading situation, the Terrain Response dial can be removed from the Discovery Vision center console and used to control the vehicle remotely.

This allows the driver to maneuver the Discovery Vision at very slow speeds from outside the vehicle. Operated by encrypted access through the truck's onboard Wi-Fi system, Remove Control Drive can also be used through a paired smartphone or tablet.

If this seems unnecessary, Land Rover consider the following settings: an off-roading environment, where it's safer for the driver to inch the vehicle over an obstacle; coupling a trailer; or driving through gates, which the driver could open and close without climbing in and out of the truck.

Discover the future

Although the Discovery Vision is a full-size vehicle, Land Rover believes it doesn't look too big or unwieldy. I'd have to agree. With a big greenhouse and high beltline, it looks airy but significant at the same time.

I worry it's a bit too Ford Explorer in its looks, but I'm a big fan otherwise.

While the Discovery Vision is hugely impressive in its tech and comfort features, it is still just a concept. Delightfully, though, this new British 4×4 is said to preview the new range of Discovery sub-brand models coming from Land Rover in the future.

If they have just half the tech, style, and gravitas of the Discovery Vision Concept, I suspect they'll take the luxury SUV market by storm.

If you'd like to see what else is unveiling at in the Big Apple, be sure to check out our 2014 New York Auto Show topic page for all the latest news.
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Man dies after partial building collapse in Grosvenor Square

The workman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man working on a construction site in central London has died after a building partially collapsed.

Police were called to Grosvenor Square, central London, at 15:45 BST. Other emergency services are also at the scene.

The man, believed to be in his early 30s, was pronounced dead at the site. At least one other person has been treated for minor injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

A spokesman for the Met confirmed one line of inquiry was that the man fell after a floor gave way.

A spokesman for London Ambulance Service said the second man was taken to University College Hospital.

The service said it sent three ambulance crews, three single responders in cars, a hazardous area response team, the air ambulance and two officers.

About 20 to 30 construction workers gathered outside the site

One other worker was injured in the incident
The site, which is a former US naval headquarters and yards from the US Embassy, is being redeveloped into residential accommodation as part of a £250m renovation.

It was originally built as flats in the 1930s and has been vacant since 2007.

The building was bought by the Abu Dhabi Investment Corporation and developer Finchatton in April 2013 from a consortium headed by entrepreneur Richard Caring, who owns London venues including the Ivy, Scott's and Annabel's.

A group of at least 20 construction workers were gathered in the centre of the square, being spoken to by a manager.

Declan Sherry, chief executive of site contractor McGee, said it was liaising with workers' families.

"We cannot, therefore, release any further details at this time," he said.

The building site on North Audley Street partially collapsed

The former US naval headquarters is being redeveloped into residential accommodation
Police officers have asked people to avoid the area.

Receptionist Salima Cherrad, 26, said she saw construction workers emerging from a scaffolding-clad building.

She said: "We saw a helicopter here in Grosvenor Square and we assumed it was something that happened with the guys and the scaffolding.

"There were lots of them who came out of the building at the same time and they were all gathering at one spot in the square."
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Commonwealth Games medals are unveiled on 100-day countdown

The silver, gold and bronze medals were designed for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
The medals that athletes will compete for at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have been unveiled.

The Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were displayed at an event at Kelvingrove Art Gallery to mark 100 days to the Games' opening ceremony on 23 July.

Organisers revealed that more than 1,380 medals would be awarded at 261 medal ceremonies during the Games.

Each of the medals weighs 100g and is being hand-made by expert jewellers at the Glasgow School of Art.

The medals were designed by Glasgow-based artist and lecturer Jonathan Boyd.

The artist uses digital technologies in his work as well as hand-crafted skills and traditional metalworking techniques.

Mr Boyd, who lectures at the Glasgow School of Art, said he had tried to combine Glasgow's industrial heritage as well as a sense of the athlete's skill into the final design.

The BBC's Chris McLaughlin reports as the medals are unveiled
He said: "It was trying to do something that reflected Glasgow but also had this feeling of movement, it's what the athletes all do."

With almost 1,400 medals needed by the start of the Games, Mr Boyd said that the process of getting them ready presented a real challenge to himself and his team of 11 specialist jeweller-makers.

He said: "There's blood, sweat and tears in those medals, just like the way athletes train and go through hell and back to get there, we've gone through the same."

As well as the medals being unveiled to the public, the event also recreated the medal procession ceremony to be used in the Games, showing the ceremonial outfits to be worn by the male and female medal bearers.

Medal designer Jonathan Boyd said he tried to incorporate some of Glasgow's industrial heritage into his design

Each of the medals was hand-crafted by an expert jeweller at the Glasgow School of Art
The outfits were designed by fashion designer Kerry Nixon.

She said: "I'm delighted to be a part of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. It's a huge honour for me to design and now showcase the Medal- Bearer's dress and represent my hometown of Glasgow at such an exciting time for the city."

About 6,000 athletes and officials will attend the Games, which will kick off with the opening ceremony at Celtic Park on 23 July and run until 3 August.

Commonwealth organisers had cancel plans to blow-up Glasgow's Red Row flats as part of the opening ceremony after a public backlash but still insisted that the Games were on track.

Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin said: "We are entering the home straight now and these last 100 days are our opportunity to do the final work necessary to ensure that we deliver an outstanding Games for Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth."
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London Marathon runner who died named as Robert Berry

About 36,000 people took part in the 34th London Marathon
A man who died after collapsing at the finish line of the London Marathon has been named as 42-year-old Robert Berry.

Organiser Virgin Money said he was taken to one of its medical facilities where he was treated by four consultants, including one specialising in emergency medicine.

Mr Berry, from Reading, Berkshire, was pronounced dead after being transferred to St Mary's Hospital.

About 36,000 people took part in the event on Sunday.

A statement from the organiser said: "It is with regret that we can now confirm that Mr Robert Berry, aged 42, collapsed at the finish of the London Marathon.

"The organisers of the Virgin Money London Marathon would like to continue to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Berry and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them all at this difficult time."

Donations pouring in

Mr Berry, who worked in IT services, was raising money for the National Osteoporosis Society, according to his Just Giving page.

He wrote that he decided to support the charity after his mother was diagnosed with the condition when she was 52, following an injury several years earlier.

On his website, he detailed his training in the lead-up to the marathon. Within hours of his name being announced the number of donations topped 390, rising from 65, and more than £5,800 had been donated, surpassing the £1,700 target.

Mark Jameson, who also ran in the marathon, wrote: "God bless you Rob. Your family must be so proud of you, raising money to help your mum and others. So sorry it had to end in this way. RIP."

One anonymous donor said: "In memory of Mr Berry (RIP). You gave your life trying to do good for others."

His death comes two years after Claire Squires, 30, from North Kilworth, Leicestershire, collapsed and died from cardiac failure on the final stretch of the 26.2-mile course.

Sunday's event was the 34th London Marathon.
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Nigeria violence: More than 70 killed in Abuja bus blast

The station was packed with rush hour commuters at the time of the blasts, as Will Ross reports.

More than 70 people have been killed in a bomb blast at a crowded bus station on the outskirts of Nigeria's capital, Abuja, officials say.

The explosion happened as commuters were about to board buses and taxis to go to work in central Abuja, the BBC's Haruna Tangaza reports.

Eyewitnesses said there were dead bodies scattered around the area.

Suspicion immediately fell on the Boko Haram Islamist militant group, which has staged previous attacks in Abuja.

However, most of its attacks have been in the north-east of the country.

Officials earlier said two separate blasts had ripped through the terminal, but later said the damage may have been caused by just one bomb.

Abbas Idris, head of the Abuja Emergency Relief Agency, told the BBC that so far they have confirmed 71 people dead and 124 injured.

'Red alert'

Police spokesman Frank Mba gave the same figures, adding that 16 luxury coaches and 24 minibuses had been destroyed.

Eyewitness Badamasi Nyanya said he had seen 40 bodies being evacuated; other eyewitnesses say they saw rescue workers and police gathering body parts.

Investigators believe the explosives may have been inside a vehicle, according to Charles Otegbade of the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (Nema).

The blast ripped a hole 4ft deep (1.2m) in the ground of Nyanya Motor Park, some 16km (10 miles) from the city centre, and destroyed more than 30 vehicles, causing secondary explosions as their fuel tanks ignited and burned, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Ambulances have been taking the dead and injured to nearby hospitals.

In a statement, the police said they were on "red alert" and had increased surveillance at "all vulnerable targets within Abuja".

A woman reacts as she sees victims of the blasts being brought to hospital after the attack

Victims have been taken to nearby hospitals, including the Asokoro General Hospital seen here

The explosions were powerful, destroying a number of vehicles at Nyanya Motor Park
'Terrible'

Eyewitness Mimi Daniels, who works in Abuja, said: "I was waiting to get on a bus when I heard a deafening explosion then smoke," she told Reuters.

"People were running around in panic."

Another eyewitness told the BBC: "I have never seen [anything] like that in my life. It was just terrible... We were just running helter-skelter. So somehow I think that they planted something inside one of the buses there.

"So there are many dead shot down at the scene of the accident. And as you can see now some of these casualties... we are hoping, we are praying they will be ok. We saw some ambulances bringing corpses to other hospitals."

No group has taken responsibility for the attack, but Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan blamed Boko Haram.

Visiting the scene, he vowed that the country would overcome the insurgency.

This year, Boko Haram's fighters have killed more than 1,500 civilians in three states in north-east Nigeria, says the BBC's Will Ross in Lagos.

Boko Haram has hit Abuja several times before, including an attack on the United Nations building in 2011.

The Nigerian government had said the violence was now contained in a small area of the north-east.

But the latest bomb in Abuja could be worrying evidence that the Islamist militants are determined to expand their area of operation, our correspondent adds.

Are you in the area? Did you see what happened? You can send us your eye witness accounts by email to benlatestnews@gmail.com using the subject Nigeria bus station.
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Oscar Pistorius trial: Prosecutor Gerrie Nel queries tears

Pistorius trial day 20 - in 60 seconds
The prosecutor at the Oscar Pistorius murder trial has suggested the South African athlete is using his emotions "as an escape".

He broke down in tears four times on Monday and has also vomited in court.

"Now you trying to be emotional and it's not working," said prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

Mr Pistorius admits killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February last year, but says he fired his gun after mistaking her for an intruder.

Mr Nel said the Olympic sprinter, 27, had deliberately shot Ms Steenkamp, a model, after the couple had had an argument.

As the prosecutor resumed his cross-examination on Monday, he accused Mr Pistorius of "tailoring his evidence" as he went along to suit the defence case, which had been "concocted".

"Your version of events is untrue," Mr Nel said.

Breaking down in tears, Oscar Pistorius told the courtroom ''I did not fire at Reeva''

Mr Pistorius' sister Aimee (c) has been following the trial intently

The athlete's fans greeted him with white balloons as he arrived in court on Monday
Shortly before the case adjourned for the day, Mr Nel said: "You're getting emotional now because you're getting frustrated because your version [of events] is improbable.

The prosecutor, known as "bull terrier" for his fierce style of questioning, then asked: "You're not using your emotional state as an escape are you?"

The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in the South Africa capital Pretoria says Mr Nel spent much of the day trying to highlight apparent inconsistencies between Mr Pistorius' bail application and his evidence in court.

On one occasion, when Mr Pistorius corrected Mr Nel, the prosecutor said this showed Mr Pistorius was a "stickler for detail" and yet on many aspects of the case, the athlete was being vague.

'Changed aim'

Earlier, Mr Nel again pressed Mr Pistorius on the moment he shot Ms Steenkamp.

The athlete, a double amputee, said he had not intended to kill anyone.

"I fired out of fear," he said.

This prompted Mr Nel to say Mr Pistorius was changing his story from self-defence to saying he shot by accident.

The prosecutor said this was because the truth was: "You fired at Reeva."

"It's not true," Mr Pistorius replied, breaking into tears and prompting the court to briefly adjourn.

After the break, Mr Nel said that, as Mr Pistorius was trained to use firearms, the court could not accept he had fired by "mistake".

He also said that the athlete had changed his aim to hit Ms Steenkamp after she had fallen down when she was hit by the first bullet. This was denied by Mr Pistorius.

The court was shown the toilet door, through which Mr Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp
The prosecutor said the fact that a pair of Ms Steenkamp's jeans was lying on the floor showed that she was in the middle of getting dressed in order to leave Mr Pistorius' house when she was shot after the couple had argued in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013.

This, too, was denied.

The sprinter also started sobbing as he recalled shouting at the burglars he thought were in his house.

When asked why he broke down, Mr Pistorius said: "I am traumatised" by the events of that night.

Oscar Pistorius had been going out with Reeva Steenkamp for three months
The prosecutor also pointed to forensic evidence that showed Ms Steenkamp had eaten within a couple of hours of her death.

The athlete says the couple had last eaten together about 19:00, some eight hours before she was shot.

Mr Pistorius says there was no row and they had a quiet evening together, before he woke up on hearing a noise in the bathroom.

Mr Nel said he would resume on Tuesday with a series of questions about the toilet.

Prosecution witnesses have testified to hearing a woman scream, but the defence disputes their testimony.

The Olympic sprinter faces life imprisonment if convicted of murdering the 29-year-old model and law graduate.

If he is acquitted of murder, the court must consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could receive about 15 years in prison.

Mr Pistorius also faces charges of illegally firing a gun in public and of illegally possessing ammunition, both of which he denies.

There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by the judge, assisted by two assessors.
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Phelps to come out of retirement

Swimmer Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian in history, is set to end his retirement.

The 28-year-old American, who has won 22 Olympic medals in his career, is expected to compete for the first time since the 2012 Games in London at a meet in Arizona on 24-26 April.

(external)
Phelps won 18 gold medals at the last three Summer Games.

The Baltimore Bullet also broke Mark Spitz's record for a single Olympics by winning eight golds in Beijing in 2008.
Britain's Steve Parry, who finished third to Phelps in the 200m butterfly at the Athens Games in 2004, was surprised by the news of a comeback.

"I cannot believe he has made the decision to get back in the water," said Parry. "He has got nothing left to prove in the sport."

He added Phelps not only had to get himself back in shape physically, he also needed to recapture the hunger to win medals again.

But he told BBC World: "If anyone can do it, then Michael Phelps can."
Rebecca Adlington, who won double gold at the 2008 Olympics, said it was "exciting" to hear that Phelps would be racing again.

"All eyes will be on him, so no pressure at all," added the Briton, who retired last year after winning two bronze medals in London.

After winning a further four gold medals in London, Phelps insisted his career was over.

"I have achieved what I wanted to achieve," he said. "If you can say that about your career, then it's time to move forward, time to move on to other things. I finished my career how I wanted to."

Last year, long-term coach Bob Bowman said Phelps was capable of adding to his stunning tally of medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Phelps returned to training last year and re-entered the United States drug-testing programme. He has now completed his six-month waiting period to be eligible for competition.

USA Swimming said Phelps is expected to join fellow Olympians Ryan Lochte and Katie Ledecky at the meet in Mesa.

Ian Thorpe, a long-time rival of Phelps, attempted a comeback ahead of the 2012 Olympics but failed to make the Australian team.
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Gerrard faces 'biggest month ever'

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says the next month could be the biggest of his career as the Reds prepare to play "four cup finals" in their bid to win a first English title in 24 years.

They beat Manchester City 3-2 on Sunday and will take the Premier League title if they win their last four games.

"It's probably going to be the biggest month of my career coming up now. I'll give it everything I've got," he said.
"The message is to stay calm - there are still four cup finals left."

The 33-year-old England captain added: "I feel 21 again, playing with all these top players."

A one-club man, Gerrard has won the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup during his Reds career but a league winner's medal has eluded the midfielder, who made his top-flight debut in November 1998.

However, the victory over Manuel Pellegrini's side means leaders Liverpool remain two points clear of second-placed Chelsea, who are still to visit Anfield. Manchester City are a further five points adrift with two games in hand.

Raheem Sterling's composed finish and Martin Skrtel's near-post header gave Liverpool a 2-0 advantage over City before they were pegged back through a David Silva shot and Glen Johnson's own goal.

But Philippe Coutinho's late winner secured a 10th league victory in succession for Liverpool, on the day Anfield marked the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

"I think that's the best we've played all season," Gerrard told Liverpool's website. (external) "For the first 30-35 minutes, I thought we blew the so-called best team in the league away, and it could have been three or four.
"I don't think 2-0 is ever enough against the top sides in this league. But it's all about getting the job done, no matter how you do it, and thankfully we got it done in the end.

"It's probably the biggest statement we've made so far this season."
Liverpool are away to Norwich next before hosting Chelsea. They then face a trip to Crystal Palace before ending the campaign at home to Newcastle.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers said he and his players would not look "too far ahead" and that there were still "a lot of points to play for".

"My message to the players is to continue. We don't need to change," added Rodgers.

"We showed a great mentality. The group is very, very tight. There has to be a cause to fight for and you could see that intensity."

Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City

Wed 16 Apr: Sunderland (h)

Sun 20 Apr: Norwich (a)

Sat 19 Apr: Sunderland (h)

Mon 21 Apr: West Brom (h)

Sun 27 Apr: Chelsea (h)

Sun 27 Apr: Liverpool (a)

Sun 27 Apr: Crystal Palace (a)

Mon 5 May: Crystal Palace (a)

Sun 4 May: Norwich (h)

Sat 3 May: Everton (a)

Wed 7 May: Aston Villa (h)

Sun 11 May: Newcastle (h)

Sun 11 May: Cardiff (a)

Sun 11 May: West Ham (h)
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Heartbleed hacks hit Mumsnet and Canada's tax agency

Mumsnet is making all of its members reset its passwords.

A leading UK site for parents and the Canadian tax authority have both announced they have had data stolen by hackers exploiting the Heartbleed bug.

Mumsnet - which says it has 1.5 million registered members - said that it believed that the cyber thieves may have obtained passwords and personal messages before it patched its site.

The Canada Revenue Agency said that 900 people's social insurance numbers had been stolen.

These are the first confirmed losses.

The Mumsnet site's founder Justine Roberts told the BBC that it became apparent that user data was at risk when her own username and password were used to post a message online.

She said the hackers then informed Mumsnet's administrators that the attack was linked to the Heartbleed flaw and told them the company's data was not safe.

"On Friday 11 April, it became apparent that what is widely known as the Heartbleed bug had been used to access data from Mumsnet users' accounts," the London-based website added in an email to its members.

"We have no way of knowing which Mumsnetters were affected by this.

"The worst case scenario is that the data of every Mumsnet user account was accessed.

"It is possible that this information could then have been used to log in as you and give access to your posting history, your personal messages and your personal profile, although we should say that we have seen no evidence of anyone's account being used for anything other than to flag up the security breach, thus far."

The site added that it was forcing its members to reset any password created on or before Saturday.

The Canadian tax agency published a statement about the attack on its website
Canada's tax agency was one of the first major organisations to cut services as a result of the flaw in OpenSSL - a cryptographic software library used by services to keep data transmissions private.

However, its action last Tuesday appears to have come too late.

"Regrettably, the CRA has been notified by the Government of Canada's lead security agencies of a malicious breach of taxpayer data that occurred over a six-hour period," the agency said on a message posted to its homepage.

"Based on our analysis to date, social insurance numbers (Sin) of approximately 900 taxpayers were removed from CRA systems by someone exploiting the Heartbleed vulnerability."

"We are currently going through the painstaking process of analysing other fragments of data, some that may relate to businesses, that were also removed."

Heartbleed flaw

The Heartbleed bug was made public a week ago by Google and Codenomicon, a small Finnish security firm, which independently identified the problem.

OpenSSL is used to digitally scramble data as it passes between a user's device and an online service in order to prevent others eavesdropping on the information.

It is used by many, but not all, sites that show a little padlock and use a web address beginning "https".

The researchers discovered that because of a coding mishap hackers could theoretically access 64 kilobytes of unencrypted data from the working memory of systems using vulnerable versions of OpenSSL.

Although that is a relatively small amount, the attackers can repeat the process to increase their haul.
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Coachella 2014: 13 of the best surprise appearances

The first weekend of this year's Coachella Festival has taken place in California.

Arcade Fire, Muse and Outkast top the bill this year but it wasn't just the headliners who grabbed the attention of music fans across the three days.

From Pharrell's parade of unannounced guests to Beyonce popping up during her sister Solange's set, the first weekend of Coachella 2014 was full of surprises.

Here are some of the highlights.

Beyonce with Solange

Solange's set became a sister act when Beyonce made an unannounced appearance during the last song of the set in the Gobi tent.

The crowd began screaming as soon as Beyonce was spotted onstage and the grinning siblings performed a synchronised dance routine together to Losing You before hugging at the end of the as the track.

Janelle Monae, Future and Sleepy Brown with Outkast

Andre 3000 (L) and Big Boi of Outkast perform at Cochaella
After weeks of anticipation over a much-hyped reunion tour, Outkast began their 40+ festival tour as the headliners of the first night of the festival.

The set, which also included rapper Future and singer Sleepy Brown appearing on stage with the Hey Ya duo, saw Janelle Monae appear with Andre 300 and Big Boi for a performance of Tightrope.

Pharrell's whole set

The Happy singer's career-spanning set on Saturday included no less than six of the best special guests.

First up was Nelly, who took the crowed back to 2002 with Hot in Herre before Busta Rhymes appeared for Pass the Courvoisier, Part II.

Nelly also appeared with Pharrell at February's NBA All Star basketball game
He was quickly followed by Tyler, The Creator who helped perform Lapdance, taken from N*E*R*D's 2001 debut album In Search of....

Snoop Dogg joined Pharrell during his set at the festival
Later in the set came Snoop Dogg for Drop It Like It's Hot and Beautiful, before Diplo performed Aerosol Can - a Major Lazer and Pharrell collaboration.

Gwen Stefani performed Hollaback Girl, which was released in 2005, the Pharrell
The final guest was Gwen Stefani who filled in the gaps on Hollaback Girl.

Jay Z with Nas

Perhaps the most headline grabbing appearance of the weekend came when Jay Z took to the stage with Nas.

Even though they ended a long-running feud in 2005, it was still totally unexpected for the 99 Problems rapper to show up to deliver Dead Presidents II alongside Nas.

Justin Bieber with Chance The Rapper

Sunday saw the popstar taking to the stage in Indio to trade verses with Chance The Rapper on their single Confident.

Bieber hinted at appearance on Twitter writing "what am i up to today?? ;)" and followed the performance by posting "that was fun".

Blondie with Arcade Fire

Singer Debbie Harry (R) performs with Arcade Fire's Regine Chassagne
The weekend's final headliners were joined by Blondie singer Debbie Harry.

She performed Blondie's 1978 hit Heart of Glass, sharing vocals with Regine Chassagne while Win Butler played piano.

As the track segued into Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), the 68-year-old provided backing vocals.
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Want a 3D printout of your face? Microsoft is working on it for Windows Phone

Microsoft Research just announced that it is working on new technology that allows people to scan faces in 3D using only a Windows Phone camera. The technology would allow people to print out a high quality image of their face using a 3D printer. 

The process of capturing the appearance of real objects is called 3D reconstruction, and Microsoft is making the process as simple as taking a panoramic picture. The new technology is set to be called the Skynet UI, thereby making us form theories as to how Microsoft will usher in the rebellion of cybernetic terminators. 

 "The Skynet UI design aims to enhance user experience to lower the barriers between common consumers and 3D reconstruction," said the developers in a blog post. 

To recreate someone's mug in 3D, you simply need to a 360 degree photo of their face. While moving side to side as if doing the shuffle, the Skynet UI gives you cues on how to move. The process is very similar to using the panoramic photograph function is most smartphones, and is described as simply "tap start, tap end interaction." The technology is not limited to 3D-printed selfies. It can also scan reference objects such as cylinders and even the space over it. 

So far, the developers see applications in furniture arrangement, e-commerce visualization, and object recognition. However, new uses would definitely come out of the woodwork once this is released into the wild. If you want to see the Skynet UI in action, you can watch the demo video
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Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian attack in Ukraine's Horlivka

The BBC's Olga Ishvina reports from inside the police department in Gorlovka, near Donetsk, where police and pro-Russian activists are 'cohabiting'

Pro-Russian activists have attacked another official building in east Ukraine, ignoring a deadline to leave or face eviction by Ukrainian forces.

A crowd stormed a police station in the town of Horlivka, near Donetsk, taking control of the building.

Ukraine's interim president hit out at "aggression" from Russia, but signalled support for a national referendum.

Olexander Turchynov said Kiev was "not against" a vote on the future of the country, a key demand from protesters.

Mr Turchynov also said Ukraine was preparing an "anti-terrorist operation" against gunmen occupying government buildings in Sloviansk and a number of other towns and cities.

His office said that he had suggested the UN could assist in any such operation. This would be highly unlikely as Russia has a veto on the Security Council, which would have to authorise any such action.

Correspondents say people in eastern Ukraine are anxiously waiting to see if Mr Turchynov carries through on his threat to use the army against the pro-Russian groups.

A pro-Russia crowd threw rocks at the police HQ in Horlivka before storming it

Pro-Russian gunmen continued to patrol the streets of Sloviansk on Monday

There were rival pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian rallies in the town of Kharkiv on Sunday
In other developments:

Moscow denied allegations that Russian agents had been fomenting unrest in east Ukraine
Vitaly Tsyhanok, the head of Ukraine's anti-terror operations, was sacked after criticism of Kiev's response to the crisis in the east
A Ukrainian official said the government had not declared a state of emergency over the crisis in the east because it would require suspending the run-up to presidential elections on 25 May
Britain called on the European Union to agree "further sanctions" against Russia in response to the escalating crisis
'A united Ukraine'

This video, posted on YouTube, shows a man who claims to be a Russian soldier instructing police officers in Horlivka, Ukraine
In a televised address to parliament, interim President Turchynov suggested Kiev would be open to moving from a republic into a federation and giving broader rights to Ukraine's Russian speakers.

The pro-Russian groups who have seized government buildings in eastern regions are demanding local referendums on either increased local rights or an option to join the Russian Federation.

But Mr Turchynov stopped well short of giving in to these demands by showing support for a national referendum, of which the outcome is uncertain because most people in Kiev and the Ukrainian-speaking west reject the idea of federalisation.

"We are not against holding a national referendum," Mr Turchynov said. "I am certain that a majority of Ukrainians will support an indivisible, independent, democratic and united Ukraine."

He also used the speech to accuse Moscow of open aggression in the east of the country.

"It's not a confrontation between Ukrainians, but covert and now no longer covert aggression by the Russian Federation against our country," he added.

Eastern Ukraine is "tense with anticipation", reports David Stern in Donetsk
Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov said it was not in Russia's interests for Ukraine to break up but added that Moscow wanted all citizens of the country to be given equal treatment by Kiev.

He also denied allegations that Russian agents had been fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine and said he was seeking explanation from US of reports that CIA director John Brennan had visited Kiev.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Danylo Lubkivsky said special forces were trying to clear pro-Russian protesters without causing casualties
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman told Interfax he had been "receiving many appeals from eastern Ukraine... calling on him to help in some form", and that he was watching developments "with a great deal of concern".

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday, Russia urged Kiev not to use force against protesters in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vitaliy Churkin, called on the government in Kiev to "start a genuine dialogue".

Mr Churkin warned UN diplomats that there were neo-Nazis and anti-Semites within the ranks of "the self-proclaimed government in Kiev".

He said the opinions and interests of protesters in eastern Ukraine had not been taken into consideration.

"The henchmen of Maidan [protest movement] must stop attacking their own people," said Mr Churkin.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin calls on the Ukrainian government to cease a "war with its own people"

Ukrainian ambassador to the UN Yuriy Sergeyev asks for Russia to "leave us in peace"
But Ukraine's UN ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said Moscow had artificially created the crisis in the east of the country.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said Monday that it had proof Russian forces had been behind the "separatist operation" and said it would present its evidence at a meeting in Geneva later this week.

The assistant UN Secretary General had warned that Ukraine "teeters on the brink".

European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg to discuss the crisis approved measures to provide up to 1bn euros (£800mn; $1.4bn) of economic assistance to Ukraine.

The ministers also approved "the temporary reduction or elimination of customs duties" for Ukrainian exports to the EU.

Also on Monday, the US signed a $1bn loan guarantee agreement for Ukraine after a meeting between US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksandr Shlapak, in Washington.
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92 Drug Suspects Arrested By NDLEA In Akwa Ibom

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Akwa Ibom said it had arrested 92 drug suspects and seized 20.214 kg of illicit substances between March and April.

The State Commander, Mrs Josephine Obi, who revealed this during an interaction with newsmen on Sunday in Uyo, said the suspects included 87 males and five females.

The breakdown of the substances showed that Cannabis Sativa was 20.125kg, Cocaine, 0.081kg, Heroin, 0.008kg and five abandoned seizures of Psychotropic substances weighing 0.55kg.

Others are one card of tramadol and 63.5 litres of Combine (mixture of cannabis and alcohol).

She said that the command had counseled 41 drug peddlers in the state.

"The command delivered lectures against drug misuse and trafficking in illicit drugs in 48 schools and organisations as well as counseled 41 drug peddlers in the state,'' she said.

The commander said out of the 92 persons arrested, eight had been convicted for dealing in socially prohibited drugs between the periods.

She expressed worry that some of the convicted persons had served various terms in prison for similar offences.

Obi explained further that some dealers found it difficult to stop the illegal business even after serving their terms due to it's lucrative nature.

According to her, the situations where most of the drug peddlers find it difficult to stop the illegal business have become a serious challenge to the agency.

She, however, attributed the huge successes recorded in the raids and destruction of drug joints leading to massive arrests of both dealers and users to the increased trained manpower in the command.

Obi reassured that the command would not relent in its efforts in the drug war to ensure the society was rid of the "heinous crime.''

She further said that the command had devised means to counsel drug peddlers and prevent them from going into crime through the abuse of drugs.

Obi said that the command had embarked on continuous enlightenment and sensitisation programme across the state, especially in schools to let them understand the dangers inherent in illegal drug trafficking and abuse.

She explained that the enlightenment became important because most people fell victims or were lured because of ignorance.

Obi said that, as part of the campaign, the command visited schools to show them the cannabis plant for easy identification.

[NAN]
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Hilarious! Check Out the Girl Who Eats Up To 51 Bananas Everyday

A self-styled diet guru from Australia claims the key to her thin physique is
ingesting massive amounts of fruit, including up to 51 bananas a day.

"Freelee the Banana Girl" touts the reputed benefits of her lifestyle on her
YouTube channel.

According to the Daily Mail: Having suffered from both anorexia and bulimia in the past Freelee claims that adopting her low fat high carbohydrate raw vegan diet saw her shed 40 pounds as well as clearing up her acne chronic fatigue syndrome, low thyroid function and terrible digestion.

While many nutritionists have written on the benefits of raw, vegan foods, Freelee's diet, which involves consuming approximately 97 percent fruit, is extreme.

Some critics have suggested that her diet constitutes an eating disorder.

Although Freelee dismisses
detractors, the Daily Beast points out that her diet plan is backed almost entirely by testimonials, and hasn't received endorsement from licensed
dietitians or nutritionists.

Earlier this year, the Daily Beast reported that Freelee's diet, which is marketed as "30 Bananas a Day," or 30BaD, is ostensibly modeled on the work of Dr. Douglas M. Graham.

Graham is the creator of the 80/10/10 diet plan, which advocates 80 percent carbs, 10 percent fat and 10 percent protein.

In an interview, Dr. Graham, who has studied nutrition for more than 30 years, said he doesn't endorse Freelee or her diet plan.

"I am not affiliated with the site, nor have I trained the people who run the site to give lifestyle advice," Graham told the Daily Beast.

"I praise them for creating
programs based upon the 80/10/10 Diet, but cannot support the aspects of the program that are different from the basic plan I originally created."

However, the 80/10/10 diet plan has its own detractors. The Huffington Post named it one of the worst health
trends of 2013.

Last year, a pregnant Australian woman caused a stir when she gave an interview in which she said she'd remained on the 80/10/10 diet while pregnant.
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JAMB Security official arrested a "Medical Doctor" for Alleged Impersonation

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa, on Sunday, said he arrested a medical doctor (name withheld) for alleged impersonation and examination malpractice.

The NSCDC Commandant in the state Mr Muhammad Gidado told newsmen in Dutse that the doctor in question works with Gumel General Hospital
in Gumel Local Government Area of the state.

Gidado said the suspect was
arrested on Saturday by NSCDC officials who were supervising JAMB examination at Lautai Science Secondary School, Dutse.

He was arrested while writing JAMB examination for his wife (name also withheld), he added.

The commandant said that an NSCDC official noticed that the name on the suspect's question paper was a female name and when he interrogated the suspect, he could not give satisfactory explanation.

According to him, the suspect confessed committing the offence and has been handed over to the police for further action.

Gidado warned that "wrong is wrong , no matter who does it. The law does not respect anyone except those who respects it.''
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Nothing Can Make Me Cut My Dreadlocks Phyno Speaks

In a recent chat with Potpourri, Phyno revealed he has had his dreadlocks for thirteen years now and he doesn't see how he would ever be seen without it.

"Someone has actually begged me with a hundred thousand to have it cut. But nothing can make me cut it. It's my
identity, I'm a Rastafarian.

I believe in living natural, the way God made me. I feel naked without my dreadlocks. When I was younger, my mum used to cut my hair and I used to feel so shy and naked. It gives me a lot of confidence" he said
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President Jonathan’s Advice To His Newly-Wedded Daughter

The president made a short speech at his daughters wedding yesterday admonishing the couple to always run to their parents for anything. Well, who wouldn't.

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"My advice is that, today is a very special day we are all smiling and dancing but also note that there will be periods when the relationship will not work smoothly. That is a part of the life of husband and wife."

"There is no couple that will not have some moments when their faces will not be too bright, but it depends on how you reach out and really find time to understand themselves. And we pray that you have a really happy married life and we will continue to pray for you as your parents."

"Our duties as parents is to continue to pray for you, to encourage you and if there are some issues you feel we can solve, you can tell us. But don't depend on your parents to solve your matrimonial problems. If you have disagreement with your husband…., don't always run to parents or get advice of your mother or father, sometimes, they will not give you the best advice.

Because your parents are analogue people while you are digital generation."

"So, we don't belong to the same generation and so don't expect us to give you the advice of the modern way of life. But we will encourage you to succeed," he added.
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Flipping through The Manual: Hulking live-edge tables, stout glasses and more

Burned out on apps, keys and screens? Improve your analog life this weekend! Digital Trends' brother site The Manual exists to give men straight-up advice, from unspoken suit rules you need to know, to the latest in fashion, food, drink, travel, grooming and culture. Here are a few of our favorite stories to appear on The Manual lately.
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Samsung Galaxy S5 review

Samsung has sold more than 200 million Galaxy S phones around the world. It's a staggering number, outweighed only by cumulative sales of the iPhone, and with  the Galaxy S5, Samsung hopes to keep that number climbing. But does it live up to the legacy, or is merely a warmed-over S4? We've got the answers.

Still a plastic Galaxy, but with a few surprises

If metal casings and fancy design embellishments are your thing, the Galaxy S5, like all Galaxy phones before it, is not for you. This is another plastic Android phone from Samsung. Aside from the golf-ball-like dimples on the back and some running lines on the sides that give it a classic-car look, the GS5 looks almost exactly like the GS4 … and the GS3.

The GS5 may not look different, but there's a lot to love.

Fortunately, we don't buy phones solely for their looks (most of us). The GS5 may be plastic, but it hides a few new hardware features.

The GS5 has an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, a heart-rate monitor under its rear camera, and a fingerprint sensor inside its Home button. These are all real advancements that could be useful to real people. This is in stark contrast to Samsung's Galaxy S4 unveiling, where it concentrated on numbers and a bunch of apps that nobody wanted or cared about.

Waterproof: Last year, Samsung released the GS4 Active as a waterproof and dustproof variant of the Galaxy S4 model. It's still one of our favorite phones on AT&T, and we're very excited to see the standard S5 pick up this superpower. You won't have to worry about your phone if it's raining outside, you're shoved into a pool (it can happen), you drop it in quicksand, or you want to check if your girlfriend or boyfriend returned your Facebook message while you're in the shower. Less worries means more happy. We've dunked the GS5 a couple times and it's still working fine. We're waiting for a rain storm.

Heart-rate monitor: Not everyone will use or care about this feature, but if you want to check your heart rate after a workout, or for medical reasons, you can easily do so with the GS5. It has a small red light that shines through your finger on the back of the phone. The built-in S Health app will record your heart rate every day. The heart-rate monitor appears to work well. We haven't had any false reads, but did discover that we have a fantastic resting heart rate.

Fingerprint scanner: Samsung's new Home button doubles as a fingerprint scanner. Yes, it's an iPhone 5S rip off, but if biometrics are going to take off, they have to be widely accepted. Samsung's fingerprint scanner works a little differently. Instead of holding your finger on the Home button, you swipe it downward, across it. This makes it more awkward to use as an unlock button.

Samsung's fingerprint scanner also has the ability to let you make FIDO payments over its system or PayPal, which is more than Apple lets you do, but it's clear that it will be a few years before fingerprint scanners become a thing you truly want. Right now, it's a nice way to unlock your phone. We haven't had a lot of difficulty unlocking our phone, but again, the Home button is very low on the device, so swiping downward on it is not a lot of fun.

A cleaner user interface

We like new bells and whistles on the outside of a phone, but we also appreciate that Samsung has cleaned up the inside, too. The Galaxy S5's user interface is simpler and cleaner than previous devices. It's easier to find features, and the Settings menu has a new gridded view that makes a lot of sense.

Some of the lesser-known features on previous phones are now buried in the menus, but if you want things like the Smart Stay feature, where your phone looks to see if your eyes are staring at the screen before going idle, they are still in the Settings menu.

The Recent Apps screen and Notification menus also look cleaner and give more space to what matters, like incoming notifications. And if you want a real simple mode, you can make the icons extra big by turning on an old-folks mode that comes with a built-in magnifier.

Since there is only 16GB of space on the phone, we're very happy that the unit we tested only had 55 apps installed on it. That's a move in the right direction from the 70 or more apps most phones had pre-installed in 2013. Samsung has kept a lot of its own apps intact, but isn't shying away from Google apps, either, with a folder full of them on the main home screen.

Overall, Samsung's new interface is classier, less cluttered, and easier to use than it was on the Galaxy S4. It's still a little busy compared to Google's lean Nexus 5, but some of the new features, like Ultra Power Saver Mode, are very useful.

Ultra Power Saving Mode is a winner

We've used Samsung's new Ultra Power Saving Mode, which will help you conserve battery life in a jam. It's the most intense battery-saving mode we've ever seen. It shuts down all services except a few vital ones, and turns the screen black and white. But according to Samsung, it can squeeze a full 24 hours out of a nearly empty battery.

Great specs, gorgeous screen

Hardcore geeks may be disappointed in the Galaxy S5's spec sheet, which breaks no new ground this year. It appears to be as powerful as top devices like the Galaxy Note 3, LG G2, and Sony Xperia Z1S, but no more so.

This is the sharpest, best-looking screen we've seen on a phone.

The Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch 1080 x 1920 pixel Super AMOLED screen. This is the sharpest, best-looking screen we've used on a phone. The combination of the redesigned interface based around solid colors, AMOLED deep blacks, and Full HD resolution is a winner.

Inside the phone is Android 4.4.2, a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, which has improved battery life by about 40 percent, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (10.7GB are usable), a 2.1-megapixel front camera, a 16-megapixel rear camera, a 2,800mAh battery (300mAh greater than GS4), NFC, an infrared sensor for TV control, a Micro SIM slot, and a MicroSD slot so you can expand storage by up to 128GB.

For you geeks, the GS5 got a Quadrant score of about 23,000, which is very high, but not a ton higher than the Galaxy Note 3, which broke the 20,000 mark late last year. It also performed very well in 3D Mark's Ice Storm Unlimited test with a score of 18,500.

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