Justin Bieber's tiny new face tattoo described as 'representation of his faith'

Justin Bieber's new tattoo may be small, but its social-media impact is mighty.

Between stops on his Purpose World Tour, the pop star revealed the minuscule facial artwork to more than 67 million Instagram followers. Although the selfie of his face and hand placement led fans' eyes toward the tiny spot beside his right eye, he didn't directly address the new adornment in his caption.

The same day Bieber posted that photo, tattoo artist Jonathan "JonBoy" Valena posted an Instagram pic of himself posing with the singer. The ink applicator later told E! News he gave Bieber the new tat, and explained its symbolism: "It was a representation of his faith in Jesus and his journey with finding purpose in God."

  

                                         Justin Bieber poses for a photo in London on Oct. 21, 2015.

It's the latest body art for Bieber, who hasn't exactly shied away from ink in the past. In addition to the inked sleeves showcased whenever he wears a T-shirt, he's experimented with the look from the neck down.













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Audi R8 variant being considered to compete with Mercedes-Maybach S-Class: report

Audi technical chief Stefan Knirsch spoke in a recent interveiw about how the next-generation A8 could evolve, and the executive suggested that a longer-wheelbase variant could become a reality.

Audi might be looking to build a higher-end variant of its next A8 to square off against the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, if a new report proves accurate. 

Auto Express spoke with Audi technical chief Stefan Knirsch about how the next-generation A8 could evolve, and the executive suggested that a longer-wheelbase variant could become a reality. Such a model would likely be designed with Chinese tastes in mind, since Audi does well in that Asian market. Additionally, Middle Eastern buyers tend to favor longer cars and Audi is looking to grow in that market.

“The success of the extra-long version of the S-Class has got us wondering about whether there could be a business case for that in the future," he told the British publication.

Recommended: Think you're a car buff? Take the quiz.
Mercedes recently revived, for the second time, the Maybach label, this time not as a brand itself but as a range-topping model based on the company's current S-Class. The Maybach no longer features unique styling, instead serving as a thoroughly luxo-laden variant of the S-Class.

Audi has already created an A8 with an extra long-wheelbase, but the automaker has said that one-off was made specifically for the King of Norway and doesn't indicate any plans for a regular production variant. 

The current A8, which is growing a little long in the tooth up against the more recently redesigned BMW 7-Series and S-Class, is set 












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Watch live: Donald Trump addresses supporters following Indiana win

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Fort Wayne, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)


Donald Trump addressed supporters at Trump tower in New York City following his big win in Indiana Tuesday night.

He spoke about what's to come in the primary contests left and lambasted Hillary Clinton for her remarks about coal miners on the campaign trail.

Trump also offered a few words on rival Ted Cruz as the latter dropped out of the race. He then pivoted to a conversation about America's infrastructure, saying "We're close to a third world country."

The frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president is rumored to visit Eugene on Friday before heading to Vancouver for another rally. The event in Eugene will start at 7 p.m., although a venue has not been announced.

Watch the address below:













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May Day marchers take to US streets

Russians wave flags and cheer as they walk on Red Square to mark May Day in Moscow, Russia. (AP)

Los Angeles — Hundreds of May Day marchers chanting slogans and carrying signs — and at least one Donald Trump piñata — took to the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday calling for immigrant and worker rights and decrying what they see as hateful presidential campaign rhetoric.
It’s one of several events in cities nationwide to call for better wages for workers, an end to deportations and support for an Obama administration plan to give work permits to immigrants in the country illegally whose children are American citizens.
“We want them to hear our voices, to know that we are here and that we want a better life, with jobs,” said Norberto Guiterrez, a 46-year-old immigrant from Mexico who joined families, union members and students who marched through downtown.
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Demonstrators repeatedly called out Trump for his remarks about immigrants, workers and women. The leading Republican presidential contender has called for a wall on the border with Mexico and chided Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton for playing the so-called “woman card.”
“In addition to fighting for workers’ rights, we are fighting for our dignity this time around, our self-respect,” said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.
In Russia, tens of thousands of people marched across Moscow’s Red Square on a sunny Sunday morning in a pro-Kremlin workers’ rally. The protesters were carrying the Russian tricolor and balloons.
As is typical for rallies organized by the ruling United Russia party, the May Day rally steered clear of criticizing President Vladimir Putin or his government for falling living standards. The slogans focused on wages and jobs for young professionals.
In Eastern Ukraine,  three deaths were reported Sunday in the fighting despite a recently brokered armistice for Orthodox Easter.
Government forces and Russia-backed separatists had agreed to observe a ceasefire with the start of the Orthodox Easter and May Day holidays.
Fearing France’s worker protections are under threat, hundreds of angry youths on the sidelines of a May Day labor rally hurled stones and wood at police in Paris, receiving repeated bursts of tear gas in response.
Trade unions, teenagers, pensioners and families held nearly 300 largely peaceful marches Sunday in Paris and cities around the country.







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Lady Gaga and Elton John are mixing fashion and music for charity

   Lady Gaga and Elton John--two of the most well-known figures in the world of music--are coming                together for a cause that will see them blend fashion with charity.

The popstars have collaborated for Love Bravery, a limited edition clothing and accessories line with American retailer Macy's that is expected to hit the stores in May. Fans cannot only stock their wardrobe with celebrity-approved style, but also get the chance to do some good, as 25 per cent from the sale of each purchase will go to the celebrities' foundations, i.e. the Born This Way Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Tapping the talents of Lady Gaga's sister Natali Germanotta and Gaga's stylist-turned-fashion designer Brandon Maxwell for the line, the collection includes crop tops, sweatshirts, tees and music-inspired accessories.
Also read: You won't believe how often Lady Gaga bleaches her eyebrows
In a statement quoted by People magazine, Lady Gaga said, "We need to make the world a kinder and braver place where men and women everywhere are empowered to live with compassion. That's what Born This Way Foundation is all about, that's what the Elton John AIDS Foundation is all about, and that's what Love Bravery is all about."
Elton John added, "I love the idea of fusing who you are on the inside--your passions and dreams--with what you wear on the outside."

collected by"http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lady-gaga-elton-john-fashion-line-music-charity-macys/1/654727.html:

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Huge power outage in Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond

   The power is out in Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito and north to San Pablo, according to a PG&E power          outage map.

More than 5,860 people in Berkeley and cities north are without power and PG&E says it won’t be restored until 12:45 p.m.

The power went out across a broad swath of Berkeley at around 9:30 a.m. Monday. At least one block in downtown Berkeley lost power, including the WeWork building at 2120 University (at Shattuck) where Berkeleyside has its HQ.

  The power appears to be out across a broad swath of Berkeley, according to this outage map provided by   PG&E.

Readers reported via Twitter that power was out north of Sacramento and Rose streets; in the Halycon neighborhood of south Berkeley; near Piedmont and Channing; Telegraph and Russell; and University Avenue between Shattuck and Milvia, among other spots. Power appears to be out in parts of Albany and El Cerrito, too.

     Traffic lights are out on College and Ashby. Photo: Lance Knobel

Berkeley Police put out a Nixle alert reminding drivers to be careful while going through intersections as numerous stoplights are out.”When driving, intersections with complete power outages should be considered the same as a four-way stop sign,” BPD wrote. “Please stop and proceed with caution.”







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The Latest: Merkel welcomes Obama at rebuilt palace

President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One at Stansted Airport, England, Sunday April 24, 2016. The president is on a six day trip to strategize with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, England and Germany on a broad range of issues with efforts to rein in the Islamic State group being the common denominator in all three stops. (Tim Ireland/Associated Press)

By Associated Press April 24 at 9:49 AM
HANNOVER, Germany — The Latest on President Barack Obama’s visit to Germany (all times local):

3:25 p.m.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama with military honors ahead of their bilateral talks.

Merkel has received Obama at Herrenhausen Palace, a rebuilt version of the 17th-century summer home of the royal house of Hannover. The palace was destroyed during World War II and reopened in 2013.

Merkel and Obama are due to meet for an hour before holding a joint news conference.

Following the news conference, they will together open the city’s annual industrial fair, at which the United States is the featured country this year.

___

12:45 p.m.

President Barack Obama has arrived in Germany to mount a two-day push to sell his trans-Atlantic trade pact.

Obama landed in the northern city of Hannover on Sunday afternoon. He’s leading a delegation of American business leaders attending the Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial technology trade fair.

Obama is slated to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel before they attend the fair opening.

The president is expected to make the case for the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T-TIP.

___

11:10 a.m.

President Barack Obama says it could take a decade for Britain to negotiate a new trade agreement with the United States if it leaves the European Union.

In a BBC interview, Obama said “it could be five years from now, 10 years from now before we were able to actually get something done.”

He said that “the U.K. would not be able to negotiate something with the United States faster than the EU.”

Obama flies to Germany Sunday after a U.K. visit during which he angered supporters of an EU exit by making it clear the United States wants Britain to stay in.

He said Friday that Britain would go to the “back of the queue” for a trade deal if it votes to leave in a June 23 referendum.

___

11:00 a.m.

Germany’s vice chancellor is urging the United States to budge in negotiations on a free trade deal with Europe and warns that the hoped-for accord could fail if Washington doesn’t give ground.


President Barack Obama is expected in Germany Sunday, hoping to build momentum for the so-called Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP. The German government is also keen to clinch the deal.

However, Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel was quoted Sunday as telling the Handelsblatt newspaper that “the Americans want to stick to their ‘buy American’ idea. We can’t accept that.”

He also complained that the U.S. doesn’t want to open public tenders to companies from Europe.

Gabriel said: “If the Americans stick to this position, we don’t need a free trade agreement. Then TTIP will fail.”

___

08:46 a.m.

President Barack Obama is hoping to build momentum for a trade deal between the U.S. and Europe during a two-day visit to Germany.

But Obama knows a tough sell awaits him, particularly in Germany. He arrives there Sunday and opposition to the agreement is fierce.

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Thousands swarmed the streets Saturday in Hannover, on the eve of Obama’s arrival, to protest the agreement. In November, more than 100,000 protested the deal in Berlin.

Proponents argue that it would boost business at a time of global economic uncertainty. Critics fear the erosion of consumer protections and environmental standards.

Negotiators want to finalize key parts of the deal before the year ends.

Obama is also meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday to discuss the Islamic State group and other issues.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.











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Earth Day 2016: What it's all about and why it's extremely important

Today is the day to think about the planet. Some say that today is the largest secular holiday in the world.
Earth Day, celebrated every year on 22 April, is a day to reflect on the measures all of us can take to protect the environment and life on earth.
And this year's Earth Day is significantly more important because world leaders are gathering at the United Nations on Friday to sign the Paris climate deal and get the ball rolling on a quick entry into force to start beating back global warming.

The first Earth Day was celebrated as a national holiday in the United States in 1970. According to Earth Day Network, Gaylord Nelson — Earth Day founder and US Senator from Wisconsin — announced his idea for a "national teach-in on the environment" after witnessing the destruction caused by the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.

22 April was the day selected for the event because it fell between spring break and final exams in the US. Twenty-two million Americans took part in the first Earth Day.
The first global Earth Day was celebrated in 1990.
Around 220 million people in 141 countries participated in the event which gave a "huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro."
Today, the day is organised by the Earth Day Network, which is "the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 50,000 partners in 196 countries to build environmental democracy."
Since its launch, Earth Day has also been supported by celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Emma Watson, according to Mirror.
The day has its own flag and even has its own anthem, performed to the tune of Beethoven's Ode To Joy.
For this year's Earth Day, Google has created a special map to point out the location of several events taking place across the planet to celebrate the day.
Europe on Friday is also going to launch satellites to track environmental damage to Earth, reported AFP. Setting off on a Russian Soyuz rocket will be Sentinel-1B with its Earth surveillance radar, and Microscope, a French-built orbiter seeking to poke a hole in Einstein's theory of general relativity.
They will be hoisted from Europe's launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana, at 9 pm GMT on Friday.
But the most important event on this year's Earth Day will undoubtedly be the signing of the Paris climate deal.
French President Francois Hollande and Canada's Justin Trudeau will join US Secretary of State John Kerry for the ceremony attended by more than 165 governments, the largest ever one-day signing of an international agreement.
Held on Earth Day, the ceremony comes four months after the hard-won deal was clinched in Paris and marks the first step toward binding countries to the promises they made to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Oscar winner and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio will be on hand to praise leaders for signing, urge others to do the same and appeal to all to turn their commitments into action.
While the US, China and India — the world's top greenhouse gas emitters — will not be represented at their highest level, there will be some 60 heads of state and government on hand for the signing.

With inputs from AFP








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ISIS is lost - Obama

Washington - The Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria is on the defensive and "their cause is lost," US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday after meeting with CIA chiefs and other security officials.

Obama paid a rare visit to CIA headquarters in Virginia to discuss progress of Operation Inherent Resolve, the 20-month-old US-led campaign against ISIS jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

"ISIS is on the defensive, and we are on the offensive," Obama said. "We have momentum, and we intend to keep that momentum."

Obama pointed to recent US air strikes that killed three senior ISIS leaders and a report this week showing the group's ranks are at their lowest level since 2014.

"In the days and weeks ahead we intend to take out more [leaders.] Every day, ISIS leaders wake up and understand it could be their last," Obama said.

"Their ranks of fighters are estimated to be at the lowest levels in two years and more and more are realising that their cause is lost," he added.

Obama stressed the importance of ending the five-year civil war in Syria as key to facilitating a lasting defeat of the ISIS group.

"So we continue to work for a diplomatic end to this awful conflict," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Baghdad-based spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said the US-led coalition campaign had successfully entered the second "phase" of operations.

The coalition is working through three main steps as it wages its 20-month-old fight against the ISIS group, Warren said.

"Our enemy has been weakened and we now are working to fracture him. Phase one of the military campaign is complete," Warren told Pentagon reporters, noting that this initial step was to "degrade" the ISIS group by stopping it from making additional territorial gains.

"We are now in phase two, which is to dismantle this enemy," he added.

Warren said the final phase of the campaign is to ensure the ISIS is dealt a lasting defeat, primarily by enabling local forces to prevent a resurgence of jihadist influence.

Though the ISIS group maintains a firm grip on vast areas of the two countries, the jihadists have suffered some serious setbacks including the loss of Ramadi in Iraq.

"While ISIS can still put together some complex attacks, they have not been able to take hold of any key terrain for almost a year now," Warren said.






Sources By"http://www.news24.com/World/News/isis-is-lost-obama-20160414"

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Airman shot commander at Texas base: official

   Police are seen after Texas authorities say at least one person has been killed in a shooting at an Air    Force base in            Texas on Friday, April 8, 2016.

DALLAS -- An airman shot his commander in an apparent murder-suicide Friday at a U.S. Air Force base in San Antonio, a senior U.S. official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the shooting at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

Two handguns were found near the bodies of the men, which were inside a building that's used for classrooms and offices, according to Brig. Gen. Robert LaBrutta, who oversees Joint Base San Antonio.

He stressed that the shooting was not an act of terrorism, and declined to identify the two, saying their families must be notified first. The Air Force's Office of Special Investigations is leading the investigation, and the FBI is assisting.

The fatal shooting of the two is the latest to occur at a military facility in Texas in the last several years.
In January 2015, an Army veteran and former clerk at the veterans' clinic at Fort Bliss in El Paso shot and killed a psychologist, then killed himself. About a year earlier, three soldiers were killed and 16 wounded in an attack at Fort Hood near Killeen by Army Spc. Ivan A. Lopez, who also killed himself.

And in the deadliest attack to occur at a U.S. military installation, 13 people were killed and 31 were wounded in a mass shooting in 2009 at Fort Hood. Nidal Hasan, a former U.S. Army major, was convicted and sentenced to death in that shooting.

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is the home of Air Force basic training. The Army's Fort Sam Houston and Air Force's Lackland and Randolph bases were combined during base realignment several years ago to become the military's largest joint base.





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Barcelona v Atletico Madrid: Luis Enrique keen to move on from Clasico loss

      Apr 4, 2016 15:13:00


The Catalans' boss insists El Clasico "no longer exists" for his side as they prepare to take on another team from the Spanish capital in the Champions League


Barcelona and Atletico Madrid head into their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday on the back of contrasting weekends in La Liga's title race.

Champions Barca lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico on Saturday, with their lead at the summit cut to six points as a result of second-placed Atleti storming to a 5-1 win over Real Betis.

Atletico remain title outsiders but will be buoyed by the memory of overcoming Barcelona at the same stage of the Champions League two seasons ago before going on to achieve Liga glory.

"For me, this game [Clasico] no longer exists," said Luis Enrique, whose Barcelona side saw a phenomenal 39-match unbeaten run come to an end against 10-man Madrid.

"There is no pain or anything you can think of. We had many games without defeat, but defeat also teaches you things.

"All titles have difficulty and my players knew that. Going 39 games unbeaten means little if you don't win titles at the end of the season.

"[Atletico] will put on a lot of pressure and make it tough for us."

Enrique at least avoided any fresh injury concerns in El Clasico, meaning former Atletico midfielder Arda Turan might have to be content with a place on the bench once more.

Turan entered the fray with Saturday's match all square at 1-1, but the coach offered backing to his Turkish international after Barca struggled to control the late midfield battle.

"Ivan [Rakitic] had a card and that was enough of a risk," Luis Enrique explained. "Arda could give us even more between the lines. He has been unlucky because he entered when the game was pretty crazy."

Opposite number Diego Simeone was able to make less taxing substitutions as Betis were put to the sword, and he confirmed Fernando Torres would start against Barca having opened the scoring on Saturday.

"Every game we’ve played against them has been different," said Simeone, who will assess Saul Niguez after the midfielder was substituted with a knock to his ankle on Saturday.

"We're preparing ourselves as well as we can so the game goes the way we want it to."

Atletico were unbeaten in six matches against Barcelona during their glorious 2013/14 campaign but have lost on their previous three visits to Camp Nou.

Luis Enrique's men edged each of this season's Liga encounters 2-1, with Lionel Messi scoring on both occasions. Should the mercurial Argentinian repeat the feat on Tuesday he will register his 500th Barcelona goal.

Atletico centre-backs Diego Godin and Stefan Savic will be available to attempt to prevent Messi from doing so, having returned to training on Sunday following a hamstring strain and a nail infection respectively. 

Youngsters Lucas Hernandez and Nacho Monsalve – the latter on debut – lined up at centre-back against Betis.

Belgium international Yannick Carrasco will also come back into Simeone's plans having overcome an ankle complaint, although Luciano Vietto missed training on Sunday due to illness.


Key Opta stats
- Barcelona have won the past six games between the sides in all competitions. A seventh win would be a new record in their head-to-head history with Atletico.
- Barcelona's clean sheet against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in April 2011 is their only shutout in European games against Spanish opposition.
- Atletico have never scored more than one goal in each of their eight European encounters with Spanish clubs.
- Atletico's quarter-final win in 2014 marked the only occasion in the past eight years when Barca have failed to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

- Luis Enrique's men are unbeaten in the Champions League this season and the coach has won all 10 of his Camp Nou home games in the competition.




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Manspreading will get you laid

March 30, 2016 | 6:48pm

Want to attract women? Spread out!

According to a new study, males who engage in manspreading — sitting wide-legged and sprawling their arms — are more sexually alluring to females than fellas who keep their legs closed.

The research — conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, postdoctoral research fellow Tanya Vacharkulksemsuk — found that speed-dating manspreaders received more positive responses than those who kept their limbs compact. When manspreading lady-seekers posted their pictures on a dating site, they collectively enjoyed a 25-percent bump in matchups.

Patti Wood, author of “SNAP: Making the Most of a First Impression” and a nonverbal communication expert based in Atlanta, says it all comes down to biology. “When women see large silhouettes, their primitive brains think [the person with that silhouette] will make healthy babies and offer protection,” she says.

Ladies are even more turned on, adds Wood, when dudes augment manspreading with what’s called “up-posture” — bringing up your chest, chin and shoulders. “Think about the end of an Olympic match when the gold medal winners raise their arms,” she explains. “That is the epitome of up-posture. It conveys happiness, joy and a winning attitude.”

Though the powerful pairing may achieve good results on a dating site, don’t expect the same on a rush-hour F train. “Do it on the subway, and you are owning the space,” says Wood.

“But it’s not going to attract a woman if she can’t get a seat because you are all spread out.”

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Successful HIV-to-HIV Organ Transplants Mark a US, World Firsts

    Dorry Segev, left, and Morris Murray, previous liver transplant recipient, are interviewed about the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant in the world after a       news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital, March 30, 2016 in Baltimore.


VOA News
March 30, 2016 2:44 PM

Surgeons at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Maryland successfully completed the first U.S. liver and kidney transplants from an HIV-positive donor to an HIV-positive recipient.

It was the first ever case of a HIV-positive liver transplant and the first time in the U.S that an HIV-positive kidney has been transplanted. South African doctors have done HIV-positive kidney transplants before.

Medical center officials said the organs are working well and that the surgeries saw no complications. One patient has already been discharged and the other is expected to follow him in a matter of days.

According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, there are nearly 400 HIV-positive people in the U.S. who could donate organs each year, saving potentially over 1,000 people.

The successful transplants come as a result of the 2013 HIV Organ Policy Equity Act, which paved the way for HIV-to-HIV organ transplants.

The United Network for Organ Sharing gave Johns Hopkins the okay in January, once candidates were identified.

“We are very thankful to Congress, the President and the entire transplant community for letting us use organs from HIV-positive patients to save lives instead of throwing them away, as we had to do for so many years,” said Dr. Dorry L. Segev, professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.


There are around 122,000 people in the U.S. awaiting organ donations.







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Abu Sayyaf demands $1.5 m for Indonesia-flagged vessel taken hostage

BY AT EDITOR on MARCH 29, 2016 in ASIA TIMES NEWS & FEATURES, SOUTHEAST ASIA

         Abu Sayyaf has gained notoriety for kidnapping foreigners for ransom

(From Strait Times)

Two Indonesia-flagged vessels were taken hostage at the weekend by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines, said a Foreign Affairs Ministry (Kemlu) official on Tuesday (March 29), confirming earlier media reports of the capture.

Abu Sayyaf has been gaining international notoriety for kidnapping foreigners for ransom 
Abu Sayyaf has gained notoriety for kidnapping foreigners for ransom
The militant group, based in the southern Philippines, is said to have demanded 50 million pesos (S$1.48 million) for the release of one of the vessels and its crew.


“It is confirmed that tugboats Brahma 12 and Anand 12 carrying 7,000 tonnes of coal and 10 Indonesian crew members were captured,” said Kemlu spokesman Armanatha Nasir



Collected By:http://atimes.com/2016/03/abu-sayyaf-demands-1-5-m-for-indonesia-flagged-vessel-taken-hostage/:

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Denver student withdraws her art after police criticism

HIGHLIGHTS
Her act of apparent self-censorship brought much more attention to the controversy

The mayor said the student wanted to shed light on the Klan’s history in Denver and Colorado

The police chief said the teen also expressed concerns about contemporary issues

Viewers mill about the annual Denver Public Schools system's best-of-city art show on display in the lobby of the Wellington Webb Office building in downtown Denver March 25, 2016. One piece of art in the display triggered a storm of controversy from the Denver police unions which ended when the painting was withdrawn from the exhibit by the artist, who is in 10th grade. Donna Bryson AP

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article68386167.html#storylink=cpy

BY DONNA BRYSON
Associated Press
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DENVER 
It’s a provocative image, for sure, and Denver’s police unions complained when they saw the student’s artwork honored in the school system’s annual best-of-city show: It depicts an officer wearing a KKK hood and pointing a gun at a black child, who has his hands up while wearing a white hoodie. In the background, a version of the American flag is ripped open to reveal a Confederate banner.

The Denver school district’s communications chief, Nancy Mitchell, said the girl immediately asked to take her painting out of the award show when she shared the criticism with her.

“She’s passionate about her art, but didn’t want to make trouble,” Mitchell said.


Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article68386167.html#storylink=cpy

Trouble followed nonetheless – even though authorities insisted that the girl was not pressured to remove her work – as her act of apparent self-censorship brought much more attention to the controversy.

To hear her out, Denver’s mayor, police chief and school superintendent arranged a private meeting Friday with the 10th grader and her mother, who was provided with a Spanish-language translator for the encounter in the principal’s office of her arts-magnet school. They emerged insisting that the teenager has not been pressured to withdraw her work, but neither have they named her, saying she did not want to speak publicly.

“We just had a conversation with this very mature, steady, confident, beautiful, articulate young lady,” Mayor Michael Hancock said.

New York artist Michael D'Antuono, whose work inspired the Denver student’s prize-winner, worries that she might have felt bullied.

“She should have been praised and encouraged for sparking critical thought,” said D'Antuono, who painted “A Tale of Two Hoodies” to protest racism after the fatal shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch volunteer. He said in a telephone interview Friday that he has received sharp criticism and even death threats, which can feel overwhelming even to adults.


Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article68386167.html#storylink=cpy

It’s not censorship if the student willingly withdrew her work, said Frank LoMonte, a lawyer who directs the Washington-based Student Press Law Center, which educates students about the First Amendment. But LoMonte worries that young people in Denver may become less willing to talk about their fear of police.

“However well-founded or not that fear may be, it’s real, it exists, and it’s something the community should be discussing,” LoMonte said.

According to a statement from the school district and the city, the student’s assignment was to take inspiration from historic works and place them in the context of contemporary issues. She chose the Spanish master Francisco de Goya’s “The Third of May 1808,” a 19th-century statement against tyranny that shows a firing squad executing a group of captured rebels; and D'Antuono’s painting, which is similar to hers, but shows the young boy offering candy to the gun-wielding officer.

Other pieces in the art show, displayed in the light-filled lobby of a government building where Denverites pay parking tickets, included works inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe and sketches of dancers that nod to Matisse. Denver’s Police Protective Association singled out the “Two Hoodies” image, saying it “perpetuates hate and dissension between the police and our citizens.”

Hancock and Police Chief Robert White, who are both black, stressed after meeting the young artist that they are not in favor of stifling creativity or public debate about tough topics such as racism, violence and the proper role of law enforcement. Both went to some lengths to expand on the issues they said she had hoped her work would raise.

The mayor said the student wanted to shed light on the Klan’s history in Denver and Colorado. Scholars have documented the KKK’s prominence in the region’s politics and its influence over the Denver police department in the 1920s.

The police chief said the teen also expressed concerns about contemporary issues. Last year, Denver officers shot and killed 17-year-old Jessica Hernandez, who was driving a stolen car toward police. The Hernandez shooting prompted demonstrations in Denver, which also has seen protests over the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” the chief said, adding that changing the public’s perception of police officers “can only be done through conversation.”

The mayor added: “The children are watching and they want to be involved in the solutions.”

Ken Paulson, president of the Washington-based Newseum Institute’s First Amendment Center, said clashes over politics, art and public space usually involve established artists. Earlier this year, for example, a Nevada school district issued an apology after a teacher used a photograph of “A Tale of Two Hoodies” as a writing prompt.

In the Denver case, “I think it’s encouraging that a young person could incorporate topicality and headlines into their art.” Paulson said. “That’s what art does. Art reflects real lives and real concerns.”


Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article68386167.html#storylink=cpy


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'Extremely Critical' Fire Danger Flares in the Plains; State of Emergency in Comanche County, Kansas

An extremely volatile setup for wildfires is in place Wednesday in the Plains, thanks largely to the same weather system cranking up Winter Storm Selene.


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Day 1 fire weather outlook issued on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. "Extremely critical" fire weather risk area shown in pink. (NOAA/NWS/SPC)
The Storm Prediction Center's Day 1 fire weather outlook issued early Wednesday morning outlined an expansive area of "extremely critical" fire weather risk covering over 120,000 square miles from southeast New Mexico and far west Texas into parts of central Oklahoma and eastern Kansas.

One can think of this somewhat analogous to a high risk for severe thunderstorms, only this time, for conditions that could lead to rapidly spreading fires.

Namely, strong surface low pressure, accompanied by a vigorous jet-stream disturbance pivoting into the Plains, will produce wind gusts from 50-70 mph Wednesday afternoon and early evening in the central and southern Plains.

High wind warnings have been posted from New Mexico and west Texas to Kansas and southern Nebraska.

One large grass fire that started in Woods County, Oklahoma, on Tuesday continued Wednesday in Comanche County, Kansas, where a state of emergency has been declared, according to kwch.com. About 41,000 acres of land have been charred by the fire as of early Wednesday afternoon.

Grass fire in Comanche County, Kansas. (Facebook/Amber Ellis-Willey)
The strong winds on Wednesday will spread any active or new wildfires quickly in the Plains.



But it's not just wind speeds that are the concern. Winds are expected to shift in parts of the "extremely critical" fire risk area from a more southerly direction first to a west-southwest direction behind the passage of a dryline, a boundary separating dry air from moist air near the surface.

Current Winds, Gusts, High Wind Warnings


Then, with the passage of a cold front, the winds would again shift to a northwest direction.

These shifting winds could then change the direction of a wildfire's advance, always a dangerous prospect for firefighters.

Behind - to the west of - the dryline, bone-dry air with a life history over the Desert Southwest and moving downslope from higher terrain, will sweep into the southern and central Plains.

Current Dew Points
Lower (higher) dew points indicate drier (more moist) air, also depicted by progressively brown (green) contours.
The bottom line: avoid all outdoor burning through Wednesday night in the central and southern Plains. Even the burning of trash on your property could quickly become a large, out-of-control grass fire given the weather conditions in place.


 Cradit By"https://weather.com/forecast/regional/news/extreme-fire-danger-plains-march-23-2016

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The Latest: Snow storm shuts down Denver’s airport

A deicing team prepares a commercial jet for safe flight during severe weather at Denver International Airport, in Colorado, early Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. A powerful winter storm has shut down highways in eastern Colorado, closed many schools and slowed down traffic at Denver International Airport. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

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OPINION BRUSSELS BLASTS: WE MUST DESTROY ISIS IN ITS HOMELAND

BY FREDERIC C. HOF ON 3/22/16 AT 12:43 PM

After meeting with the National Security Council last month, President Barack Obama, accompanied by Secretary of State John Kerry, said that the U.S. would prevail in its fight against ISIS, but he pointed out that an end to the conflict in Syria would be key to dismantling the group. The author argues that the U.S. should urgently assemble an American-led, coalition-of-the-willing professional ground force to enter eastern Syria to defeat ISIS.

Collected By'http://www.newsweek.com/brussels-blasts-destroy-isis-homeland-439531

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iPhone SE Launch: What to Expect From Apple's Big Monday Event

Apple is gearing up for another big event Monday, as it prepares to offer its usual spring refresh of its products. The company is expected to update its iPhone and iPad lines, and introduce new bands for the Apple Watch, at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

Reports have indicated that Apple is going to release a smaller version of the iPhone called the iPhone SE believed to be short for "special edition." The company is going back to the 4-inch size that it used for earlier models, most recently the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Apple's return to the smaller form could serve a couple of purposes. For one, it could offer a high-end alternative to the increasingly large screen sizes on offer from the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple itself, which may appeal to those who find newer phones too big. If priced more cheaply than the company's current phones, it could also give Apple a stronger competitor to offer in the low-priced, mid-performance phone space which is becoming very popular in crucial overseas smartphone markets such as India and China.

(Also see:  How to Watch Apple iPhone SE Launch Event Live Stream on Monday)

A chance to thrive in a new market could be particularly appealing for Apple now, having recently reported the slowest annual growth for iPhone sales in the product's history.

The company is also expected to introduce a smaller version of the iPad Pro, the tablet line Apple first introduced last year that was intended as a sort of laptop-replacement, with keyboard and stylus accessories. The first iPad Pro had a 12.9-inch screen; reports suggest that the model introduced Monday will have the same 9.7-inch screen as the current iPad.

Apple has not announced sales figures for the iPad Pro itself. But a report from the analysis firm IDC found that, despite some tepid reviews, the iPad Pro had outsold close competitors such as the Microsoft Surface Pro. The firm reported that Apple had shipped a little more than 2 million units of the iPad Pro, as compared to 1.6 million units of the Surface line most of which the firm said were of the Surface Pro.

The tablet market overall has been weak for several months, with sales growth declining. The only bright spot for the overall market has been the area Apple's targeting with the iPad Pro, which analysts call detachables. This has been taking off as more consumers and businesses eye them as a lightweight replacement for laptops. Samsung also recently began selling a $900, Windows 10-powered tablet designed to be used with a keyboard attachment called the Galaxy TabPro S.

In addition to new products, Apple watchers may look for any mentions of the company's ongoing legal and ideological battle with the FBI. After all, the event comes just one day before the company is due another high-profile stage: federal court. Apple has vehemently and publicly protested a court order compelling it to create software that would allow the agency to bypass security measures on an iPhone used by Syed Rizwan Farook, one of the shooters in the San Bernardino attacks late last year. The government insists this would be a vital measure to solving the case, while Apple sees it as potentially catastrophic for consumer privacy.

On Tuesday, representatives from Apple and the FBI will appear before a judge in the District Court of the Central District of California to argue their cases. As Fortune's Jeff John Roberts reported, US Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym last week published guidelines saying that very few members of the media or public will be allowed in the courtroom or in spectator rooms within the courthouse.

The courthouse is in Riverside, Calif., about 15 miles southwest of San Bernardin   

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Poisoned Water in Newark Schools

    Students on their way to the Early Childhood School in Newark on Thursday morning.


Newark Public Schools recently acknowledged that the water at its schools has contained high levels of lead for years. This is shocking but, sadly, not surprising given the neglect of public schools, especially those in poor communities, by Congress and state governments.

Last week Newark officials began offering blood tests for elevated lead levels in students after tests showed that drinking water at 30 of the district’s 67 schools exceeded the safety threshold established by the Environmental Protection Agency. But even levels below that standard — 15 parts per billion — are not acceptable. Public health experts say there is no safe amount of lead in water and that children exposed to the heavy metal can suffer irreversible damage to the neurological system.

The Newark district found high lead levels in water samples taken over the past four years and has promised to release the results from earlier years. District officials were aware of the hazard as early as 2004, and some steps, like installing water filters, were taken over the years.

There are striking parallels between Newark schools and the city of Flint, Mich., which is also struggling with a lead crisis. Both are distressed, both have a large minority population, and both are subject to state control — in the Newark school district’s case, for more than 20 years. Gov. Chris Christie’s administration needs to respond immediately, providing bottled water to the schools and figuring out how many children have been harmed.

The state should also investigate what previous superintendents did in response to elevated lead levels and why results from earlier tests were not made public. If the state is unable or unwilling to do that, federal officials should step in. Last week, federal court filings in New York City revealed that the United States attorney’s office in Manhattan is investigating elevated blood lead levels in residents of the city’s public housing and homeless shelters.

Lead in the water, which often comes from water lines and plumbing fixtures, has been a hazard in school districts around the country, including those of Washington, D.C.; Seattle; and Los Angeles. Baltimore’s has used bottled water for drinking and cooking since 2007. Schools in Camden, N.J., have been on bottled water for 14 years.

Since most school buildings in cities are old, they tend to have plumbing with significant amounts of lead. It was not until 1986 that Congress set the maximum level of lead in pipes and fixtures at 8 percent, a standard unchanged until Congress lowered it to 0.25 percent starting in 2014.

Yet federal law does not require schools to test their water if they get it from a public water utility, which most schools do. This needs to change. Congress and state legislatures should pass laws requiring regular testing for lead and that the results are made public.

When contamination is detected, school districts will need money and expertise from federal and state agencies to fix the problem. It is absolutely unacceptable that public schools, very often in the poorest communities, may be poisoning their children.

cradit by http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/opinion/sunday/poisoned-water-in-newark-schools.html?_r=0

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