Mannequin actor Taylor dies at 67

30 June 2014 Last updated at 10:56

Actor Meshach Taylor, best known for the 1980s comedy Mannequin and the US show Designing Women, has died at 67.

Taylor died on Saturday at his home near Los Angeles after suffering from colorectal cancer.

"He fought valiantly and died surrounded by his loving family," Taylor's agent told Reuters.

Taylor won praise for Designing Women, which ran from 1986 to 1993, and is fondly remembered as flamboyant window dresser Hollywood in Mannequin.

Taylor was lauded for his comic timing in his portrayal of affable assistant Anthony Bouvier in Designing Women, a show about an outspoken feminist who runs a design firm out of her Atlanta home.

The series also starred Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Annie Potts and Jean Smart.

Over its seven series run, it was nominated for many awards including two Golden Globes.

In 1989, Taylor was nominated for an Emmy award for best supporting actor in a comedy series.

The 1987 movie Mannequin, about a young artist who creates the "perfect woman" mannequin who miraculously comes to life, has become something of cult classic.

The film starred Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall with Taylor playing department store window dresser Hollywood Montrose.

Taylor went on to star in the 1991 Mannequin sequel Mannequin: On The Move. He also had parts in TV shows Dave's World, The Incredible Hulk and ALF; and enjoyed a successful stage career.

Taylor was born in Boston on April 11, 1947. In 1978, he moved to California to pursue an acting career in Hollywood.

He is survived by his widow Bianca, four children and his 100-year-old mother.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

VIDEO: Killer's dad: 'Son caused so much pain'

The father of a British-born student who killed six people in California last month before taking his own life, has told US television of the horror of living with what his son Elliot had done.

Speaking publicly about what happened for the first time, the film director Peter Rodger told ABC News, he could not stop thinking about his son's victims.

Mike Wooldridge reports.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stars pay tribute to 'legend' Womack

28 June 2014 Last updated at 17:25

Some of the biggest names in music have paid tribute to singer and songwriter Bobby Womack, who died on Friday.

Peter Gabriel said the musician was a "soul legend" while Ronnie Wood said his friend would be "greatly missed".

Womack, whose hits included Across 110th Street, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

The cause of death was not announced, but he had suffered from cancer and Alzheimer's disease and battled with drug addiction.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Bobby Womack's career as a musician spanned more than five decades

He had been due to perform at the Womad music festival in Wiltshire, UK, in July.

In a statement on Saturday, Womad's founder Peter Gabriel said Womack's "songs and his voice have been so much a part of the fabric of so many musical lives".

'Signature soul scream'

Ronnie Wood, who covered Womack's It's All Over Now with The Rolling Stones, said "the man who could make you cry when he sang has brought tears to my eyes with his passing".

British soul singer Beverley Knight said he "truly epitomised passionate soul vocals" and praised his "signature soul scream".

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

DJ Tony Blackburn: ''He was one of the greatest soul singers of all time"

American singer-songwriter Kelis said: "There are a few people that really resonate from that era of soul music and he's definitely one of them.

"He left so much for us as a guideline and to be inspired by, musically."

Other tributes came from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who said he was a "beautiful dude", and Damon Albarn, who collaborated with the singer, who tweeted: "I will see my brother in church".

Gospel singer Candi Staton, who knew Womack since childhood, said he had "a style that nobody else could ever capture".

Womack was born in 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio and began singing in a gospel group in the 1950s with his brothers.

He later gained attention after the siblings signed to SAR Records in 1960.

The brothers, including Cecil, Curtis, Harry and Friendly Jr, cut two R&B albums as the Valentinos.

Later the group broke up and Womack turned to song writing and a solo career.

He outlived many of the acts with whom he played and with whom he was friendly, including Jimi Hendrix and Wilson Pickett.

His songs were recorded by many artists, including Janis Joplin. His friend Sam Cooke persuaded him to let The Rolling Stones record It's All Over Now.

"He said, 'One day you'll be part of history, this group is gonna be huge,'" Womack told BBC Newsnight in 2012. "I said, 'Why don't they get their own songs?'"

He also worked as a session guitarist, appearing on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield, and Pickett.

From 1970-90, Womack charted 36 singles including That's the Way I Feel About Cha and Woman's Gotta Have It.

A series of personal tragedies including the deaths of two sons led him to drug abuse, according to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

'My worst critic'

After a long musical hiatus, in 2009 he was tapped by Gorillaz co-founder Damon Albarn to record a song for the group's third album.

In 2012, Womack released his first album in more than ten years, entitled The Bravest Man in the Universe.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

In 2012, Womack talked to Newsnight's Stephen Smith about his career

Womack told the BBC in 2013 "drugs had a lot to do with" a period spent away from the music industry prior to 2009.

"I've always been my worst critic," he said. "I think that keeps me reaching... I never take the audience for granted."

Just two weeks before his death, Womack performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

Twitter reaction

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Benghazi raid suspect in US court

28 June 2014 Last updated at 20:59

The suspected ringleader of the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi has appeared amid tight security at a US federal courthouse in Washington DC.

Ahmed Abu Khattala was captured by US forces in Benghazi on 18 June.

He denied a raft of terrorism-related charges. He says he was in Benghazi during the attack on the US consulate but that he did not take part.

The US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other people were killed in the September 2012 attack.

Mr Abu Khattala was charged with providing material support and resources to terrorists including himself; killing a person on a federal facility; and damaging property of the US by fire and explosives resulting in death.

Mr Abu Khattala, wearing a black, hooded top and black sweatpants, listened intently to the charges through an interpreter before pleading not guilty, the BBC's Beth McLeod in Washington reports.

The next hearing was set for 8 July.

'Key figure'

American media reported that Mr Abu Khattala was brought to court in Washington from a US Navy warship where he had been held since being captured two weeks ago.

The US has described him as "key figure" in the attack on the consulate.

President Obama praised the raid which led to his capture earlier this month.

"When Americans are attacked, no matter how long it takes, we will find those responsible and we will bring them to justice," he said.

President Obama and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faced fierce criticism for not doing enough to prevent the attack.

Several Republican congressmen have called for Mr Abu Khattala and other terror suspects to be held at the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Ahmed Abu Khattala

• Native of Benghazi in eastern Libya

• Construction worker by trade

• Spent several years in Col Muammar Gaddafi's notorious Abu Salim prison in Tripoli

• Formed his own small militia during the anti-Gaddafi uprising

• Denies any links to al-Qaeda but has expressed admiration for it

• Also denies any role in the attack on the US embassy in 2012, but eyewitnesses report him being there

• US state department says he is a senior leader in Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia

Profile: Libyan Islamist Ahmed Abu Khattala

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fresh bid to overturn US haggis ban

30 June 2014 Last updated at 00:23

The UK government is making a fresh bid to overturn a decades-long US import ban on traditional Scottish haggis.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson will raise the issue with senior officials from the Obama administration this week.

Scottish producers had asked Mr Paterson to take action when he visited the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh earlier this month.

Haggis imports have been outlawed in the US since 1971.

The ban was put in place because the country's food standards agency prohibits sheep lungs - one of the key ingredients of haggis - in food products.

Continue reading the main story

What is in a traditional haggis?

• Sheep's stomach stuffed with diced sheep's liver, lungs and heart, oatmeal, onion, suet and seasoning
• Vegetarian versions can be made with mushrooms or beans
• Often served with neeps 'n' tatties - mashed swede and potatoes

The US visit comes as Scotch Beef is set to make a return to menus in America for the first time in almost 20 years.

It follows a move by US officials to reopen the American market to EU beef and other bovine products, following a ban put in place in the 1990s over concerns that BSE could infect the human food chain.

Mr Paterson's visit is the latest attempt by British politicians to get haggis back on American menus.

Several years ago, Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead raised the issue with the US, but the ban remained in place.

Mr Paterson will hold talks with his US opposite number, Tom Vilsack, in Washington on Monday, in an attempt to open up a market which is potentially worth millions of pounds to Scottish producers.

The haggis market is already worth about £15m in the UK alone.

'Wonderful national dish'

Mr Paterson said: "I share many haggis producers' disappointment that American diners are currently unable to enjoy the taste of Scotland's wonderful national dish in their own country.

"I am meeting my US counterpart today to discuss how we can begin exporting it, particularly as so many Americans enjoy celebrating their Scottish heritage."

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

With almost nine million Americans claiming Scots ancestry, there is clearly an appetite in the US for haggis made to traditional recipes"

End Quote Richard Lochhead Scottish Food Secretary

"This government has opened many markets for our home-grown food and drink businesses.

"I will continue to do everything I can to boost exports of everything from whisky to haggis to support Scotland's farmers and rural economy."

During his visit, Mr Paterson will also ask for Scottish lamb to be allowed back into America, following a ban imposed in 1989.

The UK government said it hoped the ban could be lifted as part of an EU-US trade deal, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which is currently being negotiated.

Responding to Mr Paterson's visit to the US, Scottish Food Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "With almost nine million Americans claiming Scots ancestry, there is clearly an appetite in the US for haggis made to traditional recipes.

"We look forward to the USA resuming imports of Scotch Beef and are optimistic that this will pave the way for the resumption of imports of other iconic Scottish products such as haggis and Scotch Lamb.

"The US has long been a top priority market for the Scottish food and drink sector.

"I have been pushing for this development for years - therefore I welcome Owen Paterson's efforts to open up this lucrative market, even if it's taken the forthcoming referendum to get his attention."

While in the US, Mr Paterson will also promote British food and drink products at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, where brands like Walkers Shortbread have entered the American specialist food market.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pakistan 'charity' head condemns US

30 June 2014 Last updated at 03:12

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Hafiz Saeed tells the BBC that Washington is unfairly targeting him

The head of a Pakistani charity group whom the US and India accuse of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks has dismissed new US sanctions.

Hafiz Saeed told the BBC the US was only targeting Jamaat-ud Dawa to win India's backing in Afghanistan.

The US says the self-declared charity is a front for militant group Lashkar-e Taiba and has offered a $10m (£6m) reward for the arrest of Mr Saeed.

The Mumbai attack by Pakistani gunmen left 166 people dead.

Relations between India and Pakistan suffered badly in the aftermath of the three-day assault in the western Indian city.

'Propaganda'

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew North in the Pakistani city of Lahore, Mr Saeed said the US was targeting his organisation simply to please India.

"America always takes decisions based on Indian dictation. Now it's imposing this new ban because it needs India's help in Afghanistan.

"I had nothing to do with the Mumbai attacks, and Pakistan's courts said all India's evidence against me was just propaganda," he said.

The US last week declared Jamaat-ud Dawa a "foreign terrorist organisation" - a move that freezes any assets it has under US jurisdiction.

Both India and the US say they have extensive evidence that Mr Saeed orchestrated the attacks with the Pakistani government help. India has also repeatedly demanded that he be handed over for trial.

Despite this, Mr Saeed lives openly in Lahore, and it is clear that he has little fear of being arrested in Pakistan, our correspondent says.

But he adds that as long as Mr Saeed remains free, there is little chance of a breakthrough in relations between Pakistan and its longstanding rival India.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

North Korea to put US men on trial

30 June 2014 Last updated at 08:18

North Korea says it will put two detained US men on trial, accusing them of "committing hostile acts".

Matthew Miller and Jeffrey Fowle had been investigated and would be brought before a court, the state news agency KCNA reported.

It said that suspicions about the two men had been confirmed by evidence and the pair's own statements, but gave no further details.

A US-Korean missionary, Kenneth Bae, is currently serving a 15-year sentence.

He was arrested in November 2012 and later convicted of trying to overthrow the North Korean government.

US attempts to secure his release have so far proved unsuccessful, despite fears over his health.

Bargaining chips?

Both of the US nationals to be put on trial entered North Korea on tourist visas.

Jeffrey Fowle entered North Korea on 29 April and was detained in early June as he was leaving the country, according to North Korean reports.

Japanese agency Kyodo said Mr Fowle was arrested because he left a Bible at a hotel.

Matthew Todd Miller was detained on 10 April, KCNA reported.

The agency said he had torn up his tourist visa, shouting that he had "come to the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] after choosing it as a shelter".

North Korea has in the past been accused of using arrested Americans as diplomatic bargaining chips.

The US wants Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for economic and diplomatic incentives, but talks on a deal agreed in 2007 have been stalled for several years.

Last year, North Korea carried out its third nuclear test and launched a three-stage rocket that Washington called a banned test of long-range missile technology.

The US has no formal diplomatic ties with North Korea. But in the past, senior US figures including former President Bill Clinton have travelled to the country to ensure the release of American detainees.

Other US detainees in North Korea

• Eddie Jun Yong-su: Businessman detained for six months in 2011, freed after a visit led by US envoy Robert King
• Aijalon Mahli Gomes: Teacher and Christian jailed in 2010 for eight years over illegal entry via China - freed after ex-US President Jimmy Carter visited Pyongyang
• Robert Park: US activist crossed into North Korea via China in late 2009 - freed in 2010 by North Korea
• Laura Ling and Euna Lee: Journalists jailed in 2009 for 12 years over illegal entry via the Chinese border - freed after ex-US President Bill Clinton met former NK leader Kim Jong-il

US citizens held by N Korea

Religious activity is severely restricted in the North and missionaries have been arrested on many previous occasions.

Kenneth Bae, the highest-profile of the currently detained Americans, was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour in May 2013.

North Korea says he used his tourism business to form groups to overthrow the government.

The US has tried on at least two occasions to arrange a visit by a senior human rights envoy, Robert King, to discuss his case, but Pyongyang has cancelled both these visits.

Detainees from other nations can be treated differently - earlier this year, Pyongyang deported Australian missionary John Short, who was detained after apparently leaving Christian pamphlets at a tourist site.

Slander

Also on Monday, North Korea proposed a suspension in hostilities and slander between the two Koreas.

The proposal comes after a volley of short-range missile launches by the North, and just days ahead of a visit to Seoul by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China is North Korea's political and economic lifeline, but Mr Xi has pointedly chosen to prioritise a visit to the South, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson.

In January, North Korea published an open letter to South Korea calling for an end to all hostile military acts and slander.

But this reconciliation drive ended a few months later with sexual slurs and racist abuse directed at the presidents of South Korea and the US.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Transformers rule the US box office

30 June 2014 Last updated at 10:21

Transformers: Age of Extinction has topped the North American box office and scored the biggest opening weekend of the year so far.

The fourth instalment in Michael Bay's franchise took $100m (£58.8m) despite generally poor reviews from critics.

It also added another $201.3m (£118.2m) from 37 international territories, including $90m (£52.9m) in China alone.

The film stars Mark Wahlberg as a mechanic who helps the shape-shifting Autobots fight a new enemy.

Made for a reported $200m (£117.5m), Age of Extinction met industry predictions for its opening weekend.

It topped Dark of the Moon, the third film in the series, which took in $97.9m (£57.5m) in its opening weekend in 2011, but failed to eclipse the $108.9m (£64m) debut of the second film, Revenge of the Fallen.

It is expected to secure a strong second week of release, coinciding with the 4 July US holiday weekend.

"I think putting Mark Wahlberg front and centre accomplished what we wanted to do, and that's re-energise the franchise," Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore said.

"He appeals to audiences, both critically and as an action star."

The three previous Transformer outings starring Shia LeBeouf as a teenager who befriends robot Optimus Prime, generated nearly $2.7bn (£1.6bn) worldwide.

Elsewhere on the chart, 22 Jump Street held firm at number two with $15.4m (£9m), with animation How To Train Your Dragon 2 at three with $13.1m (£7.7m) in box office takings.

Last week's chart topper, Kevin Hart comedy Think Like a Man Too, fell to four with $10.4m (£6.1m).

Maleficent - Disney's take on Sleeping Beauty starring Angelina Jolie - was at five with $8.2m (£4.8m), bringing its total domestic US gross to more than $201m (£118m) and its international haul to $586m (£344m).

Source: Rentrak
1. Transformers: Age of Extinction - $100m
2. 22 Jump Street - $15.4m
3. How To Train Your Dragon Too - $13.1m
4. Think Like A Man Too - $10.4m
5. Maleficent - $8.2m

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Seized Silk Road bitcoin sold in US

30 June 2014 Last updated at 11:07

The auction of 29,000 bitcoins seized during a raid on the Silk Road internet marketplace has been completed.

The sale of the coins, worth about $18.7m (£11m), was carried out by the US Marshals Service on 27 June.

The Silk Road shut down in late 2013 following raids by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies which said it was trading in illegal drugs.

The auction ran for about 12 hours and the successful bidders are due to notified on 30 June.

The seized bitcoins are part of the civil forfeiture and criminal action brought against Silk Road owner Ross William Ulbricht.

The bitcoin hoard was sold by being split into nine blocks of 3,000 coins and one of 2,657.

The US Marshals declined to name who had put down bids for the coins although earlier this month the agency accidentally leaked a list of some of the buyers in an email update about the sale.

Officials at the Agency wrongly addressed the email message, inadvertently revealing most of the people to whom it had been sent.

The list included UK-based virtual currency payment processor Coinbase as well as auction site Second Market and marketplace Bitcoin Shop.

Another larger hoard of bitcoins, believed to be worth about $85m, was also seized during the 2013 raid. Mr Ulbricht is contesting ownership of these bitcoins saying they are his personal property and are not part of the Silk Road's assets now controlled by the US government.

The sale comes as California clarifies state laws governing crypto currencies such as Bitcoin. Until now it has been technically illegal to buy and sell using virtual currencies. The law ends a state prohibition that requires commerce to be transacted only with US currency.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obama to name McDonald new VA chief

30 June 2014 Last updated at 13:41

President Barack Obama is to nominate the former head of consumer products giant Procter and Gamble to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bob McDonald, an Army veteran, would replace Eric Shinseki, who resigned.

The agency has been mired in scandal, with managers alleged to have falsified records to conceal long hospital waits.

It is also dealing with a huge influx of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and struggling to provide care to an aging generation of Vietnam veterans.

Mr Obama is scheduled to make the announcement on Monday afternoon at the Veterans Affairs (VA) headquarters in Washington.

White House officials say Mr McDonald's corporate background at the head of one of the largest consumer products companies in the world has prepared him well to lead an agency that serves more than eight million veterans a year.

Mr McDonald - who has donated to Republican politicians, including Ohio Senator Rob Portman and House Speaker John Boehner - would need to be confirmed by the Senate.

Mr Shinseki resigned in May after an internal investigation found veterans at an Arizona VA hospital had waited an average of 115 days for an initial appointment, even as hospital administrators reported to the agency an average wait time of only 24 days.

This month, another internal audit reported that more than 57,000 veterans had been waiting up to three months for medical appointments at VA hospitals.

Congress is considering legislation that would enable former soldiers to seek medical care from private hospitals and from other government healthcare programmes while authorising funds to hire more doctors and nurses.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

BP seeks to wrest back compensation

28 June 2014 Last updated at 11:35

BP has asked a US court to order a "vast number" of businesses to repay part of the compensation awards they were paid in the wake of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The oil firm said the administrator in charge of processing the claims allowed businesses to inflate their losses.

Last year a US court agreed the process was unfair but now the British company wants the money back with interest.

BP has fought a long legal battle in US courts to limit the compensation bill.

In a court filing on Friday, BP asked a US judge to order the businesses to repay the overpayments plus interest, and requested an injunction to prevent firms spending what it called their "windfall".

Earlier in June the US Supreme Court refused to allow BP to stop paying compensation claims while it awaited the outcome of its legal appeals.

Inflated claims

The explosion at the Deepwater Horizon rig, off the coast of Louisiana, killed 11 workers and caused the worst offshore oil spill in US history.

In the wake of that disaster, BP reached the terms of a settlement to compensate businesses. The firm initially estimated it would pay $7.8bn (£4.6bn) in business claims.

But the oil company has argued that the terms are being misinterpreted and that compensation claims were being inflated.

BP cited a number of examples to support its case, saying that under the new policy, a seller of animal skins would have been paid $14m less, while a building firm based hundreds of miles from the Gulf would have been paid $8.4m less.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Phil Collins donates Alamo hoard

27 June 2014 Last updated at 10:44

Singer Phil Collins has donated his extensive collection of Alamo memorabilia to a Texas museum.

The 63-year-old Genesis star said he had amassed more than 200 artefacts after becoming fascinated with the 1836 battle as a child.

Collins said he was donating the collection - thought to be the largest in private hands - to ensure it was better cared for in the future.

It includes items such as a rifle owned by folk hero Davy Crockett.

At an event announcing the donation in San Antonio, Collins joked he had spent "all the money I made from music" on his collection related to the battle where 1,500 Mexican troops laid siege to 200 Texans fighting for Texas independence.

"Some people would buy Ferraris, some people would buy houses, I bought old bits of metal and old bits of paper," he said. He explained he first became interested in the Alamo after watching the 1950s TV series Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.

"I've had a love affair with this place since I was about 5 years old. It's [all] at my home, in my basement in Switzerland. I look at it every day, but no one else was enjoying it."

The collection also includes Crockett's leather shot pouch, a pair of powder horns which the soldier is believed to have given to a Mexican officer before his death, muskets belonging to Mexican soldiers and one of the original Bowie knives, made famous by Alamo defender Jim Bowie.

Texas land commissioner Jerry Patterson said Collins would pay to ship the collection to Texas with the understanding the state would use public funding and private donations to redevelop the Alamo site - including a new building to house the collection.

The collection will begin arriving in Texas in the next few months and will be displayed on a rotating basis at the museum.

Collins said he would continue buying Alamo memorabilia and "once I've lived with whatever I buy for a month, I'll ship it over here".

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Why Davy Crockett's legend lives on

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Facebook fights US court over data

27 June 2014 Last updated at 12:37 By Joe Miller Technology reporter

Facebook is fighting a US court order in which it was forced to hand over data belonging to almost 400 people involved in a benefit fraud trial.

The social media site said the request was "by far the largest" it had ever received from a government body.

Photographs, private messages and other information were supplied to a New York court last year, but the process was only made public by a judge this week.

The ruling defined Facebook as a "digital landlord".

A judge said this definition meant the company must comply with search warrants.

The original case investigated fraudulent claimants of US federal disability benefits, whose Facebook accounts apparently showed that they were in fact healthy.

The web giant was ordered to hand over information from the 381 accounts, which the court said contained "evidence of criminality".

'Unconstitutional'

After an appeal was denied, Facebook complied with the request but protested that it violated the Fourth Amendment of the US constitution, which protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures".

Facebook also voiced concerns about the lack of date restrictions on the warrant, which it argued allowed the US government to keep the data indefinitely, and the range of data requested, which it said would contain private material which bore no relation to the trial.

The proceedings have been kept private by the court, but after a fresh appeal by Facebook a New York judge has now made the court filing public.

Facebook said the government had obtained "gag orders", preventing it from telling the account holders that it had been forced to hand over their data.

"This unprecedented request is by far the largest we've ever received - by a magnitude of more than ten - and we have argued that it was unconstitutional from the start," wrote Chris Sonderby, a legal adviser to Facebook.

"Of the 381 people whose accounts were the subject of these warrants, 62 were later charged in a disability fraud case.

"This means that no charges will be brought against more than 300 people whose data was sought by the government without prior notice to the people affected."

'Virtual custodian'

But a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney defended the court's actions.

"This was a massive scheme involving as many as 1,000 people who defrauded the federal government," said Joan Vollero.

"The defendants in this case repeatedly lied to the government about their mental, physical, and social capabilities. Their Facebook accounts told a different story."

In a summation of the legal justification for the court's decision, the judge wrote: "Facebook could best be described as a digital landlord, a virtual custodian or storage facility for millions of tenant users and their information.

"Hence, the search warrants authorise the search and seizure of digital information contained within the Facebook server."

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

US moves to stop using landmines

27 June 2014 Last updated at 16:21

The United States says it will no longer produce or buy any anti-personnel landmines.

A White House statement also said it would not seek to replace expiring stockpiles of the weapons.

The announcement came at a conference in Mozambique on the Ottawa Convention, a UN treaty banning landmines. The White House says it is moving towards signing the pact.

But critics accuse the US of not going far enough.

They say it should ban landmine use immediately, commit to a target date for joining the UN treaty and destroy its existing stocks.

Several other world powers, including Russia and China, have also not signed the convention.

'Out of the shadows'

"Today at a review conference in Maputo, Mozambique, the United States took the step of declaring it will not produce or otherwise acquire any anti-personnel landmines (APL) in the future, including to replace existing stockpiles as they expire," National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement.

She said the US was "diligently pursuing solutions that... ultimately allow the United States to accede to the Ottawa Convention", but did not make clear when this might happen.

The US has provided more than $2.3bn (£1.4bn, 1.7bn euros) in aid since 1993 in more than 90 countries for the destruction of conventional weapons, the spokeswoman added.

Steve Goose, arms director at campaign group Human Rights Watch, welcomed the US move to "come out of the shadows" and indicate its intention to join the landmine treaty.

But he said: "The US should set a target date for joining the Mine Ban Treaty, should commit to no use of the weapons until it accedes, and should begin destruction of all its stockpiles."

The number of people killed or maimed by landmines fell to 3,628 in 2012, down from 4,474 in 2011, according to the watchdog Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.

The rate of casualties has decreased 60% since the Ottawa Convention came into force in 1999.

Mozambique was left with an estimated three million unexploded mines after its 1977-1992 civil war, but is now seen as an example of successful clearance.

The country has set a deadline of the end of 2014 to be free of all known mines.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

VIDEO: Faulty fighter jet lands on stool at sea

The US military has released video of a fighter pilot landing his jet on a ship faultlessly and without full landing gear on 7 June.

When the front landing gear malfunctioned he had to land vertically, bringing the nose of the aircraft down to rest on a stool.

US Marine Corps Capt. William Mahoney explained that he could not even see the stool underneath his plane.

He later realised the crew of the USS Bataan had evacuated the landing deck in case he crashed.

Video filmed and edited by the US military.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Golden Gate Bridge to get suicide net

27 June 2014 Last updated at 19:25

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

More than 1,400 people have committed suicide by leaping off the famous landmark

San Francisco bridge officials have approved the construction of suicide-prevention nets alongside the Golden Gate Bridge.

The bridge's board voted unanimously on a $76m (£45m) funding package.

Since the bridge opened in 1937, more than 1,400 people have killed themselves by jumping off the bridge, including a record 46 suicides in 2013.

The vote marks a last step in what has been a decades-long campaign by families of suicide victims.

"For survivors, seeing more people added to our group while waiting for a funding package has been excruciating," said John Brooks, whose daughter died after jumping off the bridge in 2008.

The stainless steel net was first approved by the board in 2008 over other suicide-prevention options, including raising the bridge's railings.

Continue reading the main story

Not one more soul, not one more soul will be lost to that bridge"

End Quote Kevin Hines

But funding for the project was a major obstacle.

One of the more significant hurdles in funding the nets was overcome when the US president signed a law making safety barriers and nets eligible for federal funds. Federal funding will make up $49m of the project.

The net will stretch 20ft (6m) wide on each side of the span, officials say.

During a news conference on Thursday ahead of the vote, one of the few people who had survived a suicide attempt off the bridge rejected the argument those who were suicidal would find another way if the nets were installed.

Kevin Hines, 32, said he felt "instant regret" when he jumped.

"Not one more soul, not one more soul will be lost to that bridge," he said.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2018, Denis Mulligan, the bridge's general manager, told the Associated Press news agency.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

GM recalls 428,000 more US vehicles

27 June 2014 Last updated at 23:10

General Motors is recalling nearly half a million vehicles in the US amid concerns over faulty air bags and other issues, the company has said.

Among the 428,211 vehicles recalled on Friday are the Chevrolet Cruze, Silverado and GMC Sierra.

Problems in the vehicles' air bag mechanism risk shooting pieces of metal into the cabin or keeping the air bags from deploying, the company warned.

In 2014, GM has issued 48 separate recalls for 20 million vehicles total.

"The inflator in the driver's front air bag may rupture and/or the air bag may not inflate during air bag deployment," the company wrote in a statement listing the models and model years subject to the recall.

"A rupture could propel metal pieces of the inflator into the vehicle cabin, possibly striking and seriously injuring the driver or other vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the inflator does not inflate the air bag, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver."

The company said it was aware of one injury stemming from the issue.

Impact on earnings

Other issues cited in the four recalls announced on Friday include a transfer case failure which could allow a vehicle to lose all power to its wheels while in motion.

On 16 June, GM announced it would recall 3.16 million cars in the US because of ignition switch problems.

Earlier this month, an additional 500,000 Chevrolet Camaro cars were recalled after GM found fault with the ignition system.

In March, 2.6 million cars were also recalled because of a faulty ignition switch.

Earlier in June, the company raised its expected second-quarter charge for recall expenses to $700m (£411m), up from $400m.

In May, the company was fined $35m for failing to address defects which have been linked to 13 deaths.

GM has now recalled nearly 20 million vehicles in the US this year - more than the carmaker sold in 2013.

Previous recalls have involved possibly faulty seat belts, transmissions and air bags, as well as potential fire issues.

The company has set up a website where consumers can check if their vehicles have been recalled.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing US boy in custody of mother

28 June 2014 Last updated at 01:42

A 12-year-old found in the basement of his father's block of flats after being missing for 11 days is in his mother's custody, police in Detroit have said.

Police say they are not allowing Charlie Bothuell to have contact with his father or stepmother.

Investigators have not ruled out abuse but the father, also Charles, denies he has ever harmed his son.

Police officers found the boy, who had been feared dead, behind a clutter of boxes on Wednesday.

On Friday, the Detroit Free Press reported, citing a court document not released publicly, that Charlie told investigators that his stepmother, Monique Dillard-Bothuell, instructed him to go to the basement and "not to come out, no matter what he hears" and did not bring him food.

Meanwhile, in a Friday court hearing it was revealed the boy's body was marked with bruises that indicated he had been physically abused in the past, the Detroit News reported.

Mr Bothuell's lawyer Mark Magidson told local media that he expected child abuse charges would be filed against his client.

'Highly disingenuous'

On Wednesday, Mr Bothuell was appealing to HLN viewers for help when presenter Nancy Grace told him Charlie had been found alive and well.

The father appeared to be stunned and said, "What?"

He told the presenter his family, Detroit police and FBI had searched the multiple-flat building's basement several times.

Earlier in the day, the police said they feared the boy was dead.

"God, they brought dogs, everything... Everybody has searched," Charles Bothuell IV said. "Oh God, my son."

Police also confirmed to local media they had searched the family's basement with a cadaver dog, adding investigators were not sure Charlie had been in the basement for the full 11 days.

The boy's stepmother was also arrested on Thursday for violating her probation on a misdemeanour gun charge.

Mr Magidson told reporters her arrest was "highly disingenuous" and said he had advised her not to talk to investigators unless he was present.

As he left a court hearing for his wife on Friday, Mr Bothuell told reporters: "I have something to say, but I can't right now."

Charlie was given medical attention at a nearby hospital after he was found, with Police Sgt Mike Woody telling US media the boy was "doing fine".

"I've never seen anything quite like this," Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters on Wednesday. "But the outcome - I couldn't be happier."

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stars pay tribute to 'legend' Womack

28 June 2014 Last updated at 17:25

Some of the biggest names in music have paid tribute to singer and songwriter Bobby Womack, who died on Friday.

Peter Gabriel said the musician was a "soul legend" while Ronnie Wood said his friend would be "greatly missed".

Womack, whose hits included Across 110th Street, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

The cause of death was not announced, but he had suffered from cancer and Alzheimer's disease and battled with drug addiction.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Bobby Womack's career as a musician spanned more than five decades

He had been due to perform at the Womad music festival in Wiltshire, UK, in July.

In a statement on Saturday, Womad's founder Peter Gabriel said Womack's "songs and his voice have been so much a part of the fabric of so many musical lives".

'Signature soul scream'

Ronnie Wood, who covered Womack's It's All Over Now with The Rolling Stones, said "the man who could make you cry when he sang has brought tears to my eyes with his passing".

British soul singer Beverley Knight said he "truly epitomised passionate soul vocals" and praised his "signature soul scream".

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

DJ Tony Blackburn: ''He was one of the greatest soul singers of all time"

American singer-songwriter Kelis said: "There are a few people that really resonate from that era of soul music and he's definitely one of them.

"He left so much for us as a guideline and to be inspired by, musically."

Other tributes came from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who said he was a "beautiful dude", and Damon Albarn, who collaborated with the singer, who tweeted: "I will see my brother in church".

Gospel singer Candi Staton, who knew Womack since childhood, said he had "a style that nobody else could ever capture".

Womack was born in 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio and began singing in a gospel group in the 1950s with his brothers.

He later gained attention after the siblings signed to SAR Records in 1960.

The brothers, including Cecil, Curtis, Harry and Friendly Jr, cut two R&B albums as the Valentinos.

Later the group broke up and Womack turned to song writing and a solo career.

He outlived many of the acts with whom he played and with whom he was friendly, including Jimi Hendrix and Wilson Pickett.

His songs were recorded by many artists, including Janis Joplin. His friend Sam Cooke persuaded him to let The Rolling Stones record It's All Over Now.

"He said, 'One day you'll be part of history, this group is gonna be huge,'" Womack told BBC Newsnight in 2012. "I said, 'Why don't they get their own songs?'"

He also worked as a session guitarist, appearing on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield, and Pickett.

From 1970-90, Womack charted 36 singles including That's the Way I Feel About Cha and Woman's Gotta Have It.

A series of personal tragedies including the deaths of two sons led him to drug abuse, according to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

'My worst critic'

After a long musical hiatus, in 2009 he was tapped by Gorillaz co-founder Damon Albarn to record a song for the group's third album.

In 2012, Womack released his first album in more than ten years, entitled The Bravest Man in the Universe.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

In 2012, Womack talked to Newsnight's Stephen Smith about his career

Womack told the BBC in 2013 "drugs had a lot to do with" a period spent away from the music industry prior to 2009.

"I've always been my worst critic," he said. "I think that keeps me reaching... I never take the audience for granted."

Just two weeks before his death, Womack performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

Twitter reaction

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Benghazi raid suspect in US court

28 June 2014 Last updated at 20:59

The suspected ringleader of the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi has appeared amid tight security at a US federal courthouse in Washington DC.

Ahmed Abu Khattala was captured by US forces in Benghazi on 18 June.

He denied a raft of terrorism-related charges. He says he was in Benghazi during the attack on the US consulate but that he did not take part.

The US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other people were killed in the September 2012 attack.

Mr Abu Khattala was charged with providing material support and resources to terrorists including himself; killing a person on a federal facility; and damaging property of the US by fire and explosives resulting in death.

Mr Abu Khattala, wearing a black, hooded top and black sweatpants, listened intently to the charges through an interpreter before pleading not guilty, the BBC's Beth McLeod in Washington reports.

The next hearing was set for 8 July.

'Key figure'

American media reported that Mr Abu Khattala was brought to court in Washington from a US Navy warship where he had been held since being captured two weeks ago.

The US has described him as "key figure" in the attack on the consulate.

President Obama praised the raid which led to his capture earlier this month.

"When Americans are attacked, no matter how long it takes, we will find those responsible and we will bring them to justice," he said.

President Obama and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faced fierce criticism for not doing enough to prevent the attack.

Several Republican congressmen have called for Mr Abu Khattala and other terror suspects to be held at the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Ahmed Abu Khattala

• Native of Benghazi in eastern Libya

• Construction worker by trade

• Spent several years in Col Muammar Gaddafi's notorious Abu Salim prison in Tripoli

• Formed his own small militia during the anti-Gaddafi uprising

• Denies any links to al-Qaeda but has expressed admiration for it

• Also denies any role in the attack on the US embassy in 2012, but eyewitnesses report him being there

• US state department says he is a senior leader in Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia

Profile: Libyan Islamist Ahmed Abu Khattala

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

GM recalls 428,000 more US vehicles

27 June 2014 Last updated at 23:10

General Motors is recalling nearly half a million vehicles in the US amid concerns over faulty air bags and other issues, the company has said.

Among the 428,211 vehicles recalled on Friday are the Chevrolet Cruze, Silverado and GMC Sierra.

Problems in the vehicles' air bag mechanism risk shooting pieces of metal into the cabin or keeping the air bags from deploying, the company warned.

In 2014, GM has issued 48 separate recalls for 20 million vehicles total.

"The inflator in the driver's front air bag may rupture and/or the air bag may not inflate during air bag deployment," the company wrote in a statement listing the models and model years subject to the recall.

"A rupture could propel metal pieces of the inflator into the vehicle cabin, possibly striking and seriously injuring the driver or other vehicle occupants. Additionally, if the inflator does not inflate the air bag, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver."

The company said it was aware of one injury stemming from the issue.

Impact on earnings

Other issues cited in the four recalls announced on Friday include a transfer case failure which could allow a vehicle to lose all power to its wheels while in motion.

On 16 June, GM announced it would recall 3.16 million cars in the US because of ignition switch problems.

Earlier this month, an additional 500,000 Chevrolet Camaro cars were recalled after GM found fault with the ignition system.

In March, 2.6 million cars were also recalled because of a faulty ignition switch.

Earlier in June, the company raised its expected second-quarter charge for recall expenses to $700m (£411m), up from $400m.

In May, the company was fined $35m for failing to address defects which have been linked to 13 deaths.

GM has now recalled nearly 20 million vehicles in the US this year - more than the carmaker sold in 2013.

Previous recalls have involved possibly faulty seat belts, transmissions and air bags, as well as potential fire issues.

The company has set up a website where consumers can check if their vehicles have been recalled.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Canadian is second-ever top NBA pick

27 June 2014 Last updated at 02:50

A Canadian player has been selected as the National Basketball Association's (NBA) number-one draft pick for the second year in a row.

The Cleveland Cavaliers picked Andrew Wiggins of Ontario, a first-year student at the University of Kansas.

Wiggins, 19, averaged a university first-year-record 17.1 points per game.

Last year's top NBA pick, Ontarian Anthony Bennett, was injured in 2013 and failed to make an impact in last year's basketball season.

'Dream come true'

"A thousand thoughts are going through my head right now," Wiggins said in New York City following his selection in the NBA's amateur draft.

"It's a dream come true."

Wiggins hails from Vaughan, Ontario and attended high school at Huntington Prep.

In his first season with the Jayhawks he set a single-season scoring record with 597 points.

His mother Marita Payne-Wiggins competed in athletics at Florida State University and for Canada in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

His father Mitchell played in the NBA from 1984-92 with the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulated Wiggins.

"For the second year in a row, a Canadian is the #1 overall pick in the NBA draft," he wrote on Twitter.

Last year's top NBA draft pick was also chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Bennett played at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for one year before entering the NBA draft.

He attended high school in West Virginia and Nevada in the US, and also played for Canada's junior national team.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Phil Collins donates Alamo hoard

27 June 2014 Last updated at 10:44

Singer Phil Collins has donated his extensive collection of Alamo memorabilia to a Texas museum.

The 63-year-old Genesis star said he had amassed more than 200 artefacts after becoming fascinated with the 1836 battle as a child.

Collins said he was donating the collection - thought to be the largest in private hands - to ensure it was better cared for in the future.

It includes items such as a rifle owned by folk hero Davy Crockett.

At an event announcing the donation in San Antonio, Collins joked he had spent "all the money I made from music" on his collection related to the battle where 1,500 Mexican troops laid siege to 200 Texans fighting for Texas independence.

"Some people would buy Ferraris, some people would buy houses, I bought old bits of metal and old bits of paper," he said. He explained he first became interested in the Alamo after watching the 1950s TV series Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.

"I've had a love affair with this place since I was about 5 years old. It's [all] at my home, in my basement in Switzerland. I look at it every day, but no one else was enjoying it."

The collection also includes Crockett's leather shot pouch, a pair of powder horns which the soldier is believed to have given to a Mexican officer before his death, muskets belonging to Mexican soldiers and one of the original Bowie knives, made famous by Alamo defender Jim Bowie.

Texas land commissioner Jerry Patterson said Collins would pay to ship the collection to Texas with the understanding the state would use public funding and private donations to redevelop the Alamo site - including a new building to house the collection.

The collection will begin arriving in Texas in the next few months and will be displayed on a rotating basis at the museum.

Collins said he would continue buying Alamo memorabilia and "once I've lived with whatever I buy for a month, I'll ship it over here".

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Why Davy Crockett's legend lives on

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Facebook fights US court over data

27 June 2014 Last updated at 12:37 By Joe Miller Technology reporter

Facebook is fighting a US court order in which it was forced to hand over data belonging to almost 400 people involved in a benefit fraud trial.

The social media site said the request was "by far the largest" it had ever received from a government body.

Photographs, private messages and other information were supplied to a New York court last year, but the process was only made public by a judge this week.

The ruling defined Facebook as a "digital landlord".

A judge said this definition meant the company must comply with search warrants.

The original case investigated fraudulent claimants of US federal disability benefits, whose Facebook accounts apparently showed that they were in fact healthy.

The web giant was ordered to hand over information from the 381 accounts, which the court said contained "evidence of criminality".

'Unconstitutional'

After an appeal was denied, Facebook complied with the request but protested that it violated the Fourth Amendment of the US constitution, which protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures".

Facebook also voiced concerns about the lack of date restrictions on the warrant, which it argued allowed the US government to keep the data indefinitely, and the range of data requested, which it said would contain private material which bore no relation to the trial.

The proceedings have been kept private by the court, but after a fresh appeal by Facebook a New York judge has now made the court filing public.

Facebook said the government had obtained "gag orders", preventing it from telling the account holders that it had been forced to hand over their data.

"This unprecedented request is by far the largest we've ever received - by a magnitude of more than ten - and we have argued that it was unconstitutional from the start," wrote Chris Sonderby, a legal adviser to Facebook.

"Of the 381 people whose accounts were the subject of these warrants, 62 were later charged in a disability fraud case.

"This means that no charges will be brought against more than 300 people whose data was sought by the government without prior notice to the people affected."

'Virtual custodian'

But a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney defended the court's actions.

"This was a massive scheme involving as many as 1,000 people who defrauded the federal government," said Joan Vollero.

"The defendants in this case repeatedly lied to the government about their mental, physical, and social capabilities. Their Facebook accounts told a different story."

In a summation of the legal justification for the court's decision, the judge wrote: "Facebook could best be described as a digital landlord, a virtual custodian or storage facility for millions of tenant users and their information.

"Hence, the search warrants authorise the search and seizure of digital information contained within the Facebook server."

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

US moves to stop using landmines

27 June 2014 Last updated at 16:21

The United States says it will no longer produce or buy any anti-personnel landmines.

A White House statement also said it would not seek to replace expiring stockpiles of the weapons.

The announcement came at a conference in Mozambique on the Ottawa Convention, a UN treaty banning landmines. The White House says it is moving towards signing the pact.

But critics accuse the US of not going far enough.

They say it should ban landmine use immediately, commit to a target date for joining the UN treaty and destroy its existing stocks.

Several other world powers, including Russia and China, have also not signed the convention.

'Out of the shadows'

"Today at a review conference in Maputo, Mozambique, the United States took the step of declaring it will not produce or otherwise acquire any anti-personnel landmines (APL) in the future, including to replace existing stockpiles as they expire," National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in a statement.

She said the US was "diligently pursuing solutions that... ultimately allow the United States to accede to the Ottawa Convention", but did not make clear when this might happen.

The US has provided more than $2.3bn (£1.4bn, 1.7bn euros) in aid since 1993 in more than 90 countries for the destruction of conventional weapons, the spokeswoman added.

Steve Goose, arms director at campaign group Human Rights Watch, welcomed the US move to "come out of the shadows" and indicate its intention to join the landmine treaty.

But he said: "The US should set a target date for joining the Mine Ban Treaty, should commit to no use of the weapons until it accedes, and should begin destruction of all its stockpiles."

The number of people killed or maimed by landmines fell to 3,628 in 2012, down from 4,474 in 2011, according to the watchdog Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.

The rate of casualties has decreased 60% since the Ottawa Convention came into force in 1999.

Mozambique was left with an estimated three million unexploded mines after its 1977-1992 civil war, but is now seen as an example of successful clearance.

The country has set a deadline of the end of 2014 to be free of all known mines.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

VIDEO: Faulty fighter jet lands on stool at sea

The US military has released video of a fighter pilot landing his jet on a ship faultlessly and without full landing gear on 7 June.

When the front landing gear malfunctioned he had to land vertically, bringing the nose of the aircraft down to rest on a stool.

US Marine Corps Capt. William Mahoney explained that he could not even see the stool underneath his plane.

He later realised the crew of the USS Bataan had evacuated the landing deck in case he crashed.

Video filmed and edited by the US military.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Golden Gate Bridge to get suicide net

27 June 2014 Last updated at 19:25

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

More than 1,400 people have committed suicide by leaping off the famous landmark

San Francisco bridge officials have approved the construction of suicide-prevention nets alongside the Golden Gate Bridge.

The bridge's board voted unanimously on a $76m (£45m) funding package.

Since the bridge opened in 1937, more than 1,400 people have killed themselves by jumping off the bridge, including a record 46 suicides in 2013.

The vote marks a last step in what has been a decades-long campaign by families of suicide victims.

"For survivors, seeing more people added to our group while waiting for a funding package has been excruciating," said John Brooks, whose daughter died after jumping off the bridge in 2008.

The stainless steel net was first approved by the board in 2008 over other suicide-prevention options, including raising the bridge's railings.

Continue reading the main story

Not one more soul, not one more soul will be lost to that bridge"

End Quote Kevin Hines

But funding for the project was a major obstacle.

One of the more significant hurdles in funding the nets was overcome when the US president signed a law making safety barriers and nets eligible for federal funds. Federal funding will make up $49m of the project.

The net will stretch 20ft (6m) wide on each side of the span, officials say.

During a news conference on Thursday ahead of the vote, one of the few people who had survived a suicide attempt off the bridge rejected the argument those who were suicidal would find another way if the nets were installed.

Kevin Hines, 32, said he felt "instant regret" when he jumped.

"Not one more soul, not one more soul will be lost to that bridge," he said.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2018, Denis Mulligan, the bridge's general manager, told the Associated Press news agency.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing US boy in custody of mother

28 June 2014 Last updated at 01:42

A 12-year-old found in the basement of his father's block of flats after being missing for 11 days is in his mother's custody, police in Detroit have said.

Police say they are not allowing Charlie Bothuell to have contact with his father or stepmother.

Investigators have not ruled out abuse but the father, also Charles, denies he has ever harmed his son.

Police officers found the boy, who had been feared dead, behind a clutter of boxes on Wednesday.

On Friday, the Detroit Free Press reported, citing a court document not released publicly, that Charlie told investigators that his stepmother, Monique Dillard-Bothuell, instructed him to go to the basement and "not to come out, no matter what he hears" and did not bring him food.

Meanwhile, in a Friday court hearing it was revealed the boy's body was marked with bruises that indicated he had been physically abused in the past, the Detroit News reported.

Mr Bothuell's lawyer Mark Magidson told local media that he expected child abuse charges would be filed against his client.

'Highly disingenuous'

On Wednesday, Mr Bothuell was appealing to HLN viewers for help when presenter Nancy Grace told him Charlie had been found alive and well.

The father appeared to be stunned and said, "What?"

He told the presenter his family, Detroit police and FBI had searched the multiple-flat building's basement several times.

Earlier in the day, the police said they feared the boy was dead.

"God, they brought dogs, everything... Everybody has searched," Charles Bothuell IV said. "Oh God, my son."

Police also confirmed to local media they had searched the family's basement with a cadaver dog, adding investigators were not sure Charlie had been in the basement for the full 11 days.

The boy's stepmother was also arrested on Thursday for violating her probation on a misdemeanour gun charge.

Mr Magidson told reporters her arrest was "highly disingenuous" and said he had advised her not to talk to investigators unless he was present.

As he left a court hearing for his wife on Friday, Mr Bothuell told reporters: "I have something to say, but I can't right now."

Charlie was given medical attention at a nearby hospital after he was found, with Police Sgt Mike Woody telling US media the boy was "doing fine".

"I've never seen anything quite like this," Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters on Wednesday. "But the outcome - I couldn't be happier."

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

BP seeks to wrest back compensation

28 June 2014 Last updated at 11:35

BP has asked a US court to order a "vast number" of businesses to repay part of the compensation awards they were paid in the wake of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The oil firm said the administrator in charge of processing the claims allowed businesses to inflate their losses.

Last year a US court agreed the process was unfair but now the British company wants the money back with interest.

BP has fought a long legal battle in US courts to limit the compensation bill.

In a court filing on Friday, BP asked a US judge to order the businesses to repay the overpayments plus interest, and requested an injunction to prevent firms spending what it called their "windfall".

Earlier in June the US Supreme Court refused to allow BP to stop paying compensation claims while it awaited the outcome of its legal appeals.

Inflated claims

The explosion at the Deepwater Horizon rig, off the coast of Louisiana, killed 11 workers and caused the worst offshore oil spill in US history.

In the wake of that disaster, BP reached the terms of a settlement to compensate businesses. The firm initially estimated it would pay $7.8bn (£4.6bn) in business claims.

But the oil company has argued that the terms are being misinterpreted and that compensation claims were being inflated.

BP cited a number of examples to support its case, saying that under the new policy, a seller of animal skins would have been paid $14m less, while a building firm based hundreds of miles from the Gulf would have been paid $8.4m less.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Soul legend Bobby Womack dead at 70

28 June 2014 Last updated at 12:39

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Bobby Womack's career spanned more than 50 years

Legendary soul singer and songwriter Bobby Womack, who penned hits for many of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century, has died at the age of 70.

The cause of death was not announced, but Womack had suffered from cancer and Alzheimer's disease and battled with drug addiction.

His hits included It's All Over Now, performed by the Rolling Stones, and Lookin' for Love.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

Survivor

Womack was born in 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio and began singing in a gospel group in the 1950s with his brothers.

He later gained attention after the siblings signed to SAR Records in 1960.

The brothers, including Cecil, Curtis, Harry and Friendly Jr, cut two R&B albums as the Valentinos.

Later the group broke up and Womack turned to song writing and a solo career.

He outlived many of the acts with whom he played and with whom he was friendly, including Jimi Hendrix and Wilson Pickett.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

DJ Tony Blackburn: ''He was one of the greatest soul singers of all time"

His songs were recorded by Janis Joplin, Wilson Pickett and many others. His friend Sam Cooke persuaded him to let the Rolling Stones record It's All Over Now.

"He said, 'One day you'll be part of history, this group is gonna be huge,'" Womack told BBC Newsnight in 2012. "I said, 'Why don't they get their own songs?'"

He also worked as a session guitarist, appearing on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield, and Pickett.

From 1970-90, Womack charted 36 singles including That's the Way I Feel About Cha and Woman's Gotta Have It.

A series of personal tragedies including the deaths of two sons led him to drug abuse, according to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

'My worst critic'

After a long musical hiatus, in 2009 he was tapped by Gorillaz co-founder Damon Albarn to record a song for the group's third album.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

In 2012, Womack talked to Newsnight's Stephen Smith about his career

In 2012, Womack released his first album in more than ten years, entitled The Bravest Man in the Universe.

Womack told the BBC in 2013 "drugs had a lot to do with" a period spent away from the music industry prior to 2009.

"I've always been my worst critic," he said. "I think that keeps me reaching... I never take the audience for granted."

Just two weeks before his death, Womack performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

Musicians who worked with the star paid tribute to his career and contribution to music.

Gospel singer Candi Staton, who knew Womack since childhood, said he had "a style that nobody else could ever capture".

"I loved him and I will miss him so, so very much" said the singer, who also toured with him.

Jason Newman from Rolling Stone Magazine said that he was one of the biggest soul acts of the day in the 1970s.

"Some of his albums and tracks are classics.. He was doing it for seven decades", he told the BBC.

Twitter reaction

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

US senator beats Tea Party rival

25 June 2014 Last updated at 05:38

US Republican Senator Thad Cochran, who is seeking re-election, has narrowly beaten a Tea Party candidate in a high-profile primary in Mississippi.

Mr Cochran, a six-term senator, had the backing of establishment Republicans but was forced into a run-off by Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel.

The race was seen as a crucial test of the direction of the Republican Party ahead of midterm elections in November.

Moderate Republican candidates also won primary races in Oklahoma and Colorado.

The BBC's Beth McLeod in Washington says Thad Cochran's victory, although narrow, will come as a relief for moderates who were faced with a challenge from hardline conservative groups within the party.

Earlier this month, establishment Republicans suffered the shock defeat of former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor by a little-known Tea Party challenger in his Virginia district.

In a brief speech, Mr Cochran thanked those who supported him.

"It's a group effort, it's not a solo, and so we all have a right to be proud of our state tonight," he said.

The 76-year old is expected to retain his seat in November's congressional elections.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

2-2 game 'most viewed in US history'

24 June 2014 Last updated at 18:57

US fans were left downcast by a last-minute Portugal equaliser but Sunday's 2-2 draw was probably the most viewed football match in US history.

An average of 24.7 million watched the World Cup thriller on ESPN and Univision, said data firm Neilsen.

That matched figures for the 2010 final, but ESPN said an additional 490,000 people streamed coverage.

The match had more viewers than homegrown events like the NBA finals in basketball or baseball World Series.

Streaming numbers for 2010 weren't immediately available, but it's very unlikely they were as high as 2014 because the technology was not as widely used.

The 2010 World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands was the previous record, but interest in the game has been building ever since the US hosted the tournament in 1994.

A record 17.9 million people tuned in to watch the US lift the women's World Cup in 1999.

This time, with live broadcasts in peak times in the US, large screens have been erected in parks across the country, with a record 20,000 fans gathering at Balbo Avenue park in Chicago.

In recent American sports finals, the 2013 World Series was watched by an average 14.9 million viewers, while the NBA finals earlier this month only averaged 15.5 million viewers, although both are played over a number of games.

But American football is in a different league - 111.5 million watched the Seattle Seahawks triumph at the Super Bowl in February.

The USA's next game is against Germany on Thursday, when a draw will guarantee their progress to the last 16.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kidnapped US baby found by jogger

24 June 2014 Last updated at 15:38

A kidnapped baby has been reunited with its mother after being found by the side of road by a woman out jogging.

Police in Houston searched overnight on Sunday for eight-month-old Genesis Haley after her mother's vehicle was taken as she paid for petrol.

The stolen car was found shortly after the incident but with no baby inside.

But jogger Hong Nguyen called police when she found the little girl crying, still in her car seat, while out running at 08:00 local time on Monday.

Genesis was then handed back to her mother after getting the all-clear at hospital.

"That's my duty as a human being to do that," Ms Nguyen told local broadcaster KHOU. "I can't believe - it was so scary to see that situation."

The Houston police officer that responded said he took the car seat with the eight-month-old inside and carried her out to the open to check for injuries.

"Once I saw that she was moving and appeared OK, I took her out of the car seat, held her, and just tried to console her," Officer Albert Pizana said.

He used his uniform shirt to swaddle her and calm her down.

The search for the suspect continued on Tuesday.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Asiana plane crash crew 'at fault'

24 June 2014 Last updated at 20:04

The crew of the Asiana flight that crashed in San Francisco "over-relied on automated systems" the head of the US transport safety agency has said.

Chris Hart, acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said such systems were allowing serious errors to occur.

The NTSB said the 6 July 2013 crash, which killed three, was caused by pilot mismanagement of the plane's descent.

It was the only fatal passenger airline accident in the US in five years.

The aircraft hit a seawall as it approached the airport runway, ripping off the tail and sending the body of the airplane skidding down the runaway, which then caught fire.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

New footage has come to light that shows emergency vehicles at the scene of the Asiana plane crash in San Francisco in July 2013

Three people died in the crash - including one Chinese teenager who was run over by a firefighting vehicle in the chaos.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Mr Hart said the Asiana crew did not fully understand the automated systems on the Boeing 777, but the issues they encountered were not unique.

"In their efforts to compensate for the unreliability of human performance, the designers of automated control systems have unwittingly created opportunities for new error types that can be even more serious than those they were seeking to avoid," Mr Hart said.

The South Korea-based airline said those flying the plane reasonably believed the automatic throttle would keep the plane flying fast enough to land safely.

But that feature was shut off after a pilot idled it to correct an unexplained climb earlier in the landing.

The airline argued the automated system should have been designed so that the auto throttle would maintain the proper speed after the pilot put it in "hold mode".

Boeing has been warned about this feature by US and European airline regulators.

"Asiana has a point, but this is not the first time it has happened," John Cox, an aviation safety consultant, told the Associated Press news agency.

"Any of these highly automated airplanes have these conditions that require special training and pilot awareness. ... This is something that has been known for many years."

Among the recommendations the NTSB made in its report:

• The Federal Aviation Administration should require Boeing to develop "enhanced" training for automated systems, including editing the training manual to adequately describe the auto-throttle programme.
• Asiana should change its automated flying policy to include more manual flight both in training and during normal operations
• Boeing should develop a change to its automatic flight control systems to make sure the plane "energy state" remains at or above minimum level needed to stay aloft during the entire flight.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nine people shot in Miami attack

24 June 2014 Last updated at 21:03

Two people were killed and seven wounded in an overnight shooting in Miami, police say.

Investigators say multiple gunmen opened fire outside an apartment building complex in the Liberty City neighbourhood.

Kevin Richardson, 29, and Nakeri Jackson, 26, were killed in the attack.

Officials say they are investigating a motive behind the shootings, which happened shortly after 02:15 local time on Tuesday.

Later that morning, police cones marked dozens of spent shell casings outside the two-storey block of flats.

People standing nearby said they were afraid to talk about the shootings, the Associated Press reported.

"He said he was coming back. I want my baby. He don't mean no harm to nobody," Richardson's mother, Hermonya Richardson, told the Miami Herald.

The neighbourhood has been plagued by violence and shootings. Last April, a gunman opened fire into a crowd outside a corner store, killing a woman and wounding two men.

One resident, Jose Hernandez, told the Associated Press news agency gun violence is an almost daily occurrence in the area.

"I have friends who have been killed," Mr Hernandez said. "This violence has to change."

But Tuesday's shooting was one of the worst in the city's history, the Miami Herald reports.

20.24 | 0 komentar | Read More