Written By Unknown on Selasa, 31 Maret 2015 | 20.24
The G20 leaders' visa numbers, passport numbers and dates of birth were among the personal data accidentally emailed to the organisers of the Asian Cup football tournament
The passport numbers and visa details of 31 world leaders were accidentally emailed to the organisers of the Asian Cup in Australia before the G20 summit in Brisbane in November 2014.
Those affected included US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
A worker at the Australian Department of Immigration sent the list by mistake.
The department decided there was no need to alert the G20 attendees.
"Given that the risks of the breach are considered very low and the actions that have been taken to limit the further distribution of the email, I do not consider it necessary to notify the clients of the breach," an unnamed Department of Immigration director wrote to the Australian Privacy Commissioner in an email obtained by the Guardian following a Freedom of Information request.
Both the sender of the email and the recipient had deleted it within 10 minutes of it being sent, the officer explained, and the Asian Cup football tournament organisers said they did not believe the email was accessible or stored on their servers.
The message included the 31 world leaders' dates of birth but not personal addresses and other contact details.
The breach was said to be the result of "human error", with the sender forgetting to check the auto-fill function in Microsoft Outlook's email service before hitting send.
"There was nothing systemic or institutional about the breach," continued the email from the government official.
"It should also be noted that the personal details of these individuals, including their names, positions and dates of birth are generally already available in the public domain given their prominent positions."
South African comedian Trevor Noah is to replace Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, the New York Times reports.
The 31-year-old made his debut as a contributor to the nightly satirical show last December.
His first appearance took aim at racial tensions in the US, saying: "I never thought I'd be more afraid of police in America than in South Africa."
Stewart announced he would be stepping down in January. He has hosted the influential comedy show for 16 years.
The presenter has yet to set a timetable for his departure, but the selection of a replacement should make the task easier.
Producers will want to give Noah time to settle into this new role before next year's Presidential election.
Speaking to the New York Times from Dubai, where he is on tour, the comedian expressed disbelief at his appointment.
"You don't believe it for the first few hours," he said. "You need a stiff drink, and then unfortunately you're in a place where you can't really get alcohol."
"I'm thrilled for the show and for Trevor," said Stewart in a statement. "He's a tremendous comic and talent that we've loved working with."
South African reaction: Milton Nkosi, Johannesburg
South Africans are overjoyed at the news that their compatriot will succeed Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. It was even the lead story in some local news bulletins.
The Soweto-born comedian is a much-loved figure here. In a polarised country like South Africa he cuts across racial divisions with his great sense of humour.
The department of Arts and Culture told me it was great news.
"No doubt this is a big development for Mr Noah's career and a resounding statement that South Africa has the artistic talent of international stature and calibre," said spokesman Sandile Memela.
"We wish to congratulate him on this significant achievement."
Trevor Noah's funniest jokes
Who is Trevor Noah?
The star added he "may rejoin [The Daily Show] as a correspondent just to be a part of it!"
Comedian Chris Rock, who had been touted as a possible replacement for Stewart, tweeted: "Thank you President Obama"
Under Stewart's guidance, The Daily Show has become one of the most important political programmes on US television.
Noah tweeted this picture of himself with Jon Stewart following his debut on The Daily Show last year
Even though he insists he is a comedian, not a journalist, Stewart's passionate monologues on politics, race and social justice exert a real influence on political debate in the United States.
"He essentially invented a new way to deliver the news that spoke to a younger generation less trusting of the traditional sources but still very interested in the world." said Dan Pfeiffer, an adviser to President Obama, when Stewart announced he was quitting.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren added: "Washington is rigged for the big guys - and no person has more consistently called them out for it than Jon Stewart. Good luck, Jon!"
As well as Stewart, the Daily Show has also nurtured the careers of comedians such as Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert and John Oliver - all of whom started off a "reporters" in the show's fake newsroom set-up.
Noah is a relative unknown in the States, but has hosted numerous television shows - including his own late night talk show - in his native country.
It has garnered him an avid following on Twitter, where his two million followers will be aware of his ability to satirise the news without disengaging from the issues.
One popular tweet, posted during Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013, read: "People shouldn't have booed Zuma at Mandela's memorial. But it's crazy that their anger supersedes their pain."
And after the 2012 Olympic Games, he quipped: "I'll miss the Olympics. It's the one time, when a group of black people can run, with no suspicion."
Noah was previously the subject of David Paul Meyer's award-winning film You Laugh But It's True, which documented his career in post-apartheid South Africa.
The comedian has also appeared on UK panel shows including QI and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, as well as performing on the BBC's Live From The Apollo programme.
He also performed at last year's Royal Variety Performance, where he spoke about his parents - a white Swiss man and a black Xhosa woman, whose relationship was illegal under apartheid laws.
His mother was fined and jailed by the South African government - Noah joked that he was "born a crime" - and he grew up in a Soweto township.
A TV career began when he landed a role on the soap opera Isidingo, aged 18, and he went on to host reality shows and radio programmes before becoming a stand-up.
"Trevor Noah is an enormous talent," said Michelle Ganeless, president of Comedy Central, which broadcasts the show. "He has an insightful and unique point of view, and most importantly, is wickedly funny.
"He has a huge international following and is poised to explode here in America, and we are thrilled to have him join Comedy Central."
Writing on Twitter, Noah added: "No-one can replace Jon Stewart. But together with the amazing team at The Daily Show, we will continue to make this the best damn news show!"
Three buildings were levelled in the gas explosion
Two bodies been found at the site of a massive gas explosion that flattened three buildings in New York on Thursday.
The bodies were found on Sunday, but no identities have been released.
Two people have been reported missing from a sushi restaurant hit by the blast: Nicholas Figueroa, who was on a date there, and a worker, Moises Lucon.
A further 22 people were injured in the explosion and subsequent fire, four critically.
Utility inspectors had declared plumbing and gas work inside one of the buildings faulty just an hour before the explosion, locking the line to ensure it would not be used and then leaving, officials said.
Police have been using search dogs at the scene
The blast that followed soon after left heaps of bricks and mangled debris across the street in Manhattan's East Village.
Mr Figueroa's date, who is being treated in hospital, remembers only stumbling out of the restaurant before losing consciousness.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials would investigate whether anyone had improperly tapped the gas supply prior to the blast.
Some of the biggest names in entertainment have re-launched the music subscription service Tidal, which they are billing as the first artist-owned platform for music and video.
At an event in New York on Monday, Madonna, Beyonce, Kanye West, and 13 other performers announced they had become co-owners of Tidal.
The service launched last October, but was recently bought by rapper Jay Z.
It is hoping to compete with the likes of Spotify, Deezer and Google Play.
However Tidal offers 25 million music tracks, fewer than the 30 million offered by many rival services.
As well as a standard subscription for $9.99 a month, Tidal offers a "high fidelity" option for $19.99, which claims to deliver better sound quality.
Alicia Keys said they would make history
Singer Alicia Keys spoke on behalf of the artists as they all lined up on stage at Skylight at Moynihan Station in Manhattan.
Describing the event as a "graduation", she said the artists hoped Tidal would alter musical evolution.
"So we come together before you on this day, March 30th, 2015, with one voice in unity in the hopes that today will be another one of those moments in time, a moment that will forever change the course of music history."
Their mission, she said, goes beyond commerce and technology.
"Our intent is to preserve music's importance in our lives,'' she said.
Notably, the majority of the company will be owned by artists, a symbolic move in a business where musicians often have little control over how their work is distributed and consumed.
Jay Z's strategy will include encouraging artists to lobby their labels to give Tidal new music a week in advance of other services, giving it a short window of exclusivity.
He told Billboard: "We didn't like the direction music was going and thought maybe we could get in and strike an honest blow.
"Will artists make more money? Even if it means less profit for our bottom line, absolutely. That's easy for us. We can do that. Less profit for our bottom line, more money for the artist; fantastic."
Indiana Statehouse was the focus for protests at the weekend
The governor of Indiana has defended a new law that has unleashed a wave of condemnation across the country.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Mike Pence said the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) had been "grossly misconstrued" as anti-gay.
"I abhor discrimination," he wrote, rejecting claims the law limited the rights of gays and lesbians.
The measure gives firms and groups the right to express their religious beliefs in the way they do business.
The governor went on the attack after a number of famous names, corporations and sporting institutions warned that business owners now had a licence to discriminate against gays and lesbians.
Signed into state law last week, the bill prevents the state from forcing people to provide services they say are contrary to their religion.
Critics believe it provides a way for opponents of gay marriage, which became legal in Indiana last year, to continue their opposition by other means.
The backlash has made allies of Hillary Clinton and Miley Cyrus, and Angie's List and Apple.
Critics say yes, it means a florist could refuse to provide flowers for a gay wedding, for example
but supporters say it is about religious freedom not exclusion
20 US states have such laws but few go as far as Indiana's in giving protection to businesses
and some of those states have other laws that prevent discrimination against minorities.
And the National Collegiate Athletic Association said it was "especially concerned" about how the law would affect its athletes, days before its basketball finals are being held in Indianapolis.
A day after an awkward television interview in which he refused to answer questions about how the law might be used against gay people, Mr Pence had a clearer message for readers of the Wall Street Journal.
"I abhor discrimination. I believe in the Golden Rule that you should 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'
"If I saw a restaurant owner refuse to serve a gay couple, I wouldn't eat there anymore.
"As governor of Indiana, if I were presented a bill that legalised discrimination against any person or group, I would veto it."
Mr Pence has found himself under intense pressure to amend the law, as other US states have done, to add anti-discrimination language.
Fellow Republicans in the state's Senate and House have offered to explore that possibility, after receiving a letter from nine chief executive officers, including the heads of Angie's List and Eli Lilly, to "take immediate action".
The White House, Walmart and the mayor of Indianapolis have also expressed concerns.
Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy signed an executive order on Monday that bans state-funded travel to Indiana and other states that simultaneously have RFRA and yet no balancing law to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.
Ross Ulbricht is alleged to have made millions from running the Silk Road
Two former US special agents have been charged with stealing large amounts of digital currency while investigating the notorious Silk Road marketplace.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) alleges that Shaun Bridges stole more than $800,000 (£540,000) in Bitcoin.
His colleague, Carl Force, has also been charged with money laundering and wire fraud.
Best known for selling illegal drugs, Silk Road was closed in 2013 following raids by the FBI and other agencies.
The man accused of running the site, Ross Ulbricht, was convicted in February, and prosecutors argued that he had earned about $18m in Bitcoin from the operation.
Mr Force, who worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), served as an undercover agent during the investigation into the Silk Road.
One of his tasks involved communicating with Ulbricht, known online as "Dread Pirate Roberts."
The DoJ alleges that "without authority", Mr Force "developed additional online personas and engaged in a broad range of illegal activities calculated to bring him personal financial gain".
"In doing so, the complaint alleges, Force used fake online personas, and engaged in complex Bitcoin transactions to steal from the government and the targets of the investigation.
"In one such transaction, Force allegedly sold information about the government's investigation to the target of the investigation."
The 46-year-old is charged with wire fraud, theft of government property, money laundering and conflict of interest.
Shaun Bridges, who worked for the US Secret Service, is charged with wire fraud and money laundering.
The DoJ alleges that he transferred more than $800,000 in Bitcoin into an account at MtGox, a Japanese digital currency exchange that filed for bankruptcy in February.
"He then allegedly wired funds into one of his personal investment accounts in the United States mere days before he sought a $2.1m seizure warrant for Mt. Gox's accounts," the DoJ says.
Both men appeared in a San Francisco court on Monday.
Haroon Aswat was arrested in 2005 following a request from US authorities
British terror suspect Haroon Aswat has pleaded guilty in New York to charges of plotting to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon.
Mr Aswat from Batley, West Yorkshire, is accused of conspiring with radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri to establish a camp 15 years ago.
Thought to be aged 45, paranoid schizophrenic Mr Aswat was extradited to the US last year to stand trial.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced on 31 July.
Mr Aswat was arrested in the UK in 2005 at the request of authorities in the US.
In 2008, he was transferred from prison to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital with paranoid schizophrenia.
He fought extradition for several years, with the European Court of Human Rights ruling in September 2013 that he could not be extradited as his mental health could deteriorate.
However, in September 2014 two High Court judges said they were satisfied he would receive satisfactory care in the US.
He lost his final legal battle when in January 2015, the European Court of Human Rights dismissed a case he brought against the government arguing his extradition rested on inadequate assurances from US officials about his treatment.
Abu Hamza was extradited from Britain to the US in 2012 and found guilty of multiple terrorism charges in May 2014.
An Air Canada aeroplane "exited" the runway while landing at Halifax airport, the airline says.
The A320 Airbus was carrying 133 passengers and five crew. A total of 23 were taken to hospital for observation and treatment for minor injuries.
Flight AC624 from Toronto arrived shortly after midnight (04:00 GMT) and reportedly hit a power pylon after landing.
There were stormy conditions at the time, with snow on the ground.
Power at Halifax Stanfield International Airport was knocked out but Nova Scotia Power says that it has been restored.
Passengers said the plane skidded on its undercarriage before coming to a stop.
Randy Hall told Associated Press: "We were just coming in to land and there was a big flash. The plane came down, bang! It jumped up in the air again."
Businessman Mike Magnus told the agency: "It was so chaotic at the time. I'm pretty sure the landing gear broke. The engine on my side popped off."
Passengers were taken from the plane immediately but had to stand on the tarmac in the snow until buses arrived.
Eighteen of the people taken to hospital have already been released.
Peter Spurway, a spokesman for Halifax Stanfield, said two people had required "urgent care".
Most of the injuries sustained by those on board were light
Mr Tsarnaev's lawyers have admitted that he took part in the attacks
The prosecution has rested its case in the trial of a man accused of carrying out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, is charged with 30 counts related to the bombings, which killed three people and wounded more than 260 in April 2013.
As part of the prosecution's summing up, medical examiners gave graphic details of the injuries suffered by those who died in the attack.
Mr Tsarnaev could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Massachusetts Chief Medical Examiner Henry Nields testified that the youngest victim of the attacks, eight-year-old Martin Richard, received injuries to every part of his body.
The testimony was illustrated by autopsy photos and the child's bloody, torn clothing.
Mr Nields said one piece of shrapnel appeared to have gone straight through Richard's body.
"It would be difficult to say the precise location due to the size of the openings in the abdomen," he testified, according to Reuters.
Last week jurors were shown shrapnel taken from the body of another victim of the blast, Krystle Campbell
The defence began calling its own witnesses later on Monday.
Earlier in the trial, the defence made the surprise admission that Mr Tsarnaev had participated in the attacks.
But defence lawyers argue that his 26-year-old brother, Tamerlan, had been the driving force behind the attacks. By doing so they hope to spare their client the death penalty.
Mr Tsarnaev is charged with 30 counts related to the bombings. The brothers set off a pair of homemade pressure-cooker bombs at the race's crowded finish line.
Mr Tsarnaev is also accused of fatally shooting a police officer three days later.
The prosecution says Mr Tsarnaev, who emigrated with his family from Chechnya, had extremist views and wanted to hit back at the US in revenge for military action in Muslim countries.
One man has been killed and another was seriously wounded after a shooting at a gate to the US National Security Agency headquarters near Washington.
NSA officers fired on a vehicle that refused to follow commands and charged a police vehicle blocking the road.
An unnamed official told the Associated Press that the men inside the car were dressed as women.
One of the car's occupants died on the scene, while the other was injured and taken to a local hospital.
The incident began shortly after 9:00 local time (14:00 GMT) when at least two people attempted to drive the vehicle into the National Security Agency section of the Fort Meade facility.
The NSA, in a rare public statement, said that the driver refused to obey an NSA police officer's commands to exit the secure area.
The vehicle charged toward the NSA vehicle, which it smashed into as police fired on it, the statement said.
The statement does not mention anyone other than NSA police firing a weapon.
The collision happened at the crossroads
Helicopter footage of the scene recorded shortly after the incident showed two cars - one a police vehicle and the other a black vehicle with no insignia - with extensive damage in a junction that had been roped off near the security gates leading to the NSA.
The cars appeared to have collided and debris was strewn across the intersection. A white cloth appeared to cover something beside the black vehicle.
The FBI has taken the lead on the investigation.
"We do not believe it is related to terrorism," FBI Baltimore spokeswoman Amy Thoreson told the BBC.
President Barack Obama was briefed on the incident, according to White House officials.
Aerial footage showed debris strewn across the junction shortly after the incident
The large Fort Meade campus, located about 30 minutes outside Washington, is home to about 40,000 military and civilian personnel, plus many members of employees' family.
The facility houses the US Cyber Command, the US Defense Information School and other agencies, in addition to the NSA.
The NSA is a clandestine intelligence agency, charged with collecting and analysing electronic signals for US intelligence and counterintelligence purposes.
The agency rose to prominence after Edward Snowden leaked thousands of the agency's documents in 2013.
Earlier this month the FBI arrested a man for firing shots that damaged the building from a nearby highway.
There is no indication the two incidents are linked.
Written By Unknown on Senin, 30 Maret 2015 | 20.24
A woman who posted a photo showing her clothes and bed after her period on Instagram says she wasn't doing it to be purposely provocative.
The site removed the photo twice before Rupi Kaur, from Toronto, challenged them.
In the end, Instagram agreed that she hadn't broken their guidelines and apologised.
The picture was part of an art project in which she wanted to break what she called "taboos" around menstruation.
Speaking to Newsbeat from her home in Canada, Rupi said: "When I see the picture it looks completely beautiful to my eyes.
"I wasn't being provocative. The point of the photo was to de-mystify all the taboos that are around menstruation.
"When I initially put it up I knew there would be some controversy and some hate comments and then it would go away. Never in a million years did I expect it to be on every major headline everywhere."
The story of the photo was subsequently picked up by the global media.
Instagram sent Rupi a message saying the content breached their community guidelines but she challenged that decision.
They eventually sent her another message, which she shared on her Tumblr page, where the firm said someone had "accidentally removed" the post and apologised.
Whilst Instagram received criticism for the initial decision, Rupi also received a barrage of negative comments over the photo.
"There's hate from strangers. I understand that and I've developed a thick skin. But when it comes from your friends, people who stood by you... that shocks, especially from women.
"It was interesting the way people were belittling the experience and the struggle of the period.
"You won't go on vacation because of your period, you change your wedding date, it goes everywhere with you and you are in so much pain. Women are hospitalised."
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube
A California jury has found that a venture capital firm did not discriminate against a female partner in a closely watched case in Silicon Valley.
Ellen Pao claimed she missed out on promotions at Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers because of her gender.
Ms Pao, now an executive with the website Reddit, says she was dismissed after complaining.
The firm has said its decisions were based on her performance.
The case has drawn attention to a lack of gender diversity in the technology industry - particularly among its top executives.
Venture capital firms are a chief source of funding for many start-up companies in Silicon Valley. Kleiner Perkins - as it is commonly known - has invested in companies including Snapchat, Spotify, Uber, Twitter, and Google.
In addition to punitive damages, Ms Pao was also seeking $16m (£10.7m) in compensation for lost wages.
During closing arguments, jurors heard conflicted stories of Ms Pao's tenure at the firm.
John Doerr (right), one of the firm's venture capitalists, on stage with Apple's Steve Jobs in 2008
Her attorneys portrayed her as a successful junior partner who was discriminated against because the firm judged men and women differently.
Ms Pao's lawyer, Alan Exelrod, said two of her male colleagues had been promoted, despite the fact that one was called confrontational and the other was accused of having "sharp elbows" - an apparent reference to his attitude towards other workers.
The firm's legal team said Ms Pao was a failed investor and sued to get a big payout as she was being pushed out.
They said she was a difficult person to work with and had a history of conflicts with colleagues, all of which contributed to the decision to dismiss her.
A study given as evidence during the trial said that women are largely underrepresented in top roles in the venture capital industry.
Californian investor and entrepreneur Eric Ries told the BBC the wider issue of gender bias in Silicon Valley is well documented but can be unintentional.
"Silicon Valley aspires to be a meritocracy so we have a culture that values outsiders and the perspectives they bring, and there is this idea that good ideas can come from anywhere... that's our aspiration but the reality is in many ways we fall short," he said.
An Air Canada aeroplane "exited" the runway while landing at Halifax airport, the airline says.
The A320 Airbus was carrying 133 passengers and five crew. A total of 23 were taken to hospital for observation and treatment for minor injuries.
Flight AC624 from Toronto arrived shortly after midnight (04:00 GMT) and reportedly hit a power pylon after landing.
There were stormy conditions at the time, with snow on the ground.
Power at Halifax Stanfield International Airport was knocked out but Nova Scotia Power says that it has been restored.
Passengers said the plane skidded on its undercarriage before coming to a stop.
Randy Hall told Associated Press: "We were just coming in to land and there was a big flash. The plane came down, bang! It jumped up in the air again."
Businessman Mike Magnus told the agency: "It was so chaotic at the time. I'm pretty sure the landing gear broke. The engine on my side popped off."
Passengers were taken from the plane immediately but had to stand on the tarmac in the snow until buses arrived.
Eighteen of the people taken to hospital have already been released.
Peter Spurway, a spokesman for Halifax Stanfield, said two people had required "urgent care".
Most of the injuries sustained by those on board were light
The convictions of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito for the murder of UK student Meredith Kercher have been quashed by Italy's top appeals court.
It is the final ruling in the case, following three previous court decisions over the 2007 murder.
Ms Kercher, 21, was stabbed to death in a Perugia flat she shared with Ms Knox.
American Ms Knox, 27, said she was "full of joy" after being acquitted, but the mother of Ms Kercher, who was from London, said she was "shocked".
Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito, her Italian ex-boyfriend, were initially found guilty of the murder in 2009.
They were freed in 2011 after the convictions were overturned, but they were reinstated by another court last year.
Meredith Kercher, 21, was found dead in the flat that she shared with Ms Knox
Despite being cleared of the murder charge, the guilty verdict against Ms Knox for the slander of Patrick Lumumba - a bar owner she falsely accused of the crime - has been upheld.
The presiding judge confirmed a three-year sentence would remain. That time has been served.
Ms Knox had spent four years in prison during the trial, and could seek compensation for the extra year served, BBC Europe correspondent Gavin Lee said.
'Full of joy'
Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito had always maintained their innocence and the decision by the Court of Cassation puts an end to their long legal battle.
The reasoning behind the decision will be made public in 90 days.
"I'm still absorbing the present moment," Ms Knox said, speaking outside her mother's house in Seattle.
She expressed thanks "for the justice I've received and for the support I've had from everyone".
"Meredith was my friend," she added, "she deserved so much in this life."
Analysis
Gavin Lee, BBC Europe correspondent in Rome
It has been a seven-year trial, and late on Friday night, after nine hours of discussion, five appeal court judges in Rome's supreme court stepped out to deliver a definitive acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, over the murder of Meredith Kercher.
No reason was given. A brief statement was read by the presiding judge - justification will be delivered, in writing, within 90 days, in accordance with Italian law.
Neither defendant was in court, but there were cheers from both defence teams, who spoke of their surprise - an acquittal being a rarity in Italian supreme court hearings.
Lawyer Carlo Della Vedova broke the news to Ms Knox by phone, who cried with happiness, saying she now wants to "recover from this nightmare".
The Kercher family have not been in court for this hearing, but prosecution lawyer Francesco Maresca spoke of their concern that they won't ever learn the truth about what happened to Ms Kercher eight years ago.
Prof Greg Hampikian, a friend of the Knox family who also worked on the DNA evidence for Ms Knox's defence, told BBC Radio 5 live that "everybody is very happy to see this finished, so they can get on with their lives".
"She's trying to start her life as a young woman, so hopefully this will be a really wonderful change and a new day for them and for Raffaele and his folks," he said.
"I hope the Kerchers can find peace as well. It's just been an up and down thing for everyone for so long."
The lawyer for Ms Kercher's family, Francesco Maresca, expressed his disappointment, saying: "I think that it's a defeat for the Italian justice system."
Arline Kercher, Meredith's mother, said she was "very shocked" by the court's decision.
"They have been convicted twice so it's a bit odd that it should change now," she said.
Mr Sollecito was initially arrested along with Ms Knox days after the killing
Ms Kercher, from Coulsdon in south London, was on a one-year student exchange in Perugia when her throat was cut in the flat she shared with Ms Knox.
Prosecutors claimed she was killed as part of a sex game that went wrong.
The Leeds University student's body was found under a duvet in her bedroom, which had been locked from the inside.
Days after the killing, Ms Knox and her then-boyfriend, Mr Sollecito, 31, were arrested.
They were convicted of murder in 2009 by a court in Perugia.
But in 2011, a jury cleared both defendants of the charge, after doubts were raised over the handling of DNA evidence.
Rudy Guede is serving 16 years for his part in the murder
A retrial was ordered after prosecutors argued that important evidence had been disregarded. In 2014, the guilty verdicts were reinstated.
Another man, Rudy Hermann Guede, born in Ivory Coast, was convicted of murder in a separate trial and is serving a 16-year sentence.
The court's ruling against Guede stated that he did not act alone, and the 2014 verdicts against Ms Knox and Mr Sollecito said they wielded knives, Guede held the victim down and committed a sexual assault and Ms Knox "delivered the only mortal blow".
That 2014 ruling has now been overturned, so no-one now stands convicted of acting with Guede to kill Ms Kercher.
Knox family reaction
David Willis, BBC News, Seattle
Whoops of joy erupted from the Knox family home in the sleepy Seattle neighbourhood of Arbor Heights as the verdict was announced.
All morning family and friends had been coming and going - members of the "Friends of Amanda" campaign that has lobbied so tirelessly on her behalf.
They and many others in America's Pacific North West have long been convinced Amanda Knox is the victim of a major miscarriage of justice.
One supporter, former Judge Michael Heavey, told the BBC it had been a "modern-day witch hunt".
Amanda Knox is now free to travel outside the US, and, at the age of 27, to plan for her future - a future free of the risk of being extradited to Italy to serve out the remainder of a 28-and-a-half year sentence.
Three buildings were levelled in the gas explosion
Two bodies been found at the site of a massive gas explosion that flattened three buildings in New York on Thursday.
The bodies were found on Sunday, but no identities have been released.
Two people have been reported missing from a sushi restaurant hit by the blast: Nicholas Figueroa, who was on a date there, and a worker, Moises Lucon.
A further 22 people were injured in the explosion and subsequent fire, four critically.
Utility inspectors had declared plumbing and gas work inside one of the buildings faulty just an hour before the explosion, locking the line to ensure it would not be used and then leaving, officials said.
Police have been using search dogs at the scene
The blast that followed soon after left heaps of bricks and mangled debris across the street in Manhattan's East Village.
Mr Figueroa's date, who is being treated in hospital, remembers only stumbling out of the restaurant before losing consciousness.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials would investigate whether anyone had improperly tapped the gas supply prior to the blast.
Tim Cook, the latest company boss to pledge give away his fortune to charity
The chief executive of Apple, Tim Cook, has announced he is donating most of his wealth to charity before he dies.
The head of the world's most profitable company is worth over $800m (£537m).
Mr Cook told Fortune Magazine that he would leave his wealth to philanthropic causes but not before paying for his 10-year-old nephew's college education.
He joins a growing number of the world's super-rich who are giving away their wealth, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Five years ago, billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates launched the campaign The Giving Pledge.
It aims to convince billionaires to give at least half of their fortunes to charity. Mr Zuckerberg and over 100 others have so far signed up to the "moral commitment".
Mr Cook's base salary went up by 43% in February 2014, rising to $9.2m (£6.2m) a year.
According to Fortune Magazine, he holds $120m (£81m) worth of Apple shares and a further $665m (£447m) of restricted stocks.
A US university education costs an estimated $30,000 (£20,000) a year on average. Some private universities cost more than $50,000 a year.
Harvard, one of the most prestigious colleges in the country, charges $43,938 per year in tuition alone for students not receiving financial aid. That rises to $58,607 with room and board, according to its website.
US consumer electronics chain Best Buy has announced that it is closing its Canadian subsidiary, Future Shop, and converting 65 of its 131 stores into Best Buy outlets.
As a result of the move, 500 full-time jobs and 1,000 part-time jobs will go, the retailer said.
Future Shop, Canada's biggest electronics brand, had been owned by Best Buy since 2001.
After the changeover is completed, Best Buy will have 192 Canadian stores.
Best Buy said it would be investing C$200m (£106.5m; $158m) in its operations there over the next two years.
There would also be restructuring costs of at least C$200m, it added.
Analysts say the move will rationalise Best Buy's offer in Canada and get rid of duplication. Best Buy and Future Shop outlets are often found in close proximity, they say.
Other observers took a mixed view of the development. "Best Buy may now be the 'de facto' big-box tech store in North America, but that power grab is coming at a stiff price," said technology news website Engadget.
The grey suit and fedora hat Jon Hamm made famous as Don Draper has been donated to the museum
A collection of costumes and props from hit US drama Mad Men has been donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Cast members Jon Hamm, John Slattery, Christina Hendricks and creator Matthew Weiner attended an event in Washington to present the items to the museum.
They included ad man Don Draper's trademark grey suit and fedora and other real 1960s-period props.
They will be featured as part of an exhibit on American culture in 2018.
Cast members (l-r) John Slattery, Christina Hendricks, Jon Hamm and the show's creator Matthew Weiner were on hand to donate the collection Period props including watches used on the drama were on display
The museum's entertainment curator, Dwight Blocker Bowers, said Mad Men producers did the best research he had ever seen for a TV show, with meticulous detail to create the look of a 1960s ad agency.
Among the donated props included shaving kits, toothbrushes, bottles of alcohol, a packet of cigarettes and watches.
Weiner said he was thrilled items from the show might one day be seen during a school field trip at the Smithsonian.
"What I love about these objects being here is that these are for the most actual objects; they are not recreation," he said. "This is the archaeological site of humanity from this period. We're glad that we saved these things.''
A pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes is among more than 50 items in the collection A selection of sketches of costumes worn on the show were also donated
Charlie Collier, the president of US network AMC which airs the show, said the show's creators were honoured Draper's suit would join Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and other objects from entertainment history at the museum.
"You know, they say that all good things must come to an end, and all great things come to the Smithsonian," he said.
Mad Men returns to US screens for its final seven episodes on 5 April.
The G20 leaders' Visa numbers, passport numbers and dates of birth were among the personal data accidentally emailed to the organisers of the Asian Cup football tournament
The passport numbers and Visa details of 31 world leaders were accidentally emailed to the organisers of the Asian Cup in Australia before the G20 summit in Brisbane in November 2014.
Those affected included US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
A worker at the Australian Department of Immigration sent the list by mistake.
The department decided there was no need to alert the G20 attendees.
"Given that the risks of the breach are considered very low and the actions that have been taken to limit the further distribution of the email, I do not consider it necessary to notify the clients of the breach," an unnamed Depart of Immigration director wrote to the Australian Privacy Commissioner in an email obtained by the Guardian following a Freedom of Information request.
Both the sender of the email and the recipient had deleted it within 10 minutes of it being sent, the officer explained, and the Asian Cup football tournament organisers said they did not believe the email was accessible or stored on their servers.
The message included the 31 world leaders' dates of birth but not personal addresses and other contact details.
The breach was said to be the result of "human error", with the sender forgetting to check the auto-fill function in Microsoft Outlook's email service before hitting send.
"There was nothing systemic or institutional about the breach," continued the email from the government official.
"It should also be noted that the personal details of these individuals, including their names, positions and dates of birth are generally already available in the public domain given their prominent positions."
Noah tweeted this picture of himself with Jon Stewart following his debut on The Daily Show last year
South African comedian Trevor Noah is to replace Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, the New York Times reports.
The 31-year-old made his debut as a contributor to the nightly satirical show last December.
His first appearance took aim at racial tensions in the US, saying: "I never thought I'd be more afraid of police in America than in South Africa."
Stewart announced he would be stepping down in January. He has hosted the influential comedy show for 16 years.
The presenter has yet to set a timetable for his departure, but the selection of a replacement should make the task easier.
Producers will want to give Noah time to settle into this new role before next year's Presidential election.
Speaking to the New York Times from Dubai, where he is on tour, the comedian expressed disbelief at his appointment.
"You don't believe it for the first few hours," he said. "You need a stiff drink, and then unfortunately you're in a place where you can't really get alcohol."
"I'm thrilled for the show and for Trevor," said Stewart in a statement. "He's a tremendous comic and talent that we've loved working with."
The star added he "may rejoin [The Daily Show] as a correspondent just to be a part of it!"
Stewart took a sabbatical from The Daily Show last year, to direct his first feature film, Rosewater
Under Stewart's guidance, The Daily Show has become one of the most important political programmes on US television.
Even though he insists he is a comedian, not a journalist, Stewart's passionate monologues on politics, race and social justice exert a real influence on political debate in the United States.
"He essentially invented a new way to deliver the news that spoke to a younger generation less trusting of the traditional sources but still very interested in the world." said Dan Pfeiffer, an adviser to President Barack Obama, when Stewart announced he was quitting.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren added: "Washington is rigged for the big guys - and no person has more consistently called them out for it than Jon Stewart. Good luck, Jon!"
As well as Stewart, the Daily Show has also nurtured the careers of comedians such as Steve Carrell, Stephen Colbert and John Oliver - all of whom started off a "reporters" in the show's fake newsroom set-up.
Noah is a relative unknown in the States, but has hosted numerous television shows - including his own late night talk show - in his native country.
It has garnered him an avid following on Twitter, where his two million followers will be aware of his ability to satirise the news without disengaging from the issues.
Noah has also been a panellist on British TV shows including QI
One popular tweet, posted during Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013, read: "People shouldn't have booed Zuma at Mandela's memorial. But it's crazy that their anger supersedes their pain."
And after the 2012 Olympic Games, he quipped: "I'll miss the Olympics. It's the one time, when a group of black people can run, with no suspicion."
Noah was previously the subject of David Paul Meyer's award-winning film You Laugh But It's True, which documented his career in post-apartheid South Africa.
The comedian has also appeared on UK panel shows including QI and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, as well as performing on the BBC's Live From The Apollo programme.
He also performed at last year's Royal Variety Performance, where he spoke about his white Swiss father and his black South African mother, whose relationship was illegal under apartheid laws.
"Trevor Noah is an enormous talent," said Michelle Ganeless, president of Comedy Central, which broadcasts the show. "He has an insightful and unique point of view, and most importantly, is wickedly funny.
"He has a huge international following and is poised to explode here in America, and we are thrilled to have him join Comedy Central."
