WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Turkey Roadside Memorial Denied By Utah

    Turkey Roadside Memorial Denied By Utah

    The Utah Department of Transportation denied PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) permission to put up a roadside memorial for hundreds of turkeys that were killed in a tractor accident that took place last month. However, supporters of animal rights appealed the decision on Monday.

    PETA was asking for a sign to be erected on the site of where the accident happened. The trailer truck, which containing over 700 turkeys, crashed on Highway 189 and fell into the Deer Creek Reservoir. The truck’s driver, who was thrown out of the vehicle, survived with injuries, but the hundreds of turkeys on board died.

    The sign was supposed to read “In memory of the hundreds of terrified turkeys who died here in a truck crash. Try vegan.”

    In a letter addressed to PETA, the Utah Department of Transportation said, “This request does not meet the policy standards for roadside memorial signs and UDOT will not make an exception to the policy in this case.”

    UDOT policy states that memorial signs can be erected for road accident victims in order for friends and family to express their grief, but this case is different, as the turkeys that died do not have living relatives who will grieve for them.

    Amy Meyer, a staff for PETA, said that the turkeys also felt pain during the incident, and that they deserve to be treated just like people who have died in road accidents.

    PETAs goal is to remind drivers to drive with care, especially those who are transporting hundreds of animals.

    This is not the first time PETA has filed for the erection of memorials for animals. The animal support group has also filed roadside memorials for chickens in Georgia, and for cows in New York City. As of writing, none of the requests have been allowed.

    PETA has also asked to erect a memorial for fish

    Image via YouTube

  • Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams Released From Police Custody With No Charges

    The Northern Island police has released Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams after being in their custody for 4 days.

    Last week, Adams agreed to turn himself in for questioning. The authorities questioned Adams about his alleged involvement in the 1972 abduction and killing of Jean McConville, a widow with 10 children suspected of being a British spy.

    Adams has long been involved with the IRA (Irish Republican Army). Today, he is the leader of Ireland’s second-biggest opposition party, Sinn Fein.

    Prior to Adams’ release Sinn Fein supporters gathered in protest

    After his release from police custody, Adams stated, “Let me be very clear: I am innocent of any involvement in any conspiracy to abduct, kill, or bury Mrs. McConville.” Adams came out escorted from the back entrance of the building to avoid protesters who were waiting outside.

    Adams was questioned, as there were allegations of his involvement in McConville’s case that came up from recorded messages left by IRA veterans who agreed to speak only if the recordings were to be released upon their death.

    According to testimonies on the tapes, Adams was the mastermind behind McConville’s abduction and killing. McConville’s body was found in 2003, and the police did not have any leads until the testimonies from the tapes were released.

    Adams also said that the only way to go is forward. He admits that he is an activist and he understands that he has detractors that will do anything to bring down Sinn Fein. Amidst all of these, he said that he holds no grudge against anyone.

    “My resolve remains as strong as ever, that is to build the peace, not to let this put us off, it’s our future, the past is the past,” Adams said in a news conference.

    When asked about how his stay in prison was, Adams said that it was okay. He also said the food they served him was inedible and that the facility where he was detained did not live up to modern standards.

    Image via YouTube

  • Thailand Earthquake Measuring 6.3 In Magnitude Rocks Nation

    One of Thailand’s biggest earthquakes shook the northern part of the country on Monday. The earthquake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, was also followed by at least 109 aftershocks that measured 3.0 to about 5.2 on the scale.

    Authorities say that the earthquake left one person dead, an 83-year-old woman killed by a wall that had collapsed on her, and dozen of others hurt. The strength of the quake left temples, roads, walls, and windows severely damaged.

    According to the National Disaster Warning Centre, the earthquake’s epicenter was located in Tambon Saikhao in Phan district. People at the airport in the city of Chiang Rai were also evacuated from the terminal to keep them safe from pieces of the ceiling that were falling.

    One of the country’s popular temples, called the White Temple or the Wat Rong Khun, sustained major damages from the quake. According to Chalermchai Kositpipat, the designer of the temple, the damages were so severe that the temple, as well as the other buildings in the area, may need to be demolished.

    Kositpipat also said that the aftershocks will cause more damage to the temples each time an aftershock happens.

    Residents of Northern Thailand had a sleepless night after the quake, and many resorted to stay outside of their homes because of the aftershocks.

    There were also reports of severe shaking in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, and Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city. Fortunately, no deaths were reported in both areas.

    Southeast Asia is an area that is seismically active and earthquakes are often felt in that region of the world. Having several faults, Thailand has experienced several earthquakes in the past, but those that have been recorded were less severe than the one the country experienced on Monday. The last earthquake that was closest to the 6.3 magnitude was a 5.1 magnitude that hit Chiang Mai province in 2006.

    Image via YouTube

  • Miranda Lambert Has Most CMT Nominations

    Miranda Lambert still remains the queen of country music. The nominations for the 2014 Country Music Television (CMT) Awards have been released and Lambert garnered 6 nominations – two with her band the Pistol Annies, two for her duet with Keith Urban for the song “We Were Us,” and two as a solo singer.

    Lambert, 30, is a multi-awarded country singer who has already won 5 consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year awards from the Academy of Country Music. She currently holds the title for the most consecutive wins in that category.

    She gained fame for being a singing contestant on Nashville Star in 2003 where she became a finalist and finished in third place.

    Lambert beat her fellow country musicians by having the most nominations this year. Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan followed her with 5 nominations each, and Taylor Swift and Keith Urban each have 4 nominations.

    The CMT Music Awards is a fan-voted awards show for country music videos and TV performances. This year’s 13th show will be held at the Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee. Voting will  started Monday and will continue until June 1 via CMT.com. CMT host, presenters, and performers will be announced in the weeks to come.

    Lambert is among the nominees for the top prize of Video of the Year. Here’s the complete list.

    Video of the Year
    Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies and Friends – “Boys ‘Round Here”
    Carrie Underwood – “See You Again”
    Eric Church – “Give Me Back My Hometown”
    Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan – “This Is How We Roll”
    Hunter Hayes – “I Want Crazy”
    Kacey Musgraves – “Follow Your Arrow”
    Keith Urban with Miranda Lambert – “We Were Us”
    Luke Bryan – “That’s My Kind of Night”
    Miranda Lambert – “Automatic”
    Taylor Swift – “Red”
    Thomas Rhett – “It Goes Like This”
    Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban – “Highway Don’t Care”

    Image via YouTube

  • Scotty McCreery: ‘American Idol’ Winner Victim Of Home Invasion

    Country music star and American Idol alum Scotty McCreery was a victim of a robbery that took place on Monday morning. The incident happened in an apartment building near North Carolina State University where McCreery is enrolled as a student.

    According to Jim Sughrue, spokesman for the Raleigh Police, the authorities were called to an apartment a little before 2 am on Monday. The armed suspects were said to have robbed people at the apartment of their electronics, cash, and wallets. Fortunately, no one was harmed during the incident.

    McCreery was in the apartment building visiting some friends when the robbery took place. He issued a statement on Facebook saying, “Luckily, my friends and I are safe.”

    One of residents in the apartment said that they heard people rushing up the stairs. They then heard people yelling, “Who are you? What are you doing here?” The yelling went on for about 5 minutes.

    McCreery is thankful to the Raleigh Police Department for responding to the incident quickly. He also showed his appreciation for everyone who offered him kind words and prayers. He also said that he is willing to share more about his scary experience in due time, as he does not “want to do or say anything that could hinder the investigation.”

    The police are now investigating the case. Neighbors in the apartment building were not able to provide descriptions for the culprits. The authorities are still trying to find out if it was a random act, or if the apartment building was specifically targeted.

    The 20-year-old McCreery is the winner of the 10th season of American Idol. He has just finished his final exams last week and has completed his second year at the North Carolina State University.

    McCreery will resume his “See You Tonight” tour on Friday, and will be playing at Bakersfield, California on May 9.

    Image via YouTube

  • Ariel Winter: Guardianship Case For ‘Modern Family’ Star Settled

    Modern Family star Ariel Winter will be living with her adult sister after a case regarding her guardianship was settled on Monday.

    Shanelle Gray, Ariel’s sister, has been in a dispute with her mother Chrisoula Workman, over the Ariel’s guardianship. The settlement was reached just before the trial begun for the 16-year-old’s guardianship.

    Workman has agreed to settle and drop her objections over her daughter’s guardianship if Ariel agreed to watch a video montage of old family photos in court. Daniel Murphy, the Superior Court Judge, agreed to show the video and Ariel and her sister watched the montage of their childhood pictures while in an emotional state.

    Ariel Winter was removed from her home in 2012 for allegedly being abused

    Winter left the court without saying a thing. Ariel will continue living with Gray. Judge Murphy also said that it is up to Ariel if she wants to visit her mother or not.

    In 2012, Gray was granted temporary guardianship over Ariel as Workman allegedly subjected her daughter to emotional and physical abuse. In an initial report, the child protective services concluded that there was evidence of emotional abuse, but evidence to support the alleged abuse were questionable. On Monday, Workman said, “I have never abused my daughter.”

    Given the family’s current situation, Ariel’s father will be the one to control all her finances. He is also required to submit financial reports to court. In addition, he will also have jurisdiction over his daughter until she becomes of age.

    After the settlement on Monday, Workman and Gray issued a statement saying that the “family has moved beyond the conflict.”

    Ariel has been acting since the age of 7, and is more popularly known for playing the character Alex Dunphy on Modern Family. She is not the only actor in her family. Her brother, Jimmy Workman, appeared in The Addams Family films and portrayed the character of Pugsley Addams.

    Image via YouTube

  • Rutgers Speaker: Tom Kean Will Replace Condoleezza Rice

    Rutgers University has announced that former NJ Governor Tom Kean will be replacing former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a commencement speaker. The decision came after students and faculty members protested against Rice for her part in the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

    When the university’s Board of Governors chose Rice to be the speaker in February, a petition against her immediately circulated saying that she had a major role in misleading Americans “about the presence of mass destruction in Iraq.”

    The protests came from the same university that hired Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of Jersey Shore to speak on campus in 2011. Rutgers University even paid her $32,000 to do it.

    In a statement on Rice’s official Facebook page, she said that commencement exercises should be a time for celebrating for both the graduates and their families. However, “Rutgers’ invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time.”

    Kean, Rice’s replacement, will be delivering the commencement speech on May 18 at the High Point Solutions Stadium.

    According to Robert Barchi, Rutgers President, they made the decision to choose Kean as they hope that his vision, integrity, and civility “will guide our graduates as they pursue their careers or further their studies.”

    Kean was a governor for New Jersey from 1982 up to 1990. After his time in office, he became the President of Drew University for more than a decade. He also served as a co-chair for the national commission that looked into the 9/11 attacks.

    Reports say that Rutgers University will be saving some money by choosing Kean. Rice was supposed to take $35,000 for the commencement speech, and Kean will be taking nothing. He also will not be getting an honorary degree, as he was already given an honorary doctor of laws degree from the university back in 1982.

    Rutgers University said that they are expecting around 40,000 people to attend this year’s commencement exercises.

    Image via YouTube

  • Oregon Prison: Second Inmate Escape In A Week

    The Oregon State Police have been searching for an escaped inmate since Monday. Clinton Swearingen II escaped the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution on Sunday night. This is the second inmate who has escaped from an Oregon detention center in just a week.

    Swearingen was serving prison time for burglary and theft. Authorities found out that he was missing from the facility at 10:30 in the evening.

    Deer Ridge Correctional Institution covers 200 acres of land. It features a minimum-security design that consists of a housing unit as well as operational areas. The institution is made mostly of wood materials and has a minimum-security prison that can accommodate 644 inmates.

    The first incident of an escaped inmate was on Wednesday when Matthew Joseph Medlin, 30, a convicted sex offender, escaped by jumping over the fence of the Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland. Authorities were wondering why he decided to escape, given that he was scheduled to be released from prison a few days later.

    Police eventually found Medlin at a fast food restaurant. He is now facing additional charges which will likely lead to further prison time.

    Oregon Department of Corrections communications manager, Betty Bernt, said that they are concerned that two inmates escaped in less than a week. They will be reviewing the incidents and said, “All security protocols will be scrutinized.”

    According to officials, Swearingen, who is yet to be found, is a 31-year-old caucasian man, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 140 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. Prison officials believe he may still be wearing his prison garb, which could be red shorts and a blue shirt printed with the word “inmate,” or blue jeans with the word “inmate” printed on the knee area. Authorities have not yet verified whether Swearingen was being held under minimum- or medium-security. He was, however,  set to be released on December 10, 2017.

    Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of Swearingen is asked to contact the Oregon State Police. Call 1.800.452.7888.

    Image via Google Maps

  • Macy’s Theft Case Against Woman Dropped Due To False Arrest

    On Wednesday, charges were dropped against a Pakistani woman who was accused of stealing jewelry at the Macy’s flagship store in New York City. The incident happened last fall.

    Joweria Khalid was charged with misdemeanor theft after a security guard at Macy’s reported that she stole $193 worth of jewelry. After the incident, Khalid was detained for a couple of hours and was asked to pay a $500 fine. Khalid was stunned by what happened and said that “it was a constant stress for six months.”

    According to Khalid’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, Khalid was just looking for another cashier and not planning to leave the store without paying.

    The guard’s statement said that he watched Khalid as she entered the department store. He reprimanded her while she was on an escalator going up a floor, as he saw that she still had items that were not yet paid for. What the security guard didn’t notice was that Khalid had already paid for the $33 bracelet that she was carrying. However, she had not paid for the other items she was holding, as she was looking for another cashier.

    The charges were dropped, as the prosecutors were not able to prove the case “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Based on other accounts, this is not the first time a similar scenario happened. There have been complaints about security guards targeting minorities.

    In a statement by Macy’s, they said that they “have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind.”

    Wigdor said that police did not sufficiently question the security guards. In recent months, a Hispanic police officer and an Argentinian woman were also accused while they were shopping. The two have since been acquitted.

    According to news reports, Macy’s has already been sued by eight customers, due to profiling.

    Last December, the department store, along with other retailers, created a bill of rights that prohibits unreasonable searches and profiling of customers.

    Customers who claim they were profiled at Macy’s

    Image via YouTube

  • Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams Arrested For IRA’s 1972 Slaying Of A Widow

    Irish republican and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams was arrested and interrogated on Wednesday for being a suspect in the killing of Jean McConville, a widowed mother of 10, in 1972. Adams confirmed his arrest and called it voluntary and pre-arranged.

    The murder happened during a turbulent time for Ireland, when the IRA (Irish Republican Army) was killing people almost daily.

    McConville was accused of being a British spy by the IRA, so they killed her and told her children that their mother had abandoned them. McConville’s body was then secretly buried, and the IRA only admitted to the crime in 1998. McConville’s shattered skeletal remains were found near a shoreline in 2003.

    When Adams was taken in, he was interrogated about IRA activities, such as shootings that happened in the 70s and 80s, bombings, and the car-bomb offensive in Belfast. Adams insisted that he has never had a position in the underground army, and said that he has only been convicted for a single IRA offense, which was a failed escape when he was imprisoned without going to trial.

    Before he entered the Belfast police station, Adams gave television interviews saying “Well publicized, malicious allegations have been made against me. I reject these.” He also said that he will never disassociate himself from the IRA but he is “innocent of any part in the abduction, killing, or burial of Mrs. McConville.”

    According to Ed Moloney, one of Ireland’s leading reporters,  it is unlikely that the authorities will charge him unless he confesses to committing the crime.

    The authorities who are in charge of McConville’s case have been arresting suspects based on taped interviews. These tapes, obtained from Boston College, consist of interrogations of IRA veterans. The only condition the IRA veterans had was that the tapes only be revealed when they are dead.

    In one of the tapes, Adams’ confidante Brendan Hughes, admitted that the one who ordered the killing of McConville was “the head of Sinn Féin.” Hughes died in 2008.

    Gerry Adams Interview

    Image via YouTube

  • Turnberry Golf Course Purchased By Donald Trump

    The iconic Turnberry Resort in Scotland just became the newest high-class acquisition of American real estate mogul Donald Trump. According to The Telegraph, The 67-year-old business magnate and reality TV star purchased the picturesque course from Dubai-based Leisurecorp for approximately $63 million in cash.

    Located on the west coast of Scotland, Turnberry is most famous for its Ailsa Course, which has hosted four British Open Championships, seven Senior British Opens, and a single Women’s British Open. It is also gearing up for another British Open in the next couple of years, giving Trump a chance to host a major golf event.

    In an interview with Golf.com, Trump stated that he has no intentions of revamping the historic Ailsa Course without first seeking  the approval of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club – which is regarded as one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world.

    Even with Trump as the owner of Turnberry, the course will continue to be run Connecticut-based Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

    Apart from Turnberry, Trump also acquired the entire South Ayrshire layout, which includes gorgeous views over the Firth of Clyde, the hotel, and its renowned lighthouse. He stated that he plans to invest millions of dollars to bring the property to the “highest levels of luxury”. Trump even went as far as saying that the Turnberry Hotel will be “the most luxurious hotel in all of Europe” once the revamp is completed.

    Trump told Golf.com that he is also making plans to change the name of the hotel to Trump Turnberry, adding that the addition has a “nice ring to it”. While the usually outspoken businessman has been quiet about the purchase, his son Eric is not exactly concealing his excitement, judging from the stunning photo of the lighthouse he posted on Twitter.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Rob Ford Takes Break From Re-Election Campaign To Enter Rehab

    Toronto Mayor Rob Ford announced that he is taking a break from his campaign in order to enter rehab and seek help for his alcohol and drug abuse.

    Ford has been the center of attention since May when reports of his crack-cocaine smoking surfaced. The announcement of his break came after report that a new video has emerged showing Ford smoking crack. The video, which was said to be filmed just last Saturday, shows Ford with a drug dealer. He was smoking from a copper-colored pipe.

    The video was said to have been taken in Ford’s sister’s home. Ford’s sister, Kathy, is also a self-confessed addict. The video was not released to the public, but still images have been circulating on the internet. According to reports, the drug dealer has offered to sell the video to the media for a large sum of money.

    In a statement, Ford said “It’s not easy to be vulnerable and this is one of the most difficult times in my life.” He also admitted that he has been struggling with his alcohol addiction for a long time.

    “I have decided to take a leave from campaigning and from my duties as mayor to seek immediate help,” he said.

    Dennis Morris, Ford’s lawyer said that his leave from office is effective immediately.

    Despite the first news of his drug usage in May, Ford still went through with his decision to seek another term in office. At the start of the year, he was also the center of controversy when a video of him talking bad about the city’s police chief was posted on a social media site. At that time, Ford said that he is a human being who is entitled to a personal life.

    Ford ended his statement by saying that he knows that he needs professional help and that he is “100% committed” to setting his life straight.

    Image via YouTube

  • One-Month Rape Sentence Overturned By Montana Supreme Court

    The Montana Supreme Court has overturned the one-month sentence given to Stacey Rambold, a 54-year-old former teacher who raped his 14-year-old student. The initial sentence of one month angered many, including women’s groups that deemed the sentence too light for the crime that was committed.

    On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that the sentence given to Rambold was too short based on the state’s laws. As a result, the court asked a new judge to take on the case and give a new sentence to the defendant.

    Rambold was charged with three counts of rape in 2008 for having sexual intercourse without consent with one of his students, Cherice Moralez. Moralez committed suicide in 2010 while the defendant was awaiting trial.

    Rambold has already served his original sentence and was set free last fall. Based on the decision made on Wednesday, Rambold must now serve at least two years for his crime. However, the Supreme Court did not specify the sentence, which means that Rambold could spend more time in prison than the specified two-year minimum sentence.

    His attorney’s, on the other hand, are insisting that the original sentence was enough. They also say that Moralez was partly responsible for the rape, referencing taped interviews before her death.

    The President of the Montana chapter of the National Organization for Women, Marian Bradley, welcomed the Supreme Court’s new ruling regarding the case. She said that overturning Rambold’s sentence “sends a clear message to the judiciary that women in Montana and women across the nation will not stand for the injustice and misconduct” that happened with the case.

    Scott Twito, an attorney for the Yellowstone County, said that he would consult other attorneys in his office. He would also be discussing the issue with the victim’s family before he decides how much prison time the prosecutors will seek.

    Image via YouTube

  • Redskins Name Is Racist; NFL Should Follow NBA’s Lead Says Sen. Harry Reid

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada called on the National Football League to change the name of the Washington Redskins as a response to long-standing charges that the name is racially offensive. This move is linked to the example set by the National Basketball Association in penalizing the team owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

    Reid, a Democrat, stated that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is using tradition as an excuse to retain his team’s name during a Senate speech on Wednesday. Reid has criticized the Redskins’ name in the past, and urged Snyder to “do what is morally right” by changing it immediately. In March, Reid told The Washington Post that he believes the team’s name will be changed within a three-year period.

    Snyder has not showed any signs of heeding the senator’s advice since he declared to USA TODAY last year that he would “never” change his team’s name – not even if he loses a federal trademark case in court. Moreover, Snyder does not share the senator’s sentiments regarding the offensive nature of his team’s name. Prominent Native American organizations have also expressed their outrage over Snyder’s refusal to acknowledge the racial connotation of the name.

    Reid praised the NBA’s move to impose a lifetime ban and a $2.5 million fine on Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, after he made racist remarks that caused a fury of firestorm since becoming public several days ago. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who issued the penalty, received immense support from other NBA team owners, players, and other individuals connected to the league.

    In his speech, the Nevada senator went on to add that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ought to do something to eliminate this “hateful term” from the league’s vocabulary in order to rid it of “racism and bigotry”.

    NFL team owners have yet to react to Snyder’s stance on the Redskins name.

    Image via Redskins, Twitter

  • Sophia Bush Discusses Body Image

    Sophia Bush Discusses Body Image

    Sophia Bush has been wise in choosing on-screen roles that depict the empowerment of women. In a recent interview with Huffington Post, the 31-year-old actress shared her views on feminism.

    Bush said that woman empowerment is “something that we’re all pushing for,” saying that based on history, communities thrive with empowered women. “So you and me can do the work, but the men around us have to do it too,” she stated.

    She also did an appearance on the Today show where she talked about her favorite charity called “I Am That Girl.” The charity focuses on encouraging young girls and women to feel beautiful and secure about their bodies.

    Bush also mentioned that she takes time to talk to women about not being perfect and how they can accept their bodies and themselves for who they are. She tells them that although she is a television star and she appears on the covers of magazines, she is not, and is far from perfect. “I don’t wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and go, ‘Hey, I’m amazing!’” she says.

    Bush has come to accept that she is a curvy woman and not a tall and thin runway model like other women are. She said that she was born that way, and that is okay for her.

    Her statements on empowerment and self-esteem did well with her fans. As a result, she has been getting a lot of messages on Twitter, praising her for her advocacy.

    Bush started her television career playing Brooke Davis in the series One Tree Hill, which ran from 2003 to 2012. She has also appeared in movies, such as The Narrows, The Hitcher, and John Tucker Must Die. She currently plays the role of Detective Erin Lindsay in NBC’s Chicago P.D..

    Image via YouTube

  • Explosion At China’s Xinjiang Train Station Leaves Three Dead

    A large explosion shook a railway station in Xinjiang located in the far-western region of China. Reports say that 79 people were injured and three were killed during the attack. The incident happened on Wednesday, just after President Xi Jinping visited the area.

    Based on CCTV records, assailants attacked a crowd with knives then set off the explosions at the train station. With these acts caught on surveillance video, the media is calling the incident a premeditated terrorist attack.

    The train station was closed for around two hours after the attacks, and later reopened under the watchful eyes of armed authorities.

    A woman, who was working her shift at a convenience store near the station, said that the explosion happened a little after 7 pm.

    Photos of the damaged train station circulated on Chinese websites. The photos showed luggage spread out near the train station’s exit. Authorities are yet to find the perpetrators.

    Xinjiang is an area where tensions between Uighurs and the Chinese have been brewing for years. The violence in Xinjian is often blamed on the separatists and Uighurs – Muslims that mostly reside in the northwestern part of China.

    One of the professors at the Loyola University in New Orleans, Rian Thum, said that the explosives were used in order to target civilians. Thum specializes in Uighur history and said that they used a different tactic this time in order to deviate “from previous patterns of Uighur political violence.”

    According to the government’s critics, the Uighurs feel excluded from Xinjiang’s economic growth by the local government’s use of discriminatory practices.

    As a precaution, China has provided Xinjiang with more security. They have also restricted the travel rights and the religious practices of Uighurs, saying that they are the ones responsible for the increased level of violence in the region.

    Uighurs In China Feel Persecuted

     Image via YouTube

  • Baltimore Sinkhole Swallows Multiple Parked Cars

    A large sinkhole opened up and swallowed at least 10 cars in Baltimore on Wednesday. Those who witnessed the collapse of the street described it like a scene from a Hollywood movie.

    One man, whose car slipped down the sinkhole, said that the incident happened in just a few seconds. The ground just gave way and the “cars just kind of slid down.” The sinkhole appeared right beside the CSX railroad tracks in northeast Baltimore.

    After the incident, residents in the surrounding residential buildings were asked to evacuate. A building inspector also rushed to the scene to assess the situation. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake visited the scene and reported that there were no injuries, as the cars and the sidewalk were empty at the time of the collapse.

    She said that Baltimore has dealt with large sinkholes before, and they have a team that will use all their resources in order “deal with this as efficiently as possible, focus on safety.” She announced that the city will test the structural integrity of the road and the surrounding homes to keep residents and workers out of harm’s way.

    According to residents in the area, they had already complained about the street to the city. One woman said that the cracks were evidently getting wider, and that they knew the street was bound to collapse at some point.

    After receiving calls, the city tried to fix the problem with blacktop. However, the winter snow made the cracks deeper. One man said that he has been calling the city for three years, and they visited the site several times, telling him everything would be ok each time.

    Reports say that residents who live across from the street that collapsed will not be allowed to go back to their homes for now, as inspectors are still assessing the structures and gas lines are also being checked.

    Image via Youtube

  • Naya Rivera Not Fired From ‘Glee’

    Naya Rivera Not Fired From ‘Glee’

    Rumors have been spreading that Naya Rivera has been fired from the musical television series Glee. The news came in just a few days after the reported feud that Rivera had with her co-star Lea Michele.

    The argument on set was said to have started when Rivera accused Michele of being a “diva” and complained to the producers of the show about it. Others say that Rivera is just jealous of the attention poured on Michele. Multiple reports tell different scenarios, but they all say that one of the two walked out of the set after the incident.

    Rivera’s rep told Hollywood Reporter that the news was false. “Any reports or rumors circulating that Naya Rivera was let go or fired from Glee are absolutely untrue. End of story.” There were no further comments from her rep.

    Sources also told The Hollywood Reporter that the actress has not received a notice from the studio or the network regarding the issue.

    Rivera’s character in the show, Santana Lopez, has been featured irregularly in the fifth season, as the character has moved to New York and roomed with Michele’s character, Rachel Berry.

    Despite the rumors, Rivera still shows her support for Glee by tweeting and encouraging her followers to watch her show.

    Both Rivera and Michele have gone through tough times the previous months. Michele is still coping with the loss of her off-screen boyfriend and on-screen love interest, Cory Monteith, while Rivera and Big Sean called off their engagement earlier this month.

    Glee is currently in its fifth season, and it has already been renewed for the sixth and final season. Rivera will be appearing for the final season, but the frequency of her appearance and the number of episodes she will be appearing in are still not clear, which is the case for most of the show’s cast members.


    Image via YouTube

  • Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas Are No Longer A Couple

    After dating for nearly two years, Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas have decided to split up. A source close to the Bonas family has confirmed the news saying that it is sad, but “it’s very amicable.”

    Bonas and Prince Harry first met when the socialite was introduced to Prince Harry by his cousin, Princess Eugenie of York. Since then, the two had been seen cozying up to each other and appearing together at public events.

    Just last fall, there were speculations about the couple’s engagement, but the rumors were quickly shot down by Bonas’ brother.

    A source at the Kensington Palace told US Magazine that the couple has “hit a rocky patch and this decision is the result of that.” The source also mentioned that Prince Harry is the type of man who likes to take breathers and then try the relationship again. Another source told the Telegraph that the break-up is just “a breather.”

    Nobody knows if the couple is taking a break or if they are over for good, but many seem to understand that being in a relationship has its challenges, especially for a couple that is being watched by the entire world.

    Now, people will be looking to see if Bonas and the Prince show up together in Memphis for the wedding on one of the prince’s closest friends, Guy Pelly. According to reports, Bonas was invited to the event and was planning on attending with Prince Harry and Prince William.

    The source also mentioned that it is truly impossible to say if the break-up is the end of the relationship, citing Prince William and Kate Middleton as an example, as the two broke up for a while before finally getting back together and getting married. Chances are the couple may not know what the status of their relationship is either.

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  • David Geffen: Business Magnate Interested In Buying LA Clippers

    Buyers have been showing their interest in purchasing the Los Angeles Clippers after Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner, said that he is pushing for the team’s sale and is also urging league owners to push for the sale as well. The news came out following the lifetime NBA ban of the team’s owner Donald Sterling.

    The lifetime ban was a sanction given to Sterling for making racist comments during a recorded conversation that resurfaced on Friday. In the recording, Sterling was being critical of his girlfriend V. Stiviano for associating with “black people.” He was also heard asking Stiviano not to invite Magic Johnson and other minorities to Clipper games. Stiviano, however, describes herself as being of African American and Mexican descent.

    Audio of conversation between Donald Sterling and V. Stiviano

    Magic Johnson reacts to Sterling tape

    Aside from the lifetime ban, Sterling is also being asked to pay a fine of $2.5 million, which is the maximum amount allowed according to the NBA constitution.

    According to Forbes, the Clippers’ present value is at $575 million. Sterling was able to purchase the team at $12.5 million in 1981. The valuation puts the team as the league’s 13th most valuable franchise.

    One of person that is very interested in buying the team is business magnate and entertainment mogul David Geffen. The email that came from his office said that Geffen is interested “if the Clippers become available.” They also said that Geffen is not available to make a comment. Although he has shown his interest, he has not made an offer yet.

    Geffen, who is estimated to be worth $6.2 billion, was interested in buying a controlling stake of the team in 2010, but was refused by Sterling.

    Aside from Geffen, there are also a few others who are said to be interested in purchasing the team. Some of them are former Lakers player Magic Johnson, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., real estate agent and billionaire Rick Caruso, Chief Executive of Oracle Larry Ellison, and billionaire doctor Patrick Soon-Shiong.

    Bidding groups had already formed even before Adam Silver’s announcement was made on Tuesday.

    Who is David Geffen?

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  • Diamond Embargo On Ivory Coast Lifted By UN Security Council

    The UN Security Council lifted the diamond trade ban against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday and reduced its arms embargo.

    In 2005, the diamond embargo was declared because the stones were being used for funding the rebel group “Forces Nouvelles”. The Ivory Coast government controls the south of the country, while the rebel group controls the north. In 2007, rebel leaders were brought in to the country’s administration as a result of a peace deal. However, the country still remains divided.

    According to UN experts, the ban was not able to stop illicit trafficking of diamonds. The UN also said that the illicit trade of diamonds in the Ivory Coast is valued between $12 million to $23 million per annum. Figures from the European Union show that the country extracts 50,000 to 300,000 carats of diamonds each year.

    In 2002, the rebel group staged a coup against former president Laurent Gbagbo, but the coup failed. In 2010 to 2011, the country was again facing turmoil, which almost resulted in a civil war when President Alassane Ouattara defeated Gbagbo in the elections.

    At present, The Kimberley Process is being used by the Ivory Coast’s diamond trade. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was established in order to prevent conflict diamonds from making their way to the rough diamond market.

    With the easing of the diamond and arms embargo, the UN Security Council will no longer prevent the “importation by any state of all rough diamonds from Cote d’Ivoire” based on the nation’s adherence to The Kimberley Process.

    What is the Kimberley Process?

    The Security Council stated that Ivory Coast’s government should now take the initiative to equip and train their security forces. They also urged the country to hold a Kimberley Process review of their diamond industry, which must be done within 9 months.

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