About Microsoft's Surface Tablet

Microsoft's introduction Monday of the new Surface tablet may have been dramatic -- one analyst said it was "radical" -- because of the company's decision to circumvent its hardware partners -- but the presentation left as many questions unanswered as it resolved.

Some are critical to the Surface's success, like its price point, while others may influence only a minority of would-be buyers as they weigh it against those already in the market, such as Apple's iPad, the current king of the tablet hill.

We've selected some of the up-in-the-air topics, and although we don't have answers for most, we've tried to use what is publicly known about tablets -- and Microsoft -- to give you some clues.

If you have questions you suspect Microsoft didn't answer this week, you can either wait for more revelations from the company -- it will undoubtedly disclose more as a launch grows closer, probably in dribs and drabs -- or add them to the comments below. (We'll likely do a follow-up to this initial Q&A a little later.)

What will these tablets cost? We don't know. Microsoft declined to set prices Monday, saying only that the Windows RT Surface (just "Surface" from here on out) would be "competitive with a comparable ARM tablet," and that the Windows 8 Pro Surface (Surface Pro) would cost about the same amount as "an Intel ultrabook-class PC."

Without definitive information from Microsoft -- not surprising since it's three, maybe four, months until Windows RT tablet goes public, six or seven before the other one shows up -- analysts are forced to guess. Their estimates for the Surface ranged from a low of $400 to a high of $700, while the Surface Pro will probably cost anywhere from $800 to more than $1,000, with many betting on the latter as the target.

When will they go on sale? Only Microsoft knows. The company also declined to pin itself to a launch date.

The most it would commit to was that the Surface would debut around the same time as Windows 8's release -- most expect that in September or October -- and that the Surface Pro would follow 90 days later.

That means the Pro could miss the holiday season if, for example, Windows 8 doesn't ship until the second half of October -- as did Windows 7 in 2009 -- which would push the Surface Pro launch into January 2013.

How long will the tablets' batteries last between charges? We have an idea, but it's just a guess.

Microsoft spelled out the watt-hour (Wh) capacity of the two tablets' batteries, but oddly, made no claims about how long those batteries would keep each device running under average conditions. (A 10Wh rating means the battery can produce one watt of power for 10 hours, or, say, 10 watts of power for one hours.) The Surface's battery is rated at 31.4 Wh, while the Surface Pro's is 42.

Source: ComputerWorld

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Suicide Bomber Attacks Army Patrol, 21 People Killed

A Taliban suicide bomber on a motor-cycle rammed an Afghan army-NATO patrol in the town of Khost on Wednesday, killing 21 people, including three U.S. soldiers, officials said.

Another 37 people were wounded in the blast in the eastern town close to the border with Pakistan, where Taliban and other Isla-mist insurgents fighting U.S.-led troops have strongholds, hospital officials said.

At least half the casualties were civilians.

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Arab League Calls On Russia To Stop Supplying Arms To Syria

The League’s deputy secretary general Ahmed Ben Hilli told Interfax news agency, "Any assistance to violence must be ceased because when you supply military equipment, you help kill people. This must stop,"

Ben Hilli also asserted that Iran should be included in the Syria Contact Group meeting which is due to be held in Geneva on June 30th, "In my view, all the players taking part in the Syrian crisis must be part of this contact group," he said.

He also called on a reassessment of the Annan plan, stating the need to “find a new mechanism” to ensure that all sides observe the peace proposals.

Ben Helli said a provision in the U.N. charter which allows the Security Council to authorise actions ranging from sanctions to military intervention was needed to bolster the peace plan.

"As we see, neither side is stopping the fighting, therefore I think we'll have to use Chapter 7 in order to realise the Annan plan," he said, despite reiterating that the Arab League did not support military intervention.

The comments come as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the deaths of 98 people across the country on Wednesday, half of whom were civilians.

Reports indicate renewed fighting on Thursday with machinegun and mortar fire in and around Homs killing at least four people.

Meanwhile two civilians have been killed in the town of Qusayr to the south-west of Homs by heavy government shelling as helicopters hovered overhead. Elsewhere, clashes between government forces and rebels in the north-western province of Iblib in Deraa in the south have killed at least 15 people.

The violence continues despite an agreed temporary truce between both sides to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross and Arab Red Crescent to evacuate injured civilians from Homs and distribute humanitarian goods such as medical kits in the neighbourhoods that have endured shelling and clashes for the past 10 days.

"Hundreds of civilians are stuck in the old city of Homs, unable to leave and find refuge in safer areas, because of the ongoing armed confrontations," said the ICRC's head of operations for the region, Beatrice Megevand-Roggo.

Source: Telegraph

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Indonesian Air Force Plane Crashes

An Indonesian air force plane slammed into homes and ignited a fireball in the crowded capital while trying to land Thursday, killing at least nine people, a military official said.

The turboprop plane crashed into eight houses, killing at least three people on the ground, said military spokesman Rear Adm. Iskandar Sitompul. Raging orange flames were seen jumping several feet into the air as a huge column of black smoke billowed.

Hendra, a resident in the air force housing complex in eastern Jakarta who uses only one name, said he ran out of his house after hearing several loud explosions and saw flames engulfing neighbors' homes.

"I could hardly believe my eyes ... there was a military plane that crashed and hit the houses!" he said. "At once, the situation turned into chaos. All the residents fled in panic. Women and children were screaming hysterically."

He said he helped at least five injured people, mostly with burns, to a nearby Air Force hospital. He added that he saw at least three more critically injured children brought into the hospital.

Sitompul said the Fokker F-27 was on a routine training flight when it crashed. The aircraft was declared airworthy before the training and skies were clear, he added.

Air Force spokesman Rear Adm. Azman Yunus said there were seven people aboard the plane including the pilot, co-pilot, instructor and trainees.

All the seven were rushed to the Air Force hospital, Yunus said. Later, he told Detik.com news portal that six of them were killed while one was still being treated at the hospital.

He said the Fokker F-27 was on a routine training flight when it crashed while trying to landing after the 90-minute flight.

Private El Shinta radio reported rescuers were still searching for more possible victims among the rubble of the burning houses.

A number of ambulances were parked inside the Air Force's Rawajali Complex.

The plane was build in 1958 and used by Indonesia's Air Force for the past 20 years.

Source: Montreal Gazette

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Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe Motorcade In Deadly Crash

One person has been killed and 15 others were injured in a crash involving President Robert Mugabe's motorcade in Zimbabwe, police say.

A car in the motorcade hit a commuter bus near the rural town of Zvimba - the third such accident in two weeks.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said Sunday's accident happened because the bus failed to make way for the president's vehicles quickly enough.

President Mugabe typically travels with an escort of around 10 vehicles.

His motorcade typically includes the presidential limousine, motorcycles and army vehicles.

The car involved in the crash on the Robert Mugabe highway outside the president's home town of Zvimba is thought to have been leading the motorcade.

The national police spokesman said the bus driver had failed to heed the siren and beacon of the escort vehicle, leading to a head-on collision between the minibus and a police car.

"One passenger in the commuter bus died on the spot while 15 passengers from both vehicles were injured in the accident," Mr Bvudzijena told the AFP news agency.

He urged motorists to "pull off the road when they hear a siren or see a red or blue beacon".

Police VIP protection spokesman Martin Mbokochena criticised what he called "some unruly elements in society who want to disturb".

Two weeks ago, a motorbike in the presidential cavalcade hit and killed a homeless man during another visit to the president's home town.

A member of the presidential guard died and seven others were hurt in a separate leg of the same trip, when a truck in the motorcade overturned after one of its tyres burst.

Source: BBC News 

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Pakistan Court Disqualifies PM

Pakistan's top court has disqualified Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from holding office, two months after convicting him of contempt of court.

The Supreme Court ruled he had "ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan".

In April, the Supreme Court convicted Mr Gilani of failing to pursue corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The legal case is part of a bitter feud between Pakistan's civilian government and the judiciary.

In April, Mr Gilani was given only a token sentence and spared a jail term.

Tuesday's court ruling disqualified him from office and from parliament.

"Since no appeal was filed [against the 26 April conviction]... therefore Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani stands disqualified as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora [parliament]," Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry told a packed courtroom.

He added: "He has also ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan... the office of the prime minister stands vacant."

The court backdated the disqualification to 26 April, raising questions over decisions Mr Gilani has made in office since then - including the budget.

Amid the uncertainty, Pakistan's main stock market fell slightly by close of business on Tuesday.

It is not clear what next steps Mr Gilani may take - or whether his removal means the fall of the government.

Senior leaders of the governing Pakistan People's Party (PPP) are in emergency session with Mr Gilani and President Zardari, reports the BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad.

A government official said President Zardari had also summoned heads of the PPP's coalition partners to the presidency for further talks.

The party has the necessary majority in parliament to elect a successor to Mr Gilani.

Source: BBC News 

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Apple 1 Smashes Auction Estimate

A rare functioning Apple 1 computer - the company's first product - has been sold at an auction for $374,500 (£240,929).

The price was more than double Sotheby's high estimate and sets a new record for the collector's item.

A memo written by the firm's co-founder Steve Jobs when he worked at Atari sold for $27,500 at the same New York event.

The original estimate for the four-page handwritten note was up to $15,000.

Only about 200 Apple 1s were ever created. The computers were hand-built by Apple's co-founder Steve Wozniak and originally sold for $666.66 (£426) as a fully assembled circuit board.

He later said he picked a sum with a repeating number "because it was just an easier way to type".

Only about 50 Apple 1s are still believed to be in existence. The auctioned model is one of the very few that still works.

Sotheby's said there was a battle between two parties for the item which also included the original manuals. A set of bids was executed by the auctioneer on behalf of an absentee collector, but a telephone bidder proved more persistent and eventually clinched the sale.

Their identity has not been revealed.

Source: BBC News  

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Suicide Bomb In Key Somali Town

A suicide bomber in Somalia has rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the gate of a government base in the town of Afgoye.

The militant Islamist group al-Shabab said one of its fighters carried out the attack.

Casualties have been reported, but details are unclear.

Government troops and African Union forces took Afgoye from al-Shabab in May. It had been one of the group's major strongholds.

The town is about 30km (18.5 miles) from the capital, Mogadishu, on a road linking the city with rebel-held areas in the south of the country.

Despite facing pressure on a number of military fronts, al-Shabab still controls much of the country.

Somalia has not had an effective central government since 1991.

Pro-government forces took control of Mogadishu in August last year.

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Bus Falls Off Bridge In India, Killing 30

A speeding bus plunged off a bridge in central India on Saturday, killing 30 people and injuring 16 others, authorities said.

It was traveling from the southern city of Hyderabad to the site of a shrine in western Maharashtra when the accident occurred, said Dattaray Karale, a local police chief.

The bus was speeding, the police chief said.

The accident occurred in Osmanabad, about 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Mumbai.

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Obama Unveils Young Migrant Plan

US President Barack Obama has announced an immediate end to the deportation of illegal immigrants who came to the US as children, describing the move as "the right thing to do".

Those aged between 16 and 30 who have lived in the US for five years could now be eligible for work permits.

The move is seen as addressing a key Latino concern in an election year.

But Mr Obama's Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, said it was the wrong way to approach the problem.

Mr Romney said the issue should be dealt with by legislation, rather than an executive order "that can be reversed by subsequent presidents".

The plan, which goes into effect immediately, is expected to affect as many as 800,000 people.

Mr Obama and his Republican opponent Mitt Romney are courting Hispanic voters in key states ahead of November's election.

Speaking at the White House, Mr Obama said the initiative was "the right thing to do", adding that "it makes no sense to expel talented young people" from the US.

The president also said the measure had been announced in "the absence of any immigration action" from Congress and urged the passage of the Dream Act, a bill that aimed to establish a path towards US citizenship for young people who were brought to the US as minors.

"They are American in their hearts, in their minds, in every way but one: on paper," Mr Obama said.

He said the measure would improve the US economy, benefit its national security and was simply "the right thing to do. Period".

In an unusual turn of events, Mr Obama was interrupted by a questioner from the media during his announcement, an intervention which left the president visibly surprised.

Earlier on Friday Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said deportation laws were not designed to be "blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of each case".

"Discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here," she added.

The policy change does not provide a path to permanent lawful status, or a path to citizenship, Ms Napolitano said, adding that it is not immunity or amnesty.

But, she added, many "productive young people" who would be eligible under the changes posed no threat to national security or public safety.

In order to be eligible under the new initiative, illegal immigrants must:

    have arrived in the US when they were under the age of 16
    have lived continuously in the US for at least five years
    be in school, or have graduated from high school or be honourably discharged veterans of the US military
    have no criminal record
    be under 30 years old.

If successful, applicants would receive a work permit for two years that can be renewed an unlimited number of times.

Mr Romney said Mr Obama's decision had complicated an issue that could only be dealt with through legislation.

"I believe the status of young people who come here through no fault of their own is an important matter to be considered and it should be solved on a long-term basis so they know what their future will be in this country," Mr Romney said.

"I think the action that the president took today makes it more difficult to reach that long-term solution," he added.

He did not say, however, whether he would reverse the decision if elected.

Latino rights groups in the US quickly hailed the decision, with the National Council of La Raza, the country's largest Hispanic organisation describing it as sensible, good news.

Source: BBC News  

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Baghdad Car Bombings Target Shia Pilgrims

Two separate car bomb attacks targeting Shia Muslim pilgrims in Baghdad have killed at least 32 people, Iraqi officials say.

At least 14 died when the first bomb exploded on a route used by thousands of pilgrims in the Shula district.

The second blast, which happened nearby a few of hours later, killed at least 18 others, police and medics said.

On Wednesday, a wave of attacks targeting Shia pilgrims left at least 70 people dead across the country.

The Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni militant umbrella group that includes al-Qaeda, said it was behind those attacks.

It was the worst single day of violence in Iraq since the last US troops withdrew in December. There has been a marked deterioration in the country's fragile political process since then.

Iraq's most prominent Sunni Arab politician, Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi, is being tried in absentia on terrorism charges. He denies financing death squads told to kill Shia government and security officials.

Shia Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has also faced calls for a confidence motion in parliament from parties within his national unity government, which have accused him of breaking promises to share power.

Thousands of Shia pilgrims had travelled to Baghdad on Saturday for the final day of the festival marking the anniversary of the death of Moussa al-Kadhim, the seventh Shia imam and great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

The first bomb, which exploded just after 12:00 (09:00 GMT) in the north-western district of Shula, was left in a taxi abandoned on a main road used by the pilgrims visiting the shrine in the Kadhimiya district where the imam is said to be buried, police said.

"We rushed to the scene, there were dismembered bodies, shoes, plastic bags, women's robes left all around, and people were screaming everywhere," Ahmed Maati, a policeman who had been working nearby, told the Reuters news agency.

The second blast took place as pilgrims were returning from Kadhimiya.

At least 32 people were injured in the first attack, while 36 were hurt in the second, officials said.

One of the 22 co-ordinated bombings on Wednesday also targeted Shia pilgrims in Kadhimiya, killing seven people. Another blast near food tents for pilgrims in the Karrada district left another 16 dead.

"The terrorists will not discourage us, even if they cut off our bodies into pieces," promised a song played over the Moussa al-Kadhim shrine's loudspeakers on Saturday, according to the Associated Press.

Source: BBC News  

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Paraguay Land Clash Turns Deadly

Government officials in Paraguay say seven police officers and at least nine landless farmers have died in clashes.

A police spokesman said the officers were shot dead when they tried to evict landless protesters who had occupied a property in the east of Paraguay.

The interior minister and chief of police have resigned over the incident.

The owner of the land in Canindeyu province said about 100 families had invaded his property three weeks ago; it is not clear how many remain.

Local doctors say dozens more police and farmers have been injured.

The farmers said the land was illegally taken during the 1954-1989 military rule of Gen Alfredo Stroessner and distributed among his allies.

"The police entered, trying to evacuate the place, to get the people out, and then there were shots at the police. From that point on, there were clashes," Interior Minister Carlos Filizzola told reporters before handing in his resignation. Police chief Paulino Rojas also stepped down.

According to police official Walter Gomez, the officers were ambushed in a wooded area.

He said they had not been expecting violence and had wanted to negotiate a "peaceful eviction".

Landless leader Jose Rodriguez told Paraguayan radio that those killed "were humble farmers, members of the landless movement, who'd decided to stay and resist".

Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo has ordered the military to intervene.

"All the forces are working towards re-establishing calm and security to the area," he said during a news conference.

The Paraguayan Congress and the Senate have convened an extraordinary session to decide whether to declare a state of emergency in the region.

Source: BBC News   

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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Nayef Dies

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has died "outside the kingdom", the royal court has said.

Prince Nayef, who was also deputy prime minister and interior minister, had left the country for a holiday and medical tests late last month.

On 3 June, the deputy interior minister said the prince, who was 77 or 78, was in good health and would return "soon".

He was named crown prince in October 2011 after the death of the previous crown prince, Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.

The succession in Saudi Arabia still passes among the sons of former King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, who established the modern kingdom during his reign from 1932 to 1953. So far, five brothers have become kings and about 20 are still alive.

King Abdullah, who is 88 years old, had a back operation last year.

Next in line is expected to be Prince Nayef's 76-year-old brother, Prince Salman, who was appointed defence minister in November after spending five decades as governor of Riyadh.

The new crown prince must be approved by the Allegiance Council, a 34-strong assembly of King Abdul Aziz's sons and some of his grandchildren.

Source: BBC News 

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Three Killed In Canada Shooting

Three people have been killed and one injured in a shooting after midnight in Edmonton, Canada, police say.

They were killed in an apparent robbery of an armoured vehicle, police said. The suspects have not been found.

The shooting took place on the University of Alberta's campus. The university has tweeted that no students were harmed in the incident.

The victims have not been identified but worked for security firm G4S Cash Solutions, the Globe and Mail reported.

The incident took place near a cluster of bank machines at the HUB mall, which also included student residences, the newspaper added.

Two men and one woman died from their injuries and another man is in hospital in critical condition, police said.

"The university was quickly put into lockdown," police spokesman Scott Pattison said. "It's a crime scene, so students are required to stay in their dorms."

A statement on the university's website said: "The university is saddened about those who lost their lives last night and we extend our condolences to their loved ones."

The university said the rest of the campus was operating normally.

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Hollywood Release: That's My Boy [Watch Trailer]

In 1984, 12-year-old Donny Berger (Justin Weaver) was raped by his 22-year-old teacher, Mary McGarricle (Eva Amurri). She becomes pregnant, leading to her crime being discovered. McGarricle is arrested, and Donny gains custody of their son, whom he names Han Solo Berger. Donny becomes a celebrity because of what happened, but is forgotten as he becomes an adult, and loses contact with his son.

In 2012, Donny (Adam Sandler) is a slacker who spends his time at a local strip club with his friends, bartender Brie (Ciara) and stripper Champale (Luenell). He learns that he owes $43,000 to the IRS and will be imprisoned for three years if he doesn't repay the money within one week. After drunkenly betting that an overweight man will win an upcoming marathon, Donny returns to the strip club, where he learns his son, who has changed his name to Todd Peterson (Andy Samberg), is a succesful businessman and is about to marry a rich young woman named Jamie (Leighton Meester). A TV producer called Randall Morgan (Dan Patrick) offers Donny the money he needs if he convinces Todd to visit Ms. McGarricle (Susan Sarandon) in prison for a reunion special.

Donny visits Todd, who is staying with Jamie at the house of Todd's boss, Steve Spirou (Tony Orlando). Todd is forced to introduce him as an old friend, because he claimed his parents died in an explosion. Donny meets Jamie's brother Chad (Milo Ventimiglia), a Marine, and tries to convince Todd to visit Ms. McGarricle in prison because she is terminally ill. Todd is reluctant, but allows Donny to stay at Steve's house and invites him to a cocktail party that night, where Donny meets Todd's co-worker Phil (Will Forte). Phil reveals that he's Todd's best man, but knows nothing about Todd, and passes on the role to Donny. Donny later hears Jamie yelling at Todd and realizes he isn't happy with her.

The following day, Donny attends a wedding rehearsal where Todd gets into a fight with Father McNally (James Caan) over a crude remark that Todd made towards his "dead" father. Because of this, Jamie decides that the ceremony will be held at Steve's house. Meanwhile, Donny learns Todd will be having a bachelor party and decides to join him, only to learn it'll be just a visit to a spa run by the uptight Ms. Ravensdale (Ana Gasteyer). After having sex with Ms. Ravensdale, who is charmed by his laid-back attitute, Donny convinces the others to go to the strip club with him, where Todd bonds with Brie. Eventually, everyone gets drunk, and Donny and Todd bond. They decide to go ice-skating, where Donny runs into Vanilla Ice, who hates Donny for sleeping with Ice's mother. Donny apologizes and makes peace with Ice, and the three wreak havoc through the night before returning to Steve's house, where both Donny and Ice have sex with Steve's mother while Todd dry-humps Jamie's wedding dress.

The following day, Jamie forces Todd to take the dress to the dry cleaner. Meanwhile, Donny finds a present Todd has left for him, along with a note revealing he'll visit Ms. McGarricle. Donny rushes to prison, but it's too late. Randall appears with a filming crew and Todd, believing his newfound connection with his father was a lie in order for Donny to get money, leaves in anger. Randall later cons Donny by revealing he didn't get Todd to sign a contract about his appearance, and, therefore, Randall isn't required to pay Donny.

Donny returns to Steve's home and finds out Jamie is cheating on Todd with Steve. He tries to tell Todd at the rehearsal dinner that night, but Jamie comes up with a story to cover her tracks. Defeated, Donny leaves and returns to the strip club, where Kenny (Nick Swardson), a strange man who often hangs out at the club, convinces him to earn Jamie's forgiveness for Todd's sake. Donny heads to the hotel where Jamie is staying, only to find her having sex with Chad, whom Donny learns is actually a jazz dancer who pretends to be a Marine in order not to disappoint his and Jamie's father, Gerald (Blake Clark). Jamie gives Donny the money he needs in exchange for his silence.

After talking with Brie, Donny realizes he loves Todd more than anything and interrupts the wedding ceremony with Ice's help, refusing Jamie's money and urging her to whisper the truth to Todd. However, Todd is so dumbfounded he accidentally exposes her incestuous relationship with her brother. In a fit of rage, Jamie tries to stab Todd with a knife, but is knocked unconscious by Donny. Meanwhile, Father McNally prevents Chad from attacking Donny, who leaves with Ice and Todd, who proudly accepts that he is Han Solo Berger.

A few weeks later, at the club, Donny tells Todd, who is now dating Brie, that he's ready to go to prison for three years, and intends to rekindle his relationship with Ms. McGarricle once she's released. At that moment, Donny learns that the obese man from earlier actually won the marathon and earned him $60,000 dollars, enough to prevent Donny's arrest. Donny, Todd, Brie, Champale, Ice and Kenny all celebrate together.

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Hollywood Release: Estraterrestrial [Watch Trailer]

Everyone knows what to do if one morning the sky would be absolutely full of UFOs: run as fast as you can. However, what would happen if the invasion started while you are in the flat of the girl of your dreams, the one you have just met?

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Mexico Journalist Found Killed

A Mexican crime reporter has been found dead in the centre of Xalapa, the state capital of Veracruz, hours after being abducted.

Victor Baez is believed to have been seized late on Wednesday night.

Nine journalists have now been killed in Veracruz over the past 18 months, officials say.

Mr Baez's killing comes a week after state governor Javier Duarte announced the formation of a commission to protect journalists.

Mr Baez covered the police beat for the Milenio newspaper, and also worked for a website called Reporteros Policiacos.

His body was found early on Thursday morning, officials said.

In a statement, the Veracruz state government condemned his killing and promised a full investigation of "this abominable crime".

It is not clear who was behind his death but authorities are working on the assumption that it was an organised crime gang.

"We won't permit them to impose fear on us as a way of life," the governor's spokeswoman, Gina Dominguez, said.

Last month, the dismembered remains bodies of two missing journalists, Gabriel Huge and Guillermo Luna, were found in Boca del Rio in Veracruz.

Just days earlier, another reporter, Regina Martinez, was killed in Xalapa.

On 7 June, Mexico's press freedom day, Mr Duarte announced that he was sending a bill to the state congress to create a commission to assist and protect journalists.

The exact remit of the commission has still to be decided.

Mexico is one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists, with many killings blamed on drugs gangs.

The state has been the scene of a bloody battle for control of drug-trafficking routes between two of Mexico's gangs - the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel.

Source: BBC News  

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Stanford Gets 110 Years For Fraud

Disgraced tycoon Allen Stanford has been sentenced to 110 years in jail for operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of more than $7bn (£4.5bn).

The scheme was described as one of the largest in US history.

In court, Stanford denied any guilt, telling the judge at his sentencing hearing: "I did not defraud anybody."

A Texan banker, Stanford rose to prominence outside the US when he bankrolled international cricket competitions in the UK and Caribbean.

But after the collapse of his agreement to stage Twenty20 cricket in England, his financial empire began to crumble amid investigations by US regulators.

Forbes Magazine listed him as the 605th richest man in the world in 2006.

However, since his arrest in 2009 he has spent three years in detention after being denied bail.

Stanford's Ponzi scheme centered on his banking operation based in the Caribbean island nation of Antigua.

Some 30,000 individual investors were swindled, it was alleged. Prosecutors failed to find as much as 92% of the assets Stanford International Bank claimed to have.

In his statement in court on Thursday, which ran for some 40 minutes, he told the judge: "I'm not here to ask for sympathy or forgiveness or to throw myself at your mercy.

"I did not run a Ponzi scheme. I didn't defraud anybody."

US District Judge David Hittner, who presided over Stanford's trial, called Stanford's actions "egregious criminal frauds" during the hearing.

Two victims of the scheme spoke during the hearing, including Angela Shaw, who told the court Stanford was worse than convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff because he preyed on middle-class investors.

"He stole more than millions," Ms Shaw said. "He stole our lives as we knew them."

His sentence is 40 years shorter than the jail term handed down to Madoff, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to a Ponzi scheme targeting wealthy investors.

Stanford was convicted in March on 13 of 14 charges against him, despite his lawyers attempting to shift most of the blame on his chief financial officer.

Prosecutors had asked for a 230-year sentence, with defence lawyers arguing for a lenient term of 44 months.

Three other former executives at Stanford's company are awaiting trial, while a former Antiguan financial regulator is expected to be extradited to the US for related charges.

While a jury has cleared the way for access to about $330m in stolen funds sitting in Stanford's frozen bank accounts across Canada, England and Switzerland, legal wrangling could make it years before investors recover any of that money.

Source: BBC News  

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Hollywood Release: Your Sister's Sister [Watch Trailer]

Iris invites her friend Jack to stay at her family's island getaway after the death of his brother. At their remote cabin, Jack's drunken encounter with Hannah, Iris' sister, kicks off a revealing stretch of days.

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Chinese Officials Apologize To Woman In Forced Abortion

City officials in China have apologised to a woman who was forced to have an abortion and suspended three people responsible, state media reports.

This came after photos showing a foetus and the mother, Feng Jianmei, shocked web users.

She was made to undergo the procedure in Shaanxi province in the seventh month of pregnancy, local officials said after investigating.

Chinese law clearly prohibits abortions beyond six months.

The Ankang city government said it decided to suspend three officials in Zhenping county following initial investigations. It also urged the county government to conduct a thorough review of its family planning operations, said Xinhua news.

On Thursday night, the city officials apologised to Ms Feng, 27, and her family, the report said.

She was ''forced to terminate her pregnancy'' at a hospital in Zhenping on 2 June, said Xinhua.

Officials in Zhenping county claimed she agreed to the abortion because she was not allowed to have a second child by law. She already has a daughter, born in 2007.

But activists said she was forced into the abortion as she could not pay the fine for having a second child.

Rights groups say China's one-child policy has meant women being coerced into abortions, which Beijing denies.

"Feng Jianmei's story demonstrates how the One-Child Policy continues to sanction violence against women every day," said Chai Ling of the US-based activist group All Girls Allowed.

The group says it spoke to Ms Feng and her husband Deng Jiyuan after the incident. Mr Deng said his wife had been forcibly taken to hospital and restrained before the procedure.

Media reports from China says Ms Feng has been traumatised by what has happened.

The photos sparked outrage among Internet users.

"This is what they say the Japanese devils and Nazis did. But it's happening in reality and it is by no means the only case... They [the officials] should be executed," one reader on news website netease.com said, according to the AFP news agency.

Activist Chen Guangcheng, who was put under virtual house arrest for campaigning against forced abortions, fled China to the US last month.

Source: BBC News 

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