Authorities investigate Glasgow pub helicopter crash

.

Glasgow (AFP) - Authorities were on Sunday investigating what caused a police helicopter to plunge through the roof of a busy Glasgow pub, as emergency services worked to recover the remains of at least eight people killed.

Police said recovery work was difficult because the wreckage of the Clutha pub was still unsafe following Friday night's freak accident, while 14 people were still in hospital with serious injuries.
Special prayers for the dead will be held at Glasgow Cathedral on Sunday as the nation mourns on what was supposed to be a weekend of festivities for Saint Andrew's Day.
Witnesses said the helicopter dropped "like a stone" onto the pub where more than 100 people were watching a band play. Three people on the helicopter and five people in the bar are so far known to have been killed.
The first victim whose body was recovered from the scene was named as Gary Arthur, 48, from the Paisley area of Glasgow, whose daughter Chloe plays for the women's first team of Celtic football club.
"Extensive efforts continue to recover the remaining bodies from the scene but due to ongoing safety constraints this is likely to take some time," Police Scotland said in a statement.
The wreckage of the Eurocopter EC135 on the roof remained covered by a tarpaulin more than 24 hours after the accident, with one of the rotors still visible, with a crane also on site.

View gallery."

Glasgow resident John McGarrigle speaks to reporters in Glasgow on November 30, 2013 at the site whe …

Police appealed for anyone with video footage of the crash to send it to them, saying it "may be of help to the team as they investigate the cause of the crash".
Britain's Air Accident Investigation Bureau said it had sent a team to the scene amid reports that the company that leased the chopper to the police had temporarily grounded that model last year.
Bond Air Services found a crack on part of the main rotor and grounded its fleet of 22 EC135s for a month while it carried out checks and reported it to Eurocopter and the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Guardian said.
Bond was not immediately available for comment.
People inside the bar said they heard a heavy thud before the roof caved in and the air filled with dust and screams. Most were not aware until later that a helicopter had crashed on to the building.
Afterwards pubgoers and passers-by formed a "human chain" to help the wounded while emergency services worked through the night in a bid to recover people from the wreckage.

View gallery."

Police speak to guests leaving a hotel which lies inside a police cordon in Glasgow on November 30,  …

Throughout Saturday people stood at the cordon 30 yards back from the scene, their hopes fading by the hour for missing friends and loved ones.
John McGarrigle was desperately waiting for news of his father.
"I think he was in there when it crashed," the 38-year-old said, showing journalists a picture on his mobile phone of him standing with his 59-year-old father who had been in the pub.
"I've checked every hospital and there's no sign of him," said his son.
Scotland Chief Constable Stephen House said the two officers and the civilian pilot aboard the police helicopter were killed along with five people inside the pub. Thirty-two people were injured of whom 18 were later discharged.
"You can imagine the terror of the situation when a helicopter came through the top of the building," House said.
"We are dealing with a very sensitive investigation and operation here. It will go on for many days yet."
The injured had "chest injuries, head injuries, long-bone fractures and lacerations", said Jennifer Armstrong, medical director of the Greater Glasgow Health Board.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond called it a "black day" and ordered flags to fly at half-mast.
A minute's silence was held ahead of a football match between Falkirk and Rangers.
"But it's also St. Andrew's Day and it's a day we can take pride and courage in how we respond to adversity and tragedy," said the nationalist leader, who just days ago was celebrating the release of a legal blueprint for Scottish independence.
Queen Elizabeth said her prayers were with the victims while Prime Minister David Cameron praised the "bravery of the ordinary Glaswegians" who rushed to help.

Read More →

Tim Tebow pep talk can't save Gators in blowout loss to Jameis Winston's Seminoles

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Not even Tim Tebow could save the Gators on Saturday.

He sure did try. The Heisman winner spoke to the team before its game against No. 2 Florida State and delivered a message as only he can.
"It really penetrated my soul," said offensive lineman Max Garcia, his eyes watering slightly. "And it was real."
Tebow told the Gators that any man who gets knocked down has the ability to get back up, according to Garcia, but, "A man can get down and come back withered, can come back beaten. But a man that goes down and comes back and is changed and is different, that's who we are; that's who the Gators are."
The entire team was "locked in," and Florida came out of the locker room with an urgency that hasn't been seen much around this town for the majority of its first losing season since 1979. At the end of the first quarter Saturday, the Gators were down 3-0 to the heavy favorites but it felt in the stadium like they were winning by three touchdowns.

View gallery

.

WIll Muschamp reacts in frustration during Florida's 37-7 loss to Florida State. (USA Today)

Florida couldn't hold up, though. Florida State has the impactful Heisman Trophy candidate now. And Jameis Winston led just the way Tebow used to when he played in this rivalry game.
Of course, any comparison between Tebow and Winston is strictly on the field. Winston has been accused of rape, and if he's charged and convicted, he'll disgrace his university.

For now, however, he is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, and his on-field leadership was on full display Saturday. Before a 96-yard second-quarter drive that changed the game for good, he told his offensive teammates, "This drive is going to define this game."
He was right. The Gators defenders were so hyped up before the drive that they were literally dancing on the field, waiting for Winston and his brethren to line up. The energy and noise could have easily overwhelmed many quarterbacks, but the freshman leader remained composed.
The Seminoles responded to Winston, "I got you!" And Winston came back with "OK, let's do it."
Winston converted a third-and-25, and the rout was on from there. The Seminoles finished the drive with a 45-yard touchdown catch by Kelvin Benjamin and ran away with the game. A 10-0 deficit spiraled into a 37-7 yawner. What could have been a serious challenge to a national championship bid turned into yet another lopsided win for the Seminoles in an 11-0 regular season.
That resilience, fueled in part by Winston's words and his ability, is something the Gators lack. Florida coach Will Muschamp cited a "woe is me" mentality after the game, mentioning "tough situations I wish we handled a little better." Muschamp has told the team "life is not fair," but that hasn't seemed to register. Florida didn't lose to Georgia Southern last week because of its injuries; it lost because it didn't have the right mindset. That's something only peers can build and maintain.

Winston is that kind of peer for the Seminoles. He called out Benjamin last night in front of the entire team, challenging him and telling him, "You're an unstoppable force." Benjamin then went out and had 212 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday. He proved he could indeed be an unstoppable force.

Jameis Winston (5) has Florida State on the verge of a BCS title berth now. (USA Today)

Yes, the Seminoles are stacked with talent. Winston didn't make Benjamin taller or faster. But the Gators are talented too. The Gators went to Tallahassee last season and whipped the Seminoles on their own field, and that Florida State team had 11 players who went on to the NFL. The Florida season highlight video, played for the team last night, had many clips from that game.

The Gators moved to 11-1 that day, and Muschamp truly thought he had the best team in the country. Now the coach is fighting for his job. The difference isn't just personnel. This season, small setbacks turned not into motivation, but into horrendous losses and embarrassing behavior like that shown Saturday by a Gators player who apparently spat at a Seminoles player during a stoppage in play. Part of that is on Muschamp, who clearly hasn't known what to say to turn the tide of negativity, but there was a season-long void in the locker room that he could not fill.

Winston, on the other hand, seems to always know what to say. Friday night, he asked teammates how many of them had ever been undefeated on any level. Not many raised their hands. It was a reminder of the situation, and the opportunity.
Tebow tried to do the same on Saturday: Remind the Gators of the situation, and the opportunity. "I'm going to stick to that for the rest of my life," Garcia said.
"When I saw him, I could just feel his leadership," Garcia added. "His presence, it just demanded that."
Every great team needs presence on the field. Florida State showed it Saturday. Florida has lost it completely.

Read More →

Don't bother with these overrated careers

Consider the alternatives to these careers, which may not live up to their perceptions.

By Sarita Harbour

Do you dream of a glamorous life as a doctor? Maybe you envision a great career as a teacher. While these are both admirable occupations to hold, it's probably in your best interest to do your homework before you commit to a costly education in either field.
That's because these are just two of the careers that may not be as great as you think. Long hours, poor job prospects, and less than stellar pay are just a few reasons they might be overrated.
The good news? There are alternative careers that could be more promising and allow you to work in the field of your dreams.
Read on to learn about five overrated careers and the alternatives that could be the answer to your professional quest.

Overrated Career #1:
Elementary School Teacher

Median Annual Salary*: $53,400
Influencing a new generation of youngsters and enjoying extended summer and Christmas holidays are a couple of the reasons people think they'll enjoy a career in teaching. But in reality, the profession is far less enticing.
Why It's Not Worth It: The low salary may counteract the perks."For a teacher to make it as a single person without a secondary income, they must be paid at the top of the pyramid," says Michael Provitera, career expert and author of the book "Mastering Self-Motivation: Preparing Yourself for Personal Excellence."

Career Alternative to Teacher:
Principal

Median Annual Salary: $87,760
A career as a principal could be a better option to explore if you want more control, responsibility, and better pay.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, principals usually support teachers and other school staff, manage the school's budget and finances, and ensure school facilities are safe for students and staff.
Why It's A Better Choice: As Mike Echols, executive vice president of strategic initiatives for Bellevue University, points out, principals not only make more money, they have greater career potential than teachers.
"A principal is also a management leadership role where a teacher is typically an individual contributor," says Echols. "The principal is on a career path for considerably greater growth potential for ever greater responsibility and scope of authority."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Education Leadership Program.
Education Options: To pursue a career as a principal, you'll be required by most schools to have a master's degree in education administration or educational leadership, according to the Department of Labor.

Overrated Career #2:
Physician

Median Annual Salary: $187,199+
Prestige, respect in the community, and the opportunity to help others is what makes a career as a doctor an attractive option for many. "Doctors often are looked upon as the best career," says Provitera.
Why It's Not Worth It: Despite its allure, being a doctor has many negatives. Some of these, according to Echols, could include the requirement of an extended professional education, residency performed under long hours, and a physically-demanding work schedule.
Plus, new health care laws are changing the way the profession functions and could affect earnings as well.

Career Alternative to Doctor:
Registered Nurse

Median Annual Salary: $65,470
Instead of the crippling student debt and grueling hours required for a career as a doctor, why not consider pursuing a career as a registered nurse?
The U.S. Department of Labor says that RNs coordinate patient care, provide advice to patients and their family members, and educate patients about various health conditions.
Why It's A Better Choice: "The demand for registered nurses is becoming highly competitive. Nurses can run their own business, become professors, or simply do what they love," says Provitera.
Plus, Echols adds that "a registered nurse becomes a practicing professional years before a doctor and graduates with considerably lower student debt in general."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
Education Options: RNs could take one of three different educational paths: a diploma from an approved nursing program, an associate's degree in nursing, or a bachelor's degree in nursing, according to the Department of Labor. To practice as an RN, students are also required to pass a national licensing exam.

Overrated Career #3:
Chef

Median Annual Salary: $42,480
Movies and television may have made a career as a chef something glamorous. But long hours and extreme working conditions could make it far from that.
Why It's Not Worth It: "Balancing the individual creative motivation of the successful chef with the sometimes stressful role of managing a kitchen crew can leave the chef drained and exhausted after a full day of fulfilling the whims and desires of restaurant patrons," Echols says. Provitera also points out that the competition to become a chef is tough.

Career Alternative to Chef:
Food Service Manager

Median Annual Salary: $47,960
A career as a food service manager still gets you in the kitchen, but without all the heat. The U.S. Department of Labor says that food service managers are responsible for the daily operations of restaurants and ensure that customers are satisfied with their food and the overall experience.
Why It's A Better Choice: Echols says that restaurant managers, especially those that work for large chains like Cracker Barrel or Olive Garden, have a much more cut and dried set of tasks than a chef might, so it is easier to get things done. "These managers have a process and procedures to follow rather than having to constantly recreate their business future," he says.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Restaurant Management Program.
Education Options: The Department of Labor says that while most of these professionals have less than a bachelor's degree, postsecondary education is increasingly preferred for restaurant manager positions. Many restaurant chains and food service management companies may recruit management trainees from college food service management or hospitality programs, the Department notes.

Overrated Career #4:
Animator

Median Annual Salary: $61,370
Love the idea of creating cartoons? While it sounds like a great gig, getting a job in the industry might not be all fun and games.
 Why It's Not Worth It: Competition is tough and the jobs are few, according to our experts. "Animators are often coined to create wonderful characters, but becoming a Walt Disney is a hard nut to crack," says Provitera. Plus, the pay isn't that great either, he notes.

Career Alternative to Animator:
Software Developer

Median Annual Salary: $99,000
A career as a software developer can still allow you to use your creativity. But combining it with cutting-edge technology can not only make you more desirable, it might also lead to a better income.
Software developers are "the creative minds behind computer programs," according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Why It's A Better Choice: "Animation is a profession with a diminishing future, [whereas] software development is increasingly being used to create animated visual productions," says Echols. "Software developments are happening rapidly, creating ever new opportunities for innovative and energetic professionals."
Provitera agrees. "A software developer can command a high salary, love what they do, and still stay abreast of the forefront of technology," says Provitera.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Computer Science Program.
Education Options: These professionals usually have a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related subject, according to the Department of Labor. Math degrees are also considered to be acceptable, it notes.

Overrated Career #5:
Stockbroker

Median Annual Salary: $71,720
Have you always been fascinated by the pace and excitement of Wall Street? That's understandable, but you might not want to jump into this career because of the way it looks on the outside.
Why It's Not Worth It: Technological advances and the Internet are reducing the demand for stockbrokers, according to Echols.
He says that stockbrokers have historically been transactional in activity, since they have the responsibility of buying and selling securities. But "[t]hose transaction opportunities are being eliminated by automated financial service providers," says Echols. "The profession is disappearing."

Career Alternative to Stockbroker:
Financial Manager

Median Annual Salary: $109,740
Echols says that financial managers, on the other hand, have more options and are increasingly in demand.
The U.S. Department of Labor says that financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization and might direct investment activities and produce financial reports.
Why It's A Better Choice: "Financial managers have a broad set of responsibilities to be continuously informed of developments in various markets," Echols says. "Good financial managers add value to their clients and have a very positive outlook for career opportunity."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Finance Program.
Education Options: Often, the minimum education needed to pursue a career as a financial manager is a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or business administration, according to the Department of Labor, though today many employers now look for managers with a master's degree, preferably in business administration, finance, or economics.

Read More →

China readies to launch first moon rover mission

Beijing (AFP) - China will launch its first ever moon rover mission on Monday, state media said, as Beijing embarks on the latest stage in its ambitious space programme.
A rocket carrying the vehicle, named "Jade Rabbit" in a nod to Chinese folklore, will blast off at 1:30 am local time (Sunday 1730 GMT).
"The Chang'e 3 is set to be launched for its moon mission from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Dec. 2," state broadcaster CCTV said on its verified Twitter account on Saturday.
Official news agency Xinhua also confirmed the launch date, citing officials at the satellite launch centre in Sichuan province.
If successful, the launch will mark a major milestone in China's space exploration programme, which aims to create a permanent space station by 2020 and eventually send someone to the moon.
"Apart from launching astronauts into space, this is probably the most complex space mission attempted by China," Australian space analyst Morris Jones told AFP.

View gallery."

This file photo shows a rocket being blasted off from the launch centre in Xichang, China's southwes …

"It will also make China only the third nation to soft-land a spacecraft on the moon."
Beijing sees its military-run space programme as a marker of its rising global stature and growing technological might, as well as the ruling Communist Party's success in turning around the fortunes of the once poverty-stricken nation.
China has previously sent two probes to orbit the moon, with controllers sending the first of them crashing into the lunar surface at the end of its mission.
Early in November, Beijing offered a rare glimpse into its secretive space programme when it put a model of its six-wheeled moon rover on public display.
The rover was later named "Yutu", or jade rabbit, following an online poll in which more than three million people voted.

View gallery."

Chinese astrounaut, mission commander Nie Haisheng, speaks to students via video link, gathered at a …

The name derives from an ancient Chinese myth about a white rabbit that lives on the moon as the pet of Chang'e, a lunar goddess who swallowed an immortality pill.
Ouyang Ziyuan, head of the moon rover project, told Xinhua earlier this week that the ancient beliefs had their origins in the marks left by impacts on the lunar landscape.
"There are several black spots on the moon's surface. Our ancient people imagined they were a moon palace, osmanthus trees, and a jade rabbit," he said.
The rover's designer, Shanghai Aerospace Systems Engineering Research Institute, claims several technological breakthroughs with the vehicle.
The Shanghai-based institute, a unit of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., which is linked to the military, says the advances include its "autonomous" navigation system and the way the wheels are able to grip the powdery surface of the moon.
It can climb inclines of up to 30 degrees and travel up to 200 metres (yards) per hour, according to the institute.
The showcasing of the rover came on the same day that India was due to launch its first mission to Mars, aiming to become the only Asian nation to reach the Red Planet.
China's space programme has advanced significantly in the last decade. In October China marked the 10th anniversary of its first manned space flight.
When Yang Liwei orbited the Earth 14 times during his 21-hour flight aboard the Shenzhou 5 in 2003 Beijing was so concerned about the viability of the mission that it cancelled a nationwide live television broadcast of the launch at the last minute.
But since then, China has sent a total of 10 astronauts -- eight men and two women -- into space on five separate missions, and launched an orbiting space module, Tiangong-1.
The rapid, purposeful development of China's space programme is in sharp contrast with the US, which launched its final space shuttle flight in 2011 and whose next step remains uncertain amid waning domestic support for spending federal dollars on space exploration.
Nonetheless, China is still behind the achievements of the US and Russia -- both of which it has learned from.

Read More →

Chemical watchdog says US to destroy Syria stockpile at sea

The Hague (AFP) - The United States will destroy the most dangerous of Syria's chemical weapon stockpile on a ship at sea, the world's chemical watchdog said on Saturday.

"The neutralisation operations will be conducted on a US vessel at sea using hydrolysis," the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said in a statement.
"Currently a suitable naval vessel is undergoing modifications to support the operations and to accommodate verification activities by the OPCW," The Hague-based watchdog added.
The ship operation will destroy what is known as "priority chemical weapons", the most dangerous of Syria's total arsenal and ones that have to be out of the country by December 31 under an international deal agreed to avert military strikes on Damascus.
OPCW spokesman Michael Luhan on Saturday declined to name the navy vessel to be used.
OPCW member states have been thrashing out the details of how to destroy Damascus's arsenal ahead of the watchdog's annual meeting set to start on Monday.
A final plan for the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons -- on land or at sea -- is due to be approved by December 17.
Sigrid Kaag, the top UN official from the joint UN-OPCW mission, confirmed the use of a US ship to render Syria's most dangerous chemical weapons unusable through a dilution process known as hydrolysis, and said the resulting byproducts would be destroyed by commercial companies.

View gallery."

Civilians inspect the Immigration and Passport building that was damaged by what activists say was a …

"The chemical effluents, what is left when destroyed, will be treated in countries through a number of companies," she told reporters in Damascus.
The US vessel "will not be in Syrian territorial waters," she added.
The OPCW earlier this month adopted a final roadmap for ridding Syria of its arsenal of more than 1,000 tonnes of dangerous chemicals by mid-2014.
According to this roadmap, the "priority" weapons have to be removed from Syria by December 31 and destroyed by April 2014 and the rest by mid-2014.
The OPCW said on Saturday that 35 commercial companies have expressed an interest in destroying the lower priority, less dangerous weapons.
The watchdog's director-general Ahmet Uzumcu said the various companies will now undergo evaluation before a suitable candidate is found.
"The companies bidding for participation in the disposal process will be required to comply with all applicable international and national regulations pertaining to safety and the environment," Uzumcu added.
Chemical weapons experts in the past have expressed concern over the incineration of chemical weapons at sea due to the risk of toxins that may land up in the water.
Despite international consensus on destroying the chemicals outside war-wracked Syria, no country had volunteered to have them destroyed on its soil.
Syria is cooperating with the disarmament and has already said it had 1,290 tonnes of chemical weapons and precursors, or ingredients, as well as over 1,000 unfilled chemical munitions, such as shells, rockets or mortars.
A team of UN-OPCW inspectors has been on the ground since October checking Syria's weapons and facilities.
The destruction of declared chemical weapons production facilities was completed last month and all chemicals and precursors placed under seal, the OPCW said last month ahead of a November 1 deadline backed by a UN Security Council resolution.
Some chemical weapons are destroyed through a process called hydrolysis, in which agents, like detergents, are used to neutralise chemicals such as mustard gas and sulphur, resulting in liquid waste known as effluent.
Nerve gases such as sarin are often better destroyed through incineration.
The OPCW has before requested that 798 tonnes of chemicals needed to be disposed of, as well as 7.7 million litres of effluent.

Read More →

US: American fighters in Syria a security risk

• 
  .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Federal officials say Americans are joining the bloody civil war in Syria, raising the chances they could become radicalized by al-Qaida-linked militant groups and return to the U.S. as battle-hardened security risks.

The State Department says it has no estimates of how many Americans have taken up weapons to fight military units loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad in the conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people over 2 ½ years. Other estimates — from an arm of the British defense consultant IHS Jane's and from experts at a nonprofit think tank in London — put the number of Americans at a couple dozen. The IHS group says al-Qaida-linked fighters number about 15,000, with total anti-Assad force at 100,000 or more.
This year, at least three Americans have been charged with planning to fight beside Jabhat al-Nusrah — a radical Islamic organization that the U.S. considers a foreign terrorist group — against Assad. The most recent case involves a Pakistan-born North Carolina man arrested on his way to Lebanon.
At a Senate homeland security committee hearing this month, Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del., said: "We know that American citizens as well as Canadian and European nationals have taken up arms in Syria, in Yemen and in Somalia. The threat that these individuals could return home to carry out attacks is real and troubling."
The hearing came about two weeks after the FBI and other officers arrested Basit Sheikh, 29, at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport on charges he was on his way to join Jabhat al-Nusrah. Sheikh, a legal resident of the United States, had lived quietly, without a criminal record, in a Raleigh suburb for five years before his Nov. 2 arrest. A similar arrest came in April in Chicago. And in September, authorities in Virginia released an Army veteran accused of fighting alongside the group after a secret plea deal.
In August, outgoing FBI Director Robert Mueller told ABC News that he was concerned about Americans fighting in Syria, specifically "the associations they will make and, secondly, the expertise they will develop, and whether or not they will utilize those associations, utilize that expertise, to undertake an attack on the homeland."

View gallery."

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Wake County Sheriff's Office via The News & Observer, …

Current FBI Director James Comey said this month that he worried about Syria becoming a repeat of Afghanistan in the 1980s, after the Soviet invasion, with foreign fighters attracted there to train. The FBI refused to say whether it's directed agents to increase efforts to stop Americans bound for Syria.
In the case of Sheikh, his North Carolina home isn't considered a breeding ground for terrorist activity. But Aaron Zelin, who works for both the London-based International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, notes that Sheikh lived about three hours from the hometown of Samir Khan, the editor of an English-language al-Qaida magazine who was killed in a drone attack in Yemen.
Sheikh is charged with planning to assist a group the State Department has declared a terrorist organization. It's not illegal for Americans who also hold citizenship in another country to fight in that country's military. But American citizenship can be lost for voluntarily serving in foreign armed forces hostile to the U.S.
For five months this year, Sheikh didn't know he was being monitored as he posted messages and videos on Facebook expressing support for jihadi militants fighting Assad's forces, according to a Nov. 2 sworn affidavit by FBI Special Agent Jason Maslow in support of the warrant to arrest Sheikh.
In August, Sheikh commented to an undercover FBI employee's posts on a Facebook page promoting Islamic extremism. The two struck up an online relationship, the affidavit said. Sheikh told the informant he planned to trek to Syria to join "a brigade in logistics, managing medical supplies." Days later, Sheikh said he'd bought a one-way ticket to travel to Turkey in hopes of making contact with people who would get him to Syria.
Sheikh said he backed out because "he could not muster the strength to leave his parents," the affidavit said. Sheikh said he had traveled to Turkey last year hoping to join the fight in Syria, but became dispirited by his experience with people who claimed to be part of the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army. After Sheikh expressed online support for Jabhat al-Nusrah and interest in traveling to the war zone, the FBI employee suggested Sheikh contact a person with the group — another FBI informant.
Sheikh made contract, describing Jabhat al-Nusrah as the most disciplined group of anti-Assad fighters, the affidavit said. "I'm not scared," Sheikh wrote, according to the affidavit. "I'm ready."
Two federal public defenders appointed to represent Sheikh are barred by local court practice from discussing their cases, spokeswoman Elizabeth Luck said. Sheikh's father, Javed Sheikh, said his son was falsely accused but that he trusts U.S. courts to find the truth.
A federal magistrate ruled that Sheikh should be detained until his trial because there was clear evidence that he wouldn't appear if released on bond and that there was a "serious risk" to the community if he were freed.
Basit Sheikh's arraignment is scheduled for January. He could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Read More →

Best vacations for chocolate lovers

Photo by Elina Manninen/Dreamstime.com

Vacations are a chance to indulge—and what better way to truly treat yourself than with chocolate? You can even plan an entire trip around pure, cacao-infused bliss. Whether it's hot chocolate worthy of an overnight flight, edible chocolate museum tickets, or the chance to immerse yourself in a chocolate-centric hotel, there's a world of chocolate delights waiting, and we've got 10 sweet places you shouldn't miss.

VESTRI
Florence, Italy

What's better than Italy? How about an Italian Chocolate Valley? This area of northern Tuscany is known for its dedication to pure chocolate (no added vegetable oils). For a taste of paradise in Florence, visit the tiny Vestri boutique for some of the finest chocolate imaginable. And strongly consider the dark chocolate and Sicilian orange gelato.

Expect crowds, but the luxurious Turin chocolates at Venchi are worth the wait. And if hitting the shops isn't enough, plan a visit for next spring's handmade chocolate fair for tastings, workshops, and lots more.

Where to Stay: Calling the historical Golden Tower homes comes with a nice perk: an on-site Chocolate Bar serving up more than two dozen varieties of chocolate.

Photo by summer park

ANGELINA
Paris, France

You'll never look at hot chocolate the same after you partake of the impossibly thick chocolat chaud at this opulent Angelina on Rue Rivoli. Your pitcher is served with a side of freshly whipped cream. Ceremoniously pour the molten chocolate into your little cup and raise a toast to Paris—and chocolate.

If you prefer your chocolate in bite-sized quantities, head to the laboratory of Jacques Jenin where shopping for chocolate is akin to buying jewelry. Select each piece from the display case and have it be oh-so-carefully removed by white-gloved staff.

Where to Stay: Ensconce yourself at the decadent Mandarin Oriental, where you'll also find the Cake Shop, home to executive pastry chef Thierry Mathieu's chocolate treats.

Photo Courtesy of Maison Cailler Elina Manninen/Dreamstime.com

SWISS CHOCOLATE TRAIN
Montreux and Broc, Switzerland

For an experience as magical as visiting Willy Wonka's factory, visit Montreux and board the Swiss Chocolate Train, a 1915 "Belle Epoque" Pullman car, for a round trip journey to Nestlé's Maison Cailler factory in Broc, where you'll take a tour and taste the creamy milk chocolate. Bonus: you'll also visit the Gruyères cheese factory. Or develop your chocolate tasting skills with the tour at Confiserie Poyet in Vevey.

Where to Stay: Sleep where milk chocolate was born, in Vevey. And do it in grand style at the Grand Hotel du Lac.

Photo by Oh-Barcelona.com

MUSEU DE LA XOCOLATA
Barcelona, Spain

Your tickets are edible. Need we say more? The Museu de la Xocolata will educate you about how Spanish conquerors brought chocolate to Europe from South America—and its inevitable spread. Imagine—what if nobody ever thought to add sugar to cocoa? Take part in one of nearly 20 of the museum's activities, many of which are family friendly. Revel in the delicious chocolate tastings, sample wine and chocolate pairings, or even paint with chocolate! Ready to swap hot chocolate for haute chocolat? Try one of bubo's fanciful creations. Or go old school at Pasteleria Escriba, where word hasit Ferran Adrià's favorite chocolate croissants can be found.

Where to Stay: Hotel Principal can guide chocolate-lovers to a cornucopia of chocolate shops.

Photo by Alexi Ueltzen

MAST BROTHERS CHOCOLATE
New York City

Sourcing their cacao from small farms in Ecuador, Madagascar, and Venezuela, Mast Brothers Chocolate creates delicious chocolate confections from scratch at their Brooklyn artisanal chocolate factory. And it's all chocolate all the time at Jacques Torres' (also known as Mr. Chocolate) stores. Chocolate in every expression your heart desires can be yours thanks to this French chocolatier. For chocolate lovers who also enjoy macarons, check out Richart Design et Chocolat. The luxurious shop has married the two with the devilishly tempting chocomacs.

Where to Stay: Walking distance from Richart in the heart of Times Square is the Muse Hotel.

Photo by Julien Millet

LE SALON DU CHOCOLAT
Paris, France

Any excuse will do to visit Paris, but the annual chocolate extravaganza, Le Salon Du Chocolat, the world's largest show dedicated to chocolate, is as good as it gets. All under one roof, you can inundate your senses with all things chocolate—plus meet some of the world's top chocolatiers and sample their wares. For a more intimate experience, join the small group (and surprisingly affordable!) visit to Gerard Mulot's workshop with Meeting the French or splurge on a private, docent-led chocolate walk with Context.

Where to Stay: The Cadran Hotel aims to please “chocolate addicts” with its in-house chocolate bar.

Photo by Borya/Flickr

PLACE DU GRAND SABLON
Brussels, Belgium

Boutiques ringing the lovely Place du Grand Sablon and its side streets lie in wait for the traveler in need of a chocolate fix. Here in the heart of chocolate nirvana, Belgium, pick from among the likes of Wittamer, Pierre Marcolini and Frederic Blondeel and create your own chocolate-tasting tour—just be sure to try the pralines as well.Choco-nerds can geek out with the history and exhibits at the Musée du Cacao et du Chocolat while home cooks will want to try their hand making pralines at the Planète Chocolat workshops. And if you just can't get enough join this weeklong chocolate tour of Belgium.

Where to Stay: Plant yourself in the midst of “chocolate heaven” as fans have dubbed the square, and make NH Hotel du Grand Sablon your home base.

Read More →

Paul Walker, 'Fast & Furious' Star, Dead in Car Crash at 40

Paul Walker (Photo: Eamonn McCormack/WireImage)

Paul Walker, the edgy action hero with all-American good looks who became an international star with "The Fast & the Furious" movie franchise, has died in a fiery car collision in Southern California. He was 40 years old.

The sad news was confirmed Saturday night by Walker's camp via the actor's official Twitter account.

According to the statement put out by Walker's team and also posted on Facebook, the actor was "attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide. He was a passenger in a friend's car.
"We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news," the statement continued. "Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences."

[Related: 'Fast' Stars and More Tweet Reactions to Paul Walker's Death]

The identity of the second victim, a male, has not been released by authorities; but numerous reports have identified the driver as Roger Rodas, the owner of Walker's auto-racing team, Always Evolving.

“Him and his buddy, his brother in arms at heart, just decided to joyride, take a spin," Antonio Holmes, an onlooker at the event who identified himself as a friend of Walker's, told the local Santa Clarita Valley Signal newspaper. "Something we all do. We're all car enthusiasts. ... We’re all here driving, enjoying each other, and God must’ve needed help."

According to witnesses, the red Porsche Carrera GT carrying Walker and his friend lost control and slammed into a tree and then a light pole. Walker, an unapologetic car lover, had been participating in the "Winter Drive" for Reach Out Worldwide, a toy drive and car meet charity event for disadvantaged children. Walker was also involved in humanitarian efforts in Chile and Haiti after the devastating earthquakes in both countries.
"Speed was a factor in the solo vehicle collision," the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said in a updated statement late Saturday.
Earlier, the sheriff's department and county coroner confirmed that two people were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, around 3:30 p.m. PT.
"When they arrived, deputies found the vehicle engulfed in flames. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded, extinguished the fire and subsequently located two victims inside the vehicle," Sheriff's Deputy Kim Manatt said in a statement. "The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the collision is under investigation."

[Photos: Paul Walker's Most Memorable Roles]

The tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed heartthrob was a California native, hailing from the L.A. suburb of Glendale. He began appearing in TV commercials when he was just a toddler. He guest starred on shows like "Highway to Heaven" and "Charles in Charge" as a teen, and scored his first leading role in 1998's "Meet the Deedles." This lead to higher profile roles in features like "Pleasantville," "Varsity Blues," and "She's All That" in the late '90s before cementing his status as a leading man in 2001's "The Fast and the Furious."

Walker starred in all but the third installment of the "Fast & Furious" movies, including the seventh chapter which is still in production and scheduled for release next summer. He also received critical acclaim for his performances in 2006's "Running Scared" and in Clint Eastwood's WWII drama, "Flags of Our Fathers." His next film, "Hours," about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is scheduled to open on Dec. 13.

"Fast" running mate Vin Diesel posted an image of him and Walker on Instagram with the caption: "Brother I will miss you very much. I am absolutely speechless. Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace."

Read More →

Michael Jordan to become a father again

Retired American basketball star Michael Jordan is going to be a father again. He and his Cuban-American model wife, Yvette Prieto, are expecting their first child, celebrity magazine Us Weekly reported on Saturday, citing an unnamed Jordan representative.
No due date was reported.
Jordan, 50, and Prieto, 34, were married in April in Florida after a five-year courtship. They live near Miami.
Jordan has three adult children from his previous 17-year marriage to Juanita Venoy, which ended in divorce in 2006.
The Hall of Fame player won six National Basketball Association championships with the Chicago Bulls. He won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award five times and was named an all-star 14 times.
His on-court success and commercial endorsements have made him one of the most recognizable and prosperous athletes in the United States.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; editing by Gunna Dickson)

Read More →