Ford will start testing self-driving cars on California’s public roads, signaling the company’s increasing efforts to develop vehicles with cutting edge technology.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker said Tuesday that it has enrolled in the California Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program, which already includes companies like Nissan, Volkswagen, and Google. Fully autonomous Ford Fusion Hybrids are expected to hit California’s streets next year.

Ford also said it will expand its strategic research partnership with Stanford University in 2016 to 13 projects, more than double the number of collaborations this year. The partnership, which kicked off in 2013, aims to research and solve some of the technical challenges related to automated driving.

California’s mild weather will let the company to extend testing year-round, according to Ford. The state’s unique road infrastructure and unusual transportation scenarios—like motorcycles that can legally split lanes—will provide new conditions for the vehicles to cope with and learn from, according to Ford.

Although Ford F isn’t considered to be the leader in developing self-driving cars, this isn’t its maiden effort either. Ford is already testing fully autonomous vehicles on public roads in at its proving grounds in Romeo, Mich., Wittmann, Ariz., and at Mcity, a 23-acre simulated urban environment at the University of Michigan.

The tests are part of Ford’s 10-year autonomous vehicle development program and its so-called Ford Smart Mobility. That initiative, introduced nearly a year ago, involves building cars with additional Internet connectivity, experimenting with the different forms of transportation such as car-sharing as well as using big data analytics (like grabbing information from in-vehicle sensors) to learn more about how people travel.

Ford already has a foothold in California with its Palo Alto research lab, which opened in January. It is a critical piece of the company’s effort to innovate. Ford has had a Silicon Valley office since 2012. But the research lab signaled the company’s true arrival—and interest—in the tech industry’s capital.

The research lab, which started with 15 employees, now has more than 100 researchers, engineers, and scientists. About 80% of those new hires come from the technology sector, according to Ford.

In the past year, the lab has used virtual test drives to study the interaction between an autonomous car and pedestrians, and researched sensors and how they can pull information from street signs, vehicles and even pedestrians. The Ford lab also studied data-driven health care. The company is working with Riders for Health to collect GPS data and mapping coordinates to make health care, vaccines and medication delivery to people throughout rural Africa.

Most major automakers as well as Google are working on autonomous driving technologies. California is considered the hub of such activity with Nevada following on its heels. Earlier this month, Kia Motors announced it was granted a license by the state of Nevada to test its autonomous driving technologies on public roads.

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Summary: It's all part of the automaker's deepening investment in Silicon Valley.


Spoilers for last night’s True Detective follow:

“I don’t dwell in the past.” “It must be nice.”

“After You’ve Gone,” the next-to-last episode of True Detective season one, largely leaves the past behind, in the structural sense. As it drives toward its endgame–and seemingly, at least, downloads a lot more information as to who was behind the ritual abuse-killings–it mostly takes place in 2012, leaving behind the series’ complex, time-skipping, flashback-and-interrogation structure. And yet, as it reunites a worse-for-wear Marty and Rust, “After You’ve Gone” is also loaded down with the past.

I’m going to keep the revelations about the case and my speculation on the whodunit here to a minimum, because I’ll inevitably guess wrong anyway, and you all can state your theories in the comments. But in brief: barring a dramatic switcheroo in the finale, the episode, combined with the previous one, seems to clear Rust of suspicion. He showed up at the recent crime scene because he’s still been working the case, and has found disturbing photo and video evidence that implicates the Tuttle family, suggests a law-enforcement coverup, and draws a tie to Rev. Tuttle’s statewide network of religious schools. We get more teases about the masked men (a connection to rural Louisiana Courir du Mardi Gras costuming) and a further hint at the Yellow King/Carcosa cult (“Death is not the end!”). Oh, and it involves the return of the Spaghetti Monster–the description, in the language of a terrified girl, of a man disfigured with facial scars.

But along the way, the episode also fills us in on where Rust and Marty have been since they split in 2002. The big surprise regarding Rust may be that, while Gilbough and Papania were correct that he was holding out on them, it was not that he was committing the murders but investigating them. (And, if we’re to believe what he tells Marty, he did go to Alaska, &c.) We’ve already thoroughly seen how time’s flat circle has left tire tracks down his back, as he’s spent the recent years crawling inside a Lone Star tallboy.

What we learn about where Marty’s been, though, diverges from the self he’s presented to the investigators in 2012. Yes, he’s left the force and gone P.I.–the result of seeing one gruesome child murder too many–but what we glimpse of him in the interim is not the swaggering “regular dude with a big-ass dick” but a lonely, tired guy, disconnected from his ex-wife and daughters, munching TV dinners and lurking on match.com in silence.

It is, in a way, a picture of dissipation worse than Rust’s physical wasting away; the Marty of the 2000s just seems like an inert, constipated ball of sadness. He hasn’t become a drinker–hasn’t even had a beer in three weeks, he says–but he’s been drinking from the cup of surrender for a while, it seems. If Rust has burned himself out by feeling everything too intensely (despite his claimed nihilism), Marty’s preferred poison is to try to avoid feeling too deeply–to be the “steady guy,” until it all boils over.

All of which goes toward answering the question: just why the hell would they partner up again after all this? Rust obviously needs Marty, but what does Marty need? (It’s not affection even if there may be respect; as Marty says, “If you were drowning, I’d throw you a fucking barbell.”) There’s the galvanizing video of Marie Fontenot’s rape–horrific, though we see nothing graphic–and it’s not the first time Marty’s been moved to sudden action by violence against a child. (Killing Reggie LaDoux after finding the dead boy; quitting his job after the baby in the microwave.) There’s Rust’s charge that he owes a “debt”–had he not executed Reggie, the killer might be put away. But I also wonder if there’s simply some element of wanting to face his past rather than escape it for once, to matter and to do something right. (To become–wait for it!–a True Detective.)

So Rust and Marty achieve some kind of middle-aged detente–Rust with his rat-tail stache and haunted eyes, Marty with his gut hanging over his golf pants. The upside for us is that after last week’s letdown of an hour, “After You’ve Gone” spends its time mainly with the two leads (and the only two well-developed characters in the series). It is still unclear exactly what Rust and Marty will find when they get to the rotting heart of this mystery–or whether Gilbough and Papania won’t get there first, having unwittingly come across Scarface in the last moments of the episode. We may have things left to learn about our protagonists before this story is over. I’m betting–hoping, maybe–that having so wholly embraced Rust’s perspective, True Detective will somehow upend that, rather than using him as the show’s Nietzschean Mary Sue to the end.

But it looks as if, one way or another, this story will end by advancing its timeline while confronting the sins of decades ago. Maybe you don’t dwell in the past. But the past still dwells in you.

Now for the hail of bullets:

* Week after week, I’m amazed at how the dialogue in this show can be well-turned and funny–“What’d you do, alienate every other person in your life and finally you came back to me in the rotation?”–then turn into pretentious Cormac McCarthy parody: “My life’s been a circle of violence and degradation as long as I can remember. I’m ready to tie it off.” Tumbleweeds should roll by in the foreground every time Rust utters aline like that.

* Hands up if you saw the “green-eared spaghetti monster” drawing working its way back into the story. (If “Spaghetti Monster” sounds familiar, by the way, it’s an atheist parody meme invented during a fight against the teaching of creationism in Kansas schools in 2005. I don’t think the use of the phrase is a clue, but it is a very particular phrase that I’ve heard often–and only in that context–so I wonder if it was at all in the back of Nic Pizzolatto’s mind as he was writing about the atheist Rust Cohle chasing a conspiracy that seems to tie back to pervy preacher Tuttle.)

* At this point Cary Joji Fukunaga’s directing almost goes without mention, but I loved how the final scene framed Scarface from the distance–as Gilbough and Papania saw him–with the glaring sun setting behind him, so that we saw his disfigurement only when the camera wheeled around him.

* And because this is a mystery, after all: so the threads tying the investigation to Tuttle and company, with an assist from the Louisiana political/law-enforcement community, suddenly seem to be coming together neatly. Too neatly? Any of you who saw evidence pointing toward Marty, or Rust, or Cthulhu, or anyone else–what’s your theory of the case now?

Summary: The latest episode advances the case in 2012, but as always, the past remains present.


swears she isn't blowing off her former TV co-star

... despite what Jennie said on national television -- and now AB is on a mission to make things right.

During an interview with Jeff Probst last week, Jennie said she had reached out to Amanda to check on her in the wake of her driving-related legal problems -- but Amanda's telling friends, that can't be true.

Sources close to Amanda tell TMZ, she never got any calls from Jennie -- her co-star on "What I Like About You" from 2002-2006 -- but would love to talk to her and catch up.

Amanda's saying she'd never intentionally ignore Jennie -- and now that Jennie's expressed concern for her, Amanda wants to reach out asap and reconnect.

Quick recap: Amanda's facing two charges of driving on a suspended license, one charge of DUI, and two charges of hit-and-run. Good times.

Summary: Amanda Bynes swears she isn't blowing off her former TV co-star Jennie Garth ... despite what Jennie said on national television -- and now AB is on a…


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WATCH: Robin Roberts talks with the legendary college basketball coach.

Five years before Pat Summitt's death, the legendary University of Tennessee basketball coach was leading her beloved team -- while battling early onset dementia.

"I've been so amazed at the response to dementia and how I'm going to deal with it," Summitt told ABC News' Robin Roberts in 2011.

"These are uncharted waters," Assistant Coach Mickie DeMoss told ABC News at the time. "I don't know how many coaches have made an announcement of dementia that's still coaching."

Summitt -- remembered as the all-time most winning D-1 basketball coach in NCAA history -- told Roberts, "What I want to do is get other people to understand: If you have dementia, don't be afraid of it."

"I work out five days a week -- they say that's very, very important," Summitt said, adding that she would keep her mind sharp with puzzles.

Lady Vols player Vicki Baugh told ABC News at the time that Summitt exemplified a lasting lesson -- "there's no excuses."

"Pat lives by that every day on the court and off the court," Baugh said.

"No matter what is thrown her way, she will overcome it. And I apply that to myself," Baugh said. "There's no excuse to not succeeding and doing the things that I want to do."

"It's all about the players," Summitt told Roberts. "I like to see young people succeed."

"I always think I have something to teach them," she said smiling.

Summitt, who stepped down as University of Tennessee's women's basketball coach in 2012, died peacefully this morning at the age of 64, according to her family.

"Since 2011, my mother has battled her toughest opponent, early onset dementia, ‘Alzheimer’s Type,’ and she did so with bravely fierce determination, just as she did with every opponent she ever faced," her son Tyler said in a statement. "Even though it’s incredibly difficult to come to terms that she is no longer with us, we can all find peace in knowing she no longer carries the heavy burden of this disease."

"For 64 years, my mother first built her life upon a strong relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her foundation was also built upon love of her family and of her players, and love of the fundamentals of hard work which reflected her philosophy that ‘you win in life with people,'" Tyler said. "She’ll be remembered as the all-time winningest D-1 basketball coach in NCAA history, but she was more than a coach to so many -- she was a hero and a mentor, especially to me, her family, her friends, her Tennessee Lady Volunteer staff and the 161 Lady Vol student-athletes she coached during her 38-year tenure."

Summary: Five years before Pat Summitt's death, the legendary University of Tennessee basketball coach was leading her beloved team -- while battling early onset dementia."I've been so amazed at the response to dementia and how I'm going to deal with it," Summitt told ABC News' Robin Roberts in 2011....


At times close to tears, former prime minister Tony Blair faced the world's media Wednesday to defend his place in history after the damning findings of Britain's inquiry into the Iraq war.

There was an apology - of sorts - from the former Labour leader, who in 1997 at the age of 43 became Britain's youngest premier in nearly two centuries.

"I express more sorrow, regret and apology than you may ever know or can believe," said a hoarse-sounding Blair, his voice breaking.

He also insisted that memories of events around the invasion - which led to the death of more than 150,000 Iraqis and 179 British soldiers - would never leave him.

"There will not be a day of my life where I don't relive or rethink what happened," he told the news conference at London's Admiralty House, once home to wartime prime minister Winston Churchill.

But after nearly two hours of talking and a barrage of questions from journalists, Blair was still adamant that he had taken the right decisions on Iraq despite the serious flaws in planning and execution which dogged the US-led invasion in 2003.

The man known as "The Master" at Westminster now looks set to slip back into his lucrative career of advising foreign governments, despite threats from some MPs that they will try and impeach him via a law last used in 1806.

A defiant Blair said he could not accept a whole string of the Chilcot report's central findings, including that it was unnecessary to invade Iraq in March 2003.

"I believe we made the right decision and the world is better and safer" without toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, he said.

"They want me to say what I can't in all frankness say -- that we should have taken a different decision. I'm sorry if people find that difficult to reconcile," Blair added.

Protesters hold a demonstration outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre ahead of the release of the Chilcot Inquiry in London. (AAP)

His comments came a few hours after retired civil servant John Chilcot finally announced the findings of his inquiry into Britain's role in the war after seven years.

More than 100 anti-war protestors had gathered outside the venue where Chilcot spoke shouting "Blair lied, thousands died".

Perhaps seeking to avoid similar scenes, Blair's aides only gave journalists 15 minutes' notice of his news conference -- though he did stay to answer their questions for "as long as you want".

Political artist Kaya Mar holds up his painting of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair wrapped in a U.S. flag in a demonstration outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. (AAP)

He could not resist a snipe at those who accuse him of lying over his motives for invading Iraq -- a claim which has become commonplace in Britain since he resigned as premier in 2007.

"Neither history nor the fierce and raucous conduct of modern politics, with all its love of conspiracy theory and its addiction to believing the worst of everyone, should falsify my motive," he said.

"I did it because I thought it right," he said.

Speaking via a spokesman from his ranch in Texas, former US president George W Bush backed up his comrade-in-arms.

Blair and Bush in 2003. (AAP)

"Despite the intelligence failures and other mistakes he has acknowledged previously, President Bush continues to believe the whole world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power," the satatment said.

"He is deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice of American and coalition forces in the war on terror. And there was no stronger ally than the United Kingdom under the leadership of Prime Minister."

One of Britain's most popular ever politicians when he won his first election by a landslide in the 1990s, Blair now has an approval rating of -67 percent, according to pollsters YouGov.

At 63, Blair is still relatively young and reportedly interested in senior political jobs.

An article he wrote for the Daily Telegraph last week was seen by some commentators as an informal pitch for a job helping to negotiate Britain's exit from the European Union following last month's referendum.

But for all the deft political touch exhibited at Wednesday's press conference, some of the reaction demonstrated how toxic his Iraq legacy remains.

Blair's name was trending on Twitter after his press conference and many comments referred to him having "blood on his hands".

"It will take many hours to read Sir John's magnum opus, and there will be much to learn from his findings," wrote political commentator Matthew d'Ancona in a column for Wednesday's Evening Standard newspaper.

"But those who already hate Blair will not have their opinions shifted by an inch."

Summary: Tony Blair has faced the world's media to defend his place in history after the damning findings of Britain's inquiry into the Iraq war.


LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24 - The Walt Disney Company said Tuesday that it would acquire Pixar Animation Studios for $7.4 billion in a stock deal that not only gives Pixar's chief executive, Steven P. Jobs, a powerful role in Hollywood but also stirs hopes for rekindling the animated storytelling tradition at Disney.

The sale ends months of tricky negotiations that began with Mr. Jobs and Disney's chief executive, Robert A. Iger, discussing whether to extend Pixar's distribution partnership with Disney.

As part of the deal, Mr. Jobs will become a nonindependent director at Disney as well as its largest individual shareholder, ahead of Mr. Iger's predecessor, Michael D. Eisner.

"As we approached the end of our relationship with Disney and we looked at our future, we were at a fork in the road," Mr. Jobs said. And, he said, "Disney is the only company with animation in their DNA."

As part of the agreement, Disney will issue 2.3 shares for every share of Pixar stock. (Pixar has $1 billion in cash.) That would value the deal at $59.78 a Pixar share, based on Disney's $25.99 closing price on Tuesday. That is a 3.8 percent premium over Pixar's closing price of $57.57.

The move highlights what Mr. Iger said was a priority in his short tenure as Disney's chief (he took the job in October): acquiring and creating brand-name properties to deliver whenever and however consumers want.

But it also speaks to Disney's flagging animation ambitions, as rivals like Pixar and DreamWorks Animation have thrived.

"I want to return Disney to greatness in this area," Mr. Iger said, "and this was the way to do it fastest."

Both Mr. Iger and Mr. Jobs said a Disney takeover of Pixar, which has created hits like "Toy Story" and "The Incredibles," would not threaten Pixar's unusual culture, because Pixar will still be managed independently.

"I'm sensitive to what can happen when a company is bought," Mr. Iger said. It is important, he said, "that the Pixar culture be protected and allowed to continue."

Already there is fallout within Disney regarding the announcement. David Stainton stepped down as president of Walt Disney Feature Animation on Tuesday, but it is expected he will be offered another role at the studio. He did not return a call seeking comment. At Pixar, said a Pixar executive, employees were subdued though many of them had known an acquisition was imminent.

Protecting Pixar's culture will be left to the two men who, aside from Mr. Jobs, have had the most significant impact on Pixar. The company's president, Edwin E. Catmull, will lead the Pixar and Disney animation studios, reporting to Mr. Iger and Richard W. Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios.

Mr. Catmull will be one of the executives to review Disney's operations in Burbank and its slate of animated films, which includes "American Dog" and "Meet the Robinsons."

John Lasseter, the director of "Toy Story" and the dominant creative force at Pixar, will become chief creative officer of the two studios and the principal creative adviser at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he will help design attractions at Disney's theme parks. In an unusual arrangement given the hierarchical nature of Disney, Mr. Lasseter will report solely to Mr. Iger.

"We both wanted it to be that way," Mr. Iger said. When asked to elaborate, he added, "I don't want to really go into that."

Whatever the reason for the arrangement, it is clear that Mr. Lasseter will play a significant role in Pixar projects within Disney.

"Obviously, Bob is the C.E.O. and the buck stops with him," said Mr. Jobs, "but John is working directly for Bob and has always had strong feeling about the exploitation of the characters."

Both Mr. Iger and Mr. Jobs said Pixar's animators would create their own sequels. That calls into question what Disney will do with a unit in its own animation group that has begun making sequels, including "Toy Story 3." Analysts expect the moneymaker at Pixar, for Disney, at least in the short term, to be sequels.

"While Disney can make them," Mr. Iger said, "Pixar making them is totally different."

Summary: Walt Disney Co will acquire Pixar Animation Studios for $7.4 billion in stock; deal will make Pixar chief executive Steven Jobs nonindependent Disney director and its largest individual shareholder; move rekindles hopes for rekindling Disney's animation tradition; Pixar president Edwin Catmull will lead Pixar and Disney animation studios, reporting to Disney chief executive Robert Iger and Walt disney Studios chairman Richard Cook (M)


11/11/2012 AT 04:00 PM EST

Jeff Kent, the retired major league baseball MVP, made it 22 days on

in a move spearheaded by

Still unhappy about his premature evacuation, Kent talks to PEOPLE about his

game – and what he

thinks about his tribe mates (and it's not always pretty).

I absolutely cherished it. It was great to go somewhere and not be put on a pedestal. I was happy to negotiate and be told no, and to communicate with these people who were 20- and 30-years-old. I'm a lot like these people.

I'm a normal guy. I don't live in a big old mansion and drive Ferraris. I wash my trucks and scout baseball and go to church. I do all sorts of things that normal people do.

She never played the game. She stood around in groups and during the conversations said, "I'll do what you tell me to do." She never once showed in any conversation that she was trying to play the game. We were ripping on her for not having any strategy.

Absolutely not. She had no strategy at all.

She had no game. No clue at all. She was fighting her morals and ethics, worried about lying. And then she starts lying to people. The way she played the game really hurt her chances.

That's the thing: these people weren't playing the game. They weren't playing well at all. I got out there and was playing hard, but I think I was the only one sometimes.

Mike Skupin. He lied through his teeth to me. He was a puppy dog through the entire game, really wishy-washy. And he said he was on my side, but he really wasn't. So I blame him.

Pete is the buffest non-athlete I ever saw. Abi is ornery; she probably pissed off her mother when she was born. Artis is quiet, reserved and angry. Lisa is naíve and isn't cut out for the game. As for Mike Skupin, we called him 'Stupin' for a very good reason. He's totally clueless.

Carter is lonely, yet loyal. He was easy to manipulate. But he got stronger out there, and I got to really trust him. ... Malcolm is like a varsity quarterback. He's a good-looking guy, and you can see his brain working, but he overthinks things. Denise is physically fit and a workaholic, but she had no strategic game; I couldn't get her to side with me ... And Jonathan Penner is intelligent and resilient, but he needed to go.

It won't be about who deserves it; It'll be about who earned it. I am giving a championship ring to someone who worked hard to win and made the right moves. It just so happens that a million dollars go with it.

You're welcome. I'm still upset about getting voted off. I hope I can get over my bitterness someday.

Summary: "She had no strategy at all," the baseball MVP says of the Facts of Life star


Across the world, the financial markets were anxious about the stability of the public finances in umpteen countries. The UK faced a real risk of seeing its debt classed with some of the most worrying cases.

So, there was a strong argument for seeking to bring the debt ratio down soon, by radically reducing the gap between government spending and tax revenues.

The only real issues were about the optimal speed of this reduction and where the financial pain should fall. Although I had some doubts about the details, I was broadly in sympathy with the Coalition’s plans for deficit reduction.

In practice, though, government borrowing fell more slowly than envisaged. Indeed, it ended up higher even than it had been under the plans of the previous Labour chancellor, Alistair Darling. Wisely, in my view, George Osborne did not seek to reduce the deficit more quickly by imposing further fiscal stringency.

Summary: What is the right fiscal policy?


It takes a special sort of person to start an online news service in this age of free content, layoffs, and ad blockers. Gregg Housh, it appears, is that sort of person. Housh, a sometimes member of the Anonymous “hacktivist” group, founded a website called Rebel News last month, according to The Boston Globe.

The site’s goal is to offer “substantial, well sourced journalism” focusing on activism, politics, and rights, according to a Kickstarter campaign launched in August to help fund the site. The campaign has 31 days to go.

At 38, Housh insists he’s no longer the amoral mischief maker who used to pirate software just to feel an adrenaline rush. In fact, he has become a popular authority on cybercrime since pleading guilty to conspiracy to violate copyright laws in 2005.

Housh has had an interesting career, to say the least. He’s built web sites and helped them with search engine optimization. He’s trolled the Church of Scientology. He’s served as an adviser for the hit Netflix series House of Cards (his work helped form the character of hacker Gavin Orsay). He’s been arrested for his role in running a software piracy organization and spent three months in prison, according to the Huffington Post.

Come to think of it, it’s the kind of training that might come in handy in the rough-and-tumble world of digital news.

For a look at corporate hacking, watch this Fortune video:

Subscribe to Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter on the business of technology.

Summary: Boston-area former hacktivist Gregg Housh launched Rebel News, an online news site focusing on politics, activism, and more.


Mourners attended a funeral for a Kylan Mejri, 4, and his mother, Olfa Kalfallah, who were killed in last week’s attack in Nice.

NICE, France — When a Tunisian man drove a truck down a crowded street in Nice last week in an attack claimed by the Islamic State, more than one-third of the people he killed were Muslim, the head of a regional Islamic association said on Tuesday.

Kawthar Ben Salem, a spokeswoman for the Union of Muslims of the Alpes-Maritimes, said that Muslim funerals were being held for at least 30 of those who died during the Bastille Day attack, including men, women and children.

The Paris prosecutor’s office, which handles terrorism investigations, said on Tuesday that all 84 people killed in the attack had been formally identified, meaning that the number of Muslim fatalities may be even higher. The number of people who were wounded was also raised, to 308 people.

The attack occurred after a fireworks display, as the Tunisian man, identified as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, drove a cargo truck around a barrier and accelerated as people were slowly beginning to leave the beach area. The truck plowed into the crowds, tacking from one side of the road to the other. The road had been closed to vehicular traffic for the display.

About 120,000 people in the Alpes-Maritimes are from the Maghreb — including Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco — and while the majority are most likely Muslims, some are Jews and Christians, according to rough estimates by various local associations. Nice is also a destination for Muslims from Senegal and other West African countries where French is spoken, and there is also a sizable community of Muslims from the Comoros Islands.

French leaders held a moment of silence in Nice, France, on Monday to honor the victims of last week's attack. Eighty-four people were killed and dozens more injured when a truck plowed through a crowd on Bastille Day.

“This is complicated in terms of mourning for the whole world; this is also a little complicated for the Muslim community which is afraid that acts of violence,” will be directed at them, said Ms. Ben Salem. “We hope that this sends a global message that the barbarity touches the whole world and that the people here, the victims, are not those who commit the crimes in Syria and Iraq.”

At least 10 children and teenagers were killed in the attack, but because Mr. Lahouaiej Bouhlel was identified as a Muslim, she said, many people “don’t see that some Muslim children were killed with the other children.”

Thousands of locals and tourists turned out for the July 14 fireworks, a free event held on the beautiful waterfront that arcs along the bay.

Oucine Jamouli, 62, the head of a Moroccan association, attributed the heavy Muslim turnout at least partly to the fact that there is less drinking at the Bastille Day festival than at other big events in Nice because it is a family-oriented celebration.

It is also less religious than Nice’s other major festivals: a Christmas market, the Carnival festival at Mardi Gras and the fireworks for Aug. 15, which marks the Catholic feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary to heaven.

“There are so many people at the fireworks, of every race, every color, every religion,” said Mr. Jamouli, who runs a Moroccan restaurant a block from the Promenade des Anglais, where the attack occurred. “Terror basically aims at the whole society and at its freedom.”

Victims of the terror attack on Bastille Day were honored on Friday in Nice, Paris, Rome, New York and Moscow.

People from at least 13 countries lost their lives, according to reports drawn from foreign ministries around the world, including citizens of Estonia, France, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Tunisia and the United States.

For the Muslims who died, the Islamic association will conduct a ritual Muslim cleansing of the body and will say prayers. Depending on the wishes of the families, the bodies will either be buried in the Nice area or be repatriated to their home countries.

The United States Embassy said that several Americans were not accounted for, according to reports it had received from relatives who reached out to diplomats there to say that they have not heard from family members who were believed to have been in Nice around the time of the attacks.

Estonia’s prime minister, Taavi Roivas, said in a statement on Tuesday: “For the first time, we have to face a harsh reality and say that the agony of terrorism has reached us in the saddest way imaginable.”

The two Estonians killed in the attack were a woman whose name has not been released, who was strolling along the Promenade des Anglais with her granddaughter, and a 21-year-old student at the Tallinn University of Technology, identified by officials as Rickhard Kruusberg.

Michel Raineri, the French ambassador to Estonia, sent a letter of condolence to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on Tuesday, writing that the attack “reaffirms that only the unity of Europe can help us win over hate and hostility.”

Follow Alissa J. Rubin on Twitter @Alissanyt and Lilia Blaise @liliagaida.

Aurelien Breeden contributed reporting from Paris, and Richard Martyn-Hemphill from London.

A version of this article appears in print on July 20, 2016, on page A6 of the New York edition with the headline: Truck Attack in Nice Claimed Many Muslim Lives. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe

Summary: The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the rampage, but it took a heavy toll on Muslims, who numbered at least 30 of the 84 killed.


London had beaten bids from Edinburgh, Manchester and several German regions to stage the 2017 grand départ. The capital hosted the opening stage of the world’s biggest bicycle race in 2007. It also hosted the finish to stage three of the 2014 edition, which began in Leeds. On that occasion TfL contributed £6 million to the grand départ budget of £27 million.

Cyclists race during the Tour de France in London Photo: Alamy ASO has been open about wanting to exploit the UK’s growing interest in the sport. A spokesperson did not return emails asking for comment on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish will confirm one of cycling’s worst kept secrets on Tuesday by announcing that he is moving to Team Dimension Data, currently known as MTN-Qhubeka, for 2016.

The African Pro-Continental team made headlines at the Tour de France this year when the Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot became the first black African to wear a leader’s jersey at a grand tour. Qhubeka, an African bicycle charity, will remain a key part of the team.

The deal has been strongly rumoured for the past few weeks but final negotiations have been complex, as the team were unable to afford Cavendish’s wages.

That obstacle has now been removed following the announcement that the financial consultants Deloitte would be joining the team as a ‘gold’ sponsor. MTN-Qhubeka unveiled Dimension Data as title sponsor last week.

Chris Froome won this year's Tour de France

The extra revenue will help to fund not only the Manxman’s arrival but also those of Bernhard Eisel (Team Sky) and Mark Renshaw (Etixx-Quick Step).

• Rouleur Classic, the world's finest road cycling exhibition, Nov 19-21, 2015, London. Book Today.

Cavendish is believed to earn around £2.2 million per year at Etixx-Quick Step. The 2011 world champion and winner of 26 Tour de France stages is unlikely to earn that much at Dimension Data but his salary is still likely to be somewhere between £1 million and £2 million a year, with the added bonus that he has the freedom to try to qualify for the Great Britain track squad at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year.

Cavendish is attempting to qualify in the omnium, the multi-event discipline. His rival for the berth, double Olympic team pursuit champion Ed Clancy, has pulled out of next month’s European track championships in Grenchen, Switzerland, with a slipped disc sustained picking up a training bag.

Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain races against the clock in the prologue of the Tour De France Photo: Getty Images

Summary: Transport for London claims hosting start of world's biggest annual sporting   event does not offer 'value for money'


One of the biggest big mouths in sports got shut up on Saturday night: Conor McGregor, the Ultimate Fighting Championship brawler from Dublin, who in short time had talked and taunted his way into becoming the most polarizing athlete in the sport. McGregor had won a bunch of fights, too, but what really elevated his profile was his wickedly obnoxious self-regard and relentless jeering of his competition. To McGregor, every opponent was a...

Summary: One of the biggest big mouths in sports got shut up on Saturday night, writes Jason Gay.


When legal pot shops first opened up in America, there wasn’t a ton of thought given to retail design and aesthetics. Understandably so: Compared to the old pot-buying experience—stealthily purchasing a dime bag on the street corner or in the basement of your friendly neighborhood drug dealer—any store could look fancy and inviting.

Now that recreational marijuana has become fully established in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon, and medicinal marijuana stores appear in many other states, however, it’s clear that legal pot is a big business and won’t be getting shut down anytime soon. So it makes sense that the places selling it should look like sleek, professional retail businesses too.

And that’s exactly what’s happening to pot shops around the country, the Denver Post reports. For example, The Clinic, a cannabis dispensary with locations in Colorado, Illinois, and Nevada, just spent a little over $1 million to design and build a new flagship store in Denver. The retail hub has an “art-meets-science aesthetic,” the Post explains, with skylights, tons of natural light, earth-tone counters, and artfully displayed product samples.

“Let’s be industry-agnostic here,” Clinic president and CEO Scott Thorn says of his new store. “We wanted to create a retail experience that measured up to stores in any industry. We wanted to be able to translate our brand into a physical and operational environment.”

The concept is no different than the thinking behind the design of the Apple Store: It’s meant to be inviting, engaging, and classy—all qualities that tend to make shoppers stick around longer and buy more.

Read Next: Legal Weed & 11 Other Things Americans Are Suddenly Buying More Than Ever While shops like The Clinic and Good Chemistry, also in Denver, have the look of chic laboratories, Paper & Leaf, located in Bainbridge Island, Wash., feels more like an art gallery, with rustic, earthy accents reflecting the setting’s natural beauty. According to the shop’s website, Paper & Leaf features “a high-end, comfortable atmosphere and professional attitude that invites inquiry, discovery and conversation.”

And no matter if we’re talking about the Apple Store or a pot shop, the proprietors hope the atmosphere also invites customers to spend some good money.

Summary: Upscale makeovers are changing retail marijuana aesthetics.


“Every one of them – Jamie [Murray], Andy – came from a small outdoor club. It’s possible. We’ve got to get that message out. If the conversations hadn’t been highlighted on that Monday morning maybe we wouldn’t have got to that stage. I think it’s a positive.”

Smith believes Great Britain's historic victory has acted as a catlyst

Smith will push politics aside this week to lead Britain out in Birmingham as defending champions – an unimaginable statement even five years ago, when he was selecting players ranked “250 or 350”. No longer the forgotten nation of the Davis Cup, Britain must now re-motivate themselves without the spur that underdog status brings. Smith saw this change in dynamic coming and insists he is prepared.

“It’s part of my job to make sure there was some sort of consultation with the support team and the players,” he starts out. “So we really set about finding ways to stop the players turning up and feeling – here we go again. That could have really harmed us.

“There are some things the players will see that are just a little bit different. I’ll explain when I see them. They’ll realise – oh, OK. It’s how we’ve scouted the opponents and go through the tactical plays. It’s different. There’ll be some things they see that have gone to another level. How we support them through the week with medical services is a bit different as well.

“I looked at some successful teams and looked at the commentary around them. That sprang some ideas. A lot of it is about the environment and your team spirit. We can motivate them by giving them confidence that we’ve ticked more boxes.

Andy Murray is expected to lead Great Britain's title defence Photo: REX FEATURES

“I seek counsel from Andy a lot, because he’s someone who has to reset goals continually. He continually has to work out how to go again.

“I’ve watched him closely and talked to him about it a lot. Finding areas in your game to work on is another area of motivation. He’s been good at that.” To still have Murray, Belgium’s nemesis, is plainly an enormous asset for Smith, who believes the world No 2 will “get the taste” for Davis Cup tennis again and stick with the team beyond the tie with Japan.

He says: “It’s great that Andy’s playing this one. It would have been understandable for him not to, but the feeling of going in as winners gives a huge amount of confidence. And the team is actually getting better.

“We start again this year with the No 2 player in the world in singles in Andy, the No 2 player in doubles in Jamie, another top 30 doubles player in Dom Inglot, Kyle Edmund, who’s making very good progress on the Tour, and Dan Evans who’s got a resurgence going. And we’ve got Aljaz Bedene, who’s joining us as a hitting partner. He’s 54 in the world. So there’s a feeling of confidence in the team.

“The make up is different. Andy and Jamie are going to be around for the next four or five years. Kyle’s around for the next decade. James Ward’s got five years left. If Aljaz is successful with his [eligibility] appeal then we have another Tour player for a considerable period.”

Smith and his Davis Cup team-mates pose for the obligatory selfie

During pre-season in Dubai, Smith fell into conversation with Roger Federer about Davis Cup finals. Smith says: “He said he’d never felt anything as draining as that. The sheer intensity of everything that’s going on, for every point from start to finish.” Britain, and Murray, fed off that “intensity” in Ghent, and now Smith thinks British tennis is finally ready to feed off Murray’s brilliance.

“The stories we have to tell the next generation of players are immense,” he says. “And it’s visible. It’s priceless what we have as a coaching manual: that determination.” Smith told Edmund and Liam Broady: “Just watch him [Murray]. His focus and his mindset have improved every element of his game, whether it’s his net game or his return. Every session. That’s why the sessions go for three hours. He needs to find the time to work on all aspects of his game, because that’s what it’s going to take to beat Novak [Djokovic]. And it’s an amazing message, it really is.

“Because we had been in the wilderness in Davis Cup we probably didn’t realise what a vehicle that could be for the players. France and Australia have done really well in keeping Davis Cup as their pinnacle. It’s all they talk about. We didn’t see it as something the players can really aspire to. Now we’re learning it’s one of the most important things you can aspire to.”

Britain's Davis Cup victory ended a 79-year wait

Reaching the top was an immense achievement for Smith as captain and his new challenge is to stay there. There is a Sir Alex Ferguson-esque tinge to his message to the team to start afresh.

“If we lose this [against Japan] we’ll play a relegation match in September. How is that going to feel?” he says. “Spain, on a clay court in Seville or somewhere. It’s a very, very tight team. At the same time we don’t want to be looking at the nice trophy we’ve got thinking – 'Yeah, we did it.’ We want to do it again.”

Summary: Exclusive interview: Great Britain captain reveals how Andy Murray and Co aim   to build on historic success to ensure a revolution in the domestic game


Pat Glass, Labour’s shadow Europe minister, has apologised after being caught on microphone calling a voter in Derbyshire a “horrible racist”.

Glass, who replaced Pat McFadden in the role when Jeremy Corbyn reshuffled his shadow cabinet in January, had been out on the campaign trail with a BBC local radio reporter, knocking on doors in the Derbyshire village of Sawley.

Thinking that their interview had ended, she said: “The very first person I come to is a horrible racist. I’m never coming back to wherever this is.”

The BBC said the man she was referring to later denied being a racist, but said that in his conversation with the MP he had spoken of a Polish family in the area who he thought were living on benefits. He had described them as “spongers”, the man told the BBC.

Glass later issued an apology, saying: “The comments I made were inappropriate and I regret them. Concerns about immigration are entirely valid and it’s important that politicians engage with them. I apologise to the people living in Sawley for any offence I have caused.”

Labour sources were supportive of Glass, but the incident will stir memories of Gordon Brown’s embarrassment on the general election campaign trail in 2010 when he had to apologise to a voter, Gillian Duffy, after being recorded in a private conversation calling her a “bigoted woman”.

The government is unlikely to seek to make political capital out of Glass’s remarks, since Downing Street is on the same side as Labour in the campaign to keep Britain in the EU.

Related: Labour MP apologises for calling voter 'horrible racist' after clash over immigration - Politics live

But her misstep will be seized on by those who view the pro-EU campaign as dominated by Westminster politicians distant from the concerns of ordinary voters.

Brendan Chilton, the general secretary of Labour Leave, the party’s campaign to exit the EU, condemned the remarks by Glass. He said: “These comments are nothing short of shocking. A significant number of Labour voters want to leave the EU, and have justified concerns with immigration.

“It is because of open-door immigration, among other issues like our national services, that I’m fighting for the UK to leave the European Union. Pat Glass’s comments do not reflect the views of a large number of Labour voters.

“The Labour party is split on the EU issue. Let’s make no bones about that.”

Gisela Stuart, the Labour MP who is co-chair of Vote Leave, has called her party’s decision to campaign to remain in the EU a “recruiting agent for Ukip” because it suggests that Labour is not sufficiently concerned about immigration.

Summary: Shadow Europe minister Pat Glass made comments at the end of a radio interview after encounter in Sawley, Derbyshire


Victims of a series of arson attacks across suburban Adelaide have been left "emotionally and physically drained" by the fires, a court has heard.

Garry John Trestrail, 26, has pleaded guilty in the SA District Court to multiple counts of arson, property damage and causing bushfires across Adelaide's southern suburbs in early 2014.

During sentencing submissions on Monday, a community victim impact statement was read to the court outlining the devastating effects of the fires.

One woman said Trestrail's offending had caused her to relive the trauma she had suffered as a young girl when her mother was killed in a house fire.

"He has destroyed the victims' sense of safety and security in their own homes, their trust in others and their health and wellbeing," the statement read.

"There is a sense of disbelief and disgust that a person would intentionally cause such damage."

Another victim, mother-of-three Lara Hildebrand, said her young children had been left fearful and traumatised after being forced to flee a fire in her garage.

Ms Hildebrand said she had accepted Trestrail's offer of assistance as the fire raged, not realising it was her neighbour who had lit the blaze.

"I am rebuilding my life and the lives of my children," she said in her victim impact statement.

"We do cope on a day-to-day basis. But I want it to be clear to the defendant that his actions did and do continue to have a significant impact on our lives."

The court heard one of the fires raged for six hours and was battled by 139 firefighters.

Victims have requested that Trestrail be prevented from returning to his neighbourhood upon his release from prison.

Trestrail was remanded in custody to face further sentencing submissions on August 8.

Summary: A court has been told of the devastating impact a series of arson attacks across suburban Adelaide had on their victims.


Based on Mazda’s MX-5 Miata, the Spider is more than a re-skin, adding what some Miata fans have long desired: a turbo engine. And that new skin turns heads.

FOR the last few decades, people with modest bank accounts could only dream of buying a new Italian roadster. Ferrari doesn’t make anything in the $30,000 range, except perhaps seats. At over 65K, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is attainable only after raiding the children’s college fund and selling the spouse’s Camry.

Save yourself the hassle of a divorce and check out the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider instead. With prices starting at $25,990, the Spider lets a couple enjoy the wind in their hair, the sun on their shoulders and the thrill of slicing though curves with a finely tuned Italian convertible. All made possible by Japan.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a wheel of Parmesan, you’ve probably heard that the 2017 Spider is largely based on Mazda’s MX-5 Miata. It’s even built in the same Hiroshima plant.

This is hardly a bad thing. Fiat takes Mazda’s magical chassis and gives it unique springs, dampers and antiroll bars for a bit more compliance, yet less body roll. Base models cost about the same, but when you move up to fancier versions, the Fiat becomes a better value by around $1,000.

The two share no sheet metal. And the Fiat gets a heart transplant. A 1.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine that is shipped from Italy provides the back wheels with 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque when tuned for the Classica and Lusso models. (The Abarth gets four more ponies.)

The 6-speed manual comes from the previous-generation Miata, its ratios matching better with the turbo motor’s torque. I’m driving the 6-speed automatic.

Full disclosure here: I’m largely transmission agnostic, but as a Miata owner myself, I miss the brilliant snickety-snick action of the manual box. An automatic is a snore in a roadster. The 124 and MX-5 are two good reasons to learn how to dance with a stick.

Although the wheelbases are the same, the Fiat is 5 inches longer than the Mazda, which explains the Spider’s extra 100 pounds. Fuel economy is essentially identical between the 124 and MX-5 at an average of 30 miles per gallon on the preferred premium fuel, according the Environmental Protection Agency. The Fiat automatic drops to 29 m.p.g. (Another reason to go with the manual, huh?)

Both cars dash from rest to 60 miles an hour in just under seven seconds, but the 124 feels more relaxed doing it. It remains tossable in the curves but more comfortable than the Miata, which performs as if it’s on its third shot of espresso. With less growl from the tailpipe, a laminated acoustical windshield and more insulation in the soft top, the Fiat is noticeably quieter, too.

There’s also the issue of design. Modern safety regulations and the existing hard points in Mazda’s structure mean the 124’s overall look is chunkier than the version of old, last produced in 1985. The rear haunches and hood bulges are reminiscent of the old one — of which Fiat says there are 8,000 still registered in the United States. It caused dozens of double takes in the week I had it, and lots of thumbs up. For those who don’t like the pinched look of the modern Miata, Fiat offers a nod toward heritage.

But inside, other than the door panels, the steering wheel and some small material upgrades, the cabin is pure Mazda. The only change to the user interface is a Fiat logo. The manual mechanism for raising and lowering the top? Yep, you guessed it — it’s the same (best to not mess with perfection).

At $29,990 as tested, the Lusso model has heated leather seats.

The Italians managed to eke out one-third of a cubic foot more room in the petite trunk, though giant Samsonites are still denied entry. While there’s enough cargo room to get couples through a weekend getaway, the case of vino from the wine tour will need to be shipped home.

Is there a better car between the two? Probably, but only the buyer can decide which it is. Whichever you might prefer, the best thing about the 124 Spider is that it gives the affordable roadster segment another choice.

A version of this article appears in print on July 22, 2016, on page B4 of the New York edition with the headline: Head-Turning Return of an Italian Classic. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe

Summary: An Italian classic returns by way of Japan. More than a simple re-skin of Mazda’s MX-5 Miata, Fiat’s 124 Spider has a turbo engine and a personality of its own.


Despite the fact that the Zika virus has quickly spread through the Americas and infected thousands of pregnant women, there’s still many unknowns about the virus. For instance, doctors still don’t know why some pregnant women are more likely to have a baby born with a Zika-related birth defect compared to others. But now a small new animal study is adding some clarity.

The report, published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, looked at monkeys infected with the virus. The University of Wisconsin-Madison and Duke University researchers found that the monkeys who were infected with Zika became immune to the virus weeks later, something that’s also thought to occur in humans. They virus also lasted longer in pregnant monkeys compared to non-pregnant ones.

Non-pregnant monkeys were virus-free after about 10 days of getting infected, but pregnant monkeys had virus in their bloodstream for between 3o to 70 days. Since the study was completed in monkeys, and in a small number of them (eight in total), the findings do not directly translate to pregnant women. However, the researchers argue their study offers proof of a concept, and suggests that monkeys are a good animal model for learning about Zika.

Understanding how Zika behaves in pregnant women is a priority, since that the virus can cause severe birth defects in infants. There are close to 300 pregnant women in the United States with a Zika infection, and in Colombia, scientists put the number at closer to 12,000. The long-term effects of Zika infection—as well as what other health complications it can cause—are unknown.

Why the virus remained in pregnant monkeys for longer isn’t shown in the study, but the researchers cite some possibilities. It’s possible that women who are pregnant have weaker immune systems, or it’s possible that when the virus enters the fetus’ bloodstream it increases the amount of virus in the mother’s bloodstream as well. The researchers suggest that if this is indeed happening, it may be possible for health providers to regularly measure the amount of virus in pregnant women to gain a better understanding of how their fetus might be impacted.

Summary: A new animal study adds to the complexity of Zika infection during pregnancy


The family of murder victim India Chipchase say "pain, anguish and emotion" will haunt them until the day they die.

The 20-year-old's father Jeremy and mother Sue said the death of their daughter - at the hands of Edward Tenniswood in January - had left a "huge void".

In a video released following Tenniswood's conviction, Chipchase, said: "I sincerely hope there's no possibility that another woman ever falls into the hands of my daughter's murderer."

Chipchase, a prominent obstetrician and gynaecologist at a hospital in Adelaide, said no other father should have to hear the news that his daughter had been found dead or see the faces of her siblings as they were told.

Ms Chipchase and hr father Dr Jeremy Chipchase.

He said Sue and India's three siblings - Harry, Lulu and Pia - would "always love her".

"Even though we will never experience her smile, her laughter, her caring again, her photographs will adorn our walls, the memories of her 20 years will live on and her spirit will always be in our hearts," he said.

His voice cracked with emotion as he said: "No other father will have to see their daughter's body in the mortuary and be told they are unable to touch or kiss her one last time.

"I'm sure that I and other family members will continually have moments like this of pain, anguish, emotion, until we take our last breath."

The trial at Birmingham Crown Court heard Tenniswood, 52, found Chipchase intoxicated outside a nightclub in Northampton and took her to his squalid flat where he raped and throttled her before fleeing the scene to drink in a nearby hotel bar.

In a statement read during the trial, Sue Chipchase said her daughter "lit up a room" and had ideas of becoming a life-saving paramedic.

She added: "Her death has left a huge void in all our lives and her siblings are quiet and subdued without her.

"The actions of this man mean we have been condemned to a life spent grieving for a child whose potential we shall never see."

Ms Chipchase and her boyfriend Evaan Reihana.

Chipchase's boyfriend Evaan Reihana, the son of former All Blacks and Northampton Saints rugby star Bruce Reihana, subsequently said he would dedicate his career to her.

The former Bordeaux Begles player posted: "I honestly can't believe to think even now that you have left us in that way miss India eve Chipchase !!"

He said India would be "the name on my strap" that would bring him luck "in the game we love".

Summary: The Adelaide family of a young woman who was murdered in the United Kingdom say they'll never get over the loss of their daughter and sister.


The 4x4, worth from £62,000 to over £84,000, managed to knock the BMW X5, worth £44,500 to over £65,000, off the number one spot which it had held for six years.

The Mercedes Benz C220 and C63 were fourth and sixth while the powerful Audi RS4 was eighth and the sleek Audi Q7 also makes its first appearance in the list in tenth.

The figures released by TRACKER also reveal a 12 per cent increase in the number of stolen vehicles recovered in 2015.

"Our latest figures reveal a shift in the most desirable makes and models that thieves are stealing to order, with 4x4s dominating our top ten." Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER

"Our latest figures reveal a shift in the most desirable makes and models that thieves are stealing to order, with 4x4s dominating our top ten."

Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER

This equates to nearly £12.5 million worth of vehicles being returned to their owners.

Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison at TRACKER said: "Our latest figures reveal a shift in the most desirable makes and models that thieves are stealing to order, with 4x4s dominating our top ten.

"While it's common for car thieves to target premium marques, we should not underestimate the massive appetite for Ford, Vauxhall and VW models.

"A Home Office Report published in January this year points to significant challenges with manufacturer security systems and suggests that fitting a tracking device could be the best solution."

After a @Tracker_UK activation we managed to locate this stolen Range Rover and arrest the 2x male occupants. RP pic.twitter.com/5nl9slcIIm

The growth in keyless car entry and ignitions systems that are prone to hacking could be making it easier for thieves to break into cars.

Mr Barrs said: "Criminals target these vehicles by bypassing their security systems using technology they've bought on the internet.

"By working hand in hand with the UK's police forces, we were able to assist with 65 arrests in 2015, resulting in some of these criminals being taken off our streets."

Stolen tractor located by @OPUWorcs using our in-car Tracker receivers. pic.twitter.com/N4jYmPbmQJ

By using unique VHF technology, stolen vehicle recovery units can overcome potential recovery hurdles like concealment underground.

The use of GPS technology also means they can beat signal jamming, a common tactic used by criminals.

Summary: Three models of Range Rover car now appear in the 'Top 10 Most Stolen and   Recovered' table


Jennifer Capriati 2001 A puffy-eyed police mugshot, taken after she was caught in possession of cannabis, made Capriati the original poster-girl for spent sporting prodigies. Wimbledon's youngest-ever semi-finalist at 15 in 1991, she fell into a spiral of shoplifting and drug-taking, and was under arrest only three years later. A steady comeback culminated in 2001 when she claimed victory at the Australian and French Opens.

Martina Navratilova 2003 Walking off Centre Court in 1994, the nine-time Wimbledon champion picked a few blades of grass as a memento, thinking that she would never return to SW19 as a player. But despite announcing her retirement later that year, Navatrilova returned to the circuit in 2000 and Act Two saw the Czech back on the Centre Court grass in 2003 to take the mixed doubles title, making her the oldest-ever Grand Slam champion. She retired – again – in 2006.

Goran Ivanisevic 2001 With his trademark thundering serve, Ivanisevic put paid to Tim Henman's dreams of a Wimbledon title when the Croat defeated him in the semi-final and went on to take the trophy. It was a long-desired victory for Ivanisevic, who spent the 1990s bulldozering his way to Grand Slam quarters and semis only to fall at the last hurdle. By the summer of 2001, his ranking had slid to 125 and he was only in the Wimbledon draw thanks to a wildcard. His nail-biting defeat of Pat Rafter made him the only player to win the mens' singles title as a wildcard entry.

Martina Hingis (2006) Feted as a tennis prodigy after taking all the Grand Slam titles, except the French Open, when aged only 16, Hingis looked set for a glittering career. But thwarted by injury, she took early retirement from the game at 22. After several operations, Hingis returned to the WTA tour in 2006 and climbed to a world ranking of six. But a drugs controversy cut her comeback cut short when she was banned from tennis for two years after testing positive for cocaine. She denied ever taking the drug, but retired – again – in 2007 and has said she will not return to the game.

Serena Williams (2007) Pat Cash must have been eating his words following this year's Wimbledon championship. He branded Serena Williams' desire to return to the top in 2007 as "deluded", but this year's victory over sister Venus in the final well and truly proved him wrong. With her pounding serve and powerful groundstrokes, Williams rose to world number one in 2002. But the following year, injury and the murder of her sister, Yetunde, brought her dominance of the game to an abrupt halt. Her ranking slipped to 140 but in 2007, she took the Australian Open and in September last year, was back at number one.

Summary: After Kim Clijsters' remarkable Grand Slam return at the US Open read our top   10 of the great comebacks in tennis.


Military explosives experts have detonated a World War Two mine which became entangled in a trawler's net off the isle of Cumbrae.

The fishing vessel was taken to Stinking Bay to the north of the island, where it is understood to have released the device.

Members of the Army's explosive ordnance disposal unit then destroyed the mine, the coastguard agency said.

Earlier a cordon had been placed around the area by local coastguards.

An oil tanker anchored nearby was moved away for safety.

Summary: Military explosives experts detonate a World War Two mine which became entangled in a trawler's net off the isle of Cumbrae.


More people were executed worldwide in 2015 than at any point in the past 25 years, according to a new report by global human-rights group Amnesty International released on Wednesday.

At least 1,634 people were put to death across 25 different countries, a 54% increase from the number of executions recorded the previous year. Even without the figure for China (Beijing treats its executions as a state secret), Amnesty said last year’s total represented the highest it has recorded since 1989.

The report also showed that nearly 90% of all recorded use of the death penalty was accounted for by just three countries — Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan, with the latter reinstating capital punishment in December 2014 following a seven-year moratorium. The three nations fall between China, which Amnesty estimates executes thousands annually, and the U.S., which rounds out the top five with 28 people put to death in 2015.

Amnesty added that the report includes only the executions they were able to verify, with the actual number in countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Somalia and Egypt likely higher than their respective confirmed totals of 977, 158, 26, 25, and 22.

At the same time, the report observed that most of the world is renouncing the death penalty. Madagascar, Fiji, the Republic of Congo and Suriname abolished the death penalty for all crimes last year, bringing the total number of countries that have done so to 102. As of Dec. 31, 2015, Amnesty said, the number of countries that have abolished the death penalty “in law or practice” stood at 140.

“Thankfully, countries that execute belong to a small and increasingly isolated minority,” Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s secretary general, said in a statement. “The majority of states have turned their back on the death penalty.”

Summary: Three countries accounted for almost 90% of verified executions worldwide.


For the first time Monday, Americans will confront the stark choice they face in November as the two presidential candidates respond to a crisis unfolding in the midst of the campaign — the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

Their initial responses already outlined the differences: an outsider candidate whose first instinct was to crow that he predicted this weekend’s massacre vs. a seasoned politician who issued a carefully worded statement about terrorism and hate.

But dueling events on Monday afternoon will bring things into sharper focus as the nation reels from a terror attack on a gay club that left at least 49 dead and 53 wounded.

Aides to Hillary Clinton said she was changing up her message as she made what was supposed to be her first campaign rally in the perennial swing state of Ohio as the Democrats’ presumptive nominee. Donald Trump, the Republicans’ choice, planned an in-your-face foreign policy address in New Hampshire. His initial evening plans for a rally turned into a prayer vigil before his campaign aides scrapped it altogether, a sign the campaign was still finding its footing in the middle of the crisis.

Clinton has many options as she crafts her message.

The former First Lady has long known how to be the voice of consoler-in-chief, as she did in the wake of the terror attack against the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995. The former Senator from New York was in her first year in office when the Sept. 11 terrorist plot brought down the two towers in the south of Manhattan; she defiantly vowed to rebuild and voted to go to war in response. And the former Secretary of State was a vocal advocate for U.S. might, including the raid that killed 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.

In addition to those three concurrent personas — all of which have earned her high marks for competence — she has what aides call her softer approach, which emphasizes her role as a mother and grandmother. Despite her sometimes-steely exterior, Clinton throughout her career has earned deep loyalty among her close aides for taking the moment to ask how they are doing during moments of national tragedy, including Sunday morning as details were still coming into relief. During this campaign, she has shown that empathy to tremendous effect with the women she calls the Mothers of the Movement — individuals whose children have been the victims of gun violence or police brutality.

Clinton aides late Sunday were still tailoring her remarks, which she was set to deliver in Cleveland just after noon Monday. Clinton has already started to lay the groundwork for a master argument that Trump is not fit to lead the country, starting with her brutal salvo in San Diego on June 2. Advisers were conscious that Clinton could not give the same campaign speech, ripe with politics, on Monday. But they also were unified in their belief that the moment gave Clinton a justified reason to remind voters what is at stake.

“Secretary Clinton will further address this act of terrorism and hate, and the steps she would take to keep Americans safe, in Cleveland on Monday, and beyond,” a senior campaign aide told TIME.

Trump, on the other hand, has his own brand of posturing that has served him well — at least during the Republican primaries. Take the shootings in San Bernardino, Calif., when an Islamic extremist opened fire in the workplace and killed 14. After the attack, Trump called for a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. In the wake of ongoing worry over attacks in Paris and Brussels, the rhetoric drew scorn from civil rights groups but votes among the Republican faithful.

Building on that, Trump tweeted on Sunday that he had been correct about terrorism for months. In a tweet, he said he does “appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance.” In another, he added, “What has happened in Orlando is just the beginning. Our leadership is weak and ineffective. I called it and asked for the ban. Must be tough.”

In another statement, Trump added that President Obama ought to resign, Clinton should exit the race and suggested the 2016 race — and political correctness — was over. “I am going to protect and defend all Americans. We are going to make America safe again and great again for everyone,” he said.

But Trump faces his own challenges in translating what won him the GOP primary into a national campaign that can be victorious. He is scheduled to travel to New Hampshire, his first primary win and the home turf for campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. He is slated to deliver what aides are calling “a major speech to further address this terrorist attack, immigration and national security” at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, located at Saint Anselm College. Trump had previously planned a Monday rally at a Portsmouth, N.H., community college, which aides then pitched as a prayer-based event. By the time evening arrived, Trump scrapped the whole event.

“Due to the horrific tragedy that has just taken place in Orlando, Florida, Mr. Trump is postponing the rally scheduled to take place,” aides told reporters by email.

The Florida attack stood to reshape the race more broadly than Monday, but this day would offer clues how it might unfold over the next five months. The White House scrapped Obama’s trip to campaign with Clinton on Wednesday in Wisconsin. Trump’s planned speech to attack Clinton over her long life in the public eye seemed to be on pause. Trump, at least temporarily, decided to press pause on the raucous rallies. The candidates and their allies were unsure what, exactly, the national psyche would reward.

The biggest open question as voters began their Monday was simple: Would the largest mass shooting in U.S. history encourage them to look for an experienced figure who has navigated decades of national tragedy as a policy adviser, or an outsider who thinks everything that has come before has proved insufficient? Inside each campaign, there were skeptics that their candidate had read the mood correctly.

Summary: Already, their responses have been starkly different.


BRUSSELS—European Union finance ministers said Tuesday that Spain and Portugal didn’t take enough action to reduce their 2015 budget deficits, setting in motion a process that can lead to financial sanctions and the freezing of EU funds for the two Iberian countries.

But top EU officials have indicated the sanctions are likely to be symbolically set at zero, in a sign that there is little appetite across the bloc to punish the two countries and amid concerns that such a move would be counterproductive at a time of economic uncertainty.

The ministers’ decision, reached at their monthly gathering, endorses a ruling made by the European Commission—the EU’s executive arm—last week. It also marks the end of a protracted saga that has seen countless back-and-forths between Brussels, Lisbon and Madrid, triggering a broader debate across the bloc on whether the recently tightened rules can survive in times of crises.

Spain and Portugal now have 10 days to appeal the decision, and the commission has 20 days to recommend sanctions.

Tuesday’s decision marks the first time the sanctions procedure has been triggered since the rules were updated in response to the latest financial crisis.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said there had been attempts by some ministers to overturn the commission assessment given the anti-EU backlash following the U.K. Brexit vote.

“Especially in this situation it is important that we say that the European rules stand,” he said.

The commission can impose fines of up to 0.2% of gross domestic product and must also propose that some of the EU funding committed for the countries for next year is temporarily blocked.

But it can recommend a small fine, or even no fine at all, something EU officials see as the likeliest route. It can do so either on the grounds of exceptional economic circumstances or after the countries have appealed the decision.

"I am sure that we will have a smart, intelligent result at the end”, said Peter Kazimir, the Slovak finance minister who presided over the meeting with his EU counterparts.

Portugal’s government has said it would fight any sanction that it considers unfair, given the country has sharply lowered its budget deficit over the past five years.

Finance Minister Mario Centeno said in Brussels on Tuesday that he isn’t concerned about the freezing of EU funds because the freeze would be lifted once the country meets its targets, something it plans on doing.

Spanish Finance Minister Luis de Guindos said he expected the sanction to be zero, arguing it would be illogical to punish a country that has followed the policy advice of eurozone authorities in order to shift from a recession to growth.

Mr. De Guindos said he expects Spain’s budget gap to fall below 3% next year. Spain proposed to raise an additional €6 billion ($6.64 billion) next year via changes to corporate tax payments as one step to narrow the budget gap.

But the country has been without a government since December, following two inconclusive elections, and any proposals would need to be approved by the new parliament.

The EU introduced stricter fiscal rules for countries using the euro in 2013 as a response to the sovereign-debt crisis, which had put the future of the eurozone into doubt. The main goal of the rules is to keep public debt in check.

Under these rules governments have to bring their deficits to below 3% of gross domestic product, while debts shouldn’t be higher than 60% of GDP.

Spain has struggled to meet its budget deficit targets over the past few years despite robust economic growth. Last year, with the economy expanding 3.2%, Spain reported a budget gap of 5.1% of GDP. The commission had set a target of 4.2%.

Portugal has sharply cut its budget deficit from close to 10% of GDP in 2010 to 4.4% last year, but that still exceeded the bloc’s limit. Excluding a capital injection into a failed lender in December and smaller one-time items, Portugal’s 2015 deficit would have been slightly over the 3% limit.

—Jeannette Neumann in Madrid and Patricia Kowsmann in Lisbon contributed to this article.

Write to Viktoria Dendrinou at viktoria.dendrinou@wsj.com

Summary: European Union finance ministers said Spain and Portugal didn’t take enough action to reduce their 2015 budget deficits, setting in motion a process that can lead to financial sanctions and the freezing of EU funds for the two Iberian countries.


A Tasmanian youth detention centre worker hasn't been given a chance to respond to misconduct allegations as calls arise for the matter to be considered by a royal commission.

The state's police and justice department is investigating whether the worker breached protocol while restraining a boy during a series of clashes between staff and inmates in mid-July at the northern Ashley Youth Detention Centre.

The state government said he has been stood down pending the results.

But Health and Community Services Union assistant secretary Robbie Moore said on Tuesday the worker hasn't been given the opportunity to give his side of the story, or even view CCTV footage which sparked the allegations.

"The worker, who hasn't even been written to - all that's been done is they've been verbally told they can't come on site - has received no information," Mr Moore told Sky News.

"We've got a case where the Tasmanian premier and (human services) minister have seen the footage but the worker involved hasn't and that's simply unsatisfactory."

The minister said there is no evidence of stripping, tying, gagging or mechanical restraint but that the worker may have breached the workplace code of conduct.

"The worker should be given all of the information up front ... and given a right of reply," Mr Moore said.

"There could be a very genuine answer for any concerns that are in that footage."

In parliament on Tuesday, the Labor opposition called on Premier Will Hodgman to hand over the footage for consideration by the royal commission into youth detention in the Northern Territory.

"Considering that serious allegations have been made, ... considering what is contained on this camera footage is clearly very serious and considering that juvenile detention is in the national spotlight, the premier should be at least exploring if the commission can spread its scope interstate," opposition spokeswoman Lara Giddings said.

Mr Hodgman said his government has responded appropriately to the matter and due process has been afforded to all parties involved.

"With respect to the royal commission, obviously they are matters for the royal commission or the Commonwealth."

Summary: The Commonwealth should decide whether to consider questionable conduct at a Tasmanian youth detention centre as part of a royal commission, the premier says.


08/23/2016 AT 08:25 PM EDT

is opening up about her insecurities over flaunting her bikini body onscreen just eight months after giving birth.

"The struggle is that I am doing a movie in a bikini eight months after having a baby and there is a level of insecurity and vanity that comes with that,"

"You don't want to be the person in the magazines that they are saying 'ugh, look at her' rather than 'wow, look at her,' " she adds.

Lively, who gave birth to her first daughter with husband

, in December 2014, also says she realizes the stigma pregnant women face is part of the problem.

"That's a shame because there shouldn't be that negative 'ugh' after someone has a baby," she explains. "Your body is so beautiful. You couldn't walk a Victoria's Secret runway but it's beautiful in a completely different and incredible way and I do wish I had the bravery to go out there and represent women as they actually look."

the strict diet she followed to get in shape for the underwater thriller, and while it wasn't easy,

"That movie was an athletic event as much as it was an acting job because they didn't hire a stunt double until the last two weeks, so it was just insane underwater stunts," Lively, who is now

with Reynolds, recently explained on

"I don't look like that in real life. That's not me," she added. "That was an eight-week period of my life. I'm luck to have an amazing trainer, this guy

, who just kicked my butt."

"She's not doing these triple session workouts," Saladino told PEOPLE. "It should encourage people: Here's a woman who had a baby in December, and she's got her bikini body back already. That's pretty spectacular."

Summary: Blake Lively reveals her insecurities over filming The Shallows so soon after giving birth to her daughter, James


08/29/2016 AT 02:05 PM EDT

Amid backlash after Mylan Pharmaceuticals announced it would

to more than $600 for a two-pack of the life-saving auto-injectors, CEO Heather Bresch says the increase was necessary for the company's bottom line.

"I am running a business," Bresch

. "I am a for-profit business. I am not hiding from that."

following the news of the price hike, a 400 percent increase since Mylan took over EpiPen in 2007, when a pack of auto-injectors cost around $100. The life-saving devices are crucial for severe allergy sufferers whose doctors insist they carry epinephrine with them at all times.

In response to the upset over the price increase, Mylan announced Monday that it would introduce the "first generic" EpiPen auto-injector, priced at $300 for a two-pack.

"We understand the deep frustration and concerns associated with the cost of EpiPen to the patient, and have always shared the public's desire to ensure that this important product be accessible to anyone who needs it," Bresch said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. "Ensuring access to medicine is absolutely the core of Mylan's mission and has been since our founding 55 years ago. We also are committed partners to the allergy community and take our responsibilities to serving these patients very seriously. Today's action further demonstrates this commitment."

that some patients with insurance can use to reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Still, many people say that's not enough and have accused Mylan of greed and price gouging. With no competition on the market from other companies or generic options, Mylan brings in $9.46 billion in revenue each year,

Bresch says that rather than blaming Mylan for the price hikes, it's insurance companies that are at fault for their increasingly high and inconsistent copays on pharmaceuticals.

"What else do you shop for that when you walk up to the counter, you have no idea what it's going to cost you?" she asks the

. "Tell me where that happens anywhere else in the system. It's unconscionable."

Bresch – who reportedly has seen her salary increase from $2.5 million since the EpiPen deal in 2007 to nearly $19 million in 2015 – says her strong leadership style came from watching her dad rise to political office as a senator in West Virgina.

"There is a work ethic and grit about that that allows me to help make a difference," she says. "To make change happen, to make a difference, mediocrity doesn't get you there."

And Bresch adds that any comparisons made between her and

, who famously raised the price of malaria and HIV medicine Daraprim from $13.50 to $750 overnight, are off base – she says they're not even in the "same hemisphere."

Summary: Mylan CEO Heather Bresch says the EpiPen price increase was necessary but the company will offer a $300 generic option


As far as photoshopping goes, Bill Shorten as the gun-toting, flag-waving French revolutionist atop a hill of bodies may be a stretch.

But that's the image the prime minister wanted to paint in the public's mind of his political opponent - not for any hero-worshipping reasons of course.

Malcolm Turnbull was trying to rubbish the Labor's leader call for a banking royal commission by ridiculing him for apparently presenting himself as the people's saviour.

"He's getting so carried away with himself he sees himself rather like the person, the image of liberty in that great Delacroix painting," he told parliament on Thursday.

"There he is, trampling over the barricades, freeing the people, freeing the people from their wrongs, taking on the banks!"

But no, Mr Turnbull added. The Labor leader was simply running a "hopeless" and "hopelessly populist" political campaign which was exploiting people's suffering.

"The reality is populism will not help. Action will," he said.

It was a takedown in the typical Turnbull style.

Summary: The prime minister has launched a scathing takedown of Bill Shorten over the Labor leader's campaign for a royal commission into the misconduct of the banks.


Malcolm Turnbull has questioned whether a Labor senator has engaged in "cash for comment" as a fresh row breaks out over foreign donations to political parties.

Labor has renewed its long-standing call for a foreign donations ban as it seeks to deflect attention away from the actions of one of its own - Sam Dastyari - who allowed a Chinese donor with close links to Beijing pay an outstanding personal debt.

Shadow special minister of state Stephen Conroy criticised the government for "hyperventilating" about the case.

"Since 2008 we have been trying to ban (foreign political donations) and it is the Liberal Party and now Malcolm Turnbull's government that is opposing this," he told ABC radio on Friday.

But the government insists there is a big difference between accepting donations and having a foreign donor pay off a personal debt.

"This is like getting somebody to pay your electricity bill or your gas bill or your tax bill," the prime minister told Neil Mitchell on 3AW radio.

The "well-paid" NSW senator owed money to the government and instead of paying the debt himself used his influence to get the $1600 from a Chinese donor, he said.

Senator Dastyari then during a media conference offered a position to different to Labor policy on China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.

"He's got to explain why this is not cash for comment," Mr Turnbull said.

The prime minister defended the practice of political parties accepting donations from Chinese interests, saying some came from Australian citizens.

"It's an area that's got to be approached thoughtfully," he said.

If donations were limited to people on the electoral roll that wouldn't stop people with connections to foreign governments who were Australian citizens, Mr Turnbull said.

Attorney-General George Brandis said all donations - domestic and foreign - were subject to a very thorough disclosure system.

"Why is it that when Senator Dastyari incurred a debt, rather than going to his bank, rather than writing a cheque or making a payment himself he asked a company with links to the Chinese government," he said.

Senator Brandis said the head of ASIO and other security agencies were conscious of foreign donations and a robust and transparent disclosure system was needed.

"We have that," he added.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he had counselled Senator Dastyari, who had contacted the Finance Department about repaying the debt.

As well as a ban on foreign donations, he also called on Mr Turnbull to join with him in making any donations above $1000 public.

"If the public are going to have confidence in the honesty of our system and, let's face it, many Australians are deeply cynical about politics, then I think Mr Turnbull has to join with me," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"Let's take this lesson and turn it into something valuable for the whole parliament."

Mr Shorten refused to confirm whether he'd received briefings from intelligence agencies about the risks posed by foreign political donations.

Summary: Federal Labor is renewing calls for political donations from foreign donors to be banned following revelations about one of its own.


A two-year-old boy accidentally shot himself to death in his grandparents' Pennsylvania home.

Authorities say Benjamin Smith was pronounced dead Monday at the hospital shortly after suffering a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Emergency medical personnel responded to the shooting around 11 am (local time) at the home in Milford Township, Bucks County, north of Philadelphia.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether anyone was home at the time, how the child got the weapon and who owned the weapon.

Authorities say the shooting appears accidental.

Summary: A Pennsylvania family is reeling after the death of a two-year-old boy, who accidentally shot himself.


A NSW priest has admitted he supported disgraced ex-priest John Farrell by keeping quiet about sex abuse allegations, conceding he felt no obligation to protect child parishioners.

Armidale priest Bernard Flood worked alongside Farrell at the Moree parish in northern NSW in the early 1980s when a number of complaints about Farrell abusing boys surfaced.

Fronting the child sex abuse royal commission on Tuesday, Father Flood admitted he'd remained friendly with Farrell after the allegations surfaced, saying he'd wanted to help get the wayward priest back on track.

When Farrell was moved to another parish at Tamworth, Fr Flood didn't tell the priest in charge about the abuse allegations due to "professional boundaries".

"I didn't think it was appropriate to go repeating the bits and other pieces that I knew, and I assumed that he had been briefed of (Farrell's) background," Fr Flood testified.

Asked whether he felt any obligation to children in the parish, Fr Flood admitted "I did not feel such an obligation" but that his view had since changed.

The senior priest also conceded that when Farrell tried to confess details of his abusive behaviour to him, Fr Flood stopped him.

He did so in order to "sustain the pastoral relationship" and so he didn't have to relate the conversation as evidence in court.

"It is a priest thing, I suppose," Fr Flood explained.

"I'm not saying that everyone would agree with it, but that's a professional stance."

Commissioner Peter McClellan asked Fr Flood whether he realised he had been in a position to influence things.

"With due respect Your Honour, what had happened had happened ... I can't change, undo, what was wrong, what was criminal," the priest replied.

Fr Flood also questioned whether one of Farrell's victims who later committed suicide did so as a result of Farrell's abuse.

"Was it the outcome of that sexual abuse? I don't know," he said.

Asked whether he believed that not all boys who are sexually abused become damaged, Fr Flood replied: "My presumption is it needs to be shown, how the damage occurred. It's possible yes, but it's not automatic, that's all I'm saying".

Farrell, 62, was jailed this year for a minimum 18 years for 62 child sex offences when he was posted at Moree and Tamworth in the 1980s.

The royal commission is looking into the response of church authorities when allegations against Farrell first surfaced in 1984.

One former altar boy told how he was repeatedly raped and warned not to tell anyone or he and his family would be killed.

The inquiry has heard a church leader advised one victim not to go to the police about Farrell, and that the priest was shuffled between parishes until as late as 1992.

The inquiry continues on Wednesday.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.

Summary: A family that blew the whistle on NSW pedophile priest John Farrell say a church leader told them not to report it to police because it would be traumatic.


A sixth person has died almost a week after Melbourne was hit by an unprecedented thunderstorm asthma outbreak.

The patient, who'd been in a critical condition, died in an Eastern Health hospital on Saturday night as a result of thunderstorm asthma causing other "medical complications", a hospital spokeswoman said.

"There have now been six deaths that may have occurred as a result of conditions relating to the thunderstorm asthma events on Monday," the health department said in a statement on Sunday.

Five patients remain in intensive care in Melbourne hospitals. Three are in a critical condition.

A further 12 are in hospital battling a variety of respiratory and related conditions.

The news of the sixth death came as Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Jill Hennessy announced a $500 million funding boost for the state's ambulance services.

The package - which the government says is in addition to $144 million provided in the 2016/17 budget - will result in 450 new paramedics being employed over three years.

Labor also plans to establish six new "super response centres" across Melbourne to meet a growing demand driven by population growth.

"We know that in an emergency every second counts," Ms Hennessy said in a statement on Sunday.

"That's why we're giving our paramedics the new resources they need, where they are needed most."

Monday's asthma storm overwhelmed emergency services and hospitals.

Paramedics dealt with an unprecedented 1900 emergency calls in five hours on Monday evening as the phenomenon swept the state.

At one point there were 140 code one cases occurring at the same time.

Melbourne hospitals across Monday and Tuesday treated more than 8500 patients.

Summary: Melbourne hospitals are still treating numerous patients in intensive care following the thunderstorm asthma event that led to the deaths of five people.


US President-elect Donald Trump, asked for clarification on his Twitter post about nuclear weapons, has said: "Let it be an arms race," MSNBC reports.

"We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all," Trump said in an interview with MSNBC, the network reported on Thursday, one day after the president-elect called for an expansion of US nuclear capabilities in a tweet that alarmed nonproliferation experts.

In his Twitter post, Trump said, "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes," but gave no further details.

It was not clear what prompted his comment. However, earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia needed to "strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces".

Asked about the tweet, Trump spokesman Jason Miller later said Trump was "referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it - particularly to and among terrorist organisations and unstable and rogue regimes."

Trump, who takes office on January 20, also has "emphasised the need to improve and modernise our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength," spokesman Jason Miller said.

Miller told Reuters that Trump was not advocating the use of nuclear weapons, and said Trump's comments were not meant to be read as a new policy proposal.

Experts wondered whether Trump's brief tweet meant he wanted to breach limits imposed on US strategic weapons and delivery systems by the 2011 New START treaty with Russia - or planned to expand the non-deployed stockpile.

"It is completely irresponsible for the president-elect or the president to make changes to US nuclear policy in 140 characters and without understanding the implications of statements like 'expand the capacity,'" said Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, a leading proponent of arms control based in Washington.

US President-elect Donald Trump's use of Twitter has been unpredictable and unfiltered (Image: AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Putin, who has said that Trump has confirmed to him that he is willing to mend ties between the two countries, also spoke on Thursday of the need to enhance Russia's nuclear arsenal.

"We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defence systems," he said in a speech in Moscow.

If Trump and Putin both want to expand nuclear weapons, that would effectively end arms control efforts underway since the Nixon administration, said Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a foundation that works to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons.

"This is how arms races begin - with a battle of words," Cirincione said, urging Trump, a real estate mogul, to "make the biggest deal of his life" and negotiate cuts to the nuclear arsenal with Russia.

"Neither side needs to be spending hundreds of billions of dollars on nuclear weapons we don't need," Cirincione said.

The United States is one of five nuclear weapons states allowed to keep a nuclear arsenal under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The others are Russia, Britain, France and China.

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the government was paying attention to the nuclear policy of the incoming US administration, adding that China upheld the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Summary: Comments US President-elect Donald Trump made on Twitter about strengthening the US's nuclear capability is about stopping proliferation, a spokesman says.