Overwatch sounds like a game I shouldn’t want to play: a hero-focused team shooter that seems aimed at players given to godlike acts of ballistic skill. But I should know better. This is Blizzard we’re talking about, after all, a studio that turned a generic fantasy-verse born from a niche real-time strategy game into a global online roleplaying sensation. (And in just a few weeks, a $160-million-to-make film by a BAFTA-winning director.)

After chatting with Overwatch director Jeffrey Kaplan, I’m almost convinced it’s a game for me—the sort of lapsed, Quake-era clanner who’s lost interest in competitive shooters. Here, by way of our lightly edited conversation, is a rundown of why.

“At its core, Overwatch is a game that takes pace in a bright, hopeful version of what we imagine planet Earth to be sometime in the near future,” says Kaplan when asked to sum up game’s premise. “The predominant focus of the game is on really deep, exciting heroes and the cool abilities and the epic, over-the-top battles they have. These battles are taking place on a global battlefield in a number of exotic locations, so anywhere from Greece to Egypt to China to Japan, spanning the globe.”

“The game is what we call a team-based shooter, and that means you’re always playing with and against real people. We do have a play versus the computer mode, but at its core, you’re playing competitively against and with other players. The real focus of the shooting in the game is not to chase realism. We don’t have real world guns in the game. You’re not playing a soldier in a present-day military conflict. The game tries to stretch the imagination of . . . almost like what would these heroes be if you thought of them more as superheroes, and what would superheroes with guns look like.”

“The shooting itself, we took a lot of inspiration from present-day shooters,” says Kaplan. “We love games like Call of Duty and Battlefield and think very highly of them. But we also took a lot of inspiration from old school shooters, like Quake and Doom and Unreal and Tribes. The shooter’s a celebrated genre that’s been around for decades, and we wanted to take inspiration from the whole thing, not just one era.”

“It’s always a Blizzard goal to speak to as wide an audience as possible,” says Kaplan. “With our games, our development process is to always focus on the core or hardcore elements first, so we know we have something rich and deep and long lasting. We don’t start out casual, but once we’ve had that core of deep, rich, re-playable gameplay, we look at other ways of expanding the audience and going ‘How could we make this more approachable to people?'”

“With Overwatch, the game obviously speaks to a lot of shooter fans. They were instantly attracted and some of the earliest adopters in our community. But what’s cool about Overwatch is, because we were putting such a focus on team play and unique heroes, the MOBA [multiplayer online battle arena, a real-time strategy genre variant] audience started to take note of us, because there were all these fantastic MOBAs out there. Heroes of the Storm, League of Legends, Defense of the Ancients 1 and 2. They’re not shooters, but they’re team-oriented games where the main objective is ‘Do we win or lose as a team?’ So those players started to take notice. That had an instant broadening effect on the audience, where we weren’t just speaking to shooter fans anymore.”

“We did a lot with the gameplay itself to make it more approachable,” says Kaplan. “Obviously things like the tutorial, and putting a practice range in the game where you can safely play any hero without fear of dying. But it’s also in how we approached the hero design itself, where we focused on abilities that would speak to players who weren’t instantly knowledgeable about twitchy shooter gameplay, like someone who can’t put the reticle over a target at 100 meters out.”

“So we designed things like one hero’s gun having a lock-on beam, or another’s that doesn’t require precise aim but has more of a cone attack that could hit any enemy without having to be precise with crosshairs. We added healing classes that don’t require precise aim to do their healing. So a player who’s never played a shooter before, or was more familiar with team-based games like a MOBA, could instantly come in and be effective and contribute to their team, even if they lacked the twitch skill to put crosshairs over targets downrange.”

“Our progression system is so simple,” says Kaplan. “You play matches, you earn experience points, with experience you gain levels, and every time you gain a level you earn a loot box. It sounds super-basic, but we actually struggled with the progression system for years. We had two previous systems, and they had power progression where if you played a certain hero more, that hero would get better. But we realized we were creating a schism between players who would play more, versus those with less time. And what was interesting about moving away from that system, is that both the hardcore and casual were very pleased that we took power progression away and moved to a more cosmetic system.”

“The hardcore didn’t like power progression because they will always argue that the playing field should be as even as possible, and that time investment shouldn’t count for player skill or power. And the casual loved it because it protected their choice to maybe not play as much. Plus it solved a problem with the basic way you read the game, because with power progression, you had no way of determining if someone was good or not.”

“It’s going to sound like we did this strategically, but we honestly did it because it’s what our passion and instincts were,” says Kaplan. “When it comes to the setting and art style and tone of the universe, a lot of games like to approach the future in either a very dystopian way, or a post-apocalyptic way, or a combination of the two. We kept asking ourselves, because we’ve explored fantasy universes before with Warcraft and Diablo, and we’ve explored science fiction with StarCraft. But we’ve never really done something that takes place on planet Earth before.”

“So we started asking ‘What could be exciting in the Blizzard style that would speak to our developers and get them excited about doing a game in the near future on Earth?’ We wanted to make something bright and welcoming, that featured a lot of deep, rich colors. A lot of the modern realistic games tend to focus on gritty gray, brown palettes.”

“We felt it wasn’t a space that’s been commonly explored. There aren’t worlds built like this for you to adventure in. I don’t want to discount any work that anyone else has done, because every video game is extremely difficult to make. But I think it’s almost more difficult to try to make a super-interesting, compelling, bright, hopeful future, than it is to make one that’s wrecked and bombed out. There’s an immediate emotional impact, like if I were to say ‘Our game takes place in Washington, D.C. in the future and the White House has been bombed out,’ there’s an immediate emotional impact that comes with that.”

“But I think it’s different when you look at the creative challenge of saying ‘We want to do a game that takes place in the near future and we think there’s this amazing base that exists on the Rock of Gibraltar.’ I think it’s a much more difficult creative challenge, to figure out a way to get players to emotionally respond to that and understand it. And it’s been our experience with our previous games, that if you broaden the art style and make it inviting and welcoming, you can broaden the audience as well.”

“It’s something that I think not only Blizzard, but me as a developer have been wrestling with for years,” says Kaplan. “There’s this desire to categorize players, to declare that there’s such a thing as competitive, hardcore and casual. People seem to want to stratify and organize players by different play styles. And I was always fascinated, because I spent many years working on World of Warcraft, and casual and competitive and hardcore . . . these terms are all so subjective.”

“So I would have people come up to me and say, ‘I really enjoy World of Warcraft. I’m just a casual player, like I only raid twice a week, but I really love World of Warcraft.’ And then you’d have somebody else say ‘I’m super hardcore in World of Warcraft, I’ve been loving the game and I’m about to get max level in it.’ I don’t think players know how to stratify themselves into these categories they’re creating. I wish people would talk more in terms of ‘Here’s how the experience is fun or not fun for me’ and not worry so much about the gamer to their left or right, and trying to figure out if the way they’re playing is correct or not. Some of us who are a little bit older and have been playing games our whole lives realize that there’s an ebb and flow to how hardcore or casual we can be at any time, and I think that makes us more open minded.”

“We very much believe in inclusivity at Blizzard, and I like to talk about inclusivity even more than diversity,” says Kaplan. “We want Overwatch to be this bright, positive universe, where everybody feels like they could be a hero. That’s our most basic goal. It’s to say ‘It doesn’t matter what my walk in life is, or the dice roll I got. Did Blizzard make my exact situation an Overwatch hero? Maybe, maybe not, but I could absolutely see how it could be included in that universe.'”

“The funniest part about Overwatch from the get-go is that what excited us creatively was this cast of heroes who were epic and unique, where no hero was like another. Early on we talked about that in terms of the gameplay, like we don’t have two rocket launcher heroes, for example. But it started to permeated every decision we made, how these characters look, what gender, what body type and how they associate themselves. This may sound bizarre, but the great diversity in Overwatch is more a byproduct of us wanting to make really unique, awesome heroes that spoke to the team creatively.”

Summary: It's the newest game from the company behind 'World of Warcraft'


Shrimsley’s five-year editorship at News of the World was one of the longest at the paper, yielding many scoops. In 1979 he sent one of his reporters off to the Caribbean island of Mustique to take pictures of Princess Margaret and her new boyfriend, Roddy Llewellyn, a tale which the other nationals had decided not to touch.

Although the princess and her husband, Lord Snowdon, had separated a few years earlier, the full-page splash, featuring a picture of the princess and Llewellyn sitting at a table in beach clothes, left the public in little doubt about the true state of affairs and was said to have precipitated Snowdon’s departure from Kensington Palace. “They were not very happy at the Palace,” Shrimsley recalled.

He also won admiration for publishing the criminal records of two leading members of the National Front, in defiance of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, one of a series of exposés which were believed to have contributed to a collapse in public support for the extreme Right-wing organisation.

The son of a tailor’s pattern cutter, Bernard Shrimsley was born in London on January 13 1931 and showed his mettle at a young age when he and his younger brother Anthony (who would also enjoy a successful career in Fleet Street) were evacuated in the Second World War to a family which mistreated them and Bernard persuaded the local police to secure their release.

After leaving Kilburn Grammar School, and a year as a messenger boy at the Press Association, he joined the Southport Guardian as a trainee reporter, staying for five years (including two years of National Service in the RAF).

After stints at the Daily Mirror and Sunday Express, he landed his first editor’s job – at the Daily Post in Liverpool, from which he was headhunted by Rupert Murdoch to work as Larry Lamb’s deputy on The Sun following its launch in 1969. He took some of his best journalists with him, including Frank Johnson, who became The Sun’s lobby correspondent before becoming a star parliamentary sketch-writer on The Daily Telegraph. While Lamb was the front man, Shrimsley was the hard-working creative brain of the new paper.

During Shrimsley’s three years in the editor’s chair The Sun’s circulation rose dramatically, putting it on a path to becoming the “soaraway Sun”, Britain’s largest-selling daily title. By contrast circulation at News of the World fell under his editorship, although some blamed the decline on Murdoch’s refusal to heed Shrimsley’s pleas to turn it from its broadsheet format into a tabloid.

In 1980 Shrimsley accepted an invitation from Lord Rothermere, chairman of Associated Newspapers, to become founding editor of The Mail on Sunday. He spent two years planning the launch but the paper failed to hit its sales targets and Shrimsley lasted only 10 weeks in the editor’s chair. He responded to this humiliation with good grace.

In 2002, an editorial in Press Gazette marked The Mail on Sunday’s 20th anniversary by praising the way in which, after only 10 issues, David English, the editor of the Daily Mail (whom Rothermere had failed to consult about Shrimsley’s appointment, and who had opposed it), had “abseiled to the rescue”, bundled the editor out of the nearest exit and turned the paper round.

What Press Gazette did not mention was the fact that the unfortunate editor was the same person as the author of the editorial – Bernard Shrimsley.

Shrimsley was rescued by his former colleague, Larry Lamb, by then editor of the Daily Express. He became Lamb’s assistant editor, then associate editor under Nick Lloyd.

After retiring in 1996, Shrimsley served as vice-chairman of the Press Council and a member of the D-notice committee, which advises editors on news stories that compromise national security. As well as writing leaders for Press Gazette, he advised Sir James Goldsmith’s Referendum Party during the 1997 general election.

He married, in 1952, Norma Porter, who died in 2009. Their daughter survives him.

Bernard Shrimsley, born January 13 1931, died June 9 2016

Summary: Bernard Shrimsley, who has died aged 85, began his career in journalism aged 16 as a messenger boy or “carrier pigeon” for the Press Association and went on to edit a string of red-tops, beginning with The Sun (1972-75), then News of the World (1975-80) and finally, and rather less happily, The Mail on Sunday at its launch in 1982.


A Texas teenager suffering from bone cancer was shot and killed Tuesday, shortly before he was to receive his gift from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Diego Rodriguez, 17, had dreamed of having his grandfather's 1993 Chevrolet S10 pickup truck restored when he was accidentally shot by a 15-year-old whose name has not been released, the San Antonio Express-News and others reported.

Rodriguez reportedly tried to take the gun away when it fired accidentally during the scuffle. The 15-year-old is now facing murder charges.

Read: 8-Year-Old Boy With Messy Room Killed by Mom's Fiance: Authorities

The car, a treasured heirloom, has been in Diego's family for 23 years. Rodriguez's mother promised him that if he survived to his 16th birthday, she would have the vehicle restored.

"I was excited to bring some joy to a young man who was down for the better part of his earlier years," Jason Pena, a co-owner of San Antonio's BlackJack Speed Shop, which was overseeing the restoration, told InsideEdition.com. "I am just saddened and disappointed that he is not going to be able to physically see the final product and end result of his wish."

Pena said the car was in such poor condition that he was initially reluctant to take on the project but changed his mind after a plea from Diego's mother.

Read: Experienced 13-Year-Old Swimmer Drowns, Coach Suffers Heart Attack While Giving CPR

"She was so intent and adamant that this dream be fulfilled for her son," he said. "The truck was probably worth $1,500." Pena estimated that the restoration likely cost him $15,000.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation also expressed shock and sadness upon hearing the news.

"There is nothing we can do to make up for [Diego's] loss, but we hope that his car will be a great reminder to his mother that the realization of their dream and the community they had made a difference for him and gave him strength," Kathrin Brewer the CEO of the South Texas chapter of the foundation said in a statement to local media.

Efforts to reach Brewer by InsideEdition.com were unsuccessful.

The truck, which was expected to be unveiled to Rodriguez today, will now serve as part of his funeral procession.

Watch: See How This Brave Teen and 9-Year-Old Save Toddler From Drowning In Pool

Summary: A teenager bone cancer was killed in a heartbreaking incident earlier this week, shortly before he was to receive his gift from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.


The report showed the UK could be add 3.1 per cent of GPD from 2030 if teenagers develop basic educational skills in science, math and reading.

The researchers estimated that in the UK, ensuring that all youngsters reach a basic skills level by 2030 would add 3.65 trillion US dollars (£2.33 trillion) to the nation's economy by 2095 (143 per cent of current GDP).

On a separate measure, increasing the average achievement of current students by 25 points over the next 15 years would boost the UK's economy by 8.653 trillion US dollars (£5.6 trillion) (340 per cent)

However, Andreas Schleicher, special adviser on education policy at the OECD, said the UK needed to improve education “quickly” if it wanted to catch up with other European countries, which also include the Slovenia, Austria and Korea.

• Are some children born naughty? • Schools must change to help poor, clever kids

Speaking to the The Telegraph, Mr Schleicher said: “If the UK wants to improve its education then it has to be able to raise standards by adding coherence to the education system, addressing underperforming schools and put a lot of investment in the teaching profession.”

He also said education was a solid alternative to lead developed nations, like the UK, to economic growth rather than relying solely on printing money.

In his introduction to the report, Mr Schleicher added: “We can only grow ourselves out of bad economic conditions and, in the long run, that depends more than anything on equipping more people with better skills to collaborate, compete and connect in ways that drive our societies forward – and on using those skills productively.

He added: "The first thing the results show is that the quality of schooling in a country is a powerful predictor of the wealth that countries will produce in the long run.

"Or, put the other way around, the economic output that is lost because of poor education policies and practices leaves many countries in what amounts to a permanent state of economic recession - and one that can be larger and deeper than the one that resulted from the financial crisis at the beginning of the millennium, out of which many countries are still struggling to climb."

The study looked at the potential economic gain to be hand from bringing students up to a basic level of skills by 2030.

It used data gathered from international tests taken by 15-year-olds around the world and examined the past relationship between improving skills and economic growth to quantify the possible economic impact of improving youngsters' skills.

Overall, UK students scored an average of 504 in international maths and science tests. This was behind 19 other nations, including Slovenia (507.6), Poland (521.7) Vietnam (519.9) and Estonia (531).

Singapore topped the list, with an average student performance of 562.5.

The report goes on to show that in the UK, around 20 per cent of students are considered to be performing below a basic skills level. This means they struggle with simple questions such as circling the correct answers when asked "what happens when muscles are exercised" or have difficulty doing basic currency conversions.

A DfE spokesperson said: “As a result of our continued drive to raise standards in schools we are seeing thousands more pupils taking core academic GCSEs and A levels – those most valued by employers and universities.

“We want all young people to have access to these rigorous subjects – regardless of where they live. Recent GCSE performance tables show that 90,000 more pupils took the challenging EBacc last year compared to 2010, an increase of 71 per cent.

“Our own research – backed by the IFS – shows that doing well in school adds an average of £140,000 to a young person’s earnings, proving the value of our reforms to the economy and pupils themselves.”

Summary: Britain could add trillions to its economy if it only had education standards   of Poland, Vietnam and Estonia, a new report shows.


The photograph on this book’s cover betokens an image from Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita”—a tanned, haute couture-d couple rejoicing in the good life. The title, “The Fall of Heaven,” elevates the splendors of pre-revolution Iran to something Olympian—and the calamity of its aftermath to nothing short of the twilight of the gods.

A less grandiose reading—and one more relevant to the actual history of Iran—might be to see the revolution as a fall from heaven. In the traditional narrative of the fall, Adam and Eve...

Summary: Abbas Milani reviews “The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Final Days of Imperial Iran” by Andrew Scott Cooper.


Instead, they put forward the fourth spot, following an analysis of the landscape, as it would have appeared at the time.

It is just outside the part of the modern town of Battle, East Sussex, which has been traditionally accepted as being the battlefield, and which is registered as such by English Heritage.

The government quango believes the fighting occurred in the grounds of Battle Abbey, which it now runs as a visitor attraction, offering tours of the surrounding area.

According to the traditional account, accepted for almost a millennium, the abbey, now in ruins, was built on the battlefield itself, with the high altar marking the precise spot where Harold fell, reputedly with an arrow in his eye.

However, no human remains or artefacts from the conflict have ever been found in the area, even though some 10,000 men are believed to have died there.

The Time Team researchers were given permission to conduct the first dig of its kind there, excavating three long strips of earth, totalling almost 600ft, but were unable to unearth any evidence. They also concluded that area should be discounted because it was boggy, which invading Normans would not have wanted to use.

The team also conducted a metal detector search of a 30,000 sq ft area of Caldbec Hill, one mile north of the “official” battlefield, where John Grehan, a historian from Shoreham, West Sussex, believes the clash took place, after studying a dossier of contemporaneous documents.

In addition, the Normans erected a cairn of stones on the battle site to commemorate their victory, known as a 'Mount-joie’ in French. The summit of Caldbec Hill is still known as Mountjoy.

But again, no evidence was found and the researchers discounted the site, concluding Harold would have found the hill top too large to defend with the force he had at his disposal. Instead, he would have moved to a more advantageous spot, further downhill.

The team also dismissed a third site, proposed by Nick Austin, another local historian, who puts the scene two miles south of Battle, nearer the coast, at the village of Crowhurst. In support of his theory, he has pieced together information from medieval documents and the Domesday Book.

He also bases his claims on what he believes are topographical clues in the Bayeaux Tapestry.

The experts rejected the supposed archaeological findings put forward for this site - and instead selected their own. By conducting an aerial survey of surrounding countryside, they were able to create a picture of what the landscape was like before it was developed.

It led them to conclude that Harold’s men did assemble on Caldbec Hill, before moving off, to a ridge of high land – now occupied by the mini roundabout – where they could take up a position to meet the Normans.

In support of their theory, they cited an axe head, in the town museum, which could date from the battle. It is said to have been found in the approximate area of the roundabout, which is on the outskirts of the modern town, around 600ft from the Abbey itself on the Mountfield to Baldslow road.

In the show, which is broadcast on Sunday evening, Tony Robinson, the presenter, says: “We’re convinced this new location, east of the Abbey, is where the battle really took place.”

The team believes Harold was at the centre of the fighting, at the roundabout, and died there. Robinson adds: “It is a bizarre notion that our last Anglo-Saxon king died, not over there by the Abbey, but on that roundabout.”

However, the proponents of the varying theories are not fully convinced.

Both Mr Grehan and Mr Austin continue to believe theirs is the real battlefield while Roy Porter, the English Heritage curator for Battle Abbey said the roundabout was only the initial site of fighting and added: “Their survey also reinforces the importance of the location of Battle Abbey.”

EH has previously dismissed rival theories, but earlier this year announced that it would conduct a review into its decision not to change the registered battlefield, in response to a legal challenge in favour of the Crowhurst theory. A decision is expected next month.

Summary: Channel 4's Time Team believe they have identified the site of the Battle of   Hastings and death of King Harold - now occupied by a mini roundabout


Two brothers have denied murdering a man by attacking him with nunchucks, a sword and a knife.

John Clark, 39, and James Clark, 36, are accused of attacking 38-year-old Jason Bryden at his home in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, on 4 July.

Mr Bryden died three days later at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that both men are accused of demanding money from Mr Bryden, robbing him of a wallet and a safe, and attacking him.

They also deny attempting to defeat the ends of justice by washing and disposing of bloodstained clothing, a wallet and a variety of weapons.

Both men will go on trial next June.

Summary: Two brothers deny murdering a man by attacking him with nunchucks, a sword and a knife at his home in Kilmarnock


These men were found to be bigger risk takers but with a stronger will to win whether it is playing the stock market or playing squash, said the study's findings.

Academics at Canada's Concordia University measured finger lengths and personality differences among 415 men and women for the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

The alpha males, whose ring fingers were longer than their index finger, were greater risk takers in all areas of their lives.

These are often the kind of men women go for, said researcher Eric Stenstrom, because they are seen as fit, rich and assertive he added.

He said: "Our findings show an association between high testosterone and risk-taking among males in three domains: recreational, social and financial.

"Since women tend to be attracted to men who are fit, assertive and rich, men are apt to take risks with sports, people and money to be attractive to potential mates.

"What's interesting is this tendency is influenced by testosterone exposure – more testosterone in the womb can lead to more risks in the rink, the bar and the trading floor in later in life."

Women, however, show no difference in behaviour no matter what kind of finger lengths they have, said the study.

Professor Gad Saad, lead researcher, said: "In women, the two fingers are usually almost equal in length, as measured from the crease nearest the palm to the fingertip. In men, the ring finger tends to be much longer than the index.

"Previous studies have linked high testosterone levels with risky behaviour and financial success.

"We investigated the relationship between prenatal testosterone and various risk proclivities. Our findings show an association between high testosterone and risk-taking among males in three domains – recreational, social and financial."

The co-author Zack Mendenhall said: "Pre-natal testosterone exposure not only influences fetal brain development but it also slows the growth of the index finger relative to the sum of the four fingers excluding the thumb."

A previous study by Cambridge University showed that bankers in the City were more successful if they had longer ring fingers, suggesting they took more risks and reacted more quickly to market changes.

Summary: Want to know if a man is rich? Then take a look at the size of his fingers   rather than his wallet, a new study suggests.


Before you go, we thought you'd like these...

Downton Abbey may have used up every known reason to throw a garden party in its TV run, but don't throw out the cucumber sandwiches just yet: Lady Mary thinks there's more to do.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Michelle Dockery mused that she still misses her cast members, and added, "I think there is potential for a [Downton] film. That is something I would wholeheartedly consider, so we will see. It may not be over yet."

Then, presumably, she turned her gaze through a window overlooking the sheep gamboling in the August countryside, and whispered, "Oh, Edith, I'll have my just desserts soon."

Summary: In an interview with The Telegraph, Michelle Dockery mused that she still misses her cast members -- and there may be more 'Downton' brewing for the future.


Three Canadians are behind bars in Sydney after being charged with smuggling 95kg of cocaine into the country aboard a cruise ship, in what authorities say is a record haul.

The trio arrived in Sydney aboard the Sea Princess on Sunday, after starting their journey in Southampton, England, with the cruise liner stopping at several South American countries along the way.

Australian Border Force regional commander Tim Fitzgerald said it was the country's biggest ever cruise ship narcotics seizure.

"This is the biggest seizure of narcotics through a passenger stream, so either through the airport or cruise ships, this 95kg of cocaine is the largest seizure we've seen in Australia," he told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

Authorities believe they've disrupted a major international crime gang attempting to flood Australian streets with illicit drugs.

"I can't go into the specifics about the background of this particular syndicate, but you've got to be a very well-organised syndicate to get your hands on 95kg of cocaine and attempt to import it here into Sydney," Commander Fitzgerald said.

"This particular cruise ship had a number of other ports it was going to visit while in Australia, but certainly the suggestion is that all 95kg of that cocaine was destined for the streets of Australia."

The hefty haul of cocaine, which authorities estimate could be worth around $31 million, was allegedly discovered inside locked suitcases in two vessel cabins.

Andre Tamine, 63, Isabelle Lagace, 28, and Melina Roberce, 22, did not apply for bail at Sydney's Central Local Court on Monday and it was formally refused.

The trio was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug after police and sniffer dogs searched the vessel when it berthed in Sydney.

They face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and will remain in custody until their next court appearance on October 26.

The joint operation by the AFP and Australian Border Force received co-operation from the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations, New Zealand Customs Service and the Canada Border Services Agency.

Summary: A 63-year-old man and two young women from Canada have appeared in a Sydney court accused of importing 95kg of cocaine in suitcases on a cruise ship.


Retiring senator Stephen Conroy could turn his hand to lobbying for online bookmakers.

It's understood the Victorian Labor senator, who is standing down next week after two decades in parliament, is being considered for a senior role within the revamped Australian Wagering Council.

The council was set up in 2012 as the peak industry body representing the online wagering and sports betting industry, but work is under way to revitalise the organisation and step up the push for a new national regulatory framework for wagering.

Summary: A lobbying role for online bookmakers could be on the cards for Stephen Conroy when he leaves his Senate post.


09/26/2016 AT 11:35 PM EDT

faced criticism for many of his actions and statements at Monday night's

– including, of all things, his hydration habits.

Several Twitter users called out the Republican presidential candidate for repeatedly reaching for his water glass at the Hofstra University-hosted event. At a campaign rally earlier this year, Trump

's infamous rebuttal to President Obama's 2013 State of the Union address, during which Rubio repeatedly swigged from his water bottle.

Does anyone remember how badly Trump made fun of Marco Rubio for drinking water? Hmm... #debates pic.twitter.com/aVsOYIacPG

Trump drinking a lot of water. Who does he think he is? Marco Rubio? #debatenight

TRUMP DRINKING WATER LIKE RUBIO #debatenight #Debates2016 pic.twitter.com/ispxVVEtE1

Donald Trump is winning the water drinking battle against Hillary Clinton 5 - 0 #debatenight #debates pic.twitter.com/Wu83kpCXvy

After making fun of Clinton for having pnuemonia & Rubio for drinking water, Trump has spent the first ten minutes sniffing & swigging.

I'm not saying I have a gambling problem but I just lost $5,000 because Trump drank water before Hillary. #Debates2016

Trump's reliance on his water glass was ironic not just for his past ridicule of Rubio for the same thing. It was also notable in light of his attempts to make an issue of Clinton's health and "stamina" – something he questioned again on Monday night.

CNN's Anderson Cooper took note. "I thought it was interesting, raising the stamina issue when she didn't take a drink of water the entire 90 minutes and I was drinking a couple of bottles of water, as was he," Cooper marveled afterward.

Monday night's debate was the first of three presidential debates leading up to the November election. Around 100 million people were expected to tune in to the political showdown.

Summary: 'Who does he think he is? Marco Rubio?' asks one debate-watcher


Oculus founder Palmer Luckey tried to assure supporters that gaming was still a focus for the company—and that nothing had changed about its strategy.

"This is a special moment for the gaming industry—Oculus' somewhat unpredictable future just became crystal clear: virtual reality is coming, and it's going to change the way we play games forever," he said in a blog post.

It's worth noting that the company still isn't even willing to talk about the Rift as a commercially available product. It's still in the R&D phase, said Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe, who won't even commit to a 2014 release for the product.

Read MoreCan Facebook monetize the virtual world?

"We're not going to ship until we have a version that delivers a highly immersive, comfortable experience at a low price," Iribe told CNBC.com at January's CES. "I don't mean just the foam padding and things like that. The experience of virtual reality has to be comfortable. VR has never been close to comfortable. We're confident we will deliver a very comfortable experience for version one. It's my belief that the age of 2-D monitors has run its course."

While Facebook's big dollar acquisition is dominating VR headlines, Oculus was hardly the only company working in the space.

Last week, Sony unveiled its own virtual reality headset—codenamed Project Morpheus—at the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco. And gamer disappointment about Oculus' purchase could boost that platform.

Read MoreFB's Sandberg speaks out about tech industry wage

"At SCE we view innovation as an opportunity to build on our mission to push the boundaries of play," said Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios.

Microsoft, meanwhile, hasn't announced any virtual reality products of its own, but Phil Spencer, corporate vice president and head of Microsoft Studios, addressed the topic at GDC, saying VR was "definitely something that we've been playing with for quite awhile."

CORRECTION: This version corrected the spelling of Luckey.

—By Chris Morris, Special to CNBC.com.

Summary: Facebook's $2 billion acquisition of Oculus shocked gamers and game makers alike. Could the takeover affect the game?


After nearly a decade of trying to build a skyscraper atop Copley Place, Simon Properties is giving up.

The mall operator said it will shelve plans for a 625-foot, 52-story residential tower along Dartmouth Street above the shopping center, citing high construction costs and concerns that Boston’s luxury housing market may be getting overbuilt.

It would have been one of the tallest buildings in Boston, but was bedeviled for years by neighborhood concerns about affordable housing and engineering challenges building above the Massachusetts Turnpike and Orange Line. It was reviewed—and approved—three times by city regulators, the last in May 2015, but Simon never started construction.

In a conference call with analysts Wednesday, Simon chief executive David Simon said his company was scrapping the project due to “rapidly rising construction costs” in Boston and a worry there is more high-end housing coming than the market can support.

“I would encourage everybody to study what’s going in construction costs and what’s going on in supply and demand” in Boston, he said, according to a transcript. “It’s just not the right time to do it.”

In 2013, Simon pegged the cost of the tower at $500 million. It’s unclear what its cost would be today — a spokeswoman did not return calls seeking comment — but construction costs have escalated significantly in recent years.

Simon’s concerns come as some in the real estate community wonder if the current boom has peaked. Yet other builders are pushing ahead with high-end housing projects in Back Bay and downtown.

Just this week, Weiner Ventures unveiled plans for a 40-story condo building at Boylston and Dalton Streets, and Millennium Partners reached a deal to buy the Winthrop Square Garage for $153 million, to build a 750-foot residential tower.

And projects now under development say they’re selling well.

Pre-sales are strong at One Dalton, the Four Seasons-branded tower that Carpenter & Co. is building nearby, said veteran real estate agent Tracy Campion, who’s marketing the ultra-luxe units.

“I believe that the Simon cancellation is more a reflection on that particular project than it is on the vibrant Back Bay luxury market,” Campion said.

It’s hard to say yet if Simon‘s move is part of any broader trend, added Greg Vasil, chief executive of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. He said he knows several builders who are holding pat, waiting to see where the market goes. But he doesn’t know of any hitting the brakes on developments that are already in the works.

“We’re probably at the peak, or bumping along,” Vasil said. “The question is, do we continue to bump along or do we start to come down. And everybody’s wondering what happens when that happens.”

Simon said it might someday bring its Copley Place tower back to life, but for now it’s on the shelf. Meanwhile the company will continue work on its expansion of Copley Place, including additions to the shops and restaurants, and to the Neiman Marcus department store, as well as a new entrance along the Southwest Corridor.

Summary: Developer cites oversupply of other luxury projects in Boston.


As the holiday season kicked off this week, some of Apple’s internal plans might have stepped out from the shadows.

Over the last several days, rumors have been swirling that Apple is hard at work on next year’s innovations. Those reports suggest the company is eyeing major improvements to its iPhone and is drumming up ways to make its mapping service Apple Maps compete more effectively with market leader Google Maps. Meanwhile, Cupertino has remained silent about its future plans, preferring instead to let the rumor mill do its thing while the company works feverishly on whatever is next.

But Apple wasn’t silent about all matters this week. The company’s CEO Tim Cook spoke in detail about Apple’s corporate values and touted the iPhone maker’s ongoing support for AIDS research. He also hinted that the long-awaited Bluetooth-based headphones, known as Apple AirPods, might finally find their way to store shelves in the coming weeks.

This is Fortune’s weekly roundup of the biggest Apple news this week. To see last week’s roundup, click here.

It’s been an interesting week in Apple news and once again, as we detail the biggest headlines. Read on for more:

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

For more about Apple’s iPhone 7, watch:

One more thing… Apple global marketing executive Bozoma Saint John spoke on Tuesday at Fortune‘s Most Powerful Women Next Gen conference in Laguna Nigel, Calif. It’s a must-see. Check it out here.

Summary: And all the other Apple news this week.


A driver has been killed in a truck accident at a NSW Hunter Valley coal mine.

The 53-year-old man received significant head injuries in an incident involving his haulage truck at Rixs Creek Mine near Singleton on Tuesday.

The man was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, where he later died.

"This is devastating news and my deepest condolences and sympathies are with his family at this terrible time." Minister for Industry, Resources and Engergy Anthony Roberts said in a statement on Friday.

The Resources Regulator is investigating the incident and will release an initial incident report in the next two weeks.

Summary: A 53-year-old miner has died in hospital following a truck accident at a mine in Singleton.


A former Queensland policeman has told an inquest he identified Daniel Morcombe’s killer, Brett Cowan, as a strong suspect in the days after the child’s disappearance but was never asked more about his findings.

Kenneth King was part of the major incident response team that conducted preliminary investigations into the boy’s abduction on the Sunshine Coast in December 2003 and he drew the conclusion that Cowan was a key suspect.

“Cowan was a very strong suspect,” King told the inquest. “I thought it was odd, given the normal investigation practice ... no one had ever come back to me to clarify or check details.”

Chief coroner Terry Ryan on Wednesday reopened the inquest into the abduction and murder more than five-and-a-half years after it was adjourned in 2011.

Cowan is serving a life sentence after being found guilty of murder in 2014.

King said he worked on the preliminary investigations for about two weeks before homicide detectives took over.

He agreed with lawyer Peter Boyce, who is representing Denise and Bruce Morcombe, that Cowan ticked a lot of boxes.

Cowan was in the vicinity at the time Daniel went missing, there was a 45-minute hole in his alibi, he owned a white vehicle and had a criminal history of paedophilia.

The constable and his partner, detective senior constable Dennis Martyn, are two of the four witnesses giving evidence on Wednesday.

Also due to appear is assistant commissioner Mike Condon.

Summary: Kenneth King says he was not asked for further details after identifying killer as suspect in child’s murder


The family of a murdered New South Wales policeman say they have been “kicked in the guts” by a decision to slash the jail term of his young mentally ill killer.

Mitchell Barbieri’s non-parole period of 26 years was cut to 15 in a majority decision of the NSW court of criminal appeal on Monday.

The move was condemned by the family of Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson and the NSW Police Association. The NSW police commissioner, Andrew Scipione, urged the director of public prosecutions to pursue an appeal in the high court.

Barbieri, then 19, was sharing mental delusions with his mother when he stabbed Anderson twice in the chest with a hunting knife during a siege at the pair’s rural Sydney property in December 2012.

Fiona Barbieri was given a non-parole period of six-and-a-half years for manslaughter.

Police seized a large volume of material from their squalid, isolated home, among them letters to leaders around the world, including the Russian president. They revealed “a complex delusional belief system alleging corruption, persecution and perceived grievances of a wide-ranging nature”, according to a psychiatrist.

Speaking outside court, the victim’s brother, Warwick Anderson, said the family was not satisfied.

“We came here today and were – to use my father’s words – kicked in the guts by the decision that came down today,” he said. “How any informed member of the community could possibly think a sentence of 15 years for someone who stabs to death a policeman who turns up to help other people is what the community expects is absolutely beyond belief.”

Justices Carolyn Simpson and Lucy McCallum said the sentencing judge erred when considering the severe mental illness of Barbieri, who pleaded guilty to murder. They said it made no difference that his illness was secondary to that of his mother’s or that he recovered after being separated from her.

“His mental illness diminished his moral culpability to a very significant degree,” Simpson said. “The evidence persuades me that the applicant is genuinely remorseful, that he has accepted responsibility for his conduct, and that this indicates that he is unlikely to reoffend.”

The court also found Barbieri’s sentence was disproportionate to that imposed on his mother.

“The circumstances of his life were such that he had not had the opportunity to develop even the maturity that might be expected of an average 19-year-old,” Simpson said. “He lived alone on a rural property with a mentally ill mother whose delusions he came to share.”

The dissenting judge, Justice Derek Price, agreed the sentencing judge made errors but found the mental illness did not substantially reduce Barbieri’s moral culpablity.

He proposed reducing the sentence to 32 years with a non-parole period of 24.

Outside court, the president of the NSW Police Association, Scott Weber, described the court’s decision as “disgusting” and called for an appeal.

The court reduced Barbieri’s overall term from 35 years to 21 years three months.

Summary: Family of Bryson Anderson condemn court’s decision to cut Mitchell Barbieri’s non-parole period of 26 years to 15


IBM (ibm) wasn’t kidding when it declared its intention last week to add more digital design professionals.

The technology giant on Wednesday disclosed plans to buy German firm ecx.io, its third acquisition of a digital marketing agency in less than one week. The deal will add another 200 creative design specialists to IBM Interactive Experience, a services division dedicated to digital marketing and analytics projects.

Between this buyout and two other planned acquisitions of Resource/Ammirati and Aperto, IBM will add another 800 designers to the 10,000-person organization. It already had about 1,100 such specialists on the payroll (up from the 1,000 that was previously reported). So, that’s a substantial increase in design expertise.

“The customer experience has become a new priority in modern business strategy,” said Paul Papas, global leader for IBM iX, in a statement. “Together with exc.io’s distinct expertise, we’re raising the bar for experience-led, digital marketing and commerce.”

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily tech newsletter.

The ecx.io client list includes Austrian Airlines, industrial coatings company Axalta, textiles supplier JAB Anstoetz, and OPEC.

Matt Candy, the European leader for IBM iX, said the agency is one of Europe’s leading specialists in installations of digital technologies from Adobe, Sitecore, and SAP hybris. IBM ix is already a huge Adobe partner—it signed a global alliance focused on the Adobe Marketing Cloud in March.

With the two German acquisitions announced this week, IBM iX now has a European presence in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Eastern Europe is a fast-growing market for digital marketing and customer experience software, Candy said. In September, for example, Poland’s Alior Bank hired IBM and Apple to develop a mobile banking application that will enable its private banking employees to interact more easily with their clients.

Are more acquisitions in the offing? Candy wouldn’t say. Mergers between digital marketing experts and traditional IT consult firms began picking up several years ago, since both skill sets are important for delivering on digital business strategy. IBM rival Accenture has also been on a buying spree, with two buyouts disclosed in December alone.

Summary: More businesses see creative design as a key digital differentiator.


Flybe is working to reduce its seat capacity and hopes the new routes running from Heathrow will strengthen its domestic network. From March 2017 it will offer more than 40 scheduled flights a week from Aberdeen and Edinburgh to Heathrow, in addition to its existing routes from the Scottish cities to London City airport.

The new Heathrow slots will not hit Flybe’s balance sheet because it does not need to pay for them, aside from landing and passenger charges. The slots became available after a ruling from the European Commission, which sought to boost competition at Heathrow following the acquisition of BMI by British Airways owner IAG.

Flybe chairman Simon Laffin said Flybe had long been lobbying for Heathrow to offer more more opportunities for domestic flights, and said the new routes would benefit the airline’s business customers and Scottish travellers who want to connect with the airline’s long-haul codeshare partners.

Flybe reached an agreement with plane lessor NAC to cancel nine of its 24 planned deliveries earlier this year. It has also grounded surplus aircraft over the last two years when it could not find enough routes to fly profitably.

Ms Ourmieres-Widener, who will step into her role on January 16, said she looked forward to continuing Flybe’s progress.

“As Europe’s largest regional airline, Flybe is already in a strong position and I believe can deliver significantly more over the coming years,” the incoming chief executive said.

Ms Ourmieres-Widener was the chief executive of City Jet from 2010 and 2015 and since then has been chief global sales officer for American Express Global Business Travel.

Summary: Flybe will soon be taking off from Heathrow Airport for the first time in a boost for its domestic flight network.


As I was earning my master's in environmental management from Duke University, I knew that a large student loan bill loomed ahead. After all, I had borrowed a lot of money to cover tuition and other costs in graduate school, plus I still had undergraduate loans to pay off.

But I'd always been told that I should try to get the best education possible -- even if it came at a hefty price tag -- to set myself up for the future. I wanted to pursue a career in a highly specialized field, and Duke offered one of the best programs for it.

To me, it seemed worth the cost. So by the time I graduated in May 2011, I had accumulated about $160,000 in undergraduate and graduate student loans.

It was a lot of money, but I knew a lot of people who were in the same boat, including my now wife, Kelly, who was in the same grad program and left Duke with about $108,000 in student loans.

We knew that paying those amounts back would be a challenge, but neither one of us carried much "bad" debt -- I graduated with only about $1,000 in credit card debt, and Kelly had none -- so it wouldn't prevent us from meeting our future goals, right?

Wrong. And I didn't realize just how much of an impact that debt would have until we attempted to buy our first home.

The Banks' student loans triggered a too high debt-to-income ratio, preventing them from getting a mortgage.

The Banks' loans triggered a high debt-to-income ratio, preventing them from getting a mortgage.

A few months after graduation, Kelly and I relocated to Sacramento, California, because I found a contract position as a natural-resource specialist at the National Marine Fisheries Service. Kelly initially worked as an unpaid intern, then got a full-time, salaried position with the state as an environmental scientist about five months later. Combined, we made about $90,000.

To ease our way into paying down our loans, we took advantage of the six-month grace period and other deferment options available to us. Kelly deferred her loans for a year, after which she began an income-based repayment plan that started her loan payments at just under $500 a month. Because she works for the government, she also qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which means her balances will be forgiven after 10 years, as long as she continues to make her minimum monthly payments on time.

I got a three-year forbearance on all my federal loans. But the forbearance period on the private loans I took out for my undergrad days was up, so I had to start paying those back to the tune of about $350 a month.

Together, our loan payments were a good chunk of change but manageable. And as we settled into our lives together and started planning for the future, Kelly and I decided that we wanted to buy a home as soon as we could.

%VIRTUAL-pullquote-That's when we made rookie mistake No. 2: believing that a pre-approval for a mortgage guaranteed we'd actually get a mortgage.%Kelly's parents, who didn't want us to "throw away" our money by renting, decided to help fast-track that goal by giving us $18,000 to put toward a down payment and moving costs. In November 2012 we began the hunt.

We didn't have issues getting pre-approved for a mortgage of up to $200,000. We intended to put only 5 percent down because we didn't want to use up all of our gift money, which meant we'd have to pay private mortgage insurance. But even with PMI, our potential mortgage payments would still be about the same as we were paying in rent, so we were OK with the added cost.

To say the market was competitive was an understatement. Home prices in Sacramento were heating up and investors were swooping in. Every time we'd put an offer down, someone would outbid us or offer all cash.

When one of our offers was finally accepted, we were ecstatic. We paid our earnest money and got as far as a home inspection -- only to discover that there were serious structural and electrical issues with the home. We decided to pull out of the offer, but we made a rookie home buyer mistake and signed away any contingencies that would have returned those funds to us. So the seller ended up keeping our earnest money.

The bad news was that we were out $2,500. The good news: Another one of our offers was accepted on a newer home that was in far better shape.

We were ecstatic. Our luck had finally turned around, and the nine months we had spent checking out dozens of properties was finally paying off.

The house passed inspection, so we thought we were on our way to owning our first home. But then came time to get our mortgage. Since we were putting down less than 20 percent, we had to apply for a loan through the Federal Housing Administration. We didn't suspect there would be any issues, given that we had been pre-approved.

But that's when we made rookie mistake No. 2: believing that a pre-approval for a mortgage guaranteed we'd actually get a mortgage.

Apparently, the underwriters determined that our debt-to-income ratio was too high to get approved. While we knew we still had a lot of student loans to pay back, it hadn't raised any red flags before, so we weren't sure what was different now.

Then our loan officer explained: Because I was a contractor, they weren't counting my income, which made it seem like our household income was about half of what it actually was. On top of that, they calculated Kelly's monthly loan payment as if she were on a standard repayment plan, rather than on an income-based one.

That made her payments appear closer to $1,200 -- more than twice the $500 she was actually paying. We were told that banks often did that to account for the possibility that payments under an income-based repayment plan could shoot up every year, which could hurt a borrower's ability to pay the mortgage or be approved for future financing.

Our realtor suggested we try a different lender, but at that point we were drained. Kelly and I realized that even if we tried to buy a less-expensive home, we'd run into the same problem. We probably wouldn't be approved for a mortgage until we paid off more of our loans or started earning a lot more money.

Kelly and I have since gotten married, and we're now renting in a part of Sacramento where we would have wanted to buy. We still want to own a home, but we're being patient. We've crunched some numbers, and, based on how much we think our income will go up over time, we think we can try again in about five years.

Ideally, we'd like to get closer to a 20 percent down payment, but realistically, we'll probably put down only 5 percent again. %VIRTUAL-pullquote-We want to be happy in our careers, own a home and have kids. You know, the American dream. But I can't help but think that obtaining that dream is no longer an option for those burdened by student loans.%Next time, however, we want to make sure we're fully qualified for a mortgage so we don't have to suffer a last-minute disappointment again. The wildcard is what my loans will be once my forbearance period is up. The rules for federal loan repayment seem to change a lot, so I don't know what options I'll have in the future for keeping those payments as low as possible.

We do have about $2,000 left of the gift money from Kelly's parents (the rest was eaten up by moving expenses, other costs for our new rental and some wedding expenses). Kelly diverts $50 a month from her paycheck into a high-yield savings account to further build up our future down payment. I also try to save about $50 a month.

She plans to boost that savings amount each time she receives a raise. And I'm hoping to find a non-contract, permanent position, which should help us when it comes time to apply for a mortgage again. We're trying to save in other ways too: We carpool every day, limit how much we eat out, and don't do many vacations.

We've never had dreams of being super wealthy. We just want the things that most people want -- to be happy in our careers, own a home and have kids someday. You know, the whole American dream. But I can't help but think that obtaining that dream is no longer an option for those of us burdened by student loans.

I don't want to make it sound like I regret attending the schools I did. School was where I met my wife, how I prepped to be competitive in my field, and where I met some of my closest friends. So I wouldn't change a thing about my education -- I just wish it hadn't cost so much.

My generation, especially, has been given mixed signals by society. We're told to attend the best schools we possibly can -- but then we're punished when we can't afford it.

7 Financial Tasks to Accomplish Before You Hit 30

How Student Loans Dashed My Dreams of Buying a Home

However responsible you plan to be in your 30s, there's one thing you simply can't make up for -- time. And when it comes to compounding interest, time is secret ingredient.

: If a 25-year-old saves $3,000 a year for 10 years in a retirement account, the $30,000 investment will grow to $472,000 by age 65. If a 35-year-old saves $3,000 a year for 30 years (a full 20 years longer), the $90,000 investment will only be worth $367,000 at age 65. The moral? Your money's ability to make money babies increases exponentially if you let compounding interest start doing its thing while you're still in your 20s.

Based on what you just read about compounding interest, it's a no-brainer that now is the time to start saving for retirement. If your company offers a 401(k) match, there's free money on the table, ready to be put toward your retirement each and every month. If your company doesn't offer retirement options or if you haven't yet settled into your career, another great retirement vehicle is a Roth individual retirement account. You can contribute up to $5,500 a year, and you can take the principal out at anytime with no penalty, if needed. The important thing is to put your money to work now so your 65-year-old self can retire comfortably later.

If you don't already know where your credit report stands, now is the time to make yourself aware. You can get a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus once a year, and now is the time to make sure there are no mistakes on your report. If your score is lower than you realized or if you discover any inconsistencies or problems, you have a head start on sorting it all out.

Saving for a rainy day is essential, even if you're the luckiest person in town. As your responsibilities increase in your 30s, the possibility for unexpected costs goes up. And as your financial responsibilities increase, it could become more difficult to put away the money you'd need to get by for three to six months (a typical emergency fund amount). Preparing for a rainy day has to be done while the sun's out, and your 20s is just that time.

If you're one of the seven out of 10 college students who graduated with student loan debt, you might be approaching your 30s in the red. Student loans may have a low interest rate, but they cannot be forgiven in bankruptcy. And as you add a spouse, a mortgage and even children to your life, the ability to pay down your student loans may become more difficult or burdensome. If the extra money is there now, pay those loans down.

If, like us, you defied the marriage-age average and said "I do" before you hit 30, life insurance is something worth looking into. When you're young and healthy, the costs are incredibly low. And should anything happen to you, your spouse will be grateful for the sure financial footing going forward. Make sure you get enough to cover any outstanding debt (including mortgages), funeral expenses and enough to help your spouse get back on his or her feet.

While the average age of marriage is pushing 30, 44 percent of women have

by age 25. If you find yourself already in the throes of parenting, the time to start thinking about your baby's education is now. By saving while he or she is still young, the amount you'll have to contribute later will be significantly less. How? You guessed it -- compounding interest via a 529 college savings plan.

Summary: A young couple shelves their dreams of home ownership after more than $260,000 in joint student loan debt sabotages their chance at the American Dream.


Amazon.com is preparing to take on Apple Computer in digital music by introducing its own portable music player that would be linked to an online music service, according to several music industry executives involved with negotiations with Amazon.

Unlike Apple, which sells songs for 99 cents each, Amazon will offer a service that charges a monthly or annual fee to customers, who will have the right to fill up their music players with as many songs as they like, the executives said. When they stop paying the fee, the music on the player will be disabled.

Amazon has not told the music industry what the fee would be, but similar subscription services range from $5 to $15 a month.

Apple, which sold 14 million iPods last year, has expanded its lead in digital music. Apple increased its market share last year in the United States to 67 percent of digital music players from under 49 percent in 2004, according to the sales and marketing research firm NPD Group.

Music industry executives are enthusiastic about Amazon's entry because it might be a counterweight to Apple, which many see as having too much power in digital music.

"We are excited to participate in Amazon's launch," said Greg Scholl, the chief executive of the Orchard, the largest digital distributor of independent music. The Orchard, he said, has not reached a final agreement to provide music to Amazon's service. "Given the quality of Amazon and its team, I'm sure it will be an innovative and successful music product," he said.

Mr. Scholl declined to discuss any details of his negotiations with Amazon.

In a conference call with investors last month, Thomas J. Szkutak, Amazon's chief financial officer, highlighted digital media as a major area of growth. "As we move forward with digital, we think Amazon is especially well-positioned to capture a bigger part of that business," Mr. Szkutak said.

Patty Smith, an Amazon spokeswoman, declined to elaborate on the company's plans.

Amazon's intention to tie a subscription service to its own music player was reported yesterday by The Wall Street Journal.

Music subscription services have been offered by Napster, AOL, Real Networks and Yahoo for several years, and have attracted about two million customers, industry executives said.

One reason that the subscription services have not fared well is that the experience of using them with portable players is more difficult than using an iPod. The Microsoft software that all these services use has been awkward, and the players  made by several manufacturers like Samsung, iRiver and Creative Labs  have not been as appealing to consumers as those made by Apple.

Amazon hopes to remedy these problems by designing its own player in conjunction with a consumer electronics maker, and ensuring that the software works easily with it. The player would be discounted for customers who agreed to buy the music service for a specified period, the music executives said.

Amazon plans to load the player with songs of a customer's choosing before shipping it, the music executives said. And because Amazon maintains records of the CD purchases of its customers, it can also use that information to recommend music to be downloaded onto the players.

The company, in fact, is looking to leverage its role as a major vendor of CD's as it moves into digital music. It has discussed with music labels the possibility of offering discounts to subscribers of its music service on CD purchases.

It has also talked about giving CD purchasers digital versions of the songs, saving them the time and trouble of creating their own digital files to move onto the portable players. Record company executives say that the financial arrangements that underlie these potential discounts have not been finalized. They add that Amazon has said it hopes to introduce the service by summer.

Ross Rubin, the director of industry relations with NPD, said that Amazon's plan to create its own brand of player faced challenges. A similar effort to create a Napster-branded player made by Samsung faltered, he said.

"The branded music player approach hasn't worked because of Apple's considerable iPod marketing and brand power," he said. But he did say that Amazon's customer relationships may give it an edge.

"It's a unique advantage for them," he said.

Correction: Feb. 18, 2006, Saturday: An article in Business Day yesterday about plans by Amazon.com to offer a digital music player to challenge the iPod misstated the number of iPods sold last year by Apple Computer. It was 32 million; 14 million was the figure for the fourth quarter.

Summary: Amazon.com is preparing to introduce its own portable music player that would be linked to an online music service with a monthly fee.


By DAVID BIANCULLI DAILY NEWS TV CRITIC

Tuesday, June 4th 2002, 1:80AM

BOSTON 24/7. Tonight through Friday night at 10, continuing next week, ABC 3 1/2 stars.

Consider "Boston 24/7," a new ABC documentary that occupies six hours of prime time this week and next, to be the antidote to the same network's "The Hamptons."

That four-hour special, like the one that premieres tonight at 10, sounds like the same basic offering: a filmmaking team descends on a particular place for three months and follows a few people around to see where they, and events, will lead them. All similarities end there.

"The Hamptons" was aimless and uninteresting, and didn't come from the news division. It came from Barbara Kopple, whose previous work was bold and exciting, but who this time delivered a meandering disappointment.

"Boston 24/7" comes from ABC News - specifically, from Terence Wrong, who produced the wonderful "Hopkins 24/7" two years ago. That 2000 summer series looked at physicians and other employees at one hospital; each hour of "Boston 24/7" follows three or four people who are trying to make a difference in Boston: teachers, district attorneys, detectives, firefighters, even exterminators.

Because of the way Wrong structures these six hours (tonight through Friday at 10, concluding next Tuesday and Wednesday), we get a strong sense of these characters, and of the city.

"Boston 24/7" achieves the nearly impossible: It gives reality television a good name.

Poor Tommy Kaplanes, a green assistant district attorney, spends a heartbreaking amount of time trying to earn his first conviction. Detective Danny Keeler sets out to solve a headless body homicide, with help from years of experience, solid police work and a reliable police dog.

Handlers for the mayor try to spin the day's events to their satisfaction, losing, like attorney Kaplanes, more often than they win. Chuck Tranito is a chef by night, "rat man" by day - and firefighter Phil Cetrino toils proudly in the same job that claimed the life of his father.

In two separate hours, including tonight's opener, "Boston 24/7" places cameras on both sides of the newsgathering process. On one end of the phone, we see Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and press secretary Carole Brennan making statements and arguing; on the other, Boston Herald reporter David Guerino tossing questions and typing.

You don't often get to see news made, and shaped, in such a raw and real sense. Similarly, in tomorrow's second hour of "Boston 24/7," you see school principal Chuck McAfee fearing a student-teacher disagreement can escalate to something worse - which it does, suddenly and chillingly, as the cameras roll.

When Kaplanes loses his first case, he takes a piece of evidence from it, a stolen license plate, and sticks it in plain view in his office cubicle.

"That'll be a constant reminder," he tells the camera, "of how I sucked today."

The producer of "Boston 24/7" won't need any such reminders. Wrong, once again, has done everything just right.

Summary: Consider "Boston 24/7,"a new ABC documentary that occupies six hours of prime time this week and next, to be the antidote to the same network's "The Hamptons."That four-hour special, like the one that premieres tonight at 10, sounds like the same basic offering: a filmmaking team descends on a particular place for three months and follows a few people around to see where they, and


By LISA REIN and LAURIE C. MERRILL With Larry Sutton and Jay Nieman

Wednesday, April 19th 1995, 2:35AM

Friends and family of Marlon Brando's daughter, Cheyenne, gathered in Tahiti yesterday to mourn the fragile beauty who was forever haunted by her lover's death.

As of yesterday morning, it appeared that Cheyenne's legendary father would remain ensconced in his Hollywood mansion and not attend the funeral of his daughter.

Brando, 71, who moaned "Oh, God no" when he learned his daughter had hanged herself Easter Sunday, has been sedated since her death, friends said.

Notoriously reclusive, Brando feared he could not maintain his coveted privacy on the tiny French Polynesian island in the South Pacific.

"There are just too many camera crews, too many paparazzi," Daniel Pardon, editor of the newspaper La Depeche de Tahiti and a family friend, told the Daily News. "He could not keep his dignity."

Born and reared in Tahiti, Cheyenne, 25, spent most of her adult life fighting drug addiction and mental instability. She was in and out of drug clinics and psychiatric institutes and used so many drugs that her son was born addicted.

Yesterday, Cheyenne's half-brother Miko Brando arrived in Papeete to attend Cheyenne's funeral and burial. But half-brother Christian who fatally shot Dag Drollet, the father of Cheyenne's son in 1990 is serving 10 years for manslaughter at a California prison.

He was informed of his sister's death Monday by a case worker. "I'm not going to tell you his reaction," said prison spokeswoman Terri Knight. "That's private."

As family members joined for the grim farewell, they were refusing comment to the media that swarmed the small island.

It was unclear whether Cheyenne's 5-year-old son Tuki who has been in his grandmother's care since shortly after birth would attend the sad event.

In one of many disappointments in Cheyenne's life, a Tahiti judge just two weeks ago rejected her bid for permanent custody of the boy.

Cheyenne's mother, Tarita Teriipaia with whom Brando co-starred in the 1962 remake of "Mutiny on the Bounty" will retain custody.

Dag Drollet's father, Jacques, who at first was bitter toward the Brandos, is expected to share custody of Tuki, Pardon said. Jacques Drollet openly accused Christian of murdering Dag in cold blood.

"At first the families hated each other, and Mr. Drollet accused Brando of killing his son. But this island is a little universe and people have to get along or they will self-destruct," Pardon said.

Brando biographer Peter Manso believes the actor hadn't seen Cheyenne since the summer of 1993.

"Marlon had not returned to Tahiti since before the shooting [of Dag] about March of 1990. . . . They certainly hadn't seen each other since then. Maybe they spoke on the phone, but I doubt it," Manso told The News.

Manso also spoke of the troubled father-daughter relationship.

Cheyenne saw her father as "a Svengali, a manipulator" who was jealous of her boyfriend, the author said.

"Marlon wanted her to stay in L.A. and be his house maid," Manso told The News.

Summary: Friends and family of Marlon Brando's daughter, Cheyenne, gathered in Tahiti yesterday to mourn the fragile beauty who was forever haunted by her lover's death. As of yesterday morning, it appeared that Cheyenne's legendary father would remain ensconced in his Hollywood mansion and not attend the funeral of his daughter. Brando, 71, who moaned "Oh, God no"when he learned his daughter had hanged herself Easter Sunday, has been sedated since


May 31st 2010, 8:47 by S.B. | BOGOTÁ

PUNDITS and pollsters expected surprises in the first round of Colombia’s presidential election on May 30th, but they were supposed to come from Antanas Mockus. An eccentric former mayor of Bogotá, Mr Mockus had little national exposure and virtually no backing when he launched his campaign. However, by tapping into an undercurrent of discontent with the corruption and human rights scandals that have plagued Álvaro Uribe, the popular outgoing president, he engineered a rapid political ascent. Pre-election polls had him tied with Juan Manuel Santos, Mr Uribe’s former defence minister and unofficial chosen candidate, atop the crowded first-round field. Moreover, they gave him a comfortable lead in a run-off.

Instead, the surprise came from Mr Santos, who showed that perhaps the original conventional wisdom about Mr Mockus was right after all. Mr Uribe’s unofficial candidate of choice won an imposing lead with 46.5% of the vote, more than doubling Mr Mockus’s 21.5% share. Seven other candidates split the remaining votes.

Mr Mockus’s lack of campaign experience and a series of well-publicised gaffes hurt him badly. He first said he would extradite Mr Uribe, and then backtracked. Later, he said he “admired” Hugo Chávez, the radical president of Venezuela, who has cut off trade with Colombia over spats with Mr Uribe. His later efforts to clarify the comment by saying he only meant he “respected” Mr Chávez, who is widely disliked in Colombia, did little good.

Such missteps helped shift voters’ mood. Many were charmed at first by Mr Mockus’s promise to clean up the country’s politics. But by election day, they were simply “afraid to lose what’s been gained” under Mr Uribe, says Jaime Duarte, a political analyst. Mr Santos said his win was a tribute to the president, whose successful security policies have won him a 75% approval rating after eight years in power.

Mr Mockus now faces a daunting task. It took him months to build up his standing in the polls, only to see it vanish on election day. He has just three weeks to close a 25-point deficit before the run-off on June 20th.

Summary: PUNDITS and pollsters expected surprises in the first round of Colombia’s presidential election on May 30th, but they were supposed to come from Antanas Mockus. A  n eccentric former mayor of Bogotá, Mr Mockus had little national exposure and virtually no backing when he launched his campaign.


Friday, April 28th 2006, 1:10AM

AVENUE Q. Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). Tony-winning musical features singing, dancing and lusting puppets.

AWAKE AND SING! Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St. (212-239-6200). A Bronx family struggles through the Depression in this Clifford Odets play.

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK. Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St. (212-239-6200). Neil Simon's newlywed odd couple: Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St. (212-307-4100). Disney's cartoon comes to life.

BRIDGE & TUNNEL. Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St. (212-239-6200). Solo show by Sarah Jones.

THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL. Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). Revival of Herman Wouk's courtroom drama starring David Schwimmer and Tim Daly. In previews.

CHICAGO. Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St. (212-239-6200). Kander and Ebb's killer musical.

THE COLOR PURPLE. Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway. (212-239-6200). A musical based on Alice Walker's beloved book. Stars LaChanze.

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS. Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). Norbert Leo Butz and Jonathan Pryce are ill-matched con men in this pun-filled musical.

DOUBT. Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St. (212-239-6200). Did a priest commit an unspeakable offense? With Eileen Atkins and Ron Eldard.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. Marquis, 1535 Broadway (212-307-4100). A theater lover's favorite musical comes alive onstage. Stars Tony winner Sutton Foster. In previews.

FAITH HEALER. Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). Ralph Fiennes plays a medicine man in this Brian Friel revival. Co-stars Cherry Jones. In previews.

FESTEN. Music Box Theater, 239 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). A well-to-do family is rocked by a revelation.

HAIRSPRAY. Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St. (212-307-4100). The rock 'n' roll story of a big girl with big dreams and bigger hair.

THE HISTORY BOYS. Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St. (212-239-6200). British prep-school comedy/drama by Alan Bennett. Stars Richard Griffiths and Dominic Cooper.

HOT FEET. Hilton Theatre, 213 W. 42nd St. (212-307-4100). The story of "Red Shoes" danced to the music of Earth, Wind & Fire. In previews.

JERSEY BOYS. August Wilson Theatre, 245 W. 52nd St. (212-239-6200). Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, via a jukebox musical.

LESTAT. Palace Theatre, 1554 Broadway (212-239-6200). Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles," with music by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE. Lyceum Theatre, 149 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). Martin McDonagh's black (and bloody) comedy about an Irish terrorist. In previews.

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 W. 65th St. (212-239-6200). Love blooms for an American girl and an Italian boy.

THE LION KING. New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St. (212-307-4100). Tony-winning

MAMMA MIA! Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway (212-239-6200). The ABBA musical that launched the jukebox fad.

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT. Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St. (212-239-6200). Faithful to the movie "The Holy Grail" - until God tells King Arthur and his knights to put on a Broadway show.

THE ODD COUPLE. Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th St. (212-307-4100). Neil Simon's mismatched roomies.

THE PAJAMA GAME. American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St. (212-719-1300). Harry Connick Jr. stars in this musical revival at Roundabout.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Majestic Theatre, 247 W. 44th St. (212-239-6200). Broadway's longest-running show ever.

THE PRODUCERS. St. James Theatre, 246 W. 44th St. (212-239-6200). Max Bialystock cheats and swindles little old ladies. He's a producer!

RENT. Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st St. (212-921-8000). A rock "La BohÃ¨me" set in the East Village.

RING OF FIRE. Ethel Barrymore Theater, 234 W. 44th St. (212-239-6200). Johnny Cash musical. Closes Sun.

SHINING CITY. Biltmore Theatre, 261 W. 47th St. (212-239-6200). A Dublin widower visits a therapist after seeing his dead wife's ghost.

SWEENEY TODD. Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St. (212-239-6200). Stephen Sondheim's tale of a demon barber, starring Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone.

TARZAN. Richard Rodgers Theater, 226 W. 46th St. (212-307-4747). The ape-man swingeth to a score by Phil Collins. In previews.

THREE DAYS OF RAIN. Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). Past informs present in drama starring Julia Roberts.

THE THREEPENNY OPERA. Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St. (212-719-1300). A revival of Brecht and Weill's musical satire. With Alan Cumming, Jim Dale and Cyndi Lauper.

25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. Circle in the Square, 50th St. near Broadway (212-239-6200). How do you spell success? T-o-n-y.

THE WEDDING SINGER. Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). A musical based on the Adam Sandler comedy. With Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti.

WELL. Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St. (212-239-6200). A comic look at illness and family dysfunction.

WICKED. Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St. (212-307-4100). Stephen Schwartz's musical of the witches of Oz.

ALTAR BOYZ. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St. (212-239-6200).

BLUE MAN GROUP. Astor Place Theatre, 434 Lafayette St. (212-254-4370).

DRUMSTRUCK. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St. (212-239-6200).

ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE. Laura Pels Theatre, 111 W. 46th St. (212-719-1300).

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. 47th Street Theatre, 304 W. 47th St. (212-239-6200).

GREY GARDENS. Playwrights Horizons, 416 W. 42nd St. (212-279-4200). Closes Sun.

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE. Village Theater, 158 Bleecker St. (212-307-4100).

I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St. (212-239-6200).

A JEW GROWS IN BROOKLYN. American Theatre of Actors, 314 W. 54th St. (212-352-3101).

MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL. Playhouse 91, 316 E. 91st St. (212-307-4100).

NAKED BOYS SINGING! New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St. (212-239-6200).

RED LIGHT WINTER. Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St. (212-239-6200).

SANDRA BERNHARD: EVERYTHING BAD AND BEAUTIFUL. Daryl Roth Theatre, 20 Union Square East (212-239-6200).

SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW. Union Square Theatre, 100 E. 17th St. (212-307-4100).

STOMP. Orpheum, 126 Second Ave. (212-477-2477).

Summary: FRIDAY GO! On & Off Broadway & Around The Town BROADWAY AVENUE Q. Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St. (212-239-6200). Tony-winning musical features singing, dancing and lusting puppets. AWAKE AND SING! Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St. (212-239-6200). A Bronx family struggles through the Depression in this Clifford Odets play. BAREFOOT IN THE PARK. Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St. (212-239-6200). Neil Simon's newlywed odd couple: Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre,


LOS ANGELES — Attorneys for Michael Jackson's doctor dropped the bombshell Friday they've been hinting at for months – an expert opinion accusing the legendary singer of causing his own death.

Dr. Paul White, the defense team's star scientific witness, said Jackson injected himself with a dose of propofol after an initial dose by Dr. Conrad Murray wore off. He also calculated that Jackson gave himself another sedative, lorazepam, by taking pills after an infusion of that drug and others by Murray failed to put him to sleep.

That combination of drugs could have had "lethal consequences," the researcher said.

White showed jurors a series of charts and simulations he created in the past two days to support the defense theory. He also did a courtroom demonstration of how the milky white anesthetic propofol could have entered Jackson's veins in the small dose that Murray claimed he gave the insomniac star.

White said he accepted Murray's statement to police that he administered only 25 milligrams of propofol after a night-long struggle to get Jackson to sleep with infusions of other sedatives.

"How long would that (propofol) have had an effect on Mr. Jackson?" asked defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan.

"If you're talking effect on the central nervous system, 10 to 15 minutes max," White said.

He then said Jackson could have injected himself with another 25 milligrams during the time Murray has said he left the singer's room.

"So you think it was self-injected propofol between 11:30 and 12?" asked Flanagan.

"In my opinion, yes," White said.

The witness, one of the early researchers of the anesthetic, contradicted testimony by Dr. Steven Shafer, his longtime colleague and collaborator. Shafer earlier testified Jackson would have been groggy from all the medications he was administered during the night and could not have given himself the drug in the two minutes Murray said he was gone.

"He can't give himself an injection if he's asleep," Shafer told jurors last week. He called the defense theory of self-administration "crazy."

White's testimony belied no animosity between the two experts, who have worked together for 30 years. Although White was called out by the judge one day for making derogatory comments to a TV reporter about the prosecution case, White was respectful and soft spoken on the witness stand.

When Flanagan made a mistake and called him "Dr. Shafer" a few times, White said, "I'm honored."

The prosecution asked for more time to study the computer program White used before cross-examining him. Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor granted the request, saying he too was baffled by the complicated simulations of Jackson's fatal dose. He recessed court early and gave prosecutors the weekend to catch up before questioning White on Monday.

The surprise disclosure of White's new theory caused a disruption of the court schedule, and the judge had worried aloud that jurors, who expected the trial to be over this week, were being inconvenienced. But the seven men and five women appeared engaged in the testimony and offered no complaints when the judge apologized for the delay.

Prosecutors could call Shafer back during their rebuttal case to answer White's assertions.

Among the key issues is how White calculated that a large residue of propofol in Jackson's body could have come from the small dose that Murray says he administered. Shafer assumed Murray had lied, and he estimated Jackson actually was given 1,000 milligrams of the drug by Murray, who he said left the bottle running into an IV tube under the pull of gravity. White disputed that, saying an extra 25 milligrams self-administered by Jackson would be enough to reach the levels found in his blood and urine.

White also said a minuscule residue of the sedative lorazepam in Jackson's stomach convinced him the singer took some pills from a prescription bottle found in his room. He suggested the combination of lorazepam, another sedative, midazolam, plus the propofol could have killed Jackson.

"It potentially could have lethal consequences," said White. "... I think the combination effect would be very, very profound."

White's testimony was expected to end Murray's defense case after 16 witnesses. It likely will be vigorously challenged by prosecutors, who spent four weeks laying out their case that Murray is a greedy, inept and reckless doctor who was giving Jackson propofol as a sleep aid in the singer's bedroom. Experts including Shafer have said propofol is not intended to treat insomnia and should not be given in a home.

White's theory was based on urine and blood levels in Jackson's autopsy, evidence found in Jackson's bedroom and Murray's long interview with police detectives two days after Jackson died while in his care.

While accepting Murray's account of drugs he gave Jackson, the expert's calculations hinged on the invisible quotient: Jackson's possible movements while his doctor was out of the room. With no witnesses and contradictory physical evidence, that has become the key question hanging over the case.

Those who knew the entertainer in his final days offered a portrait of a man gripped by fear that he would not live up to big plans for his comeback concert and worried about his ability to perform if he didn't get sleep. He was plagued by insomnia, and other medical professionals told of his quest for the one drug he believed could help him. He called it his "milk," and it was propofol.

Jurors have now seen it up close as both Shafer and White demonstrated its potential use as an IV infusion.

With White's testimony, the defense sought to answer strong scientific evidence by the prosecution. But they did not address other questions such as allegations that Murray was negligent and acting below the standard of care for a physician.

Flanagan, the defense attorney, produced a certificate from Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas showing Murray was certified to administer moderate anesthesia, referred to as "conscious sedation." However, the document showed several requirements including that the physician "monitor the patient carefully" and "provide adequate oxygenation and ventilation for a patient that stops breathing."

Medical witnesses noted that Murray left his patient alone under anesthesia and did not have adequate equipment to revive him when he found him not breathing.

The coroner attributed Jackson's June 25, 2009, death to "acute propofol intoxication" complicated by other sedatives.

Murray, who had been hired as the singer's personal physician for his "This Is It" tour, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.