Here is a news article: Size really does seem to matter when it comes to cancer risk.

 Being tall undoubtedly has its benefits. You can see in a crowd and grab objects off high shelves.

 But with the good comes the bad. The taller you are, the higher your odds of developing cancer, and a new paper has added weight to this.

 key points Key points: Taller people have more cells in their body, as well as higher levels of a protein that encourages cells to divide and grow

 For every 10cm over the average height, a person's risk for cancer increases 10 per cent

 New analysis of data from big cancer studies supports this, and also finds a few specific cancers to be more or less strongly correlated with height

 Leonard Nunney, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Riverside, looked at massive cancer databases to find out how the number of cells in a person's body, using height as a proxy, might affect their risk of developing cancer.

 Reporting in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, he found being taller and having more cells did mean more cancer overall: For every 10 centimetres over the average height, the risk of developing any cancer increased by around 10 per cent.

 This fits with previous studies.

 "If you were comparing a 5-foot guy to a basketball player who's over 7 feet tall, then that basketball player has around twice the risk of cancer across the board," Professor Nunney said.

 He also found that taller people were at much higher risk of melanoma, and women specifically had greater odds of developing thyroid cancer. But it doesn't mean tall people should panic.

 "Now, you can't do anything about your height, but what you can do is tell extremely tall individuals that they should be aware of this, and if they have any concerns, to get checked," he said.

 "It just suggests more vigilance, I think."

 So more cells = more cancer? Sort of

 Whether you grow up towering over your peers or knee-high to a grasshopper depends on a whole host of things, said Yash Chhabra, a cancer biologist at the University of Queensland who wasn't involved with the study.

 "With height, it's not just your genetics that decide how tall a person will be, but also the nutrition that your mother had while they were pregnant," Dr Chhabra said.

 "And, of course, diet and lifestyle as you grow up also have a huge impact on your height."

 key points Peto's paradox If animals with more cells get more cancer, why do humans get more cancer than elephants and whales?

 This is Peto's paradox, named after an Oxford epidemiologist who noticed the phenomenon in the 1970s

 Evolutionary biologists think that more massive species have evolved measures that suppress cancers

 The link between height and cancer risk was brought to light by massive cancer projects, such as the UK's Million Women study.

 "They all demonstrated really clearly that height is indeed a factor," Professor Nunney said.

 "And it's not just one cancer. It's most cancers that have some relationship with height."

 So what's behind this?

 One theory is that taller people simply have more cells. And with more cells comes more chances for cancer.

 This is what Professor Nunney wanted to explore. So he examined Million Women data with three other big cancer projects — one each from the US, Europe and Korea — to see how different types of cancer correlated with height.

 He found most cancer types did increase with height as expected. But there were a few that bucked the trend.

 Environmental effects can mask height effects

 Risk of stomach, mouth and, in women, cervical cancer didn't seem to be affected by height.

 Professor Nunney suspected those cancer types had a "pretty strong environmental influence that might be masking height effects.

 "The easiest one to explain in that sense is cervical cancer, because we know that almost 100 per cent of cervical cancers are related to infection with one of a few strains of HPV."

 What had him stumped, though, was the relatively much higher risk of thyroid cancer in taller women he saw.

 "I have no idea what's going on there," Professor Nunney said.

 "The high value is driven primarily by the data from Korea, where there's a really strong effect with height, especially in women, way higher than you see in other studies.

 "Across other cancers, there's no real geographical variation."

 Taller people — both men and women, in all datasets — tended to have a higher risk of melanoma too.

 With height usually comes more skin. That extra surface area might seem like an easy explanation for more melanoma, but that's not the case, Professor Nunney said.

 Some organs don't scale as much as others. For instance, a taller person might have a larger colon than a shorter person, but each brain will be closer in size.

 "Short people tend to have relatively larger heads than tall people," Professor Nunney said.

 Skin is one of those organs that doesn't scale as much. His predicted melanoma risk for taller people fell well short of the real values.

 Share The reason that big dogs grow so large also increases their cancer risk.

 Growth factors play a role in cancer risk

 This brings us to another potential driver behind the cancer-and-height link: a protein called insulin-like growth factor 1, or IGF-1.

 IGF-1 is produced in response to growth hormone and encourages cells to divide and grow.

 Not surprisingly, IGF-1 plays an enormous role in childhood growth — particularly during puberty — but also helps build up organs and tissues in adults.

 And it turns out that taller people have slightly higher levels of IGF-1 in their blood, so "it may be that tall individuals have just a fractionally faster rate of cell division that could account for the extra cancer", Professor Nunney said.

 And on the flip side, having no IGF-1 appears to bestow anti-cancer qualities.

 A remote population of dwarf people in Ecuador has a mutation in the growth hormone receptor, which prevents the release of IGF-1, said Andrew Brooks, also a cancer biologist at the University of Queensland and not involved with the study.

 "And they don't seem to have any cancer, which is interesting."

 When biologists selectively induce a similar genetic defect in mice, he added, those mice are also "extremely resistant" to developing cancer.

 It's also thought that IGF-1 is why smaller dogs, which usually have lower levels of IGF-1, tend to live longer than their larger counterparts.

 The take-home, though, is that height is far from the be all and end all when it comes to cancer risk, Professor Brooks said.

 Everyone, regardless of their height, can reduce their cancer odds by eating well, exercising, staying away from smoking and being careful in the sun.

 "Smoking, for instance, is a far greater risk than being tall." ||||| Report suggests link between height and cancer risk could simply be because there are more cells for something to go wrong in

 Taller people have a greater risk of cancer because they are bigger and so have more cells in their bodies in which dangerous mutations can occur, new research has suggested.

 A number of studies have previously found a link between a lofty stature and a greater risk of developing some form of cancer, with research suggesting that for every 10cm of height within the typical range for humans, the risk increases by about 10%. A similar link has also been found in dogs, with bigger breeds having a greater risk of such diseases.

 Scientists have put forward a number of different explanations for this, including that certain growth hormones could play a role in both height and cancer, or that environmental factors such as childhood nutrition or illness could be a factor.

 “One of the major hypotheses was that something was happening early in life that was making your cells more susceptible to cancer and, sort of incidentally, causing you to be tall,” said Leonard Nunney, professor of biology at the University of California Riverside.

 But now Nunney says he has crunched the numbers to show it might be down to a simpler matter of size: tall people simply have more cells for something to go wrong in.

 Nunney said his work, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is based on the fundamental model of how cancer develops, whereby individuals accumulate mutations in their cells (other than sperm or eggs) over their life: if a particular set of mutations arise then a certain cancer will initiate. The theory suggests that having more cells, or more divisions per cell, would therefore increase cancer risk.

 Taller people more likely to get cancer, say researchers Read more

 Nunney compared the overall risk of men and women developing cancer of any type with increasing height, as found from previous studies of large cohorts, with what might be expected from calculations based on the number of cells in a body.

 The results reveal that his predictions are in tune with the real-life observations, giving a 13% increased risk for women for every additional 10cm in height compared with 12% from observations, and an 11% predicted increase in men for every 10cm taller compared with 9% seen in real life.

 Overall, an increased risk with height was seen for 18 out of 23 cancers considered. Nunney says some cancers may have shown no link because the effect of height was masked by other drivers such as HPV infection for cervical cancer.

 Nonetheless, Nunney says the findings suggest sheer number of cells is important. “Whether that comes from a better diet or the fact that your parents happen to be tall doesn’t matter … it is purely a number of cells, however that comes about,” he said, although he admits height differences only appear to partly explain why men are at greater risk of many cancers than women.

 The research also threw up some surprises: for example, the skin cancer melanoma shows a much stronger link to height than expected – something Nunney suggests might be down to taller people having slightly higher levels of a growth hormone called IGF-1.

 Nunney said a slight boost in the rate of cell division, as a result of higher levels of IGF-1, might have a stronger effect on these cells than it does in other tissues, possibly because melanoma might need a larger set of mutations to develop than other cancers.

 Taller women more likely to develop cancer Read more

 Prof Dorothy Bennett, director of the Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute at St George’s, University of London, welcomed the research, although she said Nunney’s calculations involved a number of assumptions, including that cancer risk increases in direct proportion to adult height.

 But she said the argument was compelling: “The simplifications seem reasonable, and therefore the main study conclusion is probably going to be the best-supported one available at present: namely that for most cancer types, cell number can predict sufficiently well the numerical relations between height and cancer, with no need to suggest additional factors.”

 That said, Bennett said there was no obvious reason melanoma should have a particularly strong link to height.

 Georgina Hill, from Cancer Research UK, said individuals should not be concerned about their stature. “A number of studies over the years have shown that taller people seem to have a slightly higher risk of cancer,” she said. “But the increased risk is small and there’s plenty you can do to reduce the risk of developing cancer, such as not smoking and keeping a healthy weight.” ||||| (CNN) Tall people are at a greater risk of cancer because they have more cells in their body, new research has suggested.

 A person's risk of developing cancer increases by 10% for every 10 centimeters (4 inches) they are over the average height, the study said, because they have more cells which could mutate and lead to cancer.

 Average height was defined in the study as 162cm (5 feet, 4 inches) for women and 175cm (5 feet, 9 inches) for men.

 The findings match with previous research, which has also connected height to an increased risk of developing a range of health problems including blood clots, heart problems and diabetes.

 Leonard Nunney, a professor of biology at the University of California Riverside, analyzed previous sets of data on people who had contracted cancer -- each of which included more than 10,000 cases for both men and women -- and compared the figures with anticipated rates based on their height.

 He tested the hypothesis that this was due to the number of cells against alternatives, such as possible hormonal differences in taller people, which could lead to an increased rate of cell division.

 A link was found between a person's total cell number and their likelihood of contracting cancer in 18 of the 23 cancers tested for, the study says.

 The research also found that the increase in risk is greater for women, with taller women 12% more likely to contract cancer and taller men 9% more likely to do so. Those findings matched with Nunney's predicted rates, using his models, of 13% for women and 11% for men.

 Colon and kidney cancer and lymphoma were among the types of cancer for which the correlation was strongest.

 "We've known that there is a link between cancer risk and height for quite a long time -- the taller someone is, the higher the cancer risk," Georgina Hill from Cancer Research UK told CNN.

 "What we haven't been sure of is why -- whether this is simply because a taller person has more cells in their body, or whether there's an indirect link, such as something to do with nutrition and childhood," added Hill, who was not involved in the study.

 She said the study provides good evidence of the "direct effect" theory that the total number of cells does indeed cause the link.

 "The methodology is good - they took data from large studies, which is important, and they looked at lots of different categories of cancer."

 But she noted that the increase in risk of developing cancer is small compared to the effects that lifestyle changes can have.

 "It was only a slightly higher risk and that there are more important actions that people can take to make positive changes, [such as] stopping smoking and maintaining a healthy weight," she said.

 Two of the types of cancer tested for, thyroid cancer and melanoma, were found to be more susceptible to an increase in risk than expected, and Nunney suggested in the study that other factors could be at play in those cases, such as geography.

 Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.

 "There are no obvious reasons for these exceptions, although the author speculates that cell turnover rates may come into play for melanoma," Dorothy C. Bennett, director of the Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute in London told CNN. Bennett, who was not involved in the study, explained that pigment cells, the source of melanoma, divide and are replaced a little faster in taller people.

 "But I cannot at present think of any reason why this [faster division] should be so, but nor any other clear reason for the higher correlation with height," Bennett said. |||||
A summary of this is?

– A new study on cancer won't make for pleasant reading for tall people. Consider this quote from lead researcher Leonard Nunney of the University of California Riverside: "If you were comparing a 5-foot guy to a basketball player who's over 7 feet tall, then that basketball player has around twice the risk of cancer across the board," he tells Australia's ABC. Yes, Nunney's study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B suggests that taller people are at greater risk for cancer. The surprisingly simple reason? They have more cells, and thus more things go can wrong in those cells, explains the Guardian. Specifically, the study found that cancer risk rises by 10% for every 4 inches people are above average height—5 feet 4 for women and 5 feet 9 for men, reports CNN. The findings held true for 18 of 23 cancers studied. "Now, you can't do anything about your height, but what you can do is tell extremely tall individuals that they should be aware of this, and if they have any concerns, to get checked," says Nunney. Cancers of the colon and kidney were among those with the strongest correlation to height. A researcher not involved with the study says it backs up previously seen links between height and cancer, but she said tall people shouldn't worry too much. "The increased risk is small, and there's plenty you can do to reduce the risk of developing cancer, such as not smoking and keeping a healthy weight," says Georgina Hill of Cancer Research UK. (A WWE wrestling star made an emotional revelation about his own cancer.)


Summarize this article:

Williams had antidepressants, caffeine and Parkinson's drugs in his system

 Robin Williams' death was ruled a suicide, Marin County officials confirmed on Friday. Autopsy results revealed Williams' death was caused by asphyxia and hanging.

 The actor died at 63 on Aug. 11 at his home in Tiburon, Calif. in Marin County. Toxicology reports reveal antidepressants, caffeine and levodopa, a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease, in his system. Williams had battled severe depression for years and had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's, his widow, Susan, revealed after his death. He also had a "recent increase in paranoia," according to a medical history authorities recorded at the scene.

 The night before Williams died, he had placed several wristwatches in a sock and dropped them off with someone (whose name was redacted) because he was worried about the timepieces and "wanted to keep them safe," according to the report. Then at 7:09 p.m. he called Susan to tell her he was picking up magazines for her at the bookstore.

 Read more 5 Scenes That Made Audiences Love Robin Williams

 When he returned home, Williams handed Susan the magazines and seemed "OK," she told investigators. Then he was in and out of their bedroom, rummaging through their closet. He left with his iPad, and Susan said "she recalled thinking it was a good thing he grabbed it, because she assumed he was in a good mood and was going to take time to do some reading; he hadn't read or watched TV in six months." He left the bedroom around 10:30 p.m. — it would be the last time she saw him.

 Twelve hours later, Susan believed her husband was still sleeping and left the house. At about 11:45 a.m. Aug. 11, Williams' assistant grew concerned. He slipped a note under the door, then picked the lock. He found the comedian dressed in a long black T-shirt and belted black jeans hanging by a nylon belt in a closet door frame. The actor, who was being treated for severe depression, also had cuts on his wrist. He wasn't wearing a ring or a watch.

 Williams was found in an empty bedroom belonging to his stepson, who was away visiting his father. The actor slept in a separate bedroom because he was having a hard time sleeping and was "restless due to his Parkinson's and anxiety issues," and talked in his sleep, the investigator's report says. The room had a bunk bed — the top bunk was neatly made — the bottom bunk crumpled and the bedding pulled down.

 Read more Robin Williams in Marin: The Man on the Bicycle

 Near the body, investigators found personal items placed on a chair, including an iPad and two different kinds of anti-depressants: Mirtazapene and Seroquel. Police found an engraved pocketknife with a dried red substance that was later confirmed as Williams' blood. Susan told investigators Williams often received gifts from his USO tours with the military, and that the knife was likely from her husband's collection.

 A pair of black sneakers were next to the chair. In the right shoe was a pair of black socks; in the left, the assumed case of the pocketknife. Williams' iPhone and wallet were found in his pockets.

 By the time police arrived, Williams was clearly dead, the report says. No efforts were made to revive him, and his death was declared at 12:02 p.m.

 Despite a long and well-documented history of depression, Williams' wife and assistant said he never expressed suicidal thoughts or behavior. His pill dispenser had been refilled the day before, but the medications remained undisturbed in their appointed daily slots, Sunday through Saturday. The investigator asked Susan if Robin had ever mentioned suicide "as a solution to a significant health issue." After searching through Williams' iPad, which was near his body, Investigator D. Harris found only web browsers open to information about medications. A sweep of his iPhone revealed no texts or messages that indicated he was suicidal.

 "There were no reflective devices or pornography near the body" the report says. The investigator says he "frankly asked" if Williams had any "history of autoerotic asphyxia. Mrs. Williams stated that he did not." However, one person interviewed said Williams had worked on a movie years earlier in which his character's son accidentally died by autoerotic asphyxiation. That person added that "the scene was very difficult and emotional for Williams" and he may have researched hanging during filming.

 A search of Williams' iPhone, iPad and home computer revealed no search histories for suicide or hanging. However, the investigator writes that he later watched the movie in question — the dark comedy World's Greatest Dad — and said the character's son was found "seated on the floor, learning forward with a ligature around the neck secured by a belt" — very similar to the scene of Williams' death.

 The Marin Sheriff's Office previously drew criticism for releasing candid details about Williams' death but said the disclosure was necessary under the California Public Records Act. The final autopsy report was originally scheduled to be released Sept. 30 but had been delayed twice.

 Read more Robin Williams remembered by critics, close friends

 Williams won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his performance as an avuncular psychologist in Good Will Hunting and earned four Academy Award nominations in a career that straddled film and television. His most recent TV show, The Crazy Ones with Sarah Michelle Gellar, was canceled after one season.

 Email: Soo.Youn@THR.com

 Twitter: @lalasoo

 Oct. 7, 4:03 p.m. Updated with details throughout. ||||| Robin Williams Suicide Triggered by Depression, Parkinson's, Paranoia

 Robin Williams -- Suicide Triggered by Depression, Parkinson's, Paranoia

 EXCLUSIVE

 was struggling with his Parkinson's, anxiety, depression and paranoia just before he committed suicide ... this according the Coroner's report.The paranoia has not been previously reported. According to the report -- obtained by TMZ -- the night before Robin died, he placed several wristwatches in a sock and gave them to someone because he was worried about their safe keeping.Williams had 4 drugs in his system -- 2 anti-depressants, 2 caffeine compounds, (listed as a drug). The Coroner's report confirms what we were told by various people ... Williams was sober at the time of death.When authorities found Robin's body ... they saw a closed bottle of Seroquel, a drug that treats schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and depression. It was prescribed a week before he died.The 63-year-old comedian committed suicide Aug. 11 by hanging himself with a belt in his Marin County home. He had also attempted to cut his wrists with a pocket knife. The report says authorities found a damp, white washcloth on the bathroom sink counter with a "reddish substance" -- possibly blood.According to the Coroner's report ... authorities asked Williams' wife if Robin was into autoerotica. She said he was not, but he worked on a movie several years ago in which the character who played Williams' son died of autoerotica, and the scene was "very difficult and emotional for Mr. Williams."

 The report says the last outgoing call from Robin's phone was at 7:08 PM the night before he died. He had called his wife, and it lasted 38 seconds. She told authorities he called because he was picking up magazines for her at a bookstore.The night before he died, Robin's wife said he seemed ok ... he had been rummaging through their closet and grabbed his iPad, which she thought was a good sign because he hadn't even watched TV or read anything in approximately 6 months ... which presumably is a manifestation of depression.As for what Robin was looking at on his iPad ... the web browser had several tabs open to websites discussing medications, including Lyrica -- a seizure Rx -- and propranolol -- which treats blood pressure and tremors.She says the last time she saw him -- at around 10:30 PM Sunday, she described his demeanor as "excited."As for why Robin and his wife were in separate bedrooms, she told authorities he had been having trouble sleeping and would move around a lot in bed and talk loudly in his sleep.As we reported ... Williams was getting treatment for severe depression shortly before his death. After he died, Robin's widow Susan Schneider revealed he was in the early stages of Parkinson's According to the report ... Williams had experienced Parkinson's symptoms since 2011 -- he had a tremor in his left arm and movement in his left hand had slowed. He had recently started taking levodopa to treat it.Williams' wife wanted to see the body before it was removed from the house. They pulled back the sheets and she prayed over the body ... and Sheriff's deputies joined her. ||||| Story highlights Autopsy reveals no alcohol or illegal drugs in Robin Williams' suicide

 Actor and comedian died August 11 at age 63

 Williams was struggling with depression, anxiety, early Parkinson's, widow says

 Beloved performer was mourned deeply after death

 The death of actor and comedian Robin Williams has officially been ruled a suicide, the coroner in Marin County, California, said Friday.

 Alcohol and illegal drugs were not involved, the statement from the coroner's office said. Prescription drugs were found in "therapeutic concentrations," the statement added.

 Williams was found dead in his Tiburon, California, home August 11 from what investigators suspected was a suicide by hanging. He was 63 years old.

 The death certificate, obtained by CNN on August 21, says his ashes were scattered off the coast one day later.

 Investigators believe Williams used a belt to hang himself from a bedroom door, Marin County Assistant Deputy Chief Coroner Lt. Keith Boyd said at the time.

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 Williams was sober but struggling with depression, anxiety and the early stages of Parkinson's disease when he died, his widow, Susan Schneider, said in a statement in August.

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 "Robin spent so much of his life helping others," she said. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the front lines, or comforting a sick child -- Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid."

 Williams had "a recent increase in paranoia" and was sleeping in a stepson's bedroom because of insomnia and anxiety associated with Parkinson's, according to the coroner's report.

 A pathology report released Friday said Williams was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in November 2013, several years after he first noticed symptoms such as tremors in his left arm and a slowing of his left-hand movements.

 Last call made to wife

 The coroner's report said his body was found about 11:45 a.m. by a personal assistant, who used a paperclip to open the locked door of the bedroom where Williams had been sleeping. Williams was found in a seated position on the floor of the bedroom with a belt secured around his neck and the other end of the belt wedged between a closet door and door frame.

 The actor was wearing black jeans and a black short-sleeve T-shirt, the coroner's report said.

 A cellphone recovered from Williams' pants pocket was dead. After recharging the phone, the coroner searched through its texts and emails and found no messages referencing suicide, the report said. The last call on the phone was made the night before to Williams' wife, Susan, and lasted 38 seconds.

 In one incident the evening before he died, Williams took several wristwatches and put them into a sock and took them to someone's house for safekeeping, an indication of his paranoia, his wife suggested. Also noteworthy, according to Williams' wife, is that he may have learned of the suicide technique from a movie role in which a character Williams portrayed died from autoerotic asphyxiation.

 Grief and remembrance

 Williams' death was met with an outpouring of grief and recollections. Friend Billy Crystal paid tribute to him at the Emmy Awards, and later helped Williams' son, Zak, throw out the first pitch before Game 5 of the World Series while Williams' other children watched. Daughter Zelda got a tattoo in honor of her father.

 Gilbert Gottfried, another friend, remembered a "generous" man who was welcoming to his fellow comedians.

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 "To see Robin perform was an experience. He was more than a comedian. He was a comedy force of nature," he wrote on CNN.com.

 Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien and David Letterman, among others, also paid tribute to the comedian.

 David Letterman pays tribute to Robin Williams

 Oscar-winning performer

 Williams' long career was notable for his manic, improvisational comedy and his deeply felt acting performances. He won an Oscar for playing a therapist in the 1997 film "Good Will Hunting." A number of his other films, including "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Patch Adams," were huge box-office hits.

 He was also active in a number of charitable causes and frequently took part in USO tours.

 Robin Williams: Full of demons, full of heart

 On her Twitter feed, his daughter Zelda remembered her dad with a quote from Antoine De Saint-Exupery's "The Little Prince."

 "In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night. ... You -- only you -- will have stars that can laugh."

 Complete coverage on Robin Williams |||||

– The coroner in Marin County, Calif., today confirmed that Robin Williams' death was indeed caused by suicide, reports CNN. The 63-year-old had no alcohol in his system when he hanged himself at his home, and the only drugs found were from prescribed medication in "therapeutic concentrations." The coroner lists caffeine, antidepressants, and the Parkinson's drug levodopa. That meshes with reports that Williams had been struggling with anxiety and a recent diagnosis of Parkinson's before his death. The coroner's report also reveals this odd anecdote, as relayed by the Hollywood Reporter: The night before he died, Williams put several wristwatches in a sock and gave them to somebody because he was worried about their safekeeping. TMZ sees that as a sign of paranoia.


Here is a news article: Image caption Algerian troops ended the siege on Saturday

 Five suspected members of the Islamist group which held foreign and local workers hostage at an Algerian gas plant have been arrested, reports say.

 The reports came a day after the Algerian authorities said all 32 hostage-takers had been killed at the In Amenas gas installation.

 At least 25 bodies were found at the complex on Sunday, reports say.

 It is unclear whether they were captors or captives. Officials say a definitive death toll will be released later.

 On Saturday officials said least 23 staff at the facility had died during the four-day siege, with some Western workers still unaccounted for.

 The siege was ended in a raid by troops on Saturday.

 Officials said the army launched its assault after Islamist militants began killing foreign hostages.

 UK Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama have blamed "terrorists" for the hostages' deaths.

 We are ready to negotiate with the west and the Algerian government, provided they stop their bombing of Mali's Muslims Mokhtar Belmokhtar, Militant leader Profile: Mokhtar BelmokhtarTerror threat to last 'decades' - UK

 And on Sunday French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described the hostage-taking as an "act of war".

 "What strikes me the most is that we're saying 'hostage-taking' but when there are so many people concerned, I think this is an act of war," he told French TV.

 As Western leaders condemned the kidnappings, Algerian Energy Minister Youcef Yousfi said Algeria would boost security at its energy installations without outside help.

 "It is out of the question to allow foreign security forces to handle the security of our oil facilities," he said, quoted by Algeria's APS news agency.

 During a visit to the affected plant, Mr Yousfi said it would resume production within two days.

 'Talks call'

 "Five terrorists were found still alive this morning," said the private Ennahar TV channel, quoted by AFP news agency.

 The agency said residents of the nearby town of In Amenas were staying indoors, amid rumours that the army operation to end the siege was not over.

 Algerian Communications Minister Mohammed Said said earlier that the militants were from six different countries, "nationals of Arab and African countries, and of non-African countries".

 Mr Said added that a final death toll would be released in the coming hours.

 Mauritanian website Sahara Media says Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the suspected organiser of the siege, has claimed responsibility for it in a video message.

 The four-day siege 16 January: Militants attack two buses carrying In Amenas workers, killing two

 They then go on to the gas facility's living quarters and main installation, seizing hostages

 Some gas workers manage to escape

 17 January: Algerian forces attack after the militants try to move their hostages in five 4x4s - four of the vehicles are destroyed in an air strike and an unknown number of hostages killed

 18 January: Stalemate as Algerian forces surround the gas plant where the remaining hostages are held

 19 January: Algerian forces launch a final assault after reports that the hostage-takers were killing their captives

 20 January: Algeria says death toll of 32 hostage-takers and at least 23 captives is likely to rise Q&A: Hostage crisis

 The website said the video - recorded on 17 January while the siege was still going on but not posted on the website - showed the militant leader saying he was prepared to negotiate with Western and Algerian leaders if operations against Islamists in Mali were stopped.

 Three Britons are confirmed dead, and a further three are missing, feared dead.

 UK officials were "working hard" to locate the missing, said Foreign Secretary William Hague.

 "Everything seems to indicate" that a Colombian citizen resident in the UK is among the dead, the Colombian president has said.

 But he added that information about Carlos Estrada, who worked for BP, was "not 100%".

 Japanese officials said they had no confirmation of the fate of 10 nationals who remained unaccounted for, despite reports that nine had died.

 Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoshihide Suga said a government aircraft would be sent to bring home seven others who had survived.

 You fear the worst, you can't put into words how bad you feel, it's something you never want to go through again Alan Wright, British hostage UK hostages speak of Algeria ordeal

 Two Malaysians are unaccounted for, as are five Norwegians.

 State news agency APS said 685 Algerian workers and 107 out of 132 foreigners working at the plant had been freed, citing interior ministry figures.

 The nationalities of some of the hostages killed are still not known.

 Well-planned assault

 The crisis began on Wednesday when militants attacked two buses carrying foreign workers to the remote site in south-eastern Algeria. A Briton and an Algerian reportedly died in the incident.

 The militants then took Algerians and expatriates hostage at the complex, which was quickly surrounded by the Algerian army.

 A statement from the kidnappers said the assault on the gas plant was launched in retaliation for French intervention against Islamist groups in neighbouring Mali.

 However, France only decided last week to intervene militarily in Mali. Analysts say the assault on the gas facility was well-planned and would have required advance research, as well as possibly inside help.

 The leader of the hostage-takers was a veteran fighter from Niger, named as Abdul Rahman al-Nigeri by the Mauritanian news agency ANI, which had been in contact with the militants. ||||| The death toll from the terrorist siege at a natural gas plant in the Sahara climbed to at least 81 on Sunday as Algerian forces searching the refinery for explosives found dozens more bodies, many so badly disfigured it was unclear whether they were hostages or militants, a security official said.

 In this undated image made from video, a man looks out from a bus towards what appears to be smoke rising in the horizon at an unknown location in Algeria. An Algerian security official says de-mining... (Associated Press)

 In this image made from video, a group of people believed to be hostages kneel in the sand with their hands in the air at an unknown location in Algeria. Algerian de-mining teams were scouring a gas refinery... (Associated Press)

 Overseas Filipinos who were working at the sprawling oil field in Algeria which was attacked by terrorists, flash the "V" sign as they queue up at the Philippine Immigration upon arrival Sunday, Jan.... (Associated Press)

 Two British hostages Peter, left, and Alan, right, (no family name available), are seen after being released, in a street of Ain Amenas, near the gas plant where they have been kidnapped by Islamic militants,... (Associated Press)

 Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is embraced by Executive Vice President in Statoil, Margrethe Oevrum, Saturday Jan. 19, 2013, after his visit at the drop-in center in Bergen for relatives of... (Associated Press)

 Algerian special police unit officers guard the entrance of an hospital located near the gas plant where hostages have been kidnapped by Islamic militants, in Ain Amenas, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Algeria's... (Associated Press)

 In this image made from video, a group of people believed to be hostages kneel in the sand with their hands in the air at an unknown location in Algeria. An Algerian security official says de-mining squads... (Associated Press)

 Algerian special forces stormed the plant on Saturday to end the four-day siege, moving in to thwart what government officials said was a plot by the Islamist militants to blow up the complex and kill all their hostages with mines sown throughout the site.

 The government said after the assault that at least 32 extremists and 23 hostages were killed. Then, on Sunday, Algerian bomb squads sent in to blow up or defuse the explosives found 25 bodies, said the security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

 "These bodies are difficult to identify. They could be the bodies of foreign hostages or Algerians or terrorists," the official said.

 In addition, a wounded Romanian who had been evacuated died, raising the overall death toll to at least 81.

 "Now, of course, people will ask questions about the Algerian response to these events, but I would just say that the responsibility for these deaths lies squarely with the terrorists who launched a vicious and cowardly attack," British Prime Minister David Cameron said. Three Britons were killed and another three were feared dead.

 The dead were also known to include American, Filipino and French workers. Algerian authorities said 685 of their citizens, the backbone of the workforce, escaped without saying how many may have died. More than two dozen foreigners were unaccounted for.

 The American who died in the siege has been identified as Frederick Buttaccio from the Houston suburb of Katy. U.S. officials told The Associated Press Buttaccio's remains were recovered Friday.

 It was unclear whether anyone was rescued in the final assault on the complex, which is run by the Algerian state oil company along with BP and Norway's Statoil.

 Authorities said the bloody takeover was carried out Wednesday by 32 men from six countries, under the command from afar of the one-eyed Algerian bandit Moktar Belmoktar, founder of the Masked Brigade, based in neighboring Mali. The attacking force called itself "Those Who Sign in Blood."

 The militants initially said the operation was payback for French military intervention in neighboring Mali, where al-Qaida-linked rebels are on the march, but later they said it was two months in the planning, long before France sent in troops.

 Armed with heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, missiles and grenades, the militants singled out foreign workers at the plant, killing some of them on the spot and attaching explosive belts to others.

 Algeria's tough and uncompromising response to the crisis was typical of its take-no-prisoners approach in confronting terrorists, favoring military action over negotiation. Algerian military forces, backed by attack helicopters, launched two assaults on the plant, the first one on Thursday.

 The militants had "decided to succeed in the operation as planned, to blow up the gas complex and kill all the hostages," Algerian Communications Minister Mohamed Said said in a state radio interview.

 The Masked Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack in the name of al-Qaida, according to a video obtained by a Mauritania-based website that sometimes carries messages of jihadists.

 An audio recording of Algerian security forces speaking with the head of the kidnappers, Abdel Rahman al-Nigiri, on the second day of the drama indicated the hostage-takers were trying to organize a prisoner swap.

 "You see our demands are so easy, so easy if you want to negotiate with us," al-Nigiri said in the recording broadcast by Algerian television. "We want the prisoners you have, the comrades who were arrested and imprisoned 15 years ago. We want 100 of them."

 In another phone call, al-Nigiri said that half the militants had been killed by the Algerian army on Thursday and that he was ready to blow up the remaining hostages if security forces attacked again.

 SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors videos from radicals, posted one showing al-Nigiri with what appeared to be an explosive belt around his waist.

 The Algerians' use of forced raised an international outcry from some countries worried about their citizens.

 But French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Sunday on French television: "The terrorists ... they're the ones to blame."

 David Plouffe, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said that al-Qaida and al-Qaida-affiliated groups remain a threat in North Africa and other parts of the world, and that the U.S. is determined to help other countries destroy those networks.

 Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Plouffe said the tragedy in Algeria shows once again "that all across the globe countries are threatened by terrorists who will use civilians to try and advance their twisted and sick agenda."

 ___

 Elaine Ganley and Lori Hinnant in Paris contributed to this report. |||||
A summary of this is?

– Officials in Algeria have arrested five suspects in the Algerian gas-plant hostage crisis that left at least 81 people dead, report the BBC and AP. All five are members of an Islamist group, according to a private TV channel, and Algerian officials say each hailed from one of six different countries in Africa and the Arab world. A website in Mauritania claims that terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar is behind the attack, and recorded a video saying he would negotiate if operations were halted against Islamists in Mali. The death toll climbed to 81 today as Algerian forces scoured the refinery for explosives—but many bodies were so disfigured that troops couldn't identify them as militants or hostages. The militants "decided to succeed in the operation as planned, to blow up the gas complex and kill all the hostages" when troops launched a final assault to end the four-day siege, said an Algerian official.


Smalls then raised a white shirt or tablecloth as a sign of surrender to the Union ships blockading Charleston Harbor. The commanding admiral was so impressed with the escapade that they offered Smalls a job as pilot of the Planter, which was turned over the Union Army as a transport.

 Smalls became a cause célèbre in the North, and was tapped to recruit black slaves to form units to fight against the Confederacy. He eventually was elected to Congress. After the war, Smalls and the Planter were well known among local African Americans. As the Planter's captain, he transported many freed slaves to newly created farm communities at Hilton Head and Port Royal.

 The Planter returned to service as a cotton cargo hauler along the South Carolina coast. It ran aground off Cape Romain in 1876 during a salvage operation and in time, its exact location became forgotten.

 NOAA officials resurrected the Planter search in 2008. Underwater archaeologists believed they found the ship in 2010 in 12 feet of water and 10 feet of sand in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Because the ship lies inside an important sea turtle breeding area, it’s not likely that it will be salvaged.

 NOAA and NABS put together this website about the history of Smalls, the Planter and other ships during the slave era. ||||| View of south end of Cape Island in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina. The remains of the Civil War-era steamer Planter are located within sight of an 1857 lighthouse.

 The wreck of a ship once commandeered by slaves and sailed to freedom during the Civil War has very likely been found.

 The shipwrecked Planter almost certainly rests beneath 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 meters) of sand and water off Cape Romain between Charleston and Georgetown, South Carolina, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced this week. The ship went down in 1876, 14 years after its enslaved captain and crew ran it out of Charleston Harbor and turned it over to the U.S. Navy.

 The story of the Planter is one of heroism. The ship was completed in 1860. The next year, an enslaved young man named Robert Smalls came aboard as a deck hand. Smalls had more freedom than most slaves, and was allowed to keep some of his pay and move around the Charleston waterfront with some autonomy. (Smalls may have been his owner's son, according to his descendants. Smalls' mother was a slave in the home of a man named John K. McKee, and the family suspects that McKee's son Henry, who inherited the pair of slaves in 1848, fathered Smalls.) [See Images of the Planter and Shipwreck Site]

 Audacious plan

 Robert Smalls, who piloted the Planter to freedom during the Civil War. Credit: Library of Congres

 Smalls worked his way up to the position of wheelsman — the person who steers the ship. During the Civil War, the Planter was rented to the Confederates and used as a supply, transport and dispatch ship, running cannons, soldiers and other wartime necessities along the coast. Most of the crew were enslaved African-Americans.

 The idea of commandeering the ship started as a joke, Smalls would later tell Harper's Weekly magazine. But soon it turned quite serious: The nine African-American men of the crew met in secret at Smalls' house and planned their escape. They put away provisions in the hold and waited for their chance.

 It came on May 12, 1862. The ship had just returned to Charleston Harbor after picking up some cannons from nearby Cole Island. The plan was to deliver the weaponry to Fort Ripley the next day. That evening, however, the white men in the crew went ashore for a soiree. Smalls and his crew jumped at the opportunity, first steaming to pick up their relatives in the North Atlantic wharf and then sailing right out of the harbor. Smalls blew the ship whistle at the Confederate checkpoints, convincing those guarding the harbor that the ship was simply getting an early start on the day's deliveries.

 "Once out of range of the rebel guns the white flag was raised, and the Planter steamed directly for the blockading [Union] steamer Augusta," Harper's explained in June 1862.

 Heroism and loss

 Smalls delivered the Planter and the 16 escaped slaves on board to the U.S. Navy. He then piloted the ship in action against the Confederacy, and was later transferred to pilot other ships in a new post in the U.S. Army. He'd have another brush with heroism in 1863, again on the Planter. The ship was moving supplies along Folly Island creek near Charleston when it came under heavy shelling from Confederate guns. The captain of the ship ordered that the ship be beached and abandoned his station. Smalls instead piloted the Planter to safety. As a result, the ship's captain was dismissed, and Smalls promoted. He was the first African-American to become a ship captain in the U.S. military. [Shipwrecks Gallery: Secrets of the Deep]

 After the war, the Army sold the ship to a private company, which turned right around and sold it to its original owner in South Carolina, John Ferguson. The ship soon went back to its pre-war duties delivering supplies up and down the South Carolina coast. Smalls went on to represent South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 In 1876, the Planter was attempting to tow a ship that had run aground at Cape Romain up the coast from Charleston. In the process, the Planter hit a shoal and sprung a leak. The captain beached the ship in hopes of repairing the hull, but a storm blew in and battered her beyond repair. The crew salvaged everything they could, including pistons, life boats, engines, cabin doors and even blankets and mattresses.

 Rediscovery

 Shifting sands have long covered the remains of the Planter, and the site of the wreck was lost. NOAA's Maritime Heritage Progam set out to find the wreck, reviewing original accounts of the accident and historic charts of the shoreline as it was in 1876. Once a likely location was pinpointed, NOAA researchers used a magnetometer towed beneath the water in search of large quantities of iron.

 The found one such cluster 9 feet (3 m) below the ocean bottom, near where the shore would have been when the Planter wrecked. The area is environmentally sensitive (Cape Romain, up the coast from Charleston, is home to a national wildlife refuge), so attempts to uncover the wreck will need to be taken with care, NOAA reported. What's more, the Planter is likely fragmented from the relentless beating of the waves. The state of South Carolina will decide whether to excavate the ship's remains or to simply mark the spot in remembrance of this storied vessel.

 Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. ||||| By giving us your feedback, you can help improve your www.NOAA.gov experience. This short, anonymous survey only takes just a few minutes to complete 11 questions. Thank you for your input!

 NOAA identifies probable location of iconic

 Civil War-era steamer

 Former slave piloted Planter to freedom

 Planter at Georgetown, South Carolina. (Credit: Naval History and Heritage Command)

 NOAA announced today it has determined the probable location of the remains of the Civil War-era sidewheel steamer Planter, which gained national fame in 1862 when a group of enslaved African Americans commandeered the Confederate Navy transport ship in a daring escape to freedom.

 The announcement was made in Charleston, South Carolina, where NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries released a report on its search for the Planter and plans for an interpretative sign and future exhibit dedicated to the Planter’s legacy. The effort to find the Planter supports NOAA’s Voyage to Discovery initiative, which seeks to highlight African-American maritime history through education, archaeology, science and underwater exploration.

 Under the leadership of Robert Smalls, the ship’s steersman, crew members navigated the steamer out of Charleston Harbor on May 12, 1862, and delivered the vessel to the United States Navy. The New York Herald called the escape “one of the most daring and heroic adventures since the war was commenced.”

 The notoriety generated by the escape and capture of the Planter led to Smalls eventually becoming the first African-American master in the U.S. Navy and a member of Congress representing South Carolina – the state where he was born a slave. NOAA’s report helps fill gaps in the largely untold story of Robert Smalls and the Planter, which wrecked on a beach in March 1876 while trying to tow a grounded schooner.

 In an attempt to answer lingering questions about the Planter’s fate, NOAA researchers reviewed historical documents and analyzed oceanographic and meteorological conditions that may have existed at the time of the Planter’s loss. The likely site where the vessel came to rest, off Cape Romain between Charleston and Georgetown, South Carolina, was confirmed with magnetometer and hydro-probing surveys that detected the presence of large concentrations of iron consistent with the remains of a sunken ship. The vessel’s remains are buried under 10-15 feet of sand and water in an environmentally sensitive area.

 “Our interest in finding the Planter is about more than just unlocking the past and secrets of the deep,” said Daniel J. Basta, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries director. “This expedition is an opportunity to highlight African-American contributions to the country’s maritime heritage and inspire young people to consider careers in marine science to help expand the boundaries of ocean exploration.”

 NOAA's report, "The Search for Planter," is available online. (Credit: NOAA)

 Following Smalls’ commandeering of the Planter on May 12, 1862, the ship continued to be used by the U.S. Navy as a dispatch and supply vessel with Smalls as pilot. However, by September of that year, the Navy transferred the craft to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps, where it supported Army operations around Charleston, Port Royal and Beaufort.

 News accounts suggest that after the war, Smalls and the Planter were well known among local African Americans. As the Planter’s captain, he transported many freed slaves to newly created farmsteads and communities at Hilton Head and Port Royal. With Smalls at the helm, the Planter was reported as the ship that carried black dignitaries and passengers to the ceremony of the symbolic raising of the Fort Sumter flag which had been lowered after the fort’s capture by the Confederates.

 On March 25, 1876, while trying to tow a grounded schooner, Planter sprang a plank in the bow and began to take on water in the hold. The captain elected to beach the steamer and repair the plank, hoping to get off the beach with the next high tide. However, stormy seas battered the Planter as the tide rose and the ship was too badly damaged and had to be abandoned. Upon hearing of its loss, Robert Smalls was reported to have said that he felt as if he had lost a member of his family.

 A copy of the report and media images will be available for download at: http://www.voyagetodiscovery.org/planter.htm.

 NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our other social media channels.

 Additional Photos

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What is a one-paragraph summary of the above article?

– After the American Civil War, a storied ship was wrecked off South Carolina. Now, experts believe they've found the remains of the Planter, a Confederate supply ship commandeered by its crew of slaves and turned over to the Union, LiveScience reports. The ship's wheelsman, in charge of steering, was one Robert Smalls, whose "knowledge became vital to the Confederates," an expert tells Discovery. The crew at first joked about commandeering the ship, Smalls later said, but eventually the slaves decided to take real action. When the crew's white men were partying offshore in 1862, Smalls and Co. made a daring break for it, picking up relatives as they escaped. They turned the Planter over to the Union, and Smalls continued to operate it as it fought the Confederates. He became the US military's first African-American captain, and eventually a US congressman. Years after the war, in 1876, the ship was damaged in a storm near Charleston and buried in sand. NOAA researchers have likely rediscovered it using a magnetometer to trace its iron. Now, South Carolina could excavate it—or install a tribute at the site. A plaque has already been made, Reuters reports. (Another shipwreck off South Carolina appears to house plenty of gold.)


Summarize this article:

Martin Shkreli just can’t help himself. The notorious “pharma bro” who was recently convicted on three counts of fraud in connection with hedge funds, was released on $5 million bail, but his behavior since then has led to the Justice Department pushing for him to be locked up ASAP.

 Earlier this week, Shkreli said in Facebook post (which he has since deleted), “On HRC’s book tour, try to grab a hair from her,” adding “Will pay $5,000 per hair obtained from Hillary Clinton.” He later claimed it was a form of satire, but it was enough for the DOJ to file a motion on Thursday arguing that Shkreli is a danger to society and his bail should be revoked.

 “Shkreli’s latest threat is concerning not only because it has required a significant expenditure of resources by the United States Secret Service, which is charged with protecting Secretary Clinton,” the motion says, “but also because there is a significant risk that one of his many social media followers or others who learn of his offers through the media will take his statements seriously — as has happened previously — and act on them.”

 Shkreli drew the ire of the nation in a separate matter, when as a pharmaceutical CEO he raised the price of the drug Daraprim from $13.50 per dose to $750.

 Shkreli’s lawyers have until Tuesday to file a response, with a hearing to follow on Thursday.

 Thursday night, after the motion was filed, Shkreli was back at it on Facebook, saying his initial post was “just a prank, bro!”

 Clearly, he thinks the government is lacking a sense of humor. While Shkreli may be laughing now, he is facing as much as 20 years in prison for his crimes. ||||| CLOSE Martin Shkreli is the former CEO of the biotech firm Retrophin, as well as the founder of Turing Pharmaceuticals AG. He went on trial, accused of defrauding investors of two hedge funds. Newslook

 File photo taken in Aug. 2017 shows so-called Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli (center) speaking to news reporters after he was convicted on three of eight criminal counts in a Brooklyn federal court trial. (Photo: Drew Angerer, Getty Images)

 NEW YORK — Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli's recent actions could cost him his freedom, even before he's sentenced for his recent criminal conviction on fraud-related charges.

 Federal prosecutors late Thursday moved to revoke Shkreli's bail, arguing that his recent conduct — including purported "threats and harassment" against former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential race loser Hillary Clinton — show he poses a "danger to the community."

 In a Brooklyn federal court filing, prosecutors cited the 34-year-old New York pharmaceutical industry entrepreneur's offer of $5,000 to anyone who would "grab" some of Clinton's hair for him during her upcoming book tour.

 "Shkreli's latest threat is concerning not only because it has required a significant expenditure of resources by the United States Secret Service, which is charged with protecting Secretary Clinton, but also because there is a significant risk that one of his many social media followers or others who learn of his offers through the media will take his statements seriously — as has happened previously — and act on them," prosecutors wrote in a legal motion.

 U.S. District Court Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, who presided over the trial that ended with Shkreli convicted on three securities fraud-related counts of the eight criminal charges against him, ordered Shkreli's defense team to file a response to the government motion by Tuesday. She scheduled a Sept. 14 hearing for legal arguments on the issue.

 Apparently unrepentant, Shkreli wrote in a Thursday night Facebook post: "Hillary Cliinton's presumptive agents are hard at work. It was just a prank, bro! But still, lock HER up. Spend your resources investigating her, not me!!"

 Shkreli could face up to 20 years in prison for the convictions. However, he has no prior criminal record and is expected to face less serious punishment. His defense lawyers also plan to appeal the convictions.

 Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman on Friday filed a motion seeking that seeks to overturn the guilty verdict the Shkreli jury voted against him on a charge of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Prosecution evidence supporting that charge was "legally insufficient" to be weighed by the jury, Brafman argued.

 Shkreli has been free on a $5 million bond following his Dec. 2015 arrest on charges he bilked investors in two healthcare industry-focused hedge funds and then improperly took money to repay them from Retrophin, a pharmaceutical company he previously headed.

 However, Shkreli is best known to the U.S. public and the world for imposing a 5000% price hike on a medication used to treat a parasitic illness that typically afflicts those infected with the HIV virus or others with weakened immune systems.

 Jurors convicted Shkreli on fraud charges, but found him not guilty of the allegations involving Retrophin.

 In arguing for bail revocation, prosecutors also said he made at least two public statements in which he harassed specific women near the end of his trial and since his Aug. 4 conviction.

 In January, he was banned from Twitter for harassing Lauren Duca, a freelance writer who had authored an opinion essay that criticized President-elect Trump before his Sh. Focusing again on Duca as his trial neared a close, Shkreli wrote in a Facebook post: "trial's over tomorrow, b------. Then if I'm acquitted, I get to f--- Lauren Duca[.]"

 CLOSE Martin Shkreli -- the so-called “Pharma bro” awaiting a verdict in a criminal fraud trial -- has taken to social media once again. Buzz60

 Prosecutors argued that on Sept. 4, Shkreli posted on Facebook that he would pay $5,000 to anyone who "grab[s]" hair from Secretary Clinton during her book tour.

 Secret Service agent sought to question Shkreki about the posting, but he declined to meet with them, prosecutors wrote.

 In the past, some Shkreli fans have taken specific actions at Shkreli's request upon his offer of payment. Prosecutors cited a USA TODAY news story that recounted how a recent Princeton University graduate completed the solution of a mathematical proof after Shkreli offered a $40,000 scholarship to anyone able to complete the task.

 "Shkreli's own prior actions, and his influence over others who have previously acted in reliance on his statements, demonstrate why the government views his latest actions with concern," prosecutors concluded in their bail revocation motion.

 Follow USA TODAY reporter Kevin McCoy on Twitter: @kmccoynyc

 Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2vQYIQN |||||

– Martin Shkreli's lawyer may think his client is "brilliant beyond words," but the convicted pharmaceutical exec's latest move on social media wasn't exactly a genius one. Per LawNews, the Justice Department filed a motion Thursday to revoke Shkreli's $5 million bail after a now-deleted Facebook post he made earlier this week made weirdly threatening comments directed toward Hillary Clinton. "On HRC's book tour, try to grab a hair from her," he wrote, adding he'd compensate anyone who did so for their efforts: "Will pay $5,000 per hair obtained from Hillary Clinton." The DOJ says his remarks show he's a "danger to the community," per USA Today. The motion notes that a "significant expenditure of resources" now has to be put out by the Secret Service staff tasked with protecting Clinton (she's afforded such protection as a former first lady). Shkreli tried to defuse the situation by posting, "It was just a prank, bro!" on Facebook Thursday evening, followed by an expletive-tinged rant against the "government" and a dare to "come at me with you hardest because I haven't seen anything impressive yet." Shkreli's attorneys need to file a response to the DOJ motion by Tuesday; a Thursday hearing will follow. (It may be hard for him to concentrate on his eBay auction with all of this going on.)


Article:

The present bowl displays all the characteristics attributed to the finest ‘Ding’ wares known in museum and private collections. Celebrated for their thin potting, fine near-white body and an ivory-colored glaze which tends to run down in somewhat darker ‘tears’, ‘Ding’ wares were ranked among the ‘five great wares’ of the Song a term coined by collectors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The high quality of the potting seen here is evident in the feather light weight of the bowl with the carved walls especially thin and delicate. The whiteness of the body is also special, as is the case with most ‘Ding’ wares, it did not require the application of a slip to appear white after firing. The glaze is expertly applied with the incised lotus spray design seen in the interior of the bowl in harmony with the overlapping leaves applied to the exterior of the piece. ‘Ding’ designs generally display a high level of naturalness and fluidity, however, the maker of this bowl appears to have been particularly skilled at rendering his lines in a spontaneous manner, creating a decoration that is especially free in style. The shape of the bowl is also worth noting as, while rare amongst ‘Ding’ bowls, the type is known from silver examples of the Song period. For example, see a bowl illustrated in Zhongguo jin yin poli falangqi quanji, vol. 2 (2), Shijiazhuang, 2000, pl. 261, together with another silver bowl of more rounded body but the exterior molded with layers of overlapping upright leaves, reminiscent of that seen on this bowl, pl. 262.

 Only one other bowl of the same form, size and almost identical decoration is known; the piece in the British Museum London, published in The World’s Great Collections. Oriental Ceramics, vol. 5, Tokyo, 1981, pl. 57. This bowl was bequeathed to the museum in 1947 by Henry J. Oppenheim, together with a small number of other ‘Ding’ pieces, including a plain dish with foliate rim, pl. 62, and a bowl with molded decoration of boys and flowers, pl. 61.

 The kiln site identified with ‘Ding’ ware is located at Quyang in Ding county, Hebei province. This was an area formerly known as ‘Dingzhou’. ‘Ding’ production consisted mostly of small utilitarian wares such as dishes and bowls, generally left in their natural form undecorated in 10th and early 11th century. From the late 11th century and early 12th century they are increasingly incised and carved and later through the thirteenth century mold-impressed and densely patterned. Rose Kerr in her work on the collection of Song ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, mentions that the ‘fact that Ding ware was an official ware made one feature of its decoration especially pronounced. This was its tendency to mimic other, more precious materials such as gold and silver, huge quantities of which were stored in palace treasures’. See Rose Kerr, Song Ceramics, London, 1982, p. 102, for further information. ||||| A New York family scored a huge payday when this small bowl, which they bought at a garage sale for $3, turned out to be a 1,000-year old Chinese piece that sold for $2.2 million at Sotheby’s yesterday. The family bought the rare bowl at the secondhand sale in 2007, and kept it sitting on their mantle for years, the auction house said.

 After becoming curious, the bargain hunters began consulting experts about the bowl. They finally brought the piece to Sotheby’s, which estimated it would sell for somewhere in the $200,000 to $300,000 range.

 But yesterday, London art dealer Giuseppe Eskenazi blew away those figures when he plunked down $2.2 million for the museum-quality piece.

 He beat four other bidders for the Northern Song dynasty bowl — known as a Ding bowl — which dates back to the 10th or 11th century.

 There is only one other bowl like it in the world, and it is in the British Museum.

 A little less than 5 1/2 inches in diameter, the multimillion-dollar bowl could be mistaken for a decorative ashtray.

 Early-era Ding wares are known for their small utilitarian qualities, Sotheby’s said.

 Author Rose Kerr believes the ornamental Ding bowls were made to mimic the more elaborate gold and silver wares that were common in palaces.

 The ancient piece is described as a Ding bowl because of the county Ding in the Hebei province where the kilns used to make the bowls were housed.

 The Ding bowl owned by the British Museum in London has been on display for more than 60 years, since it was bequeathed by famous collector Henry J. Oppenheim.

 This isn’t the first big buy for Eskenazi. In 2005, the Turkish-born dealer paid $23.5 million for a rare blue-and-white jar from the 14th century at a Christie’s auction.

 Sotheby’s would not identify the lucky bowl sellers, only to say that they were a family from somewhere in New York state.

 Earlier this month, a collection of abstract Impressionist art found in a Long Island garage was appraised at $30 million.

 The owners of the bungalow found thousands of paintings and drawings by the Armenian-American artist Arthur Pinajian in 2007. They were later appraised by art historian Peter Hastings Falk and shown at the Antiquorum Gallery in Midtown. |||||
What is a summary?

– One lucky New York family sold a tiny Chinese bowl this week for $2,224,997 more than they paid for it: $3, at a garage sale six years ago. The bowl, which measures roughly 5.5 inches in diameter, sat in the unnamed family's home for years; eventually, a quest to see what it was worth took them to Sotheby's, which identified it as a "Ding" bowl from the 10th or 11th century. Making their windfall even sweeter: Sotheby's had anticipated it would sell for up to $300,000, reports the New York Post. It's one of only two known bowls of its kind. (And it's not the only great buy in the news: A cottage purchased in 2007 was found to contain $30 million worth of art.)


Article:

For years, Google has used its squadron of Street View cars to capture both imagery and 3D geometry for Google Maps and data about Wi-F i networks that it uses in its geolocation-enabled apps. It's been a controversial practice. And on April 27, the company published a blog post to clear up misconceptions about its practices. The tone was very slightly edgy, and the gist was (A) we're not invading anybody's privacy; and (B) other people have been doing this stuff even long than we have.

 Except...now Google is saying that its statement that it was only collecting SSID and MAC information from the networks it drove by is incorrect. At the request of the German government, Google examined its system more carefully. And it discovered that for the past three years, Street View cars have been accidentally using a piece of software that can pick up data being transmitted over non-password-protected networks. Since the cars were in constant motion and their network-monitoring equipment changed channels five times a second, the company says it's "typically" only picked up "fragments" of data.

 Nevertheless, it's temporarily grounded the cars, has isolated the data in question while it figures out what to do with it, and says it'll hire a third party to examine the software. And it's "profoundly sorry for this error" and will try to learn from it.

 None of this is cause for panic -- if anything, Google is guilty of sustained incompetence, not malevolence. Yes, there are scenarios in which the data is used in appalling ways. But the chances of problems arising for any of the individuals whose data was accidentally sniffed are vastly lower than those of the same individuals having their identities stolen by intentional data thieves.

 A few other thoughts:

 * I'm glad the German government browbeat Google over this.

 * Before it discovered it had screwed up, Google insisted it was doing nothing wrong. No company ever admits to invading anyone's privacy. It's always "your privacy is important to us" blah blah blah -- and the proper response is always skepticism.

 * PASSWORD PROTECT YOUR WI-FI NETWORK. NOW. ||||| Google’s roaming Street View cameras have been doing more than snap pics of your neighborhood; they’ve also been collecting packets of information sent over private WiFi networks, the company acknowledged Friday.

 The company said the collection was “a mistake,” the result of a programming error, and that it has now stopped collecting the data, according to a post on its blog.

 But the revelation raises questions about whether the company violated federal wiretapping laws in collecting the information and could draw scrutiny from U.S. regulators.

 Last month, regulators with the Data Protection Authority in Germany asked the search giant what information its Street View cameras collected and what it did with that information.

 Google disclosed at the time that in addition to taking pictures, its camera system collected certain data about local WiFi networks set up in neighborhoods where the cameras traveled. That data included the SSID (the network’s name) and the MAC address (a unique number given to each WiFi router) and was collected to improve the location-based services it offers consumers.

 The company asserted, however, that it did not collect or store “payload data” — that is, web surfing data or the content of e-mails, transmitted over WiFi networks.

 The DPA asked to examine the WiFi network data Google collected. The request prompted Google to take a closer look at the data itself, whereby the company discovered that it was indeed collecting snippets of information passing over WiFi networks and therefore its previous statement was incorrect.

 The company wrote in an update on Friday that “it’s now clear that we have been mistakenly collecting samples of payload data from open (i.e. non-password-protected) WiFi networks, even though we never used that data in any Google products.”

 The company insisted that the collection was minimal and that its cameras were able to collect “only fragments of payload data,” because the Street View cars are constantly on the move, and someone would need to be using the WiFI network as a Google car passed in order for the data to be collected. The car system also cycles through channels about five times a second, limiting the data it could collect from a single network at any one time.

 The problem was attributed to an oversight error. In 2006 “an engineer working on an experimental WiFi project wrote a piece of code that sampled all categories of publicly broadcast WiFi data,” the company wrote. “A year later, when our mobile team started a project to collect basic WiFi network data like SSID information and MAC addresses using Google’s Street View cars, they included that code in their software—although the project leaders did not want, and had no intention of using, payload data.”

 Google said that once it discovered the issue, it grounded its Street View cars. It intends to delete the data that’s already been collected and is working with regulators to determine how to dispose of it. In the interest of transparency, the company will also have a third party review its software to verify what data was collected and confirm that it’s been deleted.

 The company says it has stopped collecting WiFi data network entirely and will review its internal controls to ensure that a similar programming error doesn’t occur again.

 Photo: Byrion/Flickr ||||| When we announced three weeks ago that we had mistakenly included code in our software that collected samples of payload data from WiFi networks, we said we would ask a third party to review the software at issue, how it worked, and what data it gathered. That report, by the security consulting firm

 , is now complete and was sent to the interested data protection authorities today. In short, it confirms that Google did indeed collect and store payload data from unencrypted WiFi networks, but not from networks that were encrypted. You can read the report

 . We are continuing to work with the relevant authorities to respond to their questions and concerns. |||||
What is a summary?

– Google has pronounced itself "profoundly sorry" for the revelation that its roving street-map vehicles have been inadvertently collecting data about websites people visit over unprotected WiFi networks. The company says it's ditching the data and fixing the problem. (See its explanation and apology here.) Some early reaction: "It’s not likely that Google grabbed enough data about many individuals for this to be a major privacy concern," writes Jason Kincaid at TechCrunch. But as it faces increased scrutiny from privacy advocates and governments, "this is certain to haunt Google nonetheless." At Wired, Kim Zetter says it could go beyond bad PR: "The revelation raises questions about whether the company violated federal wiretapping laws in collecting the information and could draw scrutiny from US regulators." Harry McCracken, PC World: "None of this is cause for panic—if anything, Google is guilty of sustained incompetence, not malevolence."


Write a summary based on this article:

Skip Ad Ad Loading... x Embed x Share American killed in London attack; Toms River office fire; American troops diagnosed with the Zika Virus

 A Bridgewater woman has been charged with trying smuggle drugs to her boyfriend in the Somerset County Jail through a child's drawing in the mail. (Photo: ~File)

 SOMERVILLE - Pablo Picasso once said that art washes dust away from the soul of everyday life.

 But detectives in the Somerset County Sheriff's Office found that a child's drawings may have been intended to do more for an inmate at the county jail.

 Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano announced Thursday that a Bridgewater woman has been charged with using children’s drawings to smuggle drugs to her incarcerated boyfriend.

 The boyfriend, Michael Gill, 38, of Oxford, also faces charges along with his girlfriend, Casey Giles, 37, of Bridgewater, for attempting to smuggle drugs into the jail through the mail.

 READ: Sheriff probing how drugs got into Somerset County Jail

 READ: Bridgewater man charged with smuggling drugs into jail

 On June 15, during the inspection of mail addressed to Gill, administrative personnel noticed "oddities" hidden in children’s drawings, Provenzano said.

 The sheriff did not disclose details of how the drug was smuggled in the drawings because "people may want to copy."

 After the oddities were found, the Somerset County Sheriff Office K-9 Apex was called and indicated the presence of Suboxone concealed in the drawings, the sheriff said.

 Suboxone is a prescription drug to help heroin users kick the addiction. However, when it is used alone, Suboxone, an opioid, produces a high.

 On June 20, another letter to Gill with children’s drawings was inspected and also discovered to contain drawings with suspected Suboxone.

 Eight days later, on June 28, more mail addressed to Gill arrived at the jail. Again, K-9 Apex indicated the presence of suspected narcotics.

 When the mail was inspected, suspected Suboxone was found hidden on the paper, Provenzano said.

 The investigation by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau identified Giles as the person who was who was trying smuggle the Suboxone into the jail. Giles was charged with third-degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.

 She was remanded to the jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, cash or bond.

 Gill was charged with attempting to possess a controlled dangerous substance, a third-degree offense. Bail was set at $10,000, cash or bond.

 “Our detective unit, in collaboration with our Corrections Division, continuously investigates, charges and prosecutes any and all crimes associated with the smuggling of narcotics into the Somerset County correctional facility,” Provenzano said. “Our goal is to make sure we keep a safe and secure environment for all.”

 Jail officials regularly inspect mail that has been sent to inmates, for the safety of the facility, jail personnel and inmates.

 "They do an outstanding job," the sheriff said.

 State regulations do not allow strip searches at the jail because most of the inmates have not been convicted but are waiting for the disposition of the charges against them, the sheriff said. Strip searches are allowed in state prisons.

 Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

 Read or Share this story: http://mycj.co/2aTvNk1 ||||| SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) — A woman is accused of using children's drawings to smuggle prescription drugs to her boyfriend in a New Jersey jail.

 Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano says staff noticed something strange about mail addressed to inmate Michael Gill on June 15. A K-9 unit was called and alerted on what turned out to be the opioid Suboxone concealed in the drawings, authorities say. The prescription drug produces a high when used alone and is used to help heroin addicts.

 The sheriff says another letter with children's drawings addressed to Gill arrived June 20 and more mail was sent to the jail eight days later. Again, suspected Suboxone was found hidden in the drawings, authorities say.

 The sheriff told the Courier News of Bridgewater (http://mycj.co/2aqCbez ) that to prevent copycats, he won't disclose how the drug was concealed in the drawings.

 Authorities charged 37-year-old Casey Giles, of Bridgewater, with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. She was jailed on $20,000 bail. Gill, of Oxford, was charged with attempting to possess a controlled dangerous substance, and his bail was set at $10,000.

 It wasn't known if Giles or Gill had lawyers who could comment on their behalf.

 ___

 Information from: Courier News (Bridgewater, N.J.) , http://www.mycentraljersey.com |||||

– A woman is accused of using children's drawings to smuggle prescription drugs to her boyfriend in a New Jersey jail. Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano says staff noticed something strange about mail addressed to inmate Michael Gill on June 15, the AP reports. A K-9 unit was called and alerted on what turned out to be the opioid Suboxone concealed in the drawings, authorities say. The prescription drug, which usually comes in patch form or as a film that can be placed under the tongue, is used to help people addicted to heroin or other opiates avoid withdrawal symptoms, but can produce a high of its own when abused. The sheriff says another letter with children's drawings addressed to Gill arrived June 20 and more mail was sent to the jail eight days later. Again, suspected Suboxone was found hidden in the drawings, authorities say. The sheriff tells the Courier News of Bridgewater that to to prevent copycats, he won't disclose how the drug was concealed in the drawings. Authorities charged 37-year-old Casey Giles, of Bridgewater, with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. She was jailed on $20,000 bail. Gill was charged with attempting to possess a controlled dangerous substance, and his bail was set at $10,000.


Article:
Madrid (CNN) -- Flanked by his family and before Spain's Parliament, Felipe VI was formally proclaimed the new King of Spain Thursday, following the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos.

 The new King, clad in military uniform, promised to head a changed monarchy "for new times," in an address before the packed parliamentary chamber.

 "We have a great country, we are a great nation -- let us trust in it," he told the packed parliamentary chamber and the millions watching nationwide.

 After swearing an oath promising to uphold the constitution, the new monarch expressed his respect for the Parliament and the nation -- as well as his own emotion at becoming monarch.

 Felipe paid tribute to his father's "extraordinary" legacy over nearly four decades, including his leadership as the country returned to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.

 He also thanked his mother, Queen Sofia, for a lifetime of hard work and devotion to the Spanish people.

 Felipe spoke of the need for a monarch to unify his country and to work with its political leaders, a message with added significance at a time when many in the country's Catalonia region want a referendum on independence.

 He also vowed to carry out his duties, remain loyal to his nation and work for the interests of Spain. "I will honor the pledge and the oath I have just taken," he said.

 The head of state must set an example of honest and transparent behavior, he said, perhaps a reflection of the scandals that have beset the monarchy in recent times.

 Felipe reflected on the country's recent economic woes, which have fueled high unemployment rates. But he also spoke of the need for its people, at a time of adversity, to "look ahead to the Spain we are building together as I begin this reign."

 This, he said, will mean modernizing to meet the challenges of a globalized world.

 The proclamation ceremony is a more subdued affair than a coronation, without the pomp of foreign dignitaries and elaborate ceremonies.

 But crowds cheered loudly as Felipe, his wife, now Queen Letizia, and their two daughters emerged onto the balcony of the royal palace, joined by Juan Carlos and Sofia, to salute the Spanish people.

 Chants of "Long live the king" rang out in Spanish.

 Felipe's elder daughter, Leonor, 8, becomes Princess of Asturias, first in line to the throne.

 Retirements of monarchs

 Stroke of pen

 His father's 39-year reign had come to an end with the stroke of a pen and the stroke of midnight Wednesday.

 Less than three weeks after he announced his surprise abdication, longtime leader Juan Carlos signed the step into law at the royal palace in Madrid, making his son the new king.

 In another ceremony held Thursday morning to mark the transfer of power, Juan Carlos took off the red sash signifying his role as head of Spain's military, fastening it around his son's waist.

 Crowds lined up waving the red and yellow Spanish flags as military bands marched in the streets of Madrid.

 Juan Carlos has said Felipe, a former Olympic yachtsman, has "the maturity, the preparation and the sense of responsibility necessary" to serve as king and "to lead to a new stage of hope using his experience and the drive of a new generation."

 The new King is regarded as being untouched by the accusations of corruption and excess that have plagued the royal family as many Spaniards continue to struggle to find jobs and pull themselves out of financial ruin.

 At his side will be the new Queen Letizia, who before she married into the royal family worked as a TV presenter.

 Princess Cristina, the new King's older sister, is embroiled in a tax fraud and money-laundering investigation. She and her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, have denied allegations that they diverted public funds from Urdangarin's foundation for private use.

 Spaniards have long held Juan Carlos, 76, in high regard for shepherding the country into democracy.

 But his popularity took a hit in 2012 over a controversial elephant-hunting trip to Africa while the nation was mired in a deep economic crisis.

 Some Spaniards have called for the monarchy to be abandoned, favoring the establishment of a republic instead.

 The anti-monarchy movement has been fueled by the scandals that have hit the royal family in recent years.

 The biggest task for Felipe, 46, will be to make the dealings of the royal palace more transparent. His family has a relatively austere reputation compared with other European monarchies, but there has been increasing resentment in Spain over the cost of the royal family to the public.

 READ: The sailor who will take the helm in Spain

 CNN's Al Goodman reported from Madrid, while Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London and Steve Almasy in Atlanta. ||||| MADRID (AP) — Crown Prince Felipe ascended to the Spanish throne at midnight Wednesday, but there weren't any ritzy official celebrations.

 Spain’s King Juan Carlos, 2nd left is kissed by Queen Sofia, left in the presence of Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, 3rd left and Princess Letizia after he signed an abdication law during a ceremony at the... (Associated Press)

 Spain’s King Juan Carlos, left, signs an abdication law in the presence of Queen Sofia, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday... (Associated Press)

 Spain's Queen Sofia, left stands with Spanish Crown Prince Felipe, 2nd left, King Juan Carlos, 3rd left, and Princess Letizia during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday June 18,... (Associated Press)

 Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, centre right , embraces his father, Spain’s King Juan Carlos in the presence of Queen Sofia, left and Princess Letizia after he signed an abdication law during a ceremony... (Associated Press)

 Queen Sofia, left, Spain’s King Juan Carlos, 2nd left, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, 3rd left and Princess Letizia stand during a ceremony where King Juan Carlos signed an abdication law at the Royal... (Associated Press)

 Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, left shakes hands with Spain’s King Juan Carlos after he signed an abdication law during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday June 18, 2014. Spain’s... (Associated Press)

 Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, right , embraces his father, Spain’s King Juan Carlos after he signed an abdication law during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday June 18, 2014. Spain’s... (Associated Press)

 Spain’s King Juan Carlos, left, signs an abdication law in the presence of Queen Sofia during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday June 18, 2014. Spain’s Juan Carlos formally ratified... (Associated Press)

 The economic crisis that has left a quarter of Spaniards out of work prompted Europe's newest king to be relatively frugal at his proclamation.

 The crown prince's father, 76-year-old Juan Carlos, misjudged public anger at financial hardship when he went on an elephant-hunting safari in Africa. Felipe, 46, appears keen to show he's more in tune with his countrymen — and avoid the mistakes of his abdicating predecessor.

 The landmark occasion was perhaps most notable for what it didn't include: no state banquet, no foreign royals or heads of state, no ostentatious ceremonies or parades.

 By royal standards, it was humble: reception guests were being served hot and cold tapas-style nibbles, to be eaten while standing. There was no champagne, just sparkling cava wine from Spain's Catalonia region.

 "More than anything this is a message. What they want to say is: 'We're in a moment when sobriety in spending shows a certain sense of solidarity in a time of economic difficulty,'" Navarra University history professor Pablo Perez Lopez said.

 Juan Carlos on Wednesday signed legislation, approved by Parliament earlier this month, setting out the legal framework for the handover. The retiring monarch, who underwent a hip replacement operation last November, used a walking cane and moved with difficulty during the televised signing ceremony.

 Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy immediately ratified the law, which went into force at midnight in Spain (2200 GMT).

 Felipe is to be formally proclaimed monarch and swear an oath at a ceremony with lawmakers in Parliament on Thursday. It will be a no-frills event, though the 18th-century Spanish crown and 17th-century scepter will be on display.

 After a brief military parade, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will take a drive through expected crowds along some of Madrid's most emblematic streets and monuments — such as the Prado Museum and the Cibeles fountain.

 The palace acknowledged that the customary pomp had been eliminated "in keeping with the criteria of austerity that the times recommend."

 The reasoning behind that choice is easy to understand, says Emilio de Diego Garcia, history professor at Madrid's Complutense University.

 "In a time when every expense is examined with a magnifying glass, particularly public money, any ostentation would have been criticized," he said.

 Juan Carlos announced his surprise decision to abdicate on June 2, saying he was stepping aside after a four-decade reign to allow for younger royal blood to rally the country that is still trying to shrug off a double-dip recession and a 26 percent jobless rate.

 During most of his reign, the monarch was held in high esteem for his role in helping steer the country from military dictatorship to democracy. He took over the throne in 1975, two days after the death of longtime dictator Gen. Francisco Franco, and then endeared himself to many by making army rebels stand down during an attempted military coup in 1981.

 More recently, however, the royal family's image was tarnished by Juan Carlos' 2012 Botswana hunting trip. Another scandal saw Juan Carlos' youngest daughter, Princess Cristina, testify this year in the fraud and money-laundering case engulfing her husband, the Olympic handball medalist turned businessman Inaki Urdangarin.

 Juan Carlos won broad support for his handling of Spain's 20th-century challenges. Felipe VI must now address Spain's 21st-century difficulties.

 Keeping the bill down for taxpayers is just one of the challenges facing the new king.

 Much more pressing will be whether he can keep the country united as separatist movements, such as those in Catalonia and the Basque region, try to pull the country apart. Such an unraveling could place the monarchy itself in danger.

 The abdication announcement initially triggered widespread demonstrations calling for a referendum on reinstating a republic. But a recent poll found that while 62 percent of respondents said they wanted a referendum on the monarchy "at some point," 49 percent said they favored a monarchy with Felipe as king, while only 36 percent wanted a republic. Others did not answer or expressed no opinion.

 Felipe holds a law degree from Madrid's Autonomous University and obtained a master's in international relations from Georgetown University in Washington. His wife is a former television journalist and a divorced commoner. Many people feel that record will help make Felipe more attuned to the public mood.

 Diego Garcia, the Complutense professor, believes Spain is going to see "a more austere monarchy, one closer to the people and the reality of the country."

 The 2,000 guests invited to the royal reception were from a wide range of Spanish society, including Madrid ambassadors as well as representatives from the business, cultural, media and sports sectors.

 Authorities have prohibited a planned demonstration in Madrid on Thursday by people demanding an end to the monarchy.

 The palace said it had no information on the overall cost of the events, which will be overseen by some 7,000 police.

 ____

 Hatton contributed from Lisbon, Portugal. |||||Summary:

– Spain's Prince Felipe became King Felipe VI at midnight as the abdication of his father, King Juan Carlos, became official. The occasion was fairly low-key, with no foreign heads of state present and no huge state banquet, which the palace says was "in keeping with the criteria of austerity that the times recommend," the AP reports. The 46-year-old king was later proclaimed head of state in a parliamentary ceremony where he promised to be a monarch "who is ready listen and understand, warn and advise as well as to defend the public interest at all times," the BBC reports. The new king spoke of the need to "look ahead to the Spain we are building together as I begin this reign," reports CNN, which notes that while the monarchy remains popular in Spain, the royal family has been accused of corruption and excess during the country's economic crisis—and Juan Carlos' image suffered after he went on a luxurious elephant-hunting trip in the middle of the recession. Felipe and his wife, who is now Queen Letizia, will be driven through the streets of Madrid before appearing at the palace but they may find that many Spaniards aren't in the mood for cheering: The country's soccer team, which won the World Cup in 2010, crashed out of the tournament last night with a 2-0 loss to Chile.