13-year-old Younis from Kenya’s Samburu tribe, was married off by her parents in keeping with the customs of their tribe at age 9. After being forced to live as the 78-year-old man’s third wife for four years, she escaped — walking barefoot to a boarding school and safe haven for girls that seeks to save them from these antiquated and inhumane old customs. CNN
Barack Obama Gives Joe Biden The Nod To Run For President In 2016 Barry is wit it… Via CNN Vice President Joe Biden received President Barack Obama’s “blessing” to make a 2016 bid for the White House, according to a senior Democrat. But that’s if Biden chooses to run — the decision is his. While he doesn’t need the President’s permission, of course, a potential presidential candidacy was among the topics of their lunch Monday at the White House. The President made clear he would not stand in his way or counsel him against a run, the senior Democrat said. The Vice President’s office downplayed the speculation about Biden’s political future. “Sources continue to speculate about something they know nothing about,” Biden spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said. “This lunch was a private meeting between two people — the President and the Vice President.” The Vice President was expected to huddle at his home Monday night with Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer, the husband-and-wife team who have been at Obama’s side for much of the last decade, two people familiar with the meeting told CNN. Steve Ricchetti, the Vice President’s chief of staff, was also expected to attend. “As a general rule, we are not going to confirm the Vice President’s private meetings or provide a readout of them,” an aide to the Vice President told CNN on Monday. Dunn, a former White House communications director, and Bauer, a longtime lawyer to Obama, were among those invited to a meeting at the Naval Observatory in Washington. Ted Kaufman, a loyal Biden confidant who briefly occupied his Senate seat from Delaware, was also among those gathering to discuss how Biden could run, if he decides to do so. Biden is leaning toward running, several people involved in discussions told CNN, but they stress that he has not yet firmly made up his mind. The meeting on Monday night, along with his private session on Saturday with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, underscores the length he is going to explore a run. While many top Democrats have already signed onto Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, several former Obama advisers tell CNN they would work for Biden if he jumps into the race. With Hillary’s campaign lookin’ boring and geriatric, she better watch her back if Joe decides to lace up his track shoes and run… Image via AP
There’s been no reports of any shootings, stabbings or killings during Straight Outta Compton‘s opening weekend. Shocking, right? If you think yes, then CNN is right…
Carrier Pigeon Caught Trying To Smuggle Drugs Into Prison Prison guards in Costa Rica caught a pigeon with a bag of drugs attached to its chest in a bizarre attempt to smuggle drugs to inmates. Via Boston News Times : Officers at La Reforma prison captured it with 14g of cocaine and 14g of cannabis stuffed into a black pouch which camouflaged against its dark feathers. They have previously caught other animals such as cats and iguanas trying to transport drugs into the prison in San Rafael de Alajuela, local websites have reported. The guards spotted the bird on Tuesday afternoon as it flew towards an open area of the medium security La Reforma prison, Teletica reported. Prison director Paul Bertozzi said: ‘They observed the bulge on the animal so they captured it and confirmed that it carried a bag with zipper – and the drugs were inside… It seems the dove was trained for it.’ The pigeon was examined by experts at the ZooAve Animal Rescue Centre who said the bag it was carrying caused some damage to its digestive system. Reports from Costa Rica suggest it will be kept in quarantine for at least 40 days because they believe it will return to where it came from if they release it. The head of the centre was ‘stunned’ by the incident and said it would be well looked after at the centre. The prison is now investigating who was responsible for the drug-smuggling attempt. Paul Bertozzi added: ‘We have a warning that this method can be used again as it is not the first time in the history of La Reforma that a pigeon was detected with drugs.’ Move that dope by any means necessary! Continue reading →
Uzbekistan Airlines Will Begin Weighing Passengers For Flight Safety How would you feel if you were asked to be weighed before boarding your next flight?? Via TIME Magazine : Uzbekistan Airlines announced a new policy that involves weighing passengers shortly before take off. A statement by the airline announced a decision to install a “special weighing machine” at departure gates, where passengers would be weighed along with their luggage. “According to the rules of International Air Transport Association, airlines are obliged to carry out the regular procedures of preflight control passengers weighing with hand baggage to observe requirements for ensuring flight safety,” read a statement posted to the airline’s webpage. A spokesperson for the International Air Transport Association denied any knowledge of a regulation that would require passengers to stand on a scale, adding in a statement to CNN that airlines normally calculate passenger loads as a mathematical average, rather than a precise, personal measurement. It’s bad enough that airlines are putting on extra fees for just breathing on a plane but now this?!? Continue reading →
Malawi has been heralded as one of the top 10 places to go by Lonely Planet and Africa’s next go-to destination by CNN. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about the country.
Justin Timberlake can dance. This is not exactly earth-shattering news. But it's the type of dance Justin Timberlake broke out into at the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament in Lake Tahoe on Friday that has the Internet abuzz. After a bad shot, playing partner Alfonso Ribeiro busted out the moves that made him famous on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, giving spectators a taste of The Carlton . And then – wouldn't you know it?!? – Timberlake jumped into the frame and simulated this iconic dance. Watch the incredible footage above.
Sure, he's pretty much based his entire political career on making idiotic, offensive comments in public forums, but when it comes to his ability to shock and offend members of his own party, the Donald may have just trumped himself. Speaking at the annual Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa today, Trump lashed out at longtime rival John McCain in a fashion that seemed to appall the mostly Republican crowd on hand. “He's not a war hero,” Trump said of the 78-year-old Arizona senator. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured.” McCain, of course, spent five years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, where he was routinely tortured. Trump's shocking attack on McCain's military record was met with scattered boos from the audience. Moments ago, Trump issued a statement denying that he ever said McCain is not a war hero, despite the fact that his comments were captured on video. Normally, such a grievous error in judgment would be considered a death knell for any presidential campaign, but Trump's foot has been lodged firmly in his mouth for weeks, and his has popularity has only surged as a result. Many analysts predicted Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants would doom his campaign, and yet the controversial real estate mogul bafflingly holds the top spot amongst Republican candidates in the latest CNN poll. Of course, the same base that loved it when Trump slammed Hillary Clinton as “desperate and sad” may feel quite differently about his comments regarding a beloved party leader.
‘Dark Knight’ Gunman Found Guilty On 165 Charges The man responsible for the mass shooting at a 2012 screening of The Dark Knight Rises has finally been found guilty on all 165 charges he faced for the murder of 12 movie-goers. Via CNN : Will James Holmes face death for killing 12 people inside an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater? That could be the next question jurors will be asked after finding Holmes guilty Thursday of first-degree murder in the July 2012 shooting. Holmes faced two counts of first-degree murder for each of the 12 victims. The jury found him guilty on all 24 counts. Holmes, who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, showed no reaction as the verdict against him was announced. He stood at the defense table with his attorney, his hands in his pockets. He faced a total of 165 charges. The jury also found Holmes guilty of attempted murder on all of the 140 counts against him for the 70 people wounded in the shooting. Additionally, he was found guilty of one count of possession or control of an explosive or incendiary device. Funny that someone like him or Dylan Roof gets to even live to see a trial date…SMH.