New York City's Record Murder-Free Streak Ends After 12 Days

An unusually long run of days without a murder in New York City ended Saturday just shy of two weeks.
The New York Police Department believes this 12-day stretch was the longest without a homicide since the early ’90s, though last February saw a comparably long streak of 10 days.
Eric Roman was shot outside of his home in Queens on Friday and died of his wounds in a hospital on Saturday, the New York Times reports. The same day, another Queens man was found dead in his basement with head trauma, though that case has not yet been ruled a homicide.
Officials believe cold weather is the primary cause for these extended periods of quiet, and the shooting rate isn’t down year over year—136 people have been shot in New York as of Saturday this year, compared to 110 in the same period last year.
But while shootings are up, the murder rate is on the decline: homicides are down 2.5% year-to-date as of Feb. 8, and 82.4% since 1993.

Hundreds of Jewish Tombs Have Been Desecrated in France

Hundreds of Jewish tombs at a French cemetery in eastern France have been vandalized in what the French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called “a despicable act” on Sunday.
The incident, which happened in the town of Sarre-Union, near the German border, is the latest to have targeted European Jews in recent months, according to the Guardian.
“Everything will be done to identify, arrest and judge the perpetrator or perpetrators of this ignominious act,” Cazeneuve said in a statement.
Images on social media show the tombs violated with images of swastikas and Nazi symbolism

Facebook Now Letting Users Manage Accounts After Death

·         Facebook Now Letting Users Manage Accounts After Death Facebook wants you to plan ahead. The social network has rolled out a legacy contact feature, enabling users to choose a family member… ·         It is Now Legal to Unlock Your Phone (If it is Paid For) Smartphone users can now unlock their devices once they are paid for - and their wireless carriers have to allow it, whether they like it or… ·         Twitter Snaps Up Social Media Agency to the Stars Niche Twitter is acquiring a New York start-up that matches social media stars with advertisers as the microblogging site looks to up its cool factor…

·         Facebook Debuts Platform for Professionals to Share Security Threats Facebook is launching a platform on which online security professionals can share information about threats that could lead to hacking incidents… ·         App Can Track Smartphone Usage, Travel Time If you have ever wondered how many times you unlock your phone in a day or how much you travel in a single day there’s now a way to find… ·         Dating Apps Becoming a Favorite Target of Hackers: IBM As the popularity of dating apps grows, so too does the rate of such apps being targeted by hackers, IBM warns in a newly released report. IBM's…

Boko Haram releases new videos, stones adulterer to death, amputates thief

Boko Haram releases new videos, stones adulterer to death, amputates thief

The Boko Haram sect today released three new videos on Youtube (that have since been taken down) showing how a man accused of committing adultery was stoned to death. The sect members also amputated a man's hand for stealing.

In one of the videos which was released in three parts, a man buried in the ground with only his head visible, is seen being stoned to death by a crowd. They accused him of adultery. Another part of the video showed a man's hand being amputated for 'stealing'. Young men were also shown being flogged for committing fornication.

In one of the videos, the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau denied claims by Nigerian military that they repelled the December 1st attack on Damaturu in Yobe state carried out by the terrorist group.

Gerard Pique’s wardrobe ‘knight-mare’ sparks Twitter frenzy

Spain defender Gerard Pique has struggled for form so far this season, and has even been dropped by Barca coach Luis Garcia on occasions, but was picked for the Liga giants’ Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona headed into the match knowing that only a win would see them top Group F ahead of their French counterparts, and Pique turned up to the Nou Camp along with his team-mates bursting with warrior-like spirit.

The Spanish international took things one step too far, though.

Footballers are known for their garish dress sense, but Pique rocked up wearing a ridiculous sweater/hood combo that made him look like a medieval knight. 

Addams Family Actor Ken Weatherwax, Who Played Pugsley, Has Died Aged 59

Addams Family Actor Ken Weatherwax, Who Played Pugsley, Has Died Aged 59

Ben ArnoldUK Movies Writer9 December 2014

Ken Weatherwax, the actor who played Pugsley in ‘The Addams Family’, has died at the age of 59.

Weatherwax’s niece Shanyn Vieira confirmed the news on her Facebook page yesterday.

“Just want to let you know that my uncle Ken Weatherwax (please look him up) who played Pugsley from The Addam’s Family died today from a heart attack,” she wrote.

Born Kenneth Patrick Weatherwax in 1955 in Los Angeles, he played the part of portly Pugsley, son to Morticia and Gomez and brother to Wednesday, on the original run of the ABC show, from 1964 to 1966.

He starred in the series and also in ‘Halloween with the New Addams Family’, a 1977 TV film which reunited many of the original cast, playing Pugsley Sr.

He also voiced Pugsley in the animated adaptation.

But sadly, after the show was cancelled, he found it difficult to get work as a child actor, and at the age of 17 joined the US Army.

He later worked behind the camera as a set builder and a grip – a lighting and rigging technician – for Universal Studios.

He also did the rounds at Addams Family events, including occasional TV appearances.

Weatherwax died at his home in West Hills, California.