Turkey: US Embassy bomber had been imprisoned on terror charge — but was released after hunger strike

ANKARA, Turkey — The suicide bomber who struck the U.S. Embassy in Ankara spent several years in prison on terrorism charges but was released on probation after being diagnosed with a hunger strike-related brain disorder, officials said Saturday.The bomber, identified as 40-year-old leftist militant Ecevit Sanli, killed himself and a Turkish security guard...

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Miami Beach hotels seek more political clout

When Miami Beach wanted local hotels to scale-back their popular rooftop parties and bars, Alexander Tachmes fought back. An attorney who has represented Beach hotels on a myriad of issues, he “cobbled” together a group of his hotelier clients and went before the city commission to ask them to curb the proposed rules. The hotels won. It was a learning...

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In Dominican Republic, eye doctor linked to Sen. Menendez known for philanthropy, thirst for celebrity

SANTO DOMINGO -- Salomon Melgen arrives at galas here in a blue Mercedes Benz, his four bodyguards in tow. He rarely goes unnoticed. The stout 58-year-old ophthalmologist is a regular on the society pages, where he is almost always pictured with important politicians. Late last year he made national headlines for performing free eye surgery on a 28-year-old woman who had...

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Hackers target Twitter, access about 250,000 user accounts

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Anonymous hackers have targeted Twitter this week and gained access to roughly 250,000 user accounts though only “limited information” such as email addresses was compromised, the microblog said on Friday.Twitter has already reset passwords for affected users, and will notify them soon, it said in a blog post. The cyberattacks come days after the New York Times and the Wall...

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Christina Ricci Engaged to James Heerdegen

Congrats are in order for Christina Ricci!The actress, 32, will soon tie the knot with boyfriend James Heerdegen, reports Us Weekly.Pics: 2012's 12 Most Amazing Couples Ricci, after being spotted sporting what appeared to be an engagement ring in L.A., confirmed the happy news to the magazine.According to UsWeekly, Ricci and her now-fiancé became engaged "a couple months back."Video: Christina Ricci...

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Career crook held on bail; allegedly targeted Asians

A career crook wanted for targeting Asians in eight violent East Harlem muggings was ordered held on one of the alleged attacks today, with the rest remaining under investigation.Jason Commisso, 34, committed the eight attacks on Asian men and woman late last month, prosecutors say."The people are still investigating, as are the police, the hate crimes...

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Who is Rick Ross? Shoot-’em-up raises new questions

Rick Ross has always styled himself as a tough guy who grew up in Miami’s cocaine cowboy-like underworld, mingling with drug traffickers and armed outlaws. The successful rapper has powered his way to the top of the Hip Hop world with rhymes about his rags-to-riches life, scrapping for food while his mother worked three jobs. His critics and fellow rappers, however, have...

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Report shows health concerns in Broward’s black communities

A swath of low-income communities wedged between Interstate 95 and the Turnpike, and stretching from Fort Lauderdale to Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill, is home to the highest diabetes rates in Broward County.That’s one of the most troubling findings from a “state of black Broward health report’’ released Thursday by the Urban League of Broward County. The statistics, charts...

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Online bingo shows its worth at Rank

LONDON (Reuters) – It may lack the noisy camaraderie of a trip to the bingo hall, but the online version of the numbers game has proved more profitable for Britain‘s Rank Group than the original.The merits of the online business were further emphasized when Rank said a snowy January had cost it 3 million pounds ($ 4.7 million) in revenue as Britons opted not to venture out to its bingo halls and casinos.Operating...

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Man convicted in murder of pregnant ex-girlfriend

A Queens man was convicted today for the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend and her toddler. Jimmy Humphrey was found guilty of strangling Linda Anderson to death and setting her lifeless body on fire. The fire ultimately killed her 2-year-old son, Aiden Hayes, as he searched for his mother through the smoke in their St. Albans apartment. "I'm not happy...

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