New Tarantula Species Named After Johnny Cash

A new species of tarantula discovered near Folsom State Prison in California has fittingly been named for the country singer Johnny Cash, who memorialized the jail in his 1955 song “Folsom Prison Blues.”

The spider, Aphonopelma johnnycashi, is among 14 new tarantulas discovered in the U.S. during a search that spanned a decade, SkyNews reports.

“We often hear about how new species are being discovered from remote corners of the Earth, but what is remarkable is that these spiders are in our own backyard,” Dr. Chris Hamilton, the scientist who named the spider, told SkyNews.

Though the arachnid’s bite is venomous, Hamilton described it as a “teddy bear with eight legs.”

Julian Assange should be allowed free and compensated, UN panel finds

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed to walk free and be compensated for his "deprivation of liberty", a UN legal panel has found.

Mr Assange, 44 - who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies - claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012.

He has been arbitrarily detained since his arrest in 2010, the panel said.

The UK Foreign Office said the report "changes nothing" and it will "formally contest the working group's opinion".

The panel's ruling is not legally binding in the UK and a European Arrest Warrant remains in place - meaning the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange.

The UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention insisted Mr Assange's detention "should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected".

"Mr Assange should be afforded the right to compensation," it added.

The Wikileaks founder had been subjected to "different forms of deprivation of liberty" it said, initially while he was held in isolation at London's Wandsworth Prison for 10 days in 2010.

The deprivation had been "continuous" since he was first arrested in the UK on 7 December 2010.

The panel said he had then been under "house arrest and then confinement" while inside the Ecuadorian embassy.

It also found a "lack of diligence" by the Swedish Prosecutor's Office in its investigations, which resulted in his lengthy loss of liberty.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. 

"The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy."

"We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue," the spokesman added.

The Swedish government said Mr Assange was free to leave the embassy at any point and said he was not being deprived of his liberty.

In September 2014, Mr Assange - who has been living in the embassy for more than three years - complained to the UN that he was being "arbitrarily detained" as he could not leave without being arrested.

The complaint against the UK and Sweden claimed Mr Assange had been deprived of his liberty for an "unacceptable length of time".

In a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday, Mr Assange said his passport should be returned and his arrest warrant dropped if the UN panel ruled in his favour.

'Avoiding lawful arrest'

The Australian was originally arrested in London in 2010 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Sweden over rape and sexual assault claims. 

In 2012, while on bail, he claimed asylum inside the Ecuadorean embassy in Knightsbridge after the UK Supreme Court had ruled the extradition against him could go ahead.

Swedish prosecutors dropped two sex assault claims against Mr Assange last year. However, he still faces the more serious accusation of rape.

In the statement, published by Wikileaks on Thursday, Mr Assange said: "Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal.

"However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me."

Last October, Scotland Yard said it would no longer station officers outside the Ecuador embassy following an operation which it said had cost £12.6m. But it said "a number of overt and covert tactics to arrest him" would still be deployed.

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Julian Assange: Key dates

• August 2010 - Swedish prosecutors issue an arrest warrant for Mr Assange
• May 2012 - UK Supreme Court rules he should be extradited to Sweden to face questioning
• June 2012 - Mr Assange claims asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy in London
• September 2014 - Mr Assange submits complaint against Sweden and the UK to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
• August 2015 - Swedish prosecutors drop their investigation into two allegations - one of sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion - but say he still faces the more serious accusation of rape.
• October 2015 - Met Police announce officers will no longer be stationed outside the Ecuadorean embassy

Two Hurt As Motorbike Backflip Stunt Goes Wrong

The Nitro Circus event at Glasgow's SSE Hydro arena was halted while workers and medical staff assisted the pair, who were hurt as a biker attempted to perform a backflip off a ramp.

They had been on the motorbike at the time along with another audience member and a professional rider.

However, the bike appeared to stall near the top of the ramp and tipped over the side.

One of the volunteers and the rider were able to walk away but two others were treated by medics at the scene before being taken to hospital.

All of those taking part were wearing helmets.

A video of the accident was posted on social media and the MC of the event can be heard to say "that is the worst crash we have ever had".

"It's obviously not planned - occasionally something can go wrong. It's not meant to go wrong so we're taking a moment."

Nitro Circus, which describes itself as an action sports entertainment company, is currently touring across Europe.

The event is being staged at London's O2 on Saturday and Sunday before moving to Zurich and Paris.

One fan at the Glasgow show tweeted: ''Just at Nitro Circus in Glasgow. Hope the chaps on the four person backflip are ok! stretchered keep us updated!''

Another said: ''At nitro circus ssehydro. 4 man back flip just failed. Hope the members of the public ok.''

hina Has Finally Told Hong Kong It Is Holding the 3 Missing Booksellers

Chinese authorities have confirmed that they are holding all five men linked to a Hong Kong publishing house who went missing in recent weeks.

The Hong Kong Police Force said in a statement Thursday that it had had received a response from the public security department in China’s Guangdong province that said Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee were under investigation, and that “criminal compulsory measures were imposed on them.” The three were previously unaccounted for having gone missing during visits to mainland China.

The three men “were suspected to be involved in a case relating to a person surnamed Gui, and were involved in illegal activities on the Mainland,” the Hong Kong police statement said, referring to Gui Minhai, one of the two other booksellers already known to be held in China.

All five men are connected to publishing company Might Current Media, which produces books containing salacious allegations about the private lives of Communist Party leaders. Co-owner Gui went missing while staying at his home in Thailand, only to turn up last month on Chinese state TV giving an apparently scripted confession to an 11-year-old drunk driving incident. Gui’s partner, Lee Bo, has confirmed that he is “assisting” an investigation in mainland China, where he has been visited by his wife. Lee went missing while in Hong Kong, sparking fears that the Chinese government was undermining the territory’s semiautonomous status.

Chinese state security also passed their Hong Kong counterparts a letter from Lee declining a request to meet with him. “He [Lee] would contact Police should he need to meet with Police,” the statement said, adding that the handwriting in the letter had been authenticated by Lee’s wife.

Hong Kong police also said they had asked the Chinese authorities for more information on Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee’s situation, “and to pass on a message to Lee [Bo] that Police still wanted to meet with him as soon as possible.”

Labour MP Harry Harpham Dies Aged 61

The former miner had represented Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough since last year after a long career in local public service.

Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was "extremely sad" to hear the news.

He said: "Harry was a proud socialist who had also been a proud miner.

"He was dedicated to justice for working people and despite the undoubted hardship that his support for the miners' strike would have caused him, as it did many thousands of miners, Harry recently told me he would have done it all again.

"To the very end he was fighting for working people in Parliament.

"What a decent man he was and he will be sadly missed by all his friends in the Labour Party."

Mr Harpham leaves behind a wife and five children.

Labour's deputy leader was among the MP's parliamentary colleagues who paid tribute.

Tom Watson said: "Deeply upset to learn of Harry Harpham's death. Sheffield has lost a wonderful MP.

"My thoughts are with his family."

Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher added: "So sorry to hear the news about Harry Harpham.

"Thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Bassetlaw MP John Mann tweeted: "Harry Harpham MP a big loss. Brilliant comrade, always cheerful.

"A coal miner is the finest traditions of this country. Very many will mourn."

Obama Calls For Oil Tax To Fund Green Transportation

President Obama just threw down the gauntlet to the already-struggling U.S. oil industry.

He announced an ambitious proposal on Thursday to add a $10 tax on every oil barrel produced to fund a sweeping set of green transportation initiatives that would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and lower U.S. carbon emissions.

The plan has little chance of being approved by the Republican-dominated Congress, but the push shows how Obama is willing to tackle controversial initiatives in his final year in office. The news also highlights how fighting climate change has become one of his administration’s flagship issues.

Obama’s clean transportation plan includes $300 billion in funding for a variety of more efficient and cleaner transportation projects, reports Politico, and Obama plans to submit the proposal in the final budget next week. The green transportation technologies include electric cars, self-driving cars, and high-speed rail along with more efficient public transit and freight systems.

Called “Obama’s 21st Century Clean Transportation System,” the proposal would boost U.S. investments in green transportation infrastructure by 50%, the administration said in a press release.

Oil companies, which have been slammed by the plummeting oil prices over the past year and a half, will no doubt cry foul about the additional expense. Oil giants havebeen reporting their worst quarterly and annual earnings in decades.

Obama’s plan is a clear move to lower the use of oil for transportation domestically. The administration said, “by placing a fee on oil, the President’s plan creates a clear incentive for private sector innovation to reduce our reliance on oil and at the same time invests in clean energy technologies that will power our future.”

Any added tax per barrel of oil would likely be passed onto consumers, who have benefited from some of the lowest gas prices in years. Low gas prices have long been a boon to consumer’s pockets and often the overall economy, but this time, economists are worriedthat the industry’s decline and the loss of hundreds of thousands of oil and gas jobscould hurt the U.S. and global economies.

As Politico reports, the plan could put the Democrats, and the Democratic presidential candidates in an awkward position. Hillary Clinton has largely sided with Obama on many issues, but an oil tax, leading to higher gas prices, may be too controversial in oil producing states for her to support.

Earth, Wind & Fire Founder Maurice White Dies

White had Parkinson's Disease and retreated from the public in recent years while his band kept touring.

He passed away at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, said his brother Verdine White - the bassist in the band.

"My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep," he said.

"While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives.

"Thank you for your prayers and well wishes."

Earth, Wind & Fire sold more than 90 million albums and were famous for hits like September, Shining Star and Boogie Wonderland.

The nine-piece band - featuring the two White brothers, singer Philip Bailey and the horn section - were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

They performed everywhere from the Super Bowl to the White House.

White was born in Memphis in 1941, the son of a doctor and grandson of a New Orleans piano player.

During the 1960s, he worked as a session drummer for Muddy Waters and The Impressions.

He later worked as a music producer for stars such as Barbra Streisand and Cher, and co-wrote The Emotions' number one hit Best Of My Love.