Smartphone fitness apps

Smartphones might be fancy entertainment devices but they can also help you hop off the couch and get into shape.

The key to a successful fitness program is motivation and that's where a smartphone app can really come in handy. Thanks to GPS tracking, many apps can plot your exercise sessions on a map. They are easy to use - just launch the app, tell it what kind of exercise you're doing and press go. Slip your phone back into your pocket and use it to listen to music or podcasts while you exercise.

When you've finished exercising, just press stop and the app records the details of your session and uploads it to the web. You can look back over previous exercise sessions and view details such as time, distance covered, average speed and calories burned. As well as tracking you while you move - say, walking, jogging, running or cycling - these applications also let you record stationary exercise, such as sessions on a treadmill or exercise bike. Some can also link to gadgets such as heart-rate monitors and cycling speedometers.

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Bentley Continental GT2 under development - report

In a recent interview, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer confirmed plans to launch a Continental GT2.

Essentially a Supersports on steroids, the model will reportedly weigh 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs) and feature a 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS) engine. It remains unclear if it will be the twin-turbo V8 or the current W12, but the GT2 is expected to accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds and hit a top speed in excess of 200 mph (322 km/h). Furthermore, Auto Express says the special edition will have rear-wheel drive which would be a first for the Continental lineup.

There's no word on when it will be introduced, but the GT2 will likely debut after the Continental GT Speed hits the market.

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Hand gestures may replace switches in Taiwan

The hand may soon replace keys and power switches in everyday tasks like unlocking doors and switching on appliances, after a Taiwanese instructor invented a system turning the hand into an "invisible key."

Such a system devised by Technology and Science Institute of Northern Taiwan (TSINT) computer and communication engineering instructor Tsai Yao Pin can accept preset gestures, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported.

According to Tsai, the "invisible key" system uses triaxial accelerometer technology for door locks and uses a single-chip controller as the core control of the system.

He said the system could also be used to turn home appliances off and on.

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TV pitchman Don Lapre found dead in cell after apparent suicide

(CBS) Authorities say TV pitchman Don Lapre was found dead after an apparent suicide in an Arizona jail cell on Sunday morning. Officials say they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. It was only a few days before his $52 million fraud trial was set to begin.

The 47-year-old had been charged with 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and promotional money laundering with his company, "The Greatest Vitamin in the World."

Lapre called himself "The King of Infomercials" on his website; he gained notoriety from his numerous late night advertisements, including "Making Money From A Tiny One Bedroom Apartment," where he claimed he made $50,000 a week from his small apartment. The infomercials were parodied on "Saturday Night Live," and made fun of on the "Late Show with David Letterman."



The indictment claims the Arizona-based TV pitchman received millions from his scam between 2004 to 2007. He was accused of tricking at least 220,000 people with worthless Internet-based businesses mostly revolving around a pyramid scheme to sell vitamins that did not provide the health benefits he claimed. His company was shut down in 2007 due to multiple complaints.

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CTV Exclusive: Dalai Lama will choose successor

The Dalai Lama said in a recent interview with CTV News that he will choose his successor, not the Chinese government, and raised the possibility that there may not be one.

The exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism spoke to CTV's South Asia Bureau Chief Janis Mackey Frayer in Dharamsala, India, where he lives in exile from his home country, which is now occupied by China.

"So naturally my next life is entirely up to me. No one else. And also this is not a political matter," he told Mackey Frayer in the exclusive interview.

Speaking in the monastery in the Himalayan foothills that he has called home for half a century, the 14th Dalai Lama said China does not have the right, as it asserts, to choose the next leader of the Tibetan Buddhists.

Officially, it is illegal for anyone other than Chinese leaders in Beijing to bestow the title of Dalai Lama.

"According to their law, yes it is illegal," the Dalai Lama said. "But nobody respects Chinese law. Chinese law is the protector of Communist power."

The Dalai Lama is considered a separatist by Beijing, though he insists he is only seeking increased autonomy for Tibet.

As a result of China's insistence on playing a lead role in selecting his successor, the Dalai Lama said it may be time to break from the ancient system under which dead Dalai Lamas are reincarnated in the body of a male child.

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Germany marks reunification anniversary

Germany on Monday celebrated the anniversary of its reunification 21 years ago, which put it at the heart of an increasingly united Europe now being tested by the eurozone debt crisis.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Christian Wulff and others gathered at what was once the Parliament building in the former West German capital, Bonn, for a ceremony marking the anniversary.

West Germany and communist East Germany were united on Oct. 3, 1990, less than 11 months after the east opened the Berlin Wall.

The identity of West Germany, and later of the reunited Germany, "has been closely linked from the beginning with the commitment to Europe," Supreme Court chief justice Andreas Vosskuhle told the country's leaders.

Mr. Vosskuhle said that European institutions "must not immunise themselves against criticism from their citizens," and that "where Europe is going must not be decided in elite circles alone."

"At the same time, we must always make clear that Europe cannot be reduced to a simple mathematical calculation," he said. He added that the EU is based on the recognition that long-term peace and prosperity can only be secured by a close union and "that goes for good as well as bad times."

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Tory conference: Party member views on an EU referendum

If you could grant Conservative Party members one wish what would it be?

A working majority of their own might come pretty high up the list, but at the party's annual conference in Manchester one subject tends to crop up in conversation more than most: Europe.

David Cameron promised a referendum before any more powers were transferred to Europe - but he is distinctly sniffy about the prospect of a public vote on any treaty changes that might result from the eurozone crisis.

And he has ruled out an in/out referendum, ensuring that any debate by MPs on that issue, which could take place later this year, will largely be an academic exercise.

It's not that Tory party members are all dyed-in-the-wool eurosceptics, just that many of them feel the party is missing a trick by appearing to deny the the public a vote - any kind of vote - on such a crucial issue.
'Keep our sovereignty'

"I come from a Labour background," said Terence Docherty, a Tory activist from Sunderland.

"I've heard lots of people from similar backgrounds in the North East say that, if it meant they were given a referendum on the EU, they would come out and vote Tory.

"I was standing in a charity shop recently. There were these two blokes who said, if there was a referendum, they would vote Tory. It's an issue a lot of people care about."

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US Defense Chief Warns Israel Against Isolation

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that Israel is becoming increasingly isolated in the Middle East amid the ongoing upheaval that has swept across the region this year.

He said Sunday while traveling to Israel for his first visit as defense chief that Israeli leaders must restart negotiations with the Palestinians and work to restore relations with Egypt and Turkey.

Panetta is scheduled to hold talks this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. He will then travel to a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.

Panetta said Sunday it is critical for Israel to find ways to communicate with other nations in the region in order to have stability, and that Israel risks eroding its own security if it does not reach out to its neighbors.

He also stressed that the Israelis and Palestinians need to set aside preconditions and return to long-stalled peace talks.

Israel has formally accepted an international plan for restarting negotiations, but the immediate resumption of talks appears unlikely as the two sides continue to differ over terms of the proposal.

Mr. Netanyahu Sunday welcomed "the Quartet's call for direct negotiations without preconditions." He said Israel has concerns about the plan that it will raise at the "appropriate time." But he did not elaborate.

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Kenya holidaymakers can't claim on insurance for cancelled trips

Travel insurers will reject claims from holidaymakers who want to cancel trips to beach resorts in Kenya following a second kidnapping at the weekend.


The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued advice warning against all but essential travel to coastal areas within 150km (93 miles) of the Somali border, following the kidnapping of an French woman on the island of Manda, near Lamu.


The FCO had previously warned holidaymakers to stay 37 miles away from the border following the killing of British publisher David Tebbutt and the kidnapping of his wife Judith at a luxury resort 25 miles from the border on 11 September.


Regardless of the warning, insurers say they will not pay out claims for loss of deposits if holidaymakers have decided against travelling to the northern coast. A spokeswoman for esure said insurers could not base such decisions on warnings issued by the FCO because "these change from one day to the next".


Martin Rothwell of insurance broker World First said all insurers would take the same stance: "Because the FCO has warned against all but essential travel to this area, the onus is on the traveller to decide whether their trip is essential. This means a claim on a travel insurance policy would be excluded under the 'disinclination to travel' clause."

However, he added that travel agents and tour operators would rebook customers who have bought holidays in the Lamu area into alternative resorts. "No holidaymaker should be out of pocket because of this," he said.

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The Secret Memo That Explains Why Obama Can Kill Americans

Outside the U.S. government, President Obama's order to kill American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki without due process has proved controversial, with experts in law and war reaching different conclusions. Inside the Obama Administration, however, disagreement was apparently absent, or so say anonymous sources quoted by the Washington Post. "The Justice Department wrote a secret memorandum authorizing the lethal targeting of Anwar al-Aulaqi, the American-born radical cleric who was killed by a U.S. drone strike Friday, according to administration officials," the newspaper reported. "The document was produced following a review of the legal issues raised by striking a U.S. citizen and involved senior lawyers from across the administration. There was no dissent about the legality of killing Aulaqi, the officials said."

Isn't that interesting? Months ago, the Obama Administration revealed that it would target al-Awlaki. It even managed to wriggle out of a lawsuit filed by his father to prevent the assassination. But the actual legal reasoning the Department of Justice used to authorize the strike? It's secret. Classified. Information that the public isn't permitted to read, mull over, or challenge.

Why? What justification can there be for President Obama and his lawyers to keep secret what they're asserting is a matter of sound law? This isn't a military secret. It isn't an instance of protecting CIA field assets, or shielding a domestic vulnerability to terrorism from public view. This is an analysis of the power that the Constitution and Congress' post September 11 authorization of military force gives the executive branch. This is a president exploiting official secrecy so that he can claim legal justification for his actions without having to expose his specific reasoning to scrutiny. As the Post put it, "The administration officials refused to disclose the exact legal analysis used to authorize targeting Aulaqi, or how they considered any Fifth Amendment right to due process."

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Floods recede slowly in storm-battered Philippines

CALUMPIT, Philippines — Floodwaters slowly receded Monday in many parts of the northern Philippines after two typhoons that killed nearly 60 people, amid appeals for more boats to bring food and water to residents refusing to abandon inundated homes.

Mayor James de Jesus of worst-hit Calumpit town north of Manila said that at least 15 villages were still inaccessible and evacuation centers crowded with about 15,000 people.

As waters subsided, many residents staying on rooftops for days refused to leave their homes for fear of burglars and instead asked to be delivered food and supplies. Others who took advantage of rescue boats lined up in long lines with containers to get drinking water.

"For now we need rescue teams with rubber boats. We need to distribute food and water to the families stranded by the floods. I cannot reach all of them personally," de Jesus said in a radio interview. He also appealed for additional police to guard against looters, with some people complaining about stolen property.

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Amanda Knox pleads for her freedom as murder appeal ends

Perugia, Italy (CNN) -- Nearly four years after she was arrested on suspicion of having killed her roommate in this picturesque Italian university town, Amanda Knox pleaded with a jury Monday to overturn her conviction for murder.

"I am not what they say I am. I did not kill. I did not rape. I did not steal," Amanda Knox said, her voice trembling with emotion. She was making perhaps the most important speech of her life, and it showed.

She got out only a few words before her voice choked off, she stopped, and said under her breath: "OK."

Then she launched into the crux of her plea:

"People always ask 'who is Amanda Knox?' I am the same person I was four years ago. But I have lost a friend. I have lost my faith in Italian police. I am paying with my life for something I have not done. Four years ago I didn't know what suffering was," she said, speaking fluent, flawless Italian.

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Int'l court OKs Ivory Coast violence probe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The International Criminal Court on Monday authorized an investigation into violence that left some 3,000 people dead after Ivory Coast's disputed presidential election last year.

The violence erupted after former President Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to opposition leader Alassane Ouattara after losing the election last November.

Ouattara finally took office in May and asked the international court to investigate crimes committed by both sides during the postelection crisis.

The announcement signals the start of the court's seventh investigation, all of them in Africa. So far, none of the cases has reached a verdict.

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Ugandan soap collector nominated for CNN Heroes awards

Uganda's Derreck Kayongo is among the 10 people from across the world nominated for this year's CNN Heroes Awards.

Kayongo, based in Atlanta, USA has been recognised for his Global Soap Project which collects used hotel soap from the United States, then cleaning and reprocessing it for shipment to impoverished nations such as Haiti, Uganda, Kenya and Swaziland.

According to CNN, Kayongo, 41, thought of the idea in the early 1990s, when he first arrived at a hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He noticed that his bathroom was replenished with new soap bars every day, even though they were only slightly used.

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Uganda's Ex VP Sent to Prison Over Corruption

Former Vice President of Uganda Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya has been remanded to Luzira Prison in connection with the award of contract to supply cars for the Commonwealth meeting in Kampala four years ago.

In a dramatic event, Prof. Bukenya who had tears rolling down his cheeks, had his supporters trade harsh words with the heavily deployed security personnel comprising the Police and plain clothed officers over which car to use to take him Luzira.

The arguments, which put to halt court business close to an hour, witnessed the Head of police VIPPU, Mr Laban Muhabwe, struggle with Prof. Buenya's driver to grab the car keys in vain.

Chief Magistrate Ms Irene Akankwasa of the Anti-Corruption Division committed Prof. Bukenya to High Court for trial despite objections by his lawyer Mac Dusman Kabega challenging the power of the Inspectorate of Government to commit his client.

"The accused person (Bukenya) is hereby committed to the High Court. His bail elapses. You are remanded to custody," declared Ms Akankwasa in a fully packed court room.

Unlike other suspects taken to court cells, Prof. Bukenya was first rushed to the court registry, an incident that drew anger among his supporters and sureties who demanded to know why he was being guarded after being sent to Prison.

"Stop duping us that you now care after putting our man down. You have achieved what you wanted now use the prison car and not his personal vehicle because who is going to pay for the fuel?" demanded Prof. Bukenya's aide who declined to be mentioned.

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Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: What You Won't See

Monday night's season-two premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was more heavily anticipated than most.

From the first frame, the Bravo hit directly and immediately addressed the mid-August suicide of Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of star Taylor Armstrong and father to Kennedy, their 5-year-old daughter.

PHOTOS: The biggest celeb stories of summer 2011

Minus Taylor, the core cast was shown gathering at the home of Adrienne Maloof on Aug. 29 to hash out the tragic news.

"A lot of us have some guilt about not seeing this coming," admitted a tearful Kyle Richards. But, she cautioned of Russell, who hanged himself at age 47 amid his crumbling marriage and financial woes: "You cannot feel responsible for that, nobody can. It was his choice. As difficult as that is, life goes on. It has to."

PHOTOS: Biggest bombshells from season one

And the show goes on too -- but with major, ongoing alterations in light of Russell's death.

"We've completed editing on the first few episodes, but are still reviewing the rest of the season," the show's executive producer, Douglas Ross, tells Us Weekly. "Russell does not appear in the first several episodes. At this point, I can't say if Russell will appear at all."

What scenes were definitely left on the cutting room floor for sensitivity's sake? The premiere episode originally featured Taylor, 40, shopping for lingerie in an attempt to spice up her flagging marriage to Russell. "You're not going to see anything like that," a show insider says.

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Libya conflict: Armed Gaddafi loyalists flee to Niger

The convoy, of at least 50 vehicles, is said to be headed for the capital, Niamey. It is believed to include Tuareg fighters recruited by fugitive Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.

Niger's foreign minister said Col Gaddafi is not in the convoy. His spokesman insists he is still in Libya.

The new Libyan authorities say the convoy is carrying gold and cash.

Col Gaddafi has vowed to fight to the death, even though he has lost control of most of the country.

Tuareg ties

Officials from Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) said the convoy had set out from the Gaddafi-held town of Jufra on Monday.

It arrived later that day in Agadez - 950km (600 miles) from Niamey

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U.S. Open: Serena, Wozniacki, Federer reach quarterfinals

There was the brief flap with his opponent, 11th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and the chair umpire over some distracting cheering in the stands.

There were the aching right hip and hamstring that left Fish flat on his back, getting massaged by a trainer before the fifth set.

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• MORE: Cramping part of the game in tennis

There was the pressure of knowing that he was, for the first time, the highest-ranked American at the country's Grand Slam tennis tournament.

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Peyton Manning injury looms large over team, NFL

(CBS News) 

As the new pro football season begins, the Indianapolis Colts and National Football League are keeping their fingers crossed that Peyton Manning's neck heals in a hurry.

The superstar quarterback is recovering from neck surgery, and apparently isn't ready to play.

On Monday, the Colts announced that, "The doctors have decided that Peyton will not practice. His participation, therefore, in Sunday's game versus Houston will likely be doubtful."

On "The Early Show" Monday, Chris Russo, host of Sirius XM Radio's "Mad Dog Unleashed," said Manning is "a workaholic. So (the inactivity)'s gotta be driving him crazy. You've gotta figure it's fairly serious. The fact that they're telling you now that he's gonna be doubtful for the first part of the year, this could be more than one game, I think it's a concern."

Many experts and fans feel Manning IS the Colts, and Russo said, "Offensively," (losing Manning is a) big issue. They brought Kerry Collins in, who is an experienced backup, who will play these first couple of games. The Colts have a very hard schedule in the beginning of the year. They play the Steelers, they have to play at Houston, they play at Tampa on a Monday night. So if he misses those first (few) games, that's an issue. And their bye week is not until November, so they can't use that bye week to get him better.

Manning signed a $90 million contract during the off-season and, says Russo, "(The Colts) would not have signed him to that contract unless they feel that he's gonna be able to play for a good part of the contract. Because I'm sure they gave him plenty of physicals, and they gave him all that money. So they must feel confident this is a temporary scenario for him. So, I would think that, eventually, he's gonna go play. The streak is not a big deal. He's got this (227 games) consecutive games streak. No sports fan in America really cares about that streak. He's not Lou Gehrig. So the streak is not that big a deal."

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"No containment" of Texas wildfire

BASTROP, Texas - Firefighters trying to control a wind-fueled wildfire that has destroyed nearly 600 homes in Central Texas were looking for a few overnight hours of diminished winds as thousands of evacuees spent the night away from their threatened homes.

There's been no significant rainfall over central Texas for a year, said CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds, and today the consequences of that are being seen in Bastrop and other areas.

Since December, wildfires have consumed 3.6 million acres of Texas - an area the size of the state of Connecticut.

Unfortunately, there is no rainfall in the forecast for the foreseeable future.

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