Herbals

Sunday 25 November 2012

Milking, the new planking-style craze

A group of Newcastle students have started a new craze, milking.

Strange stunt began with idle chat in student digs
Students filmed pouring four-pint cartons over heads
Filmed outside pubs and nightclubs, in road and up trees

PLANKING is so last year. The bizarre new internet-inspired craze is "milking", featuring students pouring two litre milk cartons over their heads.

If you thought web crazes would never top the idiocy of planking you probably hadn't counted on the ingenuity of a group of students in Newcastle, England.

Bored of pushing each other down the street in shopping trolleys and placing traffic cones on top of statues, the group of male students decided to film each other pouring pints of milk over their heads, recording the stunts for their friends' amusement.

Forget planking: udderly amazing new milking craze takes web by storm. Picture: Milking Newcastle

The "milkers" are filmed performing the strange stunt in main shopping streets, standing in the middle of roads and outside popular student watering holes, as well as popping out of wheelie bins and sitting in trees.

After posting the videos to Facebook and You Tube, the students were interviewed by university newspaper The Tab, which reported copycat videos at prestigious Oxford University and other institutions around the UK.

Forget planking: udderly amazing new milking craze takes web by storm. Picture: Milking Newcastle

Comments on You Tube were mixed, with some praising the students and others accusing them of immaturity.

"This is legen... dairy", said one commentator, while another wrote: "Holy cow man! Dairy good video. Just semi-skimming youtube when I found this."

Forget planking: udderly amazing new milking craze takes web by storm. Picture: Milking Newcastle

'Milking' definitely has its drawbacks: a high laundry bill and the ever present smell of sour milk.

Forget planking: udderly amazing new milking craze takes web by storm. Picture: Milking Newcastle

Credit - http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/newscomautopstoriesndm/~3/GnGACUGKfOU/stor...

Thursday 22 November 2012

Cops identify pair in mob bus tirade

Passengers filmed in a vicious tirade against a woman on a Melbourne bus after she started singing in French. The footage was uploaded to YouTube, sparking fierce debate around Australia

Fanny Desaintjores, the French woman abused racially on a Melbourne bus. Picture: YouTube Source: news.com.au

POLICE have identified two people from a video showing bus passengers racially abusing a French woman after she started singing.

A man and woman from the video have been identified and police are appealing for help to find others in the video.

Police have also spoken with a woman believed to be one of the victims.

Anyone with further information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Yesterday, the French woman claimed she feared for her safety during the racist tirade.

The woman, identified as Fanny Desaintjores, said she was "afraid he [would come] and hit us".

The abuse happened on the bus, travelling between Mordialloc to Caulfield railway station, about 10.30pm on November 11.

YouTube footage of the incident has gone viral and sparked fierce debate on television shows and morning radio around the country after the footage was posted on the video site then by this website on Tuesday afternoon.

There has been widespread condemnation of the tirade, aimed at a woman sitting at the rear of the bus who started singing in French, and Transit and Public Safety Command detectives are investigating two men and a woman who made the verbal threats and racist taunts.

Fairfax reports Ms Desaintjores became fearful for her safety.

"My friends and I stopped laughing. We were quite afraid that he [would come] and hit us," she said.

"I think that's insane that they reacted like that, we're all adults. We could have a conversation and talk gently, instead of all these insults and threats."

Two men who yelled racial abuse at a French woman on a bus to Frankston. Source: Supplied

The video shows commuters on a late-night bus on the Frankston route verbally abusing the woman, yelling at her to "speak English or die".

The incident has reached French media outlets, with Le Monde reporting on the "xenophobic attack".

One of the passengers then allegedly hurled a rock through the window of the bus, smashing glass inside the vehicle.

Passenger Mike Nayna, who filmed the incident and posted the video on YouTube, said the mob started yelling at the woman when she began to sing in French.

He said one of the abusive passengers even threatened to "fillet these c---s" with a fishing knife. She was also threatened with having her breasts cut off.

One of the men, who had a child in a pram, allegedly smashed the window nearest to the girl after hopping off the bus.

"One girl started singing in French, and a girl up the front started telling her to shut up and chanted "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie'', most at the front of the bus joined in, that's when the passenger in the video on his phone joined the abuse,'' Mr Nayna said.

A woman screams at a fellow passenger after she started singing in French. Source: Supplied

The shocking incident took place at approximately 10.30pm on November 11.

What action do you think should be taken against those responsible? Have your say below

Young male passengers "egged on" the man to abuse the girl, Mr Nayna said.

"The young guys up the front were egging him on, they gave him a beer and a smoke and even offered him a fishing knife, and then he went off saying 'I'll fillet these c---s,'' Mr Nayna said.

"The French girl started to sing louder and they didn't like that so started the f--k off to your own country type of thing,'' he said.

The man who allegedly smashed the window was pushing a pram with a small child and can be heard in the video ordering the girl to get off the bus.

"There was a large bang and a few screams about the bus, then I saw he had smashed the window, the one right near the French girl,'' Mr Nayna said.

Passengers were shaken and afraid for their safety as they shouted at the bus driver to drive off.

Mr Nayna said he yelled at the bus driver to leave the scene.

"The main thing was to get away from the danger, I just said 'close the back door and drive off!'" he said.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Original - http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/newscomautopstoriesndm/~3/hh54-1Qtj2U/stor...

Saturday 17 November 2012

Anna Karenina Review: A Dusty Tale Is Revived by Inventive Filmmaking

By Alynda Wheat

11/17/2012 at 05:00 PM EST

Don't yawn yet.

Granted, after a century of adaptations, we have a right to be tired of Tolstoy's Russian society wife, Anna Karenina (Keira Knightley), who ditches her life for playboy Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). But surely there's room in our hard, literary hearts for a film this audacious?

To emphasize the artifice of Anna's world, director Joe Wright and writer Tom Stoppard set much of the film onstage, the actors gliding as if choreographed. It's like a musical, minus the singing.

The gimmick – and at bottom, that's what it is – makes Anna's stiff husband, Karenin (a fantastic Jude Law), more relatable, even as it blunts the emotional impact of Knightley's fine turn.

But perhaps the best thing about this Anna is that it plays up the novel's other couple, Kitty (Alicia Vikander) and Levin (Domhnall Gleeson). They're the true romantics.

Source - http://feeds.people.com/~r/people/headlines/~3/EMoudsXuISs/0,,20648864,00.html

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Cameron Diaz Says It's Great Being Single - So Far

By Simon Perry

10/02/2012 at 07:05 PM EDT

Cameron Diaz

Terry Richardson/Esquire UK

Over the decades in the dating department, Cameron Diaz has been seen with Matt Dillon, Justin Timberlake and, again earlier this year, Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez.

But marriage? Not for her – so far, she tells November's U.K. edition of Esquire, on sale Thurs., Oct. 4.

"It just wasn't the thing I was drawn to. I certainly didn't want it in my 20s. Or my 30s," the star, who also poses provocatively for a series of photos accompanying the interview, tells the magazine.

But now, having turned 40 on Aug. 30, she is more open-minded about marriage. "We'll see!" she says.

What does she look for in would-be suitors? "I want someone who takes care of themselves, who's strong. To hear people are engaged in life like that is exciting to me," she says.

Cameron Diaz

Terry Richardson / Esquire UK

Though she is currently happy not to have kids, Diaz, who recently starred in the comedy What To Expect When You're Expecting, has not ruled out having them someday.

"I don't need to have the children in my life be a part of my literal flesh," she says. "And anyway, there's still a possibility of that, I ain't that old. I'm feeling very ... capable."

Clearly comfortable in her own skin, Diaz says: "For the first time in my life I'm content. Getting older is the best part of life. I know myself better. I feel more capable than ever. And as far as the physicality of it – I feel better at 40 than I did at 25."

Via - http://feeds.people.com/~r/people/headlines/~3/MMI8rtY9HxQ/0,,20635397,00.html

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Gold rush: U.S. quickly grabs 9 medals

Allyson Felix of the United States crosses the finish line ahead of Murielle Ahoure of Cote d'Ivoire and Carmelita Jeter of the United States to win the women's 200-meter final on Wednesday, August 8. Check out Day 11 of competition from Tuesday, August 7. The Games run through Sunday, August 12. See all the action as it unfolds here.

Tiago Splitter of Brazil goes up for a shot against Carlos Delfino of Argentina in the first half of the men's basketball quaterfinal game.

Carla Rebecchi of Argentina stretches out to score during the women's hockey semifinal match against Great Britain.

Aries Merritt of the United States celebrates after winning gold in the men's 110-meter hurdles final.

Kim Ekdahl du Rietz of Sweden goes up to shoot against Denmark during the men's quarterfinal match.

Anna Nazarova of Russia competes in the women's long jump final.

Erika Kasahara of Japan, right, competes against Elizabeth Zamora Gordillo of Guatemala during the women's -49kg taekwondo repechage match.

Yohan Blake of Jamaica leads Bruno De Barros of Brazil and Jared Connaughton of Canada in the men's 200-meter semifinals.

Roman Avramenko of Ukraine competes in the men's javelin throw qualifications.

Dayron Robles of Cuba waits on the track after pulling up injured in the men's 110-meter hurdles final.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates after the men's 200-meter semifinals.

Poland's Bartosz Kurek, left, spikes as Russia's Sergey Grankin, center, and Alexander Volkov attempt to block during the men's quarterfinal volleyball match.

Juliana Silva of Brazil climbs into the crowd as she celebrates winning the women's beach volleyball bronze medal match against China.

Ivan Zaytsev of Uzbekistan competes in the men's javelin throw qualifications.

Argentinian forward Luis Scola, left, tries to score past Brazilian center Nene Hilario during the quarterfinal basketball match.

Senegal's Isabelle Sambou, in red, and Canadian Carol Huynh compete in women's freestyle 48-kilogram wrestling on Day 12 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The boats take off for the start of the men's 49er sailing in Weymouth Harbour.

Sweden's Jonas Larholm fights through Danish handball players during the men's quarterfinal match. Sweden beat Denmark 24-22.

Italian water polo player Valentino Gallo faces off with Hungarian Tamas Kasas, left, during the men's quarterfinal match.

A martial arts specialist performs stunts before the night session of taekwondo.

Exhibition riders perform on the BMX track.

French diver Audrey Labeau competes in the women's 10-meter platform preliminary.

Brent Newdick of New Zealand competes in the men's decathlon high jump.

Brazilian beach volleyball player Juliana Silva celebrates during the match against China. Brazil won the bronze medal.

Sweden's right back Kim Andersson, center, vies with Denmark's pivot Michael Knudsen during the men's quarterfinal handball match.

British hurdler Andrew Turner and Nigeria's Selim Nurudeen compete in the men's 110-meter hurdles semifinal.

U.S. hurdler Jason Richardson leads Cuba's Orlando Ortega and Great Britain's Lawrence Clarke in the men's 110-meter hurdles semifinal.

Denmark right back Kasper Sondergaard Sarup, center, shoots during the men's quarterfinal handball match against Sweden at the London Olympics on Wednesday, August 8.

Clarissa Kyoko Mei Ling Chun of the United States, top, faced Iwona Nina Matkowska of Poland in a women's freestyle 48-kilogram match.

Lee Dae-Hoon of South Korea competes against Alexey Denisenko of Russia during the men's 58-kilogram semifinal taekwondo match.

U.S. rider David Herman takes part in the BMX cycling seeding phase runs in Olympic Park.

Fans cheer the individual jumping equestrian event on Wednesday.

Prince Abdullah Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, on Davos, competes in the individual show jumping final.

Maik Baier of Germany powers down the track during the seeding run in the BMX competition.

South Korea's Joo Se-Hyuk returns a ball to China's Zhang Jike during the table tennis men's team final.

Jike Zhang of China, right, competes against Joo Se-Hyuk of South Korea.

Florent Piétrus of France goes up for a shot against Marc Gasol of Spain in the first half of their men's basketball quarterfinal game.

A freestyle BMX rider entertains the crowds during a break in the seeding phase runs.

James Clark of Australia looks on from the bench during the men's water polo quarterfinal match against Serbia.

Spain's Blai Mallarach Guell, center, makes a save in the men's water polo quarterfinal match against Montenegro.

Mariana Pajon of Colombia competes in the seeding run at the BMX track.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, left, takes a photo with Olympic volunteer Anita Akuwudike as he meets some of the volunteer work force at the ExCeL center in London.

Russia's Andrei Kirilenko, left, and Paulius Jankunas of Lithuania go up for a rebound during the men's basketball quarterfinal game.

Spain's Albert Rocas Comas shoots during the men's quarterfinal handball match against France.

Blair Tuke, left, and Peter Burling of New Zealand celebrate winning silver in the men's 49er sailing event in Weymouth, England.

New Zealand's Ella Gunson, left, and Kayla Sharland celebrate after Sharland scores their team's first goal during the women's field hockey semifinal match against the Netherlands.

Montenegro's water polo team celebrates its victory over Spain during the men's water polo quarterfinal match.

Brazil's Dante Amaral waits to serve the ball against Argentina during the men's volleyball quarterfinals.

Nikola Janovic, top, of Montenegro and Ivan Perez Vargas of Spain compete in the men's water polo quarterfinal match.

Ireland's Cian O'Connor riding Blue Loyd 12 celebrates winning the bronze in the individual jumping equestrian event.

Jinzi Li, left, of China battles Nadezda Torlopova of Russia during the women's middle 75-kilogram boxing semifinals.

Hungary's Gabor Csaszar scores on a fast break during the men's handball quarterfinal match against Iceland.

Morocco's Halima Hachlaf, left, and Caster Semenya of South Africa compete in round one of the women's 800-meter heats.

Portugal's Fernando Pimenta, left, and Emanuel Silva celebrate winning the silver medal during the men's kayak double 1,000-meter canoe sprint finals in Windsor, England.

Ashton Eaton of the United States competes in the men's decathlon shot put.

The crowd soaks up the atmosphere on Day 12 of the Olympics at Greenwich Park in London.

Nicola Adams of Great Britain gets refreshed during the women's fly (51-kilogram) boxing semifinal fight.

Ukraine's Irini Merleni, left, wrestles with Venezuela's Mayelis Yesenia Caripa Castillo during the women's 48-kilogram freestyle wrestling quarterfinal match.

American Ashton Eaton competes in the men's decathlon long jump qualifications.

Germany's Jan Felix Knobel competes in the men's decathlon's shot put qualifications.

Ireland's Cian O'Connor on Blue Loyd 12 competes during the equestrian individual jumping event.

Japan's Keisuke Ushiro competes in the men's decathlon long jump qualifications.

Marlen Esparza of the United States leaves the ring following her loss to Cancan Ren of China in the women's flyweight boxing semifinals.

Saudi Arabia's Sarah Attar, right, competes in round one of the women's 800-meter heats.

Chanatip Sonkham of Thailand competes against Kristina Kim of Russia during the women's taekwondo under 49-kilogram preliminary match.

Germany's Alexandra Engelhardt, right, competes against Mayelis Yesenia Caripa Castillo of Venezuela in women's freestyle 63-kilogram wrestling.

Eirik Veras Larsen of Norway celebrates the gold during the men's kayak single 1,000-meter canoe sprint finals in Windsor.

New Zealand's Peter Burling, left, and Blair Tuke celebrate winning silver in the men's 49er sailing final in Weymouth, England.

Russian center Timofey Mozgov, left, is challenged by Lithuanian guard Renaldas Seibutis during the men's quarterfinal basketball match.

Daniel Awde of Great Britain competes in the men's decathlon long jump.

Iceland's Sverre Jakobsson, top, vies with Hungary's Szabolcs Zubai during the men's quarterfinal handball match.

Japan's Murakami Ai, left, and Sulette Damons of South Africa vie for the ball during the women's field hockey classification match.

Australia's Craig Mottram leads in round one of the men's 5,000-meter heats at Olympic Stadium.

Palestinian runner Woroud Sawalha gets ready for round one of the women's 800-meter heats.

Peng Tang of Hong Kong competes in the men's team table-tennis bronze medal match.

Germany's Arne Gabius rests after round one of the men's 5,000-meter heats.

Pascal Behrenbruch of Germany competes in the men's decathlon long jump.

Mexico's Jannet Alegria Pena, left, competes against Raya Hatahet of Jordan during the women's taekwondo under 49-kilogram preliminary round.

Lukasz Michalski of Poland competes in the men's pole vault qualifications.

Hungary's Roland Kokeny and Rudolf Dombi celebrate winning gold in the men's kayak double 1,000-meter canoe sprint final in Windsor, England.

Sarah Attar of Saudi Arabia competes in round one of the women's 800-meter heats at Olympic Stadium.

From left, Trey Hardee of the United States, Luiz Alberto de Araujo of Brazil and Ashton Eaton of the United States compete in the men's decathlon 100-meter heats.

Seulki Kang, left, of the Central African Republic competes against Lucija Zaninovic of Croatia during the women's taekwondo under 49-kilogram preliminary round.

Liberia's Jangy Addy competes in the men's decathlon 100-meter heats.

Maksym Mazuryk of Ukraine competes in the men's pole vault qualifications.

Sebastian Brendel of Germany celebrates winning gold during the men's canoe single 1,000-meter sprint finals in Windsor.

Spectators cheer Daniel Awde of Great Britain after the men's decathlon 100-meter heats.

In Boat 5, from left, Hungary's Krisztina Fazekas, Katalin Kovacs and Danuta Kozak celebrate winning the gold medal in the women's kayak four 500-meter sprint final in Windsor.

Athletes compete in round one of the men's 5,000-meter heats at Olympic Stadium.

HIDE CAPTION

Day 12: The best photos of the Olympics

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Beach volleyball duo wins third consecutive gold
Allyson Felix of the United States blazes to gold in the women's 200 meters
Team USA win's in men's basketball behind LeBron's Olympic first
"It is a historic moment," says Sarah Attar, the first Saudi woman to compete in athletics

London (CNN) -- Allyson Felix, Aries Merritt and Brittany Reese led the U.S. medal haul at Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night, winning their events in scintillating style.

And the day wrapped up with the U.S. men's basketball team taking another step toward another gold.

Felix won the women's 200 meters with a dominant stretch effort, holding off Shelly-Ann Fraser Price of Jamaica and clocking a rousing 21.88. Carmelita Jeter of the United States was third.

"I thought back to the disappointment in Beijing," Felix, the silver medalist in Beijing and Athens, said. "It's been a long road, I never wanted to give up. It's been a journey -- never easy, but you can't lose sight of your dream. ... I've wanted it for so long."

U.S. athletes tweet God, Bible at Olympics

In all, the U.S. won seven athletics medals, including Merritt's gold and Jason Richardson's silver in the men's 110-meter hurdles.

Merritt's time of 12.92 was just .01 off the Olympic record.

"I trained for this intensity. I thought if I treat it like a practice then I could do ridiculous things," Merritt said. "I execute so well and when I practice there's no pressure, so if I (could) treat it like a practice, then there's no pressure."

Team GB's Lawrence Clarke -- heir to an English baronetcy and also a distant relative of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt -- acquitted himself well, finishing just behind bronze medalist Hansle Parchment of Jamaica.

"I can't believe I came fourth in the Olympic Games," Clarke said. "I didn't even expect to make the final. I ran the semifinal treating it as a final, and I ran a personal best there, so that was a dream come true."

The race was without China's Liu Xiang, who failed to make it past the first-round heat for a second consecutive Olympics. Liu, who took gold in 2004, faced an outpouring of criticism when he was forced to withdraw in Beijing with an Achilles tendon injury, but he received a more sympathetic response this time around.

Reese and Janay Deloach went 1-3 in the long jump, with Reese leaping 7.12 meters (23-feet-4) to beat Elena Sokolova of Russia.

"This is exactly what I had in my mind. I've trained four years for this," Reese said.

American Lashinda Demus nearly caught Natalya Antyukh at the line in the 400-meter hurdles, but settled for second.

Jamaica's Yohan Blake strolled through the line in his 200-meter semifinal, with Team USA's Wallace Spearmon also through to Thursday's final.

Blake's compatriot Usain Bolt also cruised through his semifinal, as he targets a repeat of his double triumph in the 100-meter and 200-meter races in Beijing.

Bolt told the BBC, the official broadcaster for the London Games, he is confident of beating Blake in the 200-meters final.

"No doubt whatsoever. I'm ready, this is my favorite event, so I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I know what I can do -- I never doubt myself."

The medals kept coming for the United States, which now tops the table with 81 medals overall to China's 77.

Americans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings made it three Olympic golds in a row, beating countrywomen April Ross and Jennifer Kessy two sets to none.

"This means a lot. It is my last match, but I'm OK with slipping away because this has been a special finale," May-Treanor said. "Whether we had finished on top or not, the thing that I'm proud of is us sticking together."

LeBron James became the first men's basketball player to have a triple double in an Olympics game. He scored 11 points, had 14 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the U.S. into the semfinals against Argentina.

Kobe Bryant got hot in the second half, scoring all of his team-high 20 points in the final 20 minutes as the Americans beat the Aussies 119-86. Twelve of those came on four 3-pointers in the middle of the fourth quarter that helped expand the U.S. lead from 15 to 25.

In Friday's other semifinal, Russia will play Spain.

The men's decathlon got going Wednesday, with athletes taking part in the 100 meters, long jump, shot put and high jump. Team USA's Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee were in first and second place after the first five events.

Team GB's Mo Farah, who took gold in the 10,000 meters Saturday to the delight of the home crowd, reached the 5,000-meter final after finishing third in his heat.

The women's 800-meter heats got under way, with defending champion Pamela Jelimo of Kenya the fastest winner of her heat. Team GB's Lynsey Sharp qualified close behind her.

Caster Semenya, the South African athlete who was the subject of a gender test by the International Association of Athletics Federations after her victory in Berlin at the world championships three years ago, also qualified as the second-fastest finisher in her heat.

Two runners competed wearing the hijab: 20-year-old Palestinian Woroud Sawalha and Sarah Attar from Saudi Arabia, reflecting the diversity of this Games, the first to see women athletes included in every one of the 204 delegations.

"I'm proud to represent Palestine," Sawalha said. "My parents called me before the race and said, 'All Palestinians are watching and hoping you get a good result.' I hope I will do well in the future. This Olympic Games is a first step for me."

Neither qualified for the next round, but Attar made history alongside teammate Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani, in judo, as the first two women to compete for Saudi Arabia. Brunei and Qatar also sent women competitors for the first time.

"It is a historic moment," Attar said, according to the official Games website. "I hope it will make a difference. It is a huge step forward."

These Games also mark the first time women's boxing is part of the Olympic program, with three semifinal bouts taking place Wednesday. Team GB's Nicola Adams made it through to the women's 51-kilogram flyweight gold medal bout after defeating India's Chungeijang Mery Kom Hmangte.

Adams will take on China's Ren Cancan for gold, after Ren beat Marlen Esparza of Team USA in their semifinal.

Both Esparza and Hmangte are awarded bronze, as there are no bronze-medal matches.

Blood was spilled in the first women's field hockey semifinal, as New Zealand player Katie Glynn took a nasty blow to the head from a Dutch opponent's stick. She returned to the field to play on, her head swathed in bandages.

The game was finally decided in a tense penalty shootout after neither side scored in extra time, with victory -- and a place in the gold-medal final -- going to the Netherlands.

There was also drama on the BMX track, where Team USA's Brooke Crain needed medical attention after coming off her BMX and smashing into a bump on the track during the seeding run.

It's not the end of the 19-year-old's Olympic dream though. A tweet from the BMX Program Director at USA Cycling said Crain "is sore but will be ready for Friday," when the semi-finals take place.

Elsewhere, the American men's volleyball team was knocked out by Italy in the quarterfinal. Italy will face Brazil in the semifinal Friday.

China beat South Korea to take the gold medal in the men's team table tennis final, and the bronze went to Germany.

The victory means China has won gold in every table tennis event played at the London Games and in Beijing in 2008, according to the official Games website.

Earlier, Katrin Wagner-Augustin of Germany lost out on her second attempt at becoming the second woman in Olympic history to win a gold medal at four consecutive Games after helping take silver in the women's kayak four (K4). She still has one more shot at gold in the women's kayak single final on Thursday. Lisa Leslie, who won gold with the U.S. basketball teams in 1996-2008, is the only other woman to do so.

Gold in the women's K4 went to Hungary and bronze to Belarus.

On a good morning for Hungary on the water, it also took the gold in the men's double kayak final. Silver went to Portugal, giving the country its first medal of the Games.

Norway and Germany took gold in the men's single kayak and single canoe sprint events, respectively.

Australia, whose athletes got off to a slow start in the medal stakes but are now gathering steam, took gold in the men's 49er sailing, while New Zealand claimed silver.

Over at Greenwich Park, the individual show jumping final put horses and riders through their paces.

Switzerland's Steve Guerdat came out with the gold after posting the only two clear rounds of the event.

Silver went to the Netherlands' Gerco Schroder, with Ireland's Cian O'Connor pushed into bronze position after a jump-off. That bronze is Ireland's first medal of the Games.

Great Britain, which took gold in the team show jumping event this week and its first ever dressage team gold Tuesday, could only manage equal fifth for rider Nick Skelton, disappointing the home crowds.

Team GB, for which Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter Zara Phillips helped win silver in the event, is not the only delegation to count royalty among its athletes: Prince Abdullah Al Saud of Saudi Arabia took part in the individual show jumping, coming joint 26th on his horse, Davos.

Via - http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_topstories/~3/FUKumozQb9k/index.html

Monday 6 August 2012

Gunman was Army vet, police say

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: Suspect bought gun recently, says law enforcement official
Suspect's former girlfriend interviewed, federal law enforcement official says
A former Army buddy says Wade Michael Page, 40, talked back then of "racial holy war"
Family of suspect says it is "devastated," in prayer for victims

Oak Creek, Wisconsin (CNN) -- An Army veteran who neighbors say played in a far-right punk band was the lone shooter in the rampage at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin that killed six people and wounded four, according to information Monday from law enforcement authorities.

Wade Michael Page, 40, was shot to death by police responding to the Sunday morning attack in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek, the community's chief of police told reporters.

It was the latest violence against the Sikh community in the United States in apparent misdirected revenge for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

A long history of bias crimes against Sikhs

Sunday's attack occurred 16 days after a gunman killed 12 people and wounded scores in a Colorado movie theater, reigniting the gun-control debate in the United States.

"These kinds of terrible and tragic events are happening with too much regularity for us not do some soul-searching and examine additional ways that we can prevent" such violence, President Barack Obama told reporters when asked about the Wisconsin shooting at a White House bill-signing ceremony.

However, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg criticized Obama and certain Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for not advocating tougher laws to prevent dangerous people from obtaining guns.

"The fact that criminals, terrorists and other mentally ill people have access to guns is a national crisis," Bloomberg said during a visit to a Sikh community center in Queens.

Bernard Zapor, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent in the investigation, said Monday that the 9 mm semiautomatic handgun with multiple ammunition magazines used by the attacker had been legally purchased.

Page bought the gun on July 28 at the Shooters Shop in West Allis, Wisconsin, and picked it up two days later, according to a law enforcement official. The suspect bought ammunition there and used the shop's range at some point, said the official.

The gunman shot people inside and outside the Sikh house of worship, including a police officer, Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards said. Another police officer with a rifle then shot the gunman, who died at the scene.

Read Obama's statement on the Wisconsin shooting

While authorities said Page was the only gunman, they also had been looking for another man spotted at the crime scene Sunday who left before anyone could identify him. On Monday, the FBI's Paul Bresson said the man being sought had been "located, interviewed and cleared."

According to Edwards and the FBI, authorities have received tips that Page might have links to the white supremacist movement, but nothing had been confirmed.

Two neighbors of Page identified him in photos that showed him playing in the far-right punk band "End Apathy," and the nephew of the slain president of the Sikh temple said the attacker had a 9/11 tattoo on his arm.

Teresa Carlson, the FBI special agent in charge of the investigation of Sunday's shooting, said no motive for the attack has been established. The FBI was looking into whether it was domestic terrorism, which is the use of violence for political or social gain, Carlson said.

"We are looking at ties to white supremacist groups," Carlson told a news conference, adding there was no active investigation of Page prior to Sunday's attack.

According to a man who described himself as an old Army buddy of Page's, the attacker talked about "racial holy war" when they served together in the 1990s. Christopher Robillard of Oregon, who said he lost contact with Page more than a decade ago, added that when Page would rant, "it would be about mostly any non-white person."

"He didn't seem like the type of person to go out and hurt people," Robillard said. "He would talk about it all the time, but it was more like he was waiting for the ... revolution to start."

Page, born on Veterans Day in 1971, joined the Army in 1992 and left the service in 1998, according to Army spokesman George Wright. His service was marked by "patterns of misconduct," though he received an honorable discharge, according to a Pentagon official.

The suspect did have a criminal record, Edwards said. A background check showed Page had separate convictions for DUI in Colorado in 1999 and for criminal mischief in Texas in 1994.

A federal law enforcement official told CNN that investigators interviewed a former girlfriend of Page. The woman said the pair had recently broken up, and she told investigators she had no indication Page planned such an attack. She provided the names of friends and associates of Page, the official said.

Page's family said it was "devastated by the horrific events," according to the Journal Sentinel newspaper.

"While there can be no words of comfort that will make sense of what happened that day, please be aware that our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families," the family said in a text message, according to the newspaper.

"We share in their grief for all who lost their lives that day and for those survivors, we hope for a speedy recovery. We have been cooperating and will continue to cooperate with the investigation in any way we can. Please respect our privacy as we try to deal with the tragic loss of life and family."

Obama noted Monday that the motive for attack had yet to be determined, but if it turns out to be based on the ethnicity of the worshipers, "I think the American people immediately recoil from those kinds of attitudes."

Because of their customary beards and turbans, Sikh men are often confused with Muslims, and they have been the targets of hate crimes since 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

The six victims of Sunday's attack were identified by police as five men -- Sita Singh, 41; Ranjit Singh, 49; Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65; Prakash Singh, 39, and Suveg Singh, 84 -- and one woman, 41-year-old Paramjit Kaur.

Photos: Shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin

Two other Sikh victims remained hospitalized in critical condition, while a third was treated and released, Edwards said.

Vigils were scheduled Monday night in the Milwaukee metropolitan area.

Lt. Brian Murphy

The wounded police officer, identified as 51-year-old Lt. Brian Murphy, also was in critical condition, the police chief said. Edwards told CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" that Murphy had a "promising," but long, recovery ahead.

Terror, tragedy for tight-knit Sikh community

One of the dead, Prakash Singh, was a priest who recently immigrated to the United States with his wife and two young children, said Justice Singh Khalsa, a temple member since the 1990s.

Relatives of Kaleka, the president of the temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, said that he was killed fighting the attacker.

"From what we understand, he basically fought to the very end and suffered gunshot wounds while trying to take down the gunman," said Kanwardeep Singh Kaleka, his nephew.

Kaleka said those inside the gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, described the attacker as a bald white man, dressed in a white T-shirt and black pants and with the 9/11 tattoo on one arm -- which "implies to me that there's some level of hate crime there."

Belief Blog: Who are Sikhs?

While officials try to piece together what prompted the man to go on his shooting spree, America's Sikh community struggled to come to grips with the brutal attack.

A Sikh human rights group said it would give a $10,000 reward to Murphy, the police officer wounded in the attack.

"Our government must take urgent steps to educate the country about the Sikh population and help put an end to these horrific and deadly acts of violence," said a statement by the group, Sikhs for Justice.

Kaleka was horrified to have such violence occur at his place of worship, especially so soon after the 12 killings at a screening of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado.

"You're talking about Aurora one minute, and the next minute it's you and your family," Kaleka said.

Meanwhile in India, the birthplace of Sikhism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was "shocked and saddened" by the shooting.

"That this senseless act of violence should be targeted at a place of religious worship is particularly painful," Singh, himself a Sikh, said.

The country's main Sikh political party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, held a demonstration in New Delhi's embassy district Monday to protest.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke by phone with India's foreign minister, and U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell met with Sikh community leaders in New Delhi and visited the largest Sikh temple in the city, said State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell.

Sunday's attack occurred about 10:30 a.m., when temple members were reading scriptures and cooking food in preparation for the main Sunday service and community lunch. The temple has more than 350 members.

According to witnesses, the gunman started shooting in the parking lot, killing at least one person. He then entered the temple and continued firing, they said. Police spent Sunday night searching the shooter's home in nearby Cudahy, a short distance from the temple.

Political leaders at the national, state and local level offered condolences for the killings and declared solidarity with the Sikh community.

Obama ordered U.S flags flown at half-staff through Friday "as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence."

In a statement Sunday, Obama said the United States had been "enriched" by Sikhs, and that his administration "will provide whatever support is necessary to the officials who are responding to this tragic shooting and moving forward with an investigation."

Romney, meanwhile, called the slayings "a senseless act of violence and a tragedy that should never befall any house of worship."

Romney: A 'senseless act of violence'

The United States is home to about 700,000 Sikhs, nearly all of Indian origin, according to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. The men are easily identifiable by their beards and turbans, a tradition that's lasted for 500 years.

The first person murdered in retaliation for the 9/11 attacks was a Sikh -- Balbir Singh Sodhi, a gas station owner in Mesa, Arizona. He was shot five times by aircraft mechanic Frank Roque on September 15, 2001. Roque is serving a life sentence.

In the intervening years, the Sikh Coalition, a New York-based advocacy group, reported more than 700 attacks or bias-related incidents.

Obama: Shooting a 'tragedy'

Six people were killed in a shooting rampage. Share your thoughts and remembrances.

CNN's Tom Cohen, Brian Todd, Harmeet Shah Singh, Poppy Harlow, Ed Payne, Ted Rowlands, Marlena Baldacci, Matt Smith, Steve Almasy, Greg Botelho, Phil Gast, Shawn Nottingham, Carol Cratty, Susan Candiotti and Deborah Feyerick contributed to this report.

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Monday 30 July 2012

U.S. wins two swimming golds as young stars shine

South Africa's Cameron Van der Burgh celebrates after breaking the world record in the men's 100-meter breaststroke at the London Olympics on Sunday, July 29. Check out Day 1 of competition from Saturday, July 28. The 2012 Summer Olympics run through August 12. See all the action as it unfolds here.

Argentina's Ana Gallay, right, and Maria Virginia Zonta go for the ball during the women's beach volleyball preliminary match against April Ross and Jennifer Kessy of the United States.

U.S. swimmer Thomas Nick, front, competes in the men's 100-meter backstroke semifinals.

Britain's Tom Cleverley, center, vies for the ball with United Arab Emirate's Hamdan Al-Kamali, right.

Fans of Great Britain cheer during the men's basketball game against Russia.

Lithuanian forward Linas Kleiza shoots during a preliminary basketball match against Argentina.

A general view of the Aquatics Centre on Sunday evening.

Jerry Bengtson of Honduras celebrates after scoring in the team's first-round soccer match against Spain.

France's Clement Lefert (standing, from left), Amaury Leveaux and Fabien Gilot celebrate after winning the men's 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay final.

David Ferrer of Spain plays a forehand shot during the men's singles tennis match against Vasek Pospisil of Canada.

French swimmer Camille Muffat celebrates after winning the women's 400-meter freestyle final.

Laura Svilpaite of Lithuania competes on the beam during the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round.

Christos Tsakmakis of Greece competes during the men's canoe single slalom.

Heem Wei Lim of Singapore competes in the floor exercise of the artistic gymnastics women's qualification round.

Football fans wear masks depicting David Beckham while waiting for the match between United Arab Emirates and Great Britain to begin at Wembley Stadium.

British forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu shoots during the men's preliminary basketball match against Russia.

Britain's Sally Watson, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring against Japan during the women's field hockey preliminary match.

Jingbiao Wu of China takes part in the men's 56-kilogram weightlifting competition.

Italian fencer Diego Occhiuzzi kisses his silver medal after the men's individual saber.

Germany's Robert Stanjek and Frithjof Kleen are in action in the first Star class race in Weymouth, England.

From right, Marianne Vos of the Netherlands, Elizabeth Armitstead of Great Britain, Kristin Armstrong of the United States and Olga Zabelinskaya of Russia cycle in a downpour during the women's road race.

American Kyla Ross competes in the floor exercise in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round.

Crista Cullen of Great Britain competes against Masako Sato of Japan during a women's field hockey match.

Senegalese players celebrate at the end of the football match against Uruguay in Wembley Stadium. Senegal defeated Uruguay 2-0.

Greece's Ioannis Mitakis competes in the Finn class race at Weymouth Harbour.

Italy's Diego Occhiuzzi, right, celebrates his victory over Romania's Rares Dumitrescu during the men's saber semifinal fencing bout.

Sweden's Malin Petersen on Sofarsogood acknowledges the crowd after competing in the dressage event.

U.S. swimmer Dana Vollmer, right, prepares for the women's 100-meter butterfly final. Vollmer went on to win a gold medal and set a world record in the event, becoming the first woman to go under 56 seconds.

Becchara Palmer of Australia dives for the ball during a women's beach volleyball preliminary match against Germany.

Neymar, left, of Brazil reacts during the men's football match with Belarus' Igor Kuzmenok in Manchester, England.

Fan shield themselves from the rain during the women's team archery event at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

Chinese gymnast Yao Jinnan performs on the beam during the women's artistic gymnastics qualification round.

American Alexandra Raisman hugs coach Mihai Brestyan during the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round.

Teammates congratulate Senegal's Moussa Konate after he scores the opening goal against Uruguay in Wembley Stadium.

Francesca Dallape and Tania Cagnotto of Italy compete in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard final at the Aquatics Centre.

Spain's Pau Gasol dunks the ball against China at the Basketball Arena in London.

Brazil's Hulk leaps over Aleksandr Gutor of Belarus during a first-round group C football match in Manchester.

Andy Murray of Britain returns the ball against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during their men's singles tennis match.

Marianne Vos of the Netherlands celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the women's road race.

Argentina's Luciana Aymar, center, rear, and her teammates cheer after she scored the opening goal during a women's field hockey match between Argentina and South Africa

Sharleen Stratton and Anabelle Smith of Australia compete in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard final at the Aquatics Centre.

Ben Ainslie of Great Britain in action during the first Finn class race in Weymouth, England.

Argentina's Rodrigo Quiroga, left, spikes as Australia's team attempts to block during men's volleyball action between Australia and Argentina.

Great Britain's Jennifer Pinches shows her prowess on the beam in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round.

Poland's Pawel Zagrodnik, left, and Masashi Ebinuma of Japan rest on the mat after their men's under 66-kilogram judo match.

Sweden's Andreas Nilsson, No. 35 in yellow, scores past Issam Tej and goalkeeper Marouen Maggaiz of Tunisia during a men's handball preliminary match.

South Korea's Bongil Gu, left, and Max Hartung of Germany face off in the men's saber individual fencing round.

Sweden's Dalibor Doder jumps to shoot during a men's handball preliminary match between Sweden and Tunisia.

Italy's Rosalba Forciniti celebrates after winning against South Korea's Kyung-Ok Kim during the women's under 52-kilogram judo match.

Dark skies loom during the men's beach volleyball preliminary match between Brazil and Austria at the Horse Guards Parade in London.

Australia's Lauren Mitchell competes in the floor exercise in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification round at North Greenwich Arena.

Masashi Ebinuma of Japan, in white, competes against Sergey Lim of Kazakhstan in a men's under 66-kilogram judo bout.

Italy's Diego Occhiuzzi celebrates his victory over Italian teammate Aldo Montano at the end of the men's saber fencing bout.

The main group of riders passes by the Mall near Buckingham Palace during the women's road race cycling.

Belgium's Gaelle Valcke competes against the Kitty van Male of the Netherlands during a women's field hockey match.

Long Chen of China returns a shot against Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand during the men's singles badminton match at Wembley Arena.

French center Ronny Turiaf challenges U.S. guard Kobe Bryant during the men's preliminary round Group A match.

Germany's Sideris Tasiadis competes during the men's canoe single slalom.

French center Kevin Seraphin, No. 4 in blue, fends off a challenger during the U.S.-France preliminary round match.

Center back Ivano Balic of Croatia jumps to shoot during a men's preliminary handball against South Korea.

A gymnast performs on the floor during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.

Australian forward Joe Ingles shoots during a men's preliminary round basketball match against Brazil.

China's Biao Chai, right, and Zendong Guo return a shot against South African competitors during a men's doubles badminton match at Wembley Arena.

Brazil's Tiago Splitter, left, and teammate Anderson Varejao react after a foul against Australia during the Brazil-Australia men's basketball game.

Australia's Lauren Mitchell competes on the balance beam in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification.

American Kimberly Rhode competes in the qualification round for women's skeet shooting. Rhodes went on to win a gold medal.

British fans cheer as Colin Oates of Great Britain defeats Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar of Mongolia in the men's under 66-kilogram judo match.

Nick Thoman of the United States competes in the men's 100-meter backstroke heat.

Great Britain's Rebecca Adlington, center, competes in the women's 400-meter freestyle heat at the Aquatics Centre.

China's Man Zhong celebrates after winning the men's saber individual fencing round against South Korea's Junghwan Kim.

Portuguese gymnast Zoi Mafalda Marques de Lima performs on the vault during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.

France's Camille Lacourt dives in the water before the men's 100-meter backstroke heat.

Brazil's Anderson Varejao, No. 11 in white, gets fouled by Australia's David Andersen, No. 13, as Anderson teammate Matt Nielsen goes for the rebound during the Brazil-Australia men's basketball game.

Cyclists at the start of the women's road race event.

Germany's Marcus Bohme, left, and Marcus Popp attempt to block a shot from Russia during men's volleyball competition.

France's Camille Lacourt competes in the men's 100-meter backstroke heat.

Egypt's Sara Mohamed Baraka, right, and Fatma Rashed compete in the women's lightweight double sculls heats for rowing.

Camille Muffat of France competes in the women's 400-meter freestyle heat.

Dmitry Lapkes, right, of Belarus does battle with Canada's Philippe Beaudry in a fencing bout Sunday at London's ExCeL arena.

Yamilet Pena Abreu of the Dominican Republic competes in the vault competiton in the artistic gymnastics women's team qualification.

France's David Larose, in white, and Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia, in blue, face off during the men's half lightweight judo event.

The festive nail polish of Great Britain's Amy Oliver stands out during the women's team archery elimination match between Britain and Russia.

Nigeria's Quadri Aruna serves in his men's singles second-round table-tennis match against Turkey's Bora Vang.

The Netherlands' women's field hockey team celebrates a third goal against Belgium.

Vietnamese gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do performs on the beam during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.

Fans at Wimbledon's Centre Court take shelter from a downpour under a Union Jack umbrella during a rain delay.

Sri Lanka's Heshan Unamboowe competes in the men's 100-meter backstroke heat.

Australia's Emily Seebohm celebrates after breaking the Olympic record in the women's 100-meter backstroke heat.

Francesco Faraldo of Italy, in blue, reacts after losing against Sugoi Uriarte of Spain, in white, during their men's judo event.

Finland's Lightweight Men's Four take a break from rowing during practice.

Swimmers warm up with laps prior to competition.

An athlete's Olympic rings tattoo is seen during a swimming event.

Musa Mogushkov of Russia, in white, competes with Azerbaijan's Tarlan Karimov, in blue, during their men's 66 kilogram judo event.

Romy Tarangul of Germany, center in blue, celebrates her win against Natalia Kuziutina of Russia in the women's 52 kilogram judo event.

Aron Palmarsson of Iceland jumps to shoot during the men's preliminaries handball match against Argentina.

Anastasia Zueva of Russia competes in the women's 100 meter backstroke.

Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson of Iceland, center in red, prepares to shoot against Argentina during a men's preliminary handball match.

U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin competes in the women's 100 meter backstroke.

Gaelle Mys of Belgium performs on the beam during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.

Elsa Garcia Rodriguez Blancas of Mexico performs on the balance beam during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event.

Britain's Prince Philip, right, and Princess Anne, Princess Royal, left, attend the Dressage phase of the equestrian competition.

Great Britain's Zara Phillips competes with her horse High Kingdom during the Dressage Equestrian eventon.

Leandro Cunha of Brazil, in white, competes with Pawel Zagrodnik of Poland, in blue, during their men's 66 kilogram judo event.

Nigeria's Ike Diogu, No. 6 in white, collides with Tunisia's Salah Mejri, No. 15 in red, during their men's basketball game.

U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte competes in the men's 200-meter freestyle.

Guatemalan gymnast Ana Sofia Gomez Porras competes on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastics qualification event.

Australia's Jade Close, left, and New Zealand's Emily Naylor, right, compete in field hockey.

Gonzalo Matias Carou, right, of Argentina attempts to shoot past Asgeir Orn Hallgrimsson, left, of Iceland during the men's preliminaries handball match.

Belgian gymnast Gaelle Mys competes on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastics qualification event.

HIDE CAPTION

Day 2: The best photos of the Olympics

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Day 2: The best photos of the Olympics

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: A controversy at men's gymnastics affects the medal winners
NEW: The queen's granddaughter stays on course for an equestrian medal
A 15-year-old is among the young swimmers to top the medal stand
A Saudi Arabian judo competitor is allowed to compete wearing a headscarf

How are you celebrating the Olympics? Share your excitement and moments with CNN iReport.

London (CNN) -- Young stars shone at the Olympic pool Monday as Yannick Agnel of France won his second gold medal of the London Games, American teen sensation Missy Franklin won her first and a 15-year-old Lithuanian stunned the women's 100-meter breaststroke field.

The 20-year-old Agnel, just a day after swimming an amazing anchor leg in leading France to victory in the men's 4x100 meter free style relay, routed the field in the 200-meter freestyle. He beat both silver medalists, Park Taehwan of South Korea and Yang Sun of China, by 1.79 seconds. Ryan Lochte of the United States finished fourth.

Franklin, just 17, swam an American record 58.33 in the 100-meter backstroke, ahead of Australia's Emily Seebohm and Japan's Aya Terakawa. Seebohm led at the halfway point but with the two side-by-side, the young American overpowered her down the stretch. Only 20 minutes earlier Franklin had swum in the 200-meter freestyle semifinals, qualifying for Tuesday's final.

Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte won her country's first swimming medal ever as an independent nation, winning gold in the final medal event of the night, the women's 100-meter breaststroke.

"It's too much for me," the clearly overwhelmed 15-year-old said. "I can't believe it."

Matt Grevers of the United States won the men's 100-meter backstroke.

The hearts of the host nation were broken when teen diving star Tom Daley failed to bring home a medal in the 10-meter synchronized platform event. The 18-year-old and his appropriately-named partner Pete Waterfield finished fourth, with favorites Yuan Cao and Yanquan Zhang of China taking gold.

The disappointment was tempered somewhat by the men's gymnastics team, which took bronze, its first medal in the sport in 100 years. When the results were first announced Great Britain was to get silver, but the fourth-place Japanese team protested a score for one of its gymnasts. The judges upped Kohei Uchimura's mark on the pommel horse, giving Japan 271.952 to Great Britain's 271.711 and Ukraine's 271.526. As many expected, China won the team title, as it did in two of the past three Olympics.

The United States drew level with China for the total number of medals so far, with 17 apiece, but nine of China's are gold, compared with five for Team USA.

In equestrian, Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Zara Phillips had a good day in Greenwich, where she and Great Britain are in medal contention. As 50,000 people, including Prince William and Prince Harry, watched, Phillips cleared all 28 jumps during the cross-country portion of the team eventing contest. Germany leads the competition, which concludes Tuesday, with Great Britain second and Sweden third.

Meanwhile, a controversy was averted as the International Olympic Committee and the International Judo Federation approved allowing Saudi judo competitor Wojdan Shaherkani to wear her headscarf, Saudi National Olympic Committee spokesman Razan Baker told CNN's Nic Robertson. This year is the first time every nation has sent women athletes to the Olympics. Saudi Arabia was the last nation to agree to send women.

Her first match is on Friday.

SUNDAY'S TOP DEVELOPMENTS

GYMNASTICS:

Tears streamed down the faces of two American gymnasts during qualifications Sunday, but for two very different reasons.

Reigning world all-around champion Jordyn Wieber failed to qualify for the women's all-around final by less than half a point, erupting into tears at the news. She was edged out by teammates Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman, who broke down after learning she would compete in the prestigious all-around competition Thursday.

Wieber's miss sparked debate about a controversial rule that limits each country to sending no more than two gymnasts to the all-around final -- even if a third-place teammate has a higher score than a gymnast who qualifies from another country. Wieber placed fourth overall in qualifications for the 24-competitor event.

The top eight countries, including United States, Russia and China, will fight for the gold medal in the team competition on Tuesday.

SWIMMING:

France beat the United States in the men's 4x100-meter swimming relay on Sunday, with Michael Phelps and the United States taking a silver medal.

The medal was the 17th for Phelps, and put him one behind Larisa Latynina, a Soviet gymnast who earned nine golds, five silvers and four bronzes between 1956 and 1964.

The United States held the lead for three of the four legs, but Agnel caught Lochte just after the turn and pulled away at the end.

"We (swam) the four best guys, and we went out there and we just raced tough," Lochte said. "We came up a little short."

It was payback for the French, who lost in similar style to the United States in 2008.

South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh broke the world record in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 58.46 and dedicated his gold medal to Alexander Dale Oen, a world champion from Norway who died of heart failure this year at age 26.

BASKETBALL:

The U.S. men's basketball squad easily won its first game, beating France 98-71.

Kevin Durant led the United States, made up of NBA all-stars and the college player of the year, with 22 points.

"We still have a lot of work to do, but that's the beauty of it all," Durant said. "We're all coming together in such a short time. We're having fun playing. Guys don't worry about points, rebounds, assists; we just want to play to win."

The team will face Tunisia on Tuesday.

Many are hoping to see how this year's American squad stacks up to the legacy of the 1992 U.S. basketball team, known as the Dream Team, which trounced the competition at the Barcelona Games by an average of more than 40 points.

Money, medals and more: The Olympics by the numbers

CNN's Allysen Miller contributed to this report.

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