Thursday 26 June 2014

Sherri Shepherd to leave "The View"


Producers and people close to Sherri Shepherd have known for months that she was ready to leave


Producers and people close to Sherri Shepherd have known for months that she was ready to leave "The View," sources say.






  • People close to Shepherd have known for months she was ready to go, sources say

  • Barbara Walters bid farewell to "The View" last month

  • Co-host Jenny McCarthy tweets: "If Sherri goes... I go too"




(CNN) -- Sherri Shepherd is leaving the daytime talk show "The View," sources close to her told CNN on Thursday.


Producers and people close to Shepherd have known for months that she was ready to go, they said, adding that Shepherd kept the news quiet because she didn't want to upstage or disrupt Barbara Walters' retirement.


Co-host Walters bid farewell to "The View" last month, although she will still serve as the show's executive producer.


One of the sources close to Shepherd said staff at "The View" learned about some "abrupt" changes Thursday. The source could not say what those changes are.


Jenny McCarthy, another co-host on the show, later tweeted: "If Sherri goes... I go too."


She added: "My View will be changing too ... Thanks to everyone at the show for your dedication and an amazing year."


CNN's Breeanna Hare contributed to this report.



Americans freed in Honduras





  • Six Americans had been detained in Honduras for over a month

  • They were accused of trying to smuggle weapons into the country on their ship

  • A congressman and brother of the ship's captain say they're out of prison

  • Brother: "We're happy, but we won't celebrate until they are out of Honduran waters"




(CNN) -- Six Americans imprisoned in Honduras for more than a month on charges they attempted to smuggle weapons into the country are now free.


A family member of one of the former captives and a U.S. congressman, who had traveled to the Central American nation to inquire about the Americans, said Thursday that the men were out of prison and headed home.


"It is with great pleasure I am able to announce the safe release of the six Americans wrongfully imprisoned in Honduras," Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, said in a statement.


"The crew of the Aqua Quest -- including the son of one of my constituents -- is in the process of traveling back to the United States and being reunited with their families following the ordeal."





American treasure hunters detained

The Americans were in Honduras to work with local officials in the impoverished, rural municipality of Ahuas to remove valuable mahogany logs from a nearby riverbed, remnants of decades of logging. Profits from the sale of the recovered logs would be split between the salvage company and the municipality for a social project there.


But this project ended abruptly with their arrest May 5, after Honduran authorities boarded their ship and discovered a couple of handguns, two shotguns and a semiautomatic rifle.


The ship's captain, Robert Mayne, told CNN by cell phone from his prison cell that the weapons were for protection against piracy while at sea.


"Everyone tells us this would never happen in any other port in Honduras," he said earlier this month, expressing his frustration with the judge's and state prosecutor's interpretation of the law. "We have the right to do it (carry arms) for protection on the high seas."


His brother Stephen Mayne, who owns Aqua Quest International, said he received word Thursday that the charges against his brother and the rest of the crew had been dropped.


"Right now they are on their way to the boat," Mayne told CNN. "We're happy, but we won't celebrate until they are out of Honduran waters."



10 'secret' S. African experiences






The Golden Gate Highlands National Park in Free State -- great place for a picnic. The Golden Gate Highlands National Park in Free State -- great place for a picnic.

The Garden Route's jagged coastline includes indigenous forests as well as oysters, beaches and lakes.The Garden Route's jagged coastline includes indigenous forests as well as oysters, beaches and lakes.

A trip to Lion's Head mountain (pictured) can get crowded, but it's a popular sunset spot for good reason. A trip to Lion's Head mountain (pictured) can get crowded, but it's a popular sunset spot for good reason.

Johannesburg, or Jozi, has an African energy all of its own. This restaurant is part of 44 On Stanley, a creative gathering place in the city.Johannesburg, or Jozi, has an African energy all of its own. This restaurant is part of 44 On Stanley, a creative gathering place in the city.

Maropeng is the official visitor center of the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and reportedly where our human ancestors settled 3 million years ago. The center includes fossils found near the Sterkfontein Caves.Maropeng is the official visitor center of the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and reportedly where our human ancestors settled 3 million years ago. The center includes fossils found near the Sterkfontein Caves.

The Battlefields was the scene of bloody battles during the Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu wars. It includes part of the Nambiti Private Game Reserve (pictured). The Battlefields was the scene of bloody battles during the Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu wars. It includes part of the Nambiti Private Game Reserve (pictured).

The winding roads through this pretty farming area have become home to top restaurants, quaint cafes, art galleries and guesthouses. The Capture Site marks the spot where Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962.The winding roads through this pretty farming area have become home to top restaurants, quaint cafes, art galleries and guesthouses. The Capture Site marks the spot where Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962.

Just 15 minutes from Durban International Airport, upmarket Umhlanga, with wide, sandy beaches, has a permanent holiday vibe. Teremok Marine (pictured) is a five-star guesthouse set in a large, old family home. Just 15 minutes from Durban International Airport, upmarket Umhlanga, with wide, sandy beaches, has a permanent holiday vibe. Teremok Marine (pictured) is a five-star guesthouse set in a large, old family home.

The Wild Coast has rolling hills that drop into the sea and waterfalls that crash into lagoons. Bulungula Lodge (pictured) is a simple eco-friendly establishment. The Wild Coast has rolling hills that drop into the sea and waterfalls that crash into lagoons. Bulungula Lodge (pictured) is a simple eco-friendly establishment.

The Southern African Large Telescope allows stargazers to observe Sutherland's famously clear skies. The Southern African Large Telescope allows stargazers to observe Sutherland's famously clear skies.









  • Arty expeditions into Johannesburg's center uncover a city with an energy of its own

  • South Africa is home to the Cradle of Humankind, where our ancestors lived 3 million years ago

  • The Midlands, the Wild Coast and the Garden Route offer exceptional scenic adventures




(CNN) -- You might know South Africa for Kruger National Park, where you can see the Big Five, or for the gorgeous beaches and wine farms that surround Cape Town.


But there's more to see and do around this 1.2-million-square-kilometer (463,000 square miles) country.


These 10 destinations help round out a full South Africa experience.


1. Johannesburg


Often shunned by visitors, Jozi (as South Africans call Johannesburg) thrives on new ideas, outrageous talent and bold creativity.


It's a city with an energy all of its own -- for that reason alone it's worth exploring.


What to do: You can soak up the vibe at Maboneng Precinct, an inner-city neighborhood that's become a trendy gathering place for artists, foodies and performers.


Food, accommodation and entertainment are all here.


Another creative gathering space is 44 On Stanley.


Once a collection of industrial buildings, it's been transformed into space that houses design studios, coffee shops and boutique stores.


Where to stay: The Troyeville Hotel is as famous for the artists and political activists who've stayed here, as it is for the hearty Portuguese cuisine it's served them.


Operating as a hotel since the 1930s, the Troyeville's intellectually inclined gatherings remain legendary for good food and conversation.


2. Cradle of Humankind


Experts say we all come from an area just hour outside of Johannesburg: the Cradle of Humankind.


This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been inhabited by humans and our ancestors for more than 3 million years, providing an incredible look into our development as a species.


What to do: The area is divided into two main sections.


Maropeng has the official visitor center, built as a grassy dome. From here you can take an underground boat trip.


The Sterkfontein Caves have exhibitions and trails into the caves. This is a fascinating area, with world-class interactive exhibitions, requiring a full day to take it all in.


Where to stay: To sleep close to where it all began, you can stay at the Maropeng Boutique Hotel.


The hotel, which has lovely views across the Magaliesberg and Witwaterberg mountains, is a short walk from the Maropeng visitor center.


MORE: 10 things to know before visiting South Africa




Away from Bloemfontein, Free State\'s capital, there are spectacular mountains and farmlands.

Away from Bloemfontein, Free State's capital, there are spectacular mountains and farmlands.



3. Free State


The Free State is a province wrapped around the north of Lesotho that bulges into South Africa's interior.


It's a province dominated by farm areas -- but in the east, in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, there's spectacular scenery.


What to do: Sunrise and sunset are memorable times at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, when the sun's rays turn majestic sandstone cliffs into columns of deep yellow and ocher.


Game viewing at this park is good -- you can expect to see eland, blesbok, springbok and black wildebeest.


Guided horseback rides take in the peaceful, picturesque town of Clarens. Surrounded by sandstone mountains, it's known for art galleries and pottery studios.


The Free State is a three-hour drive from Johannesburg -- it's a popular weekend trip for locals.


Where to stay: Just outside Clarens, Kiara Lodge has a spa, swimming pool, good restaurant and lots of activities.


The views are lovely, and it's a good base for exploring the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Clarens.


4. The Battlefields


The Drakensberg is one of South Africa's most dramatic mountain ranges, where the land drops through cliffs and valleys and into undulating hills and flatlands that eventually extend toward the east coast.


Below "the Berg," the flatlands and hills mingle around the towns of Ladysmith and Dundee, where some of the most epic battles between the English, Afrikaners and Zulus were fought in the late 1800s.


Known as The Battlefields, this beautifully wild area was the scene of bloody clashes during the Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu wars.


What to do: Hiring a guide helps get the full picture of these dramatic battle sites.


Where to stay: Nambiti Hills is an exclusive five-star private game reserve that can be used as a base for viewing both the Big Five and embarking on guided tours of the battlefields.


Amphi Backpackers is a budget-friendly option. From here, there are walking or climbing day trips into the Drakensberg.


MORE: South Africa: Following Nelson Mandela




Mandela\'s arrest is recalled by a sculpture in The Midlands.

Mandela's arrest is recalled by a sculpture in The Midlands.



5. The Midlands


KwaZulu-Natal's Midlands is a popular weekend getaway from the city.


The winding roads through the pretty farming area have become home to many top restaurants, cafes, art galleries and guesthouses, most of which belong to the Midlands Meander tourism route.


What to do: The Capture Site marks the spot where Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962.


It's possible to fly through the trees at Karkloof Canopy Tours, eat fine food at Hartford House, an award-winning restaurant (and guesthouse) and shop for handcrafted leather shoes at Groundcover.


Where to stay: Rawdons is a stately hotel near a town called Nottingham Road.


It's cozy and English -- pretty gardens, plush decor, roaring log fires.


A highlight for many is the Boar's Head Pub, serving ales and lagers made by the independent Nottingham Road Brewing Company.


6. Umhlanga Rocks


Many have heard of Durban, the city on South Africa's east coast (surfers love it) beloved for its warm weather throughout the year.


Not so familiar is Umhlanga Rocks.


About 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) up the coast and just 15 minutes from Durban International Airport, upmarket Umhlanga, with wide, sandy beaches, has a permanent vacation vibe.


It's packed with big beach houses, blocks of seaside apartments, hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars and the enormous Gateway Theatre of Shopping, reportedly the largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere.


What to do: The Umhlanga Promenade leads to the Umhlanga Lagoon Reserve, a haven for bird-watchers.


The luxurious Oyster Box hotel offers an indulgent high tea served with a view of the Indian Ocean. The hotel's Lighthouse bar does a decent line in sundowners.


On the last Sunday of the month, the Wonder Market at Chris Saunders Park offers a range of artisan foods and designer crafts and jewelry.


Where to stay: A short walk from Umhlanga beach, Teremok Marine is a five-star guesthouse set in a large, old family home.


The nooks of this quiet hideaway are filled with South African decor, from bright Ardmore cushions to lampshades made from the pages of books and delicate proteas (South Africa's national flower) crafted from wood.


MORE: 10 sensational South African wine farms




Bulungula Lodge on the Wild Coast is 40% owned by local villagers.

Bulungula Lodge on the Wild Coast is 40% owned by local villagers.



7. Wild Coast


Located between the Garden Route and Durban, the Wild Coast has rolling hills that drop into the sea and waterfalls that crash into lagoons.


Cattle often wander the beaches, where few humans are to be seen.


What to do: Spend a few days hiking along the beaches of the Wild Coast and you'll come across skeletons of ships, flocks of sea birds and low-tide rock pools waiting to be explored.


You can take surf lessons from a former pro-am world champ at Coffee Bay, or go diving.


Where to stay: Bulungula Lodge is a simple eco-friendly establishment, 40% of which is owned by the local village.


If you're not spending time on the beautifully wild and remote beach, you can immerse yourself in village life.


8. Garden Route


Knysna is the Garden Route area's flagship town, known for oysters, beaches, lakes and forest.


But if you travel "up" the Garden Route you'll get to the Tsitsikamma National Park, the less explored "top tip" of the route.


Up here, beautiful indigenous forests scramble down steep mountains through ravines and rocky crags to a jagged coastline.


What to do: The Otter Trail is a spectacular five-day hike that's so popular with South Africans you have to book almost a year in advance.


It's a strenuous hike through untouched forests along a particularly rugged and isolated part of the coastline.


Visitors can explore the coast from the water on a "kayak and lilo adventure," paddling and floating their way through the sea, and then up the dramatic Storms River.


Where to stay: Tranquility Lodge is a three-star guesthouse that's almost on the beach in Nature's Valley, a sleepy town surrounded by the Tsitsikama National Park.


This is a good place to base if you want to spend time in the park, go bungee jumping, horseback riding, take boat cruises or visit a bird or elephant park.


MORE: 11 amazing ways to experience Africa from the air


9. Cape Town


One of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town is flanked by the Indian and Atlantic oceans and watched over by iconic Table Mountain.


Although the Mother City is incredibly popular with tourists, there are still a few secret places.


What to do: Lion's Head mountain at full moon is a spectacular experience, especially if it involves a picnic. There are likely be a few hundred people up there, but the vibe (many people take their drums or guitars) and view across the city as the sun sets and the moon rises is something that will be remembered for a long time.


The Summer Sunset Concerts are another favorite with Capetonians.


Held in the spectacular Kirstenbosch Gardens each Sunday during summer, locals flock with their picnic baskets to listen to some of South Africa's top musicians.


Where to stay: The Airstream Rooftop Trailer Park, on top of the Grand Daddy hotel in Long Street, is one of the quirkiest places to stay in the city.


The trailers have been decorated by different artists -- themes include Dorothy, The Ballad of John and Yoko, and AfroPunk.




Sutherland is one of the coldest towns in South Africa and home to the South African Large Telescope.

Sutherland is one of the coldest towns in South Africa and home to the South African Large Telescope.



10. Northern Cape


Often just a big "empty" place on the map, the Northern Cape is a fascinating area through which to drive.


Up here in the Kalahari and Karoo deserts, once home to the San people, towns with wonderful names such as Hotazel, Kakamas, Nababeep and Pofadder pepper the map and provide interesting stopovers in a vast, dry landscape dominated by big sky.


What to do: Stargazing in Sutherland is an event unto itself.


Often the coldest town in South Africa, Sutherland is known around the world for its clear night skies


The stargazing here is superb, which is why it's home to SALT, the Southern African Large Telescope.


In early spring, in the town of Niewoudville, the Namaqualand daisies burst into bloom -- the ocher earth is transformed as millions of flowers paint the landscape orange, pink, yellow, purple and white.


Where to stay: Kokeboom B&B on Gannabos Farm is much loved by photographers and hikers: nearby is the world's largest forest of quiver trees -- so called because bushmen use them to making hunting arrows.


The comfortable cottage is close to Niewoudville and is on a popular flower route.


MORE: Where to see Africa's big game


Narina Exelby is a South African freelance travel writer based in Johannesburg.



Most boring inflight movie ever?


A still from the film


A still from the film "A Seven Hour Train Journey to Oslo"






  • British Airways to screen "The Seven Hour Train Journey to Oslo" as part of in-flight entertainment

  • Airline says film has a "calming, relaxing" quality that will appeal to some passengers

  • If successful, BA plans to follow up with films about feeding birds and knitting




(CNN) -- A new standard may about to be set for the most boring in-flight movie ever -- and it doesn't even star Keanu Reeves.


Passengers flying British Airways will soon be able to zone out to a film that shows every inch of a slow-speed train journey to the Norwegian capital.


The airline says the film, "The Seven Hour Train Journey to Oslo," will appeal to people who enjoy "wallpaper" viewing experiences like the barely moving maps that chart flight progress.


The airline will start screening the feature in July alongside its usual schedule of classics, blockbusters and those lame romantic comedies that shouldn't make passengers bawl their eyes out, but inevitably do.


The film features no commentary to liven up the proceedings, but highlights are said to include going into tunnels and some children waving from a station. (CNN cannot independently confirm this, it doesn't have a spare seven hours to kill.)


MORE: Finnair to open unisex sauna in airport lounge


'Hypnotic and calming'


Though undeniably tedious, the train ride film could prove an unexpected hit -- as it did when it first screened to more than one million viewers on Norway's NRK state television.


So-called "slow TV" has attracted a cult audience in Scandinavia, with other classics including a burning fireplace and a game of chess.


It goes without saying: winter nights are long in Norway, but so is intercontinental air travel.


"There's definitely a hypnotic, calming and entertaining quality to 'Slow TV' that is perfect for in-flight entertainment," says Richard D'Cruze, who oversees onboard movie programming for BA.


The airline says that if the trial proves successful it could follow up with more slow films featuring knitting and bird feeding.


Keanu Reeves should pick up his knitting needles and get dialing his agent right now.


What's the most boring in-flight film you've seen? Tell us below



This toy could save your trip






After hours on a plane or train, or a long walk in a new destination, tight muscles can be relieved with some tricks using this simple Wiffle Ball. After hours on a plane or train, or a long walk in a new destination, tight muscles can be relieved with some tricks using this simple Wiffle Ball.

To relieve pain or tightness in the IT Band -- the muscle group that runs along the outside of your upper leg -- prop yourself up on an elbow and place the ball just below your hip in the large part of your thigh. Slowly move yourself up and down while bracing with your elbow, allowing the ball to roll up and down your leg to relieve tension. To relieve pain or tightness in the IT Band -- the muscle group that runs along the outside of your upper leg -- prop yourself up on an elbow and place the ball just below your hip in the large part of your thigh. Slowly move yourself up and down while bracing with your elbow, allowing the ball to roll up and down your leg to relieve tension.

Lay on the floor with the ball under your shoulder blade. Slowly rock yourself back and forth over the ball, moving it around the large muscles encasing the blade. Lay on the floor with the ball under your shoulder blade. Slowly rock yourself back and forth over the ball, moving it around the large muscles encasing the blade.

To massage the arches of the foot, sit in a chair or on the edge of a bed, place the ball under your foot (starting in the arch) and slowly roll your foot back and forth for about two minutes. The massage motion should increase blood flow and help release tightness. To massage the arches of the foot, sit in a chair or on the edge of a bed, place the ball under your foot (starting in the arch) and slowly roll your foot back and forth for about two minutes. The massage motion should increase blood flow and help release tightness.

Now that you're back to your old world-class athlete self, this simple plastic accessory can be used in all sorts of other ways. Maybe a quick game of hotel-room baseball? Don't forget to move the lamps and protect the TV.Now that you're back to your old world-class athlete self, this simple plastic accessory can be used in all sorts of other ways. Maybe a quick game of hotel-room baseball? Don't forget to move the lamps and protect the TV.









  • Pressure point therapy can help tight muscles relax after long trips

  • No need for expensive therapy or fancy equipment though

  • A Wiffle Ball can be an effective solution to various aches and pains




(CNN) -- Editor's note: CNN does not offer medical advice. If you have a serious medical complaint please consult a physician.


Long hours sitting in an airport or on a train.


Jet lag.


Miles of walking.


Travel is tough on the body.


About eight years ago I started battling pain whenever I traveled.


The large muscles up and down my leg and hip would get hard and tight, making sitting, standing or even sleeping painful.


Massages, Jacuzzi baths, ibuprofen and yoga alleviated the pain, but temporarily.


While all were helpful, no remedy really provided the "release" I felt I needed to undo those tight spots.


A physical therapist suggested pressure point therapy as a way to help the muscles relax.


She used a device called a Thera Cane, a deep-pressure massage device that's shaped like a large candy cane, to press down hard on my tight spots and help them release.


Voila! I experienced some relief.


However, the bulky Thera Cane isn't really travel friendly.


And it requires a second person to use.


MORE: Airplane yoga: 18 exercises for healthy flying




So simple, so cheap, so effective.

So simple, so cheap, so effective.



I wondered what might work while traveling, even alone?


The ends of the Thera Cane are studded with hard, little plastic balls -- wandering through the aisles of a sporting goods store one day I stumbled across a possible solution: a Wiffle Ball!


For those who aren't familiar with them, the Wiffle Ball (there are a number of imitators) is a perforated, rubbery-plastic ball about the size of a baseball.


For kids, especially in the United States, they're used to play baseball in safe and confined areas.


I bought a three-pack for about $1.50 and tried one out on my legs -- it worked great.


Wiffle Balls are lightweight, durable and inexpensive -- the perfect accessory for on-the-road pressure point relief.


Following the exercises my physical therapist showed me with the Thera Cane, I came up with five "do anywhere" moves for instant tension relief.


MORE: 8 secret acupoints to cure travel ills


1. Foot relief


Sit in a chair or on the edge of a bed, place the Wiffle Ball under your foot (starting in the arch) and slowly roll your foot back and forth over the ball for about two minutes.


The massage motion will increase blood flow and help release tightness in the arch.


2. Back rub


Lay on the floor (better than the bed, which is too soft) and place the ball under your shoulder blade.


Slowly rock yourself back and forth over the ball, moving it around the large muscles encasing the blade.


3. Hip and upper leg tension reliever


Still on the floor on your back, move the ball under one side of your bottom -- place the ball right in the center of the largest part of the muscle and roll around on top of it, letting it move around the entire buttock and up toward your lower back then down to where the buttock meets the thigh.


You should feel tension release down the hip and into the leg.


4. IT Band/outer leg reliever


Runners know the IT Band well -- it runs along the outside of the leg, down the thigh and over the outer part of the knee.


Roll over onto one side, prop yourself up on an elbow and place the ball just below your hip in the large part of your thigh.


Slowly move yourself up and down while bracing with your elbow, allowing the ball to roll up and down your leg to relieve tension.


5. Hip flexor release


Sitting for hours can make the muscles at the front of your hip and leg tighten.


To release, roll over on your stomach and put the ball right in the spot where your leg meets the hip and lay flat for about a minute, rolling slightly until you find your tightest spots.


You'll also access the psoas muscle this way -- the psoas is a rope-like muscle that runs obliquely from spine to the femur -- releasing additional tightness.


What's your favorite tip for relieving muscle pain and tightness on the road? Share them with readers below.


MORE: Is massage good for you, or does it just feel nice?


CNN contributor Aimee Cebulski is the author of The Finding 40 Project, a book about women turning 40 around the world. She lives in San Diego.



NASA readies deep-space craft





  • Orion, NASA's newest manned spaceship, will have its first mission in December

  • A rocket will carry the Orion modules 3,600 miles above Earth

  • It's designed to journey into deep space -- to Mars and beyond -- in 2017

  • NASA: Orion "is built to take humans farther than they've ever gone before"




(CNN) -- The U.S. space shuttle program retired in 2011, leaving American astronauts to hitchhike into orbit. But after three long years, NASA's successor is almost ready to make an entrance.


Orion, the agency's newest manned spaceship, is being prepared for its first mission in December. In future missions, it will journey into deep space -- to Mars and beyond -- farther than humans have ever gone before.


Orion comes loaded with superlatives. It boasts the largest heat shield ever built and a computer 400 times faster than the ones on the space shuttles. It will be launched into space on the most powerful rocket NASA has ever made.


No astronauts will be aboard the December flight, which will test the spacecraft's systems for future manned missions.





NASA video captures huge solar flares




Watch astronauts play football in space

Final work on the spacecraft is under way at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion came one step closer to completion this month with the stacking of the crew module atop the service module.


"Now that we're getting so close to launch, the spacecraft completion work is visible every day," Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer said in a statement.


A 3,600-mile journey


When complete, the Orion capsule will resemble a fencing foil, with a tall spire shooting up from a rounded base. At the top will sit a launch abort system, with downward-facing thrusters that would save the crew from a jarring crash in the event of a rocket malfunction.


The bottom portion, the service module, will perform various functions such as in-space propulsion and cargo storage. Nestled between the two will be the crew module, capable of supporting human life from launch until recovery.


Attached to the service module will be a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket. For the first time since the space shuttle's debut launch in 1981, the crew compartment will ride on the tip of the rocket rather than hanging onto its side, evoking the configuration of the famous Apollo or Gemini missions.


Come December, Orion will be wheeled onto the Cape Canaveral launch pad and the countdown will begin. If all goes as planned, the engines will rumble and its rocket will thunder in an explosion of liquid oxygen, thrusting it toward the stars.


The rocket will carry the modules 3,600 miles above Earth, or about 16 times higher than the average altitude of the International Space Station. Orion "is built to take humans farther than they've ever gone before," NASA says.


Orion will orbit our planet twice on its own during a 4½-hour journey before screaming back into the Earth's atmosphere at nearly 20,000 miles per hour and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.


Future missions


Orion astronauts will enjoy access to unprecedented space travel technology.


NASA says the spacecraft's onboard computer system can process 480 million instructions per second, which is 400 times faster than the systems on the space shuttle and 4,000 times faster than those on the Apollo flights of the 1960s and early 1970s.


Orion also boasts the largest heat shield ever built, designed to withstand temperatures that would cause a nuclear reactor to melt down.


"Orion's flight test will provide us with important data that will help us test out systems and further refine the design so we can safely send humans far into the solar system to uncover new scientific discoveries on future missions," Geyer said.


After Orion splashes down, NASA will begin preparing the spacecraft for the future manned missions for which it was designed.


"In the future, Orion will launch on NASA's new heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System," the agency said. "More powerful than any rocket ever built, SLS will be capable of sending humans to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and eventually Mars."


The first astronauts will travel into space aboard Orion in 2017. NASA hopes its Exploration Mission-1, a 25-day flight around the moon's dark side, will demonstrate Orion's reliability for deep space missions.


Exploration Mission-1 will send four astronauts farther than any human has been since the last Apollo moon mission in 1972, laying the groundwork for future endeavors.


NASA hopes Orion will ring in a new era for crewed American space exploration, and American flags may someday fly on more space outposts than just the moon.


NASA's bold plan: Landing people on asteroids



Zoo kills bear cub, will stuff it for kids






The Dahlholzli Zoo in the Swiss city of Bern has caused a public outcry by killing a healthy baby brown bear because it was being bullied by its father and neglected by its mother. The zoo has said it will stuff and display it to teach children that "nature can be cruel."The Dahlholzli Zoo in the Swiss city of Bern has caused a public outcry by killing a healthy baby brown bear because it was being bullied by its father and neglected by its mother. The zoo has said it will stuff and display it to teach children that "nature can be cruel."

Details of the fate of the baby brown bear, known only as Cub 4, came on the heels of outrage over the killing by Denmark's Copenhagen Zoo of a <a href='http://ift.tt/1bgjqtF'>young male giraffe named Marius</a> and<a href='http://ift.tt/1gp4FoA'> four lions</a>. Details of the fate of the baby brown bear, known only as Cub 4, came on the heels of outrage over the killing by Denmark's Copenhagen Zoo of a young male giraffe named Marius and four lions.

In a photo released by the zoo, the bear cub is shown being euthanized. According to a media release, the zoo initially decided not to interfere with the bears' "natural" behavior. But the staff decided in April it would be kinder to kill the youngster. In a photo released by the zoo, the bear cub is shown being euthanized. According to a media release, the zoo initially decided not to interfere with the bears' "natural" behavior. But the staff decided in April it would be kinder to kill the youngster.

Explaining the process, the zoo said it considers it central to learning that animals are experienced in as natural a condition as possible, including contact with "animal materials" like hides, bones or fully stuffed creatures.Explaining the process, the zoo said it considers it central to learning that animals are experienced in as natural a condition as possible, including contact with "animal materials" like hides, bones or fully stuffed creatures.









  • A brown bear cub will be stuffed and put on display, Swiss zoo says

  • "Cub 4" was killed after its mother neglected it and its father roughed it up

  • Dahlholzli Zoo says children will be able to learn from cub's story that "nature can be cruel"

  • A Danish zoo sparked outrage earlier this year by killing a giraffe and four lions




(CNN) -- A zoo in Switzerland is the latest to be embroiled in controversy, after it not only killed a healthy bear cub but will now stuff and display it to teach children that "nature can be cruel."


Details of the fate of the baby brown bear, known only as Cub 4, come on the heels of outrage over the killing by Denmark's Copenhagen Zoo of a young male giraffe named Marius and four lions.


The Dahlholzli Zoo in the Swiss city of Bern said it decided to put down the bear cub after its father, named Misha, mauled its sibling to death and threatened to do the same to Cub 4.


According to a media release, the zoo initially decided not to interfere with the bears' "natural" behavior.





Copenhagen Zoo defends more killing




Danish Zoo criticized for killing giraffe

But when it was observed that the mother, Masha, had begun neglecting Cub 4 and that the father was roughing it up too, zoo staff decided in April it would be kinder to kill the youngster.


This week, the zoo announced that the cub, whose remains were deep-frozen, would be thawed out and handed over to an expert taxidermist to be stuffed.


The hide has been separated from the body and will be tanned and the body measured for a mold.


Explaining the process, the zoo said it considers it central to learning that animals are experienced in as natural a condition as possible, including contact with "animal materials" like hides, bones or fully stuffed creatures.


It added, "An emotional experience takes priority, which brings nature closer to the children with all its facets -- 'nice' or not -- and makes them tangible."


But criticism of the zoo's actions has focused on the fact that the adult bears involved were hand-raised -- suggesting that their cubs could have been raised that way too.


The daily newspaper Berner Zeitung reported in April that the zoo had received a flood of public comment after Cub 4 was killed.


It quoted Sara Wehrli, head of the Wild Animal Department of Swiss Animal Protection, as saying the zoo had acted "irresponsibly" in its care of the bears.


"Bears are loners and need room, and in zoos, there are already too many brown bears," she said. "Letting the two get pregnant was wrong. You can't leave wild animals in captivity to 'nature.'


"Whoever keeps them must take responsibility for them."


In March, after the controversy over the Copenhagen Zoo's actions, European Association of Zoos and Aquaria spokesman David Williams-Mitchell told CNN that across the European zoos governed by the body, about 3,000 to 5,000 animals are killed each year under programs to manage zoo populations.


This includes "everything from tadpoles and insects up to charismatic megafauna like giraffes and lions," he said, adding that it represents only 0.06% of the zoos' overall animal population.


Exact figures are hard to come by, but a few hundred of those killed by the zoos each year would be large animals, he said.


Williams-Mitchell added that members of the public and animal rights groups tend to object only when zoos kill "cute, storybook animals," rather than rodents or tadpoles.


READ: Opinion: While there are zoos, the killing will continue


READ: Opinion: Tough decisions on the front line of nature conservation



Beyoncé, Jay Z share wedding vid






Jay Z and Beyonce kicked off their "On The Run Tour: Beyonce And Jay Z" at Sun Life Stadium on June 25 in Miami Gardens, Florida. With an estimated income of $95 million, Mr. and Mrs. Carter were the highest-paid couple of 2013, <a href='http://ift.tt/16HF6to' target='_blank'>according to Forbes magazine</a>. Click through the gallery to see which other famous couples are running Hollywood. Jay Z and Beyonce kicked off their "On The Run Tour: Beyonce And Jay Z" at Sun Life Stadium on June 25 in Miami Gardens, Florida. With an estimated income of $95 million, Mr. and Mrs. Carter were the highest-paid couple of 2013, according to Forbes magazine. Click through the gallery to see which other famous couples are running Hollywood.

Not even Vogue magazine could deny the influence of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, putting the <a href='http://ift.tt/1hIWBLm' target='_blank'>#WorldsMostTalkedAboutCouple on the cover</a> of its April 2014 issue. Breaking the confines of Anna Wintour's sacred space? That's power. Not even Vogue magazine could deny the influence of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, putting the #WorldsMostTalkedAboutCouple on the cover of its April 2014 issue. Breaking the confines of Anna Wintour's sacred space? That's power.

Jennifer Aniston reportedly had earned <a href='http://ift.tt/Th5sJ9' target='_blank'>an estimated $20 million</a> as of June 2013, but her writer/director/actor fiancé Justin Theroux certainly carries his weight.Jennifer Aniston reportedly had earned an estimated $20 million as of June 2013, but her writer/director/actor fiancé Justin Theroux certainly carries his weight.

From Gisele Bundchen's modeling, endorsement deals and independent licensing ventures to Tom Brady's generous contract with the New England Patriots, this power couple isn't hurting for influence.From Gisele Bundchen's modeling, endorsement deals and independent licensing ventures to Tom Brady's generous contract with the New England Patriots, this power couple isn't hurting for influence.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton are country music's winning pair as they continue to dominate Billboard charts, rake up trophies at awards shows and reach a broader audience through Shelton's seat at NBC's "The Voice." Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton are country music's winning pair as they continue to dominate Billboard charts, rake up trophies at awards shows and reach a broader audience through Shelton's seat at NBC's "The Voice."

Together, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have six children, two Academy Awards and roughly $50 million earned in 2013, according to Forbes.Together, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have six children, two Academy Awards and roughly $50 million earned in 2013, according to Forbes.

With Calista Flockhart focusing on TV and Harrison Ford starring on the big screen, the couple, who wed in 2010, have been power players for years.With Calista Flockhart focusing on TV and Harrison Ford starring on the big screen, the couple, who wed in 2010, have been power players for years.

Between the two of them, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have had a major influence across entertainment, from TV to music to film. And they're even more of a power couple -- or family -- when you factor in their famous offspring, Jaden and Willow.Between the two of them, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have had a major influence across entertainment, from TV to music to film. And they're even more of a power couple -- or family -- when you factor in their famous offspring, Jaden and Willow.

Speaking of powerful families, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann also have had their children, Maude and Iris, appear in three comedies directed by Apatow and starring Mann. It seems the couple that works together on hilarious movies stays together.Speaking of powerful families, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann also have had their children, Maude and Iris, appear in three comedies directed by Apatow and starring Mann. It seems the couple that works together on hilarious movies stays together.

Newly engaged couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have a long history of working together, and in 2013 earned an estimated $35 million. The pair are now expecting their first child. Newly engaged couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have a long history of working together, and in 2013 earned an estimated $35 million. The pair are now expecting their first child.

Together, soccer player David Beckham and his wife, Victoria (the fashion designer formerly known as Posh Spice), earn $54 million annually, according to Forbes.Together, soccer player David Beckham and his wife, Victoria (the fashion designer formerly known as Posh Spice), earn $54 million annually, according to Forbes.

Soccer star Gerard Pique brings his athleticism, while singer Shakira brings global pop stardom to this high-profile relationship. Soccer star Gerard Pique brings his athleticism, while singer Shakira brings global pop stardom to this high-profile relationship.

As long as "American Idol" judge Mariah Carey continues making music and Nick Cannon keeps acting and writing/producing/directing TV programs, this power couple isn't going anywhere.As long as "American Idol" judge Mariah Carey continues making music and Nick Cannon keeps acting and writing/producing/directing TV programs, this power couple isn't going anywhere.

David Bowie and Iman married in 1992. His musical legacy coupled with her modeling career and cosmetics company makes this pair a force with which to be reckoned.David Bowie and Iman married in 1992. His musical legacy coupled with her modeling career and cosmetics company makes this pair a force with which to be reckoned.

Ellen DeGeneres has gained even more regular fans for her show with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" no longer on the air. Alone, DeGeneres rakes in $53 million annually, according to Forbes. Add in what her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, earns, and you've got yourself a power couple.Ellen DeGeneres has gained even more regular fans for her show with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" no longer on the air. Alone, DeGeneres rakes in $53 million annually, according to Forbes. Add in what her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, earns, and you've got yourself a power couple.








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  • The couple launched their tour Wednesday night

  • They shared video footage from their private wedding

  • Billboard said it was all about the pair




(CNN) -- This was one video Beyonce and Jay Z wanted the world to see.


The superstar pair kicked off their highly anticipated joint "On The Run Tour" Wednesday night at SunLife Stadium in Miami, Florida, and the usually intensely private couple shared their never-before-seen wedding video and clips of their toddler, Blue Ivy.


The video showed the couple getting their infamous matching ring finger tattoos, and fans were able to see for the first time the rapper in his tux and sliding the wedding ring on his beautiful wife's finger. The pair married during an extremely private ceremony in 2008.


It stood in sharp contrast to the hotel elevator footage leaked in May that showed Jay Z being pummeled by his wife's sister, Solange Knowles. The trio later released a statement saying "they both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."


Their front was even more united Wednesday night, and Billboard said the show was all about Mr. and Mrs. Carter -- minus even an opening act.


"Alternating in the sparse, almost industrial-looking stage, Beyonce and Jay-Z proceeded to take us on a journey of fashion, high-level performance and music, always returning to the central theme of love -- challenged, perhaps, but finally standing strong," Billboard wrote.


According to site Consequence of Sound, the show boasted a 42-song set list for a 2-hour-plus concert. One fan tweeted, "BRILLIANT. Started with 'this is not real life' (stories) & ended with 'this is real life' (family videos). EPIC. #OnTheRun #OnTheRunTour "







Writing for Forbes, journalist Jesse Lawrence said the tour is on pace to be "the second most successful tour of all time based on gross revenue per show," behind band U2's "360" tour.


"If 'On The Run' cracks $100 million in gross sales, as Ticketmaster says it is on pace to do, they'd be the clear number two, with around $5,000,000 in gross sales per show," Lawrence wrote.


The tour is scheduled to perform at a total of 20 stadiums in the United States.