# data[].attributes.body
Tourism operators at the Great Barrier Reef are reassessing visitor regulations after an elderly Japanese tourist died while snorkeling at the Australian site, making it the fifth tourist death since the beginning of November, and the tenth overall this year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tourism operators at the Great Barrier Reef are reassessing visitor regulations after an elderly Japanese tourist died while snorkeling at the Australian site, making it the fifth tourist death since the beginning of November, and the tenth overall this year.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the 75-year old woman was pulled from the water at Moore Reef, just off the coast of Cairns, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, during a day trip with Sunlover Reef Cruises.

While the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators said that the majority of those who died at the Great Barrier Reef were elderly and suffered from pre-existing medical conditions, the number of deaths is double the norm.

"While we are very proud of the fact we have the safest snorkeling in the world, we've got to sit down and have a really close look at all these events and see if there's anything we can do," spokesman Col McKenzie told ABC.

In November, two French tourists in their 70s died in the water, as well as a 60-year-old British scuba diver.

There have been no decisions as to how the rules could change for travelers wanting to snorkel or dive at the famous UNESCO location, but McKenzie asserted that though compulsory medical checks were likely not an option due to costs and negative effects on tourism, a potential rule asking visitors over a certain age "to acknowledge that they have been told of the risks associated with snorkeling and diving" is being considered.

Two million people visit the Barrier Reef each year to see its 1,500 species of fish and 400 species of coral (as well as thousands of crustaceans, mollusks, and birds), but a study released in April by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies revealed that the reef is in severe danger of extinction-93 percent of it has now been struck by fatal coral bleaching.

The Great Barrier Reef is on the bucket lists of many travelers, but not just for its beauty: The Guardian reported in June that the reef's deterioration has led to a considerable uptick in visitors due, in part, to increased publicity over the mass bleaching event. In a survey published by the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 69 percent of tourists said they traveled to see the famous site before it disappears altogether.
Scientists Discover Secret Reef...Behind the Great Barrier Reef

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Australia's Great Barrier Reef sees fifth tourist death in a month

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tourism operators at the Great Barrier Reef are reassessing visitor regulations after an elderly Japanese tourist died while snorkeling at the Australian site, making it the fifth tourist death since the beginning of November, and the tenth overall this year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Nigeria has confiscated 2.5 tonnes of "plastic rice" smuggled into the country by unscrupulous businessmen, the customs service says.

Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said the fake rice was intended to be sold in markets during the festive season.

He said the rice was very sticky after it was boiled and "only God knows what would have happened" if people ate it.

It is not clear where the seized sacks came from but rice made from plastic pellets was found in China last year.

Rice is the most popular staple food in Nigeria.

The BBC's Peter Okwoche says it is the only foodstuff that crosses cultural and ethnic lines across the country.
Africa Live: More on this and other stories
No ordinary rice: Martin Patience, BBC News, Lagos

Whoever made this fake rice did an exceptionally good job - on first impression it would have fooled me. When I ran the grains through my fingers nothing felt out of the ordinary.

But when I smelt a handful of the "rice" there was a faint chemical odour. Customs officials say when they cooked up the rice it was too sticky - and it was then abundantly clear this was no ordinary batch.

They've sent a sample to the laboratories to determine exactly what the "rice" is made of.

They are also warning the public not to consume the mystery foodstuff as it could be dangerous.

Fake food scandals are thankfully rare in Nigeria when you compare it to countries such as China.

The big scandal here is fake pharmaceutical drugs that kill a huge number of people every year.

A total of 102 sacks, each containing 25kg (55lb), was seized.

Investigations are under way to establish how much of the contraband has already been sold.

The customs official called on "economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal" business activity.

Mr Mamudu did not explain how the plastic rice was made but said it had been branded as "Best Tomato Rice".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Nigeria has confiscated 2.5 tonnes of "plastic rice" smuggled into the country by unscrupulous businessmen, the customs service says. Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said the fake rice was intended to be sold in markets during the festive season.

# data[].attributes.body
Russia tests anti-satellite weapon

# data[].attributes.headline
danaya vann - Petra Kvitova unable to play tennis for at least six months

# data[].attributes.subject
danaya vann - Petra Kvitova unable to play tennis for at least six months

# data[].attributes.body
Petra Kvitova will be unable to play tennis for at least six months after undergoing surgery on "severe" hand injuries sustained in a knife attack, the player's PR manager has told CNN.

# data[].attributes.body
pro bowl new York and Boston is the first game on Christmas

# data[].attributes.body
Apple AirPods review: Do they actually stay in your ears?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
After significant delays and months of hype, Apple AirPods are finally here.

When Apple kicked the headphone jack to the curb in September in favor of wireless headsets, all eyes were on the change and futuristic-looking earpieces. After all, the company was betting big on its wire-free earbuds and wasn't afraid to upset some Apple fans along the way.

The concept is simple: Users sync the earpieces up with an iPhone (via Bluetooth) to play music, take calls and send Siri requests.

But AirPods raised a lot of questions. To start, it looked like Apple chopped the wires off of its existing EarPods and turned them into oversized plastic earrings. Would people actually wear these?

Another question: How well would they actually stay put? Not to mention how lose-able each earpiece appears to be. It's hard enough to keep track of wired earbuds.

But after spending a few days with the AirPods -- now available in stores and online orders arriving at doorsteps on Wednesday -- one thing is clear: Don't worry too much about them flying out of ears.

We did jumping jacks, head bangs and even somersaults while wearing AirPods. They handled movement surprisingly well. There were times the AirPods became somewhat loose, but all normal activities such as walking and jogging far with them exceeded our expectations. Some users, however, have already reported issues with the set staying in place.

The fit is comfortable too; we forgot we were wearing them after about 30 minutes.

The issue, however, of potentially losing one when you've left the pair on the kitchen table is another story. Sure, the cleverly-designed AirPods case, which doubles as a charger, keeps them intact, but it's not insurance you'll always be able to find both them when you want. (This is more about the user than the product itself).

Related: You can already buy a $10 wire for Apple's wireless AirPods

The good news is if you've misplaced one, the other still works. But it's ultimately a costly mistake to fix: Replacement earpieces cost $69 each.

The sound quality is surprisingly strong for such small set. Wireless headphones and earbuds are notorious for less-than-stellar audio, but AirPods pack a powerful punch.

The stems host the antennas and bring the microphone closer to your mouth. It also comes with internal sensors, so if you take one earpiece out, whatever you're listening to or watching will pause.

AirPods can interact directly with Siri, too. The voice assistant takes requests, such as providing weather updates or opening apps, after tapping the side of either earpiece.

But Siri integration isn't perfect. It works better with Apple's built-in apps, but it's limited when it comes to third-party programs (i.e. you'll often need to reach for your phone to perform tasks, such as upping the volume).

Related: Apple's headphone jack: all your angry questions answered

Getting Siri to work can also be a challenge. It often takes several taps on the earpiece to get a response. The same issue surfaced for answering phone calls.

But the AirPods' ability to otherwise take calls is impressive. With a synced iPhone on a desk about 230 feet away, we could clearly engage in a phone conversation without needing the device nearby.

But those who don't have an iPhone and want to use the AirPods may be in luck: they also work with Android products.

Meanwhile, the AirPods charging case is brilliantly designed. Resembling a small container of dental floss, it snugly houses each earpiece. The case gets about a day's worth of charge before it needs refueling (via a Lightning cable). AirPods placed inside receive about a five hour power boost after just 15 minutes. That's pretty solid mileage, but if you're new to wireless headsets, remembering to charge yet another gadget comes with a learning curve.

Although investing in the future of wireless audio technology isn't cheap, the AirPods are priced competitively at $160. Other wireless earbud options cost more, such as the Samsung Gear iconix ($199) or Jabra Elite Sport ($239).

The concept of wireless earbuds in general might take some time for a mass audience to accept, but in a few years, we'll likely look back on how weird it was that we once wore wires dangling from our ears.

CNNMoney (New York) First published December 21, 2016: 5:47 AM ET

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Apple AirPods review: Do they actually stay in your ears?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When Apple kicked the headphone jack to the curb in September in favor of wireless headsets, all eyes were on the change and futuristic-looking earpieces. After all, the company was betting big on its wire-free earbuds and wasn't afraid to upset some Apple fans along the way.

# data[].attributes.body
Orlando victims sue Twitter Facebook and Google.

# data[].attributes.body
he German federal prosecutor's office on Wednesday issued a wanted notice for Anis Amri, a 24-year-old man born in Tunisia, in connection with Monday's attack on the Christmas market at Breitsheidplatz in Berlin,

# data[].attributes.body
23-year-old suspect's documents were found inside the cab of the truck used to mow down civilians at the market, and he was identified as Anis Amri, though it was believed he had several other aliases, officials said. Die Welt, along with most other German media outlets, published photos of the suspect. The manhunt took a new focus after police determined on Tuesday that a Pakistani migrant intially detained after the horrific attack, for which ISIS has claimed credit, proved to be innocent.

Expand / Contract

This Tunisian man is suspected in Monday's truck attack. (Die Welt)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The fugitive suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Berlin Christmas market on Monday was on the radar of German authorities as far back as June, when they tried - and failed - to deport him after learning he was plotting a "serious act of violent subversion," a German official told The Washington Post.

Further, security agencies exchanged info as recently as November that allegedly tied Anis Amri to Islamist militants, yet the Tunisian-born 24-year-old was able to evade terror investigators in the lead-up to Monday's ISIS-claimed massacre, which killed 12 and wounded 48.

Berlin prosecutors told The Associated Press in a statement Wednesday that they first launched an investigation against Amri on March 14 followed a tip from federal security agencies.

The tip warned that Amri might be planning a break-in to finance the purchase of automatic weapons for use in an attack.

Surveillance showed that Amri was involved in drug dealing in a Berlin park and involved in a bar brawl, but there was no evidence to substantiate the original warning and the observation was called off in September.

German police said Amri's wallet and identification papers were found in the cab of the truck used in the terror attack, however, authorities didn't name Amri as a suspect until Wednesday morning and first arrested two other men -- who were subsequently released due to a lack of evidence.

Amri is believed to have multiple aliases and is said to be armed and dangerous. Officials have offered a 100,000-euro reward for information leading to Amri's capture.

Authorities have yet to recover a gun they say was used in Monday's attack. Police believe Amri beat and shot a Polish truck driver to death before using his vehicle to ram the market crowd.

"We don't know for sure whether it was one or several perpetrators," said Germany's top prosecutor, Peter Frank. "We don't know for sure whether he, or they, had support."
DUTCH POLITICIAN: MERKEL HAS BLOOD ON HER HANDS AFTER BERLIN
Amri reportedly has extensive links to militant Islam.

He arrived in Germany in July 2015 as an asylum-seeker and was considered part of the "Salafist-Islamist scene" by authorities.

Amri spent some time in pre-deportation detention in Germany after his asylum application was rejected in June 2016, said Stephan Mayer, a senior lawmaker with Germany's governing conservatives. But North Rhine Westphalia Interior Minister Ralf Jager told The Washington Post that Tunisia initially denied he was a citizen of the country and then delayed the issuance of his passport -- which only arrived Wednesday, two days after the Berlin attack.

Amri was registered in an asylum-seekers' hostel, however, he was known to move around often, Der Spiegel reported.

At some point earlier this year, authorities classified Amri as a "potential threat."

He was a follower of the recently arrested Abu Walaa, an Iraqi citizen and preacher who was believed to be one of the top ISIS leaders in Germany, according to Suddeutsche Zeitung.

Die Welt reported that Amri had stayed with another suspected Islamist in Germany and had recently sought to obtain weapons. German officials were reportedly monitoring his communications.

As part of the manhunt, German authorities have been scouring hospitals after reportedly finding Amri's DNA inside the truck and concluding he likely sustained an injury during the Christmas market attack.

Some police raids had been delayed or cancelled due to administrative errors, Die Welt reported.

Prior to arriving in Germany, Amri spent four years in an Italian prison for burning a school, Reuters reported, citing a Tunisia radio interview with his father and security sources. Amri was also reportedly convicted in absentia for aggravated theft with violence and sentenced to five years in prison.

ISIS claimed "a soldier of the Islamic State carried out the attack in response to calls for targeting citizens of the Crusader coalition." The attack, which mirrored the ghastly massacre in Nice over the summer, appeared to follow several of the terror group's online guides for committing acts of terror using vehicles.

Spokesmen for the Tunisian Interior Ministry and Foreign Ministry did not have information about Amri and could not immediately confirm whether the Tunisian government had been contacted by German authorities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Report: German police knew Berlin attack suspect would strike

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The fugitive suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Berlin Christmas market on Monday was on the radar of German authorities as far back as June, when they tried - and failed - to deport him after learning he was plotting a serious act of violent subversion, a German official told The Washington Post.

# data[].attributes.body
Mexico explosion: Search teams comb charred rubble of fireworks market

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For years, families have wandered through rows of stalls at San Pablito, searching for fireworks to launch during holiday season celebrations.

Now, forensic teams are combing through the charred rubble, searching for victims' remains.

At least 35 people were killed and dozens more were injured in a massive series of explosions Tuesday at this market north of Mexico City, officials said.

The powerful, deadly blasts sent huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky and shook the ground in neighboring towns.

The bodies of 28 people who died have been identified and returned to their relatives. Authorities say it could be another few days before they can determine the identities of the other victims.

The governor of the state of Mexico, Eruviel Ávila Villegas, instructed his administration to assist in the costs of funerals.

A town transformed

The smell of fireworks, charred wood and burned plastic still filled the air a day after the explosions.

As investigators searched the site, bodies lay side by side on the ground, covered in dust and ash.

Miguel Urban Bojas, 49, a fireworks vendor who was injured along with his 83-year-old mother, said from his hospital bed that he was working at the time of the blast and it felt like there was another explosion every three seconds. They ran but she fell.

"I came back and I helped her. We were halfway the distance we had to cover to get out when I got hit by a large piece of brick and broke my hand and my hand was like hanging."

His mother fell again. Another piece of brick hit Urban and he also fell.

"I thought she was dead but no, thank God, no she wasn't. At that moment one of my nephews came in with other people and they carried us out, risking their lives because shrapnel was flying all over the place."

His mother was recuperating in a nearby hospital room. They'll probably return to the fireworks business.

"Yes, we're going to keep on working. It's our livelihood," he said.

The San Pablito market is in Tultepec, a city about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Mexico City that bills itself as the country's fireworks capital.

An explosion at the same fireworks market in 2005 injured a large number of people and caused extensive damage. Another fire tore through part of the market in 2006.Since then, officials have touted security improvements at the site and described it as a much safer place to buy and sell pyrotechnics than the clandestine workshops in some local homes.

After the 2005 blast, officials separated market stalls in an effort to prevent fires from spreading. Local government officials last week described it as "the safest market in Latin America." In a statement, Mexican Pyrotechnics Institute Director Juan Ignacio Rodarte Cordero said the market had "perfectly designed stalls with enough space so that there is no chain reaction fire in case of a spark."

Authorities haven't said what caused Tuesday's explosions. Out of the market's roughly 300 stalls, about 10 are still standing.

Frantic search

Video of Tuesday's blasts showed flashes of fire and what appeared to be fireworks exploding.

The area is densely populated, and witnesses from surrounding neighborhoods captured images of the huge volume of smoke that billowed into the sky.

The explosions have left people shaken in Tultepec, where the economy depends heavily on the fireworks industry. There's a 200-year tradition of manufacturing pyrotechnics in the city, which hosts a huge fireworks festival every year that's drawn international attention.

The focus remains on "saving the lives of the injured," a press statement released by the Mexican government said Thursday.

Sixty people were injured in the blasts, officials said Wednesday, and dozens remain hospitalized.

One of two teens severely burned in the incident was airlifted for treatment at Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas.

"The patient has arrived here and is being treated and is doing well," Dr. David Herndon, hospital chief of staff, said in a news conference.

A decision on whether to airlift the other is pending, authorities said.

One man told CNN en Español he was visiting his children when they all went to the market to buy fireworks.

His kids went one way; he and his granddaughter took another route. When he heard the explosion, he ran looking for his loved ones. He found them all, except for one, the baby. Soon, panic set in.

"We have called the ambulance, the Red Cross and no one has any information," he said as he wept. "No one knows anything."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
mexico fireworks market explosion leaves 35 dead - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Sara Sidner and Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mexico explosion: Search teams comb charred rubble of fireworks market

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For years, families have wandered through rows of stalls at San Pablito, searching for fireworks to launch during holiday season celebrations. Now, forensic teams are combing through the charred rubble, searching for victims' remains. At least 35 people were killed and dozens more were injured in a massive series of explosions Tuesday at this market north of Mexico City, officials said.

# data[].attributes.body
Desperate German manhunt for Christmas market terrorist focuses on Tunisian

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The fugitive suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Berlin Christmas market on Monday was on the radar of German authorities as far back as June, when they tried - and failed - to deport him after learning he was plotting a "serious act of violent subversion," a German official told The Washington Post.

Further, security agencies exchanged info as recently as November that allegedly tied Anis Amri to Islamist militants, yet the Tunisian-born 24-year-old was able to evade terror investigators in the lead-up to Monday's ISIS-claimed massacre, which killed 12 and wounded 48.

Berlin prosecutors told The Associated Press in a statement Wednesday that they first launched an investigation against Amri on March 14 followed a tip from federal security agencies.

The tip warned that Amri might be planning a break-in to finance the purchase of automatic weapons for use in an attack.

Surveillance showed that Amri was involved in drug dealing in a Berlin park and involved in a bar brawl, but there was no evidence to substantiate the original warning and the observation was called off in September.

German police said Amri's wallet and identification papers were found in the cab of the truck used in the terror attack, however, authorities didn't name Amri as a suspect until Wednesday morning and first arrested two other men -- who were subsequently released due to a lack of evidence.

Amri is believed to have multiple aliases and is said to be armed and dangerous. Officials have offered a 100,000-euro reward for information leading to Amri's capture.

Authorities have yet to recover a gun they say was used in Monday's attack. Police believe Amri beat and shot a Polish truck driver to death before using his vehicle to ram the market crowd.

"We don't know for sure whether it was one or several perpetrators," said Germany's top prosecutor, Peter Frank. "We don't know for sure whether he, or they, had support."
DUTCH POLITICIAN: MERKEL HAS BLOOD ON HER HANDS AFTER BERLIN
Amri reportedly has extensive links to militant Islam.

He arrived in Germany in July 2015 as an asylum-seeker and was considered part of the "Salafist-Islamist scene" by authorities.

Amri spent some time in pre-deportation detention in Germany after his asylum application was rejected in June 2016, said Stephan Mayer, a senior lawmaker with Germany's governing conservatives. But North Rhine Westphalia Interior Minister Ralf Jager told The Washington Post that Tunisia initially denied he was a citizen of the country and then delayed the issuance of his passport -- which only arrived Wednesday, two days after the Berlin attack.

Amri was registered in an asylum-seekers' hostel, however, he was known to move around often, Der Spiegel reported.

At some point earlier this year, authorities classified Amri as a "potential threat."

He was a follower of the recently arrested Abu Walaa, an Iraqi citizen and preacher who was believed to be one of the top ISIS leaders in Germany, according to Suddeutsche Zeitung.

Die Welt reported that Amri had stayed with another suspected Islamist in Germany and had recently sought to obtain weapons. German officials were reportedly monitoring his communications.

As part of the manhunt, German authorities have been scouring hospitals after reportedly finding Amri's DNA inside the truck and concluding he likely sustained an injury during the Christmas market attack.

Some police raids had been delayed or cancelled due to administrative errors, Die Welt reported.

Prior to arriving in Germany, Amri spent four years in an Italian prison for burning a school, Reuters reported, citing a Tunisia radio interview with his father and security sources. Amri was also reportedly convicted in absentia for aggravated theft with violence and sentenced to five years in prison.

ISIS claimed "a soldier of the Islamic State carried out the attack in response to calls for targeting citizens of the Crusader coalition." The attack, which mirrored the ghastly massacre in Nice over the summer, appeared to follow several of the terror group's online guides for committing acts of terror using vehicles.

Spokesmen for the Tunisian Interior Ministry and Foreign Ministry did not have information about Amri and could not immediately confirm whether the Tunisian government had been contacted by German authorities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Report: German police knew Berlin attack suspect would strike

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The fugitive suspected of driving a truck into a crowded Berlin Christmas market on Monday was on the radar of German authorities as far back as June, when they tried - and failed - to deport him after learning he was plotting a serious act of violent subversion, a German official told The Washington Post.

# data[].attributes.body
The giants and the eagles play on Thursday night

# data[].attributes.body
Christmas is 4 days away

# data[].attributes.body
Olympic Organizers in Tokyo Disclose Total Cost Estimate