Man struck in Lower East Side hit-run

A man is clinging to life after a hit and run accident on the Lower East Side, cops said.

The victim was attempting to cross Hester Street and Bowery when a red Infiniti struck him, cops said. The female driver was making a left onto southbound Bowery from Hester Street around 7 a.m.

She stopped to check up on the victim but quickly hopped back into the luxury vehicle and sped off, cops said. EMS rushed the man to Bellevue Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

The NYPDs Collision Investigation Squad was on scene investigating.

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Nets rewind: Important role for newcomer Thornton

Here are three thoughts from the Nets' 112-89 win over the Nuggets in Denver Thursday night:

1. There are very few things that can be taken away from the way the Nets played Thursday night, but one was this: Marcus Thornton appears to already have surpassed Alan Anderson in the rotation.

Thornton was in the game early Thursday night, and finished with 10 points on 3-for-7 shooting in 17 minutes, while Anderson didn't get off the bench until the start of the fourth quarter, and finished with six points after playing the whole fourth quarter when the game way well out of hand.

Anderson has been struggling for the past few weeks, and it appears Nets coach Jason Kidd wants to give Thornton a chance to supplant him as the scoring wing off the bench. We'll see if Thornton can take advantage of the opportunity.

2. Heading into this six-game road swing, the first five against teams from the Western Conference, the feeling was always the same: The Nets had three games they should win handily – at the Jazz, Lakers and Bucks. The key to a successful trip would be whether they'd be able to take games from the Warriors, Trail Blazers or Nuggets.

And while the Nets arguably should have beaten the Warriors and were utterly destroyed by the Trail Blazers – a pair of results that had fans incensed for wildly different reasons – the emphatic win over the Nuggets Thursday gives the Nets a chance to go back home with a 4-2 record on the trip if they can beat the league's worst team, the Bucks, in Milwaukee Saturday night.

That's a situation the Nets gladly would have signed up for heading into the trip, and while it may not have worked out the way they would have liked – given the fact the Warriors were missing David Lee and Andrew Bogut and the Blazers were missing LaMarcus Aldridge, the potential was there for the Nets to sweep the trip – going 4-2 on a two-week road trip is nothing to sneeze at in the NBA.

3. After a dreadful game against Portland, it wasn't surprising to see Andray Blatche flip the switch and play excellently against the Nuggets, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds in 17 minutes.

The past 48 hours pretty much perfectly encapsulated Blatche's extremes. The Nets have gotten plenty more of the good than bad from him over the course of the season, but they could use a little less of the wild swings from one side to the other.

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Bridgegate 911 calls reveal traffic chaos

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By Andy Soltis

February 28, 2014 | 10:59am

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Chris Christie sits in a studio during his radio program, "Ask the Governor" broadcast on NJ 101.5. Photo: AP

Now you can hear the chaos of Bridgegate unfold.

The 911 calls and police communications taped during last September's surprise four-day lane closing of the George Washington Bridge were released Friday by the municipal clerk at Fort Lee's Borough Hall.

New Jersey state legislators are investigating charges that aides and allies of Gov. Chris Christie orchestrated the closings to snarl traffic for political reasons.

The audio files cover 28 hours. Personal information was edited out of the tapes released Friday.

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Local college rankings: Iona passes St. John’s for top spot

Two straight losses may have knocked St. John's from the top spot, but Iona's 11 consecutive wins more than validate its ascension.

(Last week's rankings in parentheses)

1. Iona (2)

Record: 19-8, 16-2
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) at Manhattan

After two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, this may be Tim Cluess' most impressive season to date, with the coach clinching another MAAC regular season title after losing last season's third-leading scorer in the country – "Momo" Jones.

2. St. John's (1)

Record: 18-11, 8-8
Up next: Sunday (Noon) vs. DePaul

The 9-1 stretch was mighty impressive and showed the Red Storm can beat any team, but it may all be for naught without wins against DePaul, Marquette and a trip to the Big East Tournament championship game.

3. Manhattan (3)

Record: 20-7, 13-5
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Iona

The seeding is somewhat irrelevant in Springfield, Mass. Any of the top four teams (Iona, Manhattan, Canisius and Quinnipiac) could win the tournament, and the Jaspers' league-best defense may be the difference when the games slow down.

4. Stony Brook (4)

Record: 20-9, 12-3
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. Albany

The Seawolves got smacked around at Vermont on Thursday, 69-53, ensuring them the second seed in the America East Tournament. After failing as the No. 1 seed in three of the previous four seasons, this slot can't be any worse.

5. Columbia (7)

Record: 17-10, 6-4
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) at Dartmouth

Impressive back-to-back wins over Brown and Yale put the Lions in a third-place tie and three games behind first-place Harvard. Maybe Saturday's game in Cambridge might matter…

6. Seton Hall (5)

Record: 14-14, 5-10
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Providence

After a near-upset at Creighton came an upset loss at DePaul. Good luck figuring that all out.

7. Wagner (6)

Record: 17-11, 11-4
Up next: Saturday (6 p.m.) vs. Robert Morris

Seven straight wins have given the Seahawks the second seed in the NEC Tournament. After two straight semifinal appearances, Wagner will have a chance to advance to the championship after two home games.

8. St. Francis Brooklyn (8)

Record: 17-13, 8-7
Up next: Saturday (5 p.m.) vs. Fairleigh Dickinson

The Terriers are tied for fourth-place and may get a home playoff game after all. It's hard to envision St. Francis winning three straight in the NEC Tournament, but Saturday's one-point overtime loss at first-place Robert Morris shows no team wants to play them.

9. Army (9)

Record: 13-15, 9-8
Up next: Saturday (3 p.m.) vs. Lafayette

The Black Knights have lost five of six and look as if they may be heading for a quarterfinal road game at Bucknell, which beat Army by 12 at home on Feb. 15.

10. St. Peter's (11)

Record: 12-16, 8-11
Up next: Sunday (2 p.m.) vs. Niagara

The Peacocks are peaking at the right time, winning three straight heading into the season finale.

11. Rutgers (10)

Record: 10-18, 4-11
Up next: Saturday (Noon) vs. South Florida

12. Fordham (12)

Record: 9-17, 2-11
Up next: Saturday (5 p.m.) vs. La Salle

13. Fairleigh Dickinson (13)

Record: 10-19, 6-9
Up next: Saturday (5 p.m.) at St. Francis Brooklyn

14. LIU Brooklyn (14)

Record: 9-19, 4-11
Up next: Saturday (4:30 p.m.) vs. Bryant

15. Hofstra (15)

Record: 8-22, 4-11
Up next: Saturday (7 p.m.) vs. James Madison

16. NJIT (16)

Record: 13-16
Season complete.

17. Fairfield (17)

Record: 6-24, 3-16
Up next: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Marist

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Chris Weidman gets new foe for UFC 173

Lyoto Machida has stepped in to face middleweight champ and Long Islander Chris Weidman after Vitor Belfort, a known user of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, could not receive an exemption for the treatment for the upcoming UFC 173 clash.

The replacement came after the Nevada State Athletic Commission ruled TRT as a banned substance, forcing such UFC fighters as Dan Henderson, Frank Mir, and would-be middleweight title contender Belfort to drop the controversial treatment in order to get licensed to fight.

"The Nevada State Athletic Commission recently altered its policy and no longer will permit testosterone use exemptions, and will not permit a TRT program," Belfort released in a statement on Thursday. "As other jurisdictions may follow suit, I am going to drop my TRT program and compete in MMA without it. Given the time constraints involved between now and my proposed next bout in May, I have determined not to apply for a license to fight in Nevada at this time."

Machida is undefeated at 185 pounds, having recently defeated dangerous striker Gegard Mousasi on Feb. 15 and brutally knocking out Mark Munoz in October.

Weidman will defending his title for the second time after defeating longtime middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva due to a devastating leg injury.

UFC 173 will be held May 24 in Las Vegas.

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No need for Jets to chase free agent running backs

This is the second in a nine-part series examining the Jets' needs position by position, with free agency starting on March 11.

Running backs

Currently on roster:

Chris Ivory

Age: 25

2013 stats: 182 att., 833 yards, 4.6 avg., 3 TDs, 2 fumbles

Bilal Powell

Age: 25

2013 stats: 176 att., 697 yards, 4.0 avg., 1 TD, 1 fumble

Mike Goodson

Age: 26

2013 stats: 7 att., 61 yards, 8.7 avg., 0 TD, 0 fumbles

Tommy Bohanon

Age: 23

2013 stats: 17 att., 62 yards, 3.6 avg., 0 TD, 0 fumbles

Alex Green

Age: 25

2013 stats: 11 att., 35 yards, 3.2 avg., 0 TD, 0 fumbles

Darius Reynaud

Age: 29

2013 stats: 1 att., 0 yards, 0.0 avg., 0 TD, 0 fumbles (with Titans)

John Griffin

Age: 25

2013 stats: N/A

Lex Hilliard

Age: 29

2013 stats: N/A

2014 free agents: Hilliard, Reynaud and Griffin (exclusive rights)

Overview: Injuries hindered what this group could do in 2013. Ivory got off to a slow start after being sidelined with a hamstring injury in training camp that flared up early in the season. Once he got rolling, Ivory delivered and made general manager John Idzik look good for trading for him. If Ivory can stay healthy, he'd be a strong feature back for the Jets.

Powell wore down as the season went along, mainly because he took so many reps during camp with Ivory injured and Goodson away for personal reasons. Powell has improved each year and can be a nice backup for Ivory.

It was a rough first year with the Jets for Goodson. He was arrested in May, missed all of training camp due to personal reasons and was suspended for the season's first four games. When he returned he showed the speed the Jets coveted, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury in his second game back. Many in the Jets organization feel Goodson would have made a major difference for the team had he stayed healthy.

Bohanon had a rough rookie season. He played a ton but looked confused as to who to block often times. A full offseason should help him progress.

Offseason priority rating (1 to 5 with 5 being the highest priority): 2

Possible targets: Ben Tate, Donald Brown, late-round draft pick.

Costello's call: ESPN reported the Jets have interest in Tate and Brown, which is a surprise. Running back seems to be one position the Jets are pretty set at. The combination of Ivory and Powell was effective last year, and if they can get Goodson for a full season, they would have a speed component.

I don't think Idzik needs to chase any running backs in free agency. I could see drafting one in the late rounds to see if you can develop a back behind the top three. But overall this is one position the Jets don't have a pressing need at.

Coming Friday: Wide receivers

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I am not the terrorist you’re looking for: Osama’s son-in-law

The feds got the wrong terrorist?

That's the bizarre 11th hour claim being made by a lawyer for Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, who heads to trial Monday for allegedly participating in al-Qaida's conspiracy to kill Americans.

"During the course of the defense investigation, it came to our attention that there might be a second person with the name Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, or a very similar name ," said lawyer Zoe Dolan in a letter Wednesday to Manhattan federal Judge Lewis Kaplan seeking to dismiss her client's indictment  based on new "findings."

She said the real culprit could be an al Qaeda "insider" referred to in various government documents as "Sulayman Abu Ghayth," who is "close" to bin Laden and is currently being detained in Guantanamo Bay.

"In sum, the other individual is in the custody of the United States government, shares a name very similar to the defendant's, and has been accused of conduct that is similar, if not identical, to the allegations in this case."
The feds declined comment.

Lawyers for the Abu Ghayth on trial plan to rely on written testimony by alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed. They said his testimony is crucial, considering Mohammed is widely credited with commissioning "shoe bomber" Richard Reid's botched airline attack  — and the government alleges Abu Ghayth played a key role in that plot.

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Heat starting to reap benefits of Oden … who Knicks passed on

MIAMI – The Knicks never inquired about comeback center Greg Oden over the summer. Too much of a risk – but one the two-time defending champion Heat could afford to take.

And after all, the Knicks were too busy wooing free agents Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih – who have since been bought out.

While the Knicks still lack a backup center to Tyson Chandler, it's still to be determined whether the Oden experiment will pan out in South Beach. We won't know until the playoffs. The Pacers were concerned enough about Oden — the 2007 No. 1 overall pick (Kevin Durant went No. 2, by the way) — that they recently signed center Andrew Bynum, whom the Knicks coveted.

Oden made his first start in four years on Sunday vs. the Bulls in a reshuffled lineup sans LeBron James. He will play against the Knicks for the first time since Feb. 8, 2009 and for only the third time in his injury-devastated career.

Oden has now played 11 games this season and has shown flashes. He's averaging 8.3 minutes, 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 52 percent. Oden, who sat out the last three seasons with multiple knee injuries, has guarded expectations, no longer the affable, cocky teenager coming out of Ohio State as the next Bill Russell.

"I don't give percentages,'' Oden told The Post when asked where his game was at. "I would like to be better. In everything. I'm not the player I used to be when I was 100-percent healthy. For me it's still a work in progress.

There's still things I'd like to improve on – conditioning-wise, offensively, defensively, rebounding-wise, blocked-shot-wise.''

Can he still be an X-factor for the center-starved Heat in the playoffs?

"We're working on it,'' Oden said. "Nobody can predict the future, but we're working on it.''

Miami president Pat Riley had monitored Oden's recovery from a while, not just this summer. Oden said signing with Miami was a no-brainer.

"It was the comfort level of the training staff and Pat Riley,'' Oden said. "That was the No. 1 thing to me. Being able to come to a place that would help me get healthy again. Pat was a big factor — talking to my agent for a long time now.''

The Heat don't need an impactful Oden to win another title. Chris "Birdman" Anderson continues to excel in his gritty bench role. But the Pacers keep loading up, so it wouldn't hurt..

"I'd like to contribute to the team as much as I can for what they need,'' Oden said. "There'll be times they won't need me to play because 'Birdman' is playing really well. It's hard to say they need a lot.''

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was asked by a Heat writer if he can envision spot-starting Oden down the stretch to see what it looks like.

"Not there right now but anything can happen,'' Spoelstra said. "The biggest thing is look at how far he's gone. Let's keep it in perspective. You see what he can bring to the table and you immediately say more. But that can't be in our vocabulary. The fact he's available and in uniform is the biggest victory of all right now. ''

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Concordia captain returns to crashed ship, 2 years late

The captain of the Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino, went back on board on Thursday for the first time since the huge cruise liner sank with the loss of 32 lives just over two years ago, accompanying experts investigating the capsize.

The twisted wreck of the 290-metre-long ship, now stabilized after a complex salvage operation last year, sits propped up on underwater platforms just outside the port of Giglio, the island off the Tuscan coast where it capsized on January 13, 2012.

Schettino, who faces multiple charges including manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship, went aboard the vessel with a expert team appointed by the court but is only present as a defendant and is taking no active part in the investigation.

Residents of Giglio, a tiny island that lives off tourism, are impatient to see the wreck towed away and reaction to Schettino's visit was largely "indifferent", the mayor of Giglio, Sergio Ortelli said.

"I don't why he wanted to come here, maybe to see things," said Ariento Italo, a resident. "I just don't know what he is going to do – he will see things that he already knows and anyway everything is all smashed up."

Schettino walks through the ports after leaving the Costa Concordia.Photo: AP

However, his lawyers say the investigation will be able to ascertain whether the ship's equipment was working correctly or whether malfunctions caused the incident or worsened conditions during the chaotic nighttime evacuation of the ship.

"We've been asking for these checks for two years," said Domenico Pepe, one of Schettino's defense team. "If the generator had worked properly nothing would have happened. Without the generator, the rudder, the lights, the doors, the pumps and the lifeboats didn't work."

It is the first time Schettino has been aboard since the 114,500-tonne Concordia, carrying 4,229 passengers and crew, struck a reef while performing a display maneuver in which it came close to shore to "salute" the port.

Stripped of his maritime licence, Schettino is the only person on trial after four crew members and an official of the ship operator Costa Cruises were sentenced to terms of up to 34 months in prison after pleading guilty last year.

He has admitted that he bears responsibility for the accident as the ship's captain. But he says that he is not the only person to blame and has pushed for the vessel to be examined for evidence of possible technical faults.

However the investigation has already been clouded by allegations that two officials of the ship's owners, Costa Cruises boarded the wreck without authorization. A separate probe has been opened into the two.

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Jeter set for spring debut after injury-filled 2013

TAMPA — Under a cement-colored sky and with the threat of rain in the air, Derek Jeter was slated to start at short Thursday afternoon against the Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Jeter's last game was Sept. 7 in a 13-9 loss to the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Following the defeat, Jeter was shut down for the remainder of the season due to left leg problems.

Thanks to a twice-fractured left ankle and calf and quadriceps problems, Jeter appeared in just 17 games and hit .190.

Now, GM Brian Cashman says he doesn't have a concern over Jeter, who turns 40 in June and plans to retire after the season. And Jeter says there is no reason he can't return to the 2012 model when he led the AL with 216 hits and batted .316.

While it was only the Yankees' second exhibition game, all eyes were on Jeter, who was in the lineup and batting second.

And when David Phelps throws the first pitch Jeter will have the latest in a long line of second basemen on the other side of the bag serving as a double play partner — Brian Roberts was at second and hitting fourth. Outside of a handful of WBC games, Jeter and Roberts haven't played together, but Jeter didn't see any issues with that.

"I have played with a lot of second basemen,'' Jeter said regarding how much time it might take to get comfortable with Roberts. "I don't think it takes very long.''

There is a chance Jeter will have more than Roberts to play with. The Yankees are searching the baseball universe for second and third base help because of Roberts' injury history and Kelly Johnson's inexperience at third (14 career games).

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Bitcoin prices rise as authorities probe exchange closure

Bitcoin prices rose on Wednesday, recovering sharply from lows hit Tuesday, as authorities in the U.S. and Japan begin looking into the sudden closure of Tokyo-based exchange Mt. Gox.

Meanwhile, Mt. Gox Chief Executive Mark Karpeles said in a brief notice posted on the exchange's website that he is "working very hard with the support of different parties to find a solution to our recent issues," but gave no specifics.

After initially remaining silent on Tuesday's shuttering of Mt. Gox, a move that shocked the virtual-currency market, Japanese officials said they were looking into the matter.

"At this stage the relevant financial authorities — the police, the Finance Ministry and others — are gathering information on the case," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a regular news conference Wednesday, according to a Reuters translation of his remarks. Suga declined to comment further.

Late Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that federal prosecutors based in New York had served Mt. Gox with a subpoena earlier this month. The report, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter, said the subpoena included an order for Mt. Gox to preserve certain documents.

It's unclear how much money was tied up on Mt. Gox, once the dominant exchange for bitcoin. Its collapse has triggered calls for regulation of the virtual currency and the exchanges tied to it, even as supporters have said bitcoin, which advocates have touted as a long-term alternative to government-issued currencies, remains viable.

The virtual currency has attracted the attention — and cash — of venture capitalists such as Marc Andreessen, who has called it transformational technology, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who may be best known for their against Mark Zuckerberg over the origins of Facebook, and Fred Wilson, whose Union Square Ventures counts Coinbase as a portfolio company.

For its own part, Mt. Gox has offered little explanation for its closure. In a terse statement on its website Tuesday, it cited "recent news reports and the potential repercussions on Mt. Gox's operations and the market" as the reason for halting transactions "for the time being."

In the second statemement, posted Wednesday and signed by Karpeles, the exchange addressed speculation about Mt. Gox and its future.

"I would like to use this opportunity to reassure everyone that I am still in Japan, and working very hard with the support of different parties to find a solution to our recent issues," the statement said. "Furthermore I would like to kindly ask that people refrain from asking questions to our staff: they have been instructed not to give any response or information. Please visit this page for further announcements and updates."

Tuesday's complete trading halt on Mt. Gox was the latest in a series of halts and delays that have plagued the exchange in the past year.

Reports about the latest problems have cited market rumors that Mt. Gox suffered a hacking theft of some 750,000 bitcoins, which The Wall Street Journal said would represent about 6% of all bitcoins in existence, a value of roughly $400 million.

Reuters said Wednesday that Karpeles had told the news agency in an email: "We should have an official announcement ready soon-ish. We are currently at a turning point for the business. I can't tell much more for now as this also involves other parties."

However, Karpeles didn't offer further details or disclose his location at the time.

News that Mt. Gox had closed hit bitcoin prices hard on Tuesday, sending the virtual currency to a three-month low of $515.13, down from $545.32 on Monday.

However, the bitcoin price rebounded on Wednesday, rising almost 8% to $575.13, according to CoinDesk. The price represented that of CoinDesk's own index, and Mt. Gox's bitcoins have traded at a sharp discount to those at other exchanges for some time ahead of its shutdown.

Bitcoin prices had surged last year about $13 early in the year to over $1,000.

This article originally appeared on MarketWatch.com.

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RuPaul’s 5 most outrageous music videos

Tuesday the world's most famous (infamous?) drag queen, RuPaul, released her seventh album, "Born Naked." The star brings her signature high camp as hard as ever with tracks such as "Sissy That Walk" and "Freaky Monkey." And then there's her latest outrageous music video, "Geronimo," essentially a tribute to the twerk, courtesy of Julian Serrano.

But how does this video compare to Ru's other boundary-breaking singles? We serve up the five most out-there moments in Ru-sical history.

'Tranny Chaser' (2010)

Best lyric: "Just because you want me — that don't make you gay / Every time you watch me — that don't make you gay."

Iconic garb: One-sleeved yellow mesh top.

Fiercest moment: That "Mean Girls"-esque group strut at the end.

'Supermodel (You Better Work)' (1992)

Best lyric: "I have one thing to say: sashay, shante / Shante, shante, shante."

Iconic garb: The enormously fluffy red mullet dress.

Fiercest moment: Ru working it out mid-fountain.

'Responsitrannity' (2012)

Best lyric: " It's your responsi-trannity, don't forget don't forget (who you are)."

Iconic garb: The neck brace-inspired collar jewelry.

Most memorable moment: Awkward celebrity cameos (they were all guest judges on a season of "RuPaul's Drag Race").

'Back to My Roots' (1993)

Best lyric: " Peace to all my brothers and sisters / Peace, love and hair grease."

Iconic garb: The cropped church robe.

Most memorable moment: Ru's QVC-inspired breakdown.

'Lick It Lollipop' (2013)

Best lyric: " Cherry, grape, lemon, lime, lick it slow, take your time."

Iconic garb: The naked dude's towel.

Most memorable moment: Lady Bunny suggestively sucking a lollipop.

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‘Avatar’ star on paparazzo brawl: I was protecting my girlfriend

Avatar actor Sam Worthington, who slugged a pesky paparazzo in a dust up with his girlfriend last week, was arraigned on assault and harassment charges Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court.

"I was only protecting my girlfriend," the Aussie hunk, 37, told cops after he repeatedly punched shutterbug Sheng Li in the face, according to prosecutors.

Li allegedly kicked the movie star's gal pal Lara Bingle, 26, in the shins – although he claims it was the blond stunner who attacked him first.

"The Clash of the Titans" star switched into action hero mode and decked Li "with a closed fist several times on his face, causing a laceration to the bridge of his nose and substantial pain," court papers state.

Warning: Explicit language

Worthington, wearing a navy wool coat and black slacks, didn't say a word during the brief appearance before Judge Brunat DiBiase who issued a temporary order of protection barring contact with Li.

DiBiase excused Worthington's attendance at his next court date May 8 because the actor will be out of the country on a movie shoot, said his high-powered defense lawyer Stacey Richman, who has also represented Jay Z, Lil Wayne and Ja Rule.

Richman complained to the judge about the media attention. "I picked him up this morning and people were standing in front of the car," she said. Paparazzi even blew through red lights trailing them, she said.

Li's defense lawyer Ron Kuby showed up to make sure Worthington didn't receive special treatment.

"Ms. Bingle was the one that attacked him," said Kuby after the arraignment. "He was on the job taking pictures and Ms. Bingle got upset and ran half way up the block and attacked him. Her large famous boyfriend ran up and punched him four times in the face."

He added, "It's outrageous he (Li) was charged at all and once the DA sees the video they'll drop the charges. But it depends on whether Cy Vance is a fan of "Avatar.'"

Bingle and Worthington have been making headlines recently over their romance. The pair were spotted in New York on Thursday with matching gold bands, according to People magazine, which speculated the couple had been secretly married.

This is the second arrest for Worthington, who was born in England and raised in Australia. He was busted for disorderly conduct in 2012 when he tried to enter an Atlanta restaurant and got into an argument with the doorman, according to TMZ.

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The confrontation between Sam Worthington and freelance photographer Sheng Li.

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Who’s fallen victim to the Oscar curse?

There are so many first-time nominees for this year's Oscars (Matthew McConaughey, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jared Leto, Barkhad Abdi, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, June Squibb, Sally Hawkins) that it will be exciting to see how many take home the golden boy. But you have to be careful what you wish for when it comes to winning an Oscar. The history of the Academy Awards is rife with those tarnished stars who peaked early, got their one nomination and win and then were never nominated again. It's like being popular in high school — the morning after the prom can be bleak, indeed. These stars, after their date with Oscar, have yet to be invited back to the party. For some, it's been more than 10 years.

Adrien Brody

Photo: Guy Ferrandis

Best Actor, "The Pianist" (2002)

An Oscar-baity role in an Oscar-baity film (about the Holocaust) helped Brody, who has made a lot of commercials since winning, beat out Daniel Day-Lewis in "The Gangs of New York" and Jack Nicholson in "About Schmidt."

Halle Berry

Photo: Halle Berry

Best Actress, "Monster's Ball" (2001)

Berry made history when she took home the Oscar for her role as a grieving mother — the first African-American actress to win in the lead category. Since then, there have been more misses than hits and Berry has made the greatest impact on the red carpet, where she is always a stunner.

Jennifer Connelly

Best Supporting Actress, "A Beautiful Mind" (2001)

Connelly had the lead female role in this Russell Crowe acting showcase where he played troubled mathematician John Nash, and beat out the more traditionally supporting performances of Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith in "Gosford Park," Marisa Tomei in "In the Bedroom" and Kate Winslet in "Iris." Despite some fine performances since, Connelly has yet to be recognized again by the Academy.

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Best Supporting Actor, "Jerry Maguire" (1996)

Gooding gave one of the best Oscar acceptance speeches ever, but the sheer exuberance he displayed onstage never found its way into a decent project afterward. Truly a victim of the Oscar curse.

Timothy Hutton

Photo: Everett Collection

Best Supporting Actor, "Ordinary People" (1980)

Hutton won a well-deserved Oscar for his memorable portrait of a teenager haunted by the death of his brother in Robert Redford's film about suburban family life. His magic moment came and went when he was only 20 years old.

Catherine Zeta-Jone

Photo: Everett Collection

Best Supporting Actress, "Chicago" (2003)

A terrific song-and-dance performance from CZJ won her an Oscar. A lone nomination in a mixed career that has been plagued by personal difficulties and scandal.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Photo: Everett Collection

Best Actress, "Shakespeare in Love" (1998)

The go-to actress of the late '90s, Paltrow was radiant in a pink gown when she accepted her Oscar, but recent years haven't been kind to the former It girl, now in her 40s, and her public image has taken a tumble.

Mira Sorvino

Photo: Everett Collection

Best Supporting Actress, "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995)

Woody Allen's track record for winning Oscars for actresses (Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest) rubbed off on Sorvino, who was later best known for being in the chick flick "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion." Sorvino has tried in recent years to relaunch her career on TV.

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Cashman: Jeter’s health least of Yankees’ infield worries

TAMPA — Brian Cashman has no concern about Derek Jeter's re-entry into the Yankees' infield. The same can't be said about second and third base.

Jeter will play his first exhibition game Thursday against the Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field. It will be the 39-year-old shortstop's initial game of any kind since Sept. 7 last year.

"I am more curious about the weather every day rather than what he will look like,'' the GM said outside the clubhouse Wednesday. "I would rather not sit in the rain in the stands. I don't want anybody to get hurt but am I curious about what Derek looks like? No. I am more curious about the weather report because weather can screw things up. Derek is not going to screw things up.''

Jeter is weary of answering questions about the twice-fractured left ankle which hasn't appeared to be an issue to date.

"I am looking forward to being out there,'' Jeter said. "The first few days of spring training you go through the drills and get in baseball shape.''

Even though Jeter got out of a boot in January of 2013, the party line was that he was going to be ready for Opening Day. Of course that didn't happen and he was limited to 17 games all year.

"What happened last year was unfortunate and unexpected,'' Cashman said. "I have been conditioned to not worry about Derek Jeter. I haven't deviated from that. Maybe that's a mistake or the wrong thing, but I grew up with that so it's hard to start worrying about it. He is almost one of those guys you never have to worry about. Last year was shocking.''

However, Cashman does have areas of concern.

"I am more focused on the bullpen, the rotation and how that will shake out and the infield that is not Mark Teixeira or Derek Jeter,'' Cashman said.

That's a strong indication the Yankees will look to upgrade at third and second base where Kelly Johnson, Brian Roberts and Eduardo Nunez are in the mix.

"I have said it's a developing story that the Yankees have to keep focused on,'' Cashman said of second and third. "Do we have the answer, the exclamation point right here in camp? If the answer is no, we have to look outside.''

Cashman said a potential upgrade from the outside won't cost the Yankees much.

"If we need to do improvements it has to be cheap,'' Cashman said. "We spent our money.''

The White Sox could dangle Jeff Keppinger and Gordon Beckham and the Brewers might trade Rickie Weeks, but there is money attached on all three that the clubs would have to eat if the Yankees stick to their mantra that the Steinbrenner vault is closed. And it eliminates free agent Stephen Drew.

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‘Avatar’ star’s girlfriend clashes with paparazzo

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The confrontation between Sam Worthington and freelance photographer Sheng Li.

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Photos have emerged of the confrontation that led "Avatar" star Sam Worthington to punch a photographer in New York City.

During the clash, which took place on Sunday afternoon outside the Cubbyhole bar in Greenwich Village, Worthington, 37, reportedly slugged freelance paparazzo Sheng Li in the face after he allegedly kicked the "Avatar" star's 26-year-old girlfriend Lara Bingle.

The snaps show Bingle, a model in her native Australia, struggling with the photographer against a parked car before Worthington intervenes.

After the incident the Aussie actor was issued a desk appearance ticket by police and released.

Li was arrested and faces assault and harassment charges.

At his arraignment hearing on Monday, Li's defense lawyer Ron Kuby claimed it was Bingle who incited the confrontation between Worthington and his client.

"He was on the job taking pictures and Ms. Bingle got upset and ran half way up the block and attacked him," Kuby said. "Her large famous boyfriend ran up and punched him four times in the face and Worthington doesn't even get charged."

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More arrested in FDNY, NYPD 9/11 pension scam

A massive ongoing investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance's office had, in January, led to disability fraud charges against 106 suspects – 80 of them retired New York cops and firefighters – with some accused of falsely claiming to have been traumatized by the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the city.

On Tuesday, authorities rounded up 28 suspects, including 16 more retired police officers, four former firefighters, and a retired New York City Department of Corrections employee, the source told Reuters.

Vance said the total amount stolen from taxpayers could reach $400 million.

New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said last month he was dismayed by the alleged exploitation of such a searing municipal tragedy.

"The idea that many of them chose the events of 9/11 to claim as the basis for their disability brings further dishonor to themselves," Bratton said.

Disability payments, pension liabilities and salary demands are among the financial pressures faced by municipalities that are struggling to balance budgets while maintaining basic services.

New York prosecutors have said many of the suspects in the ongoing investigation claimed US Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits of $30,000 to $50,000 a year for psychiatric ailments like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

The retirees claimed the ailments were so incapacitating they were unable to work, or, in some cases, even to leave their homes.

Attorneys for the suspects arrested on Tuesday could not immediately be reached

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Developer shot in face at castle home: ‘Thank God I’m alive’

The owner of Long Island's opulent Oheka Castle declared Tuesday "Thank God I'm alive" after surviving an attempted assassination on Monday.

Business mogul and political power broker Gary Melius is recovering from a head wound after a masked gunman shot him after he entered his Mercedes-Benz in the valet parking area of the Huntington hotel and catering hall Monday afternoon.

"Thank God I'm alive. I have great family and wonderful. friends. I love them all," Gary Melius, the shooting victim, said in a statement to The Post from his North Shore University hospital bed in Manhassett.

Melius made the comments through his pal, former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, who visited him bedside Tuesday morning.

Gary Melius in front of his Oheka Castle.Photo: Mary Mcloughlin

"Gary is looking good. He's going to make a speedy recovery. He's out of the woods," D'Amato said.

D'Amato said Melius joked that he's eager to play poker again "so he can get me to pay up."

D'Amato said Melius– as well as his legion of friends — are still stunned at the bid to kill him.

"All we know is that this was the work of a madman," D'Amato seethed when asked about the motive.

Melius, 69, has helped bankroll the campaigns of both Republican an and Democratic elected officials on Long Island and is a force in the Independence Party.

Melius has had his share of controversies. He used his influence last year to get the former Nassau County Commissioner Thomas Dale to arrest a campaign worker that Melius accused of perjury during testimony over the collection of voter signatures for a third party candidate he supported, ex-Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick.

Dale was subsequently forced out as police chief following an investigation by Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice — but Melius came out unscathed.

One insider who knows Melius claimed the developer is providing authorities leads on political corruption on Long Island.

Meanwhile Melius has struggled to pay the mortgage for the sprawling Oheka estate — the site of filming for Citizen Kane as well as wedding receptions for bold-faced couples — including disgraced ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin in 2010. He refinanced the $27.9 mortgage after missing a payment in 2012.

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Most army women don’t want combat assignments: poll

FORT EUSTIS, Va. — Only a small fraction of Army women say they'd like to move into one of the newly opening combat jobs, but those few who do say they want a job that takes them right into the heart of battle, according to preliminary results from a survey of the service's nearly 170,000 women.

That survey and others across the Army, publicly disclosed for the first time to The Associated Press, also revealed that soldiers of both genders are nervous about women entering combat jobs but say they are determined to do it fairly. Men are worried about losing their jobs to women; women are worried they will be seen as getting jobs because of their gender and not their qualifications. Both are emphatic that the Army must not lower standards to accommodate women.

Less than 8 percent of Army women who responded to the survey said they wanted a combat job. Of those, an overwhelming number said they'd like to be a Night Stalker — a member of the elite special operations helicopter crews who perhaps are best known for flying the Navy SEALS into Osama bin Laden's compound in 2011.

Last year top Pentagon officials signed an order saying women must have the same opportunities as men in combat jobs and the services have been devising updated physical standards, training, education and other programs for thousands of jobs they must open Jan. 1, 2016. The services must open as many jobs to women as possible; if they decide to keep some closed, they must explain why.

Throughout last year, the Army emailed questionnaires to active duty, reserves and Army National Guard members to gauge soldiers' views on the move to bring women into combat jobs. The results from the survey sent to women showed that just 2,238 — or 7.5 percent — of the 30,000 who responded said they would want one of the infantry, armor, artillery and combat engineer jobs.

Army officials also polled men and women on their concerns about the integration. And they asked senior female leaders to say whether they would have chosen combat jobs if they'd been given that chance 10 or 20 years ago.

All agreed the physical standards for the jobs should remain the same.

"The men don't want to lower the standards because they see that as a perceived risk to their team," David Brinkley, deputy chief of staff for operations at the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, told the AP. "The women don't want to lower the standards because they want the men to know they're just as able as they are to do the same task."

Brinkley's office at Fort Eustis is filled with charts, graphs and data the Army is using to methodically bring women into jobs that have been previously open only to men. The surveys are helping to shape the education and preparation that women, men and top leaders need to put in place to insure the integration goes smoothly.

The questionnaires, and the focus groups that followed them, showed that younger men and those who have served with women in the last two years are more open to the integration, while mid-level soldiers — particularly those in units such as infantry and armor that have not yet included women — were more hesitant.

And there were nagging stereotypes. Male soldiers fretted that their unit's readiness will be degraded because of what they term "women issues," such as pregnancy and menstrual cycles. Or they worried that women incapable of the physical demands would be brought in anyway.

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Why Adam Dunn is likely headed to the Oscars

Adam Dunn has yet to reach the postseason in his 13-year career, but he has an invite to go where very few major leaguers have ever gone – the Oscars. 

The White Sox slugger helped to create the Oscar-nominated "Dallas Buyers Club" as an investor in the production company Truth Entertainment, and even has a small non-speaking role in the film as a bartender.

He says he will take the opportunity to be in Los Angeles on Sunday for the biggest night in film only if the team is cool with it.

"Realistically, how many times do you get to do something like this?" Dunn said, according to CSN Chicago. "I got to do some pretty cool stuff in my life, but this would be one of them. I don't even think it's a big deal. If it's remotely an issue at all then it's not worth it to me."

On Monday, Dunn said manager Robin Ventura spoke to him about the potential trip, but he hasn't decided if he will go or not. It likely would equate to just a one-day absence a full month before the regular season begins.

"I'm not worried about precedence either because the next time somebody has something to do with the Oscars, we'll deal with it," Ventura said. "It's a cool thing and he should be able to go and enjoy it."

"Dallas Buyers Club" is nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture and acting nominations for Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. McConaughey stars as AIDS patient Ron Woodroof, who smuggled unapproved pharmaceutical drugs into Texas when he found them effective at improving his symptoms.

Dunn, a Texas native, got involved with film production through his friend Joe Newcomb, the founder of Truth Entertainment. The burly slugger, whose credits include 440 career home runs, joked he was snubbed in not receiving an Oscar nom himself.

"It seems like that always happens," Dunn told the Chicago Tribune. "The Gold Glove, every year I get snubbed on that, so I'm used to it."

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Rhode Island teachers exit Loeb fund

Rhode Island state employees are pulling their money out of Dan Loeb's Third Point hedge fund.

The move is the latest salvo in a simmering feud between Loeb, a handful of other hedge fund titans and Randi  Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Loeb and other hedgies  have criticized the AFT, come out against public-sector pensions and have made sizable donations to groups that back charter schools, which operate outside AFT's circle of influence.

In reaction to that stance, Weingarten put together last April a "watch list" of money managers — a list that included Loeb, David Tepper, Paul Singer and Henry Kravis —  who should not receive teacher pension money.

Rhode Island's General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, who chairs the investment commission that made the decision to exit Third Point, has been pulled into the battle.

Raimondo is a candidate for governor and was honored by the conservative think tank, The Manhattan Institute, for overhauling Rhode Island's pension system, and turning part of it into 401(k)-style defined contribution plan. Loeb is a trustee of The Manhattan Institute.

Unionized state workers and retirees charge that Raimondo is over-relying on an investment strategy that is too risky and too expensive.

At the end of 2013, Third Point had a 49 percent return. But the commission believed the fund was becoming too risky and wanted to pull out, according to a report.

The decision to pull out of Third Point was first reported by the Providence (R.I.) Journal.

"Third Point is pleased that Rhode Island's pensioners earned 49 percent, net of fees, over the two years they invested with us," a Third Point spokeswoman said in a statement. "Third Point's investors have benefited greatly from our prudent investment approach across multiple market cycles, earning a net annualized rate of return of 21.3 percent since 1995."

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No immunity for ‘visa lie’ Indian diplomat

The feds said Friday an Indian diplomat who was strip-searched when she was busted on charges that she lied to get a work visa for her housekeeper isn't covered by diplomatic immunity.

Prosecutors said in papers filed in Manhattan federal court that since Devyani Khobragade is no longer in the US she's not immune from prosecution.

The court papers also argue the immunity she would have enjoyed at the consular level wouldn't protect her from the charges in this case.

Khobragade — the deputy consul general in New York — complied with a State Department order to leave the country earlier this month following her indictment.

Her lawyer has filed court papers asking that all charges and arrest warrants be dismissed

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Woman tries to ‘poison husband’ with feces IV drip

A woman has been charged with attempting to murder her husband by putting feces into his IV drip as he recovered from surgery.

Rosemary Vogel's husband, 66, was in a critical condition after heart surgery when she allegedly injected the feces into his IV line at Chandler Regional Medical Centre in Phoenix, Arizona.

Police told KTVK-TV that hospital staff were alerted when a warning alarm went off and allegedly saw Vogel, 65, fiddling with her husband's IV.

A nurse saw that the IV line contained a brown matter and immediately removed it from her husband's arm.

Chandler Police Sergeant Joe Favazzo said that Vogel then attempted to drain the fluid from the line into a wastebasket and a nurse intervened.

Vogel's purse was searched and three syringes were found inside. Two filled with fluid and a third filled with human waste, Sgt Favazzo said.

Tests on the substance in her husband's IV line determined it was feces.

"This is the first that I've heard where fecal matter has been injected into an IV system," Sgt. Favazzo told KTVK.

Vogel's husband was expected to survive the alleged murder attempt.

"He's in his recovery process not only from his medical procedure, but from this attempt on his life," Sgt Favazzo said.

Vogel was arrested and is in custody pending a $100,000 bond. She is charged with attempted murder and vulnerable adult abuse.

This story appeared on News.com.au.

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Villagers run for their lives as volcano kills 14 in Indonesia

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A villager runs as Mount Sinabung erupts at Sigarang-Garang village in Karo district, Indonesia's North Sumatra province, February 1, 2014.

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Mount Sinabung spews lava and gas during an eruption as seen from Jeraya, North Sumatra, Indonesia, early Monday, Jan. 20, 2014.

AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara

Indonesian residents rescue a victim following eruptions of Mount Sinabung

AFP/Getty/Sutanta Aditya

AFP/Getty/Chaideer Mahyuddin

In this night time long-exposure photograph taken on January 27, 2014 from Karo district, molten lava flow downs from the crater of Mount Sinabung volcano during an eruption

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MOUNT SINABUNG, Indonesia — A rumbling volcano in western Indonesia on Saturday unleashed fresh clouds of searing gas that killed at least 14 people and injured three, only a day after villagers who fled earlier eruptions returned home thinking it was safe, officials said.

The dead included four high school students on a school trip to see the volcano and a local journalist, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. He said that the government on Friday allowed nearly 14,000 people living outside a three-mile danger zone to return home after the volcano's activity decreased.

Mount Sinabung's morning eruption was followed by a more powerful blast that sent lava and pyroclastic flows down southern slopes up to 2.8 miles away, Nugroho said. Television footage showed villages, farms and trees around the 8,530-foot -high volcano covered in thick gray ash.

Authorities were still preventing more than 16,000 villagers living along the path of hot clouds from going back to their homes, but many of them insisted on checking their houses and farms after more than four months of being crammed into temporary shelters. Authorities raised the alert status for Sinabung to the highest level in November.

"The death toll is likely to rise as many people are reported still missing and the darkness hampered our rescue efforts," said Lt. Col. Asep Sukarna, who led the rescue operation.

The number of evacuees rose to more than 30,000. Many wore masks to protect against the soot and sulfur-choked air. Food, emergency tents and medicine were sent to the area.

The latest eruptions came just a week after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited displaced villagers and pledged to relocate them to new plots with permanent housing.

The volcano's last major eruption in August 2010 killed two people and forced 30,000 others to flee. It caught many scientists off guard because it had been quiet for four centuries.

Mount Sinabung is among about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has sporadically erupted since September.

Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

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Big Oil not only believes in global warming — they’ll profit from it

If this winter's polar vortexes and accidental Atlanta ice-skating rinks have you doubting whether climate change is real, you're not alone. In a recent Yale survey, a record 23% of Americans now deny the science.

But take it from giant oil companies like ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell: You're wrong.

Big Oil not only believes in global warming, it's factoring it into the business plan. Consider Exxon's enormous, already $3.2 billion partnership with Russia's Rosneft in the warming Arctic, where up to a quarter of the planet's undiscovered petroleum is thought to be hiding — and where melting sea ice means easier access for drill ships and oil tankers. In 2014, the partners plan to begin drilling in the Kara Sea, north of Siberia, where last summer Russian security forces boarded a Greenpeace icebreaker in a preamble to impounding it and arresting its activists.

One need only read Exxon's website to know that the company that once funneled tens of millions of dollars to climate skeptics has had a change of heart: "ExxonMobil believes that it is prudent," bold letters now declare, "to develop and implement strategies that address the risks to society associated with increasing [greenhouse gas] emissions."

An internal, company-wide "shadow price" for carbon, $60 per metric ton, helps Exxon identify which of its divisions are the biggest polluters and most in need of improvement. Exxon has even quietly proposed that the United States levy a carbon tax — not necessarily out of love for the planet but because some form of greenhouse regulation seems inevitable, and Exxon would like to shield its shareholders from what it considers the worse fate of cap-and-trade.

Royal Dutch Shell's CEO Ben Van Beurden said the company won't drill in the Arctic circle in 2014.Photo: AP Photo/Alastair Grant

Shell made headlines this week when it announced it was abandoning the melting Alaskan Arctic after a series of accidents and legal setbacks. But the size of the prize, an estimated 27 billion barrels in the Alaskan continental shelf, may be too big for it to stay gone forever. Executives have said that the high north will someday be Shell's No. 1 source of crude oil.

If the company has been a pioneer in the Arctic, it has also been a pioneer in recognizing climate reality. Along with BP, it was first among the oil majors to publicly accept the science, and already by the early 1980s it was incorporating warming and emissions into its internal planning. "It seemed inevitable that we would decarbonize," says its head futurist at the time, Peter Schwartz, "for many reasons, climate among them."

This is one reason Shell now produces more natural gas than oil. Gas still warms the planet, but less so than oil or coal.

In 1998, another Shell futurist, Jeroen van der Veer, who would soon become CEO, directed a formal, company-wide study of climate change's impacts on the oil giant's global business. The result was an in-house version of the Kyoto Protocol: a goal to reduce the company's own greenhouse-gas emissions by 10% by 2002, an internal cap-and-trade scheme, a shadow carbon price, and a commitment to evaluate projects on the basis of not only the profit they would make but the carbon they would emit.

A decade later, Shell publicly released two scenarios describing the world up to 2050 — "Blueprints" and "Scramble" — that explicitly warned of the dangers of climate change while also foreseeing a massive boom in global energy demand.

For the first time, Shell declared that it had a preferred scenario: The greener, less emissions-intensive Blueprints offered the brighter future, for the company and the planet. Van der Veer gave interviews: It should be made expensive to emit carbon and other greenhouse gases, he declared. Global cap-and-trade agreements were urgently needed. Efficiency standards should be imposed. All this would require more government regulation. "People always think . . . the market will solve all of it," he said. "That of course is nonsense."

What went unsaid was that Shell would prepare for both scenarios. If the world looked more like Scramble — no substantial emissions cuts and a growing scramble for resources — Shell would be ready to scramble, too.

Ultimately, Shell's embrace of climate science comes from the same place as Exxon's: Realism is good for shareholders.

In public statements and private conversations, Shell officials continue to acknowledge the following truths: Climate change is real. Climate change is melting the Arctic. Ice-free seas are easier for shipping. Ice-free seas are easier for spill cleanup. Ice-free seas are easier for seismic survey, which, as the company website explains, "enables explorers to see through solid matter in the same way an ultrasound can see a baby inside its mother." And in places like Alaska, governments will allow oil drilling only during the ice-free summer, a season that is lengthening year after year.

As a Shell vice president once told a crowd of conference-goers, "I will be one of those persons most cheering for an endless summer in Alaska."

McKenzie Funk is the author of "Windfall: The Booming Business of Global Warming" (Penguin), out now.

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