A casino manager has told a court how some of the so-called runaway millionaire’s money could have been laundered using gambling chips.Kara Hurring is accused of fleeing New Zealand after Westpac bank mistakenly loaded $10 million into her former partner’s business account.Ms Hurring and Hui Gao, also known as Leo, are accused of transferring nearly $6 million from his account into various accounts before leaving for China in 2009.The woman is on trial at the Rotorua District Court facing 30 charges of theft and money laundering.Vice-president of the legal department at a Macau casino Jason Schall told the court Ms Hurring loaded a players’ account with about $340,000 and withdrew most of it in the form of gambling chips.

But he says there is no trace of those chips being spent at the casino, and as far as he can tell the money disappeared.He says by law they are only to be used for gaming and can not be spent in the casino’s restaurants or shops. However he says they can be sold for face value or less or given to people.”They are, in theory, a type of negotiable instrument and therefore they have value.”A Westpac manager told the court an employee accidentally uploaded $10 million into the account through a clerical error.Manager of the bank’s crime division at the time Stuart Hansen says the error was down to either adding an extra couple of zeros or putting a decimal point in the wrong place.

Earlier, the Crown read out a detailed bank statement, showing the transactions Kara Hurring made in the days before she fled to China.It indicates she spent money at McDonald’s, the Noodle Bar, the Recycled Clothing Boutique and Farmers department store.There were also several ATM withdrawals of about $1000 and she repeatedly went over her daily limit.In other written evidence, a Westpac bank employee told the court how an anonymous caller tipped her off about the couple.Wendy Wang says she received a series of phone calls from a man in China shortly after the banking mishap.

Recommended Reading:Clothing | Dress

JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT doesn’t just get dressed up for special occasions — she gets vajazzled. At Wednesday’s A&E Networks 2012 Upfront event, “The Client List” star told us that beneath her cleavage-bearing Alexander McQueen dress she was vajazzled because “it’s a special occasion.” Hewitt created a stir several years ago when she told then-TBS talk-show host George Lopez she was a fan of vajazzling. For the uninitiated, that’s when women apply glitter and jewels to their nether regions for esthetic purposes. When we asked the 33-year-old hottie if she was emblazoned with clear crystals — said to balance energy disturbances when placed on the body — she enthusiastically confirmed that “I’m full of good energy.”

Hewitt wasn’t the only star at the Lincoln Center event. Our favorite trouble doll, Linsday Lohan, made an unannounced appearance and was part of a starry crowd that enjoyed a performance from the awe-inspiring Florence and the Machine.ADAM LEVINE and Cee Lo Green were sore losers Wednesday. A source tells us “The Voice” coaches bailed on a performance with contest winner Jermaine Paul at the season finale after-party at the Avalon in Hollywood, after their protégés finished third and second, respectively.Our source says Green showed up to the Ty Ku Citrus Liqueur-sponsored fete, but left “with no explanation or warning” before performing with fellow judges Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and Paul.

Levine, in a feud with Xtina, didn’t show at all. Anne Hathaway, Jim Belushi and Shelton’s wife, Miranda Lambert, did.RACHEL DRATCH is our answer to Gwyneth Paltrow, so it’s fitting the comic genius read from “The Avengers” actress’ cookbook “My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family and Togetherness” at the Mother’s Day-themed “Celebrity Autobiography” performance Monday night. One audience member tells us Dratch gave new meaning to Paltrow’s Tuna and Ginger Burgers when she read the recipe aloud at the Triad Theatre. Sherri Shepherd, Jackie Hoffman and Mario Cantone also read.

Recommended Reading:Dress | Clothing

The recession has proved the end for many flooring companies across the world but one American firm has proved more resilient.Aacer flooring was considered almost certain to fall victim to the tough economic conditions but the sports flooring system manufacturer has turned a corner.This week the company has been able to announce 25 new full time positions and increase hours available for staff.Restructuring and new ownership are major factors in the company’s turnaround in fortunes and the management have navigated through a tough period.The sports flooring manufacturing firm produces maple floors for all levels of competition and has over 100 years experience in the wooden floor market.

Many other flooring firms will be hoping that their fortunes follow a similar path, moving away from the recession.A US flooring company has become the latest in the sector to commit to sustainable floors in the future, to protect the environment from unnecessary damage.To ensure they continue to produce great floors US Hardwood and Carpet have chosen to team up with a specialist firm, Style Select, to produce the new flooring range.It will include different styles of engineered flooring and will continue to prioritise style and aesthetics, which will now be combined with an environmentally friendly focus.

The two companies have a reputation for producing flooring options which are extremely durable and all products are thoroughly tested to ensure their durability.It is not just American floor retailers and manufacturers who are choosing to supply eco friendly floors however.UK companies and flooring firms across the world are starting to look to sustainable floors to prevent unnecessary damage to the world.Customers are thought to be voting with their feet and moving towards environmentally friendly floors to take responsibility for their own environmental impact.

Recommended Reading:solid wood flooring | parquet flooring | hardwood flooring

A new study suggests that dinosaurs may have helped keep an already overheated world warmer with their flatulence and belching 200 million years ago.The research published Monday in Current Biology suggests that large dinosaurs made a significant contribution to the greenhouse effect back then. Study author David Wilkinson of Liverpool John Moores University in England estimated that about 570 million tons of methane came from dinosaurs. That is similar to total atmospheric levels of methane today produced by livestock, farming and industry. Cows alone now produce nearly 100 tons a year of methane.

The study looks at the biggest and presumably gassiest dinosaurs, called sauropods. These were the long-necked plant eaters that munched on the top of trees. They were large animals that had food fermenting in their guts for long periods of time because of their gigantic size, said University of Maryland paleontologist Thomas Holtz, who was not part of the study.Wilkinson said dinosaur gas was just one factor at a time when the world was quite tropical, about 18 degrees warmer than now. But he said some in the media and blogosphere have misinterpreted his study to say it was the main cause of ancient warming. In a phone interview, Wilkinson said it was only one of the causes, but dinosaur gas “is big enough to be a measurable effect.”

What caused the ancient pre-human world to be so hot — just the way the dinosaurs needed it — was a variety of factors. Volcanoes spewed much more greenhouse gases than now, Holtz said. Swamps, water currents, shallow seas and plentiful plankton combined to raise greenhouse gas levels far higher than today, he said.Outside climate experts say the study makes some sense, but the warming from dinosaur gas back then is dwarfed by man-made carbon dioxide today from industry.NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt quickly ran some calculations based on Wilkinson’s figures. Dinosaur methane would have increased temperatures about half a degree, which is a fraction of what has been caused by the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil in the 20th Century, he said.

Recommended Reading:Clothing | Dress

HOM Furniture is launching a major expansion into the flooring business in all six of its Twin Cities metropolitan showrooms. In addition to the already established area rug business, HOM’s new World Floor and Rugs now provides the largest selection of carpeting, hardwood floors, stone and tile, vinyl and modern laminate flooring.”In response to strong customer demand, we dramatically transformed our World Rugs departments to include a comprehensive selection of solid and engineered hardwood floors, bamboo, cork, ceramic tile, vinyl and laminate flooring.” Rodney Johansen, CEO of HOM said. “The customer will not be disappointed in the selection of top quality or name brands in our showrooms.”

World Floor and Rugs is an authorized Shaw Gallery, displaying the full line of Karastan carpets. Additional brands include Masland, Mannington,Tuftex, Congoleum and more. The expanded department now also includes a large selection of granite, marble, quartz and other stone countertops.HOM respects the service expectations of its customers. All purchases from World Floor and Rugs have Free Measure and Estimating, Low Price Guarantee and HOM’s 60-Day Happiness Guarantee. Financing is always available.

HOM’s flooring design team, known for product knowledge and customer service, has undergone additional factory training to better assist customers in selecting the floor or countertop that meets their design and functional needs. World Floor and Rugs supports projects as small as kitchen backsplash installation or as large as commercial building flooring systems. Assistance in coordinating colors, grout, and pattern design is available at any level including commercial design. HOM offers custom measurement services, expert installation and support and supplies for do-it-your-selfers.

Recommended Reading:Clothing | Dress

THE BLOODSTAINED clothing of a stab victim has been shown to the jury in the trial of a Dublin man charged with murdering him.It was day three of a Central Criminal Court trial of a 36-year-old man who stabbed two friends in the heart.Martin Toland, of Walkinstown Park, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Alan Nolan (28) and seriously injuring James Carroll (30) at Cedar Brook Walk, Ballyfermot.Mr Toland claims he was acting in self-defence against both men at Mr Nolan’s home on the morning of September 8th, 2007.Forensic scientist Marce Lee Gorman yesterday gave evidence of examining the clothing of all three men for the presence of blood and damage.

She held up the T-shirt Mr Nolan was wearing when he was stabbed. Its sleeves and upper back were the only parts not completely blood-soaked.”It’s a very heavily bloodstained T-shirt,” she said. “It’s actually stiff to touch.”She also identified eight “stab cuts” on the garment. While the T-shirt had been cut down the side by paramedics, she said these eight cuts were not attributable to medical intervention. She next identified a navy tracksuit bottoms of the deceased, pointing out a stab cut close to the waist band. “I observed heavy bloodstaining on the front of the tracksuit bottoms. One can see the heavy red-brown staining along the front.”

She said there was also some bloodstaining on the back.She then held up Mr Nolan’s underwear, which had blood staining corresponding to that on the tracksuit bottoms.She pointed out damage to his underwear, which she said was not attributable to normal wear and tear. Ms Lee Gorman then moved on to Mr Carroll’s clothing. “There’s heavy blood staining, mainly on the left side of the polo shirt.”She said she found three stab cuts on this top associated with blood.She demonstrated that Mr Carroll’s black tracksuit bottoms also had heavy blood staining.

Recommended Reading:Dress | Clothing

With Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton headed to China this week for an economic summit with that country’s leaders, and with the Obama and Romney campaigns in full election mode, it’s a fair bet in this slow-news spring that the headlines will be chock-full of China-bashing stories and reports of currency manipulation.Team Romney and Team Obama, no doubt, are likely to fall back on the xenophobic tendencies that always seem to rise during election years to implore voters to “Buy American.”Trouble is, the real message from the candidates — the message that could truly help our economy and balance of trade — is not “Buy American” but “Sell Chinese.”

That message was driven home in spectacular fashion on Tuesday by Apple, America’s most valuable company. While the mainstream media was whipping up a frenzy over the labor practices at Apple’s outsourcing company Foxconn, Chinese consumers were buying up iPhones and iPads with abandon. Apple’s sales in China came in at an astounding $7.9 billion in the first three months of 2012. That’s three times the sales of a year ago, a number that translates into 20 percent of Apple’s total revenues.With 600 million Chinese subscribers using a cell phone, the growth potential is exponential.But this is not an Apple story alone by any means. Wall Street analysts have been waiting for more than 40 years for the day when every Chinese had a Coca-Cola or a Big Mac.

The Apple breakthrough shows that the Chinese upper-middle-class consumer has finally arrived. If tens of millions of Chinese now have iPhones, the market for other uniquely branded American goods — from Coach handbags to Tiffany jewelry to Estée Lauder cosmetics — shows remarkable upside potential.As Apple CEO Tim Cook put it on his company’s earnings call last week, “There’s a tremendous opportunity for companies that understand China.” How much opportunity? Well, look at it this way: Apple’s earnings underscore that it is the No. 1 China play on Wall Street, and its stock is up 50 percent so far in 2012. Enough said.

Recommended Reading:Clothing | Dress

After you enter Dinosaurs Alive!, a new attraction at Dorney Park, you head down a path marked with imprints of ferns and giant footprints. Animatronic dinosaurs loom among the trees in the distance.The sound of snapping tree branches — as if something huge is approaching — echoes through the woods. A 34-foot-tall meat-eater lets out a roar and turns its head. Nearby, an 80-foot-long plant-eater thrashes its tail.The 32 dinosaurs, which move continually, are fun to watch. And the exhibit is educational for families. For little ones, the beasts are realistic but not too scary because they stay safely behind fencing and don’t jump out.

Reporters and photographers had a chance to experience Dinosaurs Alive! and a new coaster Tuesday before they open to the public Saturday at the South Whitehall Township park.The new ride is Stinger, a scorpion-themed suspended boomerang steel roller coaster.Stinger is the only coaster of its type with face to face seating on the East Coast, according to Dorney. Riders’legs dangle.The train is pulled up a 138 foot lift. The ride is smooth, fast and breathtaking as you fly through the loops — and over in 90 seconds. If you like Dorney coasters Talon and Hydra, you’ll like this ride.

Stinger is next to Possessed on the site of the old Laser looping coaster.It’s the eighth roller coaster for the park and the 12th ride to earn Dorney’s top thrill rating of 5 for “aggressive thrills.” Other top thrill rides include Talon and Hydra as well as non-coaster rides such as Revolution and Hangtime.”We are excited to be able to have two major new projects opening in the same season,” said Jason McClure, Dorney Park’s vice president and general manager.Dorney is continuing to court the family audience with Dinosaurs Alive! Last year the park opened Planet Snoopy, a 31/2 -acre children’s themed area with 16 children’s rides.

Recommended Reading:Clothing | Dress

UK Flooring Direct has made its name in the industry for its commitment to competitive prices and premium products. Providing homeowners with an eclectic range of flooring products from solid wood to cork, UK Flooring Direct has launched its latest sale which offers customers up to 65% off sale products.In recent months, UK Flooring Direct has caught the attention of many homeowners for its eye-catching money saving offers, namely the low prices compared to those in showrooms. The flooring specialists promise up to 50% off showroom prices as well as an additional 15% off with the latest promotional offer.

The sales page onsite is filled with a diverse range of flooring products. Rich brown and creamy yellow floors offer homeowners plenty of choice. Each can be matched perfectly to the latest trends in interior design and UK Flooring Direct is offering homeowners advice on how to redecorate and transform the look in their homes.Laminate flooring has proven particularly popular of late as homeowners look to achieve an expensive and unique look without having to pay the price for solid wood flooring. UK Flooring Direct features a wide range of laminate flooring products in a number of styles, designs and colours.

The latest sale will run all week and gives homeowners who continue to feel the squeeze the opportunity to update their home for less. Those wishing to take advantage of the offer have until 30th April when the sale ends. The discount code found on site gives homeowners an additional 15% off products which already have up to 50% off showroom prices.Visit the site and browse the full range of products. Alternatively, click here to navigate straight to the site and browse the collection of laminate flooring products available.

Recommended Reading:Clothing | Dress

Any followers of fashion knows pastels are in this season.But it looks like Myleene Klass may have embraced the trend a bit too far as she dresses head-to-toe in baby blues and pinks in a new photoshoot.The mother-of-two, 34, goes for a candyfloss-esque chiffon ballgown and matching rose hat in a quirky shoot for Hello! magazine.The former Hear’Say singer posed in a series of outfits inspired by her new Myleene Klass Nails Collection.Her nail products are just the latest in a series of business ventures launched by the singer.As well as her main jobs as TV and radio presenter, Myleene also has a children’s clothing range, music albums for mothers and babies and parenting books.Although her busy lifestyle means she’s constantly on the road, she hopes her work ethic will inspire her daughters Ava, four, and Hero, 13 months.

She said: ‘I want my girls to grow up to be strong, independent women who are valued for what they’ve experienced and what they have to say, not just for the way they look.’Myleene officially launched her nail wrap back in October but is still plugging them on the promotional trail up and down the country.Unlike nail polish, they don’t chip or damage your nails and are so easy to apply and each set also includes designs for a pedicure too.Promoting her prioduct, Myleene said: ‘You can get dazzling, gorgeous nails in an instant. They’re so quick and easy to apply – just peel, stick and go plus you don’t even need to heat them up.

Best of all, you can now change your look as quickly as you change your clothes!’The Mustang Boutique, which is open during lunch periods and on select days after school from now until Lorenzo Walker’s prom on May 26, currently has between 75 and 100 dresses, most of which were donated by family and friends who found out about the teachers’ efforts by word-of-mouth and emails.In addition to providing dresses for the girls, Cassio says the program also teaches them life lessons about helping others and giving back to the community.Manuela was one of those girls. Back in August, she needed a dress to attend a Chamber of Commerce gala where she was being awarded a scholarship.

Recommended Reading:Clothing | Dress