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Scottish Saif Rehman and his American wife Uzma Naurin murdered in honour killing in Pakistan

Diane A. Wade
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Scottish Saif Rehman and his American wife Uzma Naurin murdered in honour killing in Pakistan

Saif Rehman, a Scottish businessman and his American wife Uzma Naurin were gunned down in the street in a suspected honour killing while they were in Pakistan to attend a relative’s wedding.

Saif Rehman, 31, from Glasgow and Uzma Naurin, 30, from New York, were shot dead when their car was ambushed in the north-eastern city of Gujrat following a shopping trip.

The pair had been about to start a new life together in the U.S. after their trip to Pakistan for Saif Rehman’s brother’s wedding.

Saif Rehman and Uzma Naurin were accompanied by a driver, Saif Rehman’s sister and her two-year-old daughter, but the other passengers were unharmed.

Saif Rehman, a Scottish businessman and his American wife Uzma Naurin were gunned down in the street in a suspected honour killing while they were in Pakistan to attend a relative's wedding
Saif Rehman, a Scottish businessman and his American wife Uzma Naurin were gunned down in the street in a suspected honour killing while they were in Pakistan to attend a relative's wedding

A group of four gunmen stopped the car, opened fire and killed Saif Rehman before bundling Uzma Naurin into their vehicle and killing her at a spot nearby – then dumping her body by the roadside.

Pakistani police are probing claims that there had been tension between the couple’s in-laws over their marriage three years ago.

Saif Rehman and Uzma Naurin were married in Manchester but another, fuller ceremony involving both sides of the family took place in Glasgow in June, when it appeared that the differences might have been resolved.

Sources close to the dispute last night suggested Saif Rehman’s relatives had been happy with the marriage, but it had caused upset among some of his bride’s relatives.

Saif Ali, 30, of Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, who runs a mobile phone repair company, met Saif Rehman – who ran a similar firm called GSM Communications in Glasgow – three years ago.

Saif Ali said: “It was a long-distance relationship between Saif and Uzma but they made it work really well. Saif had just got a visa to go to the U.S., so they were on the brink of a new life together when this happened.

“I found out from Saif’s brother when the killings happened on November 1 and couldn’t believe it – I was shocked, angry and devastated because we were very close. Saif had been in Glasgow for six years and met Uzma at a friend’s wedding four or five years ago.”

Describing their murder, Saif Ali added: “They were going back home and basically, all of a sudden, their driver just stopped the car.

“Four people were in a different car which stopped in front of them. They pulled Saif, his sister, her daughter and his wife out of the car and, as soon as he was pulled out of the car, they shot him without saying anything.”

Saif Ali said that “no words were exchanged” between Saif Rehman and any of the people who shot him.

Saif Ali added: “Five minutes up the road they basically killed her (Uzma Naurin) as well. She wasn’t found until quite a bit of time later.

“Probably about three or four hours later, she was found, as they had basically put her in the shrubs somewhere, just on the side of the road.”

Saif Ali said Uzma Naurin worked in sales for Costa Coffee and was based in New Jersey.

Uzma Naurin’s father, a taxi driver in New York, had relatives in Gujrat and the driver of the car the couple were in when they were shot is said to have been employed by his Pakistani relatives.

British Foreign Office cannot become involved as Saif Rehman was a Pakistani national and his wife was a U.S. citizen.

 

The 85th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took the streets of Manhattan

Diane A. Wade
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The 85th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took the streets of Manhattan

The 85th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took the streets of Manhattan in its spectacular style in front of 3 million spectators who watched the fourteen giant helium balloons, including Buzz Lightyear and SpongeBob SquarePants.

The US biggest singing stars also came to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011 to entertain the crowds, including award-winning singers Cee Lo Green, Mary J.Blige and Neil Diamond.

At a 40 F temperatures, the crowd was entertained by the helium-filled balloons, including Clumsy Smurf, Kermit the Frog – and some newcomers, as Julius The Monkey.

Paul Frank’s sock puppet-inspired monkey Julius made its debut as a 41-foot-tall balloon. The crowds chanted “Jul-i-us! Jul-i-us!” as it passed.

Julius The Monkey was followed by “B”- a spooky character covered in stitches created by filmmaker Tim Burton.

And making their first appearance at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade were a pair of bike-powered balloons, one featuring a large green elf designed by Queens resident Keith Lapinig, who won a nationwide contest with more than 10,000 entries.

But there were also some much-loved favourites, including video game character Sonic the Hedgehog, who returned after an 18-year absence, and a navel-themed Mickey Mouse.

They were joined by SpongeBob SquarePants, Snoopy, Spiderman and Kermit the Frog.

With a 40-ft Sonic the Hedgehog at its helm, the 85th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicked off in spectacular style
With a 40-ft Sonic the Hedgehog at its helm, the 85th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicked off in spectacular style

As the balloons, held up by scores of rope-bearers, snaked along the route, crowds were also entertained by the top vocal talents, including Cee Lo Green, Country singer Rodney Atkins and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery.

Canadian singer Avril Lavigne sat on a float featuring a giant fattened turkey as she sang, followed by a musical set from the colourful cast of Sesame Street.

Brass bands from high schools and colleges around the country also marched along the route, such as the Nation Ford High School from South Carolina, which included sixteen sets of siblings.

Macy’s Great American Marching Band, with trombones, tubas and booming drums, led the march.

Ana Santiago, 34, a said receptionist from Park Slope, Brooklyn said:

“The parade makes you enjoy life.”

“You see the kids cheering and celebrating, and that makes the day.”

“It’s a tradition,” Ana Santiago added.

“New Yorkers should take advantage of it. You never know what you’ll see.”

The parade followed high-energy performances from glitzy cheerleaders and characters from Broadway show How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, including Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe.

In total, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade boasted more than 40 smaller balloons, 27 floats, 800 clowns and 1,600 cheerleaders as an estimated 50 million people watched the television coverage from home.

Floats included a mini version of Mount Rushmore from the South Dakota Department of Tourism. The grey granite structure also featured Black Hills National Forest and Badlands National Park in an effort to drive more visitors to the state.

Grammy winner Neil Diamond performed on the float as it moved through the streets.

The crowd on Seventh Avenue started singing “Sweet Caroline! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” as the singer waved.

Ronald McDonald, joined by scores of waving children, drove a large red shoe float. It pulled along a giant helium float of the food chain’s grinning ambassador.

Another float featured popular cartoon character Dora the Explorer alongside children dressed as Christmas presents. Olympian ice skater Johnny Weir waved to the crowds as he rode on a white horse float.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011 started at 77th Street and headed south on Central Park West to Seventh Avenue, before moving to Sixth Avenue and ending at Macy’s Herald Square.

Despite fears that stormy weather would batter the balloons, the balloons floated under blue skies.

Joe Sullivan, a balloon handler, who has been volunteering at the parade for more than 15 years, held a line securing a huge floating pumpkin.

“When it’s windy it’s a struggle,” Joe Sullivan said.

“But today is great weather. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Thousands of children flocked to the event, which closed with Santa Claus riding on a sleigh float and waving to the spectators.

“We’ve been up since two o’clock in the morning,” said Jodi Caplan, 40, of Westtown, in upstate Orange County, who brought her two kids to witness the festivities.

“It’s their first parade. This is the perfect day – perfect weather.”

The giant balloons were created at Macy’s Parade Studio, and each undergoes testing for flight patterns, aerodynamics, buoyancy and lift.

The helium heavies were inflated on Wednesday across the street from the western side of Central Park.

Thousands of people, many families with children in tow, were drawn to the spectacle of the balloons lying as if asleep on the streets, held down by weighted nets.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade got its start in 1924 and included live animals such as camels, goats and elephants. It was not until 1927 that the live animals were replaced by giant helium balloons. The parade was suspended from 1942 to 1944 because rubber and helium were needed for World War II.

Since the beginning, the balloons have been based on popular cultural characters and holiday themes.

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George Michael’s health updates. He responds “well” to treatment.

Lisa.Felice
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George Michael’s health updates. He responds “well” to treatment.

George Michael is being treated in the Austrian capital Vienna and cared for by medics in a private house after he was hospitalized for one day, being diagnosed with pneumonia.

According to friends, George Michael, 48, is responding “well” to treatment.

As a result, George Michael was yesterday forced to cancel a number of dates on his Symphonica tour, including last night’s show in Strasbourg, France and two planned concerts in Cardiff this weekend.

A statement yesterday afternoon said: “Singer George Michael has been forced, to postpone the Cardiff dates (26th and Sunday 27th of November) of his Symphonica tour due to illness.

“The singer recently postponed tour dates in Vienna and Strasbourg under doctor’ s orders after being diagnosed with pneumonia and he is currently receiving treatment.”

Plans to reschedule the dates would be provided when available.

George Michael is being treated in the Austrian capital Vienna and cared for by medics in a private house after he was hospitalized for one day, being diagnosed with pneumonia
George Michael is being treated in the Austrian capital Vienna and cared for by medics in a private house after he was hospitalized for one day, being diagnosed with pneumonia

Another statement on George Michael’s website said the singer was cancelling the Cardiff concerts with “great regret” due to his “ongoing illness”.

George Michael’s aides dismissed claims in the Austrian media that the singer was also suffering from heart problems.

“He got ill, it’s very cold in that part of Europe, and then he got pneumonia. He’s responding well to treatment, very good. But he has to rest. He’s got to let this illness run its course.”

Friends were unsure how long George Michael would have to stay in Austria.

George Michael has also been conspicuously absent from his Twitter. The star – who has become voracious in Tweeting in recent months – has not Tweeted since November 17.

Concert promoter Manfred Leodolter said yesterday: “George Michael is still in Vienna.

“He has cancelled his next few shows including tonight’s [wed] show in Strasboug, France. Doctors have warned him for the moment against flying and he is getting rest in Vienna.”

George Michael was forced to postpone his gig in Vienna on Monday, just two hours before the show. Promoters, initially, said it was due to a throat infection.

The latest cancellations come after George Michael had to call off one of his concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in central London suffering from a viral infection. That concert was yesterday rescheduled for next May.

 

Scotland Neck: deaf cyclist killed by police officer after he failed to obey instructions to stop

Diane A. Wade
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Scotland Neck: deaf cyclist killed by police officer after he failed to obey instructions to stop

Roger Anthony, an elderly, deaf and mentally disabled man from Scotland Neck, South Carolina was riding his bicycle when he was killed by a police officer who shot him with a Taser stun gun after he failed to obey instructions to stop.

Roger Anthony, 61, was killed as he made his way home after officers responded to a 911 call about a man who had fallen off his bicycle in a car park.

The 911 caller told dispatchers that the man appeared drunk and that it looked like he had hurt himself.

Police officers said they repeatedly told Roger Anthony to get off his bike, but when he didn’t respond, they shocked him.

The state Office of the Medical Examiner hasn’t yet determined a cause of death.

Roger Anthony, 61, was killed as he made his way home after officers responded to a 911 call about a man who had fallen off his bicycle in a car park
Roger Anthony, 61, was killed as he made his way home after officers responded to a 911 call about a man who had fallen off his bicycle in a car park

Roger Anthony’s family members claim he had hearing problems and suffered from seizures. Now they’re considering whether to file a lawsuit against the town.

Roger Anthony’s brother Michael said: “What did they tase him for? It’s hurting me. It’s really hurting me.”

Scotland Neck Mayor James Mills said he wouldn’t blame the family for suing.

“There has been no information that this man was a threat to anybody,” the mayor said.

“If I was a family member, I’m sure I’d be thinking the same way.”

Mayor James Mills said he has tried to get information from the police department about what happened to Roger Anthony, but they have turned him away.

Police Chief Joe Williams says the officer is on administrative leave while the SBI conducts its investigation.

Joe Williams declined to comment further.

Roger Anthony’s family said they hope the case is resolved soon.

His niece, Porsha Anthony said: “I’m sad. I lost an uncle.

“Hopefully it will be rectified so that not another family in Scotland Neck has to go through this.”

The State Bureau of Investigation in South Carolina said they are looking into Roger Anthony’s death.

 

Sinitta about Brad Pitt: “He was beautiful with the most amazing body”

Lisa.Felice
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Sinitta about Brad Pitt: “He was beautiful with the most amazing body”

The 80s singer Sinitta’s high-profile romances with Brad Pitt and Simon Cowell have been discussed often, but she kept her mouth shut when it came to comparing their prowess in the bedroom.

Sinitta, 43, gushed about the then-twentysomething Brad Pitt’s body when she was quizzed by her I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! campmates.

But Sinitta wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not Brad Pitt was a better lover than Simon Cowell – who she is still close friends with – leaving the camp to guess amongst themselves.

When asked by Dougie Poynter who was better in bed, she responded: “Who do you think?”

McFly bandmember Dougie Poynter suggested Brad Pitt, prompting Sinitta to reply: “Why? Because he’s prettier?”

To which Dougie Poynter explained: “No, I reckon Simon’s sex life is too organized. It will be like, <<it is five past 10, we must have sex for seven minutes, darling>>. Then afterwards it will be, <<That was shocking>>.”

Sinitta dated Brad Pitt in the the late 80s after splitting from long-term love Simon Cowell
Sinitta dated Brad Pitt in the the late 80s after splitting from long-term love Simon Cowell

When model Emily Scott asked Sinitta what Brad Pitt looked like naked, she reminisced: “Hot. He was beautiful with the most amazing body. I saw him for two years.

“He was fun, he was young and very sweet. Some ardent fan gave me a slap when I came out of a supermarket over that relationship!

“It was before he made Thelma And Louise but even I saw that movie and thought <<Oh my God, what have I done?>>”

Dougie Poynter pressed Sinitta further on the bedroom talk and asked about Brad Pitt’s “manhood”.

While Sinitta declined to describe the size of it, she smirked: “Much bigger than yours, Dougie.”

Sinitta dated Brad Pitt in the the late 80s after splitting from long-term love Simon Cowell.

 

Austria: Mieders alpine-coaster’s downhill descent without brakes

Diane A. Wade
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Austria: Mieders alpine-coaster’s downhill descent without brakes

An Austrian alpine-coaster which is located in Mieders offers what is perhaps the most frighteningly fast – and seemingly dangerous – downhill descent.

The single-pipe ride usually provides tourists with a slow, open trek down the mountainside.

But one hardy adventurer recorded video footage of himself hurtling down the steep incline without applying the brakes.

The result is a terrifying downhill plunge in small, open-topped car that appears to teeter on the edge of flying off the rail as it rounds tight bends.

An Austrian alpine-coaster which is located in Mieders offers what is perhaps the most frighteningly fast - and seemingly dangerous - downhill descent
An Austrian alpine-coaster which is located in Mieders offers what is perhaps the most frighteningly fast - and seemingly dangerous - downhill descent

Earlier this year, the world’s steepest roller coaster opened in the shadow of Mount Fuji in Japan.

Riders on the Takabisha plummet 141 feet in a single vertical drop Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park.

There is little time to enjoy the view of snow-capped mountain as the ride lasts just 112 seconds.

The ride’s designers even called in adjudicators from the Guinness Book of World Records, which ratified that the drop, involving a 121-degree freefall, is the steepest on any attraction anywhere in the world.

Takabisha (“dominant” in English) relies on a combination of gravity and a set of linear motors on the cars. These accelerate the coaster to speeds of 100 kmph.

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Starbucks’ employees in open revolt as the coffee chain became New York’s de-facto public toilet

Diane A. Wade
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Starbucks’ employees in open revolt as the coffee chain became New York’s de-facto public toilet

Many of New York’ Starbucks stores employees are in open revolt after being forced to clean messes in bathrooms that have become the city’s de-facto public toilets.

An angry Starbucks employee wrote on the StarbucksGossip blog:

“I have personally cleaned up almost every humanly fluid and plenty that didn’t seem human.”

As a result, managers at some New York Starbucks stores locked bathrooms and put up “Employees Only” signs so the public could no longer used them.

Bosses from the Seattle company visited at least two of the coffee chain’s shops in Manhattan, and ordered managers to re-open the restrooms, the New York Times reported.

This doesn’t solve the complaint that lines of New Yorkers and tourists that cycle in and out of Starbucks bathrooms bring a host of nuisances, along with their full bladders.

Many of New York' Starbucks stores employees are in open revolt after being forced to clean messes in bathrooms that have become the city's de-facto public toilets
Many of New York' Starbucks stores employees are in open revolt after being forced to clean messes in bathrooms that have become the city's de-facto public toilets

“I am continually amazed by what people will do when given a few square feet of privacy,” an anonymous barista said on the StarbuckGossip blog.

“Why do you want to have sex in a bathroom? I think the toilet would be kind of a mood killer.”

Current and former Starbucks employees reported homeless people who use the bathrooms as their own personal showers.

An anonymous New Yorker calling himself “Mister PeePee” has vowed to pleasure himself in every Starbucks bathroom in the city and rate the experience.

Starbucks coffee shops are some of the few stores in New York that don’t sport a form of a “bathrooms are for customers only” sign. Even some tourist manuals recommend Starbucks for a convenient place for visitors to empty their bladders.

New York has only 20 paid, public toilets. By contrast, Starbucks has 109 stores in Manhtattan alone.

Jesus Diaz, an assistant shift manager at the store at 87th Street and Lexington Avenue, told the New York Times employees don’t necessarily appreciate the chain’s status as a public convenience.

“Starbucks is definitely New York’s public bathroom,” Jesus Diaz said.

“It’s a little too much.”

Starbucks came in for criticism from New Yorkers after a New York Post report last week that quoted an unnamed company source saying: “Starbucks cannot be the public bathroom in the city anymore.”

Starbucks officials denied the New York Post report, saying: “We’re not closing public bathrooms at all.”

In response, corporate managers swooped in and re-opened several bathrooms, including the one at 45th Street near Avenue of the Americas that had been marked “Employees Only”, according to the New York Times.

At that store, the bathroom door has a bare spot where the sign was clearly removed.

“I have to use the bathroom, too — and we’re selling coffee!” Matthew Shakespeare, a shift supervisor, told the Times.

“There’s no place that the city provides.”

 

 

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011: Julius The Monkey makes its debut

Diane A. Wade
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Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011: Julius The Monkey makes its debut

Paul Frank’s sock puppet-inspired simian Julius The Monkey makes its debut as a 41-foot-tall balloon at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011 in front of millions of spectators today.

Sporting a jetpack, Julius joins 14 other giant balloons, including fellow newcomer B., a freakish creation from filmmaker Tim Burton. Video game character Sonic the Hedgehog returns after an 18-year absence.

The helium heavies were inflated on Wednesday across the street from the western side of Central Park. Thousands of people, many families with children in tow, were drawn to the spectacle of the balloons lying as if asleep on the streets, held down by weighted nets.

Standing in front of the famed Snoopy balloon, lying on its side, eight-year-old Emilio Rios said he was glad that there was something to keep the helium giant from getting away.

“Otherwise, it would float up to space, and aliens would see it,” Emilio Rios said.

“They would be the ones with the parade.”

Lindsay Ravetz, 9, said she loved seeing all the characters

“It’s just, like, cool,” she said.

It was cool even for many of the adults. Brooklyn resident, Leslie McCarthy from, who said she’s over 60, has been attending the parade since she was a little girl. And the excitement of seeing the big balloons hasn’t worn off.

“I used to think this parade was put on for me,” she said.

Paul Frank's sock puppet-inspired simian Julius The Monkey makes its debut as a 41-foot-tall balloon at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011
Paul Frank's sock puppet-inspired simian Julius The Monkey makes its debut as a 41-foot-tall balloon at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011

 

Besides the popular giant helium balloons, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade also is expected to feature more than 40 other balloon creations, 27 floats, 800 clowns and 1,600 cheerleaders.

Organizers say Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green, Avril Lavigne and the Muppets of Sesame Street will participate, some taking the stage at the end of the route in Herald Square and others performing on floats.

About 3.5 million people are expected to crowd the Manhattan parade route on Thursday, while an additional 50 million watch from home.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Morrin said a storm was expected to speed away by Thursday morning, leaving mostly sunny skies and 10mph winds, well below city guidelines for grounding balloons.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade spokeswoman Holly Thomas said officials were monitoring the weather.

“The flight of our giant character balloons is based on real conditions about an hour before the parade begins and not advance forecasts,” Holly Thomas said in an email.

“There is no indication in any current weather models that the flight of these balloons will be affected.”

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 77th Street and heads south on Central Park West to Seventh Avenue, before moving to Sixth Avenue and ending at Macy’s Herald Square.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade got its start in 1924 and included live animals such as camels, goats and elephants. It was not until 1927 that the live animals were replaced by giant helium balloons. The parade was suspended from 1942 to 1944 because rubber and helium were needed for World War II.

Since the beginning, the balloons have been based on popular cultural characters and holiday themes. Returning favourites this year include Buzz Lightyear, Clumsy Smurf, SpongeBob SquarePants and Kermit the Frog.

Also making their first appearances at this year’s parade are a pair of bike-powered balloons, one featuring a bulldog character and an elf balloon designed by Queens resident Keith Lapinig, who won a nationwide contest.

All the balloons are created at Macy’s Parade Studio, and each undergoes testing for flight patterns, aerodynamics, buoyancy and lift.

Over 12,000 cubic feet of helium to keep the new Julius the Monkey balloon afloat, which stands 41ft tall.

Also making their first appearances at this year’s parade are B., a freakish creation from filmmaker Tim Burton, a pair of bike-powered balloons, one featuring a bulldog character and an elf balloon designed by Queens resident Keith Lapinig, who won a nationwide contest

24 hoses and 20 tons of sand were used to tie the inflated characters down before the big event.

Organizers say Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green, Avril Lavigne and the Muppets of Sesame Street will participate, some taking the stage at the end of the route in Herald Square and others performing on floats.

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Yemen: at least 5 people shot dead during protests in Sanaa, as President Saleh transferred the power

Roy Siemens
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Yemen: at least 5 people shot dead during protests in Sanaa, as President Saleh transferred the power

At least five demonstrators have been shot dead by loyalists of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh during protests in the capital, Sanaa, reports say.

People were protesting against a power transfer deal that promises Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution.

On Wednesday, Ali Abdullah Saleh signed the deal in Saudi Arabia under which he is to step down after more than 30 years in power.

At least five demonstrators have been shot dead by loyalists of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh during protests in the capital, Sanaa
At least five demonstrators have been shot dead by loyalists of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh during protests in the capital, Sanaa

President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to hand power to his deputy after months of protests.

Many other protesters were wounded in the clashes, reports say.

According to an AFP correspondent, the protesters were shot at by armed civilians whom they describe as Ali Abdullah Saleh’s “thugs”, as they marched towards the city centre.

At least four bodies taken from the scene of the shooting were visible at a nearby hospital, correspondents say.

Thousands of people in Sanaa cheered the news of Ali Abdullah Saleh’s impending departure, but others rejected the agreement.

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Family of six feared dead after a private jet crashed into Arizona’ Superstition Mountains

Diane A. Wade
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Family of six feared dead after a private jet crashed into Arizona’ Superstition Mountains

A family of six is feared dead after a plane crashed into Arizona’ Superstition Mountains last night in a tragic Thanksgiving accident.

After the crash, the plane was split out, causing a massive fireball captured on video and seen for miles around, and left officials with little hope of finding survivors.

It is believed that the pilot has been collecting his children, with three understood to be aged between 5 and 9, for the Thanksgiving holiday and was returning home when the tiny two-engine plane crashed in the ominously-named mountain range.

There were three children and three adults on board, a spokesperson for Falcon Executive Aviation flight school in Mesa told CBS5. It is believed they are all be related.

A family of six is feared dead after a plane crashed into Arizona' Superstition Mountains last night in a tragic Thanksgiving accident
A family of six is feared dead after a plane crashed into Arizona' Superstition Mountains last night in a tragic Thanksgiving accident

The pilot had flown into Falcon Field airport and was en route back home to Safford airfield, about 100 miles east of Phoenix, when he ran into trouble.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu told FOX 10 there are “multiple fatalities”. The body of a child between the ages of 5 and 9 has been recovered at the scene, he said.

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Elias Johnson said there appeared to be no survivors. The six casualties were all believed to be members of the same family, the LA Times reported.

The plane burst into flames after colliding with the mountains, which are 45 miles east of Phoenix, just below their peak, witnesses reported.

“This is some of the toughest country you can experience,” Elias Johnson said.

“That plane is all over the place up there.”

Emergency crews have begun the hike to access the wreckage in the rugged terrain to begin the search for possible survivors.

A 12-person rescue team began hiking to the site about 9:00 p.m., but the combination of the terrain and the darkness means that it will take some six hours until workers are able to reach the crash site.

Rescue crews were tonight trying to land helicopters in the mountainous area about 40 miles east of downtown Phoenix in order to search for survivors.

Helicopter rescue teams reported seeing two debris field on fire, suggesting the plane broke apart on impact with the jagged rocks.

“The fuselage is stuck down into some of the crevices of this rough terrain, and we’re doing our best at this point in the darkness,” Paul Babeau said.

“This is not a flat area. This is jagged peaks, almost like a cliff-type rugged terrain.”

No survivors had yet been found, he said. But “we will search throughout the night”.

According to authorities, the private aircraft was a twin-engine Rockwell AC69.

The aircraft registered owner is Ponderosa Aviation Inc. of Safford, Arizona, according to FAA records.

A video uploaded to YouTube from a greyscale webcam shows a small white light moving from the left side of the screen to the right.

About 50 seconds into the footage the light disappears.

A few seconds later there is a sudden flash of light, then more light remains as the fires burn on the mountain.

A local resident took the video from his home in Gold Canyon, roughly seven miles away from the crash site, ABC News reported.

Graham said 911 calls began coming in around 6:30 p.m. on Friday after an explosion near the Flat Iron area close to Lost Dutchman State Park.

“People said it sounded like fireworks going off,” Graham said.

One witness told CNN that a mushroom cloud of flames lit up the evening sky.

Another local observer Ronnie Brant told KPHO TV the plane seemed to be having engine trouble.

Some witnesses said they heard a plane trying to rev its engines to climb higher before apparently hitting the mountains.

The Superstition Mountains’ elevation is about 5,000 feet at their highest level.

The photogenic area near Lost Dutchman State Park and the Superstition Wilderness is filled with steep canyons, soaring rocky outcroppings and is popular with hikers and horse riders.

Apache myth holds that the mountains contain a hole that is an entrance to the underworld.

Treasure hunters who frequent the area have been looking for the legendary Lost Dutchman mine for more than a century.

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Jerry Sandusky accused of sexually abusing his own grandchild and other two boys

Diane A. Wade
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Jerry Sandusky accused of sexually abusing his own grandchild and other two boys

The latest accusation brought against former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky is that he sexually abused his own grandchild, according to his lawyer.

Jerry Sandusky is accused of molesting at least eight boys over a 15-year period.

Former Penn State coach’s lawyer Joe Amendola said the accusation comes from Jill Jones, ex-wife of one of Jerry Sandusky’s five adopted sons, Matt.

Two new cases emerged yesterday, both referring to victims under the age of 18.

Joe Amendola told ABC News: “The allegations are ridiculous and unfounded. Jerry has absolutely denied any inappropriate contact with his grandkids.”

The incident was not reported to authorities until after Jerry Sandusky was charged earlier this month, he said.

Neither the person who made the complaint, nor the alleged victims, have been publicly identified.

Jerry Sandusky adopted a total of six children with his wife Dorothy.

If the two new allegations are found to be credible they will be the first involving alleged victims who are still under the age of 18.

Their accounts will be investigated by the state’s children and youth services rather than the police as they are classified as minors.

The latest accusation brought against former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky is that he sexually abused his own grandchild, according to his lawyer
The latest accusation brought against former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky is that he sexually abused his own grandchild, according to his lawyer

Jerry Sandusky, who maintains his innocence, faces 40 criminal counts involving the sexual abuse of eight boys beginning in the mid-1990s.

Jerry Sandusky is free on bail, but has not been required to post any bail money.

Earlier this week a judge delayed his preliminary hearing in the Centre County Courthouse for three weeks until December 13.

Joe Amendola told ABC’s Good Morning America he feared new criminal allegations would land his client in jail.

Meanwhile a grand jury indictment has revealed a shocking account by the mother of one former Central Mountain High School pupil.

The mother claims her son was frequently taken off school grounds by Jerry Sandusky despite no parental permission having been given.

According to the mother’s account, the school’s principal Karen Probst repeatedly urged her not to report the abuse allegations to police.

The mother claims neither Karen Probst nor the school counsellor took his complaints seriously and she stormed out of a meeting when they refused to act.

She said of the principal and school counsellor: “They were not helpful. They wanted me to go home and forget all about it.”

The mother, who has removed her son from the school, said the boy first met Jerry Sandusky in 2005 or 2006 through his children’s charity aged 11 or 12.

She recalls meeting Jerry Sandusky at the charity’s annual parent awards ceremony as well as frequently seeing him hanging round the school.

The mother said towards the end of eighth grade her son’s behaviour changed and he began “lashing out” and becoming “mouthy and nasty at home”.

She also said she was alerted to the possibility that something was seriously wrong one evening when her son asked her how to look up “sex weirdos”.

Believing her son was just playing a game she claims she asked him who he wanted to look up and he replied “Jerry”.

The boy then allegedly went on to tell her that he was being taken out of school several times a week, sometimes on a daily basis by Jerry Sandusky.

According to both the alleged victim and his mother, football coach Steve Turchetta had authorized Jerry Sandusky to do this – despite no parental permission being given.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation she states she arranged to meet with the school counsellor.

The mother said: “I didn’t know how to start the conversation with the high school counsellor because I didn’t know how to come out and say: <<I think Jerry Sandusky is doing something to my kid>>.

“I finally said to the counsellor <<You’re a mother. I’m a mother. I have a gut feeling that something isn’t right>>.”

But the mother claims the school shrugged off her concerns, with principal Karen Probst saying: “Jerry has a heart of gold.

“He’s been around all these kids and you really should go home and think about what this is going to do to your son and your family if you do that.”

Lawyers for one of the alleged victims, identified only as Victim 4, today requested for an injunction that would stop the children’s charity that Jerry Sandusky founded The Second Mile from disbanding.

In the wake of allegations that Jerry Sandusky used the charity to get close to his victims, The Second Mile has said it was considering transferring its programs.

But Victim 4’s lawyers said that they want to make sure the company’s assets are safeguarded. The criminal charges against Jerry Sandusky could be followed by civil lawsuits.

Lawyers Benjamin Andreozzi and Jeffrey Fritz said in a statement. “We believe it is in the best interest of our clients, as well as the other victims, to ensure that the organization is being financially responsible.

“We have reached out to attorneys for The Second Mile in the hope that appropriate safeguards against the dissipation of assets can be reached, but are proceeding with these legal measures in order to protect the interests of our clients and other victims in the event we are unable to come to an agreement.”

The allegations have rocked Pennsylvania and led to the ousting of its celebrated football coach, Joe Paterno.

Aside from the case, Jerry Sandusky’s defence lawyer Mr Amendola, 63, is said to have got a teenage girl called Mary Lavasile pregnant when she was 17 and he was 49, before later marrying her.

The age of consent in Pennsylvania is 16.

 

David Simon’s wife hacked his computer to prove he spent money for women met on sugardaddy.com

Diane A. Wade
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David Simon’s wife hacked his computer to prove he spent money for women met on sugardaddy.com

Linda Simon, the estranged wife of multimillionaire New York investor David Simon admitted she hacked into her husband’s private computer to prove he had spent hundreds of thousands in “allowances” for young women.

Linda Simon used a private investigator to allegedly discover her husband had been accessing the website sugardaddy.com to conduct extramarital affairs.

She also claimed David Simon gave $250,000 in “hush money” to a woman he had a child with last year.

Linda and David Simon are in the middle of a divorce at Westchester Family Court where she filed a protection order to have her husband kicked off their estate in Purchase, New York.

David Simon is believed to have been living at the Setai Hotel, New York since the end of July.

In August, David Simon, who is a frequent commentator for CNBC, sued his wife and her divorce lawyer Jason Advocate for $25 million at Manhattan Civil Court.

David Simon alleged they had copied his hard drive which contained “trade secrets” from his company Twin Capital Management and his personal financial information.

The lawsuit said David Simon was the only person with the password and his company’s computer-monitoring service showed someone accessed his PC after he left home.

Responding to the claims for the first time, Linda Simon admitted that she broke into the computer with the help of surveillance firm T&M Protection Resources.

David Simon alleged his wife and her divorce lawyer had copied his hard drive which contained "trade secrets" from his company Twin Capital Management and his personal financial information
David Simon alleged his wife and her divorce lawyer had copied his hard drive which contained "trade secrets" from his company Twin Capital Management and his personal financial information

Linda Simon said she only did so to find out about her husband’s affairs and the money he lavished on young women.

According to the filing obtained by The New York Post, Linda Simon stated: “Simon was a <<sugar daddy>> to several young women through a Web site called sugardaddy.com and was spending thousands of dollars per week paying these women <<allowances>> to be at his beck and call.”

Sugardaddy.com has more than 1.5 million members and aims to set up rich, older men with young attractive women, so called “sugar babies”.

David Simon’s hedge fund tried to have Jason Advocate removed as Linda Simon’s lawyer as he was also been sued in the hacking case.

The motion to have Jason Advocate dismissed as Linda Simon’s attorney was denied at Manhattan Civil Court yesterday by Judge Jeffrey Oing.

The lawsuit is ongoing with another court date scheduled for April 11 next year.

 

George Michael hospitalized in Vienna after being diagnosed with pneumonia

Lisa.Felice
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George Michael hospitalized in Vienna after being diagnosed with pneumonia

George Michael has been forced to postpone concert dates after being hospitalized in Vienna, Austria, and diagnosed with pneumonia.

George Michael, 48, was due to perform on Monday in Vienna.

As a result of his continuing medical treatment, George Michael’ scheduled gig in Strasbourg, France, tonight and concerts in Cardiff this week have all been postponed.

The singer’s spokesperson said George Michael had been ordered to pull the gigs by his doctors and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

The spokeperson said: “Plans to reschedule these postponed tour dates will be provided when available.”

George Michael’s concert promoter Manfred Leodolter told Austrian press today: “George Michael is still in Vienna. Doctors have warned him for the moment against flying and he is getting rest in Vienna.”

As a result of his continuing medical treatment, George Michael' scheduled gig in Strasbourg, France, tonight and concerts in Cardiff this week have all been postponed
As a result of his continuing medical treatment, George Michael' scheduled gig in Strasbourg, France, tonight and concerts in Cardiff this week have all been postponed

George Michael’s current hospitalization is the second time he has been ill on his worldwide Symphonica Tour, which started in Prague, Czech Republic in August.

In October, George Michael cancelled one of his three sell-out gigs at London’s Royal Albert Hall due to illness.

At the time, singer’ spokesperson said he was suffering from a viral infection and had a high temperature.

That gig has now been rescheduled for May 2012.

George Micahel’s tour sees him performing with a 41-piece orchestra and in front of a giant red LED wall.

 

Shannon, a young woman shared her experiences of labiaplasty on CBS’s show “The Doctors”

Kathryn R. Bown
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Shannon, a young woman shared her experiences of labiaplasty on CBS’s show “The Doctors”

Labiaplasty – plastic surgery for female genitalia – has been called the “final frontier” of cosmetic surgery.

Shannon, a 23-year-old woman has openly shared her experiences of labiaplasty on CBS’s show “The Doctors”.

The Doctors, aired yesterday on CBS, featured Shannon, who wanted nothing more than to correct her “painfully long labia”. The segment was part of the worryingly-named “Gross Anatomy” episode of the series.

Shannon, a trainee nurse, said that that her “deformed” genitals are not only a daily discomfort but that they discouraged her from having sex – and were a factor in her relationship breakup.

The young woman said: “I’m self conscious. I don’t really want to have sex – I try to avoid it, so it’s kind of a big strain on a relationship.”

Shannon described how she avoids swimming or any activity in her swimsuit and how she first felt different other girls in middle school.

The woman’s surgeon, Dr. Grant Stevens, of Marina Plastic Surgery in Marina del Rey, California, removed a finger length’s strip from her labia.

Dr. Grant Stevens said that while “no one would be cruel enough to suggest a woman should live like [Shanon]”, he admitted that many of his clients may not need surgery.

“If I hear the word pain or chafing or tenderness, it’s an entirely different consult than if I get the <<I’m embarrassed, I think it looks funny>>. But <<I’m embarrassed>> doesn’t automatically disqualify somebody,” the doctor said, reports the ABC.

Shannon, a trainee nurse, said that that her "deformed" genitals are not only a daily discomfort but that they discouraged her from having sex - and were a factor in her relationship breakup
Shannon, a trainee nurse, said that that her "deformed" genitals are not only a daily discomfort but that they discouraged her from having sex - and were a factor in her relationship breakup

“Vaginal rejuvenation” is the umbrella term for a set of procedures that include labia reduction, labia augmentation and vaginal tightening.

Some women – such as those who have suffered vaginal prolapses during childbirth – find rejuvenation surgery absolutely necessary.

However, for many women, the problem may be more contemporary.

As Dr. Travis Stork, The Doctors show’s host, put it: “Let’s be real… Looks do matter, whether it’s your face your hair or even down there.”

Massachusetts General Hospital obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Erin Tracy, seconds Dr. Grant Stevens’ findings – and Dr Stork’s beliefs. According to the news site, she said: “Most of the patients I have coming in asking about this are teenagers that look entirely normal.

“The majority of them, after some probing, seem to have some underlying body dysmorphic disorder or problems in their relationship that make them think they’re abnormal.”

Dr. Erin Tracy findings are echoed by Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at New York’s Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. She sees men as being partly to blame for the rise in labiaplasty.

“For every single thing that’s normal about a woman’s body there’s a man trying to change it… The last frontier was the vagina,” Dr. Hilda Hutcherson said, reports ABC.

“They’re taking this beautiful, fluffy vulva and making it look like newborn baby’s,” she says of the blood-vessel-rich area around the vagina.

Dr. Hilda Hutcherson is unswerving in her criticism of society’s treatment of the female form: “They’ve taken every part of a woman’s body and convinced us it’s somehow abnormal.”

Shannon is thrilled with the results of her surgery: “I’m so excited…they look amazing… I couldn’t be more happy,” she said on the programme.

But not every woman is so lucky.

Risks involved with the surgery include infection, bleeding, pain and discomfort. Misguided women may be causing more problems than they began with in the first place, especially as there is no one standard size or shape of labias and vaginas – or indeed for any part of the body.

“I think women should have options, but I think it’s up to doctors to educate them about what’s normal,” says Dr. Hilda Hutcherson.

 

Arthur Berkowitz, an US Airways passenger was forced to stand for 7 hours because of an obese man sitting next to him

Diane A. Wade
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Arthur Berkowitz, an US Airways passenger was forced to stand for 7 hours because of an obese man sitting next to him

Arthur Berkowitz, an US Airways passenger had to stand during a seven-hour flight from Anchorage to Philadelphia because of a 400 lbs man sitting next to him.

Arthur Berkowitz said his morbidily obese neighbour on US Airways Flight 901 from Anchorage to Philadelphia made it impossible to get into his seat.

The 400 lbs man spilled over into Arthur Berkowitz’s personal space and he could not move because the plane was full so he was forced to stand up.

Arthur Berkowitz, 57, said the obese man was very sorry.

“The first thing he said to me was: <<I want to apologize – I’m your worst nightmare>>.”

Arthur Berkowitz added that his ordeal in July presented a safety risk because he could not use his seatbelt for take-off and landing.

“I didn’t fly from Alaska to Philadelphia on Flight 901,” he told consumer advocate Christopher Elliot’s blog.

“I stood. His size required both armrests to be raised up and allowed for his body to cover half of my seat,” he told the website, elliott.org.

Arthur Berkowitz, an US Airways passenger had to stand during a seven-hour flight from Anchorage to Philadelphia because of a 400 lbs man sitting next to him
Arthur Berkowitz, an US Airways passenger had to stand during a seven-hour flight from Anchorage to Philadelphia because of a 400 lbs man sitting next to him

The flight from Anchorage to Philadelphia is one of the longest non-stop U.S. domestic flights and Arthur Berkowitz thought he had a spare seat at first.

But before the door closed the airline asked a late-boarding passenger who weighed 400 lbs to sit down next to him in the last empty seat.

Arthur Berkowitz has been flying with US Airways for 50 years.

He added that there was a young exchange student from Eastern Europe on the same row as him who was “pinned up against the window” by the obese man because there was so little space.

Flight attendants whom he told about the problem said they could not help him as he was not allowed to sit in their jump seats.

“They were sympathetic, but could not do anything,” Arthur Berkowitz told elliott.org.

“No other seats existed on plane.”

Arthur Berkowitz claims flight attendants admitted their gate agent had made an error in allowing the passenger to board without having bought two seats.

US Airways has since apologized for the “regrettable” incident.

A statement said: “Our intention is to offer the best travel experience possible.

“The details you have provided indicate that we have failed to meet our intentions.”

US Airways offered Arthur Berkowitz a $200 voucher in compensation.

But he called this “inappropriate” after paying more than $800 for the ticket.

Arthur Berkowitz also complained the airline has not fixed the safety issue.

“I reviewed his case and agreed with him that US Airways might want to take another look at his complaint,” Christopher Elliott wrote on his blog.

“I mean, leaving a passenger with no alternative but to stand for almost seven hours – if that’s true, then this might be one of those rare cases when a full refund is in order.”

Arthur Berkowitz said he raised the issue primarily because he wants the airline and authorities “to develop a policy on safety”.

There is no legal weight limit for passengers on U.S. commercial flights but some airlines such as Southwest ask customers who cannot fit into one seat to book two.

It says if a passenger cannot lower the armrests on one set they must buy another – whatever they weigh.

The second seat’s price is refunded if the flight does not oversell, says consumer website Smarter Travel, which advises big passengers to travel off-peak.

 

Google is dropping seven more products

Nancy Clayson
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Google is dropping seven more products

Google has announced that it is shutting seven more products in an effort to simplify its range of services.

Among the seven services are Google Wave, Knol and Google Gears.

It is the third time that Google has announced a cull of several of its products at the same time after they had failed to take off.

According to experts, the strategy might put off users from signing up to new services.

Google make the announcement on its official blog.

Urs Holzle, Google’s vice president of operations said:

“We’re in the process of shutting a number of products which haven’t had the impact we’d hoped for, integrating others as features into our broader product efforts, and ending several which have shown us a different path forward.”

“Overall, our aim is to build a simpler, more intuitive, truly beautiful Google user experience,” he added.

Google has announced that it is shutting seven more products in an effort to simplify its range of services
Google has announced that it is shutting seven more products in an effort to simplify its range of services

 

The seven latest products earmarked for the chop are as follows:

* Google Wave – an attempt to combine email and instant messaging for real-time collaboration

* Google Bookmarks List – a service which allowed users to share bookmarks with friends

* Google Friends Connect – allowed webmasters to add social features to their sites by embedding a snippet of code

* Google Gears – much-hyped effort to maintain web browser functionality when working offline

* Google Search Timeline – a graph of historical query results

* Knol – a Wikipedia-style project, which aimed to improve web content

* Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal – a project which aimed to find ways to improve solar power

Google had previously announced its plans to kill off some of the projects on the list.

It has now given details about when the switch-offs will occur. For example Wave will be retired in April, and Knol content will be taken offline in October.

Kert Clyde Jordan, a Carnival Cruise Lines waiter accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl

Diane A. Wade
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0
Kert Clyde Jordan, a Carnival Cruise Lines waiter accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl

Kert Clyde Jordan, a Carnival Cruise Lines waiter has been accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who was on holiday with her family.

Kert Clyde Jordan, 35 from Grenada, works as a waiter on the Miami-based Carnival Liberty. The waiter was charged with engaging in a sexual act with a person under the age of 16.

A statement from the United States Attorney’s Office claimed Kert Clyde Jordan engaged in sexual acts with the girl while the ship was in international waters on November 4 and 5.

The Liberty sails from The Port of Miami to the eastern and western Caribbean, with routes passing through San Juan, St Maarten, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman.

Kert Clyde Jordan, a Carnival Cruise Lines waiter has been accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who was on holiday with her family
Kert Clyde Jordan, a Carnival Cruise Lines waiter has been accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who was on holiday with her family

Kert Clyde Jordan is accusing of coaxing the girl into a bathroom on the Lido deck.

The girl waited until she and her parents were returning home to tell them of the alleged attack, police said.

Carnival Cruises Lines has been cooperative in the investigation, the Sun Sentinel reported.

“Carnival has a zero tolerance policy from crime and we take any allegations of crime extremely serious,” Carnival said in a statement.

Carnival houses its headquarters in Miami, and offers cruises on its 23-ship fleet to places like The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, and Bermuda.

Kert Clyde Jordan was arrested Saturday and made an initial court appearance Monday. As of Tuesday night, he remained in federal prison.

A pre-trial hearing is set for December 1 in Miami.

This isn’t the first case of underage sexual assault seen by Carnival Cruise Lines in recent memory.

Only ten days ago, Dylan Cole Bloodsworth, 19, from Alabama, was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping a 13-year-old girl on-board a Carnival cruise in Mexico.

According to court records, he met the girl when she too was on a holiday cruise with her family in March.

Dylan Cole Bloodsworth talked her into accompanying him to get a jacket from his cabin and raped her, according to U.S. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Murphy.

 

Kris Humphries sues Kim Kardashian for $10m and referred to her as a “fat ass”

Lisa.Felice
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Kris Humphries sues Kim Kardashian for $10m and referred to her as a “fat ass”

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian’s marriage only lasted 72 days before she filed for divorce and now speculation she had married for money and publicity were rife.

According to Us Weekly, the breakdown of the relationship was in fact down to basketball star Kris Humphries and his mean behaviour.

It has been claimed that Kris Humphries, 26, not only neglected his new wife, but he made a series of derogatory comments towards and is accused of referring to Kim Kardashian’s famous sizable derriere as a “fat ass”.

The magazine also reports that the basketball star was brutal with his comments towards his new wife and insulted her constantly.

A source told Us Weekly: “He belittled her in front of people. He’d call her stupid. It was truly sickening.

“He tried to control Kim by bringing her down…He would say truly terrible things. One time, he said she had no talent and her fame wouldn’t last.”

It has also been alleged that Kris Humphries is planning to sue Kim Kardashian for $10 million over his role in the upcoming “Kim and Kourtney take New York” series.

Life&Style magazine claimed: “He’s claiming his role on Kourtney & Kim Take New York is bigger than he was told, and that’s why he wants more money. But Kris is also suing because he’s really worried about how badly he’s going to be portrayed on the series.”

Kris Humphries sues Kim Kardashian for $10m and referred to her as a "fat ass"
Kris Humphries sues Kim Kardashian for $10m and referred to her as a "fat ass"

In the trailer for the upcoming “Kim and Kourtney take New York” series viewers see a furious Kim Kardashian blasting Kris Humphries for his partying ways and asking why she found out he wasn’t even in the country through Twitter.

Kourtney Kardashian is seen offering her distraught sister relationship advice suggesting the marriage was over before it ever really began.

Kim Kardashian announced she was filing for divorce on October 31, just 72 days after their lavish wedding.

In the wake of their split both kept a low profile and Kim Kardashian cut a trip to Australia short before visiting Kris in his hometown.

Kim Kardashian then went to work on Tyler Perry’s new film The Marriage Counsellor in Atlanta but has returned to LA and was cheering on her brother Robert in Dancing With The Stars yesterday.

While Kris Humphries cancelled personal appearances in the wake of the split last week he stepped out as the face of a watch brand, cashing in on his heightened fame.

Spokespeople for both Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries were unavailable for comment earlier today.

Meanwhile, RadarOnline reports Kim Kardashian’s manager and mother Kris Jenner has got her on lockdown – and is limiting her public appearances until the backlash over her divorce has settled down.

Kris Jenner has told Kim Kardashian to stay out of the spotlight and has gone into damage control after being shocked at the amount of bad Press the short-lived marriage has received.

A source told RadarOnline: “They did not anticipate the extreme backlash and the damage it would cause to the K-brand as a whole.

“The whole empire has been affected by this dumb marriage and Kris Jenner is all about getting paid.”

 

iPhone 5 will be released in 2012 and will have a 4 in screen

Nancy Clayson
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iPhone 5 will be released in 2012 and will have a 4 in screen

While iPhone 4S is basically a remodel of 2010 iPhone 4, it is claimed that next year’s iPhone 5 will be radically redrawn and will have a bigger screen (4 in), against Steve Jobs wishes.

According to website iLounge, sources within Apple who say that the late CEO’s Steve Jobs refusal to upgrade to a bigger screen is going to be the first thing to go – the new iPhone 5 will have a four-inch screen, putting it on a par with many Android rivals.

“Our most reliable source has spoken: expect body changes for the next iPhone,” said iLounge.

“Our source says that the next-generation iPhone will not look like the teardrop-shaped version that was widely rumored for release in 2011.

“We’ve been told that the device will have a 4-inch display and will be 8mm longer than before, with a metal casing (probably aluminum).

“It is on track to be introduced in summer of 2012, and is still in the engineering phase, not early production. We suspect that poor battery life doomed the prior prototype version.”

iLounge says thet the new version is being built to cope with the increased battery drain of an LTE aerial – ie 4G.

Sources within Apple who say that the Steve Jobs refusal to upgrade to a bigger screen is going to be the first thing to go - the new iPhone 5 will have a four-inch screen, putting it on a par with many Android rivals
Sources within Apple who say that the Steve Jobs refusal to upgrade to a bigger screen is going to be the first thing to go - the new iPhone 5 will have a four-inch screen, putting it on a par with many Android rivals

According to an industry source, speaking to businessinsider.com, the iPhone 5 was real and was only scrapped months before the iPhone 4S was announced.

Apple engineers known to the source believed just three months before the iPhone 4S was released that a new fully re-designed iPhone would be Apple’s next big announcement.

It is also believed that Steve Jobs – who was known for having a temper – was unhappy with the phone’s bigger screen because it “fragmented” iPhones.

There were also problems with its battery life – possibly due to the high drain of the 4G LTE aerial.

The source claims to have spent about two weeks with one prototype version of the new phone, which was much flatter than the current version.

Prototype’ screen was four inches diagonal, making it bigger than the current iPhone.

It is also believed that it was supposed to have a 10 megapixel lens and, like the iPad2, the new phones were supposed to have aluminum backs.

The source claims that the iPhone 5 was going to have a nicer screen with better colours and told the magazine that the home button of the prototype was not a physical press button.

“You could touch it and hold it and physically reboot the device,” the source said.

And the new phone did have a personal assistant, but unlike being called Siri – as it is on the iPhone 4S – it was simply called “Assistant”.

Despite the disappointment felt by some fans, they may not have long to wait for the iPhone 5, because it is widely believed that it will be released in 2012.

D.B. Cooper author of 1983 rare book “HA-HA-HA”?

James J. Williams
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D.B. Cooper author of 1983 rare book “HA-HA-HA”?

D.B. Cooper is claimed to be the author of a 1983 rare book, entitled “HA-HA-HA”, featuring a drawing of a man in a suit holding a briefcase while parachuting from a commercial jet on its cover.

FBI has checked hundreds of leads since the man dubbed D.B. Cooper parachuted from a flight with $200,000 dollars in ransom in 1971.

If the author of a newly-unearthed memoir is to be believed, D.B. Cooper has come forward to reveal himself as the man who has gone down in American folklore for pulling off the nation’s only unsolved hijacking.

D.B. Cooper was parachuted from a flight with $200,000 dollars in ransom in 1971
D.B. Cooper was parachuted from a flight with $200,000 dollars in ransom in 1971

As The Sideshow reports, Pacific Northwest author Matt Love recently purchased the 1983 book from a Jefferson, Oregon publisher called Signum Books Ltd. Originally sold for $3.95, a recent search by the outlet found only three copies for sale to date – each for around $30.

The back cover features a graphic of a certificate announcing a contest called “Your Big Score”.

The certificate’s first sentence reads: “It’s true. In this book are seven clues. By reading it carefully and discovering the clues, one could receive as much as $200,000 in twenty dollar bills.”

Within its 330 pages, the author recounts his life prior to the hijacking, as a failed real-estate developer, heavy drinker and petty thief.

The author explains how he pulled off the heist on November 24, 1971 – in part by having rented a house and a gassed car nearby where he landed near Pyramid Lake – and says he invested his ransom money in Boeing and silver, becoming very wealthy as a result.

As Matt Love notes, the mystery author also offers a series of clues that offer the location of D. B. Cooper’s ransom to the lucky reader clever enough to piece the puzzle together.

D.B. Cooper is claimed to be the author of a 1983 rare book, entitled "HA-HA-HA", featuring a drawing of a man in a suit holding a briefcase while parachuting from a commercial jet on its cover
D.B. Cooper is claimed to be the author of a 1983 rare book, entitled "HA-HA-HA", featuring a drawing of a man in a suit holding a briefcase while parachuting from a commercial jet on its cover

After nearly 40 years of chasing exhausted leads, investigators still now very litter about the man who boarded a Boeing 727 at Portland International Airport under the name Dan Cooper.

The gentleman, believed to be his mid-forties and wearing dark sunglasses, took seat 18F, ordered a bourbon and water.

Then he handed a flight attendant a note: “Miss, I’ve got a bomb, come sit next to me — you’re being hijacked.”

D. B. Cooper opened a briefcase that appeared to contain explosives and demanded $200,000 and parachutes.

Officials met his demands when the plane landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where passengers and two flight attendants were released.

The man in 18F then ordered the flight crew to take the plane back into the air, insisting that it fly at an altitude of no more than 10,000 feet on its way to Mexico through Reno, Nevada.

About 40 minutes after take-off, a signal light in the cockpit showed that the plane’s rear stairway had been extended. When the jet landed in Reno, the stairs were down and two parachutes, the money and D. B. Cooper were gone.

A few years ago, the FBI renewed its push to solve the case, releasing photos and new case details in the hopes of jogging memories or prompting someone to come forward.

Experts estimated D. B. Cooper would have landed near Ariel, Washington. Residents there have a party every fall to commemorate the unsolved hijacking.There have been more than 1,000 suspects over the past four decades.

And, over the years, agents have unceasingly voiced suspicions that the hijacker, who was later dubbed D.B. Cooper, may have died following the 10,000 leap.

Conditions that night were poor and the mountainous terrain near the Oregon border is notoriously rough.

5,800 dollars worth of decomposed $20 bills, identified as part of the ransom money, which were recovered in 1980 by a child digging on the banks of the Columbia River, also point to an untimely death.

But no body has ever been found and few other signs of D.B. Cooper fate have been discovered.

 

More victims complain fake doctor Oneal Ron Morris injected toxic substances in their buttocks

Diane A. Wade
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More victims complain fake doctor Oneal Ron Morris injected toxic substances in their buttocks

Police reports say that more victims have come forward claiming fake doctor Oneal Ron Morris from Florida injected toxic substances into their buttocks.

Oneal Ron Morris, a 30-year-old woman transgender, was arrested for practicing medicine without a licence with serious bodily injury after a patient complained he pumped cement and “Fix-a-Flat” tire sealant into her backside.

The treatment left the victim with life threatening injuries and she needed several surgeries and round-the-clock care.

Police say Oneal Ron Morris is a man but appears to be a woman and her arrest photographs show an apparently enhanced rear. Detectives say she performed the potentially lethal treatment on herself.

Jennifer Hirst, deputy press secretary of the Florida Department of Health told NBC in Miami that other possible victims have come forward as a result of the media attention.

Oneal Ron Morris, a 30-year-old woman transgender, was arrested for practicing medicine without a licence with serious bodily injury after a patient complained he pumped cement and "Fix-a-Flat" tire sealant into her backside
Oneal Ron Morris, a 30-year-old woman transgender, was arrested for practicing medicine without a licence with serious bodily injury after a patient complained he pumped cement and "Fix-a-Flat" tire sealant into her backside

The victims are claiming Oneal Ron Morris performed similar procedures on them and that they suffered severe complications.

Jennifer Hirst said additional arrests in the case are possible. She didn’t offer any more details about the new victims.

Oneal Ron Morris is now free on bond but he probe by the Miami Gardens Police and health officials is continuing.

According to the arrest report, the patient went to Oneal Ron Morris’s home and paid $700 for six injections “in each buttock to improve its shape and cosmetic” appearance. She allegedly used superglue to seal the incisions.

Within hours, the victim began to feel sick and eventually required treatment at several hospitals.

Experts have said undergoing unlicensed medical procedures is “like playing Russian roulette.”

 

Thanksgiving 2011: weather and travel forecasts

Diane A. Wade
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Thanksgiving 2011: weather and travel forecasts

42.5 million US people are expected to hit the road to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving – the highest number of holiday travellers since the start of the recession.

Thanksgiving travellers are at the mercy of the weather, because forecasters warned of rain and scattered thunderstorms in much of the north east, with a mixture of snow and freezing rain expected in upstate New York and northern New England. Mountainous areas could see 4 to 8 inches of snow.

Two forecasted storms are expected to make air travel rough across parts of the country, causing delays and cancellations at airports.

The first storm, which has already caused flash flooding across Arkansas, is forecast to move into the Southeast, bringing severe weather on Wednesday.

It will also bring rain showers and snow showers to the North east, with two inches of rain expected in Boston and New York and more than a foot of snow through New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

The worst of the severe weather was forecast to develop across parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, even into North and South Carolinas.

Thanksgiving travellers are at the mercy of the weather, because forecasters warned of rain and scattered thunderstorms in much of the north east
Thanksgiving travellers are at the mercy of the weather, because forecasters warned of rain and scattered thunderstorms in much of the north east

The second storm moved into the North west Tuesday evening and continuing through Thanksgiving day, bringing with it up to five inches of rain and a foot of snow to higher elevations. Flooding and strong winds are expected to be a major concern.

According to travel tracker AAA, 4% more Americans than last year will journey at least 50 miles from home, with about 90% of them driving. Another 8% plan to fly, but AAA notes that higher airfares and less available seats have forced many would-be fliers to drive instead. The remaining travelers plan to take buses, trains or other forms of transport.

This is the third consecutive Thanksgiving that US people have taken to the road in higher numbers than in the past year, according to Associated Press.

The increase in holiday travel is welcome news for an industry that has been struggling to get Americans back on the road.

Memorial Day saw no increase in vacations and travel was down for both July 4th and Labor Day breaks.

AAA says that Americans are willing to spend now because they want to spend time with their family.

Bill Sutherland, vice president, AAA Travel Services, said in a statement:

“As consumers weigh the fear of economic uncertainty and the desire to create lasting family memories this holiday, more Americans are expected to choose family and friends over frugality.”

Those driving should expect to pay more at the pump. The average price of a gallon of gas so far this November is $3.42, up nearly 20% from last year’s $2.86, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. That means for every 100 miles a family drives this holiday they should expect to spend about $2.50 more on gas.

Rates for mid-range hotels are expected to increase 6% from last year ago with travelers spending an average of $145 a night. Lower-priced motels are seeing a 7% increase to $103.

Weekend daily car rental rates will average $37, an 11% drop from last year.

According to AAA, Thanksgiving airfares are 20% higher than last year with an average lowest round-trip rate of $212 for the top 40 U.S. air routes.

That estimate is much higher than a 4% increase predicted by both Orbitz and Priceline.

Those companies said the average airfare was closer to $400. Airlines report quarterly airfares but don’t break out prices for specific holidays.

The findings are based on a survey of 1,357 people in the U.S., 543 who said they plan to travel.

On this the fourth Thanksgiving since the economy sank, prices for everything from airline flights to groceries are going up, and some Americans are scaling back.

Yet in many households, the occasion is too important to skimp on. Said one mother: “I don’t have much to give, but I’ll be cooking, and the door will be open.”

Bill Sutherland, vice president of AAA Travel Services, said: “This is the first significant increase in any holiday travel this year.”

Families who had foregone travel over the last three years are likely to reverse their decisions this year, the group said, leading to the uptick in the forecast.

The forecast, based on a monthly survey of 50,000 homes, said some 3.4 million – up 1.8% year-on-year – would fly over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving travel took a big hit in 2008 following the financial crisis and the economic uncertainty it caused.

 

ESA picked up a signal from Phobos-Grunt, Russia’s troubled Mars mission

James J. Williams
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ESA picked up a signal from Phobos-Grunt, Russia’s troubled Mars mission

The European Space Agency (ESA) says it has finally contacted Phobos-Grunt, Russia’s troubled Mars mission.

ESA reports that its tracking station in Perth, Australia, picked up a signal from the Phobos-Grunt probe.

The agency is now working with Russian engineers to see how best to maintain communications with the craft.

Phobos-Grunt has been stuck in Earth orbit since its launch on 9 November, unable to fire the engine that would take it on to Mars.

It raises the hope that Russian controllers can establish what is wrong with the spacecraft and fix it.

The European Space Agency (ESA) says it has finally contacted Phobos-Grunt, Russia's troubled Mars mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) says it has finally contacted Phobos-Grunt, Russia's troubled Mars mission

 

Phobos-Grunt still has a short window in which to start its journey to Mars before the growing distance from Earth gets too big.

The probe was built to land on the Martian moon, Phobos, and scoop up rock to bring back to Earth.

Such a venture should yield fascinating new insights into the origin of the 27 km-wide moon and the planet it circles.

The mission is also notable because China’s first Mars satellite, Yinghuo-1, has been launched piggy-back on the main Russian spacecraft.

How Angelina Jolie survives with 600 calories a day

Lisa.Felice
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How Angelina Jolie survives with 600 calories a day

Grazia magazine revealed that Angelina Jolie survives on as little as 600 calories a day, which is the equivalent of two bowls of cereal with milk.

Angelina Jolie‘s weight is said to hover around the 97 lb mark – underweight for her 5ft 8in height – and she looks painfully thin.

According to sources, Angelina Jolie rarely eats a full meal and frequently forgets to eat.

“Angelina has been known to start her day with little more than a spoonful of coconut oil and a handful of cereal,” a source told Grazia magazine last week.

“The worrying thing is that she is so busy, she often forgets to eat.”

Grazia magazine revealed that Angelina Jolie survives on as little as 600 calories a day, which is the equivalent of two bowls of cereal with milk
Grazia magazine revealed that Angelina Jolie survives on as little as 600 calories a day, which is the equivalent of two bowls of cereal with milk

Sometimes Angelina Jolie skips lunch altogether or will just grab a few almonds and some gummy bears while she’s on the go, or will have a protein-based shake rather than anything more substantial.

“Then dinner could be something like a lean steak and a glass of red wine.”

Angelina Jolie’s fluctuating weight has been well documented, with her slender frame becoming painfully thin during difficult emotional times in her life.

The actress was forced to defend her waif-like frame in 2007, when her weight plummeted following the death of her mother Marcheline.

At the time, Angelina Jolie said: “I have always been lean, and this year I lost my mum and I’ve gone through a lot.

“Instead of people saying I look like a person dealing with something emotionally, they assume it’s because I want to fit into skinny jeans.”

While in 2007 the weight loss was put down to Angelina Jolie’s mourning process, this time round reports suggest her battles with food have come as a result of her frenetic lifestyle, which requires constant work to balance work, children, travel and, of course, her relationship with Brad Pitt.

Their union has been blighted by rumour of late – are they splitting, aren’t they splitting? – Brad Pitt said in an interview with Parade magazine that they were stronger than ever.

“One of the greatest, smartest things I ever did was give my kids Angie as their mum,” Brad Pitt said.

“She is such a great mum. Oh man, I’m so happy to have her.”

Despite this show of unity though – Angelina Jolie has flown with the couple’s children across the world to be with Brad Pitt while he publicises his film.

The Grazia magazine source said: “What with her career, Brad and their six kids, Angelina has a lot on. Yes, stress plays a part. She is the type of person who drops weight when she’s stressed out.

“She simply loses her appetite and can survive on almost nothing. But a lot of people are worried that she is taking things too far and that she won’t have the strength to do all the things she wants to do if she doesn’t gain some weight.

“Everyone has been begging her to eat more and she is trying not to get any skinnier, but unfortunately she just doesn’t seem to be putting on any more weight.”

 

Fernando Brazier threw himself into Harlem River hours after marrying his long-term love

Diane A. Wade
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Fernando Brazier threw himself into Harlem River hours after marrying his long-term love

Fernando Brazier, a 28-year-old father of two from New Rochelle, took his own life by throwing himself into a river just hours after marrying his long-term love.

Fernando Brazier had left a note at the front desk of the hotel where he had his wedding reception the night before to tell his new wife where his body could be found.

The groom was then seen leaving the Radisson Hotel in New Rochelle, New York around 9:00 a.m. on Sunday and climbing into a taxi.

His body was discovered at the bottom of the Harlem river near Roberto Clemente State Park around 3:00 p.m., according to police sources.

The coroner has yet to confirm a cause of death but said there was no sign of foul play.

Fernando Brazier, a 28-year-old father of two from New Rochelle, took his own life by throwing himself into a river just hours after marrying his long-term love
Fernando Brazier, a 28-year-old father of two from New Rochelle, took his own life by throwing himself into a river just hours after marrying his long-term love

Fernando Brazier’s new bride, 26-year-old Trudian Hay, identified her husband’s body with his mother Paula Brazier-Weeks.

Trudian Hay’s family described the young mother, a college graduate, as “distraught”.

Fernando Brazier’s sister Shawna Weeks told the New York Post: “He said [in the note] he couldn’t take it anymore, and to take care of the kids.

“He left his ring in the envelope.”

Police sources believe that the man leapt from a building or the promenade behind it at 55 Richman Plaza in the Bronx.

Fernando Brazier and Trudian Hay had been together since they were teenagers and had two daughters aged 5 and 2.

He was said to have been suffering from depression for several months and had counselling with his fiancee.

Shawna Weeks also told the New York Post: “He would tell me that Trudy was a good person [but] he didn’t want to marry her; he was feeling like he was pressured.”

Fernando Brazier, who was studying to be a nurse, had divorced parents and wanted to give his children a stable home.

During their wedding reception on Saturday evening at the hotel, relatives said Fernando Brazier looked happy and not at all distressed.

The couple spent the night at the hotel but the following morning, Fernando Brazier said he was “going out for a walk” and when he didn’t return his wife was told by staff he had left in a taxi and passed her the note.

 

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