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Marco Simoncelli dies in motorcycle crash at Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang.

Italian motorcyclist Marco Simoncelli has been killed in a horrific crash at the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang.

The Gresini Honda rider, Marco Simoncelli lost control of his bike on the second lap of the circuit in Sepang and appeared to be hit by Colin Edwards and then Valentino Rossi as he slid across the track.

The race was stopped on lap two when Marco Simoncelli‘s bike veered across the track at turn 11 into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.

The Gresini Honda rider, Marco Simoncelli lost control of his bike on the second lap of the circuit in Sepang and appeared to be hit by Colin Edwards and then Valentino Rossi as he slid across the track
The Gresini Honda rider, Marco Simoncelli lost control of his bike on the second lap of the circuit in Sepang and appeared to be hit by Colin Edwards and then Valentino Rossi as he slid across the track

 

Marco Simoncelli, 24, had his helmet knocked off and was hit by both other riders.

American rider Colin Edwards also fell and dislocated his shoulder – while Marco Simoncelli’s fellow Italian, Valentino Rossi was able to return to the pits.

Marco Simoncelli lay motionless on the track after the impact, while the race was immediately red-flagged.

At first officials were looking to restart the race before the extent of Marco Simoncelli’s injuries became clear.

Eventually, the race was cancelled amid confusion in the grandstand, with fans throwing bottles to show their initial displeasure.

Marco Simoncelli’s death is the first fatality in MotoGP since Japan’s Daijiro Katoh died from injuries sustained at the 2003 Japanese GP while, last year, Japan’s Shoya Tomizawa died in a similar crash to Simoncelli in a Moto2 race in San Marino.

Marco Simoncelli’s death comes a week after British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon was killed in Las Vegas following a crash.

According to officials, when the track medics got to Marco Simoncelli, he was in cardiac arrest
According to officials, when the track medics got to Marco Simoncelli, he was in cardiac arrest

 

According to officials, when the track medics got to Marco Simoncelli, he was in cardiac arrest. They tried to resuscitate him in the ambulance and the medical centre.

A MotoGP statement read: “On Sunday, 23 October, during the MotoGP race at the Sepang International Circuit, San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Italian rider Marco Simoncelli suffered a serious accident wherein he sustained critical injuries.

“The race was stopped immediately with the red flag and Simoncelli was transported by ambulance to the circuit medical centre where the medical staff worked to resuscitate him.

“Despite their efforts, Marco sadly succumbed to his injuries at 4:56 pm local time.

“Everybody involved in MotoGP extends its deepest condolences to Marco’s family, friends and team at this tragic loss.”

Sepang circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir added: “This is one-of-a-kind freak incident where the helmet came off and I am sure FIM [International Federation of Motorcycling] and MotoGP will be looking into this.”

Marco Simoncelli entered MotoGP for the 2010 season and won his first pole position at the Catalunya race in June this year.

His first podium finish came in the Czech Republic in August when he finished third but he bettered that with a second-place finish at the Australian GP.

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Alexis Rasmussen dead body found in a canyon six weeks after she vanished

A body found in a shallow grave was identified as Alexis Rasmussen, the 16-year-old girl who mysteriously vanished in North Ogden, Utah, on September 10 whilst babysitting.

Alexis Rasmussen went missing six weeks ago, on September 10 in the early hours of the morning.

The decomposed remains found in a canyon at a rural site north of Salt Lake City on Tuesday have been identified as hers.

A body found in a shallow grave was identified as Alexis Rasmussen, the 16-year-old girl who mysteriously vanished in North Ogden, Utah, on September 10
A body found in a shallow grave was identified as Alexis Rasmussen, the 16-year-old girl who mysteriously vanished in North Ogden, Utah, on September 10

 

Police investigation into the cause of Alexis Rasmussen’s death continues.

Authorities have not named any suspects in the case nor specifically declared it a homicide.

Alexis Rasmussen’s family paid tribute to her on a Facebook page set up during the search to find her, writing today: “Our beautiful Alexis is sadly gone.

“Our family has endured a catastrophe, one that has changed each of us in ways that are far beyond words.

“Alexis touched so many people in the past fifty days, just as she did in the time she was here. Life will never be the same.

“Now sadly we mourn for the loss of our baby girl, as a family we will slowly try to heal, knowing we will never fully recover.”

On Saturday, the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed through fingerprints and dental records that the body found at a rural site on Tuesday was that of Alexis Rasmussen.

The decomposed remains found in a canyon at a rural site north of Salt Lake City on Tuesday have been identified as Alexis Rasmussen
The decomposed remains found in a canyon at a rural site north of Salt Lake City on Tuesday have been identified as Alexis Rasmussen

“This is certainly not the outcome we were hoping for,” a police said.

“All indications are that Alexis was a very outgoing and loving person.”

Her family members have acknowledged that Alexis Rasmussen has run away before, and police previously said they were treating the investigation as a missing person case.

A confidential informant gave a hint to the police, which led them to the grave site in Morgan County, a rural county north of Salt Lake City. The hint was directly related to the investigation into Alexis Rasmussen’s disappearance.

According to police, Alexis Rasmussen was last seen when she was babysitting on September 10, but she reportedly left before midnight to meet a friend.

Authorities have talked to that boy, but he claims that he only texted Alexis Rasmussen that night and didn’t meet her.

The couple Alexis Rasmussen was babysitting for has since been arrested, and the mother has been charged with two felonies for fraudulent prescriptions. Police said the charges are unrelated to the disappearance of Alexis Rasmussen.

Alexis Rasmussen’s friends last night paid moving tributes to her.

“It makes me feel so sick inside that this could happen,” Sarah Spencer told ABC4.

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Universal Orlando stops launching Dragon Challenge twin roller coasters simultaneously.

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Universal Orlando is altering its iconic twin roller coasters Dragon Challenge after a man claims he had his eyeball removed in one of two horrific accidents on the ride.

Dragon Challenge twin roller coasters has been the most thrilling experiences at Universal Orlando for more than ten years, as they race at 60 mph and intertwine within 18 inches of each other.

Universal Orlando officials have announced that they will no longer launch the twin roller coasters simultaneously following an internal investigation stemming from the incidents this summer.

“We believe this is the best path forward for our guests and for the attraction,” a park spokesman told the Orlando Sentinel.

 

Universal Orlando is altering its iconic twin roller coasters Dragon Challenge after a man claims he had his eyeball removed in one of two horrific accidents on the ride
Universal Orlando is altering its iconic twin roller coasters Dragon Challenge after a man claims he had his eyeball removed in one of two horrific accidents on the ride

 

Universal Orlando started launching the two coasters – the Chinese Fireball dragon and the Hungarian Horntail dragon – on a staggered basis after two riders were thought to have been injured by loose objects. That change has now become permanent.

On July 31, Carlos Montalvo, 52, from Puerto Rico, suffered a lacerated right eye while riding Dragon Challenge. The man’s lawyer says he had his eyeball removed.

Universal Orlando has refused to discuss what exactly happened in the incidents, but in a statement it reminded guests to secure all loose items, suggesting that they may have been caused by items falling out of guests’ hands or pockets.

After two weeks, Jon Wilson, 19, from Ohio, said he was hit on his foot, arm and face by something on the attraction.

Dragon Challenge was built when Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park opened in 1999 and was called “Duelling Dragons” but was re-branded when it received a themed makeover when the park opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010.

Passengers on Dragon Challenge twin roller coasters ride, which lasts two minute and twenty-five second, are suspended with their legs dangling below and pass through five inversions.

The ride has had few accidents and was built to calculate the weight of the two coasters when filled with passengers so that their timing was optimized.

There have only been five reported injuries on the ride during the last ten years, but lawyers for the man who lost his eye claim others have gone unreported.

“We are aware of several other incidents where people have been struck by objects [while riding Dragon Challenge],” Carlos Montalvo’s lawyer Clay Mitchell told the Orlando Sentinel.

The issue of loose objects has become more of a problem for roller coaster operating as more guests carry smartphones and other devices.

Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services told the Orlando Sentinel: “Today, we hear a lot about cell phones because people are trying to take pictures while they’re riding.”

“Sometimes they lose their grip, and the thing flies out.”

An Universal Orlando spokesman said that the park has many warning signs and has staff in ride queues to help spot potential problems.

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Occupy Chicago: over 100 arrests at city’s Grant Park protests.

Occupy Chicago protesters stood their ground in city’s Grant Park in noisy but peaceful defiance of police orders to clear out, prompting at least 100 arrests early Sunday.

According to Joshua Kaunert, Occupy Chicago movement spokesman, after the arrests the protests would continue in the Midwest City.

“We’re not going anywhere. There are still plenty of us,” Joshua Kaunert told The Associated Press after the arrests, which took police more than an hour to complete.

Elsewhere in US, police reported 11 arrests overnight in the Occupy Cincinnati protests.

According to police, those arrested had stayed in that city’s Fountain Square after Sunday’s 3:00 a.m. closing time and each was charged with criminal trespass.

Police said they made approximately 100 arrests among Occupy Chicago protesters early Sunday
Police said they made approximately 100 arrests among Occupy Chicago protesters early Sunday

 

Police began taking Occupy Chicago protesters into custody just before 1:00 a.m. Sunday.

Arrested protesters were led in groups to vans and two large white buses as others clamored to be arrested.

“Take me next! Take me next!” some of the protesters shouted as police began the arrests.

Others chanted as they were led away: “We’ll be back!”

Police had begun placing metal barricades around the area of Chicago’s Grant Park known as Congress Plaza about 11:10 p.m. on Saturday, minutes after the park had closed.

Afterward, police then went through the crowd and warned people to leave or risk arrest for remaining in the closed park in violation of a city ordinance.

After police warning, some of the protesters who stayed inside the barricades in the park sat on the ground.

Other people joined in from just outside the park. Police said they made approximately 100 arrests early Sunday but did not have an exact count.

Joshua Kaunert, Occupy Chicago spokesman, noted it was the second straight weekend that arrests had been made in the park after 175 arrests the previous Sunday when protesters set up tents past public hours.

Occupy Chicago protesters were taken away one by one and handcuffed with white plastic ties.

About 1,500 people gathered for the protest that began Saturday.

Occupy Chicago demonstrators descended on the city’s Grant Park with hopes of making it the movement’s permanent home.

Protesters had started in Chicago’s financial district before marching to the park.

Along the way, demonstrators chanted “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!” and held signs that read “Greed Sucks” and “No War But The Class War” while police on horses blocked them from walking on the street on Michigan Avenue, leaving them with just the sidewalks to occupy.

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Dan Wheldon, Lionheart’s funeral in St Petersburg, Florida.

Dan Wheldon’s funeral has taken place today in his adopted hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner funeral service began at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in St Petersburg, and well-wishers lined surrounding streets as the procession passed by, en route to a private burial.

Order of Service wrote on the front page “Lionheart Forever”, underneath a picture of Dan Wheldon kissing one of his many trophies – in reference to the driver’s nickname, earned for fearless racing.

Dan Wheldon, 33, died in a fiery 15-car crash at Sunday’s season-ending IndyCar race in Las Vegas.

In a statement on Thursday, Dan Wheldon’s wife, Susie said:

“Though we won’t be able to fit everyone inside, I know that Dan would have wanted the community to share in the celebration of his life and to grieve his passing.”

Order of Service wrote on the front page “Lionheart Forever”, underneath a picture of Dan Wheldon kissing one of his many trophies - in reference to the driver's nickname, earned for fearless racing
Order of Service wrote on the front page “Lionheart Forever”, underneath a picture of Dan Wheldon kissing one of his many trophies - in reference to the driver's nickname, earned for fearless racing

Susie Wheldon thanked fans for offering support over the past few days, which she described as “unbearable” for the family.

Dan Wheldon is survived by his wife and two young children, Sebastian and Oliver.

Dan Wheldon was one of IndyCar’s most popular drivers and he developed a special bond with fans in both American cities that he called home – Indianapolis and St Petersburg – after moving from his native England.

Fans from Indianapolis and St Petersburg dropped off notes of condolence and items ranging from teddy bears to chequered flags at impromptu memorial sites this week.

“Although the last few days have been unbearable for our family, the overwhelming love and support we have received are rays of sunshine during these dark days,” Susie Wheldon said.

“The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting, and I want to thank everyone for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers.”

Holly Wheldon, champion’ sister, tweeted yesterday: “Thank you so much to everyone who emailed and tweeted me amazing messages. Really appreciate it. Dan would be proud of all of you. :)”

Dan Wheldon’s funeral took place today at First Presbyterian Church in St Petersburg
Dan Wheldon’s funeral took place today at First Presbyterian Church in St Petersburg

During his service, country music star Wynonna Judd sang “I Can Only Imagine” and “Amazing Grace” in tribute to Dan Wheldon, known as Lionheart.

Writing on a sponsor’s blog in 2010, Dan Wheldon explained the moniker: “When I first started racing, a lot of the guys said that I raced with a lot of heart, occasionally not my head, but always with a lot of heart, like the way that Richard the Lionheart fought in battle.”

Dan Wheldon was born in Emberton, England. The future champion raced go-karts at the age of four. Dan Wheldon’s father was a go-kart racer and his mother was the timer at a local track.

Dan Wheldon was an IndyCar rookie in 2003 and won his first Indianapolis 500 two years later.

NASCAR drivers will honour Dan Wheldon with a special decal at this weekend’s race in Talladega, Alabama.

Meanwhile, St. Petersburg city council was scheduled to honour Dan Wheldon with a resolution on Thursday afternoon, and IndyCar officials are holding a public memorial service on Sunday afternoon at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indy.

Indy memorial service for Dan Wheldon will open its doors to the public on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., 90 minutes before the service is scheduled to start.

A trust fund for Dan Wheldon’s family has been established. Donations can be sent to Fifth Third Private Bank, attention Dan Wheldon Family Trust, 251 North Illinois St., Suite 1000, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

People wishing to send their condolences to Dan Wheldon family can address letters to The Wheldons, 9600 Koger Blvd N, Ste. 105, St Petersburg, FL 33702.

14-year-old boy kept locked in a filthy room of a mice-infested trailer for three years.

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An alleged mentally ill 14-year-old boy was kept locked in a filthy room of a mice-infested trailer for three years by his own mother.

Amanda Joliff, the teenager’s mother, who described her son as “developmentally delayed”, only allowed him out to take care of the family’s ducks, to clean and to eat, according to police.

It is reported that the boy ate only about four times a week.

It also appears that authorities missed numerous chances to intervene despite visiting the address numerous times.

Police visited the trailer at least three times since 2007, but, incredibly, failed to notice that anything was wrong.

Amanda Joliff, her boyfriend Richard Smith and the boy’s sister had kept him locked in the room since early 2008, the teenager told police.

According to police, the boy's room was filled with junk and had a soiled mattress with no sheets
According to police, the boy's room was filled with junk and had a soiled mattress with no sheets

The boy was found on September 27, hiding under a neighbour’s porch, while his mother and her boyfriend took a trip to New York.

According to police, the boy’s room was filled with junk and had a soiled mattress with no sheets. The only window was boarded up and there appeared to be a leak in the ceiling.

It appears that mice had eaten through boxes of pasta which were his main source of sustenance.

Two dogs, six birds including two ducks, and four toads lived inside the trailer, and another dog lived outside.

The home reeked of animal urine and faeces, police said.

The child’s mother, Amanda Joliff claimed that the lock on the plywood door to the boy’s room was originally installed because he had once run away.

Amanda Joliff admitted to locking the boy up when she got upset with him or when he was in trouble, police said.

Amanda Joliff, the teenager’s mother, who described her son as “developmentally delayed”, only allowed him out to take care of the family's ducks
Amanda Joliff, the teenager’s mother, who described her son as “developmentally delayed”, only allowed him out to take care of the family's ducks

The boy’s father and sister decided to move out of the trailer on September 27 but told him he would have to wait another day to leave, the teenager said.

His father gave him $5 to find a place to stay and he crawled underneath a neighbour’s porch to sleep, too afraid to ask for help, the boy said.

Police acknowledged Friday that they previously had visited the home but had seen no signs of abuse.

Authorities were first called to the address in February 2007 after the family’s dog bit a boy.

A male child who lived at the home showed up at a bar to listen to country western music in August 2010 after which police took him home.

In 2011, police were again called to the home because neighbors had complained about unlicensed dogs.

Lt Lee Mathis said authorities never entered the home during those visits and didn’t notice anything suspicious.

“If we had any indication of what was going on, we would have taken action,” Lt Mathis said.

Amanda Joliff, 36, and her boyfriend Richard Smith, 31, have been jailed on charges of false imprisonment, child abuse and neglect.

American diver killed by great white shark in Western Australia

An American diver was killed today by a great white shark in the second fatal shark attack off the coast of Western Australia state in 12 days.

The victim, who has yet to be named, is said to have died from “shocking” injuries after witnesses reported seeing a 10-foot great white shark.

The American man was a 32-year-old U.S. citizen who diving alone off a 25 feet boat near Rottnest Island, which lies a few miles off the coast, when he was taken by the shark.

Nobody realized the man was missing until two people on board the dive boat noticed bubbles emerging from the water, 500 yards north- west of an area known as Little Armstrong Bay.

Thy thought that air had escaped from diver breathing equipment – and a short time later the American’s body rose to the surface with what were said by a local fisherman to be “shocking injuries”.

An American diver was killed today by a great white shark in the second fatal shark attack off the coast of Western Australia state in 12 days
An American diver was killed today by a great white shark in the second fatal shark attack off the coast of Western Australia state in 12 days

The great white shark struck 500 yards north of Rottnest Island, which is 11 miles from a popular Perth city mainland beach where a 64-year-old swimmer is believed to have been taken by a great white on October 10.

Last night, local police was interviewing witnesses so a report can be prepared for the coroner.

It is understood the American citizen was on a work visa and had been living near the coast, at North Beach.

Greg Trew, Water Police Senior Sergeant said the American had surfaced in “a flurry of bubbles” with horrific injuries, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The American diver was believed to be dead when hauled aboard by his two companions.

Sergeant Greg Trew said the shark was seen by the man’s two companions as they were leaving the area after retrieving his body.

“It’s traumatic for everyone involved, it’s a tragic situation,” the sergeant said.

Authorities were trying to contact his family and have closed off the beaches on the popular resort island.

Officials cannot say whether the man was killed by the same shark that is believed to have taken Bryn Martin as he made his regular morning swim from Perth’s premier Cottesloe Beach toward a buoy about 380 yards offshore.

An analysis of Bryn Martin’s torn swimming trunks recovered from the seabed near the buoy pointed to a great white shark being the culprit. No other trace of Bryn Martin has been found.

Western Australia Police Sergeant Gerry Cassidy said:

“It’s a cloudy old day today which is the same as we had the other day with Cottesloe, and they’re the conditions that sharks love.”

The unnamed American is the fourth person to be killed by a shark off the Western Australian coast in 14 months.

Great white sharks can grow to more than 20 feet in length and 5,000 pounds in weight. They are protected in Australia, a primary location for the species.

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Ashton Kutcher: “The status of truth” video shows him not wearing the wedding ring.

Following his reported fling with Sara Leal on his sixth wedding anniversary, Ashton Kutcher has filmed a bizarre video addressing what he perceives as “The status of truth” in the media.

Ashton Kutcher, 33, has posted the video on new social network site Chime.In. The film shows him not wearing his wedding ring and making a plea for greater “honesty” in the press.

“I just wanted to open up a little dialogue on the state of honesty. The state of truth. The status of truth as it pertains to literature and media,” Ashton Kutcher says.

“Because publishers had a limited amount of inventory, publishers held great scrutiny over what they would be willing to print – they were the gatekeepers of the truth.”

“If it seemed like something wasn’t the truth, they wouldn’t print it because their reputation was on the line.”

 “The status of truth”, the video Ashton Kutcher has posted on Chime.In  shows him not wearing his wedding ring and making a plea for greater “honesty” in the press
“The status of truth”, the video Ashton Kutcher has posted on Chime.In shows him not wearing his wedding ring and making a plea for greater “honesty” in the press

Ashton Kutcher continues with an explanation of how he seems to perceive the media at present.

“When the cost structure comes down on printing… the level of honesty of literature started to plummet, the integrity of literature started to plummet because it was so easy to do.”

“I started thinking about that in relation to media and social media today where the threshold to actually have literature printed and distributed, the cost threshold is zero dollars. Thereby there is no gatekeeper of the truth.

“We are our own editors, we are our own publishers and we are our own printers. Thereby, people can bastardize the truth in any way, shape or form that they want and spread that around the world,” the actor says.

“There’s that old saying where a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can leave someone’s lips… I was thinking that we really have to take it upon ourselves to instill a level of honesty in the works in the media that we create and share with one another and be certain that we are doing our own diligence that what we are saying is for the benefit of another.”

In an ironic coincidence, a new Nikon camera commercial starring Ashton Kutcher has just been released, which mirrors somewhat the reported events when he had a fling with Sara Leal, 22, in his San Diego hotel suite last month.

The Nikon commercial, which was filmed and broadcast prior to the alleged events in San Diego, shows him flirting with a group of models, taking pictures from the balcony of his hotel room with Nikon’s new long lens Coolpix camera.

The new clip follows previous adverts which have portrayed Ashton Kutcher as a mischievous ladies man.

The final shot of Nikon commercial could be said to imitate Ashton Kutcher’s reported affair, when he allegedly invited a group of women to party with him in his suite, while wife Demi Moore was thousands of miles away in New York.

As a Kabbalah devotee, Ashton Kutcher is said by Radar Online to have apologized for his behavior to Demi Moore and the pair are said to be trying to patch things up.

Not long after the Sara Leal story broke, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore were spotted spending Yom Kippur at the Cachuma Lake camp ground near Santa Barbara, accompanied by the couple’s Kabbalah instructor Yehuda Berg and Ashton’s friend Eric Buterbaugh.

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Gaddafi’s widow demands for United Nations inquiry into dictator death.

Muammar Gaddafi’s widow, Safia has backed international demands yesterday for an inquiry into colonel killing.

It appears that rebel fighters executed the wounded Muammar Gaddafi having captured him alive.

Libyan officials of the ruling National Transitional Council were forced to delay Muammar Gaddafi secret burial for further examination of his battered body.

Muammar Gaddafi’s widow, Safia has backed international demands yesterday for an inquiry into colonel killing
Muammar Gaddafi’s widow, Safia has backed international demands yesterday for an inquiry into colonel killing

 

A recently released video, which apparently shows the moment that Muammar Gaddafi, 69, was pulled from his hole and led to a jeep, may shed light on how dictator came to be killed.

The new video is a shaky mobile phone footage that shows a dozen of rebels surrounding the bloodied Gaddafi, who is hoarse and barely audible.

Muammar Gaddafi says: “What are you doing? It’s not allowed in Islamic law. What you are doing is forbidden.

“What you’re doing is wrong, guys. Do you know what is right or wrong?”

And the young men are heard screaming: “Muammar, you dog!”.

Muammar Gaddafi gestures to the young men to be patient, and says “What’s going on?” as he wipes fresh blood from his temple and glances at his palm.

A young rebel fighter later is shown carrying a boot and screaming: “This is Muammar’s shoe! This is Muammar’s shoe! Victory! Victory!”

“Keep him alive, keep him alive!” someone shouts.

Another rebel screams: “God is great. God is omnipotent.”

And as Gaddafi begs for mercy, a fighter says: “Shut up, you dog.”

At that moment gun fire from an automatic-rile is heard and the recording ends. However, there were only signs on his corpse of wounds from handguns and the time of death is understood to have been less than an hour later.

Omran Jouma Shawan, one of the rebels who said he took part in the capture claimed Muammar Gaddafi was shot and wounded at the last minute by one of his own men.

“One of Muammar Gaddafi’s guards shot him in the chest,” said Omran Jouma Shawan.

Both Amnesty International and the United Nations called for investigations into Muammar Gaddafi’s death, a call echoed by his widow, Safia, from her exile in neighbouring Algeria.

Syrian TV quoted Safia as calling on the UN to investigate and saying she was proud of the courage shown by her husband and children.

Muammar Gaddafi’s widow, Safia
Muammar Gaddafi’s widow, Safia

 

In a statement, the Gaddafi’s family asked for the bodies of dictator, his son Mutassim, and others who were killed on Thursday by fighters who overran his hometown Sirte.

“We call on the UN, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Amnesty International to force the [National] Transitional Council to hand over the martyrs’ bodies to our tribe in Sirte and to allow them to perform their burial ceremony in accordance with Islamic customs and rules.”

According to TV reports in Dubai and Jordan yesterday, Muammar Gaddafi’s daughter Aisha called her father’s mobile phone after seeing reports in Algeria that he had been captured and was answered by rebels. Aisha screamed at them and called them “rats”.

Muammar Gaddafi’s shooting has raised unwanted questions about the ability of the new leadership to control the men with guns, as well as causing discomfort for Western allies about respect for justice and human rights among those who claimed to be fighting for just those ideals.

A series of graphic videos apparently taken on mobile phones clearly shows Muammar Gaddafi alive after being pulled from a concrete sewer in his home city of Sirte on Thursday morning, being manhandled by NTC fighters and then his dead body being dragged along a pavement.

Muammar Gaddafi’s son Mutassim, who commanded the defence of Sirte, was also killed after capture.

Yesterday, Mutassim’s body, scarred by numerous cigarette burns, was laid out beside his father’s in a makeshift mortuary at an old meat store in the coastal city of Misrata.

Muammar Gaddafi’s and his son Mutassim bodies were laid out in a makeshift mortuary at an old meat store in the coastal city of Misrata
Muammar Gaddafi’s and his son Mutassim bodies were laid out in a makeshift mortuary at an old meat store in the coastal city of Misrata

United Nations human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville said: “There seem to be four or five different versions of how he died.

“If you take these videos together, they are rather disturbing because you see someone who has been captured alive and then you see the same person dead.

“We feel that it is very important that there is a serious investigation into what caused his death.”

According to a post-mortem report read by Libya’s Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, Muammar Gaddafi was hauled unresisting from the sewer pipe, shot in the arm and put in a truck which was “caught in crossfire” as it ferried him to hospital.

Dr. Ibrahim Tika, who examined the bodies in Misrata yesterday, said:

“There was a bullet and that was the primary reason for his death, it penetrated his gut. . . then there was another bullet that went in and out of his head.”

Forensic report and medical evidence appear to support the claims of fighters involved in Gaddafi’s capture, who said in the immediate aftermath that he had been shot in the stomach.

United Nations officials said an investigation would need to examine the “wealth” of video footage which showed a crowd of fighters shoving and pulling the balding Gaddafi, blood splattered on his face and soaking his shirt after he was dragged from the pipe.

The controversy delayed Muammar Gaddafi’s burial which under Islamic custom is meant to take place within 24 hours of death.

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Mariah Carey shared her twins pictures on a website launched on 20/20 interview.

Mariah Carey has shared the pictures of her beautiful twin babies Moroccan and Monroe for the first time after six months she became a mother.

Mariah Carey created a website called Dembabies.com to give fans a glimpse into the never-before-seen family album of her adorable children.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon wrote on the website: “We deliberated for so long about how to reveal the first pictures of our babies to the world.

“We just didn’t want to do the typical thing and display them in a tabloid (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

“We decided to share this beautiful experience with you in a special intimate portrait of our family.

“Parenthood is absolutely the most life changing experience we could ever have imagined. The love we feel for these babies is above and beyond anything we’d ever dreamed of.”

Mariah Carey has shared the pictures of her beautiful twin babies Moroccan and Monroe for the first time after six months she became a mother
Mariah Carey has shared the pictures of her beautiful twin babies Moroccan and Monroe for the first time after six months she became a mother

 

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon shared the website after the twins made their TV debut with Barbara Walters on TV show 20/20 last night.

They opened up their New York home to Barbara Walters, also giving an interview about their relationship and attitude towards parenthood.

Mariah Carey created a website to give fans a glimpse into the never-before-seen family album of her twins, Monroe and Moroccan
Mariah Carey created a website to give fans a glimpse into the never-before-seen family album of her twins, Monroe and Moroccan

Twins Moroccan and Monroe, who their parents have nicknamed “Roc and Roe”, were dressed in smart clothes for their first television appearance.

The little boy, Moroccan wore a smart beige suit, while Monroe, named after Marilyn, looked pretty in white dress and a matching bow in her hair.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon shared the website after the twins made their TV debut with Barbara Walters on TV show 20/20 last night
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon shared the website after the twins made their TV debut with Barbara Walters on TV show 20/20 last night

Mariah Carey, 41, revealed details of a difficult pregnancy and admitted she underwent fertility treatment after suffering a devastating and “really tough” miscarriage.

“The main thing I did that was tough, was to go on progesterone like every month… and then when I was pregnant, I had to stay with the progesterone for 10 weeks,” Mariah Carey told Barbara Walters.

“It minimizes the chance of miscarriage by 50 percent.”

Nick Cannon, 31, admitted during the interview that he had concerns about his wife, whom he married in April 2008.

“It was good news but it was scary news at the same time,” Nick admitted.

The singer added: “I don’t think I understood the enormity and the magnitude of what it really does to your body. Like it’s not just, <<Oh, you don’t look pretty and you have a bump.>>

“Unless somebody’s been through it, it’s difficult to understand what I went through because my pregnancy was very unique in terms of what happened to me.”

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon also discussed their own relationship and her attitude to marrying for the second time after her first marriage to record executive Tommy Mottola ended.

The singer said that experience made her “afraid of the concept of marriage”.

“But this is a different situation and I’m a different person,” Mariah Carey said.

“It’s a different time in my life. And nobody will ever be able to steal my spirit again. So I’m just happy to be in love and to be here.”

Nick Cannon also showed the View star where he proposed to Mariah Carey with a sparkling diamond ring, before Barbara Walters quizzed Mariah on whether she trusted her husband.

“Sometimes. Can I trust you – you tell me?” she said.

“When he’s nice, he’s the best guy in the world.

“Other times he’s not nice. He’s a man, Barbara!” Mariah Carey joked.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon welcomed twins Monroe and Moroccan on April 30, on their third wedding anniversary, at a Los Angeles hospital.

Nick Cannon also recently said that his children’s personalities were already showing through, with Monroe a lot like her famous mother.

“My daughter is a diva. My son is laid back. When he wakes up, he wakes up smiling. He’ll wait for a minute and if he’s hungry, he’ll let you know.”

Dr. Clyde Yancy: seven simple steps to live to 100

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Dr. Clyde Yancy, a cardiologist from Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago says more people could live to the age of 100 by following seven simple steps to change their lifestyle.

According to Dr. Clyde Yancy, changes to lifestyle such as keeping a healthy weight, not smoking and controlling your cholesterol levels are an easy way to add an extra 10 years or more to your life span.

Dr. Clyde Yancy said 90% of people could live to the age of 90 and even reach 100 by following his advice.

The other steps are regulating blood pressure, managing diabetes, eating a healthy diet and getting active.

“By following these steps, we can compress life-threatening disease into the final stages of life and maintain quality of life for the longest possible time,” Dr. Yancy will tell experts from around the world at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress on Sunday.

Dr Clyde Yancy from Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago says more people could live to the age of 100 by following seven simple steps to change their lifestyle
Dr Clyde Yancy from Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago says more people could live to the age of 100 by following seven simple steps to change their lifestyle

Dr. Clyde Yancy is Magerstadt professor and chief of the division of cardiology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

The specialist is urging governments to reverse the tide of lifestyle diseases by initiatives such as forcing food manufacturers to cut salt levels, and introducing smoking bans and health education in schools.

“We need to act now,” Dr. Yancy said.

The expert also said less than 1 in 10 Americans follow the seven steps in changing lifestyle.

Dr. Clyde Yancy’ seven steps to change your lifestyle and live to 100:

1. Get active: Inactivity can shave almost 4 years off a person’s expected lifespan. People who are physically inactive are twice as likely to be at risk for heart disease or stroke.

2. Know and control cholesterol levels: High blood cholesterol can lead to the build up of fatty deposits in your arteries, which are increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke.

3. Follow a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet including plenty of fruit and vegetables is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health.

4. Know and control blood pressure: High blood pressure is often called a “silent killer” because it has no warning signs or symptoms. By knowing and controlling your blood pressure, you can cut your risk of stroke by up to 40% and the risk of heart attack by up to 25%.

5. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese is major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Being obese can reduce your life span by almost 4 years.

6. Manage diabetes: Diabetes increases the risk of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), coronary artery disease, and stroke, particularly if your blood sugar levels are poorly controlled.

7. Stop smoking: Half of all long-term smokers die early from smoking-related diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. As soon as you become smoke-free, your risk of heart disease and stroke begins to decrease. After 15 years, your risk will be nearly that of a non-smoker.

Dr. Clyde Yancy also said there was hope of reversing the rising tide of health problems:

“The opportunity for prevention is not an unrealistic expectation. Over the past 40 years the rates of heart disease and stroke have steadily declined.”

Halloween 2011: top 12 most popular costumes.

A new research has revealed that the most popular Halloween costumes for 2011 will be birds related.

Angry Birds is on top of the list of 2011 Halloween costume-related searches from Google, with Natalie Portman’s troubled character from Black Swan coming a close second.

The animal theme appears to be a popular one this year, as another choice for Halloween 2011 costumes was Wilfred, the man-dressed-as-a-dog character from the TV series of the same name.

Other Halloween costumes which were ranking high on the list were celebrities Nicki Minaj and Charlie Sheen, while Smurfette, Tangled’s Rapunzel and characters from Monster High were proving popular with younger users.

Angry Birds is on top of the list of 2011 Halloween costume-related searches from Google
Angry Birds is on top of the list of 2011 Halloween costume-related searches from Google

TV’s Sixties revival has also had an impact. NBC’s The Playboy Club has inspired the return of the Playboy Bunny outfit, while Christina Ricci’s turn as Maggie in Pan Am has made the air stewardess outfit a new hit, expect to see plenty of blue pillbox hats and jaunty sailor-style collars.

Linda Carcaci, from the Creative Costume Company, says she knew Pan Am would spark a Halloween trend as soon as ABC announced the show, and immediately started designing a replica.

Linda Carcaci told DNAinfo.com: “We have had so many calls about it.”

The president of rival costume store Ricky’s NYC, Dominick Costello says the disgraced public figures, such as Charlie Sheen, are the big sellers.

Mentioning Anthony Weiner and Arnold Schwarzenegger as other customer favourites, Dominick Costello said: “We call them our three musketeers.”

Dominick Costello said that political figures are always popular, but this year, more than ever.

“I think when Arnold, Anthony and Charlie happened in a similar time frame we were like <<OK here we go>>”.

“It was a no brainer.”

The Ricky’s idea is such a hit, that even Charlie Sheen is going as Charlie Sheen.

Even Charlie Sheen is going as Charlie Sheen for Halloween 2011, as he tweeted few days ago
Even Charlie Sheen is going as Charlie Sheen for Halloween 2011, as he tweeted few days ago

Charlie Sheen posted a picture of the costume on his Twitter page yesterday, writing: “Trick or Treat Cadre! Got my Halloween costume.”

“All set! Yeah, this really confused the kids.”

Google’s 12 most searched Halloween 2011 costumes:

1. Angry Birds

2. Black Swan

3. Playboy Bunny

4. Nicki Minaj

5. Smurfette

6. Wilfred

7. Monster High

8. Tron

9. Captain America

10. Pan Am

11. Charlie Sheen

12. Rapunzel

Nancy Shevell and Paul McCartney celebrated their marriage again at Bowery Hotel.

Nancy Shevell and Paul McCartney celebrated their marriage again at the Bowery Hotel in New York City last night.

Nancy Shevell, 51, and Paul McCartney, 69, celebrated again their marriage with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Nancy Shevell wore an electric blue dress and satin jacket paired as she tucked her arm through Sir Paul McCartney.

Lady McCartney accessorized with a black and white clutch, strappy black heels and her giant Cartier engagement ring.

Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell previously partied into the wee hours of the morning following their October 9 wedding at Paul’s home in London.

Nancy Shevell, 51, and Paul McCartney, 69, celebrated again their marriage with some of the biggest names in the music industry at the Bowery Hotel in New York City
Nancy Shevell, 51, and Paul McCartney, 69, celebrated again their marriage with some of the biggest names in the music industry at the Bowery Hotel in New York City

 

Sir Paul matched his outfit to Nancy Shevell’s, looking dapper in a navy blue suit, blue and white striped tie and white shirt, looking his normal animated self as he arrived at the event.

Nancy Shevell and Paul McCartney were joined by a slew of famous friends including Yoko Ono, widow of late Beatle John Lennon, and their son Sean.

Yoko Ono and Sean arrived in hats with mother sporting a black top hat and son in a maroon number and matching bow tie.

Yoko Ono, widow of late Beatle John Lennon, and their son Sean came to Nancy Shevell and Paul McCartney party in New York
Yoko Ono, widow of late Beatle John Lennon, and their son Sean came to Nancy Shevell and Paul McCartney party in New York

Smiley Rolling Stone Keith Richards arrived later joined by his wife Patti Hansen who wore a clinging black dress and black jacket.

Keith Richards wore his usual red headscarf under a grey hat which he tipped to onlookers outside the party.

Nancy Shevell married Paul McCartney on October 9 at Marylebone Register Office in central London, where he married Linda Eastman in March 1969.

The 51-year-old American millionairess is the third wife of Sir Paul McCartney. Nancy Shevell started dating the former Beatle in November 2007 and it was announced on 6 May 2011 that the two had become engaged.

Nancy Shevell and Paul McCartney have a combined fortune of over $1 billion.

 

Zurana Horton, pregnant woman shot in front of a Brownsville school while defending her children.

Friday afternoon a gunman opened fire on a Brooklyn street while students were let out of Brownsville’ school, killing pregnant mother Zurana Horton and injuring other two people.

Zurana Horton, 34, was killed while defending her children and others that were leaving school when the shooting started.

Reports say Zurana Horton was pregnant when she was shot though it has not been reported how far along she was in the pregnancy.

Another mother and an 11-year-old girl were also struck, though they were not killed.

Pregnant mother Zurana Horton, 34, was killed while defending her children and others that were leaving the Brownsville school when the shooting started
Pregnant mother Zurana Horton, 34, was killed while defending her children and others that were leaving the Brownsville school when the shooting started

 

The fire started at about 2:30 p.m., right as the children were being let out from a local public elementary and middle school in Brownsville, New York.

NYPD were investigating whether the gunman fired from a nearby rooftop where shell casings were discovered.

Zurana Horton hovered over students to protect them as shots were fired. The mother was shot in the face and chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another 31-year-old mother who was struck is still unnamed. The woman was hit in an arm and the chest and was hospitalized.

The 11-year-old girl, a sixth-grader at the Brooklyn school, had one arm injured and had a graze wound on her cheek. None of the victims was related, according to police.

According to Margie Feinberg, a Department of Education spokeswoman, the victims were on a street corner at the back of the elementary school when the fire started.

So far, it is unclear how many shots were fired. Seven shell casings from a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol were found on the nearby rooftop and other five shell casings were found on the sidewalk in the front of that building, according to police.

According to eye-witnesses, three men were seen fleeing the scene, and police were questioning at least one person. The gunman was being sought, and police offered a $12,000 reward for information in the case, New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said.

Brownsville, the school’s neighborhood, is located in southeastern Brooklyn and is among the most crime-plagued in New York.

Brownsville area is also known as the place where tens of thousands of people, mostly black and Hispanic men, are stopped, questioned and frisked annually by police. Critics say the men are being unfairly targeted, and only about 10% of stops city-wide result in arrest.

NYPD says the tactic is a necessary crime-fighting tool that helps get illegal guns off the streets.

New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said:

“Police conduct stops of individuals evincing suspicious behaviour in areas where shootings occur in order to prevent, or at least lower, the frequency of tragedies like the one in Brownsville today.”

Christopher Thomas Johnson has been executed at his request for killing his infant son.

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Christopher Thomas Johnson, an Alabama man who has spent just 4 years on death row for the fatal suffocation and beating his baby son, was put to death by lethal injection on Thursday evening.

Christopher Thomas Johnson, 39, has been executed last night at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama.

The death row intimate had a turkey bologna sandwich with cheese and tomato, a grape Sunkist, french fries, Reeses peanut butter cups and pretzels for his last meal and his only visitor was his brother, Thomas Eugene Lagos.

Christopher Thomas Johnson made the rare move of pleading guilty to capital murder in 2005 for killing his six-month-old son Elias Ocean Johnson.

His situation is one of the quickest death penalty case in recent memory, as it only took six years for the murderer to be put to death after the crime.

Christopher Thomas Johnson, 39, has been executed last night at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama
Christopher Thomas Johnson, 39, has been executed last night at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama

Christopher Thomas Johnson himself requested the death penalty, which was granted in February 2007, and waived all appellate and intervention measures on his behalf.

The inmate represented himself at trial. Christopher Thomas Johnson testified he killed his son because “he hated his wife, didn’t want to be near her and didn’t want to worry about her threats of putting him in jail for alimony or child support”, according to documents filed by the state Attorney General’s Office.

Christopher Thomas Johnson offered no mitigating circumstances for his crime, and the trial court found the “the heinous, atrocious and cruel” nature of the murder outweighed any justifications that could have been offered, records show.

According to court documents, Christopher Thomas Johnson tried to quiet his son while his wife slept.

After several unsuccessful attempts in the early morning hours, the father “laid on top of Elias, covered Elias’ mouth with his hand for extended periods of time, and forced his fingers into the child’s mouth and down his throat to stop the crying”.

Father also struck the child with his hand.

During his trial, Christopher Thomas Johnson said that “You go see Jesus”, were the last words he said to Elias.

When the child’s mother awoke, the child was unresponsive and cold to the touch.

According to the forensic pathologist who performed Elias’ autopsy, the infant suffered at least 85 separate injuries.

Suffocation and head trauma were cited as the Elias’ causes of death.

The intimate’s ex-wife Dana spoke to a local Alabama newspaper for the first time since the murder, saying that she welcomes his death.

“Although I normally do not agree with capital punishment, I will not lose any sleep over this particular execution. Whether it is right or wrong I feel that a weight will be lifted from my soul on Thursday, and finally I will feel relief,” she told NorthEscambia.com.

“I am scarred by this, and Christopher took away my son, my trust in other people, and even my desire to ever have another child. I still have a hard time being around children because of the sorrow it makes me feel. Every day I see children that are Elias’ age, and I wonder what he would have been like,” Dana said.

She has since moved to an unidentified city out West and is currently studying to become a nurse.

“My son was the most delightful calm little boy I have ever known. Christopher Johnson took him from me. I have spent years trying to heal from this unimaginable pain.”

Giuliana Rancic underwent a double lumpectomy to treat her breast cancer.

The E! News host, Giuliana Rancic underwent a double lumpectomy as part of her breast cancer treatment. The procedure appears to have gone well for her, and now she’s hopefully on the road to a speedy and full recovery.

Giuliana Rancic is “doing well” after her breast cancer surgery, her husband Bill told the Today Show on Thursday.

“It was kind of a long day,” Bill Rancic said of the two-hour double lumpectomy his wife underwent yesterday.

He added: ”There’s many steps in the process when you go through this.”

“She’s a trooper. She pulled through it and was kind of relieved to get it over with and get the cancer out. She’s doing well at home and recovering,” Bill described his wife, Giuliana Rancic.

“Fortunately, it was caught very, very early” he said of Giuliana’s disease.

“We’re going back to the doctor tomorrow. They had to remove a couple of lymph nodes and we’re hoping we get a report tomorrow.”

Giuliana Rancic has revealed few days ago that she had breast cancer during a Today Show interview.

She learned she had breast cancer when her doctor recommended she get a mammogram before going through her third round of in-vitro fertilization treatments.

Giuliana Rancic underwent a double lumpectomy to treat her breast cancer
Giuliana Rancic underwent a double lumpectomy to treat her breast cancer

Giuliana Rancic plans to return to work next week, despite the lumpectomies and the six weeks of radiation treatments that are scheduled to start soon.

About 200,000 American women are diagnosed with invasive and in situ breast cancer each year, and most of them will have surgery.

“The majority of breast cancers in this country are treated initially with surgery,” says Dr.Christina Weltz, associate director for surgery at the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai. Dr. Christina Weltz is a surgeon who specializes in malignant and benign breast issues. She does about 150 breast cancer surgeries a year.

“For most women, that means making a decision between mastectomy [removal of the breast and breast tissue] and lumpectomy [removal of the tumor and a small margin around it].”

The average age of diagnosis is 61. Although doctors don’t know exactly what causes breast cancer, hormones, particularly estrogen, play a key role.

“We know that estrogen is a big factor in terms of risk factors, like the higher risk of women who start menstruating early or go through menopause late,” says Dr. Christina Weltz.

“Women who have children later in life or never have children are also at higher risk, as are women who take postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy.”

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Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton split up.

Nicole Scherzinger and F1 racing driver Lewis Hamilton have split up.

Lewis Hamilton, 26, who is 7 years junior to Nicole Scherzinger, decided to end the relationship due to their conflicting work schedules meant they were seeing less and less of each other.

Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger – who rose to fame as part of The Pussycat Dolls pop group – had been dating for 4 years.

One of their friends confirmed they split up: “Yes, they’ve split. It’s a real shame because Nicole really tried to make it work.

“They are still very good friends and it was an amicable split, but they just decided it was impossible to keep the relationship going with such conflicting work schedules.”

Nicole Scherzinger and F1 racing driver Lewis Hamilton have split up
Nicole Scherzinger and F1 racing driver Lewis Hamilton have split up

Nicole Scherzinger is a Hawaiian-born singer and is part of the judging panel on X Factor USA, alongside Simon Cowell.

Due to her activity, Nicole Scherzinger, 33, is currently based in Los Angeles, California.

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, as a F1 leading driver, travels all over the worl and has a home in Switzerland.

The sportsman was seen yesterday at an event for his driving team McLaren and a source told he was in “good spirits”.

Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton met at the European Music Awards in Munich in November 2007, before going public at the Monaco Grand Prix six months later.

Nicole Scherzinger was by his side as he was crowned world champion in Brazil in November 2008.

During their relationship, Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton spent increasing amounts of time apart due to their busy careers.

In July this year, there was unconfirmed speculation that Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton had become engaged.

Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton had been separated before, in January 2010, when they had been together for 20 months.

Lewis Hamilton said at that time: “I just want to move forward in a positive manner. The focus is on this season and doing the best I possibly can and getting the results on the track. I’m just keeping my mind on that.

“It never was a distraction but I am not going to take my mind off what I’ve got to do by thinking about it.”

Recently, speaking of his relation with Nicole Scherzinger Lewis Hamilton said: “We go to the gym together quite often and she goes running with me. She does her own programme and I do mine and it’s pretty cool.”

So far, Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton declined to comment.

San Francisco earthquake struck few hours after San Antonio was hit by another quake.

Two earthquakes took place on Thursday in Texas and California, according to US Geological Survey.

The first one was a 4.8 magnitude earthquake which took place in Texas, having the epicenter near rural Karnes County, 47 miles southwest of San Antonio. The quake struck at 7:24 a.m. local time and was eye-opening because it was a record breaker.

It was the largest earthquake on record for the area, surpassing a magnitude of 4.3 shock recorded in 1993, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Don Blakeman, USGS geophysicist, said that southern Texas has been experiencing small earthquakes since the 1970s, and that 14 quakes between 2.6 and 3.4 magnitudes have been recorded since 1982.

However, the Thursday morning quake was significantly larger.

Don Blakeman also said it is impossible to predict if there will be any aftershocks. The Texas quake was both big enough to produce some small aftershocks and small enough that they wouldn’t necessarily be expected.

The second earthquake took place in California and had a 3.9 magnitude. The quake had the epicenter two miles southeast of Berkeley near San Francisco. It caused a sharp jolt but no immediate signs of damages or injuries.

The earthquake in California struck at 2:31 p.m. local time and was at a depth of about 6.1 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

San Francisco quake struck in the same day Californians took part in an annual earthquake preparedness drill
San Francisco quake struck in the same day Californians took part in an annual earthquake preparedness drill

Yesterday, the earthquake in California was felt as a sharp jolt in the East Bay area, and across the bay in San Francisco. The quake came almost 22 years to the day after the Loma Prieta earthquake struck the Bay Area during the 1989 World Series.

It also came on the same day Californians took part in an annual earthquake preparedness drill at 10:20 a.m. Thursday. More than 8.5 million people signed up to participate in the 2011 Great California ShakeOut.

Baby Dayne, toddler caught on camera escaping the crib and destroying evidence.

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Baby Dayne’s mother couldn’t figure out how one of her twin toddlers was getting out of his crib every time she put him down for a nap.

The toddlers’ mother thought it surely must have been a joint effort with his twin brother who sleeps in the same crib as him.

So she decided to set up a video camera in the nursery to see exactly how he was making his great escape.

Baby Dayne surveys the room before quickly throwing his leg on the top bar and hoisting himself up and over the top
Baby Dayne surveys the room before quickly throwing his leg on the top bar and hoisting himself up and over the top

 

The video recording shows the two baby boys standing in their crib while their mother says goodbye. Once the mother leaves the room, the coast is clear and the twins look at each other, knowing what comes next.

Baby Dayne surveys the room before quickly throwing his leg on the top bar and hoisting himself up and over the top, landing with a bump on the ground.

But rather than crying, baby Dayne simply resigns himself to the fact it is pain he must endure for freedom.

Taking a second to recover, baby Dayne then toddles over to the camera, which he realizes has caught it all and decides to destroy the evidence.

Baby Dayne grabs the camera with both hands and pulls it off the shelf.

Dayne’s mother – who calls herself “Momof6boys” – posted the clip on YouTube with the caption: “I think it is time for toddler beds.”

Since baby Dayne’s mother posted the clip, the video is gaining in popularity and is currently at almost 14,000 views.

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Ziona Chana has 39 wives and 94 children. The world’s biggest family.

Ziona Chana, a man from India, has the largest family in the world.

Ziona Chana, 67, has 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law and 33 grandchildren living under the same roof, in a house of 100 rooms.

Their home is a four-storey house set in the village of Baktwang, state Mizoram, India. Even then, some of his wives sleep top-to-tail in communal dormitories.

Ziona Chana doesn’t appear phased by the size of his apparently happy family and doesn’t claim any benefits for their upkeep.

“I feel like God’s special child. He’s given me so many people to look after,” Ziona Chana said.

“I consider myself a lucky man to be the husband of 39 women and head of the world’s largest family.”

Ziona Chana, a man from India, has the largest family in the world, 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law and 33 grandchildren
Ziona Chana, a man from India, has the largest family in the world, 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law and 33 grandchildren

 

Ziona Chana’s family is organized with almost military discipline, with the oldest wife Zathiangi, 71, drawing up schedules for her fellow partners to take turns performing household chores such as cleaning, washing and preparing meals.

Normally, one evening meal can see them pluck 30 chickens, peel 132 lb (60 kg) of potatoes and boil up to 220 lb (100 kg) of rice.

Ziona Chana’s family has its own school, a playground, carpentry workshops, piggery and poultry farms and a vegetable garden big enough to supply the whole family.

Ziona Chana’s home has 100 rooms and  is a four-storey house set in the village of Baktwang, state Mizoram, India
Ziona Chana’s home has 100 rooms and is a four-storey house set in the village of Baktwang, state Mizoram, India

Conveniently, Ziona Chana is also head of a sect that allows members to take as many wives as he wants.

The man even married ten women in one year, when he was at his most prolific, and enjoys his own double bed while his wives have to make do with sharing.

Ziona Chana keeps the youngest women near to his bedroom with the older members of the family sleeping further away, and there is a rotation system for who visits Ziona’s bedroom.

Rinkmini, 35, one of Ziona Chana’s wives, said: “We stay around him as he is the most important person in the house. He is the most handsome person in the village.”

Rinkmini said Ziona Chana noticed her on a morning walk in the village 18 years ago and wrote her a letter asking for her hand in marriage.

Ziona Chana and his 39 wives
Ziona Chana and his 39 wives

Huntharnghanki, another Ziona Chana’s wife said the entire family gets along well. The family system is reportedly based on “mutual love and respect”.

Ziona Chana, whose polygamous religious sect has 4,000 members and whose grandfather also had many wives, says he has not stopped looking for new wives.

“To expand my sect, I am willing to go even to the U.S. to marry,” he said.

One of Ziona Chana’ sons insisted that her father marries the poor women from the village.

Gordon and Norma Yeager died together, after 72 years of marriage.

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Gordon and Norma Yeager from Iowa, who had been married for 72 years, had only one hour separation between them in their passing.

Gordon, 94, and Norma Yeager, 90, had never been separated, even after their tragic car accident which sent them both to the hospital.

Gordon and Norma were both born in Iowa before he moved to a farm a Minnesota with his family. He later came back in the town, when he was 16, to work at the Chevrolet Garage in State Center, Iowa, a business which he would eventually go on to own.

Once back in the town, Gordon Yeager fell in love with Norma who was still studying at high school.

After his proposal, Gordon and Norma were married on the very day that she graduated, May 26, 1939.

They had a small wedding in the same evening held in the home of Gordon’s sister, the expense of which was covered by his first pay cheque.

Gordon Yeager fell in love with Norma who was still studying at high school
Gordon Yeager fell in love with Norma who was still studying at high school

 

Gordon and Norma Yeager spent their first few years of marriage in California where he worked as a welder in the shipyards during the Second World War while volunteering at night for the war effort.

The newlyweds later returned to the town of State Center and had four children – Donna, born in 1940, Roger in 1943, Gordon in 1946 and the youngest Dennis in 1949.

Tragically both middle sons Roger and Gordon later died in car crashes.

Gordon and Norma Yeager first ran a hardware store before taking over the Chevrolet Garage with Gordon’s brother Roger until both men retired at 65.

Their youngest son, Dennis, 62, described his parents as incredibly active individuals.

“We took family camping trips in Iowa and Canada but spent most of the time at Clear Lake, Minnesota. We rented a cabin and went boating.

“I remember my Dad, even at almost 60 years old, water-skiing at Clear Lake. One time, when I was driving the boat he disappeared under for such a long time, that my Mom was worried sick.

“When he eventually surfaced, she screamed at him, <<what were you doing down there?>> to which he yelled back, <<well I wasn’t coming back up without my trunks!>>”

When they retired, Gordon and Norma Yeager spent half the year in Tucson, Arizona, enjoying the outdoors and fishing in the Hoover Dam.

Despite their closeness, Dennis admits at times his parents were “total opposites”.

“They just loved being together but of course they would get mad at each other.

“My Dad was very sociable, he loved doing anything that involved being with people. My Mom was quieter but she would support my Dad in whatever he was doing. She would be there making sure everyone had something to eat, had a drink in their hand.

“She was such a perfectionist. When they had the garage, she won every award going from Chevrolet for her book-keeping. I remember they would be up together poring over those books until 2:00 a.m. if there was even a penny out of place.”

Gordon and Norma Yeager had been married for 72 years and had only one hour separation between them in their passing
Gordon and Norma Yeager had been married for 72 years and had only one hour separation between them in their passing

 

After Gordon and Norma Yeager celebrated the rare achievement of a 70th wedding anniversary, they loved to spend time watching sports, socializing and walking their little Yorkie dog Radar.

Last week, while making a trip into town, the car Gordon Yeager was driving mistakenly pulled out in front of another.

According to the police report, the oncoming driver tried to avoid the collision, but it wasn’t able to stop in time.

Dennis Yeager said he found his parents at hospital sharing a unit in the intensive care unit, never separated and holding hands they lay, though “not really responsive”.

In the same day, on October 12, at 3:38pm, Gordon Yeager passed away, with Norma and family beside him. The anomaly began though for the family, when Gordon’s heart monitor kept beeping.

Dennis Yeager recalled: “It was really strange. They were holding hands, and dad stopped breathing but I couldn’t figure out what was going on because the heart monitor was still going.”

“But we were like, he isn’t breathing. How does he still have a heart beat?’

Their son asked a nurse who checked, pointing out the couple’s hands which were still locked together.

“Her heart was beating through him and picking it up,” the nurse explained.

One hour later, at 4:48pm, Norma Yeager died too.

Gordon and Norma Yeager held hands at their funeral on October 18, sharing the same casket. Their family said after Gordon and Norma Yeager are cremated and their ashes will be mixed together.

Gordon and Norma Yeager are survived by Norma’s sister, Virginia Kell, and Gordon’s brother, Roger, along with their children Donna and Dennis as well as 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

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Gaddafi’s dead body has arrived in Misrata

Muammar Gaddafi Wounded or Dead Corpse
Muammar Gaddafi has reportedly been killed in his hometown of Sirte. (Photo by AFP)

 

UPDATE: The NTC have confirmed the death of Muammar Gaddafi

 

“He [Gaddafi] was also hit in his head,” National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters. “There was a lot of firing against his group and he died.”

 

Al Arabia reported 45min ago (via twitter) that the corpse of Muammar Gaddafi arrived in Misrata.

Libyan interim authorities fighters captured Muammar Gaddafi’s home city on Thursday, extinguishing the final substantial holdout of resistance by troops loyal towards the deposed leader and ending a two-month siege.

The seize of Sirte indicates Libya’s ruling Nationwide Transitional Council (NTC) ought to now start the job forging a brand new democratic program which it had stated it might begin following the town, constructed like a showpiece for Gaddafi’s rule, had fallen.

 

Information reviews had been conflicting on whether or not Gaddafi was arrested.

 

At first, Libyan Television channels circulated reviews the embattled leader himself was arrested.

Other reviews stated the corpse of Gaddafi had arrived in Misrata.

A senior NTC army official stated that Gaddafi died of wounds endured in his seize close to his hometown of Sirte.

NTC official Abdel Majid Mlegta informed Reuters previously that Gaddafi was captured and wounded in each legs at dawn on Thursday as he attempted to flee inside a convoy which NATO warplanes attacked.

The Libyan authorities also stated that Gaddafi was hiding inside a hole in Sirte, shouting “don’t shoot, don’t shoot.”

There had been reviews also by Reuters that Gaddafi’s son, Mutassim, and his intelligence head, Abdullah al-Sinosi and had been arrested.

The U.S. State Division on Thursday stated it couldn’t verify that deposed Gaddafi was captured and wounded in each legs.

“We’ve seen the media reports but can’t confirm them,” State Division spokeswoman Beth Gosselin informed Reuters.

A pro-Gaddafi tv web site denied Thursday reviews the strongman had been killed or captured.

“The reports peddled by the lackeys of NATO about the capture or death of the brother leader, Muammar Gaddafi, is baseless,” stated Al-Libiya tv. Gaddafi “is in good health,” they added.

But Holland’s prime minister stated that Gaddafi was captured.

Meanwhile, Libyan NTC fighters stated that they had been arresting previous Libyan officials and medics stated that Gaddafi’s protection minister, Abu Bakr Yunis, was lifeless.

A Libyan transitional forces commander stated Moussa Ibrahim, previous spokesman for Gaddafi’s fallen authorities, was captured close to the town of Sirte.

A group of some forty automobiles carrying Gaddafi forces had damaged out with the metropolis and had headed west, NTC fighters stated.

“The Gaddafi people broke out west, but the revolutionaries have them surrounded and are dealing with them,” said one of the fighters, Abdul Salam Mohammad.

Reporters in the scene watched because the last assault started about eight a.m. and ended about ninety minutes later on. Just prior to the assault, about 5 carloads of loyalists attempted to flee the enclave down the coastal highway but had been satisfied by gunfire in the revolutionaries, who killed a minimum of twenty of them.

Meanwhile, the troops didn’t permit reporters to enter the positions previously held from the Gaddafi loyalists because they stated mopping up functions had been nonetheless underway.

“Our forces control the last neighborhood in Sirte,” Hassan Draoua, a member of Libya’s interim National Transitional Council, told The Associated Press in Tripoli after Sirte’s fall. “The city has been liberated.”

A minimum of sixteen pro-Gaddafi fighters had been captured, together with numerous instances of ammunition and trucks loaded with weapons. Reporters noticed the fighters beating captured Gaddafi males within the back again of trucks and officers intervening to quit them.

 

Muammar Gaddafi dead body picture published by Al Jazeera
Muammar Gaddafi dead body picture published by Al Jazeera

 

Commanders for Libya’s transitional authorities say they have captured rebel leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.

These news reports came right after the transitional forces regained control of the city Sirte, Col Gaddafi’s birthplace, after many weeks of ongoing battles.

The colonel was brought down in August after 42 years in commanding power. The International Criminal Court is waiting for his arrest.

“He’s captured. He’s wounded in both legs,” National Transitional Council (NTC) official Abdel Majid told Reuters news agency.

“He’s been taken away by ambulance.” AFP news agency quoted another NTC official, Mohamed Leith, as saying that Col Gaddafi had been captured in Sirte and was “seriously wounded” but still breathing.

 

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Zanesville: 48 exotic animals killed, including 18 Bengal tigers and 17 lions.

Ohio police shot 48 exotic animals, including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions, on Wednesday after Terry Thompson, owner of Muskingum County Animal Farm in Zanesville threw their cages open and committed suicide.

48 animals were killed after an all-night hunt that extended into Wednesday afternoon. Six others – three leopards, a grizzly bear and two monkeys – were captured and taken to the Columbus Zoo. A wolf was later found dead, leaving a monkey as the only animal still on the loose.

Zanesville police shot 48 exotic animals, including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions, after Terry Thompson threw their cages open and committed suicide
Zanesville police shot 48 exotic animals, including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions, after Terry Thompson threw their cages open and committed suicide

 

Among dead animals were six black bears, two grizzlies, a wolf, a baboon and three mountain lions. They were being buried on Terry Thompson’s farm, according to officials.

Jack Hanna, TV personality and former director of the Columbus Zoo said:

“It’s like Noah’s Ark wrecking right here in Zanesville, Ohio.”

Jack Hanna defended the Zanesville sheriff’s decision to kill the animals but said the deaths of the Bengal tigers were especially tragic. There are only about 1,400 of the endangered cats left in the world, he said.

“When I heard 18, I was still in disbelief,” Jack Hanna said.

“The most magnificent creature in the entire world, the tiger is.”

Dead animals have been buried on Terry Thompson's farm
Dead animals have been buried on Terry Thompson's farm

As the hunt dragged on outside of Zanesville, population 25,000, schools closed in the mostly rural area of farms and widely spaced homes 55 miles east of Columbus. Parents were warned to keep children and pets indoors.

Flashing signs along highways told motorists, “Caution exotic animals” and “Stay in vehicle”.

Sheriff’s deputies were ordered to kill the animals instead of trying to bring them down with tranquillizers for fear that those hit with darts would escape in the darkness before they dropped and would later regain consciousness.

Sheriff Matt Lutz said: “These animals were on the move, they were showing aggressive behavior.”

“Once the nightfall hit, our biggest concern was having these animals roaming.”

Sheriff Matt Lutz would not speculate why Terry Thompson killed himself and why he left open the cages and fences at his 73-acre preserve, dooming the animals he seemed to love so much.

Terry Thompson, 62, had repeated run-ins with the law and his neighbors.

The sheriff’s office had received numerous complaints since 2004 about animals escaping onto neighbors’ property and also said that terry Thompson had been charged over the years with animal cruelty, animal neglect and allowing animals to roam.

Terry Thompson had gotten out of federal prison just last month after serving a year for possessing unregistered guns.

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David Hasselhoff tweeted that Hayley Roberts has dumped him.

A message has appeared on David Hasselhoff’s Twitter page saying that Hayley Roberts has dumped him.

Surprisingly, the news comes one day after David Hasselhoff, 59, and Hayley Roberts, 31, were seen out in London at the Clinton’s Celebrity Fastcard event on October 18.

A David Hasselhoff’s representative of was unavailable for comment.

Their relationship appeared to be going swimmingly, but there are signs that Hayley Roberts wasn’t ready to commit to David Hasselhoff.

David Hasselhoff, 59, and Hayley Roberts, 31, were seen out in London at the Clinton's Celebrity Fastcard event
David Hasselhoff, 59, and Hayley Roberts, 31, were seen out in London at the Clinton's Celebrity Fastcard event

 

The Star on Sunday recently claimed that David Hasselhoff isn’t the first famous face that Hayley Roberts has bagged and she enjoyed a fling with footballer Dwight Yorke and singer Enrique Iglesias too.

Hayley Roberts apparently enjoyed a four-month fling with Dwight Yorke that ended weeks before she met David Hasselhoff.

David Hasselhoff is said to have proposed to Hayley Roberts, who is a former Debenhams worker, three times so far, but last night her ring finger appeared bare.

A message has appeared on David Hasselhoff’s Twitter page saying that Hayley Roberts has dumped him
A message has appeared on David Hasselhoff’s Twitter page saying that Hayley Roberts has dumped him

Last month David Hasselhoff, who has two daughters from a previous marriage, hinted that he was ready to get married for a third time.

“I believe in marriage. Right now with Hayley things are getting better in every way.”

It seems that David Hasselhoff was planning a Christmas with Hayley Roberts and her family and is appearing in a panto in Bristol, close to Hayley’s hometown of Glynneath, near Merthyr Tydfil.

David Hasselhoff has also recently splashed out on a new home in Lisvane, an upmarket area in the Welsh capital of Cardiff.

David Hasselhoff has been dating Hayley Roberts for the past six months after she asked him for an autograph and he asked her for a date.

It seemed that despite the 28-year age gap, their relationship was blossoming with Hayley Roberts even leaving her job in Debenhams to accompany David Hasselhoff around the world.

David Hasselhoff told the story of their first meeting to The Sunday Mirror:

“I was walking into the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff when we were in Wales for BGT and she came up and asked for a photograph.

“I just saw this girl walk out the bar and I just pointed and went, <<her, wow>>.”

“Hayley’s opening line was, <<can I have a photo?>>. And mine was, <<only if I can have your number>>. I then said, <<you probably have a boyfriend>>. And when she said no, that was a done deal.”

David Hasselhoff, who divorced wife Pamela Bach in 2006, said: “I’ve been able to take my beautiful girlfriend out of a retail store where she’s making £5.90 an hour.

“Now she doesn’t have to worry. I say look, <<you’re a beautiful girl, follow what God gave you>> and I’m giving her the confidence and have somebody to share my life with.”

Lytro light field camera might change the world of imaging

World’s first digital camera that allows multiple refocuses after the picture was taken, Lytro light field camera, becomes available to customers.

 

The camera uses a concept developed by Professor Ren Ng, the light field. The light travels with an enormous speed in lots of directions. The immense number of rays rapidly changing directions make us to see an image in different shapes, depths, and color intensity. Lytro light field camera captures instantly a great part of this field of light and reproduces it in the digital picture.

 

Lytro's desktop application allows the user to focus on various points of the picture after it was downloaded to computer.
Lytro's desktop application allows the user to focus on various points of the picture after it was downloaded to computer.

 

Lytro light field sensor captures 11 million light rays of data (11 megarays) per shot. It also captures the direction of each ray. With no focus needed, the image capture is almost instantaneous. The result is 4-dimensional image capture. Light field imaging engine processes the data producing HD quality images. The pictures are displayed in 2D, but in 2012 a special algorithm will be applied to the light field and the photos will be displayed in 3D. The viewers will be able to shift the perspective of the scene.

Lytro light field camera also can shot images in low light without the use of a flash. The pictures taken are 11 megarays (around 22 megapixels). For the first customers Lytro offers free storage of images on its servers.

Light field photography was once only possible with 100 cameras tethered to a supercomputer in a lab. Today it’s accessible to everyone in a camera that’s small and powerful, but incredibly easy to use. Our goal is to forever change the way people take and experience pictures, and today marks our first major step,” said Professor Ng.

 

Lytro has an original design. It was compared to a lipstick case both in shape and dimensions.

 

It measures 1.61 inches x 1.61 inches x 4.41 inches (41 mm x 41 mm x 112 mm) and weighs 7.55 ounces (214 g). It has an anodized aluminum frame and a rubber back-end with two buttons (one for shutter and the other for power). Its 1.46 inches (33 mm) back-lit LCD display with glass touchscreen (1.46-inch) allows the user to change the focus on-camera, compose shot, set exposure and view picture. Power button, Shutter button, Zoom slider and touchscreen are the controls.

 

Lytro light field cameras come in two models 8GB (blue, graphite) and 16GB (red).
Lytro light field cameras come in two models 8GB (blue, graphite) and 16GB (red).

 

Lytro has an internal lithium-ion battery and non-removable flash storage. It has an f/2 aperture and 8x zoom lens. Its storage capacity is from 8GB to 16GB and the battery can last till the memory is filled with images.

Lytro’s desktop application is a free download editing software. With this special photo interface the pictures can be downloaded to computer via USB and then manipulated. Lytro’s desktop serves also for sharing pictures on social networks. Picture shared from Mac (OS X) computer allows the recipient to shift the focus without other special software. Images “become interactive, living pictures,” said Professor Ng. A version for Windows will be available in 2012.

 

Lytro's desktop application allows an user to interact with a photo shared by someone with no need of other software.
Lytro's desktop application allows an user to interact with a photo shared by someone with no need of other software. (Mac only till now)

 

Lytro, a Silicon Valley company, was founded in 2006 by Professor Ren Ng. In 2006 Association for Computing Machinery Dissertation awarded his research on light field photography and he won Standford University’s prize for best thesis in computer science.

Lytro light field camera can be pre-ordered starting from October 19, 2011 on Lytro.com, but it will be shipped in early 2012. There are two models: 8GB (350 images), price $399, available in electric blue or graphite, and $499 16GB model (750 photos), red hot.

 

New Lytro 3D Living Picture Demo (video)

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