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Avril Lavigne denies Hello Kitty video is racist

Lisa.Felice
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Avril Lavigne denies Hello Kitty video is racist

Avril Lavigne has denied her most recent music video for Hello Kitty is racist.

The video clip, which appeared on Avril Lavigne’s on April 22, has faced criticism for its depiction of Japanese culture.

It appeared on YouTube on Tuesday before being taken down and reappearing the following day.

The video has since been reported it was removed because it was leaked, rather than because of the negative response it received.

Avril Lavigne has denied her most recent music video for Hello Kitty is racist
Avril Lavigne has denied her most recent music video for Hello Kitty is racist

One review called the video “unseemly” and “an embarrassment in any language” adding that the presence of “four identical, creepily expressionless Asian women” standing behind the Canadian singer during the video was offensive to Asian culture.

Another suggested that there are “serious questions about whether it’s offensive (expressionless Asian dancers, Tokyo-as-prop) or offensively obvious”.

In response, Avril Lavigne wrote on Facebook: “RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!! I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan.

“I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video specifically for my Japanese fans, WITH my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers AND a Japanese director IN Japan.”

Despite negative reviews, many of Avril Lavigne’s fans praised the video, including a comment on the singer’s website which reads: “I came here to say that this video is excellent for the song design, you guys did a good job to try an capture that hello kitty obsession, overall concept, feel and visual,etc.

“People who dislike this don’t have a freaking clue about the range of musical diversity.”

Hello Kitty will be the fourth track to be taken from Avril Lavigne’s recent self-titled fifth studio album.

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Glastonbury 2014: Oasis not playing this year’s festival

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2014: Oasis not playing this year’s festival

Oasis is not playing Glastonbury this year, festival organizer Emily Eavis confirmed on Twitter.

Bookies had suspended bets on the band playing after Liam Gallagher sent a cryptic series of tweets, using letters to spell out the name of his former band.

This year’s Saturday headliner still hasn’t been announced.

Oasis is not playing Glastonbury this year
Oasis is not playing Glastonbury this year

It’s 20 years since the release of Oasis’ debut album Definitely Maybe.

Emily Eavis confirmed the band wouldn’t be appearing in a simple tweet, responding to someone asking her directly.

Liam Gallagher’s tweet could have been linked to the fact he was pictured this week with Oasis band mate Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs.

The pair apparently had a drink together, with Bonehead tweeting the word “pub” in a similar style to Liam Gallagher’s message.

Arcade Fire and Kasabian are the headliners for the Friday and Sunday nights of the festival, held in Somerset at the end of June.

The Black Keys, Dolly Parton and Lily Allen are some of the other acts performing over the weekend.

Home renovation tips

Nancy Clayson
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Home renovation tips

Spring is the perfect time to give your home a makeover. The warmer days, with their additional daylight, will give you the impetus to renew your living space.

Here are five ideas to use when renovating your house.

 

1. The walls

Why not take some inspiration from the experts? It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can transform a room and if you want to get some additional ideas on colour and wall coverings take a look at The Ideal Home website. Remember that even though virulent green, for example, may be the colour of choice for interior designers, it might not suit your house, especially if the rooms are small. Sometimes it’s better to opt for more neutral colours and then personalise the space with some pictures or lighting effects.

Spring is the perfect time to give your home a makeover
Spring is the perfect time to give your home a makeover (photo Imgur)

 

2. The floor

An old carpet can very easily make a room look tired and unloved. If the carpet is threadbare, and beyond repair, this might be a good time to think of an alternative floor covering. You might consider a visit to a specialist such as www.easystepflooring.co.uk in order to have a look at natural wooden floors. These are easy to clean, and they will enhance the natural dimensions of your room.

 

3. The main bedroom

All too often busy parents spend their time and energy on their children’s rooms and neglect the appearance of their own room. A bedroom should be the place where you can relax at the end of an arduous day. Take a good look around the room; see if you can include a comfortable chair with your décor. The lighting should be calming; a dimmer switch is always a good idea. Good Housekeeping is an excellent resource for new ideas. Sometimes you just need to change the soft furnishings to affect a total transformation.

 

4. Furniture

It may be too expensive to replace all of your furniture, but you can always reupholster tired sofas and chairs. If your room is small, try not to choose a busy or vibrant pattern. You can always visit your local charity shop or auction house for additional furniture and restoring good quality wooden desks or chairs can actually be good fun. If you are following an overall theme for your house, try to stick to it. Though, with shabby chic, the rules demand to be broken.

 

5. Lighting

Most rooms can be enhanced with clever lighting. A single overhead light can be very harsh, so why not balance the appearance of your room with a mix of sidelights, spots and dimmed lights? Halogen bulbs are useful for mimicking daylight if your room is dark. You can also use tinted light bulbs, rather than the standard white variety. Remember that a simple change of lampshades can also change your room’s ambience.

 

You don’t have to spend a fortune when transforming your home. As long as you employ a little imagination, carry out some research and be realistic about the effect that you are trying to achieve, you’ll be able to give your house the makeover it deserves.

Beyonce on Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People Issue cover 2014

Sonia Pantiss
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Beyonce on Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People Issue cover 2014

Beyonce features the cover of Time magazine’s special 100 most influential people issue in 2014.

Beyonce was profiled by Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, who said the 32-year-old “doesn’t just sit at the table. She builds a better one”.

Sheryl Sandberg recently collaborated on a campaign to ban the use of the word “bossy” to describe women at work.

Others who made the list included Pope Francis – profiled by Barack Obama, who also featured – and Pharrell Williams.

Beyonce features the cover of Time magazine's special 100 most influential people issue in 2014
Beyonce features the cover of Time magazine’s special 100 most influential people issue in 2014 (photo Time magazine)

Other stars considered among the world’s most influential people include Sherlock‘s Benedict Cumberbatch – championed by fellow actor Colin Firth – and 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen, dubbed “a visionary” by one of the film’s star Lupita Nyong’o.

Kerry Washington, American Hustle star Amy Adams and intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden also made the list, as did Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez who wrote the soundtrack to hit Disney film Frozen.

Miley Cyrus was championed by her godmother Dolly Parton who said: “If I didn’t know how smart and talented Miley is, I might worry about her.”

Dolly Paton added: “I did it my way, so why can’t she do it her way?”

Beyonce was credited with having “shattered music-industry rules – and sales records” when she released her surprise album in December last year.

Sheryl Sandberg, who shared her own perspective on women in the workplace in her book Lean In last year, championed Beyonce as “The Boss”.

“She raises her voice both on and offstage to urge women to be independent and lead,” she wrote.

Beyonce’s career has gone from strength to strength since her days in Destiny’s Child. It has taken in film roles and a fashion line, alongside sold out world tours such as last year’s Mrs. Carter Show.

Matthew McConaughey, House of Cards star Robin Wright and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donna Tartt are also regarded as hugely influential.

Gravity director Alfonso Cuaron made the list for providing “some of the most arresting, visually stunning work in recent cinema”, according to Star Trek director JJ Abrams.

Photo messaging app Snapchat creators Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos also featured on the list, alongside politicians like Hilary Clinton, Germany’s Angela Merkel and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Actor, director and Sundance Film Festival creator Robert Redford – “the godfather of indie film” according to Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein – was also honored, as was fashion designer Phoebe Philo and American Idol winner and country star Carrie Underwood.

Pharrell Williams made the list for “having way too much fun”, according to Justin Timberlake, whose debut solo album was produced by Williams.

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Microsoft completes Nokia mobile phone deal for $7.5 billion

Clyde K. Valle
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Microsoft completes Nokia mobile phone deal for $7.5 billion

Microsoft has completed Nokia’s mobile phone deal for 5.44 billion euros ($7.5 billion).

The deal between Microsoft and Nokia should have been completed earlier this year but it was delayed by a hold-up in regulatory approvals.

The sale will see the end of production of mobile phones by Nokia.

Microsoft has completed its purchase of Nokia's mobile phone business for 5.44bn euros
Microsoft has completed its purchase of Nokia’s mobile phone business for 5.44bn euros

“Today we welcome the Nokia devices and services business to our family,” said Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella.

“The mobile capabilities and assets they bring will advance our transformation.”

Noki will now focus on networks, mapping services and technology development and licenses.

Two Nokia plants will remain outside the deal – a manufacturing unit in Chennai, India, subject to an asset freeze by Indian tax authorities, and the Masan plant in South Korea, which it plans to shut down.

Former Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop has become executive vice president of the Microsoft devices group, in charge of Lumia smartphones and tablets, Nokia mobile phones, Xbox hardware, Microsoft Surface, and Perceptive Pixel (PPI) products.

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Afghanistan: Five NATO troops die in helicopter crash

Roy Siemens
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Afghanistan: Five NATO troops die in helicopter crash

Five NATO soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan, the NATO-led security mission ISAF has said.

Five NATO soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan
Five NATO soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan

ISAF gave no further details, saying in a statement that it was still reviewing the circumstances of the crash. The nationalities of the soldiers are unknown at this stage.

Afghan officials said the helicopter had come down in Kandahar province because of a mechanical failure.

Foreign forces are due to hand over responsibility for security to their Afghan counterparts at the end of 2014.

Fatal incidents involving foreign troops have declined as they prepare for the withdrawal.

However, such crashes have been relatively frequent over the years because coalition forces depend heavily on air transport.

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Barack Obama arrives in Malaysia

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama arrives in Malaysia

Barack Obama has arrived in Malaysia – the third leg of the US president Asian tour.

President Barack Obama is the first serving American leader to visit the predominantly-Muslim nation since 1966.

The visit signals closer bilateral relations after decades of uneasy ties.

Barack Obama is expected to seek closer trade relations with Malaysia to dilute China’s influence in the region.

The US has already provided Kuala Lumpur with military assistance, most recently in the search for the missing Malaysian airline.

President Barack Obama is the first serving American leader to visit Malaysia since 1966
President Barack Obama is the first serving American leader to visit Malaysia since 1966

Barack Obama landed at Malaysia’s Air Force base in Subang on Saturday evening local time.

The US president has already visited Japan and South Korea as part of a four-nation tour of Asia.

Ahead of the visit, Malaysia’s government controlled newspapers printed the American flag on their front pages, along with the words “Welcome, Mr. President”.

But some analysts say it has taken Barack Obama too long to visit Malaysia, especially since he lived in the region as a child.

American presidents had stayed away because of years of anti-Western rhetoric under former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad, but current PM Najib Razak wants Washington to recognize Malaysia as a global player.

In his turn, Barack Obama wants Kuala Lumpur to sign a free trade deal with 10 other nations – the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Ben Rhodes, Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser, said relations between the US and Malaysia had blossomed in recent years.

Malaysia has become a “pivotal state” in the Obama administration’s push to strengthen ties throughout the fast-growing and strategically important region, the Associated Press quoted Ben Rhodes as saying.

However, some Malay Muslims claim that the US-led trade deal will reduce their economic privileges over other ethnic groups in the country.

Barack Obama arrived in Malaysia from South Korea and will finish his Asian tour in the Philippines on April 29.

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Ford profit plunges 39% in 2014 Q1 on weak US sales

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Ford profit plunges 39% in 2014 Q1 on weak US sales

Ford has reported a 39% drop in 2014 Q1 profits as its performance in the key North American market weakened.

Ford earned $989 million in the January to March period, down from $1.64 billion a year before.

Profits in North America fell to $1.5 billion from $2.4 billion in 2013, with sales volumes in the region down by 3%.

The carmaker also set aside $400 million to boost its reserve fund that deals with vehicle warranty issues, such as safety recalls and dealing with customer complaints.

Ford has reported a 39 percent drop in 2014 Q1 profits as its performance in the key North American market weakened
Ford has reported a 39 percent drop in 2014 Q1 profits as its performance in the key North American market weakened

Ford CFO Bob Shanks said the boosting of such contingency funds was normal across the car industry, as vehicles became more complex.

The company’s boss Alan Mulally said it had been a “solid quarter”, as the firm prepared for “the most aggressive product launch schedule in its history”.

Ford is launching a record 23 new vehicles globally in 2014.

Overall revenue for the first quarter rose slightly to $35.9 billion, and it sold 1.6 million vehicles in the three months, a rise of 6%.

Ford said it had increased its market share in China, and in the Asia Pacific region it reported profits of $291 million compared with a loss of $28 million.

In Europe, Ford reduced losses to $194 million from a deficit of $425 million a year earlier.

Currency devaluations in Venezuela and Argentina meant losses in the South American region widened to $510 million from $218 million last year.

Profits in the Middle East and Africa rose 15% to $54 million.

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Titanic last letter to be auctioned in UK

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Titanic last letter to be auctioned in UK

The last letter to be written on the Titanic could fetch $170,000 when it will be auctioned in the UK later.

The letter was written by survivors Esther Hart and her 7-year-old daughter Eva eight hours before the ship hit an iceberg and sank in 1912.

The letter only survived because it was in the pocket of her husband’s coat which he gave her to keep warm.

Meant for her mother in Chadwell Heath, east London, the letter will go under the hammer at a Wiltshire auctioneers.

Esther Hart wrote that they were enjoying what she called the “wonderful’ journey”.

She said they were likely to arrive in New York early because of the speed the ship was doing.

The letter was written by survivors Esther Hart and her 7-year-old daughter Eva eight hours before the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912
The letter was written by survivors Esther Hart and her 7-year-old daughter Eva eight hours before the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in 1912

Her husband Benjamin died along with more than 1,500 people in the disaster.

The letter will be auctioned at Henry Aldridge & Son of Devizes on Saturday.

Titanic memorabilia continues to be big business. A menu from the day of the disaster was sold for $129,000, while a violin played as the ship sank went for $1.5 million.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said the letter was unique.

“It’s very rare because it’s a letter that’s written on board Titanic, which makes it exceptional,” he said.

“But what rises it to the absolute top of the pile is it’s the only letter known that was written on Sunday 14 April, so the day the ship hit the iceberg.

“So we can say with absolute certainty that about 12 hours after this letter was written the Titanic was at the bottom of the North Atlantic.”

The letter, embossed with the White Star Line flag, is headed “On Board RMS Titanic” and dated “Sunday afternoon”.

In it, Esther Hart describes being sick the day before and unable to eat or drink.

She said she had since recovered and had been to a church service with Eva that morning.

She wrote that Eva had sung “so nicely” to the hymn Oh God Our Help In Ages Past and they were both due to sing in a concert on board “tomorrow night”.

Remarking on the stability of the ship, which was not supposed to roll, Esther Hart wrote: “Anyhow it rolls enough for me.”

She added: “Well, the sailors say we have had a wonderful passage up to now.”

The Titanic sank on the night of Sunday April 14, 1912, on the fifth day of its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic.

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G7 to impose additional sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

Roy Siemens
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G7 to impose additional sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

The G7 powers have agreed to impose fresh sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

A G7 statement gave no detail of the sanctions, but US officials said they could announce measures by Monday.

The West accuses Russia of leading a secession rebellion in Ukraine’s east, months after it annexed Crimea. Moscow denies the allegations.

Meanwhile, negotiators are trying to secure the release of international observers seized by pro-Russia gunmen.

Forces in the city of Sloviansk are still holding the eight European military observers and several Ukrainian army personnel who they seized on Friday and accuse of espionage.

The observers were taking part in a mission linked to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Forces in Sloviansk are holding eight European military observers and several Ukrainian army personnel
Forces in Sloviansk are holding eight European military observers and several Ukrainian army personnel (photo AFP)

Rebel militia continue to occupy official buildings in a dozen eastern cities, defying the government in Kiev.

Russia has tens of thousands of troops deployed along its side of the border with Ukraine and has said it would act if its interests were threatened.

The US accused Russian jets of violating Ukraine’s airspace on Friday in a further sign of escalation.

Pentagon spokesman Col. Steven Warren said Russian aircraft had entered Ukrainian airspace several times in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the G7 praised Ukraine for acting with restraint in dealing with the “armed bands” that had occupied government buildings.

But the group, which includes the US, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Canada and Italy, condemned Russia’s “increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening military maneuvers”.

“Given the urgency of securing the opportunity for a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine’s presidential elections, we have committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of Russia’s actions,” said the statement.

The US and EU already has assets freezes and travel bans in place target a number of Russian individuals and firms accused of playing a part in the annexation of Crimea.

On Friday, Ukraine’s interior ministry said armed separatists had seized OSCE representatives, who were believed to be military observers from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

Pro-Russian leaders in Sloviansk confirmed the bus had been stopped near the town of Sloviansk and said they were checking the identities of those on board.

The self-proclaimed mayor of Sloviansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, said at least one passenger had been carrying maps showing separatist checkpoints in the area, which suggested “their involvement in espionage”.

Last weekend, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov broadcast an appeal to President Vladimir Putin asking for Russian troops to protect the city from “fascists” after three of his men died in a gunfight.

Russia’s OSCE envoy Andrei Kelin promised to take “all possible steps” to free the representatives, according to Russian media reports.

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Sewol ferry disaster: All 15 crew members in custody over criminal negligence

Diane A. Wade
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Sewol ferry disaster: All 15 crew members in custody over criminal negligence

South Korean authorities have arrested all 15 crew members involved in the navigation of the ill-fated Sewol passenger ferry.

They are all facing criminal negligence charges.

The prosecution requested arrest warrants for four additional crew members. Eleven others, including the captain, had been detained earlier.

Sewol ferry with 476 people on board sank off South Korea on April 16.

Divers have recovered 183 bodies, but scores are missing presumed drowned.

Many of the victims were students and teachers from Danwon high school, south of Seoul.

Sewol ferry with 476 people on board sank off South Korea on April 16.
Sewol ferry with 476 people on board sank off South Korea on April 16.

The ferry sank on a trip from the port of Incheon to the island of Jeju.

In the latest move on Saturday, the arrests warrants were issued for two helmsmen and two members of the steering crew.

Prosecutor Yang Jung-jin, of the joint investigation team, said the four crew members were taken into custody late on Friday, the Associated Press reported.

The 15 crew members are facing charges of criminal negligence and of failing to help passengers, the prosecution says.

On Friday, divers found 48 bodies of students wearing lifejackets in a single room on the vessel meant to accommodate just over 30 people.

The group was crammed into a dormitory and all were wearing lifejackets, a South Korean Navy officer said.

The presence of so many victims in the cabin suggested many had run into the room when the ship tilted, correspondents said.

The head of the operation to retrieve bodies said he had “no idea” how long the ship search would take.

The South Korean government has said it is “mobilizing all available resources” towards the rescue effort.

The prosecutors are also said to be investigating whether modifications made to the ferry made it more unstable.

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S&P cuts Russia’s credit rating to “BBB-“

Clyde K. Valle
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S&P cuts Russia’s credit rating to “BBB-“

Standard & Poor’s has downgraded Russia’s rating to “BBB-“from “BBB” – one notch above “junk” status.

The move comes as foreign investors continue to take money out of the country amid tensions over the situation in Ukraine.

Also on Friday, Russia’s central bank raised its key interest rate from 7% to 7.5% as it sought to defend the value of the rouble.

Announcing the downgrade, S&P said: “In our view, the tense geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine could see additional significant outflows of both foreign and domestic capital from the Russian economy.”

The credit ratings agency said this could “further undermine already weakening growth prospects”.

Standard & Poor's has cut Russia's rating to one notch above "junk" status
Standard & Poor’s has cut Russia’s rating to one notch above “junk” status (photo CBC)

S&P warned that further downgrades were possible if the West imposed tighter sanctions against Moscow.

Investors have been pulling money out of Russia since last year when the country’s economy ran into trouble, but this process has intensified in recent weeks amid concerns over Ukraine.

In the first quarter of this year, foreign investors have withdrawn $63.7 billion from Russia, and economic growth has slowed significantly – it is expected to grow at no more than 0.5% during 2014.

Russian shares, which have traded lower this week, fell further following the downgrade, with the MICEX stock index slipping over 1.6% at one stage.

Russia’s central bank said its rate rise was because of a higher inflation risk and the weakness of the rouble. The Russian currency has lost nearly 8% against the dollar this year.

The bank said its move would enable it to lower inflation to 6% by the end of 2014 and added it did not plan on cutting rates in coming months.

Russia’s Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev dismissed S&P’s move, saying that “partially, it is kind of a politically motivated decision”.

However, analysts said other credit rating agencies were likely to follow suit.

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Brazil: Colonel Paulo Malhaes found dead in Rio de Janeiro

Diane A. Wade
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Brazil: Colonel Paulo Malhaes found dead in Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian former army colonel Paulo Malhaes, who admitted torturing and killing political prisoners under military rule up to the 1980s, has been found dead.

Paulo Malhaes, 76, was killed by three men who entered his home outside Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, police say.

Last month, Paulo Malhaes said he never regretted killing “as many people as necessary” and tortured “many” prisoners.

Almost 500 people disappeared or were killed in Brazil when it was ruled by the army between 1964 and 1985.

Thousands more were detained and tortured, including current President Dilma Rousseff.

Last month Col. Paulo Malhaes appeared before Brazil's National Truth Commission, which is investigating past abuses
Last month Col. Paulo Malhaes appeared before Brazil’s National Truth Commission, which is investigating past abuses

According to his wife, Col. Paulo Malhaes was suffocated by three men who broke into their home. Police say the assailants stole computers and some guns.

Prominent Brazilian lawyer Wadih Damous said the intruders may have been after secret files he held.

Last month Col. Paulo Malhaes appeared before Brazil’s National Truth Commission, which is investigating past abuses.

He gave testimony on how he had tortured many political prisoners.

“I did my duty. I have no regrets,” he told the commission.

He defended his actions saying that the people he killed and tortured were “guerrillas who fought an armed struggle”.

Brazilian police say they are looking for CCTV images which might help identify Col. Paulo Malhaes’ killers.

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Missy Robertson celebrates 43rd birthday

Sonia Pantiss
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Missy Robertson celebrates 43rd birthday

Duck Dynasty’s Missy Robertson celebrated her 43rd birthday on Tuesday, April 22 – the same day as her brother-in-law and Duck Commander CEO, Willie Robertson.

Missy Robertson spent her birthday watching son Reed and nephew John Luke (Willie and Korie Robertson’s son) play in tennis regionals.

She wrote on her Facebook page: “Beautiful day for a birthday watching Reed and John Luke play in tennis regionals. Thank you, everybody, for so many sweet wishes! I am blessed beyond measure.”

Missy Robertson spent her birthday watching son Reed and nephew John Luke’s play in tennis regionals
Missy Robertson spent her birthday watching son Reed and nephew John Luke’s play in tennis regionals (photo Facebook)

After marrying Jase Robertson in 1991, and now busy raising another generation of Robertsons, Missy West learned early on that she needed to step up her game.

With help from her mother-in-law, Miss Kay, Missy Robertson transitioned into the lifestyle of a large family easily. She also learned that being a Robertson meant helping with the family business.

However, after working for Duck Commander for many years, Missy Robertson is now able to devote much of her time to her real passion of vocal music, both singing and volunteering as a music teacher at her children’s school.

Missy Robertson also handles her own family’s many activities and tries her best to keep 44-year-old Jase in line.

Jase and Missy Robertson have been married for more than 22 years and have three children: Reed, Cole, and Mia.

Willie Robertson celebrates 42nd birthday

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Willie Robertson celebrates 42nd birthday

Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson celebrated his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, April 22.

Willie Robertson celebrated his 42nd birthday on April 22
Willie Robertson celebrated his 42nd birthday on April 22 (photo Facebook)

Duck Dynasty’s Willie Jess Robertson (born April 22, 1972) is the third son of Phil and Miss Kay Robertson.

He used his business degree from Harding University to take Duck Commander from a family business to a multi-million dollar empire.

Willie Robertson is married to Korie, and they have five children.

Willie Robertson does the majority of the narration on Duck Dynasty reality show and is often seen wearing an American flag bandana.

Phil Robertson celebrates 68th birthday

Sonia Pantiss
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Phil Robertson celebrates 68th birthday

Duck Dynasty’s patriarch Phil Robertson turned 68 on Thursday, April 24.

Phil Alexander Robertson was born on April 24, 1946.

Duck Dynasty’s patriarch Phil Robertson turned 68 on April 24
Duck Dynasty’s patriarch Phil Robertson turned 68 on April 24 (photo Facebook)

He attended Louisiana Tech University, where he played football, but turned down an opportunity to play professionally with the Washington Redskins.

Phil Robertson received a master’s degree in education and spent several years teaching.

He was the subject of controversy after a 2013 interview he did with GQ magazine, where he said that gay behavior is sinful.

Phil Robertson, a devout Christian, is married to Miss Kay and they have four children together – Alan, Jase, Willie and Jep.

Sewol ferry: 48 bodies found crammed in cabin of 38

Diane A. Wade
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Sewol ferry: 48 bodies found crammed in cabin of 38

South Korean rescue teams found 48 bodies in a single cabin on the Sewol ferry meant to accommodate 38 people, officials say.

The group was crammed into a dormitory and all were wearing lifejackets, a South Korean Navy officer said.

Some 183 bodies have been recovered from the Sewol, but scores of people are missing, presumed drowned.

The head of the operation to retrieve bodies said on Friday he had “no idea” how long the ship search would take.

South Korean rescue teams found 48 bodies in a single cabin on the Sewol ferry meant to accommodate 38 people
South Korean rescue teams found 48 bodies in a single cabin on the Sewol ferry meant to accommodate 38 people (photo Yonhap/AP)

There were 476 people on board, with many trapped inside as the ferry listed and sank within two hours of distress signals being sent. A total of 174 passengers were rescued.

Many of those who died or are presumed dead were students and teachers from Danwon high school, south of Seoul.

Furious relatives attacked the speed of the recovery operation on Friday in a confrontation with the fisheries minister and the coastguard chief.

In a briefing to reporters on the southern island of Jindo, Navy Captain Kim Jin-Hwang described the difficult conditions that the divers were facing.

He said one group had found the single dormitory room filled with the bodies of 48 students wearing lifejackets. The presence of so many victims in the cabin suggested many had run into the room when the ship tilted, correspondents said.

Retrieving the bodies was far harder than finding them, he said, with divers unable to spend much longer than 10 minutes inside the ship at a time.

Officials said rescuers are retrieving around 30 bodies a day but the bereaved families have demanded that all remaining bodies are removed from the ferry before the weekend.

Search officials said just 35 of the 111 rooms had been searched so far.

The South Korean government says it is “mobilizing all available resources” towards the rescue effort but bad weather and stronger currents due on Saturday and Sunday are expected to hamper their efforts.

Prosecutors are said to be investigating whether modifications made to the ferry made it more unstable.

Factors under consideration include a turn made around the time the ship began to list, as well as wind, ocean currents and the freight it was carrying.

Reports have emerged indicating that the ship’s sleeping cabins were refitted some time between 2012 and 2013, which experts say may have inadvertently affected the balance of the boat.

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Record Store Day 2014: Vinyl sales grow by 133%

Sonia Pantiss
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Record Store Day 2014: Vinyl sales grow by 133%

Record Store Day 2014 – celebrated on April 19 – saw a surge in vinyl sales, with an increase of 133% on the previous week, industry figures reveal.

Led by a reissue of The Stone Roses’ debut album, vinyl sales grew by more than 62% compared to 2013, with 12-inch single sales growing by 15.4% alone.

Record Store Day 2014 saw a surge in vinyl sales, with an increase of 133 percent on the previous week
Record Store Day 2014 saw a surge in vinyl sales, with an increase of 133 percent on the previous week

However, 7-inch vinyl sales fell by 28%, partly because fewer records were released in the format.

The figures are in keeping with the US, where week-on-week sales grew by 91%.

Nielsen Entertainment called it “the most successful Record Store Day ever for vinyl”, with LP sales up 58% over the same week last year.

Record Store Day was created in the US in 2007. Now in its seventh year, it champions independently-owned record stores in the UK and US, and celebrates vinyl recordings.

Miller Matthew Todd: North Korea detains American tourist over gross violation of legal order

Diane A. Wade
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Miller Matthew Todd: North Korea detains American tourist over gross violation of legal order

North Korea announced on Friday it had detained 24-year-old American tourist Miller Matthew Todd earlier in April for what it said was “a gross violation of its legal order”.

The announcement was made while President Barack Obama was visiting South Korea, one of Washington’s closest allies and still technically at war with Pyongyang.

North Korea announced it had detained 24-year-old American tourist Miller Matthew Todd earlier in April
North Korea announced it had detained 24-year-old American tourist Miller Matthew Todd earlier in April (photo AFP/Getty Images)

“A relevant organ of the DPRK put in custody American Miller Matthew Todd, 24, on April 10 for his rash behavior in the course of going through formalities for entry into the DPRK to tour it,” the country’s official KCNA news agency said, using the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Kenneth Bae, a Korean American missionary, has been held for more than a year in North Korea and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor on charges of trying to overthrow the state.

North Korea rejected an offer for Robert King, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, to visit Pyongyang to discuss Kenneth Bae’s case last August and rescinded an invitation for him to visit in February.

KCNA said Miller Matthew Todd had a tourist visa for the DPRK, but tore it to pieces and shouted that he had come “to the DPRK after choosing it as a shelter”.

US Taco Co. and Urban Taproom: Taco Bell launches upscale taco chain

Clyde K. Valle
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US Taco Co. and Urban Taproom: Taco Bell launches upscale taco chain

Taco Bell is launching the US Taco Co. and Urban Taproom, its new upscale taco chain.

The US Taco Co. and Urban Taproom restaurant will feature a menu of 10 premium tacos, thick-cut fries, milkshakes, craft beer, and wine, according to Nation’s Restaurant News, an industry publication.

The first location is set to open in Huntington Beach, California, this summer.

The first US Taco Co. and Urban Taproom restaurant is set to open in Huntington Beach this summer
The first US Taco Co. and Urban Taproom restaurant is set to open in Huntington Beach this summer (photo US Taco Co)

Taco Bell declined to elaborate on expansion plans.

Nation’s Restaurant News revealed some of the menu items:

  • Winner Winner: Southern-style fried chicken breast with South of the Border gravy, roasted corn, pico de gallo, jalapenos, and cilantro in a flour tortilla.
  • One-Percenter: Lobster, garlic butter, red cabbage slaw, and pico de gallo on crispy fry bread.
  • Brotherly Love: Carne asada steak, grilled peppers and onions, roasted poblano queso, and cotija cheese in a flour tortilla.

The side of fries comes with dipping sauces including “ghost chile ketchup” and “roasted poblano crema.” One of the beer-spiked milkshakes on the menu, called the “Mexican Car Bomb”, has vanilla ice cream, tequila caramel sauce, chocolate flakes, and Guinness.

Tacos will be priced at about $4 each, and the average check size is expected to be roughly $12 with a drink.

Customers won’t be able to customize their tacos like at Chipotle, but they will be able to watch their food being made.

“Most dishes will be prepared in-house, in glass-enclosed kitchens that allow guests to see meat grilling or tacos in the works – though a few ingredients will come from outside suppliers, like the Texas smoked brisket or Southern pulled pork,” NRN reports.

The new concept is meant to attract a demographic of higher-income edgy foodies who would never step foot inside a Taco Bell.

Everest avalanche: Expedition teams descend amid uncertainty over climbing season

Nancy Clayson
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Everest avalanche: Expedition teams descend amid uncertainty over climbing season

About half of expedition teams at Everest base camp are descending amid uncertainty over this year’s climbing season, after 16 guides were killed in an avalanche.

A row over local guides’ share of revenue from foreign climbers erupted after last week’s deadly accident, prompting some to threaten a boycott.

Sherpas also want better rescue and treatment facilities for guides.

If others descend, some fear it could effectively end plans to climb the world’s highest mountain this year.

Madhusudan Burlakoti, a tourism ministry official, hoped that some teams might still climb. Sherpas have been in talks over these issues with the Nepalese government.

More than 300 foreigners were preparing to climb Everest this year, but the tense aftermath of the avalanche that killed 13 Sherpas and left 3 missing presumed dead dashed hopes and left many climbers disturbed and shocked.

About 50 expedition teams had been at the base camp, with 31 intended for Everest.

About half of expedition teams at Everest base camp are descending amid uncertainty over this year's climbing season
About half of expedition teams at Everest base camp are descending amid uncertainty over this year’s climbing season

Some of the teams have chosen to go on trekking expeditions instead, while others are still waiting and watching.

The Nepalese government has assured teams that their climbing permits will remain valid for the next five years.

Last Friday’s avalanche was the single deadliest accident in modern mountaineering on the world’s highest peak.

It struck an area just above Everest base camp at 5,800m (19,000ft).

Sherpas can earn up to $8,000 in the three-month Everest climbing season – more than 10 times the average wage in Nepal, which remains one of Asia’s poorest nations.

However, it does not look so good when the government is earning millions of dollars each year in fees for climbing permits. Some guiding companies charge up to $60,000 per person.

The guides who lost their lives had climbed up the slope early in the morning to fix ropes for climbers and prepare the route.

The avalanche struck a passage called the Khumbu Icefall, which is riddled with crevasses and ice boulders that can break free without warning.

Although relatively low on the mountain, it is one of its most dangerous points – but there are no safer paths along the famous South Col route first scaled by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

Sherpas often make 20-25 round trips to carry kit and supplies to advanced camps, exposing themselves to greater risk.

Everest has been scaled by more than 3,000 climbers since 1953.

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Afghanistan: Floods engulf northern villages

Diane A. Wade
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Afghanistan: Floods engulf northern villages

Fifty-eight people have been killed and hundreds of villagers left stranded in devastating flash floods in northern Afghanistan, officials say.

The governor of Jowzjan province warned that the number of victims was likely to rise.

Fifty-eight people have been killed and hundreds of villagers left stranded in devastating flash floods in northern Afghanistan
Fifty-eight people have been killed and hundreds of villagers left stranded in devastating flash floods in northern Afghanistan

People have been left trapped on the roofs of their homes and rescue helicopters have been deployed.

There are reports of flooding in other provinces in the north and west.

More than 80 people are missing and that 3,000 homes have been destroyed.

Heavy rain and storms on Thursday night created a perilous situation for villagers whose homes are largely built out of mud.

Cydney Bernard and Jodie Foster’s relationship

Lisa.Felice
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Cydney Bernard and Jodie Foster’s relationship

Jodie Foster publicly thanked her former partner and mother to her two sons Charlie and Kit, Cydney Bernard, while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s Golden Globe Awards.

Jodie Foster and Cydney Bernard met on the set of the 1993 film Sommersby, where Cydney – now a producer – was working as a production coordinator.

Jodie Foster and Cydney Bernard met on the set of the 1993 film Sommersby
Jodie Foster and Cydney Bernard met on the set of the 1993 film Sommersby

In 2008, it was reported that the couple broke things off, ending their 15-year-relationship.

Jodie Foster, now 51, is very protective of her privacy and has not spoken about the breakup.

However, it was reported that Jodie Foster broke up with Cydney Bernard in order to pursue a relationship with writer/producer Cindy Mort, whom she met while filming The Brave One in 2006.

Though Jodie Foster reportedly left her partner of 15 years for Cindy Mort, the two remain in close contact, as they share joint custody of their two sons.

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Java mouse-deer born at Bioparc Fuengirola in Spain

James J. Williams
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Java mouse-deer born at Bioparc Fuengirola in Spain

A baby Java mouse-deer has been born at Bioparc Fuengirola in southern Spain.

Java mouse-deer is one of the smallest hoofed animals in the world.

The newborn deer is “no bigger than a hamster” and weighs about 100 grams, staff at Bioparc Fuengirola told the El Pais newspaper.

The Java mouse-deer newborn deer is no bigger than a hamster and weighs about 100 grams
The Java mouse-deer newborn deer is no bigger than a hamster and weighs about 100 grams (photo Bioparc Fuengirola)

Adult Java mouse-deer are rarely bigger than rabbits or weigh more than 1kg (2.2lb). They are also known to be fiercely intelligent, and the species represents wisdom in many local legends in its native Java, says The Local website.

The baby mouse-deer is the eighth to be born in Fuengirola, which is running a program to breed the rare species. Its mother was born at the same zoo in 2007, and its father came from Zoo Lille in France last year, the Spanish zoo says.

The family lives the zoo’s Hidden Forest, which recreates the ruins of a temple lost in the Asian jungle.

Bioparc Fuengirola says there are currently 43 Java mouse-deer in Europe, but warns the future of the species is threatened by massive deforestation in South East Asia and the replacement of jungles with oil palm plantations.

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MH370: Bluefin-21 search for missing plane could expand from focused area

Diane A. Wade
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MH370: Bluefin-21 search for missing plane could expand from focused area

Australian officials have announced that the underwater search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane could widen from its focused area in the Indian Ocean.

The Bluefin-21 submersible has completed 95% of its search in the area where possible signals from the plane’s flight recorder were heard on April 8.

If nothing is found, the Bluefin-21 will move to an adjacent area, the agency co-ordinating the search said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia said a report on the plane could be released next week.

Flight MH370 went missing on March 8 as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people – mostly Chinese nationals – on board.

The underwater search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane could widen from its focused area in the Indian Ocean
The underwater search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane could widen from its focused area in the Indian Ocean

Using satellite data, officials have concluded that MH370 ended its journey in waters north-west of the Australian city of Perth.

However, the ongoing multi-national search for the missing plane has yet to yield anything concrete. The daily operation is already shaping up to be the most expensive in aviation history.

The robotic submarine Bluefin-21, operated by the US Navy off the Australian vessel Ocean Shield, is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that can identify objects by creating a sonar map of the sea floor.

It is operating at a depth of more than 13,000 feet.

The AUV has been mapping the area of the sea bed within a 10km (6.25 mile) radius of where acoustic signals believed to have come from the aircraft’s flight recorder were detected.

On Friday Australia’s Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC) said in a statement that the AUV had “completed approximately 95% of the focused underwater search area”.

“If no contacts of interest are made, Bluefin-21 will continue to examine the areas adjacent to the 10km radius,” JACC said.

“We are currently consulting very closely with our international partners on the best way to continue the search into the future,” JACC added.

Authorities still do not know why the plane went off course and finding the flight recorders is seen as key to understanding what happened.

Meanwhile, Malaysian PM Najib Razak told CNN on Thursday that there was “a likelihood” the report on the investigation into the missing plane could be released next week.

Malaysian officials said on Wednesday that the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization already had a copy of the report.

In China, relatives of passengers on the missing flight held another protest outside the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing, after Malaysian officials failed to update them on the search.

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