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Typhoon Haiyan death toll rises to 1,200 in Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Haiyan death toll rises to 1,200 in Philippines

Red Cross officials estimate that at least 1,200 people were killed by Typhoon Haiyan, the largest storm ever to make landfall in Philippines.

Typhoon Haiyan struck Philippines early Friday and survivors of the storm described towering waves that swept away all but the hardiest shelters.

Survivors were described as being in desperate need of clean drinking water and food as officials continue to survey the damage.

Typhoon Haiyan packed sustained winds of 147 mph, with gusts up to 170 mph, and heavy rains when it made landfall early Friday. By those measurements, Haiyan would be comparable to a strong Category 4 hurricane in the US, and nearly in the top category, a 5.

Red Cross officials estimate that at least 1,200 people were killed by Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines
Red Cross officials estimate that at least 1,200 people were killed by Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines

Authorities said it flattened hundreds of homes and triggered mudslides, flash flooding and a storm surge with waves of up to 30 feet. Authorities said almost 800,000 people were evacuated to emergency shelters.

So far, government officials have confirmed just 138 deaths. At least 118 of those were on hardest-hit Leyte Island, where Tacloban is located, national disaster agency spokesman Major Reynaldo Balido told The Associated Press.

But Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, said preliminary counts from teams on the ground indicated that at least 1,200 people had perished – 1,000 people in Tacloban and at least 200 more in the Samar province.

Gwendolyn Pang said the numbers came from preliminary reports by Red Cross teams on the ground.

The weather system was downgraded overnight from a “super typhoon” to a typhoon, and was making its way toward Vietnam.

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Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro orders Daka shops seizure

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro orders Daka shops seizure

President Nicolas Maduro has ordered their seizure of Daka chain of shops in Venezuela.

Hundreds of bargain hunters flocked to Daka shops hoping to find electronic goods at much-reduced prices.

President Nicolas Maduro accused the Daka chain of charging exorbitant prices for the goods and said it would now be forced to have “fair prices”.

But the opposition blames government mismanagement of the economy for high inflation.

On a speech on Friday night, President Nicolas Maduro promised to sell off Daka’s stock of plasma televisions, washing machines and other merchandise.

“We’re doing this for the good of the nation. Leave nothing on the shelves, nothing in the warehouses!” he said.

Bargain hunters were quick to join overnight queues to buy the merchandise, some of it at a quarter of the price listed earlier in the week.

Nicolas Maduro said government inspectors had found goods that were overpriced by as much as 1,000%.

President Nicolas Maduro has ordered their seizure of Daka chain of shops
President Nicolas Maduro has ordered their seizure of Daka chain of shops

He said a small air-conditioning unit was selling for 36,000 bolivars ($5,730) at Daka, while the same unit cost 7,000 bolivars ($1,113) in state shops.

Daka’s owners have not responded to the allegations.

Goods at state shops are often very difficult to find and sell very quickly when available.

State shops buy dollars to pay for imported goods at the official rate of around 6.3 bolivars per dollar. But private importers often complain official dollars are not readily available and that they must buy dollars on the black market at rates about seven times higher.

The move against Daka comes after weeks of government warnings against pre-Christmas price rises.

President Nicolas Maduro often accuses wealthy businessmen of hoarding goods in order to push up prices.

But critics of his government say economic mismanagement, rather than unscrupulous retailers, is responsible for inflation and shortages of basic goods such as milk and toilet paper.

Correspondents say inflation, now running at 54%, has become an important issue in next month’s local elections.

Growing economic problems in the oil-producing nation have dented Nicolas Maduro’s popularity.

With municipal elections due across Venezuela on December 8, recent opinion polls have shown the president’s ratings have declined by about 10% in recent months.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles – who was narrowly defeated by Nicolas Maduro in presidential elections last April – wants next month’s vote to become a quasi-referendum on the president.

Russia criticizes Netherlands on King Willem Alexander state visit to Moscow

Diane A. Wade
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Russia criticizes Netherlands on King Willem Alexander state visit to Moscow

Russia has criticized the Netherlands for “inaction”, failing to prevent a Greenpeace protest at an oil rig in September, hours before a state visit to Moscow by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima’s trip marks the end of a year which some media reports refer to as the least successful cross-cultural initiative in recent European history.

Russia and the Netherlands have also clashed over their differing attitudes to gay rights.

Ryland Goldman: Seven-year-old boy opens restaurant in California

Nancy Clayson
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Ryland Goldman: Seven-year-old boy opens restaurant in California

Ryland Goldman is the 7-year-old owner of Ryland’s Restaurant opened in Los Gatos, California.

The restaurant is just a block away from his new school, Daves Lane Elementary, and all the morning foot traffic gave him the notion that the restaurant he’s wanted to open since age 3 could be a reality.

“I wanted to sell breakfast to them,” said Ryland Goldman, who also came up with the idea of sharing his take to benefit the school’s technology fund, and he’s donated hundreds of dollars so far.

His parents, Ben and Berrie Goldman, say their son has talked of opening a restaurant for more than half his life. It wasn’t until the Goldmans moved to a new home that Ryland saw his opportunity.

“I moved here and lots of people walked by my house,” Ryland Goldman said.

 “I wanted to sell breakfast to them.”

Ryland Goldman is the 7-year-old owner of Ryland's Restaurant opened in Los Gatos
Ryland Goldman is the 7-year-old owner of Ryland’s Restaurant opened in Los Gatos

Ryland Goldman is a second grader who loves to be in the kitchen and saw the business opportunity.

Every couple of weeks, Ryland Goldman sets up a folding table and lays out the biscotti, muffins, and brownies he has baked . There is also milk, orange juice, and Starbucks coffee he and his father pick up early in the morning.

Ryland Goldman also prints and posts a menu, complete with prices ($1.75 for a small coffee, $2 for a large).

However, Ryland Goldman is also more than an entrepreneur. He’s a budding philanthropist.

He decided that half of all the money he makes from his restaurant will go to his elementary school. He told Principal Kit Bragg he’d like it to be use to buy technology for the school. In the mere months that Ryland’s Restaurant has been open, he has raised hundreds of dollars for the cause.

Ben and Berrie Goldman promise they did not push their older son to do any of this.

“It was totally Ryland’s idea,” Ben Goldman said.

“It’s all been 100 percent his ideas.”

After his first successful morning selling to his neighbors and classmates, Ryland Goldman decided he wanted to open every morning. His parents say they appreciate Ryland’s enthusiasm, but will keep the hours irregular for the time being.

Justin Bieber charged with vandalism in Rio de Janeiro

Lisa.Felice
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Justin Bieber charged with vandalism in Rio de Janeiro

Justin Bieber was charged with vandalism on November 8 for  after his highly-publicized graffiti session that took place three days before.

The global pop sensation’s rep had no comment.

Police received a complaint about Justin Bieber, 19, and his friends spray painting the wall of the former Hotel Nacional in Rio de Janeiro on November 5.

Justin Bieber, who was in Rio de Janeiro for a concert, reportedly had left the property by the time authorities arrived. Later that day, Brazil’s biggest news outlet posted photos on its website of Justin Bieber, in artistic action.

Justin Bieber spray painting the wall of the former Hotel Nacional in Rio de Janeiro
Justin Bieber spray painting the wall of the former Hotel Nacional in Rio de Janeiro

In Brazil, defacing buildings is a crime that could lead to a fine and up to one year in jail.

Local authorities then opened an investigation involving three days of testimony from the photographers who caught him painting, officers and even Justin Bieber’s security personnel.

However, the singer will avoid time behind bars.He will pay a fine, although that cost has yet to be determined.

This is not Justin Bieber’s first run-in with local authorities over his penchant for spray-painting. While in Bogota last week, the singer spray-painted a wall lining one of the Colombian city’s biggest streets, and was escorted into a police car by officers. Overall, the South American leg of Justin Bieber’s Believe tour has been rife with controversy.

Justin Bieber is set to perform in Buenos Aires on November 9-10.

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Sochi Olympic torch in first spacewalk

Clyde K. Valle
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Sochi Olympic torch in first spacewalk

Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky are taking the torch for the Sochi Winter Olympics on its first historic spacewalk, ahead of next year’s games.

Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky took the unlit version of the torch through the hatch of the International Space Station (ISS) at 14:34 GMT.

Live footage showed Oleg Kotov waving the torch 261 miles above Earth.

A three-man crew took the torch up to the space station on a Russian Soyuz rocket on Thursday.

The rocket blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan crewed by three cosmonauts – Russia’s Mikhail Tyurin, American Rick Mastracchio and Koichi Wakata from Japan.

The crew handed the Olympic symbol to Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky, who were already on the orbiting station ahead of Saturday’s spacewalk.

Cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky are taking the torch for the Sochi Winter Olympics on its first historic spacewalk
Cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky are taking the torch for the Sochi Winter Olympics on its first historic spacewalk

The two cosmonauts took pictures and videos of each other holding the torch using helmet cameras.

The torch, which was tethered to their bulky spacesuits, was to spend up to six hours in open space.

In addition to the photo opportunity, Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky were carrying out some maintenance on the orbiting station.

The event is seen as part of a rebranding exercise by Russia designed to portray it as a strong, modern country.

“Our goal here is to make it look spectacular,” Oleg Kotov said earlier this week.

“We’d like to showcase our Olympic torch in space. We will try to do it in a beautiful manner. Millions of people will see it live on TV and they will see the station and see how we work.”

The Olympic torch has been carried into space twice before – in 1996 and 2000 – but it has never left a spaceship. It is not being lit aboard the space station as this would consume oxygen and pose a risk to the crew.

The Sochi torch will then be returned to Earth and used to light the Olympic cauldron in February next year.

The trip to the space station is all part of elaborate preparations for Russia’s first Olympics since the Soviet era. The games are the most expensive Olympics so far, costing around $50 billion (1,620 billion roubles).

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Humphrey Bogart drinking glasses sold for £8,000 at art and antiques fair in London

Sonia Pantiss
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Humphrey Bogart drinking glasses sold for £8,000 at art and antiques fair in London

Drinking glasses that were a gift from Humphrey Bogart have sold for more than double their expected price.

Humphrey Bogart gave public relations man Bill Rowland Hill the six small and five large glasses for his help publicizing the 1951 film The African Queen.

They were sold for £8,000 ($12,500) to a private buyer from Europe at an art and antiques fair in London.

It had been expected that they would sell for about £3,500 ($5,500).

The glasses, which were engraved with the initials HB, were accompanied by a letter on 20th Century Fox-headed notepaper from Pinewood signed “Bogie”.

He thanks Bill Rowland Hill for his PR work and “all the other little things”.

Humphrey Bogart gave public relations man Bill Rowland Hill the six small and five large glasses for his help publicizing the 1951 film The African Queen
Humphrey Bogart gave public relations man Bill Rowland Hill the six small and five large glasses for his help publicizing the 1951 film The African Queen

The letter reads: “My Dear Bill. Before I leave for home I want to say, one big <<thank you>> from the bottom of my heart for all you have done publicity wise both on the set, and in Africa.

“I wanted to send you some Hootch but on second thoughts I want you to have something to put it in.

“Will you call at that fancy store (Heal’s) on Tottenham Court Street and see a guy called Gaylard. Choose yourself a dozen glasses from the suite I have had made.

“Once again sport, thanks a million.”

John Huston’s World War 1 film, The African Queen, tells the story of American Rose Sayer – played by Katharine Hepburn – who escapes a village burned down in German East Africa on a boat owned by rough-and-ready Charlie Allnutt, played by Humphrey Bogart.

It won Humphrey Bogart the best actor Oscar in 1952.

The 11 glasses were being sold by antique glass dealers Mark J. West, of Redhill, Surrey, at the 23rd Winter Fine Art and Antiques Fair at London Olympia.

Chris Brown countersues Sha’keir Duarte over Hollywood studio fight

Lisa.Felice
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Chris Brown countersues Sha’keir Duarte over Hollywood studio fight

Chris Brown is countersuing Sha’keir Duarte, who accused the singer’s entourage of attacking him outside a recording studio earlier this year.

Chris Brown, 24, filed an assault and battery lawsuit against Sha’keir Duarte on November 6.

In a previous lawsuit, Sha’keir Duarte claimed he was injured in a fight between the entourages of Chris Brown and Frank Ocean in January outside a studio in Hollywood.

Sha’keir Duarte sued Brown in August, saying the singer had started the fight.

However, Chris Brown’s countersuit accuses Sha’keir Duarte of causing the fight after he pushed, kicked and punched the singer.

Chris Brown filed an assault and battery lawsuit against Sha'keir Duarte
Chris Brown filed an assault and battery lawsuit against Sha’keir Duarte

Chris Brown also said Sha’keir Duarte had threatened to kill him and wants damages.

Sha’keir Duarte’s attorney Joseph Porter III is yet to make a comment.

No criminal charges were filed over the fight, but Chris Brown may face jail after being arrested last month in Washington DC for allegedly punching a man outside a hotel.

Chris Brown spent a day in custody and faces a misdemeanour battery charge over the incident.

The rapper is due back in court on November 25.

Chris Brown is still on five years’ probation after attacking his ex-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 before the Grammy music awards.

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Pablo Neruda was not poisoned and died of prostate cancer

Sonia Pantiss
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Pablo Neruda was not poisoned and died of prostate cancer

Forensic experts have concluded that no traces of poison have been found in the remains of Chile’s Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda.

It was prostate cancer, not an assassin’s poison, that killed poet Pablo Neruda, officials in Chile announced Friday.

Forensic experts have concluded that no traces of poison have been found in the remains of Pablo Neruda
Forensic experts have concluded that no traces of poison have been found in the remains of Pablo Neruda

Left-wing poet Pablo Neruda died in 1973 at the age of 69, days after the military coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power.

Pablo Neruda’s body was exhumed in April to establish whether he died of poisoning, as his driver and others suspected.

The complete findings of the testing of Pablo Neruda’s body – including DNA results that could confirm without doubt that the body exhumed is indeed that of the late poet – have yet to be released.

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CBS News apologizes for false Benghazi report on 60 Minutes

Roy Siemens
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CBS News apologizes for false Benghazi report on 60 Minutes

CBS News has apologized for airing a report in October that gave false information about the September 2012 attack on a US diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya.

A security contractor told 60 Minutes programme he had been present during the attack, but later gave a conflicting statement to investigators with the FBI.

Reporter Lara Logan said it was a “mistake” to put the contractor on air.

Four Americans died in the attack, including a US ambassador.

Lara Logan, a reporter for 60 Minutes, a storied current affairs programme, said on Friday a source had provided false information during a report aired on October 27.

The security official, identified as Dylan Davies, said he had been at the US compound during the September 11, 2012, attack.

Dylan Davies reported he had witnessed the attack, fought off an assailant, and later viewed the body of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

But other news outlets subsequently revealed Dylan Davies had told FBI investigators and his employers he was not at the Benghazi compound the night of the attack.

Lara Logan, a reporter for 60 Minutes, said a source had provided false information during a Benghazi report aired on October 27
Lara Logan, a reporter for 60 Minutes, said a source had provided false information during a Benghazi report aired on October 27

“The most important thing to every person at 60 Minutes is the truth, and today the truth is we made a mistake,” Lara Logan told a CBS morning news programme on Friday.

“Nobody likes to admit they made a mistake, but if you do, you have to stand up and take responsibility and you have to say that you are wrong. And in this case, we were wrong.”

Lara Logan added that 60 Minutes planned to air a correction on its regular broadcast on Sunday evening.

CBS News chairman Jeff Fager told the New York Times Dylan Davies had lied to the network.

“There are people in the world who try to deceive others,” he said.

“We believe we have a really good system to guard against that. This guy got through that.”

Meanwhile, publication of a book written by Dylan Davies about the 2012 attack has been halted.

Threshold Editions said on Friday it was suspending publication of The Embassy House: The Explosive Eyewitness Account of the Libyan Embassy Siege by the Soldier Who Was There.

The book, written under the pseudonym Sgt Morgan Jones, was released on October 29.

The attack against the US consulate – which resulted in the death of Christopher Stevens, another state department worker, and two former Navy Seals – was originally said to have grown out of violent anti-American protests sparked by an anti-Islam film produced in the US.

It was later revealed to have been an organized, pre-planned assault by militia forces.

The US filed charges against a Libyan militia chief, Ahmed Abu Khattala, in August and an unknown number of other alleged attackers have also been charged.

Republicans denounced President Barack Obama’s handling of the incident, accusing the administration of failing to provide adequate security at the Benghazi compound and of neglecting to send a force to rescue the personnel after the attack began.

Also, the Republicans accused Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats of downplaying the attack in order to protect his 2012 re-election campaign.

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Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn have nasty arguments as he won’t be at Sochi Winter Games to support her

Clyde K. Valle
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Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn have nasty arguments as he won’t be at Sochi Winter Games to support her

Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn have had some “nasty” arguments because the golfer hasn’t planned on being at the Winter Games in Sochi to support her, the National Enquirer reported.

Tiger Woods, 37, reportedly is scheduled to play in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona from February 19 to 23. Lindsey Vonn’s slalom and giant slalom events are February 18 and 21.

Lindsey Vonn, 29, reportedly is upset because not only is she trying to come back from a torn ACL, but also she supported Tiger Woods at his major tournaments this past season. She even provided him with good-luck squirrels.

Tiger Woods hasn't planned on being at the Winter Games in Sochi to support girlfriend Lindsey Vonn
Tiger Woods hasn’t planned on being at the Winter Games in Sochi to support girlfriend Lindsey Vonn

According to the Enquirer‘s source: “Lindsey told Tiger: <<I supported you this season. Now, it’s your turn to support me in public. I’m not just your cheerleader – I’m a world-class athlete too!>>”

Earlier this year, Lindsey Vonn acknowledged she wasn’t sure if Tiger Woods’ schedule would free up enough for him to watch her ski now that her knee is repaired and she’s ready to hit the slopes again.

Lindsey Vonn completed her first days of downhill training this week.

Young Lee: Pinkberry co-founder convicted of assault with deadly weapon

Nancy Clayson
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Young Lee: Pinkberry co-founder convicted of assault with deadly weapon

Young Lee, co-founder of the popular frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry, was convicted Friday of assault with a deadly weapon after confronting a homeless man he thought had disrespected his wife.

Young Lee, 49, has been found guilty of beating a homeless man with a tire iron in Los Angeles.

City News Service reports that Young Lee was convicted Friday of assault with a deadly weapon.

Young Lee was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon after confronting a homeless man he thought had disrespected his wife
Young Lee was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon after confronting a homeless man he thought had disrespected his wife

Young Lee, who is no longer affiliated with Pinkberry, was taken into custody and is scheduled to be sentenced January 14, 2014.

Prosecutors said Young Lee confronted the homeless man in June 2011 because Lee thought the transient had disrespected his wife by showing a tattoo.

The homeless man was struck twice in the head and suffered a broken arm before witnesses stopped the attack.

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Prosecutor Ken Anderson jailed for wrongful conviction of innocent Michael Morton

Nancy Clayson
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Prosecutor Ken Anderson jailed for wrongful conviction of innocent Michael Morton

Former Texas prosecutor Ken Anderson has been sentenced to jail for his role in the wrongful conviction of an innocent man 26 years ago.

Ken Anderson agreed a plea deal that will see him serve 10 days in jail, perform 500 hours of community service and be disbarred.

He was charged with tampering with evidence in the 1987 murder trial of Michael Morton.

Michael Morton spent 25 years in prison only to be exonerated by DNA evidence.

Ken Anderson, also a former state judge, agreed a deal on Friday in the same Texas courthouse in which he used to preside.

He faced criminal charges and a civil lawsuit for allegedly withholding key evidence and making false statements to the court during Michael Morton’s trial in the beating death of his wife, Christine.

Lawyers for Michael Morton said Ken Anderson withheld a transcript of a police interview with Morton’s mother-in-law and reports from neighbors saying they had seen a man in a green van parked in front of the Morton home several times before the crime, according to the Texas Tribune.

Former Texas prosecutor Ken Anderson has been sentenced to jail for his role in the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton 26 years ago
Former Texas prosecutor Ken Anderson has been sentenced to jail for his role in the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton 26 years ago

Michael Morton was sentenced to life in prison for the murder but was freed in 2011 after DNA evidence tied the crime to another man. That suspect, Mark Alan Norwood, was found guilty earlier this year.

“I don’t know if satisfying is the right word,” Michael Morton said following Ken Anderson’s court appearance on Friday.

“When it began, I was asked what I wanted. I said, <<The only thing that I want, as a baseline, is for Ken Anderson to be off the bench and no longer practice law>>,” Michael Morton told the Texas Tribune.

“Both of those things have happened and more.”

Ken Anderson reportedly apologized to Michael Morton for “failures in the system” but said he did not believe there was any misconduct, according to media reports.

“In a case like this, sometimes it’s hard to say what meets the ends of justice and what doesn’t,” presiding District Judge Kelly Moore said on Friday.

“There’s no way that anything we can do today will resolve the tragedy that occurred related to these matters.”

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Maldives Election 2013: Voters to elect a new president after two attempts fail

Diane A. Wade
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Maldives Election 2013: Voters to elect a new president after two attempts fail

Maldivian voters are going to the polls to elect a president after two previous attempts failed.

Candidates came to a last-minute agreement earlier this week to agree and sign the voter lists required for the election to take place.

In 2012, ex-President Mohamed Nasheed was forced from office, sparking a political crisis.

Mohamed Nasheed is seeking to regain power at these elections.

Tensions are high after one vote was annulled and a re-run halted by police.

“Voting got underway at 475 polling booths across the Maldives and several foreign capitals where Maldivians live,” Elections Commission official Aishath Reema told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

Maldivian voters are going to the polls to elect a president after two previous attempts failed
Maldivian voters are going to the polls to elect a president after two previous attempts failed

Supporters of Mohamed Nasheed’s opposition Maldivian Democratic Party allege the government and judiciary are attempting to influence the electoral process, fearing he will return to power.

Mohamed Nasheed, won the country’s first-ever democratic vote in 2008, ousting Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ran the country autocratically for three decades.

His main rival at the ballot box is Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s half-brother, Abdullah Yameen. The other major contender is Gasim Ibrahim, a wealthy resort owner and a former minister under Gayoom.

If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote then a second vote is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

In a vote on 7 September, Mohamed Nasheed led with 45% of the vote, while Abdullah Yameen and Gasim Ibrahim trailed with 25% and 24% respectively.

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik got 5% and later bowed out.

That vote was annulled by the Supreme Court after Gasim Ibrahim alleged irregularities, despite observer groups deeming the vote free and fair. The court also introduced new guidelines for elections.

Police halted the planned re-run on 19 October saying the guidelines had not been met, after both Ibrahim Gasim and Abdullah Yameen failed to approve the registry of voters.

According to the Maldives constitution, a new president has to be in place by November 11 when the current presidential term ends.

Mohamed Nasheed was forced from office in February 2012 in what he has described as a coup. Mohamed Waheed, who succeeded him, claims Mohamed Nasheed resigned of his own accord in the face of opposition demonstrations.

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Typhoon Haiyan kills more than 120 people in Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Haiyan kills more than 120 people in Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan has killed more than 120 people in the Philippines, after it passed through the country on Friday.

Aviation officials said 100 bodies were lying in the streets of the city of Tacloban. Local journalists reported 20 bodies in a church in a nearby town.

The massive storm destroyed buildings and triggered landslides. The military has begun relief efforts.

Video from the city showed it engulfed by water when the typhoon struck.

It was one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall.

Aid agencies are struggling to reach Tacloban, as its airport has been badly damaged but military flights are able to operate.

Communications to some of the worst-hit areas were cut off when the storm hit and it may be days before the final death toll is known.

So far, only four people have been confirmed dead and another four are missing.

“We have reports of collapsed buildings, houses flattened to the ground, storm surges and landslides,” Philippine Red Cross chief Gwendolyn Pang told AFP news agency.

Typhoon Haiyan has killed more than 120 people in the Philippines
Typhoon Haiyan has killed more than 120 people in the Philippines

“But we don’t know really, we can’t say how bad the damage is… hopefully today we can get a better picture as to the effects of the super typhoon.”

Typhoon Haiyan made landfall on the Philippines shortly before dawn on Friday, bringing gusts that reached 235 mph, with waves as high as 45ft, bringing up to 15.75 inches of rain in places.

Meteorologists had earlier warned that the storm could be as devastating as Typhoon Bopha in 2012, which ravaged parts of the southern Philippines and left at least 1,000 people dead.

Schools and offices were closed, while ferry services and local flights were suspended. Hospitals and soldiers were on stand-by for rescue and relief operations.

Power and communication lines were also cut to some areas.

Typhoon Haiyan raged across Leyte and Samar, turning roads into rivers, and battered Cebu city, the country’s second largest with a population of 2.5 million.

The eye of the storm – known locally as Yolanda – passed well to the south of the capital Manila, but the city still felt its force.

In the typhoon’s path were areas already struggling to recover from a deadly 7.3-magnitude earthquake last month, including the worst-hit island of Bohol where about 5,000 people are still living in tents.

The head of the EU’s delegation to the Philippines, Guy Ledoux, had earlier told local media that the EU was sending a humanitarian aid team.

Officials had said more than 12 million people were at risk.

Typhoon Haiyan is now heading for Vietnam, and is expected to make landfall on Sunday.

Vietnamese authorities have begun the mass evacuation of more than 100,000 people.

State media in Vietnam report that schools are being closed and people living in low lying coastal areas are being moved to temporary typhoon shelters on higher ground. Shipping has also been ordered back to port.

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UNESCO suspends US voting rights

Diane A. Wade
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UNESCO suspends US voting rights

UNESCO has suspended US voting rights after Washington skipped a deadline for paying its dues.

The US stopped its contributions – which made up about a fifth of the agency’s funding- when UNESCO gave the Palestinians membership in 2011.

Israel, which halted its dues at the same time, has also had its UNESCO voting rights suspended.

The US and Israel said admitting the Palestinians was a misguided attempt to bypass the Middle East peace process.

UNESCO’s loss of $80 million a year in US funding has forced it to pare back American-led initiatives, including Holocaust education and a project to restore water facilities in Iraq.

Paris-based UNESCO is charged with designating World Heritage sites, promoting education and supporting press freedom, as well as countering extremism.

UNESCO has suspended US voting rights after Washington skipped a deadline for paying its dues
UNESCO has suspended US voting rights after Washington skipped a deadline for paying its dues

The American ambassador to UNESCO, David Killion, told Reuters news agency: “We intend to continue our engagement with UNESCO in every possible way.”

The US, however, has said it cannot legally contribute to a UN agency that implies recognition of a Palestinian state.

Israel’s ambassador to UNESCO, Nimrod Barkan, told the Associated Press news agency that his country supported the US decision, “objecting to the politicization of UNESCO, or any international organization, with the accession of a non-existing country like Palestine”.

The Palestinian ambassador to UNESCO, Elias Sanbar, said other countries were beginning to make up for the funding vacuum left by the US.

But he added: “Is this in the interest of the US, to be replaced?”

The US suspension comes amid attempts by Washington to broker peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The talks have hit a stumbling block in the last week over the continued Israeli expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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LSU Tigers reveal Duck Dynasty helmet

Sonia Pantiss
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LSU Tigers reveal Duck Dynasty helmet

Louisiana State University Tigers put together a helmet in honor of the popular A&E reality show Duck Dynasty.

ESPN reporter Kaylee Hartung got a glimpse of Duck Dynasty-inspired helmet during an all-access tour of LSU on Tuesday.

LSU Tigers put together a helmet in honor of Duck Dynasty
LSU Tigers put together a helmet in honor of Duck Dynasty

While it’s one of the most unique helmets this season, don’t expect to see the Tigers sporting them against No. 1 Alabama on Saturday or any time soon.

Regardless, the Duck Dynasty crew is happy to be getting some love from LSU.

Phil Robertson celebrates 1 millionth duck call of the year

Sonia Pantiss
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Phil Robertson celebrates 1 millionth duck call of the year

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson assembled the Duck Commander’s 1 millionth call of the year at the company’s retail store on Kings Lane in West Monroe.

Phil Robertson put the call — fittingly his wooden Classic Commander with cedar insert and poplar barrel — and blew a few mallard notes.

“Not bad for the 1 millionth duck call,” said the Duck Commander, who said it was his first time in the store.

The Robertson family, whose Duck Commander business has exploded following their Duck Dynasty fame, is auctioning off the duck call with proceeds to benefit the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Association for its Wounded Warrior hunts.

“This has been the best thing to ever happen to the Warrior hunt,” said veteran John Nolan, who coordinates the hunts in northeastern Louisiana, including an upcoming event with 24 disabled veterans.

“For the (men and women) who have sacrificed with their lives and limbs … the least I can do is try to help out,” Phil Robinson said.

More than 100 fans, among them a tour busload from Oklahoma, packed the Duck Commander store to cheer the milestone, a far cry from the reaction Phil Robertson received when he presented his first duck call to his family in the early 1970s.

The Duck Dynasty patriarch said he walked into the house and presented the duck call to his parents, his wife Miss Kay and the couple’s two young sons Al and Jase as they were playing dominoes.

“I walked in and said we’re going to sell a million dollars worth of these before it’s over,” Phil Robertson recalled.

Phil Robertson assembled the Duck Commander’s 1 millionth call of the year at the company’s retail store
Phil Robertson assembled the Duck Commander’s 1 millionth call of the year at the company’s retail store

He said the family never looked up and continued the domino game.

“They said nothing,” Phil Robertson said.

“Little did I know 40 years later I would be erroneous,” he said.

Instead of $1 million worth of calls, “we literally sold 1 million in just a year.”

The Robertsons aren’t revealing annual revenue generated by the company, but consider that Duck Commander calls sell from a low of $19.95 to a high of $179.95 for the Cold Blooded series calls made of acrylic that look like snakeskin. Phil’s Classic Commander goes for $44.95.

“It’s a momentous occasion,” Al Robertson said while introducing his father to the crowd.

“Who’d have thought from one duck call this empire would emerge?”

Duck Commander call sales have surged from 60,000 in 2011 to 1 million and counting this year. Robertson said he sold 2,000 his first year.

Phil Robertson, with his Classic Commander in one hand and the Bible, credited God for his and the family’s success.

“I’m a C-plus man, so I can’t attribute it to intellect,” he said.

“God has poured out his blessing toward us.”

He recounted his story of redemption to fans Thursday.

“I repented at 28 and turned to God,” said Phil Robertson, who often uses the stage of fame to profess his Christian faith.

“There’s no down side to loving God and loving your neighbor.”

But even with that faith Phil Robertson said he could have never predicted the company’s current success.

“I didn’t think it possible,” he said.

“But I’m still the same dude. The only difference is I’ve sold a million duck calls.”

Lover Spy: Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara makes FBI most wanted list

Nancy Clayson
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Lover Spy: Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara makes FBI most wanted list

Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara, who allegedly created malware purporting to catch out cheating lovers, has made it on to the FBI’s “most wanted” list of cybercriminals.

The FBI says Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara ran a website offering customers a way to “catch a cheating lover” by sending spyware masquerading as a greeting card.

Opening the card downloaded the malware on to the recipient’s computer and recorded keystrokes and messages.

The “Lover Spy” program cost $89.

Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara was indicted in July 2005 but has avoided capture ever since, only now making it on to the FBI’s most wanted list.

He ran the operation from his San Diego home in 2003, the FBI says, while he was in the US on a student travel visa.

Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara allegedly created malware purporting to catch out cheating lovers
Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara allegedly created malware purporting to catch out cheating lovers

The charges against Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara, 33, included making, sending and advertising an interception device, and unlawfully intercepting electronic communications.

The indictment said Lover Spy was designed “with stealth in mind, claiming that it would be impossible to detect by 99.9% of users”.

But Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara has avoided the authorities ever since and his last known location was San Salvador, the FBI said.

The agency appears to have added the hacker to its list partly out of frustration at his elusiveness.

“These are sophisticated folks who know how to hide themselves on the internet,” said John Brown, who oversees the FBI’s cyber-division.

The agency has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

According to the 2005 indictment, Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara sold the malware to 1,000 customers, who then used it to infect the computers of about 2,000 victims.

Victims took the bait about half the time, the government said.

People who bought the spyware were charged with illegally intercepting electronic communications.

Patrick Stewart explains story behind Halloween lobster costume

Lisa.Felice
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Patrick Stewart explains story behind Halloween lobster costume

Patrick Stewart shared the story behind his Halloween lobster costume on The Daily Show.

Patrick Stewart, 73, has become something of a social media sensation of late – especially when it comes to posting wacky things on his Twitter account.

The veteran actor caused a stir when he shared a picture of himself dressed as a lobster to wish his followers a happy Halloween.

Patrick Stewart has become something of a social media sensation with his Halloween lobster costume
Patrick Stewart has become something of a social media sensation with his Halloween lobster costume

Patrick Stewart opened with a poignant line about the Rob Ford and Rand Paul scandals that knocked Jon Stewart back. Jon Stewart quickly turned the conversation away from world politics because he wanted to know everything about the lobster costume.

Patrick Stewart’s Halloween getup has a sweet story behind it, but it still managed to earn him some blowback from the hardcore crustacean fanboy community on Twitter.

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Bonnie Disick dies following long illness

Lisa.Felice
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Bonnie Disick dies following long illness

Scott Disick’s mother, Bonnie Disick, died at the age of 63.

Bonnie Disick died Monday, October 28, following a long illness, sources confirm to Us Weekly.

A source told the magazine that Scott  Disick, 30, flew from Los Angeles to New York with longtime girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian, 34, to attend the wake on October 30.

Bonnie Disick died Monday, October 28, following a long illness
Bonnie Disick died Monday, October 28, following a long illness

Scott Disick grew up as an only child in Eastport, Long Island, New York, with parents Bonnie and Jeff Disick.

During his mother’s final days, Scott Disick was noticeably absent at several Kardashian-Jenner family gatherings, including Kanye West’s over-the-top October 21 proposal to Kim Kardashian at San Francisco’s AT&T Stadium.

Scott Disick was also missing from a recent family trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, to celebrate Kendall Jenner’s 18th birthday on October 29. The Kardashians rented out the entire park to celebrate Kendall Jenner’s special day.

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Spain frees nine Eta militants

Roy Siemens
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Spain frees nine Eta militants

Spain’s top criminal court has ordered the release of nine jailed militants from the ETA Basque separatist group.

The Audiencia Nacional’s decision follows a European court ruling which overturned Spain’s extension of Eta prisoners’ sentences.

Last month there was bitterness among relatives of ETA victims when Eta member Ines del Rio was released.

A violent 40-year campaign by ETA killed more than 800 people. The group declared a ceasefire in 2011.

Spain and some of its Western allies, including France and the UK, consider Eta a “terrorist” organization.

On October 21, the European Court of Human Rights upheld its 2012 ruling against Spain which opposed a legal practice known as the “Parot doctrine” – that allowed prison terms to be extended for people convicted of terrorist offences.

Spain's top criminal court has ordered the release of nine jailed militants from the ETA Basque separatist group
Spain’s top criminal court has ordered the release of nine jailed militants from the ETA Basque separatist group

The next day, Spain released Ines del Rio, who was serving a 30-year prison sentence for her role in bomb attacks in the 1980s.

The court decision on Friday was narrowly in favor of releasing nine prisoners and keeping two others behind bars. Nine judges were in favor, and eight were against.

The nine militants to be freed include Domingo Troitino, jailed for a 1987 attack on a supermarket in Barcelona which killed 21 people.

Domingo Troitino is the brother of Antonio Troitino, who was released from custody in London last month in line with the European court ruling.

The other eight are: Jokin Mirena Sancho, Isidro Maria Garalde, Jose Ignacio Urdiain, Jon Koldo Aginagalde, Joseba Koldobika, Elias Fernandez Castanares, Juan Francisco Gomez Lopez and Luis Maria Azkargorta.

A Spanish ruling in March 2006 meant that the most serious criminals in Spain could not qualify for early release.

But the European Court in Strasbourg said the ruling must not apply retroactively and so, it argued, dozens of Eta prisoners and other criminals convicted before that date should be released.

The Strasbourg ruling has been condemned by organizations in Spain representing the victims of Eta bombings and murders.

US economy added 204,000 jobs in October 2013

Clyde K. Valle
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US economy added 204,000 jobs in October 2013

According to the latest figures from the Labor Department, the US economy added a better-than-expected 204,000 jobs in October.

There had been fears that the 16-day shutdown of government services last month could have hit jobs growth.

The monthly non-farm payroll figure is taken as a key indicator of the health of the world’s biggest economy.

However, the latest figures also showed that the unemployment rate edged up to 7.3% from 7.2% in September.

The Labor Department said that this was likely to be because many federal workers were counted as unemployed during the shutdown.

The report also said that employers added 60,000 more jobs in September and August than earlier estimates had suggested.

The US economy added a better-than-expected 204,000 jobs in October 2013
The US economy added a better-than-expected 204,000 jobs in October 2013

The latest figures add to a positive week for US economic data.

On Thursday, it was announced that the US economy grew at a better-than-expected annual pace of 2.8% in the third quarter.

Investors are watching closely the health of the US economy, with signs of growing strength likely to raise expectations that the US Federal Reserve will begin to scale back its massive economic stimulus programme.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at the researchers Markit, said that the jobs figure had “defied” expectations of a slump in jobs creation due to the shutdown.

“Analysts were expecting a mere 125,000 rise,” he said.

“The data will add to the view that the Federal Reserve is gearing towards a tapering of its asset purchases, but policymakers will most likely wait for clearer signs that the economy is capable of growing at a faster rate than seen in recent months, hoping to see a pace of economic growth that will eat into unemployment.”

In Thursday’s GDP figure, the Commerce Department said that growth had been lifted by rising exports and a pick-up in construction of homes.

However, it also said that the pace of growth in consumer spending – which accounts for about two-thirds of US economic activity – had slowed from the previous quarter.

Chris Williamson said: “The jobs report follows yesterday’s GDP numbers, and together the data suggest that the US economy continues to expand at a reasonable pace, but that the underlying rate of expansion has cooled since earlier in the year, when policymakers began talking in earnest about scaling back monetary stimulus.”

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$1 million Bitcoin theft from Australian website

Nancy Clayson
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$1 million Bitcoin theft from Australian website

An Australian man who ran an online “wallet service” for storing Bitcoins has claimed hackers stole virtual currency from his site worth more than one million Australian dollars.

The Australian man said 4,100 Bitcoins (US$1.04 million) were taken in two separate attacks.

He said he would not report the theft to police as Bitcoin transactions are virtually impossible to trace.

This has led some users to speculate whether it was an “inside job”.

An Australian man claimed hackers stole Bitcoin from his site worth more than one million dollars
An Australian man claimed hackers stole Bitcoin from his site worth more than one million dollars

In a radio interview with ABC News the man, who only used his online name TradeFortress, denied being involved.

The Bitcoin virtual currency is increasingly used to pay for things online.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the theft occurred on October 27 but users were only alerted this week via a message he posted on the wallet service’s website.

“I know this doesn’t mean much, but I’m sorry, and saying that I’m very sad that this has happened is an understatement.

“Please don’t store Bitcoins on an internet-connected device, regardless if it is your own or a service’s.”

Bitcoin is the most well known of a handful of virtual currencies. The currencies are developed through a computer process called “mining” and can be traded on exchanges or privately between users.

Johnny Depp cake baked for Cake International competition in Birmingham

Nancy Clayson
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Johnny Depp cake baked for Cake International competition in Birmingham

Lara Clarke, an amateur baker from Brownhills, West Midlands, UK, has baked an “almost life-sized” Johnny Depp cake for a competition.

Lara Clarke made the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired creation for the Cake International competition in Birmingham.

She said: “The judges are probably more used to seeing three-tier wedding cakes than giant Jack Sparrows.”

A competition spokesperson said entrants’ creativity was “surprising”.

Lara Clarke, who is entering the 5ft 5 in cake in the large decorative exhibit section of the competition, said she had only started baking two years ago.

“All I’d really made before was some bog-standard banana cake in home economics,” she said.

Lara Clarke made the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired creation for the Cake International competition in Birmingham
Lara Clarke made the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired creation for the Cake International competition in Birmingham

“The first time I baked a decorated cake was for my mother-in-law’s 25th wedding anniversary. I thought it was rubbish but everybody else seemed to like it.”

Since then, Lara Clarke has baked cakes for family and friends.

Previous efforts have included a 4ft Grinch cake, a motorbike and a cake replica of her mother-in-law.

Lara Clarke, who works for a bingo website, said she learned her skills from watching YouTube videos.

The Johnny Depp cake is the first time Lara Clarke has attempted anything on such a large scale.

“One of my friends was on the phone and said I should enter Cake International,” she said.

“At the time I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean. I was watching Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, and I thought he would make the perfect cake.

“He wears all these different fabrics, so he has lots of different textures to him.

“He’s just shy of life-size because I was worried we wouldn’t be able to get him out of the door.

“It took me 90 hours to make. We live with my fiancé’s parents and I think they will be pleased to get rid of it.

“When my father-in-law first saw him, he leapt about 10ft in the air thinking we had burglars.”

Lara Clarke has hired a minibus to take Johnny to the competition. The results will be known on Sunday.

She said: “The competition is like the Crufts of the baking world. People like Mary Berry will be there.”

A spokesperson for Cake International said: “There really is no limit to the talent and ingenuity of the competitors.”

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