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Jonathan Martin endured harassment from Miami Dolphins teammates, says new attorney

Clyde K. Valle
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Jonathan Martin endured harassment from Miami Dolphins teammates, says new attorney

Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin endured harassment from teammates that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing, including a malicious physical attack and daily vulgar comments, his new attorney David Cornwell has said.

The allegations were made in a statement Thursday night by David Cornwell, hired this week as Jonathan Martin’s attorney.

“These facts are not in dispute,” David Cornwell said.

Jonathan Martin, upset by treatment he considered abusive, left the Dolphins last week. His agent then complained to the Dolphins, who suspended guard Richie Incognito.

The NFL is investigating whether Richie Incognito harassed or bullied Jonathan Martin, and whether their teammates and the organization mishandled the matter.

David Cornwell is a lawyer who has represented the NFL and several prominent players, including Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He was a candidate in 2009 to become executive director of the NFL Players Association, a job that went to DeMaurice Smith.

“For the entire season and a half that he was with the Dolphins, he attempted to befriend the same teammates who subjected him to the abuse with the hope that doing so would end the harassment,” the statement said.

“This is a textbook reaction of victims of bullying. Despite these efforts, the taunting continued. …

“Eventually, Jonathan made a difficult choice. Despite his love for football, Jonathan left the Dolphins. Jonathan looks forward to getting back to playing football. In the meantime, he will cooperate fully with the NFL investigation.”

Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin endured harassment from teammates that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing
Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin endured harassment from teammates that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing

The Dolphins and Richie Incognito’s agent didn’t respond to requests for comment on David Cornwell’s statement.

Some say Jonathan Martin, a Stanford graduate who went about his business quietly, handled the situation well. But pro football is a macho world, and some players believe Jonathan Martin should have responded more firmly.

“Is Incognito wrong? Absolutely. He’s 100 percent wrong,” New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle said.

 “No individual should have to go through that, especially in their workplace.

“But at the same time, Jonathan Martin is a 6-4, 320-pound man. I mean, at some point and time you need to stand your ground as an individual. Am I saying go attack, go fight him? No. I think we all understand we can stand our ground without anything being physical.”

David Cornwell disagreed.

“Jonathan Martin’s toughness is not at issue,” David Cornwell said.

“The issue is Jonathan’s treatment by his teammates.”

Dolphins players have robustly defended Richie Incognito, long considered among the NFL’s dirtiest players. He’s now a notorious national villain, but teammates praise his leadership and loyalty.

They’ve been less passionate in their support of Jonathan Martin, saying he and Incognito behaved like best friends.

Jonathan Martin is with his family in California to undergo counseling for emotional issues.

A senior partner in a New York law firm was appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to investigate possible misconduct and prepare a report.

The alleged bullying saga engulfing the Dolphins has shed a light on how damaging perceptions can be in the violent world of the NFL.

A Pittsburgh native, Jonathan Martin is the son of Harvard graduates and his great grandfather also graduated from the school in 1924. At Stanford, he protected Andrew Luck’s blind side, and also majored in the classics.

Taken in the second round of the 2012 draft, Jonathan Martin has what it takes physically to be an NFL player: size, skill, athleticism, intelligence. He won praise from the Dolphins for his diligent study of game and practice video.

But while he has been a starter since the first game of his rookie season, Jonathan Martin developed a reputation in the NFL for lacking toughness. That impression might have been reinforced by the way he handled his issues with Incognito, current and former teammates acknowledge.

“A lot of people might look at Jonathan Martin and think that he’s soft because he stepped away from the game, and say, <<Why don’t you just fight him?>>” said Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin, who played with Jonathan Martin at Stanford.

“Well, if you look at it with common sense and being logical, what options did Jonathan Martin have?

“He could fight Richie Incognito. He could go and tell on the players, which we know in the football locker room doesn’t go over too well. Or he could remove himself from the situation and let the proper channels take care of itself. And I think he made the intelligent, smart choice without putting himself or Richie Incognito’s physical abilities in danger.”

Richie Incognito’s harassment of Jonathan Martin included text messages that were racist and threatening, two people familiar with the situation have told The Associated Press. Richie Incognito is white, while Jonathan Martin is biracial.

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US government shutdown cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion

Clyde K. Valle
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US government shutdown cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion

The Obama administration revealed on Thursday that last month’s 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion for work that furloughed federal employees never got a chance to do.

At the peak of the furloughs, about 850,000 workers – 40% of the civilian federal workforce – were not at work, President Barack Obama’s budget chief Sylvia Mathews Burwell said, although that number dropped once Congress passed the Pay Our Military Act, and 400,000 workers returned to their jobs.

A report from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found that federal employees were furloughed for a combined total of 6.6 million work days.

“The cost of pay due to federal employees furloughed during the shutdown is roughly $2.0 billion; total compensation costs are about 30% larger [about $2.5 billion],” the report said.

On a conference call with reporters, Sylvia Mathews Burwell pushed back at one reporter who wondered whether the Obama administration was releasing the report because the effects of the shutdown were underappreciated since Americans had seen the economy keep running during the 16-day work hiatus.

The Obama administration revealed that last month’s 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion
The Obama administration revealed that last month’s 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion

“One thing that did come out of the shutdown is a greater appreciation” for services that the federal government provides, Sylvia Mathews Burwell said.

The OMB report cited specific disruptions to regulations and other federal operations. For example, it said, “banks and other lenders could not access government income and Social Security Number verification services. Two weeks into the shutdown, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had an inventory of 1.2 million verification requests that could not be processed, potentially delaying approval of mortgages and other loans.”

Since the shutdown ended three weeks ago it has been eclipsed by news coverage of the botched debut of the Affordable Care Act website. But taking note of the damage done to their party by the shutdown, some Republicans are eager to avert another interruption of funding which would trigger another government shutdown. The current spending bill ends its funding on January 15, 2014.

A House-Senate budget committee is now meeting to try to devise a budget plan for Fiscal Year 2014 which began on October 1.

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Star Wars Episode VII release date set for December 2015

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Wars Episode VII release date set for December 2015

Star Wars Episode VII release date will be December 18, 2015, the Walt Disney Company has announced.

Disney bought Lucasfilm, the company behind Star Wars, from creator George Lucas last year for $4 billion.

It has committed to making at least three new films in the series, one of the most successful franchises ever.

Disney announced the release date as it reported a better-than-expected 12% jump in net profit for the three months to 28 September.

It made a net profit of $1.39 billion during the quarter, up from $1.24 billion during the same period last year.

Star Wars Episode VII release date will be December 18, 2015
Star Wars Episode VII release date will be December 18, 2015

The company also reported that its net income for the financial year to September 28 jumped 8% from a year ago to $6.1 billion.

“We’re extremely pleased with our results for Fiscal 2013, delivering record revenue, net income and earnings per share for the third year in a row,” Robert Iger, chief executive of the firm, said in a statement.

Disney’s movie studio business saw a 7% jump in revenues during the fourth quarter.

Revenues rose to $1.5 billion during the period, helped mainly by the strong performance of Monsters University, which Disney said “partially offset” the weak showing of The Lone Ranger.

However, operating income at Disney’s cable network unit, which includes the ESPN sports channel, fell by 7% to $1.3 billion in the last quarter, which the firm said was due to the timing of some ESPN affiliate fee revenues.

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Standard and Poor’s downgrades France’s credit rating to AA

Clyde K. Valle
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Standard and Poor’s downgrades France’s credit rating to AA

S&P has cut France’s credit rating to AA from AA+.

The move comes almost two years after France lost its top-rated AAA status.

S&P said it downgraded France because high unemployment in the country was making it hard for the government to make important reforms which would boost growth.

S&P has cut France's credit rating to AA from AA+
S&P has cut France’s credit rating to AA from AA+

The French government responded by saying that its debt rating was one of the safest in the eurozone.

The country’s Finance Minister, Pierre Moscovici, said S&P had made “inaccurate criticisms” of his country.

Pierre Moscovici said in a statement: “During the last 18 months the government has implemented major reforms aimed at improving the French economic situation, restoring its public finances, and its competitiveness.”

In theory, a lower credit rating makes borrowing more expensive.

Typhoon Haiyan hits central Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Haiyan hits central Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan has hit the central Philippines with sustained winds of 146 mph.

Meteorologists say that if initial estimates based on satellite images are borne out, it could be the most powerful storm ever to make landfall.

The storm has forced millions in vulnerable areas to seek shelter across 20 provinces, officials say.

The region was already struggling to recover from a powerful earthquake last month.

The authorities have warned that more than 12 million people are at risk from the category-five storm, including in Cebu, the country’s second largest city with a population of 2.5 million.

The storm – known locally as Yolanda – was not expected to directly hit the capital Manila, further north.

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

The extent of the damage remains unclear, with authorities saying phone-lines are down in many areas.

The governor of the Southern Leyte province, Roger Mercado, tweeted on Friday morning that fallen trees were blocking roads, hampering the emergency effort.

A spokesperson for the British Red Cross, Nichola Jones, who is in Tagbilaran in Bohol, says the typhoon passed by in the past hour.

Typhoon Haiyan has hit the central Philippines with sustained winds of 146 mph
Typhoon Haiyan has hit the central Philippines with sustained winds of 146 mph

“We’ve lost power and a few roof-tiles but it’s not too bad. But I think to the North – that’s the area that has borne the brunt. Those were the areas worst hit by the earthquake last month.”

In the worst-hit areas of Samar and Leyte, she says there are reports of collapsed buildings, including a hotel.

“In Cebu they have had quite a battering and I spoke to our colleagues and they’ve had quite strong winds and are locked down in their hotels. They are waiting to see what the situation is.”

Jeff Masters, meteorology director at the private firm Weather Underground, said in a blog post that the damage from Haiyan’s winds must have been “perhaps the greatest wind damage any city on Earth has endured from a tropical cyclone in the past century”.

State meteorologist Romeo Cajulis told AFP news agency Typhoon Haiyan had made landfall over Guiuan at 04:40.

The typhoon arrived with gusts of up to 170 mph, the Philippines’ weather service said in its bulletin, issued at 05:00 local time.

The US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, which typically gives higher readings as they are based on a shorter period of time, said shortly before Haiyan’s landfall that its maximum sustained winds were 195 mph, with gusts up to 235 mph.

Waves as high as 15ft could be seen from the islands of Leyte and Samar, Reuters news agency reported.

The storm is forecast to move over to the South China Sea north of Palawan Island on Saturday, meteorologists say.

In its path are areas already struggling to recover from a 7.3-magnitude earthquake last month, including the worst-hit island of Bohol.

About 5,000 people are still living in tents in Bohol after losing their homes in the quake, which killed more than 200 people.

Earlier, President Benigno Aquino warned people to leave storm-prone areas and urged seafarers to stay in port.

“No typhoon can bring Filipinos to their knees if we’ll be united,” he said in a televised address.

Meteorologists in the Philippines warned that Haiyan could be as devastating as Typhoon Bopha in 2012.

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ObamaCare: Barack Obama apologizes for Americans losing health coverage

Diane A. Wade
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ObamaCare: Barack Obama apologizes for Americans losing health coverage

President Barack Obama has apologized to Americans whose health insurance plans have been cancelled as a result of his signature health law.

In recent weeks, insurance companies have reportedly cancelled policies that do not meet strict requirements under Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul.

“We didn’t do a good enough job in terms of how we crafted the law,” the president said in an interview with NBC News.

But a senior Republican labeled his remarks a “half-hearted apology”.

During his campaign for the passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, Barack Obama repeatedly insisted that people who liked their health insurance policies would be able to keep them.

But it now appears that millions of people who purchased plans on the private individual market rather than receive health coverage from the government or their employers may in fact have to buy new, possibly more expensive plans.

“I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me,” Barack Obama said.

“We’ve got to work hard to make sure that they know we hear them, and we are going to do everything we can to deal with folks who find themselves in a tough position as a consequence of this.”

Barack Obama has apologized to Americans whose health insurance plans have been cancelled as a result of his signature health law
Barack Obama has apologized to Americans whose health insurance plans have been cancelled as a result of his signature health law

The health law’s supporters have said most people thrown off their health plans will be able to buy better insurance policies at better prices, especially those eligible for subsidies provided under the health law.

The opposition Republicans, who have fought the president’s healthcare law at every turn, have seized on the reports of the policy cancellations. Some have gone so far as to accuse Barack Obama of lying to the public during his campaign for the law’s passage.

Even some of Barack Obama’s fellow Democrats have suggested the administration delay parts of the law’s implementation, including a requirement that people carry health insurance or face a penalty.

Barack Obama’s remarks on Thursday came after weeks of serious problems with healthcare.gov, a website established under the law that is akin to a shopping site for private health insurance plans.

Among other issues, it has been plagued by long wait times to sign up for an insurance plan and serious flaws on the back end where customers’ data are processed and sent to insurance companies.

Barack Obama has vowed the website will be repaired.

The Republican response to Barack Obama’s remarks was swift, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying “if the president is truly sorry for breaking his promises to the American people, he’ll do more than just issue a half-hearted apology on TV”.

Thursday’s television interview was the latest effort by Barack Obama to win public support for the embattled healthcare law.

On Wednesday Barack Obama travelled into the heart of Republican territory to seek cross-party support for the measure.

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Yasser Arafat polonium poisoning confirmed

Roy Siemens
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Yasser Arafat polonium poisoning confirmed

Late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had high levels of radioactive polonium in his body, Swiss scientists have confirmed.

However, they could not say whether polonium poisoning had caused his death in 2004.

Their report concluded that Yasser Arafat’s remains showed levels of polonium 18 times higher than normal.

Many Palestinians have long believed that Israel poisoned Yasser Arafat. There have also been allegations that he had AIDS or cancer. Israel has consistently denied any involvement.

The scientists – from the Vaudois University Hospital Centre (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland – had carried out a detailed examination of Arafat’s medical records, samples taken from his remains and items he had taken into the hospital in Paris where he died in 2004.

The biological materials included pieces of Yasser Arafat’s bones and soil samples from around his corpse.

Yasser Arafat had high levels of radioactive polonium in his body
Yasser Arafat had high levels of radioactive polonium in his body

Professor Francois Bochud told a news conference on Thursday that the high level of polonium detected “by definition… indicates third party involvement… Our results offer moderate backing for the theory of poisoning.”

But he went on to say: “Was polonium the cause of the death for certain? The answer is no, we cannot show categorically that hypothesis that the poisoning caused was this or that.”

In their report, the scientists had stressed that they had been unable to reach a more definitive conclusion because of the time that had lapsed since Yasser Arafat’s death, the limited samples available and the confused “chain of custody” of some of the specimens.

Polonium-210 is a highly radioactive substance. It is found naturally in low doses in food and in the body, but can be fatal if ingested in high doses.

Yasser Arafat, who led the Palestine Liberation Organization for 35 years and became the first president of the Palestinian Authority in 1996, fell violently ill in October 2004 at his compound in the West Bank.

Two weeks later Yasser Arafat was flown to a French military hospital in Paris, where he died on November 11, 2004, aged 75.

His official medical records say he died from a stroke resulting from a blood disorder.

France began a murder inquiry in August 2012 after the preliminary findings of polonium by the Lausanne scientists, who have been working with an al-Jazeera documentary crew.

Parallel investigations are being carried out by French and Russian experts – one Russian official said last month that no traces of polonium had been found.

Ysser Arafat’s widow, Suha Arafat, who had objected to a post-mortem at the time of his death, agreed for his body to be exhumed a year ago “to reveal the truth”.

Welcoming the Swiss report, Suha Arafat said she had no doubt that her husband had been assassinated but refused to point the finger at Israel.

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Sadie and John Luke Robertson in Louisiana high school’s homecoming court

Sonia Pantiss
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Sadie and John Luke Robertson in Louisiana high school’s homecoming court

Duck Dynasty’s Sadie Robertson was part of her Louisiana high school’s homecoming court this fall along with her older brother John Luke.

John Luke Robertson stuck to a traditional black tuxedo and his sister Sadie enjoyed a few wardrobe changes, picking a strapless dress embroidered with bright flowers and cinched with a skinny black belt for the dance and wearing a chic red and black coat and a black wide-brim hat for her appearance on the field.

Sadie Robertson was part of her Louisiana high school's homecoming court this fall along with her older brother John Luke
Sadie Robertson was part of her Louisiana high school’s homecoming court this fall along with her older brother John Luke

Homecoming weekend was a family affair for the close-knit Robertsons: father Willie escorted Sadie out on the field, a buouttionere tucked into his sport coat and a stars-and-stripes band around his head, and mom Korie and grandma Chrys helped design Sadie’s sophomore class float.

Sadie Robertson, who is also class vice president, served as a sophomore maid and John Luke was a junior escort.

“It’s fun to have my dad walk me across the field and see that he’s proud to be my escort,” Sadie Robertson said.

“My best friend, Anna Catherine, was a sophomore maid, too. We pretty much have done everything together since preschool, so loved getting to be on the court with her.”

Twitter IPO: Shares jump to $45.1 each in first minutes of NYSE trading

Clyde K. Valle
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Twitter IPO: Shares jump to $45.1 each in first minutes of NYSE trading

Twitter’s shares opened at $45.10 each in the first minutes of trading on the NYSE.

That is a 73% jump from the initial asking price of $26 a share, and it means the company is now valued at a little over $31 billion.

More than 13 million shares were traded once they became available an hour after the stock exchange opened.

It is the biggest technology listing since Facebook in 2012.

Twitter floated on the NYSE and not, as some initially expected, the technology-rich Nasdaq exchange, where the likes of Facebook are listed.

It was a big win for the NYSE, which decorated its exterior with banners promoting the offering on Thursday.

Twitter has more than 230 million users, but is yet to make a profit.

Shares in newly-listed companies are often volatile on their first day of trading.

Twitter’s shares opened at $45.10 each in the first minutes of trading on the NYSE
Twitter’s shares opened at $45.10 each in the first minutes of trading on the NYSE

Within minutes, Twitter’s stock price soared more than 80% before falling below its opening price by midday.

When Facebook launched on Nasdaq, its shares were priced initially at $38 each. The stock soared within hours of its debut to a high of $45. But its price later slumped.

It only recovered those losses by September 11, 2013, when shares again touched $45.

Its initial public offering (IPO) was also marred by technological glitches and delays.

To prevent Twitter’s stock sale from having a similar fate, the NYSE ran tests on October 26 using larger-than-normal share volumes.

Twitter is selling 70 million shares, which will raise more than $1.82 billion.

The company, which invites users to send tweets in 140 characters or less, has 232 million active users. According to its IPO documents, these users send 500 million tweets a day.

Twitter’s financials have been under greater scrutiny since it announced its plan to float, especially given that the company is still loss-making.

It lost $69 million in the first six months of 2013, on revenues of $254 million. About 85% of revenues come from advertising on its site, and more than 75% of Twitter users access the site from their mobile phone.

Mary Jo White, head of US regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission, recently warned investors to be cautious of the metrics used by technology companies like Twitter, nothing that investors have become overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of data.

“In the absence of a clear description, it can be hard not to think that these big numbers will inevitably translate into big profits for the company,” Mary Jo White said in a speech.

“But the connection may not necessarily be there.”

Twitter’s founders saw their paper wealth soar to $4 billion in the wake of the stock surge early this morning, although boss Dick Costolo said that none of the founders would immediately be selling their shares.

The company’s co-founder Evan Williams has a 10% stake in Twitter, making him its biggest shareholder. That stake is now worth a little over $2 billion.

Jack Dorsey, another co-founder, also stands to make a fortune from the IPO. His 4% stake is worth more than a billion dollars.

Another co-founder, Biz Stone, is thought to have made millions of dollars by selling share stakes over the last few years.

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CMA Awards 2013: Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood mock ObamaCare

Sonia Pantiss
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CMA Awards 2013: Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood mock ObamaCare

Viewers watching the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards, held Wednesday night in Nashville, might have confused the show with a roast of ObamaCare.

Country music’s hottest stars had a bone to pick with the faulty Healthcare.gov website.

CMA Awards host Brad Paisley jokingly told his co-host Carrie Underwood that his back hurt and he needed to see a doctor.

Carrie Underwood asked the singer if he had signed up for ObamaCare.

CMA Awards host Brad Paisley and his co-host Carrie Underwood mocked ObamaCare
CMA Awards host Brad Paisley and his co-host Carrie Underwood mocked ObamaCare

“ObamaCare, what’s that?” Brad Paisley asked Carrie Underwood.

“Oh, it’s great!” Carrie Underwood quipped.

“I started signing up last Thursday and I’m almost done!” The Blown Away singer proceeded to help her co-host sign up for ObamaCare and “join the six other people” who have reportedly signed up successfully for the healthcare service.

The routine had the Nashville audience clapping their hands to the tune of newly crowned entertainer of the year George Strait’s Amarillo by Morning, but with the words changed to: “ObamaCare by morning/ Why’s this taking so long?/ I’m going to end up with hemorrhoids/If I sit here ’til dawn.”

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Willie and Jase Robertson perform at CMA Awards 2013

Sonia Pantiss
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Willie and Jase Robertson perform at CMA Awards 2013

Viewers watching the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards – held Wednesday night in Nashville – were surprised with Duck Dynasty stars appearance.

Willie and Jase Robertson were joined by their wives Korie and Missy to perform a redneckified version of Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines.

While the Robertson clan twerked on stage, CMA Awards hosts, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, switched up the words of Robin Thicke’s song.

Viewers watching the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards were surprised with Duck Dynasty stars appearance
Viewers watching the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards were surprised with Duck Dynasty stars appearance

“I’m going to grow a beard and go out hunting… <<Duck Dynasty>> guys dance to Robin Thicke/We tried to get nasty talking <<Duck Dynasty>.”

The Robertsons weren’t just onstage to show off their lack of dancing skills; they also gave out the first award of the night to duo Florida Georgia Line for single of the year for their hit song Cruise.

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Pope Francis kisses and holds disfigured man at his weekly general audience

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis kisses and holds disfigured man at his weekly general audience

Pope Francis touched the nearly 50,000 attendees at Wednesday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square by embracing an ailing man who suffers from a disfiguring genetic disorder.

In a series of photos that have since gone viral, Pope Francis is seen praying, then placing his hands on the unnamed man, who then proceeds to bury his head in the pope’s chest.

Pope Francis touched the nearly 50,000 attendees at Wednesday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square by embracing an ailing man who suffers from a disfiguring genetic disorder
Pope Francis touched the nearly 50,000 attendees at Wednesday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square by embracing an ailing man who suffers from a disfiguring genetic disorder

According to the Catholic News Agency, the man suffers from neurofibromatosis, a disease that causes pain and tumors throughout the body, as well as a host of other hearing, vision, heart and nerve complications.

Pope Francis has previously encouraged increased interaction with people from all walks of life, especially the poor, weak and sick.

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Anterolateral Ligament: New human body part discovered

Kathryn R. Bown
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Anterolateral Ligament: New human body part discovered

Two surgeons at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium have found and named a new ligament in the knee, which they dubbed the anterolateral ligament, or ALL.

Dr. Steven Claes and Dr. Johan Bellemans have spent four years researching knee injuries, specifically those to the anterior cruciate ligament, using an 1879 article that talked about an additional – but as yet unseen – back-of-the-knee ligament.

Two surgeons at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium have found and named a new ligament in the knee
Two surgeons at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium have found and named a new ligament in the knee

After dissecting countless cadavers, Dr. Steven Claes and Dr. Johan Bellemans surmised that the ALL ligament is present in 97% of people and that tears to the ALL are connected to serious ACL injuries.

Dr. Steven Claes and Dr. Johan Bellemans’ research has been praised by the Anatomical Society as “very refreshing.”

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Jennifer Aniston debuts her new bob-like haircut

Lisa.Felice
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Jennifer Aniston debuts her new bob-like haircut

Jennifer Aniston debuted her bob-like hairdo while running errands in Los Angeles on Monday, November 4, wearing a black top, brown blazer, jeans and shades, and a neutral expression.

Jennifer Aniston, 44, had more than six inches lopped off of her famous head of dirty-blond hair last Thursday.

Chatting with Vogue.com before the new photos emerged, Jennifer Aniston explained that her longtime hairstylist Chris McMillan (who created the now-iconic, hated-by-Aniston “Rachel” cut back in the ’90s) did the honors: “Chris McMillan actually chopped all my hair off!”

Jennifer Aniston debuted her bob-like hairdo while running errands in Los Angeles
Jennifer Aniston debuted her bob-like hairdo while running errands in Los Angeles

Jennifer Aniston clarified to the style bible’s site that there was no master plan behind the latest cut.

“I actually don’t have any red carpets coming up,” she said.

“This is truly just for me!”

“It’s right at my jaw line, maybe a little longer,” she mused.

“It was kind of spur-of-the-moment,” she continued, explaining that the ‘do sported by Vogue stylist Lawren Howell, whom Aniston noticed on TV, was the inspiration. And the famously coiffed star is happy with the results.

“I don’t know, man. I did it! I feel great. I feel lighter. It’s simple, it’s really simple, that’s for sure,” Jennifer Aniston said.

Mullah Fazlullah named as Pakistan’s Taliban new leader

Roy Siemens
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Mullah Fazlullah named as Pakistan’s Taliban new leader

Mullah Fazlullah has been named as Pakistan’s Taliban new leader, after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone attack, a spokesman has said.

Mullah Fazlullah is a particularly hardline commander whose men shot the schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai.

Hakimullah Mehsud was killed when missiles struck his vehicle in the North Waziristan region on 1 November.

Pakistan’s government accused the US of destroying its attempts to start peace talks with the Taliban.

Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan said that the drone strike was “not just the killing of one person, it’s the death of all peace efforts”.

The announcement of the new leader was made by the Taliban’s caretaker leader Asmatullah Shaheen at a news conference at an undisclosed location.

Mullah Fazlullah has been named as Pakistan’s Taliban new leader, after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone attack
Mullah Fazlullah has been named as Pakistan’s Taliban new leader, after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone attack

When the news was announced, there was reportedly heavy celebratory gunfire in the area around Miranshah, the main town in the tribal area of North Waziristan.

Mullah Fazlullah led a brutal campaign in Swat between 2008 and 2009, enforcing hardline Islamic law that included burning schools, and public floggings and beheadings.

A military operation was launched to retake the area.

Mullah Fazlullah fled over the border into Afghanistan but Islamabad says he has continued to orchestrate attacks in Pakistan.

He was accused of being behind a roadside bomb in September that killed Major General Sanaullah Niazi, the top commander in Swat, along with two other military personnel.

Mullah Fazlullah was known for his radio broadcasts calling for strict Islamic laws and earning him the nickname “Mullah Radio”.

The shooting of Malala Yousafzai in October 2012 sparked outrage in Pakistan and across the globe.

The teenager had spoken out against the Taliban’s restrictions on girls’ education.

The Pakistani government said a delegation had been due to fly to North Waziristan to discuss peace talks with Hakimullah Mehsud but he was killed in the drone strike the day before.

There had been some hope the new leader of the Taliban would be more open to the peace initiative.

Regional Taliban commander Khan Said Sajna, said to favor such a move, had been touted as a favorite before the latest announcement.

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Congo: M23 rebel commander Sultani Makenga surrenders in Uganda

Roy Siemens
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0
Congo: M23 rebel commander Sultani Makenga surrenders in Uganda

Sultani Makenga – the commander of the M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo – has surrendered in Uganda, new reports claim.

Sultani Makenga is said to have handed himself over along with hundreds of M23 fighters in the Mgahinga National Park.

Neither government has so far confirmed the reports.

Earlier this week the M23 said it was ending its 19-month insurgency, hours after DR Congo government forces claimed military victory.

Reports say Sultani Makenga and about 1,700 fighters have been disarmed and are being held by the Ugandan military in Mgahinga, near the Congo border.

Earlier this week, Congolese officials said Col. Sultani Makenga had fled across the border to either Uganda or Rwanda.

Sultani Makenga is said to have handed himself over along with hundreds of M23 fighters in the Mgahinga National Park
Sultani Makenga is said to have handed himself over along with hundreds of M23 fighters in the Mgahinga National Park

Uganda has been hosting peace talks between the rebels and the DR Congo government. However, no peace accord has been signed.

Sultani Makenga is the subject of UN sanctions and it is unclear what Ugandan officials would do with him.

The M23 has wrought havoc across eastern DR Congo since it began its insurgency in April 2012.

Its fighters are mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, a minority in eastern DR Congo but with ties to Rwanda’s leaders.

Their name refers to a 23 March 2009 peace deal which a former militia group – the CNDP – signed with the Congolese government. The rebels said the government had not lived up to its promises in the deal.

Analysts say the surrender of Sultani Makenga , if confirmed, will be a major success for the Congolese army which has been struggling to restore calm in eastern DR Congo for two decades.

Earlier this year the UN approved a new mission of 3,000 African soldiers with a mandate to fight the rebels.

They have the operational support of the existing UN Mission in DR Congo (Monusco) and have used helicopters to target the rebels, allowing the army to advance.

Duck Dynasty cast on the red carpet at CMA Awards 2013

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Duck Dynasty cast on the red carpet at CMA Awards 2013

Duck Dynasty crew took over the CMA Awards red carpet.

Duck Dynasty crew took over the CMA Awards red carpet
Duck Dynasty crew took over the CMA Awards red carpet

Very little camo last night!

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Greece: ERT headquarters cleared by riot police using tear gas

Diane A. Wade
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0
Greece: ERT headquarters cleared by riot police using tear gas

The headquarters of Greece’s former state broadcaster ERT have been cleared by riot police, using tear gas to gain entry and arresting several people.

Police formed a cordon round the building in Athens, before going from room to room to evacuate protesters.

Former employees have occupied the building since the government closed ERT and sacked its 2,600 staff in June.

Greece’s conservative-led coalition said the state broadcaster cost too much to run in an economic crisis.

The closure of ERT prompted a left-wing party to withdraw from the governing coalition of PM Antonis Samaras in protest – a move which almost brought down the government.

Following the announcement of ERT’s closure in June, hundreds of staff refused to leave the building and continued to broadcast their programming via the internet.

The headquarters of Greece’s former state broadcaster ERT have been cleared by riot police
The headquarters of Greece’s former state broadcaster ERT have been cleared by riot police

Early on Thursday, Greek police arrived to secure the building in Agia Paraskevi, a suburb in the north of Athens.

Riot police used tear gas to disperse about 200 protesters outside the building, and then cleared each room inside.

Twenty or so workers were led out but three refused to go and were arrested. Police have now surrounded the building and protesters are gathering.

The state-run Athens News Agency reported that Panagiotis Kalfagiannis, a journalist and head of the ERT employees’ union, Pospert, was one of those held for public order offences.

ERT was Greece’s only TV broadcaster until the advent of private TV channels in 1989.

Despite several major overhauls to keep up with fierce private competition, a fall in ERT’s ratings in the mid-1990s triggered a long-running debate about its cost and efficiency.

In June, as Greece attempted to satisfy international creditors that it was fulfilling its debt restructuring and bailout commitments, PM Antonis Samaras announced the closure of ERT.

Antonis Samaras said the Greek exchequer could no longer afford to pay for a public broadcaster that cost more than $400,000 a year to run, and has refused to reinstate ERT unless it accepts a complete restructuring.

An interim TV station, called Public TV or DT, has been broadcasting in Greece since July while a restructured public broadcaster, called Nerit, is not expected to begin operating before 2014.

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Pervez Musharraf released from house arrest after six months

Roy Siemens
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0
Pervez Musharraf released from house arrest after six months

Former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf has been released from house arrest and is free to move around the country, prison officials say.

It comes days after Pervez Musharraf was bailed over the 2007 army operation to oust militants from Islamabad’s Red Mosque – the last legal case against him.

However, the former general remains on a government exit control list and cannot leave the country.

It is also unclear if Pervez Musharraf will leave the house because of threats to his life.

Pervez Musharraf’s seven-month house arrest was unprecedented in a country which has been ruled by the military for more than half of its history.

Speaking on Monday, his lawyer said Pervez Musharraf had no intention of leaving Pakistan. He has consistently maintained that all the charges against him are politically motivated.

Prison official Wajad Ali is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying that prison guards were withdrawn on Wednesday night from Pervez Musharraf’s villa on the outskirts of Islamabad.

Pervez Musharraf has been released from house arrest and is free to move around the country
Pervez Musharraf has been released from house arrest and is free to move around the country

On Monday the court approved bail in the case on condition Pervez Musharraf paid bonds totaling $2,000.

The operation ordered by Pervez Musharraf on the besieged Red Mosque left a cleric and more than 100 others dead, and fuelled a deadly militant insurgency inside Pakistan which rages to this day.

Earlier this year, Pervez Musharraf returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile to fight elections – which were won by Nawaz Sharif, the man he ousted in his 1999 coup – but swiftly ran into trouble.

He was barred from running in the general election, and was placed under house arrest in April in the first of a series of cases relating to his time in power from 1999-2008.

Pervez Musharraf faces murder trials over the assassination of former PM Benazir Bhutto and Baloch tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. He has also been charged over his attempt to sack the higher judiciary in 2007 – he has been bailed in all three of those cases.

Separately, the Sharif government said in June that it planned to try him for treason – but a formal complaint in that case has still to be lodged.

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Twitter shares priced at $26 each ahead of its debut on NYSE

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Twitter shares priced at $26 each ahead of its debut on NYSE

Twitter shares have been priced at $26 each, ahead of its debut on the NYSE on Thursday.

That is above the $23 to $25 range announced on Monday and values the short messaging service at more than $18 billion.

That makes it the biggest market debut for a technology firm since Facebook went public in May 2012.

Twitter has attracted 230 million users since starting seven years ago, but is yet to make a profit.

Its losses for Q3 2013 increased to $64.6 million, from $21.6 million a year earlier and a recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos showed that more than a third of registered users do not use the service at all.

Nevertheless there was strong demand for the shares and the company was able to raise the offering price twice.

Twitter has posted an increase in its sales, which more than doubled in Q3 to $168.6 million, and it is looking to raise even more revenue from advertisers outside the US.

Its $18 billion valuation includes the value of shares in compensation schemes for employees and other share awards.

Twitter shares have been priced at $26 each, ahead of its debut on the NYSE on Thursday
Twitter shares have been priced at $26 each, ahead of its debut on the NYSE on Thursday

Co-founder Evan Williams is the biggest shareholder in the firm with a stake of more than 10% worth more than a billion dollars.

Another of the founders, Jack Dorsey, will also become a very rich man. His 4% stake is worth more than half a billion dollars.

Biz Stone, another co-founder, is thought to have made millions by selling holdings over the last few years.

But Noah Glass, also one of the originals, is believed to have made very little from the company’s success.

Twitter is selling 70 million shares, which will raise $1.82 billion, for the company.

Unlike Facebook, Twitter has chosen to trade its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

Facebook’s debut on the Nasdaq – traditionally the market of choice for technology firms – was marred by delays and problems with orders.

The NYSE has already tested trading of Twitter’s shares to try to avoid any technical hitches.

Twitter shares will trade under the symbol “TWTR”.

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Michelle Knight expresses disappointment with Amanda Berry on Dr Phil

Nancy Clayson
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1
Michelle Knight expresses disappointment with Amanda Berry on Dr Phil

In the second part of her interview with Dr. Phil, Michelle Knight expressed disappointment with fellow victim Amanda Berry and said Ariel Castro treated her especially harshly because her family wasn’t looking for her.

Michelle Knight described her relationship with Amanda Berry as “ok,” but noted the two are “not best of friends.”

“Amanda was one of those girls that really didn’t get it,” Michelle Knight told the psychologist host, Phil McGraw, in the second of two taped interviews Wednesday.

Michelle Knight, who was captive in Ariel Castro’s Cleveland house for more than a decade, went on to say that their captor treated Amanda Berry “totally different” and this may have caused Amanda to look at “the situation in a different way.”

She explained that she delivered Amanda Berry’s baby in Ariel Castro’s home in 2006. She said that she was told by Ariel Castro that if the baby died, he would kill her.

Michelle Knight, now 32, said that the baby was born blue and that she had to give the baby CPR so that it started breathing.

While Amanda Berry was allowed to give birth to a baby that she and Ariel Castro conceived, Michelle Knight said she became pregnant five times while inside the house and each time, the captor caused her to have a miscarriage.

One time, she said, Ariel Castro jumped right on her stomach “with his feet and heavy body” in an effort to terminate her pregnancy.

Michelle Knight said she was starved and repeatedly punched in the stomach. She said Gina DeJesus, the third woman kidnapped and held captive in Ariel Castro’s home, helped her get through the miscarriages and cope in times of pain.

She recalled a time when she was forced by Ariel Castro to eat a sandwich with mustard on it, which she is allergic to.

“My throat and my body swelled up. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t talk,” she recounted.

Michelle Knight said Gina DeJesus got her through it and didn’t let her die.

Michelle Knight expressed disappointment with fellow victim Amanda Berry and said Ariel Castro treated her especially harshly because her family wasn't looking for her
Michelle Knight expressed disappointment with fellow victim Amanda Berry and said Ariel Castro treated her especially harshly because her family wasn’t looking for her

She said she doesn’t understand why Amanda Berry was allowed to have a baby and she wasn’t.

“I was a girl that couldn’t be broken, a girl that couldn’t be underestimated,” Michelle Knight told Dr. Phil.

“When he found out he couldn’t control me very much, he didn’t want to give me a kid.”

“I think he liked her more,” Michelle Knight said of Amanda Berry.

“Cause he had an obsession with blondes. He would always say, <<I don’t want to make her cry, I don’t want to make her upset or I don’t want to hear her whiny mouth>>. He would try to make her happy instead of sad.”

Michelle Knight said she felt like she was the most hated woman in the house and that Ariel Castro would frequently remind her that she didn’t have a family that loved her and was looking for her.

“That’s the reason why I hate you,” Michelle Knight said Ariel Castro told her.

“Because I can abuse you and nobody would care. No one.”

“…And it would hurt because I knew my family didn’t care and I knew my family wasn’t there for me, cause they never was,” Michelle Knight went on to say in the televised interview.

Police did show up at Ariel Castro’s home once, according to Michelle Knight. But, she said, they left after no one answered the door.

There have been previous reports that a neighbor called police after seeing n**ed women on dog leashes, crawling in the backyard of Ariel Castro’s home. Michelle Knight called that statement false in the interview with Dr. Phil. She said that Ariel Castro let her and the other two girls out in the backyard at times, but that the scenario described by the neighbor did not take place.

When the interview turned to the day Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus escaped from Ariel Castro’s home, Michelle expressed sadness and shook her head as the television host played a recording of Amanda’s 911 call.

Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus escaped from Ariel Castro’s house on May 6, 2013 when Amanda pushed out a door and called for help. She ran across the street to a neighbor’s house where she made called 911.

“She didn’t mention us,” Michelle Knight said of the 911 call, which she called “sad.”

“Maybe she was angry about everything… life…,” Michelle Knight said in an attempt to justify Amanda Berry’s lack of mention.

“She just took a different road than everyone else.”

Luckily, when police responded to Ariel Castro’s home, they rescued Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus as well as Amanda Berry and her daughter.

Michelle Knight described the rescue as being like “a roller-coaster” and recounted how she wouldn’t let go of the police officer.

“The first thing I said is, <<We’re going home!>>,” she said.

Michelle Knight was kidnapped in August 2002, when she was 20-years-old, reports the Associated Press. She has been the most public of the kidnap victims since then and even made a visit to Ariel Castro’s neighborhood before his home was demolished.

Ariel Castro, 53, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

A month into his sentence, Ariel Castro was found dead in his cell.

“He took a cowards way out,” Michelle Knight said of Ariel Castro’s suicide.

Michelle Knight said she would have preferred he have spent the rest of his life in prison

“The pain he put us through is pain he didn’t want to go through,” she said.

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Typhoon Haiyan to hit central Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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0
Typhoon Haiyan to hit central Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan is heading for Philippines and is expected to strike central parts of the country on Friday.

Typhoon Haiyan, a category five storm, is moving towards the South East Asian nation with winds of up to 173 mph.

Some schools have already been closed and evacuations are under way in some areas.

Ferry operations have been suspended and fishing boats ordered back to port.

Typhoon Haiyan is expected to make landfall around noon on Friday between the islands of Samar and Leyte.

It is predicted to hit central areas already struggling to recover from a 7.3-magnitude earthquake last month, including the worst-hit island of Bohol.

Typhoon Haiyan is heading for Philippines and is expected to strike central parts of the country on Friday
Typhoon Haiyan is heading for Philippines and is expected to strike central parts of the country on Friday

Around 5,000 people are still living in tents in Bohol after losing their homes in the quake.

Meteorologists in the Philippines warned that Haiyan could be as devastating as Typhoon Botha in 2012.

Botha devastated parts of the southern Philippines, leaving at least 1,000 people dead and causing more than $1 billion in damage.

“This is a very dangerous typhoon, local officials know where the vulnerable areas are and have given instructions on evacuations,” state weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar told AFP.

“There are not too many mountains on its path to deflect the force of impact, making it more dangerous.”

Haiyan is the 25th typhoon to enter Philippines territory this year.

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CMA Awards 2013 Winners: Full List

Sonia Pantiss
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0
CMA Awards 2013 Winners: Full List

Country Music Association Awards 2013 Winners

 

Entertainer Of The Year
George Strait
Male Vocalist Of The Year
Blake Shelton
Female Vocalist Of The Year
Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group Of The Year
Little Big Town
Vocal Duo Of The Year
Florida Georgia Line
New Artist Of The Year

Country Music Association Awards 2013
Country Music Association Awards 2013

Kacey Musgraves
Album Of The Year
Blake Shelton, Based On A True Story

Single Of The Year
Florida Georgia Line, Cruise
Song Of The Year
I Drive Your Truck – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary
Musical Event Of The Year
Tim McGraw With Taylor Swift & Keith Urban, Highway Don’t Care
Music Video Of The Year
Tim McGraw, Highway Don’t Care
Musician Of The Year
Mac McAnally
Pinnacle Award
Taylor Swift

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Justin Bieber charged with illegally spraying graffiti in Rio de Janeiro

Lisa.Felice
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0
Justin Bieber charged with illegally spraying graffiti in Rio de Janeiro

Justin Bieber has been charged in Brazil with illegally spraying graffiti in Rio de Janeiro.

Justin Bieber, 19, could be fined after pictures appeared in local media to show him painting a wall.

Defacing buildings is a crime in Brazil punishable by up to one year in jail or a fine.

However, Brazilian officials described the case involving Justin Bieber as “a minor offence”. There was no immediate comment from his management team.

In a statement, Brazil’s civil police force said Justin Bieber had been charged with “defacing a building or urban monument by graffiti or other means”.

Brazilian media reported and published photos appearing to show Justin Bieber spraying graffiti on the wall of the abandoned Hotel Nacional.

The pictures showed the singer wearing a red cap and army pants – with a security guard on one side, a police car parked on the other.

It emerged that Justin Bieber had authorization from the City Hall to paint at a sports facility nearby, but members of his entourage claim he chose a different location to avoid his fans.

Police argued the consent did not extend to any other places.

According to the Globo TV network, Justin Bieber flew out of Brazil on Wednesday afternoon on a private jet and went to Paraguay, where he was scheduled to perform.

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Olympic flame goes into space ahead of Sochi Winter Games

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Olympic flame goes into space ahead of Sochi Winter Games

Russia has sent the Olympic torch into space ahead of the Sochi Winter Games.

A Soyuz rocket is delivering the torch to the International Space Station- as part of efforts to showcase next year’s games in Russia.

On Saturday, two Russian cosmonauts will take it on a historic first spacewalk. The torch will not be lit.

The Soyuz rocket blasted off at 04:14:25 GMT from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Three cosmonauts – Russia’s Mikhail Tyurin, American Rick Mastracchio and Koici Wakata from Japan – are taking the torch to the ISS, which it is due to reach in six hours.

A Soyuz rocket is delivering the Olympic torch to the International Space Station
A Soyuz rocket is delivering the Olympic torch to the International Space Station

The Olympic torch will be handed over to fellow cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky, who are already on the orbiting station, when they go on the spacewalk on Saturday.

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

“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.

The Sochi torch will then be returned to earth and used to light the Olympic cauldron in February 2014.

It is all part of the elaborate preparations for Russia’s first Olympics since the Soviet era. It is also the most expensive one so far, costing around $50 billion (1,620 billion roubles).

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