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Robert Mugabe insult law declared unconstitutional by Zimbabwe’s highest court

Diane A. Wade
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Robert Mugabe insult law declared unconstitutional by Zimbabwe’s highest court

Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a law which makes it a crime to insult the president.

Prosecutors should not be overzealous about charging people who comment about President Robert Mugabe “in drinking halls and other social places”, the highest court said.

At least 80 cases have reportedly been filed in recent years under the law.

In May, opposition activist Solomon Madzore was arrested for allegedly calling Robert Mugabe a “limping donkey”.

Robert Mugabe denied a charge of insulting the president.

Under Section 33 of Zimbabwe’s Criminal Codification and Reform Act, a person could be jailed for up to a year or fined $100 for insulting the president’s office.

Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a law which makes it a crime to insult President Robert Mugabe
Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a law which makes it a crime to insult President Robert Mugabe

The law was challenged by several Zimbabweans, including a resident of the southern city of Bulawayo, Tendai Danga, who was arrested two years ago for allegedly insulting Robert Mugabe during a row with a policeman in a bar.

The court’s nine judges were unanimous in ruling that the law undermined freedom of expression, making it unlikely that the government will appeal against it.

However, the court gave Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa until November 20 to file an appeal.

In August, a court acquitted a 26-year old man, Takura Mufumisi, charged with intending to use a poster of President Robert Mugabe as toilet paper in a bar.

Zimbabwe approved a new constitution which expands civil liberties in a referendum in March.

Many Zimbabweans have welcomed the court’s ruling, believing the law had insulated the president from criticism.

Robert Mugabe, 89, extended his 33-year rule in elections in July.

His rival Morgan Tsvangirai rejected the result, alleging it was marred by widespread fraud.

The court also declared unconstitutional a law curtailing media freedom, following a challenge by a privately owned financial publication, Zimbabwe Independent.

The state should not “penalize people who make false statements in good faith about a matter of public concern”, Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malala said.

Zimbabwean law currently states that a person can be sentenced to 20 years in prison for publishing falsehoods.

Lindsey Gort plays Samantha Jones in The Carrie Diaries

Lisa.Felice
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Lindsey Gort plays Samantha Jones in The Carrie Diaries

Lindsey Gort is playing a young Samantha Jones in CW’s The Carrie Diaries.

The new series airs Friday, 8 p.m. EDT.

“When the part came up, my manager was like, <<Hey, remember when you said she was a young Kim Cattrall-type? Well, you’re looking for that right now so you should come see her>>,” Lindsey Gort said in a recent interview.

Lindsey Gort is playing a young Samantha Jones in CW’s The Carrie Diaries
Lindsey Gort is playing a young Samantha Jones in CW’s The Carrie Diaries

“It’s such an iconic character, and I’m such a huge fan of the show,” the actress said.

Set in the 1980s, The Carrie Diaries stars AnnaSophia Robb as teen Carrie Bradshaw, who lives in Connecticut with her widowed father and younger sister. The show is based on novels by Candace Bushnell, as was Sex and the City.

Lindsey Gort’s version of Samantha Jones is a lot like the one in the ’90s HBO series and the two movies that followed.

The big difference, Lindsey Gort says, is that Samantha is “in her early 20s and is not a career woman yet, so she doesn’t have her Birkin bags and her Manolos yet. She’s figuring herself out, trying to figure out where she belongs in this world and having a good time while doing that.”

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Turkish women lawmakers wear headscarves in parliament

Diane A. Wade
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Turkish women lawmakers wear headscarves in parliament

For the first time since 1999, four Turkish women MPs have appeared in parliament in Ankara wearing headscarves.

The lawmakers are members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has roots in political Islam.

Last month, Turkey lifted the headscarf ban in a number of state institutions.

The ban was one of the most contentious laws in Turkey, pitting backers of the secular constitution against those who favour Islamic rights.

“I will no longer take off my headscarf,” Gonul Bekin Sahkulubey, one of the four MPs, was quoted as saying by Turkey’s Milliyet newspaper.

Last month, Turkey lifted the headscarf ban in a number of state institutions
Last month, Turkey lifted the headscarf ban in a number of state institutions

“I expect everyone to respect my decision.”

A number of fellow MPs gathered around their colleague to take pictures.

Supporters of the women said their move was yet another step towards normalizing the wearing of headscarves.

However, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) accused the governing party of PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan of undermining the country’s secular traditions.

The CHP also said the move was an election gimmick ahead of municipal polls next March.

This is the first time MPs have worn the headscarf in parliament since an abortive attempt in 1999.

Back then, lawmaker Merve Kavakci arrived in the assembly in a headscarf for her swearing-in ceremony – only to be booed out of the building.

The reversal of the ban was part of major political reforms – including new Kurdish rights – announced last month by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the move as “a historic moment”.

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FAA to allow portable electronic device use during take-off and landing

Clyde K. Valle
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FAA to allow portable electronic device use during take-off and landing

The US aviation authority has announced the use of portable electronic devices will soon be allowed on US planes during all phases of flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will now permit passengers to use gadgets such as tablet computers and e-readers during take-off and landing.

Many airlines are expected to adopt the new guidelines by the end of the year.

Aviation and mobile technology experts had advised the FAA the rule change would be safe.

“These guidelines reflect input from passengers, pilots, manufacturers, and flight attendants,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx wrote in a statement.

“We believe today’s decision honors both our commitment to safety and consumer’s increasing desire to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flights.”

The FAA will now permit passengers to use gadgets such as tablet computers and e-readers during take-off and landing
The FAA will now permit passengers to use gadgets such as tablet computers and e-readers during take-off and landing

A review committee recently determined that most commercial aircraft can tolerate radio interference signals from such devices, the FAA said.

Covered under the rule change are lightweight, electrically powered devices including music players, gaming consoles and smart phones – with the mobile telephone service disabled.

Phone calls from mobile phones remain prohibited throughout flights under separate regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.

Individual airlines will have to assess whether their planes can handle the additional radio interference from the devices.

“There is one thing that won’t change,” FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington DC on Thursday.

“Passengers must take a break from their devices, their reading material, their music, whatever they are doing, and listen to the safety briefing before each flight. It is information that can save your life.”

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Kim Kardashian shows off 50 lbs weight loss on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian shows off 50 lbs weight loss on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

After being bullied and called fat throughout her pregnancy with baby North West, newly svelte Kim Kardashian was proudly flaunting her famous curves during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.

Speaking with Jay Leno about the fat-shaming she endured while pregnant, Kim Kardashian, 33, said she took the criticism to heart.

“It really hurt my soul,” she confessed.

“It changed how I am in public. I’ve tried to live more of a private life.”

Kim Kardashian and her fiancé Kanye West kept a low profile after the June birth of their baby daughter. But now that the new mom has shed 50 lbs via the Atkins diet she’s feeling more confident.

Last week, on her 33rd birthday, Kanye West surprised her with an elaborate marriage proposal and a huge cushion-cut diamond ring.

“I’m very happy right now,” Kim Kardashian told Jay Leno.

Kim Kardashian was proudly flaunting her famous curves during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Kim Kardashian was proudly flaunting her famous curves during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

“[The proposal] was the most magical night of my life.”

“I want [Kanye West] to have whatever he wants,” Kim Kardashian told Jay Leno of her fiancé, noting that “someplace Parisian” might be nice for their wedding.

The couple are “hoping for next summer,” the reality star added, but they “haven’t had time to sit down and talk about it.”

One thing they have talked about is whether she will change her famous name. As Kanye West revealed earlier this week, Kim Kardashian plans to take her husband’s last name though she’ll keep Kardashian as her middle name.

“It’ll definitely be West,” Kim Kardashian said of the name change.

“My daughter’s name is West, and we’re a family.”

Speaking of little North, nicknamed “Nori,” Kim Kardashian couldn’t help but gush.

“She’s the sweetest little girl. She never cries,” the proud mom bragged of her 4-month-old daughter.

“She’s a perfect little angel. I hope she grows up to be smart and opinionated like her dad,” Kim Kardashian added.

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Edward Snowden to start job at large Russian website

Nancy Clayson
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Edward Snowden to start job at large Russian website

Edward Snowden, who is now living off scant donations under Russia asylum since July, will be starting a job at an undisclosed but large Russian website.

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden has found a job working for a website in Russia, where he was granted asylum after fleeing the United States, a Russian lawyer who is helping him said on Thursday.

“Edward starts work in November,” lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said, according to state-run news agency RIA.

“He will provide support for a large Russian site,” he said, adding that he would not name the site “for security reasons.”

Edward Snowden, 30, a former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed secret U.S. internet telephone surveillance programs, fled to Hong Kong and then to Russia in June.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected U.S. pleas to send Edward Snowden home to face charges including espionage, and the temporary asylum he was granted in early August can be extended annually.

Edward Snowden will be starting a job at an undisclosed but large Russian website
Edward Snowden will be starting a job at an undisclosed but large Russian website

Edward Snowden’s location in Russia has not been disclosed and since July he has appeared only in a handful of photographs and video clips from a meeting this month with visiting former US national security officials who support his cause.

Vladimir Putin, a former KGB spy, said repeatedly that Russia would only shelter Edward Snowden if he stopped harming the US.

But state media have treated him as a whistleblower and the decision to grant him asylum seemed to underscore Vladimir Putin’s accusations that the US government preaches to the world about rights and freedoms it does not uphold at home.

Vladimir Putin has dismissed the widespread assumption that Russian intelligence officers had grilled Edward Snowden for information after he arrived, and Anqatoly Kucherena has portrayed him as trying to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.

He said earlier that he hoped Edward Snowden would find a job because he was living on scant funds, mostly from donations.

A tabloid news site on Thursday published what it said was a photo of Edward Snowden on a Moscow river cruise this summer, and the same site earlier published a photo of a man who looked like Snowden pushing a shopping cart in a supermarket parking lot.

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Halloween storm postpones trick-or-treating in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio

Nancy Clayson
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Halloween storm postpones trick-or-treating in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio

A massive storm system could make for a rainy Halloween for trick-or-treaters across the US from New England to Texas.

The ferocious storm system was hurtling from Texas to the northeast early Thursday, threatening to lash a long arm of the US with buckets of rain and high winds as officials in three states postponed trick-or-treating to Friday.

Meteorologists warned people in the Ohio Valley, the lower Mississippi Valley and western Gulf Coast to brace for harsh gusts of wind, hail and even tornadoes – a scary forecast just in time for Halloween revelry.

Trick-or-treating has been pushed to Friday in scores of cities in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio – states expected to bear the brunt of the severe storm system, according to Weather.com.

The trouble was already brewing near Austin, Texas, early Thursday, where heavy train triggered flash floods, forcing scores of people from their homes amid evacuation advisories and prompting helicopter rescues, officials said.

Some areas surrounding the city were slammed by as much as 15 inches of rain, according to Austin-Travis County’s Emergency Medical Service (EMS). Meanwhile, emergency crews staged 15 water rescues across Austin and Travis counties throughout the early morning, EMS spokesman Warren Hassinger said.

A massive storm system could make for a rainy Halloween for trick-or-treaters across the US from New England to Texas
A massive storm system could make for a rainy Halloween for trick-or-treaters across the US from New England to Texas

There was no reported deaths and only minor injuries early Thursday, although Warren Hassinger said there were reports from neighboring Hays and Comal Counties of people calling for help who were trapped in vehicles or clinging to trees.

The Texas Department for Public Safety said there were no firm numbers yet for the four worst affected counties of Williamson, Hays, Comel and Travis, but that there were at least 20 homes affected in Hutto, a town of more than 18,000 in Williamson County.

Austin Energy reported upwards of 12,000 customers without electric power Thursday morning, according to the Associated Press, while Wimberley Independent School District called off classes due to “extreme weather conditions,” according to its website. Schools in nearby San Marcos and Lockhart also cancelled classes amid the nasty weather and snarled traffic, the wire service reported.

The worst of the rain is over for the region, with the storm moving from west to east, according to the department.

“It will have hopefully abated by about 2 p.m. this afternoon,” a data collector at the department said.

“But the run-off is what we worry about – there’s always that danger.”

As the massive weather system barrels eastward, officials are warning people in the Midwest and Northeast to take precautions ahead of the storm.

The Indianapolis Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that locals should stay away from big trees and clear their sidewalks so any flooding can cut a clear path.

Heavy rain may pound the Northeast on Friday, with high wind watches posted for the Great Lakes as well as areas of southern New England and Long Island, according to the National Wather Service.

Officials have warned coastal residents to brace for possible power outages as well as felled trees and power lines, according to Weather.com.

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Sony cuts full-year profit forecast by 40 percent

Clyde K. Valle
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Sony cuts full-year profit forecast by 40 percent

Sony has slashed its full-year profit forecast by 40 percent as it continues to struggle.

The Japanese electronics giant now expects to make a net profit of 30 billion yen ($305 million) in the financial year to March 31, 2014, down from its earlier projection of 50 billion yen.

The cut came as Sony said its loss in the July-to-September quarter widened 25 percent from a year ago to 19.3 billion yen.

One of the big drags on its earnings was its Pictures division which made a loss due to some high profile flops.

The division, which also includes production of movies as well as TV shows, recorded an operating loss of 17.8 billion yen during the period, compared to an operating profit of 7.9 billion a year earlier.

“The current quarter reflects the theatrical underperformance of White House Down, while the previous fiscal year included the strong theatrical performance of the Amazing Spider-Man,” Sony said in a statement.

Sony has slashed its full-year profit forecast by 40 percent as it continues to struggle
Sony has slashed its full-year profit forecast by 40 percent as it continues to struggle

There was also a decline in television licensing revenue due to fewer movies being licensed year-on-year.

Sony has also been hurt by increased competition and slowing global demand for TVs.

A decline in TV prices has further hurt the profitability of the sector.

Sony’s TV division posted an operating loss of 9.3 billion yen for the three months to the end of September.

At the same time, its gaming division which makes the PlayStation consoles also reported an operating loss during the period.

The firm said that the division’s earnings were hurt after it cut the price of its PlayStation Vita consoles.

Sony cut the prices of the original PS Vita earlier this year in a bid to boost sales, which have been affected by an increasing number of users playing games on their smartphones and tablet PCs.

Sony’s Game division made an operating loss of 800 million yen during the period, compared to an operating profit of 2.3 billion yen during the same quarter a last year.

Sony’s results are in contrast to rivals Sharp and Panasonic who reported profits for the July-to-September quarter.

Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt statue removed from Qatar’s Corniche promenade

Clyde K. Valle
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Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt statue removed from Qatar’s Corniche promenade

A bronze statue of French footballer Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt has been taken down from the Corniche in Doha, Qatar.

The 16 ft sculpture was removed just weeks after being installed, having prompted strong reactions on social media.

It generated criticism from religious conservatives who believe it encourages idolatry; others thought it promoted violence or was in bad taste.

It portrays Zinedine Zidane headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup.

The bronze statue of Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt has been taken down from the Corniche in Doha
The bronze statue of Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt has been taken down from the Corniche in Doha

Created by Algerian-born French artist Adel Abdessemed in 2012, it had previously been on show at the Pompidou Centre in Paris. It was bought by the Qatari Museum Authority.

Local reports say the statue – known as Coup de Tete or headbutt – is going to be housed along with other works by Abdessemed in the Arab Museum of Modern Art.

The Arabic hashtag “Zidane’s statue in Qatar” triggered a “massive” reaction from dismayed conservatives on Twitter, said AFP, with one user sarcastically posting: “Congratulations for having new idols.”

“It is sad that our youth see in this art and modernity. Our children do not differentiate between the right and the wrong, or the haram [prohibited] and the halal [permissible],” said another tweeter.

The statue’s craftsmanship and symbolism were earlier praised as “timeless as Greek mythological works of art” by the Jean-Paul Engelen, director of Public Art at the Qatari Museum Authority.

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Global CO2 emissions in permanent slowdown

James J. Williams
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Global CO2 emissions in permanent slowdown

According to a new report produced annually by the Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, global emissions of carbon dioxide may be showing the first signs of a “permanent slowdown” in the rate of increase.

According to the report, emissions in 2012 increased at less than half the average over the past decade.

Key factors included the shift to shale gas for energy in the US while China increased its use of hydropower by 23%.

However, the use of cheap coal continues to be an issue, with UK consumption up by almost a quarter.

The report finds that emissions of carbon dioxide reached a new record in 2012 of 34.5 billion tonnes.

But the rate of increase in CO2 was 1.4%, despite the global economy growing by 3.5%.

Global emissions of carbon dioxide may be showing the first signs of a permanent slowdown in the rate of increase
Global emissions of carbon dioxide may be showing the first signs of a permanent slowdown in the rate of increase

This decoupling of emissions from economic growth is said to be down to the use of less fossil fuels, more renewable energy and increased energy savings.

The main emitters, accounting for 55% of the global total, were China, the US and the EU. All three saw changes that were described as “remarkable” by the report’s authors.

Emissions from China increased by 3% but this was a significant slowdown compared to annual increases of around 10% over the past decade.

There were two important factors in reducing China’s CO2. The first was the ending of a large economic stimulus package. As a result electricity and energy prices increased at half the rate of GDP.

China also achieved exceptional growth in the use of hydropower for the generation of electricity, increasing capacity and output by 23% in 2012. This alone had the effect of curbing the country’s emissions by 1.5%.

In the US, the shale revolution continues to make waves. Overall emissions were down by 4% in the year mainly because of a continuing shift from coal to gas in the generation of electricity. Shale is now responsible for one third of US gas production and almost one quarter of total oil production.

The other major decline came in the EU where economic recession in the 27 nation bloc saw emissions decline by 1.3%. This was down to a decrease in energy consumption of oil and gas, with a 4% decline in road transport.

Renewable energy also continued its upward trend, at accelerating speed. It took 15 years for the renewable global share to increase 0.5% to 1.1% – but it took only six years for it to double again, to 2.4% in 2012.

Looking ahead, the report suggests that if the push for shale continues in the US, if China sticks to its published plans and if renewables continue to grow – particularly in Europe – global emissions might slow down permanently.

Niger: Bodies of 87 Sahara migrants found near Algerian border

Roy Siemens
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Niger: Bodies of 87 Sahara migrants found near Algerian border

The bodies of 87 people who died of thirst after their vehicles broke down as they tried to cross the Sahara have been found by rescue workers in Niger.

Rescue worker Almoustapha Alhacen said the corpses were in a severe state of decomposition and had been partly eaten, probably by jackals.

Those found are thought to be migrant workers and their families. Most were women and children.

Niger lies on a major migrant route between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.

But among those who make it across the desert, many end up working in North African countries.

According to Almoustapha Alhacen, one of the vehicles that the migrants were travelling in broke down some time after they left Arlit at the end of September or beginning of October.

About 80,000 migrants cross the Sahara desert through Niger
About 80,000 migrants cross the Sahara desert through Niger

It appears that some of the group set out on foot, including up to 10 people who made it back to Arlit and raised the alarm, he said.

It was reported on Monday that five bodies had been found.

On Wednesday, volunteers and soldiers working in searing heat found other corpses about 6 miles from the Algerian border.

Speaking from Arlit, a centre for uranium mining north of Agadez, Almoustapha Alhacen said he had experienced the worst day of his life when he found the bodies.

They were given Muslim burials where they were found, he said.

Given that at least 48 of those found were children or teenagers, Almoustapha Alhacen said it was possible they were on their way to low-paid jobs in neighboring Algeria.

It is not clear which countries the migrants came from.

“There were no clues. My guess is that the children were madrassa [Islamic school] children, being taken to Algeria to work. That is the only explanation that I and others can find for such a large number of children having travelled together,” Almoustapha Alhacen said.

About 80,000 migrants cross the Sahara desert through Niger, according to John Ging, director of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

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Jane Austen £10 banknote portrait airbrushed

Sonia Pantiss
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Jane Austen £10 banknote portrait airbrushed

Biographer Dr. Paula Byrne has criticized the Bank of England for selecting an “airbrushed” portrait of Jane Austen for its new £10 note.

Oxford University fellow Dr. Paula Byrne said the 1870 image was a “makeover” of an earlier portrait composed by the novelist’s sister Cassandra.

Halloween, the Jane Austen Society, which was consulted by the Bank of England, felt it was a good choice.

Jane Austen was chosen to replace Charles Darwin on the £10 note.

It is expected to come into circulation from 2017.

Dr. Paula Byrne, author of The Real Jane Austen, said the chosen image made the writer look like “a pretty doll with big doe eyes”.

“It’s a 19th Century airbrushed makeover,” said the fellow.

Biographer Paula Byrne has criticized the Bank of England for selecting an airbrushed portrait of Jane Austen for its new £10 note
Biographer Paula Byrne has criticized the Bank of England for selecting an airbrushed portrait of Jane Austen for its new £10 note

“It makes me quite angry as it’s been prettied up for the Victorian era when Jane Austen was very much a woman of Georgian character.

“The costume is wrong and the image creates a myth Austen was a demure spinster and not a deep-thinking author.

“She was edgy for her time and the portrait by her sister Cassandra depicts an intelligent, determined woman.”

Elizabeth Proudman, chairman of the Jane Austen Society, said the Bank of England had done the best it could.

“There is only one authentic image available of Jane Austen and that is the pencil sketching by her sister that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

“It’s an amateur portrait and, at the time, nobody particularly liked it.

“But, Jane Austen’s fame and popularity grew after her death and an engraving of Cassandra’s portrait was produced by [William Home] Lizars to go inside her memoirs.

“The family chose it, feeling it was a strong resemblance and that is more or less the image which has been chosen.”

In a statement, the Bank of England said the banknote portrait was an 1870 engraving commissioned by Jane Austen’s nephew, James Edward Austen Leigh, adapted from the original Cassandra sketch.

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in the village of Steventon in Hampshire. She died in Winchester on July 18, 1817.

The selection of Jane Austen for the £10 note removed the prospect of having no women, besides the Queen, on the UK’s currency.

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Halloween 2013: Best-selling candy from around the world

Nancy Clayson
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Halloween 2013: Best-selling candy from around the world

Halloween is all about the candy! Almost every child in the US will have candy on Halloween, and about half of the adults will eat some.

Test your knowledge of the world’s candies and check out some of our favorites here.

1. Bounty, UK

Mounds lovers will appreciate Bounty, a coconut-filled bar enrobed with milk chocolate.

2. Cheong Woo, Korea

Leave it to South Korea to come up with pumpkin candy — a mellow, slightly salty candy with a prominent squash-like flavor and the texture of Starburst. If you can track it down, it’s perfect for this time of year.

3. Baci, Italy

Hershey’s isn’t the only one with kisses — Italy has its own version, Perugina’s Baci. These chocolate bonbons are filled with hazelnut chocolate cream, topped with a whole hazelnut, and wrapped in a love note.

4. Yorkie, UK

The Yorkie bar — originally titled so because it was made by Rowntrees of York — was created in the 1970s as a larger chocolate bar alternative to Cadbury’s Dairy-Milk. To this day, the chocolate stays true to its original branding with the slogan: “It’s not for girls!”

Perugina's Baci chocolate bonbons are filled with hazelnut chocolate cream, topped with a whole hazelnut, and wrapped in a love note
Perugina’s Baci chocolate bonbons are filled with hazelnut chocolate cream, topped with a whole hazelnut, and wrapped in a love note

5. Chimes Mango Ginger Chews, Indonesia

These individually-wrapped Indonesian ginger candies in the quaint tin have a latent heat and spiciness to them, thanks to ginger that’s grown on volcanic soil in East Java.

6. ToffeeCrisp, UK

Nestlé makes a number of chocolate bars in Europe that aren’t readily available in the US. One of them is ToffeeCrisp, a staple in the UK. The long, slender milk chocolate bar is filled with crackling puffed rice and caramel. Its motto is: “Somebody, somewhere, is eating a ToffeeCrisp.”

7. Kinder Country, Germany

Kinder Country is described on the wrapper as “milk chocolate with rich milk filling.” It’s a creamy, milky white center, made crunchy with puffed rice and then doused in milk chocolate.

8. Peko Milky Candy, Japan

Peko-chan Milk Candy is commonplace among children in Japan. The individually-wrapped candies are firm yet chewy and have a distinctive sweet milk flavor.

9. Lion, UK

Another chocolate confection that hails from the UK. It was similar to a ToffeeCrisp, with caramel, crisp cereal, and a wafer enrobed in milk chocolate and reminded me of an even heartier 100 Grand.

 10. Botan Rice Candy, Japan

Even if you’ve never been to Japan, you may have come across Botan Rice Candy in Asian supermarkets. Botan, which means “peony,” is a prominent brand in Japan and makes a sticky rice candy with a slightly citrusy flavor.

McCafe: McDonald’s to start selling packaged coffee in 2014

Clyde K. Valle
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McCafe: McDonald’s to start selling packaged coffee in 2014

McDonald’s has announced it will test selling a variety of packaged ground and whole-bean coffee at supermarkets and other retail outlets starting next year.

The test will also include single-cup servings.

McDonald’s, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, did not disclose any other details. But the company already started selling McCafe packaged coffee in Canada late last year. Those bags weighed about 12 ounces and cost about $7.

McDonald’s will test selling a variety of packaged ground and whole-bean coffee at supermarkets and other retail outlets starting next year
McDonald’s will test selling a variety of packaged ground and whole-bean coffee at supermarkets and other retail outlets starting next year

The company is teaming up with Kraft Foods Group Inc. to distribute the coffee.

McDonald’s did not say how widespread the test would be.

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Syria’s declared chemical equipment destroyed

Roy Siemens
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Syria’s declared chemical equipment destroyed

Syria’s declared equipment for producing, mixing and filling chemical weapons has been destroyed, sources with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons say.

An announcement by the OPCW is expected later – a day before its deadline which Syria had to meet.

Inspectors were sent to Syria following allegations that government forces had used chemical weapons in civilian areas, killing scores of people.

Syria's declared equipment for producing, mixing and filling chemical weapons has been destroyed
Syria’s declared equipment for producing, mixing and filling chemical weapons has been destroyed

Syrian government denies the accusations.

The inspections were agreed between Russia and the US after Washington threatened to use force in Syria.

The US says more than 1,400 people were killed during a nerve agent attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus on August 21.

Syria and Russia believe rebel groups were responsible for the attack.

Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal is believed to include more than 1,000 tonnes of the nerve gas sarin, the blister agent sulphur mustard and other banned chemicals, stored at dozens of sites.

It has until mid-2014 to destroy its chemical weapons stockpile.

Happy Halloween 2013! Seventeen little known facts about the spooky holiday

James J. Williams
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Happy Halloween 2013! Seventeen little known facts about the spooky holiday

Happy Halloween 2013!

It’s no mystery that this annual night of fright is chockfull of candy, costumes and chilling decor, but do you know just how many confectionary treats are actually gobbled up on Halloween? Or the amount of cash spent to make all the macabre magic happen?

Here are some facts that will make you the brainiest of the bunch on All Hallows’ Eve:

  1. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the fastest time to carve a face into a pumpkin is 20.1 seconds, achieved by David Finkle of the United Kingdom. He completed the feat on October 7, 2010, while filming a Halloween show for the BBC.
  2. For some towns in the US, the Halloween theme lasts all year long, thanks to their names. A few that would be especially fun to visit for the holiday: Frankenstein, Missori; Scary, West Virginia; Spook City, Colorado; and Candy Town, Ohio.
  3. No matter how scary your local haunted house is, it probably can’t top the Haunted Cave in Lewisburg, Ohio. It measures 3,564 feet long, and Guinness World Records named it the world’s longest haunted house in 2010 (until it was beaten by a haunted house in Japan in 2011). Even spookier: It’s located 80 feet below ground in an abandoned mine.
  4. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there will be 41.1 million trick-or-treaters ages 5 to 14 in America this year. Parents are expected to spend $1.04 billion on children’s costumes -and if they’re on trend, most of the cash will go toward pumpkin, princess, witch or vampire getups.
  5. Although the cards may be ghoulish, the sentiment is sweet – according to Hallmark, Halloween ranks as the sixth most popular card-giving holiday, with 19 million cards sent each year. Christmas comes in first place, with a whopping 1.6 billion cards sent each year.
  6. Halloween candy coffers wouldn’t be the same without California. Why? Because according to the US Census Bureau, the Golden State leads the nation in non-chocolate confectionary production. Out of the 409 sites that manufacture non-chocolate confections in the US, California is home to 45 of them.

    Halloween 2013
    Halloween 2013
  7. In 1950, Philadelphia-based trick-or-treaters traded in a sweet tooth for a sweet action. In lieu of candy, residents collected change for children overseas and sent it to UNICEF. Subsequently, the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program was born.
  8. Valentine’s Day is no longer the sweetest national holiday – at least when it come to candy sales. More than twice as much chocolate is sold for Halloween as for Valentine’s Day; 90 million pounds of chocolate are sold during Halloween week alone. In total, $1.9 billion is spent on Halloween candy each year
  9. Americans’ enthusiasm to get in the Halloween spirit just keeps growing. According to the National Retail Federation, average spending on Halloween has increased 54% since 2005, with total spending estimated to reach $6.9 billion in 2013.
  10. A working magician from the age of 17, Harry Houdini (née Ehrich Weisz) became America’s favorite magician and a world-renown legend for his daring escapes. It was only fitting, then, for this master trickster to die on October 31, 1926 – from a ruptured appendix.
  11. Since its invention in 1898 by the Herman Goelitz Confectionery Co. of Fairfield, California, (now known as the Jelly Belly Candy Co.), candy corn has been wildly popular – so much so that today, more than 35 million pounds of candy corn are produced each year.
  12. It was just tricks – no treats – for Charlie Brown in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. In the 1966 TV special, he utters: “I got a rock,” while trick-or-treating. The phrase went on to become one of the most famous lines in Peanuts history.
  13. Halloween wouldn’t be the same without pumpkins, and thankfully, there are plenty of gourds to go around. According to the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2010, the top pumpkin-producing states – Illinois, California, New York and Ohio – produced 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins.
  14. Due to safety concerns, trunk-or-treating was introduced in 2000 as an alternative to hitting the pavement for candy on Halloween night. Cars are parked in a circle at a school or church parking lot, with event-goers decorating their open trunks and dressing in costume in order to hand out treats
  15. From its vampy costumes and sweet treats to macabre household decorations, Halloween is big business. So big, in fact, that it’s the second-largest commercial holiday in America – only Christmas surpasses it in sales.
  16. In 2010, Belleville, Illinois, became the latest city to ban trick-or-treating for kids over 12. Teens can face fines from $100 to $1,000 for going door-to-door (although according to officials, more often than not, over-age Halloween-goers are just given a warning).
  17. Got leftover Halloween candy? Save it for later! Dark and milk chocolates can last up to two years if stored in a dry, odor-free spot. Hard candy can last up to a year, while unopened packages of candy corn can last nine months.

Cirque du Soleil fined over Sarah Guyard-Guillot’s death

Sonia Pantiss
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Cirque du Soleil fined over Sarah Guyard-Guillot’s death

Cirque du Soleil will be fined after acrobat Sarah Guyard-Guillot died during one of its live shows in Las Vegas in June, Nevada state officials say.

Sarah Guyard-Guillot, 31, was performing at the MGM Grand hotel.

Investigators said Sarah Guyard-Guillot, a mother of two, fell 94ft to the floor when a safety wire became detached due to her rapid ascent.

They said Sarah Guyard-Guillot’s death was partly caused by a failure to give her adequate training.

Cirque du Soleil said Sarah Guyard-Guillot’s death was the first fatality during a live performance in its 29-year history.

The Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Cirque du Soleil Nevada on six counts.

These included inadequate equipment training for Sarah Guillot-Guyard, and a circus-fall protection programme that did not match state safety standards.

Cirque du Soleil will be fined after acrobat Sarah Guyard-Guillot died during one of its live shows in Las Vegas in June
Cirque du Soleil will be fined after acrobat Sarah Guyard-Guillot died during one of its live shows in Las Vegas in June

The Nevada OSHA proposed more than $25,000 in penalties for the company.

It also proposed a fine of $7,000 against the MGM Grand hotel for exposing its employees to workplace hazards, including onstage open-sided floors and pyrotechnic dust used for Cirque du Soleil performances.

The accident happened during the final scene of the Canadian company’s show, Ka, a mixture of acrobatics, martial arts and puppetry.

Teri Williams, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, said the report found that Sarah Guyard-Guillot had ascended too quickly, which caused the rope to detach from the sheave/pulley.

“The rope was severed when it encountered a shear point,” she said.

“The investigation concluded that she ascended too quickly, in part, because she did not receive proper training.”

Both Cirque du Soleil and the MGM Grand say they will appeal against the OSHA ruling.

“Cirque du Soleil completed an exhaustive review of its safety policies and procedures in the wake of the tragic accident involving Sarah,” said Cirque du Soleil spokeswoman Renee-Claude Menard.

“We have redoubled our efforts to ensure the overall diligence and safety of our performers and crew.”

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Boston Red Sox wins World Series 2013 at Fenway Park

Clyde K. Valle
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Boston Red Sox wins World Series 2013 at Fenway Park

Boston Red Sox has won the 2013 World Series with a 6-1 victory over St Louis Cardinals in Game 6 at Fenway Park.

Winning the series 4-2, Boston Red Sox clinched the title in front of their own fans for the first time in 95 years.

Red Sox has now landed three Major League titles in 10 seasons, following an 86-year drought which ended in 2004 when they also beat the Cardinals.

Boston Red Sox has won the 2013 World Series with a victory over St Louis Cardinals in Game 6 at Fenway Park
Boston Red Sox has won the 2013 World Series with a victory over St Louis Cardinals in Game 6 at Fenway Park

The last time Red Sox won the World Series at home, their pitching staff included the legendary Babe Ruth.

The subsequent sale of Ruth, baseball’s greatest star, to the rival New York Yankees was said to have initiated the infamous Curse of the Bambino which Boston took more than eight decades to break.

“I knew this was going to be a special year,” said Boston slugger David Ortiz, the outstanding player of the best-of-seven series.

“When we started rolling, nobody ever stopped the train.”

“Big Papi” Ortiz, the only member of the 2004 team still playing for the Red Sox, was named as the World Series’ most valuable player.

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Barack Obama accepts full responsibility for fixing HealthCare.gov

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama accepts full responsibility for fixing HealthCare.gov

President Barack Obama has accepted “full responsibility” for ensuring the troubled HealthCare.gov website gets fixed.

Speaking in Boston, Barack Obama said he was “not happy” about the glitch-laden project, but made a full-throated defense of the broader 2010 healthcare law.

Earlier, the president’s embattled health secretary apologized to the American people over the botched website rollout.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the largest overhaul of the US healthcare system since the 1960s.

Commonly known as Obamacare, it aims to extend health insurance coverage to the estimated 15% of the American population who lack it.

But a central component of the law, the federal website where consumers can shop for health insurance plans, has been plagued by malfunctions since its launch on 1 October.

Barack Obama said in Wednesday’s speech: “There’s no denying it – right now the website is too slow. Too many people have gotten stuck. And I’m not happy it about it. And neither are a lot of Americans who need healthcare.”

He added: “So there’s no excuse for it. And I take full responsibility for making sure it gets fixed ASAP. We are working overtime to improve it every day.”

Barack Obama spoke at Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, a state that in 2006 introduced a groundbreaking healthcare law that inspired the Obama administration’s own nationwide overhaul.

“Massachusetts has shown the model works,” he said.

President Barack Obama has accepted "full responsibility" for ensuring the troubled HealthCare.gov website gets fixed
President Barack Obama has accepted “full responsibility” for ensuring the troubled HealthCare.gov website gets fixed

He also took a swipe at Republicans, who view the health law as a costly and inappropriate government intrusion into healthcare, and have sought to undo or undermine it at every turn.

“If they put as much energy into making sure the law works as they do attacking the law, Americans would be better off,” the Democratic president said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told a House of Representatives committee that she was to blame for the website’s problems.

“Hold me accountable for the debacle,” she said.

“I’m responsible.”

Kathleen Sebelius acknowledged the website experience was “frustrating” for many Americans, but said the problems were “fixable” and that the site would be fully up and running by the end of November.

Some Republicans have demanded Kathleen Sebelius resign over the issue. They argue that the website’s faults reflect broader problems with the healthcare law.

Committee chairman Fred Upton, a Republican, called the website “inept”, saying that five weeks into enrolment, “the news seems to get worse by the day”.

The committee’s senior Democrat, Henry Waxman, acknowledged “the launch of the new website has not gone well”, but he said the “early glitches will soon be forgotten”.

Aside from establishing the federal insurance marketplace homepage and parallel websites run by 14 states plus Washington DC, the law bolsters coverage requirements for insurance firms, mandates that individuals carry insurance or pay a tax penalty, and offers subsidies to assist in the purchase of the insurance.

It also expands eligibility for the Medicaid healthcare programme for the poor in states where governors have agreed to it.

Amid the fallout, the White House has said it will grant a six-week extension – until March 31st, 2014 – in the healthcare law’s requirement for individuals to buy insurance or face a tax penalty.

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Forbes World’s Most Powerful People List 2013

Clyde K. Valle
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Forbes World’s Most Powerful People List 2013

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has topped Forbes magazine’s World’s Most Powerful People list in 2013.

Vladimir Putin has beaten President Barack Obama into second place on the list.

Pope Francis features at number four after Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Barack Obama’s “lame duck period” had started earlier than usual while Vladimir Putin had consolidated his control of Russia, Forbes says.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ranked number five – one of only two women to feature in the top 20.

British PM David Cameron is 11th most powerful, in the magazine’s opinion – well ahead of his French counterpart but well behind American philanthropist Bill Gates.

It is the first time in three years that Barack Obama has dropped to second place on the Forbes list.

It comes as relations between the US and Russia have been hit by the civil war in Syria.

Vladimir Putin, who has been dominating Russian politics for 12 years, was re-elected president in March 2012.

Vladimir Putin has topped Forbes magazine’s World's Most Powerful People list in 2013
Vladimir Putin has topped Forbes magazine’s World’s Most Powerful People list in 2013

Barack Obama, on the other hand, has emerged bruised from a 16-day US government shutdown caused by a budget and debt crisis in Washington, Forbes says:

“Putin has solidified his control over Russia, while Obama’s lame duck period has seemingly set in earlier than usual for a two-term president – latest example: the government shutdown mess.”

Russia granted asylum in August to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who is wanted in the US over intelligence leaks.

A month later, Vladimir Putin “played the trump card again” by averting Barack Obama’s threatened missile strikes on Syria with a plan for Damascus to hand over chemical weapons, the magazine says.

“Anyone watching this year’s chess match over Syria and NSA leaks has a clear idea of the shifting individual power dynamics,” it adds.

 

Top 10 Most Powerful People – Forbes 2013

1. Vladimir Putin, Russian President

2. Barack Obama, US President

3. Xi Jinping, Chinese President

4. Pope Francis, Roman Catholic Church

5. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor

6. Bill Gates, co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

7. Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve chairman

8. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud

9. Mario Draghi, European Central Bank president

10. Michael Duke, Wal-Mart CEO

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Decorated dogs for Halloween on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Lisa.Felice
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Decorated dogs for Halloween on Jimmy Kimmel Live

According to the Jimmy Kimmel Live show, Americans spend $300 million on costumes for their pets every Halloween.

On last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, creative dog groomer Catherine Opson showed off several dogs that were painted and groomed in interesting ways for Halloween. The five different dog designs shown included a zombie, a leopard, a koi pond, Sesame Street, and The Simpsons.

On last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, creative dog groomer Catherine Opson showed off several dogs that were painted and groomed in interesting ways for Halloween
On last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, creative dog groomer Catherine Opson showed off several dogs that were painted and groomed in interesting ways for Halloween

However, the most amazing design was likely The Simpsons, which were actually displayed on two dogs. Jimmy Kimmel quipped they were the only dogs “to be sued by FOX for copyright infringement.”

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Graham Stark dies aged 91

Sonia Pantiss
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Graham Stark dies aged 91

Actor Graham Stark, best known for his recurring roles opposite Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther films, has died aged 91.

Graham Stark died in London on Tuesday after recently suffering a stroke.

Roles in Alfie and James Bond spoof Casino Royale were among his more than 100 screen credits.

It was his friendship with Peter Sellers that secured his roles in the Pink Panther series, beginning with 1964 film A Shot in the Dark.

Graham Stark played Inspector Clouseau’s stone-faced assistant, Hercule Lajoy, a role he reprised in 1982’s Trail of the Pink Panther. The part saw him say little more than “Oui, monsieur” to Clouseau’s orders.

He later starred as Dr. Auguste Balls in Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) and Son of the Pink Panther (1993).

Graham Stark’s friendship with Peter Sellers secured his roles in the Pink Panther series
Graham Stark’s friendship with Peter Sellers secured his roles in the Pink Panther series

Graham Stark  memorably also appeared in 1976’s The Pink Panther Strikes Again, playing a German hotel clerk in a scene where Clouseau is bitten by a dog.

“I thought you said your dog did not bite?” says Clouseau, to which Graham Stark replies: “That is not my dog.”

Graham Stark, who was born in Wallesey, Merseyside, made his professional debut at the Lyceum theatre in London in a pantomime aged 13.

After studying at Rada he volunteered for the RAF. During the war years he entertained the troops around the world with fellow airmen and future stars Sellers, Tony Hancock and Dick Emery.

Graham Stark  went on to star in numerous comedy TV shows, including The Idiot Weekly, A Show Called Fred and Benny Hill, before landing his own BBC sketch series, The Graham Stark Show, in 1964.

Other films in which he he appeared include Victor Victoria, Superman III and Blind Date.

Graham Stark, also directed two films: the 1970 short Simon Simon and the 1971 comedy The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins.

He was a keen photographer and had exhibited his work – mainly images of his acting colleagues and friends – around the world.

Graham Stark  is survived by his wife, the actress Audrey Nicholson, and three children.

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Halloween Recipe: Glittery Pumpkin Cupcake

Kathryn R. Bown
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Halloween Recipe: Glittery Pumpkin Cupcake

Halloween Glittery Pumpkin Cupcake

Ingredients

1 teaspoon coarse orange sanding sugar or orange sprinkles

1 vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting

1 1-inch piece green licorice twist or gummy worm

Halloween Glittery Pumpkin Cupcakes
Halloween Glittery Pumpkin Cupcakes

Directions

Place the sugar in a small bowl. Dip the cupcake in the sugar to coat. Top with the licorice to make the stem.

You don’t need be a pro to create this easy look – simply dip the cupcake into a bowl of colored sanding sugar and top with a piece of green licorice twist.

India to restrict foreign cloud-based email services after NSA leaks

Nancy Clayson
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India to restrict foreign cloud-based email services after NSA leaks

India will impose a ban on the use of foreign cloud-based email services to send official communications, before the end of the year.

It would prevent civil servants using Gmail, Yahoo! or Outlook.com.

Instead they would be required to use a service provided by the country’s own National Informatics Centre (NIC).

The move follows the publication of leaks about US cyber-spying operations.

According to documents given to the Guardian and subsequently reported by The Hindu newspaper in June, 6.3 billion pieces of information were collected from India’s computer and telephone networks over the course of a month by the US NSA, making it the fifth most “intensively watched” country.

India’s communications and IT minister first announced his intention to restrict which email services officials could use in August.

He added that staff working outside the country should use virtual private networks and one-time passwords when accessing NIC servers to further protect themselves.

India will impose a ban on the use of foreign cloud-based email services to send official communications, before the end of the year
India will impose a ban on the use of foreign cloud-based email services to send official communications, before the end of the year

“It is imperative in view of the security concerns that exist in other countries,” Kapil Sibal said at the time.

One of the minister’s officials has now confirmed the plan is close to implementation.

“Our effort will be to operationalise the policy by mid or end-December,” said J Satyanarayana, secretary at the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, at a conference in Delhi.

India is not the only country implementing such measures.

Earlier this month Brazil’s president confirmed her country planned to set up its own secure, encrypted email service to “prevent possible espionage”.

The move would prevent the NSA and GCHQ (the UK Government Communications Headquarters) monitoring locally sent and received messages unless Brazilians allowed them access to their servers or if the emails were sent to an account belonging to a non-protected service.

President Dilma Rousseff, in a speech at the UN. described the suspected interception of Brazilian diplomats’ data as “a breach of international law”.

However, India’s ministers have been less vocal about the issue.

“This is not scrutiny and access to actual messages,” said India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid in July when questioned about the alleged surveillance of his country.

“It is only computer analysis of patterns of calls and emails that are being sent. It is not actually snooping specifically on content of anybody’s message or conversation.”

India is in the process of creating its own data intercept scheme called the Centralized Monitoring System.

Local telecoms operators have been told they must co-operate with the surveillance effort, which involves a variety of local security agencies.

Spain officially out of recession after first quarterly economic growth since 2011

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Spain officially out of recession after first quarterly economic growth since 2011

Spain is officially out of recession after first quarterly economic growth since 2011, according to data from the country’s National Statistics agency INE.

Spain’s GDP grew 0.1% in the July-to-September period, after contracting for the previous nine quarters.

Its growth confirmed last week’s estimates from the Bank of Spain.

Spain was one of the countries worst hit by the global economic crisis, with street riots and soaring unemployment.

The statistics mean Spain is officially out of recession.

Spain is officially out of recession after first quarterly economic growth since 2011
Spain is officially out of recession after first quarterly economic growth since 2011

The INE said an increasing number of exports supported the growth, with a boost to the tourist industry from holidaymakers avoiding northern Africa and the Middle East.

Ben May, economist at Capital Economics, said the growth was encouraging and cited business surveys that suggested there “may be more to come in the near term”.

He said: “However, domestic demand is still contracting and against that backdrop, it’s hard to see a strong and sustained recovery.”

Spain’s economy has been ailing since its property bubble burst in 2008.

Its banks needed government bailouts from other European countries to survive, after they were left with hundreds of billions worth of euros in bad debts.

Since then, Spain has endured Europe’s highest level of unemployment, at 26%. There have been huge street protests in response to government austerity cuts and thousands of businesses have gone bust.

Spain’s government recently predicted the end of its recession was near, saying its reforms and cuts were paying off.

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