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Tiananmen car crash suspects detained in China

Roy Siemens
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Tiananmen car crash suspects detained in China

Chinese police have detained five suspects in connection with Monday’s deadly car crash at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, state media report.

Police have described the incident as a “violent terror attack”, the Xinhua news agency says, for first time.

All three people in the car had names from the Muslim Uighur minority in the restive western region of Xinjiang.

Two bystanders died and 38 people were injured after the vehicle crashed into a crowd and burst into flames.

The police said that what happened at Tiananmen Square was a “violent terrorist attack” which was “carefully planned and organised”, Xinhua says.

The jeep that crashed into a bridge in front of the Forbidden City was driven by a man who was with his wife and mother, police said in a statement.

All three had names from the Muslim Uighur minority in the Xinjiang region.

Chinese police have detained five suspects in connection with Monday's deadly car crash at Beijing's Tiananmen Square
Chinese police have detained five suspects in connection with Monday’s deadly car crash at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square

The three ignited petrol inside the car, they added.

Police said the vehicle they found on Monday had a container for petrol, two knives and what they describe as a flag with extremist religious slogans on it. They added that the car’s number plates were registered in Xinjiang province.

They said they also found more knives and another flag at a location in Beijing.

On Wednesday, a number of news agency reports said a police notice was being circulated among hotels in Beijing, asking information about eight suspects.

Seven have names typical of the Uighur ethnic group and the other, although seemingly from China’s majority Han ethnicity, has an address in Xinjiang, reports say.

A tourist from the Philippines and a tourist from Guangdong province were among those killed in the incident. Another 38 people were injured, including three tourists from the Philippines and one from Japan.

Police shut down the scene of the incident – at the north end of the square at an entrance to the Forbidden City – shortly after it occurred, temporarily closing a subway station and a road.

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Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabooks smell of cat urine

Nancy Clayson
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Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabooks smell of cat urine

A number of Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabooks users have complained that their laptops “smell of cat urine”.

Dell engineers have ruled out biological contamination, and said the smell was not a health hazard.

The problem lay in the manufacturing process, which has now been changed, Dell said.

Users affected by the issue should send their laptop back for replacement parts.

Customers first raised the issue with Dell’s high-end business laptop in June.

“A few weeks ago I got a new Lattitude 6430u for work,” one user called Three West complained on Dell’s hardware support forum.

A number of Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabooks users have complained that their laptops smell of cat urine
A number of Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabooks users have complained that their laptops smell of cat urine

“The machine is great, but it smells as if it was assembled near a tomcat’s litter box. It is truly awful!”

Other users said they had blamed their cats for the smell.

Dell support technicians initially suggested that users should clean the laptop air vents with compressed air, but users complained that the odor persisted.

In September, a customer known as Malioz raised a concern that the cause of the problem could be to do with the polymer used in the laptop plastics, and asked whether chemicals causing the smell could be a health hazard.

After an investigation, Dell concluded that the odor was not hazardous to health.

“The smell is not related to cat urine or any other type of biological contaminant, nor is it a health hazard,” Dell support technician SteveB said.

The problem was related to the manufacturing process, and had now been resolved, he said.

“If you order an E6430u now, it will not have the issue.”

Dell recommended that users should send affected laptops away for a replacement palm rest and keyboard.

 

Halloween Muffins Recipe: Witch Hat Cupcakes

Kathryn R. Bown
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Halloween Muffins Recipe: Witch Hat Cupcakes

Cupcakes are the perfect choice for any celebratory occasion and can be easily transformed to make scary, yet delicious treats that will complete any Halloween party or gathering.

 

Witch hat cupcakes

 

Ingredients

For the cakes:

  • 150g self-raising flour
  • 150g butter (room temperature)
  • 3 medium eggs (room temperature)
  • 150g sugar
  • 1tsp vanilla extract
  • 30ml milk (room temperature)

For the buttercream:

  • 270g unsalted butter
  • 400g icing sugar
  • 1tsp good quality vanilla extract
  • 30ml milk
  • Tangerine food colour

For the toppers:

  • 250g black fondant
  • 100g white fondant
  • Gum tragacanth (optional)
  • Black, yellow, tangerine and violet food color

    Witch hat cupcakes
    Witch hat cupcakes

Equipment:

  • 12 purple cases
  • Sharp knife
  • 1cm and 7mm square cutters (optional)
  • Small paint brush
  • Wilton 2A nozzle and piping bag (optional)
  • Large drying sponge or greaseproof paper

 

 

Method:

For the toppers:

  1. You will need to make these toppers 2 days before you actually need them in order for them to set.
  2. The day before you want to make these toppers. Add your gum tragacanth to the black fondant and knead for 5 min, adding this can sometimes dull the black color so add a touch of black food color to bring it back again. Wrap this in cling film and pop in an airtight container overnight. This is an optional step but makes the fondant easier to work with.
  3. Color 50g fondant purple and 50g yellow.
  4. Rolling the black fondant out to 3mm thick and cut 12 triangles to fit the size of your cupcakes. After cutting the triangle bend the tops slightly to give a ‘floppy’ look. Pop the triangles on a large drying sponge or a piece of greaseproof to dry while you make the straps.
  5. Roll out the purple fondant to 2mm thick and with a sharp knife cut 4mm thick straps and place ¾ of the way up the hats. Trim to size and stick with a brush of water
  6. For the buckles roll out the yellow fondant and with a sharp knife cut 12 squares using the square cutters if you have them. With a smaller square cutter, cut the centre from the larger squares. Alternatively you can cut a small square from the left over purple fondant and stick it in the centre. Stick the buckles with a brush of water in the centre of the purple straps.
  7. Leave to dry for a couple of days in a breathable box – cake or shoe boxes work well. This will make sure the hats don’t droop onto the cakes.

For the cakes:

  1. Preheat your oven to 160°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3. Line the baking tray with 12 cases
  2. Add all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix until smooth, don’t overbeat or the batter will be greasy.
  3. Divide the batter between the 12 cases and bake for 20-25. Remove and cool in the trays for 10 minutes before moving to a wire cooling rack
  4. To make the buttercream: Pop all the ingredients onto a large bowl and beat on a low speed for about 7 min until smooth.
  5. Once cooled completely, pipe or spread a ball of buttercream into the centre of the cake. If using a piping bag, hold the nozzle in the centre of the cakes and apply pressure the bag, while keeping the nozzle in the centre. If you press the tip into the buttercream as you apply pressure you’ll get a perfect ball of buttercream. Stop applying pressure when the buttercream reaches close to the cake cases.
  6. Top the buttercream with a witch hat topper.

NSA surveillance: German intelligence officials in US talks over spy claims

Diane A. Wade
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NSA surveillance: German intelligence officials in US talks over spy claims

German intelligence officials are in Washington for talks at the White House on Wednesday following claims that the US monitored Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone.

Angela Merkel’s foreign policy adviser and Germany’s intelligence co-ordinator will hold talks at the White House.

The head of US intelligence has defended the monitoring of foreign leaders as a key goal of operations.

The US is facing growing anger over reports it spied on its allies abroad.

It has also been reported that the NSA monitored French diplomats in Washington and at the UN, and that it conducted surveillance on millions of French and Spanish telephone calls, among other operations against US allies.

German intelligence officials are in Washington for talks at the White House following claims that the US monitored Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone
German intelligence officials are in Washington for talks at the White House following claims that the US monitored Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone

However, NSA director General Keith Alexander said “the assertions… that NSA collected tens of millions of phone calls are completely false”.

The revelations stem from documents leaked by fugitive ex-US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who now lives in Russia and is wanted in the US in connection with the unauthorised disclosures.

German media have reported that the US bugged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone for more than a decade – and that the surveillance only ended a few months ago.

Germany’s delegation includes Christoph Heusgen, Angela Merkel’s foreign policy adviser, and Guenter Heiss, the secret service co-ordinator, said Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the US National Security Council.

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, are also expected to take part.

Caitlin Hayden said the meeting was part of the agreement reached between President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel last week to deepen US-German cooperation on intelligence matters.

The meeting comes just hours after James Clapper and Gen. Keith Alexander testified before the intelligence panel of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Gen. Keith Alexander said much of the data cited by non-US news outlets was actually collected by European intelligence services and later shared with the NSA.

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Best Halloween Candy 2013

Kathryn R. Bown
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Best Halloween Candy 2013

Halloween is all about the candy. So, make the neighborhood kids scream with delight by stocking up on this year’s best Halloween candies.

From classics chocolates to new takes on old favorites, here’s what you should be carrying in your candy bowl this All Hallow’s Eve:

1. Candy Corn Oreos

We don’t suggest you hand these out to trick-or-treaters, but you can keep them at home for a perfect end-of-the-night sweet surprise for your little ones. Serve them with a glass of milk, naturally.

2. Reese’s Pumpkins

For some reason the festive shaped Reese’s always taste the best; maybe it’s the thinner chocolate, giving you a richer peanut butter bite.

3. Candy Corn M&Ms

These M&Ms are not only your favorite type, they’re also in on the spooky spirit of this holiday.

4. Crazy Bones Lollipops

There’s no better lollipop for All Hallow’s Eve than these with their creepy bone-shaped stick. They’re a terrifically terrifying option for those who prefer non-chocolate candy.

Halloween Crazy Bones Lollipops
Halloween Crazy Bones Lollipops

5. Chocolate-Covered Pumpkin-Shaped Peeps

Peeps are generally a take-’em or leave-’em sort of candy. They melt away a little too quickly and they go stale overnight, but these new varieties are upgraded with a decadent chocolate dip. They’re now one step away from being a s’more; that’s a pretty delicious difference.

6. Annie’s Naturals Bunny Grahams

This year, that downer of a house that refuses to hand out candy gets a delicious upgrade. These organic, adorably-shaped grahams have taken on a festive flair, donning orange and black. No longer will these fun-size bags be the scourge of your candy spoils.

7. Candy Corn Pretzels

Salty-sweet treats really hit the spot, and this Halloween there’s a new option for satisfying that craving. Using the classic candy corn as a coating for salty, crunchy pretzels, these sweet treats come in fun-size packs for handing out or just pacing yourself.

8. Pumpkin Spice Break-A-Part

These satisfying sweets now come in the year’s favorite flavor, pumpkin spice. The balance of comforting spices and sweet milk chocolate might just make you forget all about those lattes.

9. Pumpkin Spice Kisses

They may be little, but they’re packed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin flavors so you can have the sweet taste of your favorite seasonal latte any time of day.

10. Dove Sea Salt & Caramel

This candy-consumption-based holiday isn’t just for kids. For a grown-up indulgence, stock up on these chocolates that pack the elegant contrast of sea salt and buttery caramel into two-bite treats.

Lady Gaga X Factor performance draws hundreds of complaints in UK

Lisa.Felice
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Lady Gaga X Factor performance draws hundreds of complaints in UK

Around 200 viewers have complained about Lady Gaga’s performance on The X Factor UK on Sunday, according to British regulator Ofcom.

The people contacted the broadcasting watchdog about Lady Gaga’s outfit of shells and flesh-colored underwear.

“We will assess all the complaints received on this issue before deciding whether to investigate,” said a spokesman.

Around 200 viewers have complained about Lady Gaga's performance on The X Factor UK
Around 200 viewers have complained about Lady Gaga’s performance on The X Factor UK

Another 60 viewers have complained directly to ITV about Lady Gaga’s appearance, before the 9 p.m. watershed.

An ITV spokeswoman said: “We do not believe Lady Gaga’s performance was inappropriate for the family audience of the X Factor Results show, which has an established tradition of featuring performances from the biggest music stars.

“Lady Gaga is well known for her highly individual performance style.”

In 2010, The X Factor final featured Christina Aguilera in a routine which was described as being “at the very margin of acceptability” by Ofcom.

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Emile Hirsch to play John Belushi in new biopic

Sonia Pantiss
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Emile Hirsch to play John Belushi in new biopic

Emile Hirsch is to star as John Belushi in a film biopic based on the legendary comic’s life.

Steve Conrad will write and direct the as yet untitled independent feature, to begin shooting in New York next spring.

Emile Hirsch, 28, is best known for his roles in Speed Racer, Milk, Into the Wild, The Girl Next Door and Killer Joe.

Emile Hirsch is to star as John Belushi in a film biopic based on the legendary comic's life
Emile Hirsch is to star as John Belushi in a film biopic based on the legendary comic’s life

John Belushi shot to fame as one of the original cast members of TV’s Saturday Night Live before dying of a drug overdose in 1982 at the age of 33.

According to Variety magazine, Steve Conrad will direct from a self-penned script adapted from a 2005 biography co-written by John Belushi’s widow Judy.

Steve Conrad’s writing credits include Will Smith film The Pursuit of Happyness, Nicolas Cage drama The Weather Man and upcoming Ben Stiller vehicle The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

His film will be executive produced by Dan Aykroyd, one of John Belushi’s best friends and the other Blues Brother in John Landis’s 1980 cult comedy film.

John Belushi, also famous for his role in John Landis’s film Animal House, was previously portrayed on screen by The Shield star Michael Chiklis in 1989 release Wired.

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Irwindale sues Huy Fong Foods over Sriracha hot sauce smell

Nancy Clayson
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Irwindale sues Huy Fong Foods over Sriracha hot sauce smell

Californian city of Irwindale has sued the maker of Sriracha hot sauce saying the factory’s smell makes the area uninhabitable.

Irwindale has asked a judge to prevent Huy Fong Foods from making the spicy condiment until the factory submits plan to reduce the smell.

Huy Fong representatives have said they are actively trying to fix the problem and have received no citations.

Sriracha sauce is sold around the world, and there was even a recent Sriracha festival in LA.

Californian city of Irwindale has sued the maker of Sriracha hot sauce saying the factory's smell makes the area uninhabitable
Californian city of Irwindale has sued the maker of Sriracha hot sauce saying the factory’s smell makes the area uninhabitable

Irwindale officials say residents have complained of burning eyes, irritated throats and headaches and are unable to escape the smell even inside their homes.

“The odors are so strong and offensive as to have caused residents to move outdoor activities indoors and even to vacate their residences temporarily to seek relief from the odors,” the city alleges in the lawsuit.

Huy Fong moved its factory to Irwindale, 20 miles outside Los Angeles, earlier this year. Before, it had two smaller factories in a nearby town.

During the months of September to December, all the chillies needed for producing the year’s sauce are processed and stored.

The company had been co-operating with the city until representatives denied the odors were a problem, saying workers had no complaints, according to Irwindale City Attorney Fred Galante.

Huy Fong founder David Tran told the Los Angeles Times that the company had already installed filters in the factory, to combat escaping smells, but needed more time to research how to best abate the odor.

North Korea: UN inquiry into human rights abuses

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea: UN inquiry into human rights abuses

Michael Kirby, the chief of a UN inquiry into human rights abuses in North Korea, says he was “moved to tears” by testimonies of “gross human rights violations”.

Michael Kirby, a retired judge, said the inquiry had “copious evidence” of rights abuses in North Korea.

During the inquiry’s hearings, eyewitnesses described systematic torture, starvation and executions.

North Korea describes the inquiry as “a political plot” and has not given investigators access to the country.

However, the inquiry said that it was not biased against Pyongyang and that it had consistently asked North Korean representatives to take part in public hearings and question witnesses.

The inquiry is the UN’s first-ever human rights investigation into North Korea.

The UN panel interviewed witnesses in South Korea, Japan and the UK, and is conducting hearings in the US on Wednesday and Thursday. It will submit a final report to the UN in March 2014.

“Some of the testimony has been extremely distressing,” Michael Kirby said.

Michael Kirby said the UN inquiry had copious evidence of rights abuses in North Korea
Michael Kirby said the UN inquiry had copious evidence of rights abuses in North Korea

“I am a judge of 35 years experience and I have seen in that time a lot of melancholy court cases which somewhat harden one’s heart.”

“But even in my own case, there have been a number of testimonies which have moved me to tears,” he said.

Some of the atrocities reported included a woman forced to drown her own baby; children imprisoned from birth and starved; and families tortured for watching a foreign soap opera.

Kim Song-ju, a North Korean defector, told the hearing last week about the torture he experienced in a detention camp.

“The North Korean prison guards were telling us that once you get to this prison you’re not human, you’re just like animals,” he said.

Meanwhile, fellow inquiry member Marzuki Darusman said that fewer North Koreans had fled to South Korea in 2013.

In 2013 so far, 1,041 North Koreans had entered South Korea, compared to 1,509 in 2012 and 2,706 in 2011, he said.

“This represents a reversal of the trend of steady increase in the number of annual arrivals since 1998, possibly due to recently tightened border control and increased incidents of refoulement,” he said.

Refoulement refers to the forced return of refugees to their country of origin or another country where they are likely to be persecuted.

North Korean refugees tend to make their journey to South Korea via China, which borders the North. However, China often returns North Korean refugees, ruling them economic migrants.

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Israel releases second batch of 26 Palestinian prisoners

Roy Siemens
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Israel releases second batch of 26 Palestinian prisoners

The second of four batches of 26 Palestinian prisoners have been released in Israel as part of a deal for the resumption of peace talks.

Five prisoners were released in Gaza, while the other 21 were sent to the West Bank.

Those freed were all convicted of murders and had spent between 19 and 28 years in prison.

Israeli and Palestinian officials resumed direct talks in Jerusalem in August after a three-year hiatus.

Those who have been freed are seen there as political prisoners and heroes of the Palestinian cause – but that the decision has been hugely unpopular with the Israeli public.

The Palestinians released early on Wednesday were driven from Israel’s Ofer prison to the Erez crossing into Gaza and the Beituna crossing into the West Bank.

In Gaza, fireworks shot into the sky as the former inmates were driven away in a convoy. In the West Bank, the freed prisoners were taken to Ramallah, where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed a large crowd.

The second of four batches of 26 Palestinian prisoners have been released in Israel as part of a deal for the resumption of peace talks
The second of four batches of 26 Palestinian prisoners have been released in Israel as part of a deal for the resumption of peace talks

Mahmoud Abbas said the next batch of prisoners would be released in two months, and called for all Palestinians to be freed.

“There will be no final agreement without the release of all the prisoners,” he said.

He also denied rumours that the deal for the prisoner release had been made on the understanding that Israel could continue building settlements.

The release has caused tensions within Israel’s governing coalition, with far-right parties trying and failing to stop it going ahead.

Shortly after the prisoners were freed, Israeli media reported that the government had announced that it would build 1,500 new homes in the east Jerusalem settlement of Ramat Shlomo.

The move was seen as an effort to mollify government hardliners. Talks between Israel and the Palestinians were suspended in 2010 after an Israeli freeze on settlement construction expired.

The longest serving prisoner, Isa Abed Rabbo, was convicted of murdering two students while they were hiking south of Jerusalem in October 1984.

A list of the prisoners was published 48 hours before the releases, to allow victims’ families to appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court against the freeing – but the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by an organisation for bereaved families.

There have been large protests in Israel in recent days. Demonstrators on Wednesday held signs that read “death to murderers”.

Conditions over freedom of movement are often attached to prisoner releases by Israel but these have sometimes been broken in the past, with freed Palestinians being rearrested, our correspondent says.

The first batch of Palestinian prisoners was freed in Gaza and the West Bank on August 14.

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Halloween 2013: Five last minute ideas for DIY costumes

Kathryn R. Bown
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Halloween 2013: Five last minute ideas for DIY costumes

Looking to score an awesome and unique Halloween costume this year, but don’t want to break the bank?

Check out five delightful DIY options for your Halloween costume:

1. Mary Poppins

Practically perfect in every way, this costume is easy to throw together at the last-minute using items in your closet. The accessories are key in nailing this costume so don’t forget the red bowtie, red belt, hats, the umbrella or the broomstick.

2. Bandits

Make out like bandits with this couples costume idea. Pull this look together using striped shirts, black pants, sneakers, black hats and black gloves. The bags can be purchsed from a thift store or craft store. Use your computer to print out a stencil for the $ sign.

Bandits Halloween costumes
Bandits Halloween costumes

3. Fantastic Mr. Fox

This couples’ costume is timely and easy to make. Wear a vintage outfit so that when you put down your mask, you still look like you’re dressed in costume.

4. The Hamburgler

Have a striped dress in your closet? All you need are a few accessories to transform yourself into a hamburgler.

5. Medusa

You just need a few items to make this costume: A beige or white dress, gold accessories, sandals and rubber snakes for your hair.

Pavel Dmitrichenko pleads not guilty in Sergei Filin acid attack trial

Sonia Pantiss
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Pavel Dmitrichenko pleads not guilty in Sergei Filin acid attack trial

Bolshoi ballet dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko has pleaded not guilty to ordering an acid attack on company’s artistic director Sergei Filin.

Sulphuric acid was thrown at Sergei Filin outside his Moscow flat in January, damaging his eyesight.

Pavel Dmitrichenko entered his plea at the start of a trial, in a case that has revealed infighting at the Bolshoi.

Another defendant, Yuri Zarutsky, accused of throwing the acid, told the court in Moscow that he had attacked Sergei Filin and had acted alone.

At the hearing, Pavel Dmitrichenko denied that he had colluded with Yuri Zarutsky and a third defendant, Andrei Lipatov, who is accused of driving the car used to transport the alleged attacker.

Pavel Dmitrichenko had told the court during earlier hearings that he had met Yuri Zarutsky at his country house, and had said he disapproved of Sergei Filin’s management style.

But he denied organizing the attack on the Bolshoi’s artistic director.

Pavel Dmitrichenko has pleaded not guilty to ordering an acid attack on company's artistic director Sergei Filin
Pavel Dmitrichenko has pleaded not guilty to ordering an acid attack on company’s artistic director Sergei Filin

“What happened to Filin is a result of Zarutsky’s savage conduct, not a result of my activities,” said Pavel Dmitrichenko.

“I had no hostile attitude towards Filin.”

He said Yuri Zarutsky, acting on his own motives, “committed this dangerous act, which we never discussed since I had no intent, and could not have had one to commit such an act in any form”.

Yuri Zarutsky – sitting at the opposite end of the defendants’ caged section to Pavel Dmitrichenko – told the trial judge that he threw the acid.

“I admit being guilty of attacking Filin,” he said, adding that Pavel Dmitrichenko and Andrei Lipatov were not involved.

In his testimony, Andrei Lipatov also denied any part in the attack.

Sergei Filin was not present in court during the hearing.

His lawyer said he was in Germany, receiving more treatment to save his sight and repair damage to his face.

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Kelly Osbourne apologizes to Lady Gaga after Twitter feud

Lisa.Felice
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Kelly Osbourne apologizes to Lady Gaga after Twitter feud

After a very public Twitter fight on Sunday, Kelly Osbourne is ready to bury the hatchet with Lady Gaga.

“@ladygaga I acted like a child last night. Just not into publicity stunts call me & we will end this like adults I don’t want 2 fight anymore,” Kelly Osbourne tweeted on October 28

Their latest feud started after Lady Gaga visited the X Factor UK set and posed with Kelly Osbourne’s mother holding a birthday cake for Kelly.

Then Kelly Osbourne took to Twitter to share her frustrations saying: “Not to be ungrateful but why would you send me a birthday cake via my MOTHER in a country half the would away? #JustSendItToME #LoveNotWar.” 

She also posted a picture of the cake with the caption: “#EatMySh – #Hypocrisy.”

Kelly Osbourne is ready to bury the hatchet with Lady Gaga
Kelly Osbourne is ready to bury the hatchet with Lady Gaga

The post has since been taken down.

The feud originated long before bakers got involved. In 2009, Kelly Osbourne called Lady Gaga a “butterface,” causing the iconic crooner’s band of loyal fans to launch into a series of threats against the Brit.

Lady Gaga later penned an open letter to Kelly Osbourne, criticizing her career choice saying: “Your work on E! with the <<Fashion Police>> is rooted in criticism, judgment, and rating people’s beauty against one another.”

But it was Sharon Osbourne who criticized Lady Gaga’s note, saying the eccentric star was bullying her daughter.

Sharon Osbourne and Lady Gaga have made up. After Lady Gaga performed on The X Factor UK, Sharone tweeted: “Blown away by Lady Gaga’s performance and graciousness.”

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James Clapper: US spying operations goal is to learn foreign leaders intentions

Diane A. Wade
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James Clapper: US spying operations goal is to learn foreign leaders intentions

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has told a House committee that discerning foreign leaders’ intentions is a key goal of US spying operations.

James Clapper described such efforts as a “top tenet” of US intelligence policy.

However, he told the House intelligence panel the US did not “indiscriminately” spy on other nations.

James Clapper was reacting to a growing international row over reports the US eavesdropped on foreign allies.

“Leadership intentions is kind of a basic tenet of what we collect and analyze,” he said, adding that foreign allies spy on US officials and intelligence agencies as a matter of routine.

James Clapper has told a House committee that discerning foreign leaders' intentions is a key goal of US spying operations
James Clapper has told a House committee that discerning foreign leaders’ intentions is a key goal of US spying operations

Also testifying before the House intelligence committee on Tuesday was NSA Director General Keith Alexander, who called media reports in France, Spain and Italy that the NSA collected millions of telephone calls “completely false”.

The information “that lead people to believe that the NSA or United States collected that information is false, and it’s false that it was collected on European citizens,” he added.

“It was neither.”

Tuesday’s hearing followed calls by US Senate intelligence committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein to end eavesdropping on leaders of the nation’s allies.

Dianne Feinstein said the White House had told her such surveillance would stop.

President Barack Obama has faced significant criticism over reports he was unaware of the extent of the spying.

Domnica Cemortan admits being Francesco Schettino’s lover at his trial

Nancy Clayson
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Domnica Cemortan admits being Francesco Schettino’s lover at his trial

Domnica Cemortan, a Moldovan dancer who was on the bridge of the Costa Concordia cruise ship with Captain Francesco Schettino, has admitted she was his lover at his trial.

Domnica Cemortan testified that she was in a romantic relationship with the captain and was with him when the cruise ship ran aground.

Francesco Schettino faces multiple charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship.

The January 2012 tragedy killed 32 people.

Francesco Schettino faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

On the night the Costa Concordia ran aground, Domnica Cemortan had dinner with Francesco Schettino before he invited her to join him on the bridge as he oversaw what was meant to be a close sail-past of the little Tuscan island of Giglio.

The Italian media has speculated the captain may have been distracted by Domnica Cemortan’s presence, or even showing off.

In court, Domnica Cemortan acknowledged after being pressed that they had been romantically involved. She boarded the ship as a non-paying passenger hours before the crash, saying “when you are someone’s lover no one asks you for a ticket.” Domnica Cemortan dismissed the remark as a joke to her translator.

Domnica Cemortan said she had worked for the company that operated the Costa Concordia for about three weeks in December 2011. She met Francesco Schettino on a previous cruise.

Domnica Cemortan testified that she was in a romantic relationship with Captain Francesco Schettino and was with him when the Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground
Domnica Cemortan testified that she was in a romantic relationship with Captain Francesco Schettino and was with him when the Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground

After the ship hit the rocks, Domnica Cemortan said the captain urged her to “save herself”.

She told court that she helped other passengers to abandon ship before getting into a lifeboat herself.

The court is expected to hear evidence from about 1,000 surviving passengers and crew in Captain Francesco Schettino’s trial.

In testimony earlier in the day, a crew member from the cruise ship told the court he had asked the captain to sail closer to a Tuscan island as a favor to his family.

The ship’s maitre d’ Antonello Tievoli told the court in Grossetto, Italy that he had asked the captain if he could sail close to the island of Giglio because he has family there, the news agency AP reported.

Francesco Schettino obliged on January 6, but was apparently disappointed with the result, and ordered the ship’s helmsman to plot a closer route for next time.

A week later, the Costa Concordia ran aground on rocks after veering too close to the island, with 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew aboard.

Francesco Schettino has acknowledged fault in the tragedy, but his defense team is arguing the ship sank in part because watertight doors did not function on the ship.

He also told the court in late September that his Indonesian helmsman was to blame for steering the ship onto rocks and ignoring orders to slow down.

However, an Italian naval expert told the trial these were not crucial factors and the crash would have happened anyway.

The helmsman, Jacob Rusli Bin, is one of five employees who were granted plea bargains in return for mild sentences in a separate proceeding. He was given a sentence of one year and eight months.

The 290m-long Costa Concordia ship was righted last month in one of the largest, most complex salvage operations ever that took 18 hours and followed months of stabilization and preparation work by a team of 500 engineers and divers.

That operation allowed divers to retrieve the remains of one of the two people still missing in the disaster, a young waiter. An Italian passenger, Maria Grazia Trecarichi, is still unaccounted for.

Plans are now being made to attempt to remove the Costa Concordia wreckage next year.

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Duck Dynasty stars release Duck the Halls Christmas album

Sonia Pantiss
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Duck Dynasty stars release Duck the Halls Christmas album

Duck Dynasty stars made their musical debut Tuesday with the national release of Christmas album – Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas.

“We’re proud of it,” Willie Robertson told The News-Star on Monday.

“It has classics and some originals.

“Christmas is about faith and family so it made sense to blend them with the Robertsons.”

Duck Dynasty stars made their musical debut Tuesday with the national release of Christmas album Duck the Halls
Duck Dynasty stars made their musical debut Tuesday with the national release of Christmas album Duck the Halls

Willie, Phil, Missy Robertson, Uncle Si and Sadie Robertson are all featured on the album, along with musical artists George Strait, Alison Krauss, Josh Turner and Luke Bryan.

“We love to sing and love the season,” said the Duck Commander CEO.

“It was a lot of fun, and fans of the show will see similarities to the show with a prayer and my thoughts to close it out.

“And of course, Si has some classic funny songs. It’s a real family album that hopefully is successful.”

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Marmaray: World’s first tunnel connecting two continents inaugurated on Turkey’s 90th Republic Day

Clyde K. Valle
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Marmaray: World’s first tunnel connecting two continents inaugurated on Turkey’s 90th Republic Day

Marmaray tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait has been opened in Turkey, creating a new link between the Asian and European shores of Istanbul.

The Marmaray tunnel is the world’s first connecting two continents, and is designed to withstand earthquakes.

The railway tunnel was inaugurated on the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey.

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has for years championed the undersea engineering project, first conceived by an Ottoman sultan in 1860.

Work began in 2004, but archaeological excavations delayed construction.

The underwater section runs for 0.8 miles (1.4 km), but in total the tunnel is 8.5 miles (13.6 km) long.

Japan invested $1 billion of the $4 billion total cost of the project, named Marmaray, which is a conflation of the nearby Sea of Marmara with “ray”, the Turkish word for rail.

The Turkish government hopes the new route under the Bosphorus will eventually develop into an important trading route.

Marmaray tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait has been opened in Turkey, creating a new link between the Asian and European shores of Istanbul
Marmaray tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait has been opened in Turkey, creating a new link between the Asian and European shores of Istanbul

In theory it brings closer the day when it will be possible to travel from London to Beijing via Istanbul by train.

The Marmaray project will upgrade existing suburban train lines to create a direct link joining the southern part of the city across the Bosphorus Strait.

Istanbul is one of the world’s biggest cities, with about 16 million people. Some 2 million people cross the Bosphorus every day via just two bridges, causing severe traffic congestion, the AFP news agency reported.

The rail service will be capable of carrying 75,000 people per hour in either direction.

“While creating a transport axis between the east and west points of the city, I believe it will soothe the problem” of congestion, said Istanbul’s Mayor Kadir Topbas.

Critics of PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan have seen the tunnel as one of his grandiose construction projects for the city where he used to be mayor.

Detractors of his proposals, including a third airport, a parallel canal, a third bridge over the Bosphorus and a second tunnel – for cars, south of Marmaray – say they illustrate Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “pharaonic” ambitions.

Authorities came under fire earlier this year when protesters opposed plans to redevelop Istanbul’s Gezi Park. Widespread violence between anti-government demonstrators and security forces ensued.

Marmaray tunnel is still not fully operational after Tuesday’s opening, AFP reports.

“The part that is in service is very limited. All that has been delayed until much later,” said Tayfun Kahraman, president of the Istanbul Chamber of Urban Planners.

“We are wondering why this inauguration is happening so soon.”

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Channing Tatum to Produce a Reality Pilot for A&E

Sonia Pantiss
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After recently selling a half-hour comedy to CBS, Channing Tatum is now going to be executive producing a reality pilot for A&E.

The hour-long docuseries would revolve around Saints & Sinners, the New Orleans nightclub  Channing Tatum opened last year with his friend and business partner Keith Kurtz.

Modeled after New Orleans’ Storyville era, Saints & Sinners’ motto is: “Where the red light is always on.”

Variety magazine reported: “The project is currently in the pilot stage at A&E, and hails from Tatum’s 33andOut Prods. and Original Media. Tatum and Kurtz will exec produce the show alongside Original’s Charlie Corwin. It is unclear whether Tatum will appear in the show.

“Should the burlesque club docuseries be picked up by A&E, it would join the cabler’s slate of unscripted programs including <<Duck Dynasty>>, the <<Storage Wars>> franchise, and <<American Hoggers>>.”

Alan and Si Robertson at Field & Stream outdoor store opening in Cincinnati

Sonia Pantiss
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Alan and Si Robertson at Field & Stream outdoor store opening in Cincinnati

Duck Dynasty’s Alan and Si Robertson will join a number of other celebrities to welcome a new Field & Stream outdoor store in Cincinnati.

Alan Robertson and Uncle Si will be at the new Field & Stream store at Buttermilk Towne Center on Sunday, November 1st. Their visit is part of a three-day event to celebrate the opening of the second-ever Field & Stream retail location.

Two months ago, Willie Robertson surprised a couple at Field & Stream wedding in Pennsylvania
Two months ago, Willie Robertson surprised a couple at Field & Stream wedding in Pennsylvania

The weekend will also feature visits from Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green and country music star Dustin Lynch as well as several outdoor industry experts and activities.

The weekend’s events will kick off with a performance from Dustin Lynch at 9:30 a.m. Friday and a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting.

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Si Robertson dressed up as a beaver for Halloween

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson dressed up as a beaver for Halloween

Si Robertson dressed up as a beaver for the Halloween celebration on Duck Dynasty’s season finale.

“Look, it ain’t about the costume,” Uncle Si insisted.

“It’s about the attitude.”

“You’re telling me that if you saw a beaver the size of a man, that that would not scare you?” Si Robertson said looking straight into the camera.

Si Robertson dressed up as a beaver for the Halloween celebration
Si Robertson dressed up as a beaver for the Halloween celebration

“Buck teeth the size of your head? One chomp, he’d bite your right arm off.”

But when his nephew Willie Robertson, who dressed as Freddy Krueger, failed to see the sinister side of Uncle Si’s creature feature, what with it lacking any blood, Si warned him to be patient.

“That’ll come later when I eat a kid,” he smiled.

When Duck Commander’s haunted house kicked off, Willie Robertson could be seen jumping from the swamp with a warning: “I’m a man-eating mutant beaver, and I love little children the best!”

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National Cat Day 2013: Facilitate adoption of 10,000 shelter cats

Nancy Clayson
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National Cat Day 2013: Facilitate adoption of 10,000 shelter cats

National Cat Day is an American public holiday celebrating cats and encouraging adoption rather than buying from pet stores supplied by kitten mills.

The holiday celebrates fabulous felines of all breeds, shapes and sizes.

National Cat Day is celebrated on October 29th each year.

The annual event was created to raise awareness about the millions of homeless cats and kittens waiting for homes.

National Cat Day is a public holiday celebrating cats and encouraging adoption rather than buying from pet stores
National Cat Day is a public holiday celebrating cats and encouraging adoption rather than buying from pet stores

National Cat Day is an official holiday of the Animal Miracle Foundation, founded by Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate, Colleen Paige to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued each year and also to encourage cat lovers to celebrate the cat(s) in their life for the unconditional love and companionship they bestow upon us.

Since its inception, nearly 1 million cats have been saved since National Cat Day began back in 2005. This year’s goal is to “facilitate the adoption of 10,000 shelter cats” on October 29, 2013.

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O.J. Simpson’s South Florida house to be auctioned

Nancy Clayson
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O.J. Simpson’s South Florida house to be auctioned

O.J. Simpson’s South Florida house will be auctioned today (October 29), a Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts official said.

The sale is part of a bank foreclosure proceeding issued by a judge in August for JPMorgan Chase Bank.

The 4,233-square-foot home near Miami has been in foreclosure proceedings for about two years. The home is expected to appear in the online auction Tuesday.

O.J. Simpson was convicted in 2008 in Nevada of the kidnapping and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas
O.J. Simpson was convicted in 2008 in Nevada of the kidnapping and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas

O.J. Simpson was convicted in 2008 in Nevada of the kidnapping and armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas. He was also acquitted in 1995 of killing his ex-wife and her friend.

Court documents show O.J. Simpson owes more than $796,000 in principal and interest on the Florida property. There’s also nearly $42,000 in unpaid property taxes and insurance premiums of about $43,000.

The property is located on 9450 Southwest 112 Street in Kendall.

Halloween myths busted

Nancy Clayson
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Halloween myths busted

Poisoned candy, black cats, the “unlucky” number 13 – some legendary superstitions that make your skin crawl on Halloween.

1. Halloween is the devil’s holiday

Halloween is actually derived from Celtic and Druid ritual, which is separate from Christianity – meaning “Satan” isn’t even a factor. Scholars attribute this myth to Christian fundamentalists who thought that the dark imagery associated with Halloween made it evil and the work of the devil. In all actuality, the original Halloween celebrations were dedicated to positivity, like celebrating the harvest.

2. People hand out poisoned (or otherwise tampered with) candy

Every year, parents worry about their children’s well-being when they go out to trick or treat. But maybe this will make you relax just a bit: There have only been two confirmed cases of children being killed by poisoned Halloween candy, and in both cases, they were killed intentionally by one of their parents. With those two exceptions, no child has been killed or seriously injured thanks to Halloween candy.

3. A black cat crossing your path means bad things to come

Halloween is derived from Celtic and Druid ritual, which is separate from Christianity
Halloween is derived from Celtic and Druid ritual, which is separate from Christianity

If a black cat crosses your path, well – you’re screwed. This myth originates from the idea that witches used to keep these creatures as companions and that some could even change themselves into cats. All of this is completely bogus, and in some countries and cultures (the UK, Japan and Scotland, for example), a black cat actually has a positive connotation: foreshadowing good things to come.

4. A broken mirror equals bad luck

Break a mirror and you’ll have seven years’ bad luck. This myth is derived from an idea that our ancestors had: The image in a mirror was your actual soul, and if a mirror was shattered, it meant your soul had gone astray. The only way to set it straight? Bury the pieces of broken glass.

5. The number 13 is unlucky

Could a number get a worse rep than 13? People even skip it as an official floor in many buildings, going straight from 12 to 14. But this number is just that. There’s a lot of speculation as to why 13 has been deemed unlucky, including the idea that there were 13 witches in a coven, but rest assured – it’s perfectly fine to leave your house on the 13th. Even on a Friday.

Westgate mall attack: Kenyan soldiers jailed for looting

Diane A. Wade
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Westgate mall attack: Kenyan soldiers jailed for looting

Two soldiers have been sacked and jailed for looting during last month’s attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping centre, Kenyan army chief Julius Karangi has said.

Julius Karangi said that a third soldier was under investigation.

He has previously said that soldiers had only taken water during the four-day siege, despite CCTV footage seeming to show them helping themselves to goods in a supermarket.

Somali Islamist group al-Shabab says it was behind the attack, which killed 67.

Two soldiers have been sacked and jailed for looting during last month's attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping centre
Two soldiers have been sacked and jailed for looting during last month’s attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping centre

At the same news conference, Police Criminal Investigation Department head Ndegwa Muhoro said that a phone call had been made to Norway during the siege.

One of the suspected attackers has been named as 23-year-old Somalia-born Norwegian national, Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow.

The Kenyan army has said that all four of the attackers died.

Ndegwa Muhoro said that Interpol was helping to analyse the bodies to confirm their identities, reports the AFP news agency.

Officials had initially said there were 10-15 attackers.

Ndegwa Muhoro said that five other people were in detention over the attack and would be charged soon.

Several shop-owners have said that their premises were looted during the siege.

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Syria polio outbreak: Ten cases confirmed by WHO

Kathryn R. Bown
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Syria polio outbreak: Ten cases confirmed by WHO

The WHO has confirmed 10 cases of polio in Syria – the first outbreak in the country in 14 years.

The WHO says a further 12 cases are still being investigated. Most of the 22 people who have been tested are babies and toddlers.

Before Syria’s civil war began in 2011, some 95% of children were vaccinated against the disease.

The UN now estimates 500,000 children have not been immunized.

The WHO said the suspected outbreak centres on the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.

The highly contagious disease is most often spread by consuming food or liquid contaminated with faeces.

“Of course this is a communicable disease, with population movements it can travel to other areas. So the risk is high for [its] spread across the region,” the Reuters news agency quotes WHO spokesman Oliver Rosenbauer as saying in Geneva.

“Immunizations have started in that area,” he said.

The WHO has confirmed 10 cases of polio in Syria
The WHO has confirmed 10 cases of polio in Syria

There are more than 100,000 children, all under age five, now at risk of polio in Deir Ezzor province alone, which has been caught in fierce battles between Syrian government forces and opposition fighters.

The city of Deir Ezzor remains partially controlled by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, while the countryside is in the hands of the opposition.

More than 4 million Syrians have been displaced internally by the conflict and generally live in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.

A further two million have fled the country, many of them living in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt.

The WHO has already reported increases in cases of measles, typhoid and hepatitis A.

Since the first suspected polio case was reported 10 days ago, Syria’s Health Ministry has begun an immunization drive and aid agencies have begun developing emergency immunization plans at Syrian refugee camps.

Oliver Rosenbauer said most victims were under two years old and were thought never to have been vaccinated against polio.

“The next step will be to look genetically at these isolated viruses and where they came from. That should give some clarity on the origin,” he said.

Polio has been largely eradicated in developed countries but remains endemic in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

There is no known cure, though a series of vaccinations can confer immunity.

Young children are particularly susceptible to paralytic polio, the most serious form of the disease.

What is polio?

  • Polio (poliomyelitis) mainly affects children aged under five
  • It is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus which invades the nervous system
  • Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and limb pain
  • One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis
  • Between 5-10% of those who suffer paralysis die because their breathing muscles are immobilized
  • Cases have fallen by over 99% since 1988, from around 350,000 then to 223 in 2012
  • However polio remains endemic in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan

Source: World Health Organization

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