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Glenn Taylor: US scout leader faces criminal charges after Utah ancient rock scandal

Nancy Clayson
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Glenn Taylor: US scout leader faces criminal charges after Utah ancient rock scandal

Criminal charges are being considered against US scout leader Glenn Taylor who toppled an ancient rock formation in Utah, sparking an international outcry.

Glenn Taylor was filmed by a colleague pushing the 170 million-year-old red rock in Goblin Valley State Park and celebrating afterwards.

The two scouts say they have received death threats after the video was posted online.

The two men argue the rock was loose and could have fallen on a passer-by.

Utah State Parks spokesman Eugene Swalberg said the state authorities were considering bringing the charges after the incident.

Criminal charges are being considered against US scout leader Glenn Taylor who toppled an ancient rock formation in Utah
Criminal charges are being considered against US scout leader Glenn Taylor who toppled an ancient rock formation in Utah

“This is not behavior that is appreciated or should exist in state parks,” Eugene Swalberg told the Deseret News.

“This has been formed for literally millions of years, and it’s supposed to last for a long time. It doesn’t need individuals doing the work of Mother Nature.”

The Boy Scouts of America – who have millions of members across the country – also condemned the action, warning that it would take “appropriate” measures.

The scout leaders said the stone was pushed over because of safety concerns.

However, scout leader Dave Hall told the Salt Lake Tribune: “I think we made the right decision, but probably the wrong method.

“We take full responsibility for whatever mistake we made, and we’re open to whatever that means from the state, from the Boy Scouts’ office, etc.”

In the video, Glenn Taylor is seen congratulating a colleague after the mushroom-shaped sandstone rock – known as a “goblin” – was toppled.

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Larry Flynt does not want Joseph Paul Franklin to be executed

Lisa.Felice
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Larry Flynt does not want Joseph Paul Franklin to be executed

Larry Flynt has said he does not want Joseph Paul Franklin – the man who put him in a wheelchair – to face the death penalty.

Joseph Paul Franklin, who shot Larry Flynt outside a Georgia court in 1978, is set for execution in Missouri in November.

“I have every reason to be overjoyed with this decision, but I am not,” Larry Flynt told the Hollywood Reporter.

“I would love an hour in a room with him… so I could inflict the same damage on him that he inflicted on me. But, I do not want to… see him die.”

White supremacist Joseph Paul Franklin, who is being executed for killing Gerald Gordon outside a synagogue in 1977, has been convicted of a total of eight racially motivated murders across the US between 1977 and 1980.

Joseph Paul Franklin confessed to, or was implicated in, 13 additional racial murders.

Larry Flynt has said he does not want Joseph Paul Franklin, the man who put him in a wheelchair, to face the death penalty
Larry Flynt has said he does not want Joseph Paul Franklin, the man who put him in a wheelchair, to face the death penalty

The killer said he targeted Larry Flynt after the publisher featured a black man and white woman in a photoshoot in Hustler, the magazine that formed the cornerstone of his entertainment business.

“He hated blacks, he hated Jews, he hated all minorities,” Larry Flynt wrote.

The entertainment mogul, who suffered permanent spinal cord damage, was left paralyzed from the waist down after the shooting.

The events were dramatized in the 1996 film The People vs. Larry Flynt, starring Woody Harrelson and Courtney Love.

“As far as the severity of punishment is concerned, to me, a life spent in a 3-by-6-foot cell is far harsher than the quick release of a lethal injection,” wrote Larry Flynt, now 70, in a guest column this week.

The publisher, who has never met Joseph Paul Franklin face-to-face, says he does not believe the death penalty is a deterrent.

“I have had many years in this wheelchair to think about this very topic,” Larry Flynt wrote.

“As I see it, the sole motivating factor behind the death penalty is vengeance, not justice, and I firmly believe that a government that forbids killing among its citizens should not be in the business of killing people itself.”

In a statement in August, Missouri attorney general Chris Koster said by setting an execution date of November 20, the court had taken “an important step to see that justice is finally done for the victims and their families”.

Toddler mimicking Freddie Mercury becomes viral

Nancy Clayson
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Toddler mimicking Freddie Mercury becomes viral

This video showing a cute toddler coming up with his own Bohemian Rhapsody by mimicking the moves of Queen legend Freddie Mercury has become viral on YouTube.

This toddler is coming up with his own Bohemian Rhapsody by mimicking the moves of Queen legend Freddie Mercury
This toddler is coming up with his own Bohemian Rhapsody by mimicking the moves of Queen legend Freddie Mercury

The baby watches a video of Freddie Mercury as he tries to whip a crowd.

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Syrian soldiers killed in Damascus blast

Roy Siemens
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Syrian soldiers killed in Damascus blast

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 16 Syrian soldiers have been killed in a suicide bombing and fighting that followed in Damascus suburb of Jaramana.

The blast triggered clashes at a checkpoint near the mainly-Christian area of Jaramana, activists say.

State media blamed “terrorists” for the explosion but did not give details.

Earlier, the US urged the Syrian government to allow aid to reach starving civilians in Damascus.

Washington said the army’s months-long siege left many people in rebel-held areas in desperate need of food, water and medicine.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria, said the suicide car bombing by the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front triggered heavy fighting at a key checkpoint between Jaramana and the rebel-held town of Mleha.

At least 16 Syrian soldiers have been killed in a suicide bombing and fighting that followed in Damascus suburb of Jaramana
At least 16 Syrian soldiers have been killed in a suicide bombing and fighting that followed in Damascus suburb of Jaramana

It said rebels fired rockets into Jaramana during the fighting and Syrian fighter jets retaliated by striking nearby opposition-held areas.

The report could not be confirmed.

Rebels control much of the countryside around Damascus but Jaramana – a Christian and Druze area mostly loyal to President Bashar al-Assad – is still held by the government.

In August a car bomb in the suburb killed 18 people.

President Bashar al-Assad has drawn support from Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians and members of his Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam.

The rebel movement is dominated by Sunni Muslims, who are a majority in Syria.

In a statement on Friday, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “We call on the Syrian regime to immediately approve relief convoys.”

And she warned that “those who are responsible for atrocities in the Damascus suburbs and across Syria must be identified and held accountable”.

At least three of Damascus’s suburbs – Yarmouk, Eastern Ghouta and Moudamiyah – have been besieged by government forces for several months.

Australia bushfires: Military training may started New South Wales blaze

Nancy Clayson
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Australia bushfires: Military training may started New South Wales blaze

Australian authorities are investigating whether a military training exercise using explosives may have started one of the huge bush fires burning in the state of New South Wales.

The exercise took place at a base near the town of Lithgow in the Blue Mountains region on Wednesday.

It was the same day that a massive bush fire – which is still burning – began.

About 200 homes have been destroyed in dozens of fires which have been burning for several days.

This year’s fires have come unusually early after unseasonably hot weather, and many are fearing a long and dangerous summer.

One man has died – possibly of a heart attack – while trying to protect his home.

The Australian Defense Force issued a statement about the fire burning between Lithgow and Bilpin, some 50 miles north-west of Sydney, which is reported to have burned through 74,000 acres and destroyed properties.

Australian authorities are investigating whether a military training exercise using explosives may have started one of the huge bush fires burning in the state of New South Wales
Australian authorities are investigating whether a military training exercise using explosives may have started one of the huge bush fires burning in the state of New South Wales

It said it was investigating the circumstances of the fire, which began on defense land.

“The fire started on 16 October, the same day that defense personnel were conducting an explosive ordnance training activity,” the statement said.

“Defense is investigating if the two events are linked.

“Our thoughts are with those who have lost property or whose property is threatened by these devastating fires.”

Firefighters have been trying to make the most of a relatively cool day to tackle about 20 fires that are burning out of control, but higher temperatures and strong winds are expected to create difficult conditions in the coming days.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said Saturday’s conditions were a “pause”, but that the fire perimeter stretched for more than 300 miles.

“We’re by no means out of the woods,” he told broadcaster ABC.

“It’s just calmed down a little bit and obviously we’re bracing ourselves for these worsening conditions.”

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said some of the fires were so large they would take some time to completely extinguish.

“Firefighters will be working on these fires for weeks,” he said.

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Venezuela denies Vittorio Missoni’s remains recovery

Nancy Clayson
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Venezuela denies Vittorio Missoni’s remains recovery

Venezuela has denied reports that rescue teams have retrieved the remains of Italian fashion heir Vittorio Missoni and four other people from the Caribbean.

The group was in a small plane carrying six people that plunged into the sea shortly after taking off from the Los Roques islands in January.

The wreckage was found in June at a depth of 230ft.

Rescue teams have been carrying out searches in the area for several days.

Venezuelan Attorney General Luisa Ortega issued a statement saying that she was going to meet relatives arriving in Caracas to update them on the rescue mission.

El Universal newspaper, Italian media and news agencies reported on Thursday that the bodies of the four passengers and the co-pilot, Juan Carlos Ferrer, had been found.

Vittorio Missoni and Maurizia Castiglioni died in a plane crash alongside two Italian friends who were holidaying with them
Vittorio Missoni and Maurizia Castiglioni died in a plane crash alongside two Italian friends who were holidaying with them

They are still looking for the remains of the Venezuelan pilot, German Marchant, according to those reports.

But El Universal has now said that rescue teams working north of Los Roques have not yet retrieved the bodies.

Vittorio Missoni and his partner, Maurizia Castiglioni died in the crash alongside two Italian friends who were holidaying with them in the Venezuelan archipelago, Guido Foresti and Elda Scalvenzi.

The twin-engine aircraft disappeared on 4 January.

Vittorio Missoni was the son of the late founder of the Italian Missoni fashion house, Ottavio Missoni, and co-owned the firm with his siblings.

A piece of luggage from the aircraft was found off the Dutch island of Curacao, about 200 miles west of Los Roques, later that month.

Los Roques, an archipelago made up of dozens of islands some 95 miles off Venezuela’s coast, is one of the area’s most popular holiday destinations.

US signs deal to use Romanian air base for Afghan pullout

Roy Siemens
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US signs deal to use Romanian air base for Afghan pullout

The US has signed a deal to use a Romanian air base as a transit point for American forces leaving Afghanistan, officials have said.

The agreement was reached at bilateral talks at the Pentagon.

The move will allow the US to switch its flight operations to Romania from Kyrgyzstan’s Manas air base, when the US lease there expires in July 2014.

Washington plans to withdraw most of its 52,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

The US wants to keep a smaller force in the country after the deadline, but is still negotiating key details with the government in Kabul.

The US has signed a deal to use a Romanian air base as a transit point for American forces leaving Afghanistan
The US has signed a deal to use a Romanian air base as a transit point for American forces leaving Afghanistan

The deal about the use of Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu air base was agreed during the talks between US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Romanian Defense Minister Mircea Dusa.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman George Little said Chuck Hagel “praised this agreement, which is particularly important as the US prepares to wind down transit centre operations at Manas”.

“Secretary Hagel highlighted this agreement as a further testament to Romania’s steadfast commitment to the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission and its commitment to regional and international security.”

However, the details of the deal were not released. The base is near the Black Sea town of Constanta.

In June, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament voted to end the US lease on Manas in July 2014.

The US pays $60 million each year to lease the base, which has been in operation since 2001.

Russia also has an air base in Kyrgyzstan, for which it agreed a 15-year extension last year.

Greece: Mystery blonde girl found living in a Roma camp

Nancy Clayson
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Greece: Mystery blonde girl found living in a Roma camp

Greek police has launched an international appeal to try to identify a young blonde girl found living on a Roma settlement with a family she did not resemble.

According to DNA tests, the child, called Maria and aged around 4, was not related to the couple she lived with.

Maria is now being looked after by a charity. Her photo has been released to help find her family.

Officials fear the little girl may have been a victim of abduction or child trafficking.

Police are appealing internationally as the little girl looks like she might be from northern or eastern Europe.

Police raided the Roma camp, near Farsala in central Greece, on suspicion of criminal activity.

Greek police has launched an international appeal to try to identify a young blonde girl found living on a Roma settlement with a family she did not resemble
Greek police has launched an international appeal to try to identify a young blonde girl found living on a Roma settlement with a family she did not resemble

They noticed the lack of resemblance between the blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl and her parents, and found further discrepancies when they investigated the family’s documents.

The Roma family had registered different numbers of children with different regional family registries.

The woman claimed to have given birth to six children within a 10-month period.

When questioned about how they came to have Maria, the couple gave “constantly changing claims,” Thessalia Province Police Director Vassilis Halatsis said.

The couple has been arrested on suspicion of abducting a minor.

The president of the Smile of the Child organization that is looking after the little girl, Kostas Yaaopoulos, says the child is confused and shocked by the change in her environment.

The girl was being used to beg on the streets of Larissa because she was blonde and cute, he alleged.

The case will offer fresh hope to the parents of Madeleine McCann who disappeared from a Portuguese holiday resort in May 2007.

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EU and Canada agree free trade deal in Brussels

Clyde K. Valle
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EU and Canada agree free trade deal in Brussels

The European Union (EU) and Canada have struck a free trade agreement aimed at boosting growth and employment.

The deal will lower tariffs, streamline regulation, and cut red tape.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Canadian PM Stephen Harper agreed the deal at a meeting in Brussels on Friday.

Jose Manuel Barroso said they had reached a “breakthrough in negotiations” to achieve “a great agreement for both the European Union and Canada”.

The deal still requires approval by parliaments and EU member states.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Canadian PM Stephen Harper agreed the deal at a meeting in Brussels
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Canadian PM Stephen Harper agreed the deal at a meeting in Brussels

Once approved, the agreement aims to make it easier for companies in Canada and the 28-member EU bloc to invest in and sell to each other.

The EU is Canada’s second-largest trading partner behind the US.

Stephen Harper said the agreement was “the biggest (trade) deal our country has ever made”. It will give Canada access to a market of some 500 million people in the EU, making it bigger even than the country’s North American Free Trade Agreement signed with the US and Mexico.

The European Commission expects the deal to increase bilateral trade in goods and services by a fifth to 25.7 billion euros ($35 billion) a year.

The EU is negotiating trade pacts with more than 80 countries on behalf of the bloc’s members following the collapse of the Doha global trade talks.

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Malala Yousafzai meets Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace

Diane A. Wade
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Malala Yousafzai meets Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girls’ education campaigner who has found international fame since being shot by Taliban militants last year, met with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen and Prince Philip invited the young activist to a reception at Buckingham Palace, where they met and chatted for a short time.

Malala Yousafzai, who was accompanied by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, presented the Queen with a copy of her newly published memoir, titled I am Malala.

“It’s nice to meet you and it’s a great honor coming here, and I wanted to present you my book,” Malala Yousafzai said when she met the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth responded: “That’s very kind of you. Thank you very much indeed.”

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip invited Malala Yousafzai to a reception at Buckingham Palace, where they met and chatted for a short time
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip invited Malala Yousafzai to a reception at Buckingham Palace, where they met and chatted for a short time

Malala Yousafzai, 16, said she hoped the two could work together to make sure all children receive an education, not just in Pakistan, but in the UK, too.

“I hope that we will all work together for the education of every child, and especially in this country as well, because I have heard about many children that cannot go to school,” said the Queen.

“So I hope that we will continue our work on youth empowerment.”

Prince Philip made a joke about children and education when meeting Malala Yousafzai at the palace.

“It’s one thing about children going to school,” he said, “they go to school because their parents don’t want them in the house.”

In an interview with CNN last week, Malala Yousafzai joked that she was going “because it’s the order of the Queen, it’s the command.”

Malala Yousafzai has been based in Britain since she was rushed there for major surgery after the Taliban shot her in the head in her native Pakistan because of her efforts to promote girls’ education.

Last Friday, as the world marked the International Day of the Girl, Malala Yousafzai met President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.

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Kim Kardashian criticized over swimsuit selfie

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian criticized over swimsuit selfie

Social media users criticized Kim Kardashian for focusing on her body rather than her new baby after the reality star posted a new photo of herself showing off her post baby body to Instagram on October 16, 2013.

Not everyone was as thrilled as Kanye West about the white swimsuit picture Kim Kardashian posted on Instagram Wednesday.

Kim Kardashian, 32, flaunted her post-baby body in the snap, showing off a good deal of skin for her mobile phone camera.

But commenters on Twitter weren’t applauding.

Social media users criticized Kim Kardashian for focusing on her body rather than her new baby
Social media users criticized Kim Kardashian for focusing on her body rather than her new baby

“This photo is desperate. This photo is sad. This photo is inappropriate,” one user wrote about Kim Kardashian.

“Kim Kardashian should stop taking inappropriate pictures & start taking care of her baby,” wrote another.

According to Radar Online, Kim Kardashian also got a number of Instagram commenters calling her “disgusting” and “nasty.”

However, Kim Kardashian isn’t likely to stop strutting her stuff any time soon. On Thursday, the reality star stepped out wearing super-short shorts and heels.

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Are Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeffrey Soffer having an affair?

Lisa.Felice
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Are Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeffrey Soffer having an affair?

Gwyneth Paltrow denied having an affair with billionaire Jeffrey Soffer, despite a false story expected to run in Vanity Fair.

On Friday, the New York Post reported Vanity Fair has been digging into Gwyneth Paltrow’s friendship with Jeffrey Soffer, who is now married to Elle Macpherson, for its upcoming exposé on Paltrow.

Gwyneth Paltrow denied leaving husband Chris Martin for billionaire Jeffrey Soffer
Gwyneth Paltrow denied leaving husband Chris Martin for billionaire Jeffrey Soffer

A source for the paper says Vanity Fair has been asking “Miami society sources” about Gwyneth Paltrow’s trip to Jeffrey Soffer’s Fontainebleau Hotel back in 2008.

“Vanity Fair is asking if Gwyneth had an affair with Jeff back in 2008 when he reopened the Fontainebleau,” reveals the insider.

The source added: “He flew her in for the party, and she stayed at his house.”

The New York Post notes: “Soffer reportedly gave Paltrow a private tour of the hotel, whisking her away in his Bentley, and the following day, she joined him on his yacht with Kate Hudson.”

The paper goes on to claim that Gwyneth Paltrow and husband Chris Martin were “on the rocks” during that time.

Surf 007: Silver Cross Aston Martin edition baby stroller on sale at Harrods

Nancy Clayson
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Surf 007: Silver Cross Aston Martin edition baby stroller on sale at Harrods

Silver Cross is launching an Aston Martin limited edition baby stroller which will set you back a cool £2,000 ($3,000).

Babies can bask in an interior lined with Alcantara – the ultra soft Italian suede made to the same specifications as James Bond’s favorite motor.

The leather trimmed push bar and even the swish alloy wheels are based on the same design as the rare $1.9 million One-77 coupe.

The smooth air-ride suspension is said to glide over every kind of terrain from gravel drives and grass to rocky roads and pavements.

An adjustable handlebar allows mums, dads and nannies to move it into a comfortable pushing position and the travel system includes a carry cot and reclining seat.

Made in partnership with British pram firm Silver Cross, the limited edition Silver Cross Surf – Aston Martin Edition already has a waiting list with just 800 being made for sale.

Silver Cross Aston Martin edition baby stroller
Silver Cross Aston Martin edition baby stroller

Both companies say the stylish pram is “designed to perfection with every detail considered”.

Each handmade buggy will carry the prestigious Aston Martin logo on the chassis, wheels and interior and is expected to be built at the factory in Bradford.

Silver Cross which has made prams for royal babies and tots of superstars from Mick Jagger to Lily Allen reckons its latest addition is the most expensive – and exclusive baby accessory in the world.

Chairman Alan Halsall who rescued the company from administration in 2002 said: “I am thrilled that Silver Cross and Aston Martin are working together and have produced this brand new totally exclusive pram which is a great testament to two of the most famous British brands.”

Alan Halsall was keeping mum on whether parents to be Prince William and Kate Middleton had put their names down for one.

“We’re delighted if any consumer chooses a Silver Cross product,” he said.

An Aston Martin spokesman said: “Silver Cross has a long tradition of providing the finest for new families.

“The Silver Cross Surf – Aston Martin Edition has taken inspiration from our own expertise in engineering and design, with many of the materials and techniques used on the pram, also used in our own Aston Martin interiors.”

The limited edition and individually numbered prams will only be available from Harrods in April.

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Brain uses sleep to wash away toxins

Kathryn R. Bown
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Brain uses sleep to wash away toxins

According to a new study, the brain uses sleep to wash away the waste toxins built up during a hard day’s thinking.

The US team conducting the new research, believe the “waste removal system” is one of the fundamental reasons for sleep.

Their study, published in the journal Science, showed brain cells shrink during sleep to open up the gaps between neurons and allow fluid to wash the brain clean.

They also suggest that failing to clear away some toxic proteins may play a role in brain disorders.

It has been shown to have a big role in the fixing of memories in the brain and learning, but a team at the University of Rochester Medical Centre believe that “housework” may be one of the primary reasons for sleep.

The brain uses sleep to wash away the waste toxins built up during a hard day's thinking
The brain uses sleep to wash away the waste toxins built up during a hard day’s thinking

“The brain only has limited energy at its disposal and it appears that it must choose between two different functional states – awake and aware or asleep and cleaning up,” said researcher Dr. Maiken Nedergaard.

“You can think of it like having a house party. You can either entertain the guests or clean up the house, but you can’t really do both at the same time.”

Their findings build on last year’s discovery of the brain’s own network of plumbing pipes – known as the glymphatic system – which carry waste material out of the brain.

Scientists, who imaged the brains of mice, showed that the glymphatic system became 10-times more active when the mice were asleep.

Cells in the brain, probably the glial cells which keep nerve cells alive, shrink during sleep. This increases the size of the interstitial space, the gaps between brain tissue, allowing more fluid to be pumped in and wash the toxins away.

Dr. Maiken Nedergaard said this was a “vital” function for staying alive, but did not appear to be possible while the mind was awake.

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Google shares hit $1,000 for the first time

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Google shares hit $1,000 for the first time

Google shares have reached the $1,000 milestone for the first time after the company reported better-than-expected earnings.

Google posted a 36% jump in net profits to $2.97 billion for the July-to-September period.

Shares in the giant online search and ads company rose more than 13% to $1,006, and are now up 41% since the start of 2013.

Google’s revenues also beat forecasts with a 12% rise year-on-year.

“We are closing in on our goal of a beautiful, simple, and intuitive experience regardless of your device,” Google’s chief Larry Page said in a conference call with analysts.

The strong earnings report also helped other online companies, with Facebook shares adding 4.4% to a new high of more than $55. Amazon rose 3.4%.

Google shares have reached the $1,000 milestone for the first time after the company reported better-than-expected earnings
Google shares have reached the $1,000 milestone for the first time after the company reported better-than-expected earnings

At $1,000 a share, Google’s market value is about $334 billion, which is still well below Apple’s $461bn.

Google was floated in August 2004 at $85 a share, giving the company a market value at the time of $23 billion.

The company reported its quarterly earnings on Thursday after US markets had closed.

Google said that paid-for clicks increased by a quarter during the July-to-September period, from a year earlier, the highest rate of growth in the past year.

This offset an 8% fall in average cost-per-click, the price advertisers pay Google when consumers click on their ads.

“We view solid paid clicks growth to be a good indicator of demand, driven by the continued shift to mobile,” JP Morgan analysts said in a note.

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Glee to end after Season 6 with final episode honoring Cory Monteith

Sonia Pantiss
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Glee to end after Season 6 with final episode honoring Cory Monteith

The Fox’s musical Glee will end after the next series, show creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed.

Speaking at a media event in Los Angeles, Ryan Murphy said he had planned for the sixth season to revolve around the characters of Rachel and Finn.

However, following the death of actor Cory Monteith, who played Finn, in July, he was forced to create a new ending, TV Line reported.

Ryan Murphy added he had penned a new finale that would be in Cory Monteith’s honor.

“The final year of the show, which will be next year, was designed around Rachel and Cory/Finn’s story,” Ryan Murphy said.

Glee will end after Season 6
Glee will end after Season 6

“I always knew that, I always knew how it would end. I knew what the last shot was – he was in it. I knew what the last line was – she said it to him.

“So when a tragedy like that happens you sort of have to pause and figure out what you want to do, so we’re figuring that out now.”

Ryan Murphy said he planned to pitch his new ending for the show to US network Fox later this month.

“I think it’s very satisfactory and kind of in [Cory Monteith’s] honor, which I love,” he added.

The show said goodbye to the actor in a special tribute episode broadcast in the US last week.

In April this year, Fox renewed Glee for a fifth and sixth season as part of a two-season deal.

It had been hinted the sixth series could be the last, however it was not confirmed at the time.

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Paul McCartney plays surprise Covent Garden concert

Sonia Pantiss
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Paul McCartney plays surprise Covent Garden concert

Paul McCartney has given an impromptu concert in Covent Garden during the lunchtime rush.

“We’re just going to do some songs from our new album so get your phones out… As if they weren’t already,” he told that assembled crowd of more than 2,000 fans.

Paul McCartney, 71, sang four songs from his latest album, New, from a truck parked on the piazza. It follows a similar stunt in New York last week.

Paul McCartney has given an impromptu concert in Covent Garden during the lunchtime rush
Paul McCartney has given an impromptu concert in Covent Garden during the lunchtime rush

The London gig began at 13.30 BST, about an hour after Sir Paul announced it on Twitter.

“I’m getting ready to pop up in Covent Garden,” the former Beatle tweeted.

“This is a change from the ’60s because we would just have been coming in from the clubs right now,” he said

Paul McCartney opened with his current single, also called New, and closed with the same song approximately 20 minutes later, telling the audience: “Thank you very much. OK now, back to work!”

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Edward Snowden denies taking classified documents to Russia

Diane A. Wade
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Edward Snowden denies taking classified documents to Russia

Edward Snowden insists he took no classified documents to Russia when he fled to Moscow from Hong Kong in June.

The former NSA contractor told the New York Times he had given all the papers to journalists in Hong Kong and had kept no copies.

Edward Snowden, who worked for two US spy agencies, also said no confidential information had been passed to China.

The US authorities want Edward Snowden extradited to face trial, but Russia has refused to hand him over.

The Russian authorities gave him a one-year visa earlier this year after he claimed asylum.

Edward Snowden, 30, told the US newspaper that he did not take any of the documents because it would not have been in the public interest.

Edward Snowden insists he took no classified documents to Russia when he fled to Moscow from Hong Kong in June
Edward Snowden insists he took no classified documents to Russia when he fled to Moscow from Hong Kong in June

“What would be the unique value of personally carrying another copy of the materials onward,” he said.

Claims had surfaced in media reports that China was likely to have gained some intelligence from the former NSA contractor before he left Hong Kong.

Some analysts had suggested Edward Snowden was working with Chinese intelligence, while others said he was working with the Russians.

Edward Snowden rebuffed these claims, saying: “There’s a zero per cent chance the Russians or Chinese have received any documents.”

He said his last job for the NSA had focused on China, and he had “access to every target”, so he felt confident that the data was safe from Chinese agencies.

The New York Times report said its interview was conducted over several days via encrypted networks.

The information leaked by Edward Snowden has led to claims of systematic spying by the NSA and CIA on a global scale of governments, businesses and members of the public.

Targets have included rivals like China and Russia, as well as close allies like the EU and Brazil.

The NSA was also forced to admit it captured email and phone data from millions of Americans.

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Saudi Arabia rejects UN Security Council seat

Roy Siemens
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Saudi Arabia rejects UN Security Council seat

Saudi Arabia has rejected a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, accusing the world body of “double standards”.

The Saudi foreign ministry said the UN needs to be reformed first.

It said the Security Council had failed in its duties towards Syria as well as in other world conflicts.

Saudi Arabia has previously expressed frustration at what it sees as an international failure to act on Syria, where it staunchly backs the rebels.

There has been no official reaction from the UN, but diplomats there expressed surprise at Riyadh’s announcement.

Russia’s foreign ministry called the move bewildering, and said Saudi Arabia’s criticism of the UN Security Council about its actions over Syria “is particularly strange”.

The announcement came hours after Saudi Arabia was elected for the first time to one of the 10 rotating seats on the Security Council.

Saudi Arabia has rejected a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council
Saudi Arabia has rejected a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council

The non-permanent members sit on the council for two years, along with the five permanent members – the US, the UK, France, China and Russia.

“Work mechanisms and double-standards on the Security Council prevent it from carrying out its duties and assuming its responsibilities in keeping world peace,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Therefore Saudi Arabia… has no other option but to turn down Security Council membership until it is reformed and given the means to accomplish its duties and assume its responsibilities in preserving the world’s peace and security,” it added.

The failure “to find a solution to the Palestinian cause for 65 years” had led to “numerous wars that have threatened world peace,” the foreign ministry said.

Saudi Arabia also criticized the UN’s “failure” to rid the Middle East region of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.

It also accused the UN of allowing the Syrian government “to kill its own people with chemical weapons… without confronting it or imposing any deterrent sanctions”.

The UN Security Council last month finally broke a two-and-a-half year deadlock on how to deal with conflict in Syria after voting unanimously to adopt a binding resolution on ridding the country of chemical weapons.

Saudi observers say Riyadh would have been working for years to gain a place on the UN Security Council, so such a decision would have to have been made at the very top of the kingdom’s leadership.

One Security Council diplomat, quoted by AFP, said the announcement was “totally unexpected” and without precedent.

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August Oetker admits family links to Germany’s Nazi party

Nancy Clayson
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August Oetker admits family links to Germany’s Nazi party

August Oetker – the head of Dr. Oetker company – has revealed the family firm’s links to Germany’s Nazi party.

Company chairman August Oetker was speaking ahead of a new book that studies the history of the family’s links with the Nazis.

His father, Rudolf-August Oetker, was a member of Adolf Hitler’s Waffen SS.

Rudolf-August Oetker ran the company, based in Bielefeld, northern Germany, after World War II and died in 2007.

August Oetker revealed the family firm's links to Germany's Nazi party
August Oetker revealed the family firm’s links to Germany’s Nazi party

“My father was a National Socialist,” August Oetker said in an interview with Die Zeit newspaper.

“He didn’t want to talk about this time. He said, <<children, leave me in peace>>.”

August Oetker said his father, who had joined the Nazi party in the 1930s, had been influenced by his step-father, Richard Kaselowsky, who was a staunch supporter of Hitler and ran Dr. Oetker before him.

August Oetker said he welcomed the publication next week of the book Dr. Oetker and National Socialism, written by a German historian and funded by the company.

“I feel now we know the facts, now the fog has lifted,” he said.

Over the decades, many German companies have come under pressure to come to terms with their links to the Nazis and their actions during the 1930s and 1940s.

How online piracy helped Breaking Bad to become popular

Sonia Pantiss
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How online piracy helped Breaking Bad to become popular

Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan says piracy “helped” the show to become popular and increase “brand awareness”.

Vince Gilligan, 46, said: “[It] led to a lot of people watching the series who otherwise would not have.

Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan says piracy helped the show to become popular and increase brand awareness
Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan says piracy helped the show to become popular and increase brand awareness

“The downside is a lot of folks who worked on the show would have made more money, myself included, if all those downloads had been legal.”

According to Torrentfreak.com, Breaking Bad final episode was illegally downloaded more than half a million times.

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Kenya: Two charred bodies recovered from Nairobi’s Westgate mall

Roy Siemens
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Kenya: Two charred bodies recovered from Nairobi’s Westgate mall

Kenyan authorities have recovered two charred bodies from Nairobi’s Westgate shopping centre on Thursday.

The two bodies are “highly likely” to be two of the attackers, an official said.

Ndung’u Gethenji, chairman of the committee investigating the attack, said AK47 rifles used by the militants were found next to the bodies.

The authorities will now conduct forensic tests on the bodies.

At least 67 people died when suspected al-Shabab militants stormed the Nairobi shopping centre on 21 September.

The attack sparked a four-day siege in which large parts of the shopping centre were destroyed.

Two charred bodies have been recovered from Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre
Two charred bodies have been recovered from Nairobi’s Westgate shopping centre

The Kenyan authorities have released the names, or nicknames, of four suspects in the attack, but have given few other details.

Ndung’u Gethenji said the bodies recovered on Thursday were likely to be militants because the army does not use AK47s.

He said another body recovered from the rubble was likely to be a soldier.

It is still not clear whether some of the attackers might have escaped, or even how many attackers there were.

Officials initially said 10 to 15 gunmen were involved, but CCTV footage appears to show only four militants.

The Somali militant group al-Shabab said its members carried out the attack in response to Kenya’s army carrying out operations on Somali territory.

There are about 4,000 Kenyan troops in the south of Somalia, where they have been fighting the militants since 2011.

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Australia wildfires claim one life and destroy at least 100 homes in New South Wales

Nancy Clayson
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Australia wildfires claim one life and destroy at least 100 homes in New South Wales

Australia wildfires claimed one life and destroyed at least 100 homes in New South Wales after forcing thousands to evacuate their homes.

Authorities warned on Friday more homes could be lost as fires burned out of control.

The blazes are continuing to burn on the outskirts of Sydney, despite the easing of temperatures and winds.

One man has died while trying to protect his home.

PM Tony Abbott visited Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, one of the areas worst-hit by the fires, around 45 miles west of Sydney.

Correspondents say bushfires are common in Australia but they have come earlier than normal this year, sparking concerns of further problems to come.

Australia wildfires claimed one life and destroyed at least 100 homes in New South Wales after forcing thousands to evacuate their homes
Australia wildfires claimed one life and destroyed at least 100 homes in New South Wales after forcing thousands to evacuate their homes

Hundreds of residents spent Thursday night in evacuation centres, with many returning home to find their houses razed.

Fire fighters described blazes as tall as 60 to 100ft.

A 63-year-old man died from a heart attack as he tried to defend his home in Lake Munmorah, in the Central Coast region of NSW, on Thursday afternoon.

Around 2,000 fire fighters across the state worked to try and contain the fires but many are still burning out of control.

PM Tony Abbott, in Winmalee, said of those helping to battle the fires: “These are ordinary people who, on an extraordinary day, come together to support their community and to protect their fellow Australians.”

At least three fire fighters have been reported injured.

The NSW Rural Fire Service said an initial assessment of the Winmalee and Springwood areas showed that 81 properties had been destroyed, with 37 damaged.

“Approximately 30% of the fireground has been assessed,” it said.

“The number of properties destroyed or damaged will rise.”

Reports estimate that as many as 200 homes could be lost in total.

The fires have been caused by unseasonably hot temperatures and strong winds. While these have now died down, more hot weather is forecast next week.

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Google shares hit record highs after profit report beats expectations

Clyde K. Valle
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Google shares hit record highs after profit report beats expectations

Google has reported a profit of $2.97 billion for July -September period, beating expectations.

The company missed forecasts during the last quarter.

However, a closely watched measure, cost per click – how much advertisers pay to place an advert – declined by 8% from the same period last year.

Google shares jumped to an all time high in after hours trading, rising 6% to $941.25.

The company’s boss Larry Page said in a statement that: “Google had another strong quarter with…great product progress.”

Google has reported a profit of $2.97 billion for July -September period
Google has reported a profit of $2.97 billion for July -September period

Overall, paid clicks increased by 28% from the same time last year, and were up 8% from the previous quarter.

This is taken as a good sign by analysts, as advertising makes up the dominant share of Google’s profits.

In a call to discuss earnings with investors, Larry Page highlighted just how dominant mobile has become among consumers.

He said that 40% of users reached YouTube through their mobile phones compared to just 6% two years earlier.

Analysts were closely watching how Google is faring in this mobile transition, particularly as it relates to advertising.

Google charges less for mobile than for its traditional web browser ads, which is why even though ad sales increased throughout the quarter, the cost per click figure declined.

Google’s market share in the ad market is $6.9%. This has recently slipped slightly as rival Facebook has made inroads. Facebook now has 14.9% of the market, a jump from 9% last year.

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Toyota recalls 885,000 vehicles over water leak from air conditioning unit

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Toyota recalls 885,000 vehicles over water leak from air conditioning unit

Toyota has decided to recall 885,000 vehicles to fix a problem that could cause a water leak from the air conditioning unit.

The carmaker said water could leak into the airbag control module, causing a short circuit and triggering a warning light.

In some cases airbags “could become disabled or could inadvertently deploy” and in limited cases the power steering function could be disabled, it added.

The models affected by the recall are the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, and Venza made in 2012-13.

Some 847,000 cars will be recalled in North America, while the rest will be in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Toyota has decided to recall 885,000 vehicles to fix a problem that could cause a water leak from the air conditioning unit
Toyota has decided to recall 885,000 vehicles to fix a problem that could cause a water leak from the air conditioning unit

A spokeswoman for Toyota said that the company it had received reports of two minor injuries due to the issue, but there had been no reports of any vehicles crashing.

This is the third major recall that Toyota has issued in recent weeks.

Last month, Toyota called back more than 780,000 vehicles in the US to address a suspension defect in its RAV4 and Lexus HS 250h models, after fears that an initial recall last year did not fix the problem.

In September, it recalled 615,000 Sienna minivans in the US to fix a lever problem that could cause vehicles to shift out of park mode “without the driver depressing the brake pedal”.

Toyota said at the time that it was aware of 24 “minor accidents” due to the issue.

In recent weeks more than 2.2 million vehicles have been recalled.

Analysts said the recalls could have an impact on its reputation with the customers.

The latest move takes the total number of cars recalled by Toyota this year to six million vehicles.

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