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Wilfried Martens dies aged 77

Diane A. Wade
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Wilfried Martens dies aged 77

Former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens has died aged 77.

Wilfried Martens served nine times as prime minister of Belgium and later led the European Parliament’s main centre-right group.

He died during the night at his home in Lokeren, in East Flanders, in the presence of his wife and children, Belgium’s Le Soir newspaper reports.

Wilfried Martens led coalitions almost continuously between 1979 and 1992.

Current PM Elio Di Rupo, a Socialist, paid tribute to a “true statesman and one of the fathers of federal Belgium”.

In honor of Wilfried Martens, the European Parliament is holding a minute’s silence at midday during its plenary session in Strasbourg.

Wilfried Martens served nine times as prime minister of Belgium and later led the European Parliament's main centre-right group
Wilfried Martens served nine times as prime minister of Belgium and later led the European Parliament’s main centre-right group

The parliament’s German president, Martin Schulz, tweeted that Wilfried Martens had been a “statesman of Belgium, Europe and an outstanding leader of European Parliament”.

Wilfried Martens remained the leader of the European People’s Party (EPP), the parliamentary group he co-founded, until his death, only handing over temporary responsibility on Tuesday.

EPP colleagues paid tribute to him.

“A distinguished colleague, Wilfried Martens has passed away,” wrote Finnish MEP Eija-Riitta Korhola in a tweet.

“My deepest condolences to his family on behalf of the Finnish EPP delegation.”

“Contrary to what is often said, certain people are irreplaceable,” former Polish Prime Minister and MEP Jerzy Buzek tweeted.

As prime minister, Wilfried Martens presided over coalitions that spanned right and left, implementing austerity programmes.

The cause of death was not reported. According to Le Soir, Wilfried Martens said his goodbyes to his family in recent days.

He had recently undergone hospital treatment and was due to step down as chairman of the EPP.

Only last month, Wilfried Martens tweeted to congratulate the German and Austrian conservative leaders on their election victories.

Margaret Thatcher first became prime minister in the same year as Wilfried Martens in Belgium, and he paid tribute to his “long-time friend” when she died in April.

“Although we had very different visions for the future of Europe, we developed a close personal relationship and shared many special moments…” Wilfried Martens wrote in an EPP press release.

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Nobel Prize in Literature 2013 awarded to Alice Munro

James J. Williams
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Nobel Prize in Literature 2013 awarded to Alice Munro

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2013 was awarded to Canadian author Alice Munro “master of the contemporary short story”.

Alice Munro, 82, whose books include Dear Life and Dance of the Happy Shades, is only the 13th woman to win the prize since its inception in 1901.

Previous winners include literary giants such as Rudyard Kipling, Toni Morrison and Ernest Hemingway.

Presented by the Nobel Foundation, the award – which is presented to a living writer – is worth 8 million kronor.

Last year’s recipient was Chinese novelist Mo Yan.

Alice Munro, who began writing in her teenage years, published her first story, The Dimensions of a Shadow, in 1950.

She had been studying English at the University of Western Ontario at the time.

Dance of the Happy Shades, published in 1968, was Alice Munro’s first collection, and it went on to win Canada’s highest literary prize, the Governor General’s Award.

In 2009, Alice Munro won the Man Booker International Prize for her entire body of work.

Alice Munro is the first Canadian writer to receive the prestigious award since Saul Bellow, who won in 1976.

Alice Munro is only the 13th woman to win the prize since its inception in 1901
Alice Munro is only the 13th woman to win the prize since its inception in 1901

Often compared to Anton Chekhov, Alice Munro is known for writing about the human spirit and a regular theme of her work is the dilemma faced by young girls growing up and coming to terms with living in a small town.

The Nobel academy praised her “finely tuned storytelling, which is characterized by clarity and psychological realism”.

Since the 1960s, Alice Munro has published more than a dozen collections of short stories.

Her early stories capture the difference between her own experiences growing up in Wingham, a conservative Canadian town west of Toronto, and her life after the social revolution of the 1960s.

In an interview in 2003, Alice Munro described the 1960s as “wonderful”.

It was “because, having been born in 1931, I was a little old, but not too old, and women like me after a couple of years were wearing miniskirts and prancing around,” she said.

Alice Munro’s writing has brought her several awards. She won a National Book Critics Circle prize for Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, and is a three-time winner of the Governor General’s prize and The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.

Other notable books include Lives of Girls and Women, Who Do You Think You Are, The Progress of Love and Runaway.

In 1980, The Beggar Maid was shortlisted for the annual Booker Prize for Fiction and her stories frequently appear in publications such as the New Yorker and the Paris Review.

Several of her stories have also been adapted for the screen, including The Bear Came Over the Mountain, which became Away from Her, starring Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent.

Alice Munro revealed earlier this year that her latest book, Dear Life, published in 2012, would be her last.

In 2009, Alice Munro revealed she had been receiving treatment for cancer. She also had bypass surgery for a heart condition.

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Ali Zeidan freed after being held for several hours by militiamen

Roy Siemens
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Ali Zeidan freed after being held for several hours by militiamen

Libya’s PM Ali Zeidan has returned to his office after being held for several hours by militiamen loosely allied to the government.

The Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room said it had captured Ali Zeidan in Tripoli, claiming it was acting on orders from the prosecutor general.

The justice ministry denied this.

The militia was one of several groups angered by a US commando raid on Libyan soil on Saturday in which senior al-Qaeda suspect Anas al-Liby was seized.

Many saw the raid as a breach of Libyan sovereignty. There is growing pressure on the government to explain if it was involved but in a statement, the Revolutionaries Operations Room (LROR) said its actions had not been related to Anas al-Liby’s detention.

The official Lana news agency also named another formal rebel group, the Brigade for the Fight against Crime, as being involved.

Libya’s PM Ali Zeidan has returned to his office after being held for several hours by militiamen loosely allied to the government
Libya’s PM Ali Zeidan has returned to his office after being held for several hours by militiamen loosely allied to the government

State TV broadcast live as Ali Zeidan arrived at his office in Tripoli. There was a high security presence as his car pulled up outside. The prime minister made no immediate comment but was expected to give a news briefing shortly.

Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdelaziz said earlier he had no details on the circumstances of the release.

It was unclear whether the militia had released the prime minister voluntarily or whether other security forces had intervened.

Ali Zeidan had been taken in a pre-dawn raid on the Corinthia Hotel by more than 100 armed men.

The LROR said it was acting on the orders of the prosecutor general and in accordance with a section of Libya’s criminal code relating to “crimes and misdemeanors harmful to state security”.

But Justice Minister Salah al-Marghani said the prosecutor general had issued no arrest warrant, according to state-run National Libyan TV.

Photographs circulating online and shown on TV showed Ali Zeidan surrounded by what it said were armed men as he was led away. There were no reports of violence during his capture.

The prime minister was reportedly being held at the interior ministry anti-crime department in Tripoli, where an official said he was being treated well.

In a news conference shortly before the release was announced, the government condemned the “criminal act” of his detention and said it would not give in to “blackmail”.

The LROR is one of a number of militias operating in Libya which are nominally attached to government ministries but often act independently and, correspondents say, often have the upper hand over police and army forces.

The government has been struggling to contain the militias, which were heavily involved in the revolt which overthrew Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and, two years on, still control many parts of the country.

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Kanye West appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live after rap feud

Lisa.Felice
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Kanye West appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live after rap feud

Jimmy Kimmel and Kanye West dispelled the idea their so-called rap feud was a publicity stunt during a sometimes uncomfortable appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live show.

Speculation that Kanye West’s anger over a Jimmy Kimmel Live parody skit that mocked him was staged was immediate after Kanye lashed out at Jimmy Kimmel in late September.

Kanye West and Jimmy Kimmel said that their beef was authentic during a 30-minute interview on Wednesday night’s show in which the rapper discussed a range of topics including his artistry, paparazzi, family, fashion and the idea of celebrity.

Jimmy Kimmel said early in the interview that he knows Kanye West personally and always found him friendly, but that he seems misunderstood.

“I don’t know if you know this, but a lot of people think you’re a jerk,” Jimmy Kimmel said after Kanye West called himself a genius.

Kanye West was objecting to the idea that he’s “just a celebrity.”

“When you said you think you’re a genius, I think that upsets people,” Jimmy Kimmel said.

Jimmy Kimmel and Kanye West dispelled the idea their so-called rap feud was a publicity stunt during a sometimes uncomfortable appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live show
Jimmy Kimmel and Kanye West dispelled the idea their so-called rap feud was a publicity stunt during a sometimes uncomfortable appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live show

“But the truth is a lot of people think they’re geniuses, but nobody says it because it’s weird to say it. But it is most certainly more honest to say, <<I am a genius>>.”

“I’m totally weird and totally honest and I’m totally inappropriate sometimes, and the thing is for me not to say I’m not a genius I’d be lying to you and to myself.”

The fight broke out the day after Jimmy Kimmel hired a child actor to portray Kanye West in a recreation of an interview the rapper gave on BBC Radio 1 in which he discussed the limitations he’s faced as his fame has grown, among many other topics.

Kanye West told Jimmy Kimmel he’s often upset with his portrayal in the media but usually keeps his reaction to himself. This time, though, since he knew Jimmy Kimmel, Kanye West felt he had a license to reach out by phone and discuss his disapproval man to man.

“That elevates sometimes,” Kanye West said.

“Jimmy does his thing, I do my thing, and at some point egos can flare up, and we kind of took it back to high school.”

Jimmy Kimmel showed the highlights from Kanye West’s resulting Twitter rant and admitted he’d just seen a few snippets of the BBC interview before approving the skit and didn’t realize how personal it was.

“I really felt bad about all this stuff, I did,” Jimmy Kimmel said after Kanye West walked on stage.

Kanye West responded: “Mmm huh,” but smiled widely after watching a portion of the skit.

In a sometimes stream-of-consciousness delivery, Kanye West talked passionately about discrimination based on class, protecting his music publishing from covetous drug dealers, false humility and his thoughts on and experience with high fashion. He also ranted against the Hollywood Walk of Fame organization for denying his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, a star and reflected on his recent negative interactions with paparazzi.

Though both denied it was a publicity stunt, Jimmy Kimmel and Kanye West did take advantage of the opportunity. A commercial touting Kanye West’s concert tour ran during the show and ABC’s Nightline aired a segment on West in the wake of the appearance.

Kanye West’s appearance went long, pre-empting an appearances by Arctic Monkeys.

Jimmy Kimmel thanked Kanye West for appearing on the show, and West responded: “Thank you for the platform.”

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Malala Yousafzai wins Sakharov prize

James J. Williams
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Malala Yousafzai wins Sakharov prize

Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban, has won the European Union’s Sakharov human rights prize.

The 16-year-old Pakistani activist was shot a year ago for campaigning for better rights for girls.

Malala Yousafzai has won the EU's Sakharov human rights prize
Malala Yousafzai has won the EU’s Sakharov human rights prize

The Sakharov Prize for free speech is awarded by the European Parliament annually in memory of Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov.

Edward Snowden had been a contender for the prize.

The 50,000 euro ($65,000) prize is considered Europe’s top human rights award.

Malala Yousafzai rose to prominence in 2009 when she wrote a blog for the BBC Urdu service about her life under Taliban rule and the lack of education for girls.

Malala Yousafzai received a standing ovation in July this year for an address to the UN General Assembly, in which she vowed she would never be silenced.

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Lon Snowden arrives in Moscow to visit his son

Nancy Clayson
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Lon Snowden arrives in Moscow to visit his son

Lon Snowden – the father of fugitive former NSA contractor Edward Snowden – has arrived in Russia to visit his son.

Lon Snowden told journalists on his arrival in Moscow that he felt “extreme gratitude that my son is safe and secure and he’s free”.

Edward Snowden, 30, was granted asylum in Russia in August after weeks spent in a transit zone at Moscow airport when the US revoked his travel documents.

He leaked many thousands of US intelligence documents.

The information, published in The Guardian and Washington Post newspapers, revealed extensive internet and phone surveillance by both US and British intelligence.

In the US, Edward Snowden faces charges of theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified intelligence.

Each of the charges carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

The father of fugitive Edward Snowden has arrived in Russia to visit his son
The father of fugitive Edward Snowden has arrived in Russia to visit his son

Lon Snowden, arriving at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, was met by his son’s Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena.

“I’m here to learn more about my son’s situation,” Lon Snowden told reporters.

“My hope is to learn more about his circumstances and his health and to discuss legal options.”

“If the opportunity presents itself, I certainly hope that I have the opportunity to see my son,” he said in televised remarks.

“I’m not sure that my son will be returning to the US. That’s his decision, he’s an adult.”

Lon Snowden has in the past praised his son for speaking “the truth” and making great sacrifices, and has spoken of his concern that he would not face a fair trial if he returned to the US.

Edward Snowden accessed many of the documents while working for the defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton in Hawaii, where he had been living with his girlfriend.

As the revelations became public, Edward Snowden fled to Hong Kong where, with his consent, The Guardian revealed his identity in June.

To escape US attempts to extradite him, Edward Snowden moved on to Russia where he remained in the transit zone of Sheremetyevo airport until Russia granted him asylum.

Russia’s move added to already tense relations with the US. Washington cancelled a bilateral summit in September.

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Madagascar faces bubonic plague epidemic

Kathryn R. Bown
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Madagascar faces bubonic plague epidemic

Experts have warned that Madagascar is facing a bubonic plague epidemic unless it slows the spread of the disease.

The Red Cross and Pasteur Institute say inmates in Madagascar’s dirty, crowded jails are particularly at risk.

The number of cases rises each October as hot humid weather attracts fleas, which transmit the disease from rats and other animals to humans.

Madagascar had 256 plague cases and 60 deaths last year, the world’s highest recorded number.

Bubonic plague, known as the Black Death when it killed an estimated 25 million people in Europe during the Middle Ages, is now rare.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva and the Pasteur Institute have worked with local health groups in Madagascar since February 2012 on a campaign to improve prison hygiene.

“If the plague gets into prisons there could be a sort of atomic explosion of plague within the town. The prison walls will never prevent the plague from getting out and invading the rest of the town,” said the institute’s Christophe Rogier.

Experts have warned that Madagascar is facing a bubonic plague epidemic unless it slows the spread of the disease
Experts have warned that Madagascar is facing a bubonic plague epidemic unless it slows the spread of the disease

The ICRC said the 3,000 inmates of Antanimora, the main prison in the heart of the capital Antananarivo, live with a huge rat population which spreads infected fleas through food supplies, bedding and clothing.

The ICRC’s Evaristo Oliviera said this could affect not only inmates and staff, but others they come into contact with.

Evaristo Oliviera said the disease could be treated with antibiotics if detected early, but a lack of facilities and traditional shame over the disease made this tricky in outlying parts of Madagascar.

Experts say that Africa – especially Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo – accounts for more than 90% of cases worldwide.

However, in August a 15-year-old herder died in Kyrgyzstan of bubonic plague – the first case in the country in 30 years – officials said

During the last 20 years, at least three countries experienced outbreaks of human plague after dormant periods of about 30-50 years, experts say.

These areas were India in 1994 and 2002, Indonesia in 1997 and Algeria in 2003.

According to the WHO, the last significant outbreak of bubonic plague was in Peru in 2010 when 12 people were found to have been infected.

What is bubonic plague?

  • Caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis
  • Essentially a disease of wild rodents, spread by fleas
  • Plague spreads to humans either by the bite of infected fleas or rats
  • Does not spread from person to person
  • Patients develop swollen, tender lymph glands (called buboes) and fever, headache, chills and weakness
  • It is treatable if caught early, but can be lethal

North Korea: Masik Pass ski resort opening could be delayed

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea: Masik Pass ski resort opening could be delayed

North Korea was due to open its first multi-million dollar Masik Pass ski resort on Thursday, but there are doubts whether it will be ready in time.

Masik Pass will have ski runs, ski lifts, resort chalets and sleigh rides.

However, its two hotels are little more than empty shells, while the access road is filled with potholes, the AP news agency reported after a visit to the site in September.

There are also questions about who will use the resort once it is completed.

It is estimated that there are only about 5,500 North Korean skiers in a country with a population of 24 million people – equivalent to about 0.02% of the total.

Correspondents say that the Masik Pass ski resort – located in the secluded depths of North Korea’s east coast – is the country’s latest megaproject, the product of 10 months of intensive labor.

It is intended to show that Communist North Korea is as civilized and culturally advanced as any other country, despite its reputation for poverty and isolation.

North Korea was due to open its first multi-million dollar Masik Pass ski resort on Thursday, but there are doubts whether it will be ready in time
North Korea was due to open its first multi-million dollar Masik Pass ski resort on Thursday, but there are doubts whether it will be ready in time

Billboards around the construction site urge workers to finish the job by Thursday’s deadline, the 68th anniversary of the formation of the Korean Workers’ Party. But the construction has reportedly been delayed by heavy rains and landslides.

“Full attack. March forward. Let’s absolutely finish building Masik Pass ski resort within this year by launching a full aggressive war,” one sign reads.

Masik Pass ski resort is believed to be a pet project of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who reportedly skied when he attended secondary school in Switzerland under an assumed name.

An AP reporter who recently visited Masik’s ski runs says that they consist of long stretches of bright-brown dirt dotted with rocks, weeds and patches of stubborn grass. The pistes cut their way through the trees to converge at the hotel construction site below.

Foundations were still being dug. Two simple lifts were being installed, but neither was working at the time.

Correspondents say that North Korea is eager to build the resort because it wants to win more medals in the Winter Olympics. Sport is seen as a useful way of mobilizing the masses and Pyongyang wants to encourage more tourism.

“It will have a big impact on the economy,” North Korean Academy of Social Science economist Ri Ki Song told AP.

“We are now trying to build a lot of tourism sites, and skiing is the kind of sport that developed countries enjoy. It will also be a place for our own people to use.”

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Libya’s PM Ali Zeidan abducted by gunmen from Tripoli hotel

Roy Siemens
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Libya’s PM Ali Zeidan abducted by gunmen from Tripoli hotel

Libya’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been abducted by gunmen in Tripoli.

Ali Zeidan was taken from his hotel at dawn “by gunmen to an unknown place for unknown reasons”, said a statement on the government’s website.

The details are unclear – sources say Ali Zeidan was arrested by an anti-crime militia allied to the government, but others that he had been kidnapped.

There is speculation the event is linked to the capture of a senior al-Qaeda suspect in Libya by US forces.

The government has come under pressure to explain how US commandos were able to seize Anas al-Liby last Saturday.

He is wanted in the US over the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Libya’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been abducted by gunmen in Tripoli
Libya’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been abducted by gunmen in Tripoli

On Monday, Libya demanded an explanation from the US ambassador over the incident.

The details of Ali Zeidan’s capture remain unclear, but that he was taken by armed men from a hotel he resides in the early hours of the morning.

The government website said he had been taken “to an unknown place for unknown reasons by a group thought to be from the Tripoli Revolutionaries Control Room and the Committee for Fighting Crime”.

There are a number of militia groups operating in Libya which are nominally attached to government ministries but often act independently.

The ministry of justice confirmed that no arrest warrant had been issued for Ali Zeidan.

The government statement did not name the hotel, but a woman at the Corinthia Hotel – where the prime minister lives – confirmed the incident happened there when armed men entered the building.

She said no-one had been killed.

Libya’s cabinet has been summoned for an immediate meeting under the leadership of the deputy prime minister.

Al-Arabiya TV station broadcast images which showed Ali Zeidan looking disheveled and being escorted by what the station said were armed men.

Two years after the revolt which overthrew Muammar Gaddafi, Libya’s government has been struggling to contain rival tribal militias and Islamist militants who control parts of the country.

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US Navy Vice-Admiral Tim Giardina sacked over illegal gambling activities

Diane A. Wade
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US Navy Vice-Admiral Tim Giardina sacked over illegal gambling activities

US Navy Vice-Admiral Tim Giardina, who oversees the nation’s nuclear weapons forces, has been sacked, a Navy spokesman has announced.

Tim Giardina, second-in-command of the US Strategic Command, is under investigation for illegal gambling activities.

He is accused of using counterfeit gambling chips in “a significant monetary amount” at an Iowa casino.

Tim Giardina was demoted to a two-star admiral and will be reassigned pending outcome of the inquiry.

On Wednesday, the Navy’s top spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby announced the removal of Vice-Admiral Tim Giardina as the deputy in charge of the US Strategic Command.

Tim Giardina, a career submarine officer, was suspended from duty on September 3 after the military launched an investigation into allegations he used counterfeit chips at a casino not far from his base in eastern Nebraska.

Vice-Admiral Tim Giardina, second-in-command of the US Strategic Command, is under investigation for illegal gambling activities
Vice-Admiral Tim Giardina, second-in-command of the US Strategic Command, is under investigation for illegal gambling activities

The case was referred to the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service after he first came to be suspected of the crime.

In September, Special Agent David Dales of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation told the Associated Press news agency “a significant monetary amount” was involved.

“We were able to detect this one pretty quickly and jump on it,” he added.

It is unknown whether Tim Giardina’s alleged actions at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, compromised national security or operations at Strategic Command.

Strategic Command, which oversees everything from America’s land-based nuclear missiles to space operations governing military satellites, is located at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska.

Tim Giardina’s demotion follows several other incidents affecting the US military’s nuclear establishment.

In August, a nuclear missile unit at Malstrom Air Force base in Montana failed a safety and security inspection, after which a senior security officer was relieved of duty.

In May, it was reported that 17 officers in charge of maintaining nuclear missiles were sidelined over safety violations at Minot Air Force base in North Dakota.

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Drugs found on Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise ship, Russian investigator claim

Nancy Clayson
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Drugs found on Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise ship, Russian investigator claim

Russian investigators claim that hard drugs have been found on board the Greenpeace ship seized during a protest in the Arctic last month.

“During a search of the ship, drugs (apparently poppy straw and morphine) were confiscated,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said.

Poppy straw, or raw opium, can be used to produce morphine or heroin.

Greenpeace said in a statement that any suggestion of illegal drugs being found was a “smear”.

“We can only assume the Russian authorities are referring to the medical supplies that our ships are obliged to carry under maritime law,” it said.

Thirty people are being held on suspicion of “piracy” after activists attempted to scale a Russian oil rig.

The head of Greenpeace International, Kumi Naidoo, has written to Russian President Vladimir Putin, offering himself as a guarantee for the detainees.

Russian investigators claim that hard drugs have been found on board the Greenpeace ship seized during a protest in the Arctic
Russian investigators claim that hard drugs have been found on board the Greenpeace ship seized during a protest in the Arctic

There is widespread international concern for the crew of the Arctic Sunrise, who hail from 18 nations.

The Netherlands has demanded the immediate release of the detainees, who are being held in the northern port of Murmansk pending trial, as well as the release of their the Dutch-flagged ship.

In its statement, the Investigative Committee said charges against some of the detainees might change in the light of evidence gathered from the ship.

Apart from the suspected drugs, “dual-purpose” equipment was found on the Arctic Sunrise, it said, adding that this “could be used not only for ecological purposes”.

Investigators would seek to determine who among the detainees was responsible for “deliberately ramming” Russian border guard boats, endangering their lives, it said.

Greenpeace replied: “There is a strict policy against recreational drugs on board Greenpeace ships, and any claim that something other than medical supplies were found should be regarded with great suspicion.

“Before leaving Norway for the Russian Arctic, the ship was searched with a sniffer dog by the Norwegian authorities, as is standard. The laws in Norway are amongst the strictest in the world, and nothing was found because nothing illegal was on the ship.”

“Any claim that illegal drugs were found is a smear, it’s a fabrication, pure and simple,” Greenpeace said.

Greenpeace went on to dismiss the allegation of ramming as a “fantasy”.

In a statement, it released a slow-motion video of its launch and the coast guard boats to show the moment they had touched.

“The Greenpeace boat sails towards the middle of the port side of the security forces boat and then only briefly touches it with the nose, immediately turning away and making a 180° turn to the left,” Greenpeace said.

“The film clearly demonstrates that the official claims are entirely bogus.”

In his letter, Kumi Naidoo wrote: “I would offer myself as a guarantor for the good conduct of the Greenpeace activists, were they to be released on bail.”

In his native South Africa in the 1980s, Kumi Naidoo campaigned against apartheid and was arrested on several occasions.

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First day at 2013 Internet & Mobile World

Dana R
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First day at 2013 Internet & Mobile World

As you might know the first day at 2013 Internet & Mobile World (2013IMWorld), the biggest “business to business” event dedicated to digital, mobile and software solutions in Romania, held at Romexpo ended. What you do not know, if you have not attended on it, is that it was successful.

We had the opportunity to talk to successful people, to see the latest offers for all companies in the field, to see the latest technology and yes … to test Google’s famous Glass.

Oh, we’ve waited too long to test Google Glass, but was worth it? Short answer, yes. Not only we’ve seen Google Glass, we also test it. We can tell for sure that Google Glass offer real sensation; they are really light, strong and can do all that’s advertised.

Google-Glass-Testing-Internet-Mobile-World-2013-Bucharest-Romania
Google Glass testing at IM World 2013 – we loved it

Did you know that Google Glass can only be used for 40 minutes (battery life) and to charge them takes about 20 minutes? They do have a mobile charging unit as you see in the photo above. Although the Google team must improve Google Glass, it won’t be long until we will test a better version of Google Glass.

Also at 2013 IMWorld we met great people with great businesses and one such person was the founder of  PadiTrack , a Conversion Funnel Tracking application. PadiTrack is integrated with Google Analytics data, ready to build up the funnels and can process funnel data retroactively, for as long as you had Google Analytics installed. We will test the application, because we’ve enjoyed their presentation.

We had a lot of fun at 2013 IMWorld, testing the Entersoft Romania micro scooters and we appreciated the creativity of Marketizator‘s stand.

We also participated in Developers Arena: Web Development in the Modern Age conference, and Digital performance – the ultimate focus conference.

After the first day of 2013 IMWorld we can say it was very successful, and those who have not managed to get there today, tomorrow is the last day, so don’t miss it.

The event is supported by Romtelecom and Cosmote as main partners and Nokia, S&T Romania, Qualysoft, Telcor Communications, Entersoft, Microsoft, Fujitsu, Zitec, MailAgent, Agilio, Safetech, Agile Media, MODE360, Transart, Dynamic Web, Voxility, Mediapost Hit Mail, Mobixera and SEO monitor, Star Storage, Cisco, Bittnet, Pay Pro, as project’s sponsors. The creative partner of the event is Saatchi&Saatchi. The media partners are: Radio Guerrilla, The Money Channel, Getica OOH, Wall-Street.ro, HotNews.ro, AdHugger, Agora, B2B Advertising, Business Review, Business24.ro, Cariere, Comunicatedepresa.ro, Connect, DailyBusiness.ro, Digital Trends, Forbes, Incont.ro, IT Channel, IT TRENDS, Market Watch, Today Software Magazine, Ziare.com and Zona IT.

Kris and Bruce Jenner’s $125 million divorce could become Hollywood’s most expensive split

Lisa.Felice
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Kris and Bruce Jenner’s $125 million divorce could become Hollywood’s most expensive split

According to a new report, if Kris and Bruce Jenner decide to move forward with a divorce, it could become one of the most expensive splits in Hollywood history.

Kris and Bruce Jenner are now potentially facing a battle over their $125 million fortune.

Bruce Jenner, 64, is legally entitled to a major chunk of the Kardashian empire’s earnings, and RadarOnline.com is reporting that the Jenners’ potential divorce could prove to be one of the priciest in Hollywood history.

If Kris and Bruce Jenner decide to move forward with a divorce, it could become one of the most expensive splits in Hollywood history
If Kris and Bruce Jenner decide to move forward with a divorce, it could become one of the most expensive splits in Hollywood history

“This is going to be a very bitter pill for Kris to swallow because when they divorce is finalized, she’ll have to split half the family fortune with Bruce,” a source with knowledge of the situation revealed to Radar.

When Kris and Bruce Jenner first married in 1991, Bruce was lavishing Kris with the fancy lifestyle she wanted. Since then – more specifically, since the launch of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, as well as the family’s subsequent products and endorsements – Kris Jenner has become the wealthier half of the couple.

Ironically, Kris Jenner forced daughters Kim and Khloe Kardashian to get prenups before marrying Kris Humphries and Lamar Odom, respectively.

Though Kris Jenner says she and Bruce have no plans to divorce right now, not having a prenup will make the process infinitely more difficult, should they decide to move forward.

Though Bruce and Kris Jenner have been separated for months, news of their separation wasn’t officially confirmed until October 9, when they told E! News: “We are living separately and we are much happier this way.”

Jase Robertson receives pocket knife from Alabama man

Sonia Pantiss
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Jase Robertson receives pocket knife from Alabama man

Wayne Bridges, an Alabama knife maker, drove just over 300 miles to West Monroe, Louisiana, on September 30 to present a 15-pound “pocket” knife to Duck Dynasty’s Jase Robertson.

“I just wanted to make it for him,” said Wayne Bridges, 67.

“I watch <<Duck Dynasty>> and he’s my favorite character. He’s got plenty of money so he can buy whatever he wants, but this is something that I handmade.”

Wayne Bridges drove just over 300 miles to West Monroe to present a 15-pound pocket knife to Jase Robertson
Wayne Bridges drove just over 300 miles to West Monroe to present a 15-pound pocket knife to Jase Robertson

Unfortunately, Duck Commander – where Jase Robertson and other cast members work to make duck calls for the family business – was closed for construction, and some of the family was out of town for the week.

Instead, Wayne Bridges met with Alan Robertson, Jase’s older brother, at the family church and left the knife with him. Wayne Bridges said everyone had a fit over the knife when he showed it to them.

Wayne Bridges has been making knives at his house on U.S. Highway 43 in Northport for 40 years. The hobby started when a friend asked him to fix a broken handle on one of his knives.

At first, Wayne Bridges just made knives for himself and his three sons, but soon people starting asking him to make them for people outside the family.

How Duck Dynasty stars make their multi-million dollar fortune

Sonia Pantiss
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0
How Duck Dynasty stars make their multi-million dollar fortune

Duck calls, the product that made Duck Dynasty stars millionaires, is still the Robertson family’s true moneymaker.

Last year, they sold 60,000 of their Duck Commander callers.

This year, Duck Dynasty stars are projected to sell over 750,000 duck calls, and at an average price of $59.72 (they range from $19.95 to $179.95), they are set to make $44,790,000 on their duck calls in 2013!

With their recent pay raise, the 20-person cast will be making over $200,000 per episode. At seven episodes a season, that means they’ll rake in a whopping $1.4 million for season four.

Willie Robertson’s book, The Duck Commander Family, has sold over 1 million copies on Amazon. At a price of around $12, that’s $12 million in sales.

Duck calls, the product that made Duck Dynasty stars millionaires, is still the Robertson family's true moneymaker
Duck calls, the product that made Duck Dynasty stars millionaires, is still the Robertson family’s true moneymaker

Phil Robertson also has a book, titled Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander, that also retails for $12 on Amazon.

The first three seasons of Duck Dynasty are available for purchase. Season three retails for $20 on A&E’s website.

WalMart is a big seller of Duck Dynasty products.

“<<Duck Dynasty>> T-shirts are our best-selling licensed graphic shirts across the men’s, boys’ and ladies’ departments,” Sarah McKinney, the Director of Communications at WalMart, told E! News.

She added: “WalMart currently sells Duck Dynasty products in six different departments, from apparel to home goods to sporting gear and Band-Aids.”

Next year, a Duck Commander cruise will be available for fans. The luxury Standby Balcony Cabin fetches up to $1,564.00. The Duck Commander cruises are already sold out for 2014.

The family sells kitchen products including marinade, seasonings, cups and a cooking DVD.

Other products sold on their website include hunting gear, bobbleheads, air fresheners, caps, keychains, bracelets, bandanas, mugs, plates, napkins, drink koozies and fake beards. And, of course, the $650 Catnapper Camo Laredo Recliner chair.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 awarded to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel

James J. Williams
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Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 awarded to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 was awarded jointly to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel “for the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems”.

The three scientists “took the chemical experiment into cyberspace”.

Michael Levitt, a British-US citizen of Stanford University; US-Austrian Martin Karplus of Strasbourg University; and US-Israeli Arieh Warshel of the University of Southern California will share the prize.

The trio devised computer simulations to understand chemical processes.

In doing so, they laid the foundations for new kinds of pharmaceuticals.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 was awarded jointly to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshe
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 was awarded jointly to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshe

“The Nobel Laureates in Chemistry 2013 have made it possible to map the mysterious ways of chemistry by using computers,” said the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

“Today the computer is just as important a tool for chemists as the test tube.

“Detailed knowledge of chemical processes makes it possible to optimize catalysts, drugs and solar cells.”

Arieh Warshel told a news conference in Stockholm by telephone that he was “extremely happy” to be woken in the middle of the night in Los Angeles to find out he had won the prize.

“In short, what we developed is a way for computers to take the structure of a protein and then to eventually understand how exactly it does what it does,” he told reporters.

Marinda Li Wu, president of the American Chemical Society, said the award was “very exciting”.

“The winners have laid the groundwork for linking classic experimental science with theoretical science through computer models.

“The resulting insights are helping us develop new medicines; for example, their work is being used to determine how a drug could interact with a protein in the body to treat disease.”

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Italy: State funeral for Lampedusa shipwreck migrants

Diane A. Wade
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Italy: State funeral for Lampedusa shipwreck migrants

Italy has decided to hold a state funeral for the hundreds of migrants who died after their boat capsized close to the island of Lampedusa last Thursday.

PM Enrico Letta made the announcement during a visit to the island with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Jose Manuel Barroso pledged 30 million euros ($40 million) of EU funds to help refugees in Italy.

At least 274 people, mostly from Eritrea and Somalia, died in the wreck.

Of more than 500 people on board, only 155 have survived. Divers are recovering bodies.

It is one of Italy’s worst disasters involving a boat carrying Europe-bound migrants from Africa.

Lampedusa is a key destination for such boats and many residents have long complained that the authorities in Italy and the European Union are not doing enough to deal with the thousands of migrants who come ashore each year.

Jose Manuel Barroso and Enrico Letta visited the temporary mortuary holding the coffins of the victims and met survivors and those who had helped in the rescue.

The two men were heckled on their arrival in Lampedusa, with shouts of “disgrace” and “killers”.

Italy will hold a state funeral for the migrants who died after their boat capsized close to the island of Lampedusa
Italy will hold a state funeral for the migrants who died after their boat capsized close to the island of Lampedusa

Speaking at a joint news conference, Jose Manuel Barroso said he would never forget the sight of hundreds of coffins.

“It’s something, I think, one cannot forget: coffins of babies, coffins of a mother and a child that was born at that moment,” he said.

“This is something that profoundly shocked me.”

Jose Manuel Barroso said he also met survivors who had retained hope, and it was now the duty of the EU “to give reason for that hope”.

He said 30 million euros would help Italy to settle its refugees, and listed a range of measures the EU must undertake including focusing their efforts on the people smugglers and the countries where most of the migrants are coming from.

Jose Manuel Barroso also said the EU parliament would be voting on a plan to launch Mediterranean-wide search and rescue patrols to intercept migrant boats.

The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstroem, said on Tuesday she had asked the EU’s Frontex border agency to draw up a “concrete proposal” for an operation that would allow better tracking, identification and rescue of migrant boats.

Frontex currently helps Italy to intercept migrant boats, but the two EU operations in the southern Mediterranean have limited resources – a total of four ships, two helicopters and two planes.

PM Enrico Letta said a great human drama was unfolding on Lampedusa and pledged to put the issue of migration at the centre of the EU agenda.

The two were met upon their arrival in Lampedusa by a small group of activists and local residents who shouted “shame”, “disgrace” and “killers” at the airport gates.

“They should be ashamed of themselves. They should solve this humanitarian problem,” one protester was quoted by Agence France-Presse news agency as saying.

The 66ft boat that sank last Thursday with more than 500 migrants on board had set off from Libya and was close to Lampedusa when, according to survivors, the engine failed.

In order to attract attention from passing boats, a small fire was lit which caused the passengers to panic and move towards one side of the boat which led to the capsizing, the survivors said.

Divers said they found dozens of bodies entwined together in the hull of the boat which lies about 155ft below the surface of the sea.

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Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro seeks special powers to fight corruption

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro seeks special powers to fight corruption

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has asked parliament to give him special powers to fight corruption and what he called economic sabotage.

Venezuela is currently facing shortages of food and essential goods, power cuts and soaring inflation.

The measure, used on four occasions by his predecessor Hugo Chavez, would allow Nicolas Maduro to govern by decree for a set period of time.

The opposition fears he will use his powers to stifle any dissent.

A vote to implement the so-called Enabling Law is due to be held in the National Assembly next week.

President Nicolas Maduro has asked parliament to give him special powers to fight corruption and what he called economic sabotage
President Nicolas Maduro has asked parliament to give him special powers to fight corruption and what he called economic sabotage

In a three-hour speech to the assembly, Nicolas Maduro called it a “matter of life or death” for the country’s socialist revolution.

“If corruption keeps expanding and perpetuating its destructive capitalist logic, there will be no socialism here,” he said.

Nicolas Maduro vowed to root out corruption in all aspects of Venezuelan life, stressing that even members of the governing Unified Socialist Party would not be exempt from scrutiny.

Henrique Capriles, the opposition presidential candidate who narrowly lost the election to Nicolas Maduro earlier this year, said the decree would not solve the country’s problems.

“I don’t think this law will bring any economic or social benefit to Venezuelans,” he said.

“They’re going to use the law to persecute and distract the people from their real problems.”

Although Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves, its people are suffering from the highest inflation in Latin America, sluggish growth and shortages.

A power cut last month left more than two-thirds of the country without electricity.

Finance Minister Nelson Merentes has conceded that while the social-oriented policies of Hugo Chavez have improved the living standards of many Venezuelans, they did not solve the “structural problems” of the economy.

Hugo Chavez died of cancer in March after 14 years in power.

His vice-president and handpicked successor, Nicolas Maduro, has pledged to continue his policies but does not command the same support enjoyed by Hugo Chavez.

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Plane noise linked to higher risks of stroke and heart disease

Kathryn R. Bown
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Plane noise linked to higher risks of stroke and heart disease

According to a new research, the risks of stroke, heart and circulatory disease are higher in areas with a lot of aircraft noise.

The new study of 3.6 million residents near Heathrow Airport suggested the risks were 10-20% higher in areas with the highest levels of aircraft noise.

The team’s findings are published in the British Medical Journal.

The researchers agreed with other experts that noise was not necessarily to blame and more work was needed.

The risks of stroke, heart and circulatory disease are higher in areas with a lot of aircraft noise
The risks of stroke, heart and circulatory disease are higher in areas with a lot of aircraft noise

Their work suggests a higher risk for both hospital admissions and deaths from stroke, heart and circulatory disease for the 2% of the study – about 70,000 people – who lived where the aircraft noise was loudest.

The lead author, Dr. Anna Hansell, from Imperial College London, said: “The exact role that noise exposure may play in ill health is not well established.

“However, it is plausible that it might be contributing – for example, by raising blood pressure or by disturbing people’s sleep.”

“There’s a <<startle reaction>> to loud noise – if you’re suddenly exposed to it, the heart rate and blood pressure increase.

“And aircraft noise can be annoying for some people, which can also affect their blood pressure, leading to illness.

“The relative importance of daytime and night-time noise from aircraft also needs to be investigated further.”

The study used data about noise levels in 2001 from the Civil Aviation Authority, covering 12 London boroughs and nine districts outside of London where aircraft noise exceeds 50 decibels – about the volume of a normal conversation in a quiet room.

The authors say fewer people are now affected by the highest levels of noise (above 63 decibels) – despite more planes being in the skies – because of changes in aircraft design and flight plans.

The researchers – from Imperial and also King’s College London – adjusted their work in an effort to eliminate other factors that might have a relationship with stroke and heart disease, such as deprivation, South Asian ethnicity and smoking-related illness.

They stressed that the higher risk of illness related to aircraft noise remained much less significant than the risks from lifestyle factors – including smoking, a lack of exercise or poor diet.

Bo Xilai appeal accepted by Chinese court

Diane A. Wade
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Bo Xilai appeal accepted by Chinese court

A Chinese court has agreed to consider an appeal by former Chongqing party leader Bo Xilai.

Bo Xilai was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power last month and jailed for life.

At his trial, he denied all the charges in a fiery defense.

Bo Xilai was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power last month and jailed for life
Bo Xilai was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power last month and jailed for life

Bo Xilai was removed from office last year amid a scandal which saw his wife Gu Kailai convicted of the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

The announcement regarding the appeal came on the website of the high court in Shandong, the province where Bo Xilai’s trial was held.

“Within the appeal period, Bo Xilai refused to accept the court’s first instance judgement and submitted an appeal through the Shandong Jinan Intermediate People’s Court to this court,” it said.

“After the appeal period expired on 8 October, upon examination, this court decided to accept the appeal, in accordance with the law.”

No time period for the appeal was specified in the brief statement.

Bo Xilai’s downfall came as China ushered in a new generation of leaders, amid a once-in-a-decade power transfer.

The charismatic politician had been seen as a candidate for the very top, until his fall from grace.

Barack Obama accuses Republicans of using extortion on debt limit

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama accuses Republicans of using extortion on debt limit

President Barack Obama has announced he is willing to hold budget talks with Republicans, but not until they agree to lift “threats” against the economy.

Republicans “don’t get to demand ransom in exchange for doing their jobs”, Barack Obama said, by demanding concessions in policy before reopening government.

The US government shut down last week when Congress failed to agree a budget.

Republican leaders on Tuesday renewed their calls for Barack Obama to open negotiations over ending the impasses.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner told reporters he was “disappointed that the president refuses to negotiate”.

He said the president’s position not to talk with Republicans “until [they] surrender” was not sustainable, and any discussions regarding the debt ceiling must address how the nation is “living beyond its means”.

At the White House, Barack Obama said he had spoken to John Boehner and was “happy to talk with him and other Republicans about anything”.

But Barack Obama said any negotiations on the ongoing government shutdown or the debt limit “shouldn’t require hanging the threats of a shutdown or economic chaos over the heads of the American people”.

Barack Obama has announced he is willing to hold budget talks with Republicans, but not until they agree to lift "threats" against the economy
Barack Obama has announced he is willing to hold budget talks with Republicans, but not until they agree to lift “threats” against the economy

“We can’t make extortion routine as part of our democracy,” Barack Obama said.

“Democracy doesn’t function this way. And this is not just for me. It’s also for my successors in office, whatever party they’re from.”

He also warned of the repercussions of defaulting on the government’s debt should Congress fail to raise the borrowing limit, currently set to be reached on October 17.

Barack Obama said breaching the borrowing limit could disrupt capital markets, undermine international confidence in America, permanently increase the nation’s borrowing costs, add to its deficits and debt, and pose the “significant risk of a very deep recession”.

The US government partially shut down operations on October 1st after Republicans who control the House of Representatives refused to approve a budget, saying they would only do so if Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law were delayed or stripped of funding.

Barack Obama and the Democrats have thus far refused, noting the law was passed in 2010, subsequently approved by the Supreme Court, and was a central issue in the 2012 election which Obama won.

At the same time, the Republicans have refused to approve an increase in the US debt limit unless it is accompanied by significant spending cuts and other policy concessions.

Barack Obama maintains John Boehner could end the current government showdown by allowing the House to vote on a “clean” budget bill that does not alter the health law, because that could pass with votes from both Democrats and moderate Republicans.

But doing so would risk damaging his standing with the most conservative elements of his caucus, analysts say.

US and foreign officials and economists have warned of severe economic consequences if the US defaults on its debt because the government is unable to borrow money to fund its obligations.

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Kris and Bruce Jenner split after 22 years of marriage

Lisa.Felice
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Kris and Bruce Jenner split after 22 years of marriage

Kris and Bruce Jenner have confirmed they separated a year ago, after 22 years of marriage.

In an interview with Us Weekly magazine hitting newsstands Friday, Kris Jenner says their scenes together on the show have been genuine and there’s no animosity between them. She says they’re committed to their family.

Bruce Jenner says they’ll always love and respect each other.

News of the split was first reported by E! News.

Kris and Bruce Jenner have confirmed they separated a year ago, after 22 years of marriage
Kris and Bruce Jenner have confirmed they separated a year ago, after 22 years of marriage

They say no divorce papers have been filed and that Bruce Jenner will continue to appear on the family’s reality show.

The admission explains why on recent episodes, Bruce Jenner moved out to his own beach house, saying he needed more space.

The couple’s teenage daughters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, were also filmed joining him for the summer, because their house with mom Kris was too crowded after half-sister Kim Kardashian moved in with Kanye West and their new daughter.

Since Bruce Jenner moved out, he’s still featured on the series often. Kris Jenner has taped scenes at his new home, as have the other Kardashian kids.

Kris Jenner, 57, and Bruce Jenner, 63, married in April 1991, less than a year after getting fixed up on a blind date.

At the time, Bruce Jenner had already been married twice before and had four kids.

Kris Jenner was newly divorced from Robert Kardashian, a prominent attorney who represented O.J. Simpson in the murder trial of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. She already had four kids, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Rob Kardashian.

Bruce Jenner has served as a father figure to Kris Jenner’s children, especially since the death of Robert Kardashian in 2003 of cancer.

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Willie Robertson at Liberty University’s Convocation

Sonia Pantiss
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Willie Robertson at Liberty University’s Convocation

Students and College for a Weekend (CFAW) guests enjoyed a performance by the band Crowder and a message of encouragement from Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson during Liberty University’s Convocation.

Willie Robertson, 41, is the CEO of Duck Commander, a leading duck call manufacturer, and the executive producer of Duck Dynasty. As the only member of the family with a business degree, Willie Robertson took the company from a living room operation to a premier destination for all things outdoors.

Before Willie Robertson took the stage, Crowder gave the crowd a preview of its upcoming concert with Colton Dixon. The band performed, This I Know, a song about Christ’s love for people.

Vice President for Communications Johnnie Moore also took a few minutes to greet CFAW guests and let them know how much Liberty appreciates them.

“We want you to know that as members in the body of Christ you are our honored guests and we are really glad you are here today,” he told the crowd.

President Jerry Falwell, Jr. introduced Robertson as “the star and driving force of the biggest reality television show in the history of cable television.”

Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson during Liberty University’s Convocation
Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson during Liberty University’s Convocation

“In addition to his business savvy, Willie and his entire family are known for their faith in Jesus Christ,” Jerry Falwell said.

“They are not just some of the top celebrities of our time, but are some our nation’s most famous Christians.”

Willie Robertson shared how his father Phil came to know Christ when he was 28 years old and decided to make duck calls, a tool hunters use to lure fowl.

“Without my father making the decision to come to Christ, there would not be a show called <<Duck Dynasty>>,” he said.

“When you are moving toward God, you are moving in the right direction.”

Willie Robertson then told the story of John the Baptist pointing people to Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew and how the book of Isaiah calls John the “highway for God.”

“My challenge to you is to not let the world’s measuring stick show you what is successful,” he said.

“Our family views success (as being) able to go around the country and share the message of the Lord and to talk about our faith.”

As he finished, Willie Robertson reminded students that even though they may believe in God, Satan will always try to prevent them from spreading the Gospel.

“A base like this [Liberty University] of young people can move mountains. Thank you for watching our show – you are making a difference,” Willie Robertson said.

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Galaxy Round: Samsung launches curved-screen smartphone

Nancy Clayson
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Galaxy Round: Samsung launches curved-screen smartphone

Samsung has launched Galaxy Round smartphone with a curved display screen.

The Galaxy Round will feature a 5.7in display.

The launch comes just days after rival LG said it would begin production of curved-screen phones next year.

Digital display technology has been progressing towards curved screens. Both Samsung and LG already offer curved organic light-emitting diode (OLED) television sets.

Samsung Electronics said the curved screen display would help consumers use some of the features on the phone, including those that enable users to check information such as date, time and missed calls when home screen is off, with more ease.

Samsung has launched Galaxy Round smartphone with a curved display screen
Samsung has launched Galaxy Round smartphone with a curved display screen

At the same time, users can also change music tracks on their phone, even while its display is off.

The Galaxy Round will initially be launched only in South Korea. The firm gave no indication of its plans for a global launch.

The global smartphone market has been growing rapidly.

According to research firm CCS Insight, worldwide smartphone sales will hit nearly 1 billion in 2013 – accounting for more than half the total of 1.7 billion mobile phones sold.

As result, smartphone manufacturers have been keen to offer new products to win consumers.

With display technology moving towards flexible and bendy screens, it is one area that companies have been looking at.

Janet Yellen to be nominated as head of Federal Reserve

Clyde K. Valle
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Janet Yellen to be nominated as head of Federal Reserve

According to a White House official, President Barack Obama will nominate Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Janet Yellen to be the next head of the US central bank on Wednesday.

If confirmed by the Senate, Janet Yellen would replace Ben Bernanke, who has held the post for eight years.

Janet Yellen has been Ben Bernanke’s deputy for the last two years, and would become the first woman to head the Federal Reserve.

Janet Yellen is to become the first woman to head the Federal Reserve
Janet Yellen is to become the first woman to head the Federal Reserve

Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke are due to appear with President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

She has taught at Harvard University and the London School of Economics, as well as holding a series of senior administrative positions in the US.

Janet Yellen, like Ben Bernanke, is seen as a “dove”, meaning she prefers to prioritize boosting employment by keeping rates low rather than worrying about inflation.

Her nomination has been widely expected after former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers withdrew his candidature.

Democrat Charles Schumer said Janet Yellen had the backing of politicians and would win Senate confirmation “by a wide margin”.

The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Tim Johnson, said she had “a depth of experience that is second to none”.

“I have no doubt she will be an excellent Federal Reserve chairman,” he added.

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