Wednesday, January 28, 2026
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Duck Commander business threatened by termite attack

At a makeshift court in the company warehouse, Si Robertson failed to make a single basket, despite using a trick shot called “the crane.”

Employee Justin Martin, meanwhile, was bonked by a basketball in a sensitive area and had to take a few minutes to recover. And despite having a new pair of shoes that looked like a cross between vintage Air Jordans and a pair of pogo sticks, Jep Robertson could not manage to sink a single shot.

“These shoes are for training, not for actual dunking in,” Jep Robertson explained after his humiliating display.

But the boys had bigger problems than their basketball skills: They discovered that the warehouse was infested with termites.

Wasting no time, the Robertsons called an exterminator, who promptly covered the entire Duck Commander warehouse with an enormous red and yellow striped tent.

“All of this for some little termites?” asked Jase Robertson.

“I ain’t takin’ no chances,” explained Willie Robertson.

“Anything living or crawling in there, I want to kill. Kill ‘em all.”

Since the boys were unable to work in the warehouse while the exterminator fogged the building, Willie Robertson sent the crew off to John Godwin’s house to work.

Not wanting to miss an opportunity to show off her “successful, good-looking, charming” son, Miss Kay instructs Willie Robertson to take the afternoon off so that he speak at her social club, the Golden ‘60s.

“When you’re the CEO, people look up to you,” Willie Robertson explained.

Duck Dynasty airs Wednesday nights on A&E
Duck Dynasty airs Wednesday nights on A&E

“They want to know the secrets to you your success.”

Dressed in a sharp white jacket, Willie arrived at the social club where he met his mother and half a dozen senior ladies.

Looking very uncomfortable, Willie asked Miss Kay if he should begin speaking to the group. Instead, he is ordered to “go get the lunch.”

“Go get the what?” asked Willie, confused.

“I’m not going to get the lunch. I’m speaking.”

Meanwhile, the Duck Commander crew were busy eating popsicles at John Godwin’s house – and occasionally assembling duck calls.

“Let me tell you about my crew,” explained Jase Robertson.

“We will work anywhere, anytime. But we are at our best when we have snacks and air conditioning, and no Willie.”

After finishing their popsicles, Uncle Si Robertson unwraps a package with John Godwin’s “inheritance” from his Uncle Ruben, a stuffed jackalope, which is allegedly “part rabbit and part deer.”

“Godwin, I’m telling you that’s worth some money,” Uncle Si said of the dead creature.

“Let’s go find us a taxidermist,” declared Jase Robertson.

With that, the boys head out to McGough’s Taxidermy get the furry figure appraised.

The dead animal emporium failed to impress Jase Robertson.

“Who gets excited about a building filled with stuffed animals?” he asked rhetorically.

“I certainly don’t. Animals should be eaten, not stuffed. The only animal I stuff is a turkey on Thanksgiving, sometimes Christmas.”

Sadly, John Godwin’s jackalope was appraised at only $50.

Eventually, John Godwin decided to keep his animal as-is and name him “Benjamin Bunny.”

Colorado flooding leaves three people dead

Colorado flooding left three people dead and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of homes.

Many roads are closed because of high water and debris, preventing rescue crews from reaching the stranded.

Up to 7in of rain fell in three hours in the Boulder area on Thursday morning, the third day of rain.

Residents in two areas south-east of the town of Estes Park have been ordered to evacuate after an earthen dam gave way in the area.

Further heavy rainfall is expected on Thursday.

Emergency officials have reported three deaths: one in Colorado Springs; one when a structure collapsed in Jamestown; and another in Boulder.

A 20ft wall of water was reported in Left Hand Canyon, north of Boulder, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Kleyla.

Colorado flooding left three people dead and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of homes
Colorado flooding left three people dead and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of homes

Rescuers in the area were trying to get through debris to reach a firefighter who climbed a tree to escape the water, according to US media reports.

Some 400 students at University of Colorado, Boulder, were evacuated and classes were cancelled on Thursday because of the flooding.

Mandatory evacuations have also been ordered for the Jamestown and Fourmile areas.

Colorado State Patrol Captain John Burt said damage was being reported across several counties, including Boulder, Larimer and Jefferson, north-west of Denver, and El Paso County around Colorado Springs.

Almost all roads to Boulder had been blocked or flooded, according to the Denver Post.

Standing water on a road caused some traffic delays into Denver International Airport, but not to flights.

Officials told NBC that water reached as high as first-floor windows in some parts of Boulder, while cars were seen floating in the streets.

An emergency bulletin from Adams County, east of Denver, warned residents: “Stay away or be swept away.”

Boulder emergency management spokeswoman Gabrielle Boerkircher told AFP news agency the rainfall had been unusual not only for the amount of rain but for how the storm was behaving.

“It’s been a weird storm,” she said, adding it had been “turning back around on itself all night”.

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June Shannon shaves her neck hairs for commitment ceremony

June Shannon is seen getting a shave from her daughter Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon in her hit show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

Mama June, 34, is shown in the season two finale of the show, preparing for her commitment ceremony with longtime love Sugar Bear.

The bride was keen that everything should be perfect for her big day, including her own personal grooming.

Loyal daughter Lauryn is seen attacking her mum’s “neck hairs” with a razor as the family prepare for the ceremony, which took place back in May.

“Mama still hasn’t shaved her neck hairs for the commitment ceremony,” Pumpkin helpfully points out.

June Shannon is seen getting a shave from her daughter Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon in her hit show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo
June Shannon is seen getting a shave from her daughter Lauryn “Pumpkin” Shannon in her hit show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

“And I think I’m gonna help her with that so we can check it off the list.”

Once the shave is complete June Shannon is seen getting her make-up applied, choosing a bright pink lippie and green eyeshadow to get the blushing bride look.

The green makeup coordinated perfectly with Mama June’s unusual choice in wedding gown, a “camo-style” dress, with the entire family later joining the family matriarch in full on camouflage gear.

Honey Boo Boo, now 8, served as flower girl at the ceremony, which took place at the family’s home in Georgia.

Mama June and Sugar Bear met almost ten years ago in an online chat room following relationship break-ups. They hit it off and two years later welcomed the star of the family, Honey Boo Boo.

Honey Boo Boo shot to fame on the fly-on-the-wall pageant show Toddlers & Tiaras in 2009 and scored her own spin-off series last year.

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FDA approves Botox treatment for crow’s feet and lines

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Botox treatment for wrinkles around the corners of the eyes – also known as “crow’s feet” – was officially sanctioned by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday.

Crow’s feet are thought to be caused by repeated muscle contractions over a lifetime through facial expressions like frowning, smiling and squinting.

“This additional indication will provide people with a new FDA approved treatment option for those seeking a smoother appearance by temporarily minimizing the appearance of crow’s feet at the sides of the eyes,” said Susan Walker, director of the Division of Dermatology and Dental Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in the FDA statement.

Botox has been used for decades by opthalmologists to treat eyelid twitching, or blepharospasm, according to Dr. Jennifer Walden.

The Texas-based aesthetic plastic surgeon, told CBSNews.comthat this is one of the ways doctors discovered it could smooth the skin.

While this new FDA approval for Botox only came Wednesday, Dr. Jennifer Walden said: “Doctors have been using it off-label for years to smooth the crow’s feet.”

FDA approved Botox treatment for crow's feet and lines
FDA approved Botox treatment for crow’s feet and lines

The new FDA approval came following a study of 833 adults conducted by the drug’s manufacturer, Allergan Inc. of Irvine, California, where participants were randomly assigned to receive a Botox or a placebo injection.

People treated with Botox had greater reductions in crow’s feet.

Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) is a protein and neurotoxin and is the most acutely toxic substance known.

However, when injected directly into a muscle in approved doses, Botox prevents muscles from tightening by temporarily paralyzing them, which in turn makes wrinkles disappear – for up to six months.

Botox was first approved as a cosmetic by the FDA in 2002 for temporary improvement of frown lines – the wrinkles between the eyebrows, also known as glabellar lines.

The most common side effect seen was eyelid edema, which causes the eyelids to become swollen due to fluid buildup.

Botox labels contain the strongest warning the FDA offers saying the effects of the toxin may spread from the area of injection to other areas of the body.

However, the FDA said there has never been a confirmed serious case of this happening when Botox is used at recommended doses.

According to Dr. Marco Harmaty, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, Botox has been frequently used for crow’s feet and other unapproved areas of the face, like the side of the nose.

The FDA’s new approval “does give you an added benefit and safety of saying that I’m not doing anything illegal or potentially harmful”, he said to CBSNews.com.

Botox for cosmetic purposes still likely won’t be covered by insurers, given it is used for cosmetic purposes.

Insurers often cover people who have approved medical conditions treated by Botox, including chronic migraines, severe underarm sweating and others.

Bashar al-Assad confirms Syria’s chemical weapons will be placed under international control

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has appeared on Russian TV to confirm that his country’s chemical weapons will be placed under international control.

Bashar al-Assad’s comments, to Rossiya 24, came as US and Russian foreign ministers prepared to meet in Geneva to discuss the plan, proposed by Russia earlier this week.

He insisted that the move was a result of the Russian initiative and not the threat of US military action.

The US accuses the Syrian regime of killing hundreds in a chemical attack.

Syrian government denies the allegation, blaming rebels for the attack in the Ghouta area of the capital, Damascus, on August 21.

Russia announced its proposal for dealing with the escalating chemical weapons crisis on Monday, as the US Congress was preparing to vote on whether to back President Barack Obama’s moves towards military action against Syria.

Bashar al-Assad has appeared on Russian TV to confirm that Syria's chemical weapons will be placed under international control
Bashar al-Assad has appeared on Russian TV to confirm that Syria’s chemical weapons will be placed under international control

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov outlined three main phases of the proposal:

  • Syria joins the Chemical Weapons Convention, which outlaws the production and use of the weapons
  • Syria reveals where its chemical weapons are stored and gives details of its programme
  • Experts decide on the specific measures to be taken

In his interview, which has not yet been broadcast in full, Bashar al-Assad told state-run Rossiya 24: “Syria is placing its chemical weapons under international control because of Russia. The US threats did not influence the decision.”

He confirmed that Syria would send relevant documents to the UN “in the next few days” as part of the process of signing the chemical weapons convention.

Bashar al-Assad said Syria would then submit information on its chemical weapons one month after signing.

He also said that Russia’s proposal was “not unilateral”, adding: “Syria will accept it if America stops military threats and if other countries supplying the rebels with chemical weapons also abide by the agreement.”

Bashar al-Assad said only Russia could make the agreement happen as “Syria has neither contacts with, nor trust in, America”.

Sergei Lavrov – who is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry in Geneva on Thursday to discuss the plan – said during a visit to Kazakhstan: “I am sure that there is a chance for peace in Syria. We cannot let it slip away.”

He did not mention the destruction of the weapons, which was part of Moscow’s original proposal but is thought to be a sticking point in negotiations with Damascus.

Before meeting Sergei Lavrov, John Kerry is holding talks with UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi.

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Alexei Navalny launches election fraud lawsuits against Sergei Sobyanin

Alexei Navalny has launched hundreds of lawsuits contesting Sergei Sobyanin’s victory in Moscow mayoral election.

Alexei Navalny delivered boxes full of complaints of fraud to Moscow city court, and began filing 951 lawsuits with 36 district courts.

The city court refused his request to stop Sergei Sobyanin’s inauguration on Thursday night.

Alexei Navalny has launched hundreds of lawsuits contesting Sergei Sobyanin’s victory in Moscow mayoral election
Alexei Navalny has launched hundreds of lawsuits contesting Sergei Sobyanin’s victory in Moscow mayoral election

The courts could take months to consider the lawsuits.

Sergei Sobyanin, the Kremlin-backed candidate, won 51.3% of Sunday’s vote – just above the 50% threshold needed to avoid a second-round ballot – according to Russian election officials.

Alexei Navalny came second with 27.2%.

He called for a run-off and refused to recognize the results, saying they had been “deliberately falsified”.

Alexei Navalny said the count had been marred by “many serious violations”.

Blobfish becomes official mascot of Ugly Animal Preservation Society

Blobfish has won a public vote to become the official mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society.

This gives the fish the unofficial title of world’s ugliest animal.

The Ugly Animal Preservation Society began as a science-themed comedy night and devised its mascot campaign to draw attention to “aesthetically challenged” threatened species.

The winner was announced at the British Science Festival in Newcastle.

The blobfish tops a list that includes the huge-nosed proboscis monkey, the similarly afflicted pig-nosed turtle, an amphibian affectionately known as a “scrotum frog” and pubic lice.

Biologist and TV presenter Simon Watt, president of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, said he hoped the campaign would draw attention to the threats facing these weird and wonderful creatures.

Simon Watt said he hoped the vote would also bring a lighter side to conservation.

“It’s the most depressing type of science to be involved with,” he said.

“It’s basically working out: What died today?”

Blobfish has won a public vote to become the official mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society
Blobfish has won a public vote to become the official mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society

For this campaign, Simon Watt worked with comedians, each of whom created a campaign message on YouTube for their chosen creature. The society asked the public to vote for their favorite.

The blobfish eventually won by almost 10,000 votes.

The bizarre creature lives off the coast of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, at depths of between 600 and 1,200 m, where atmospheric pressure is several dozen times higher than at sea level.

Blobfish’s gelatinous body is just slightly more dense than water, and it spends its life “bobbing around” in the depths.

It feeds on crabs and lobsters and so suffers a significant threat from fishing trawlers. Although it is inedible itself, it gets caught up in the nets.

Other animals on the shortlist face similar threats to their habitats and Simon Watt hopes that this campaign will highlight the fact that conservation should focus on the protection of habitats rather than specific species.

The remaining animals in the top five were:

  • The kakapo: The world’s only flightless parrot. This heavy bird evolved in an island “bubble”, with no natural predators. But its New Zealand home now has many mammals, including humans, that have decimated the population of the famously curious kakapo. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there were just 126 of the birds remaining in the wild in early 2012.
  • The axolotl: This is the salamander that never grows up. The amphibian spends its entire life underwater, unlike other salamanders, which develop the ability to breathe out of the water when they mature. The axolotl’s perpetual state of larval development means that it is able to re-grow lost limbs. It also means the creatures are of huge interest to scientists; the salamanders are studied for their apparent natural resistance to ageing and cancer. They live only in a small cluster of lakes in Mexico that are now becoming dangerously polluted.
  • The Titicaca water frog: This amphibian lives only in Lake Titicaca in the Andes. It has evolved a reduced lung capacity, so its many skin folds help it to breathe. According to some researchers’ accounts, the frogs do “press-ups” at the bottom of the lake to create disturbances in the water that increase oxygen flow.
  • The proboscis monkey: As well as a very oversized nose, this primate also has a rotund appearance, which is a by-product of its diet of unripe fruit. Only the males have such large noses and, although they might look odd to us, it is thought that they make the primates more attractive to potential mates.
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Chelsea Handler: Kris Jenner less classy than Mama June

Kris Jenner has come under fire for her show once again, this time by comedienne Chelsea Handler, Star magazine reported.

The publication quotes a source claiming Chelsea Handler told Kris Jenner to “shut her pie hole” after she started a war of words with President Barack Obama.

“She said that Honey Boo Boo’s mom has more class [than Kris Jenner]” the insider added.

Chelsea Handler says Honey Boo Boo's mom has more class than Kris Jenner
Chelsea Handler says Honey Boo Boo’s mom has more class than Kris Jenner

Although there appears to be no firm decision on the future of Kris Jenner’s talk show, Radar reported last night that it is close to being cancelled.

“It is a very crowded market and Kris didn’t do anything to set herself apart from the field,” a source told the site.

“Believe it or not, most of America doesn’t want to hear about the Kardashians for an hour every day.”

Capital One girl in black leather is Tiffany Dupont

Capital One Purchase Eraser commercial features Alec Baldwin pretending to be a secret agent and a smoking hot woman rolling up on him on a motorcycle asking if he needs backup.

Ever wondered who that actress is? Her name is Tiffany Dupont from Virginia.

 Capital One girl in black leather is Tiffany Dupont
Capital One girl in black leather is Tiffany Dupont

Tiffany Dupont is a graduate of the University of Georgia and has appeared on TV shows such as Hawaii Five-0, Supernatural, Franklin & Bash, Castle, and CSI: Miami and will be in a film in 2013 called Born to Race: Fast Track.

She even has her own Wikipedia page, the true sign of fame.

Tiffany Dupont is active on Twitter and is also on Facebook.

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Meet Porter Ridge characters

From the creators of the hit series Duck Dynasty, Gurney Productions takes us out of the swamp and into the hills for the comedic Discovery Channel series Porter Ridge.

On the Ridge, playing with bears, holding family demolition derbies and wearing a shirt is optional, but their code of life is simple: respect the lord, love your family and watch each other’s backs.

Meet the folks of Porter Ridge, a tight-knit community of colorful characters that are unlike any other on Discovery channel on Tuesdays at 10:30 PM ET/PT.

Tucked away in the rolling hills of Indiana, far from big city life, this isolated, lawless community lives by its own set of rules. The eccentric band of misfits in Porter Ridge often butt heads but ultimately join together to keep their unique “Hilljack” way of life afloat. Although their lifestyle may not be acceptable by most people’s standards, you can’t help but laugh at all the crazy antics that are an everyday occurrence on Porter Ridge.

The Porter Ridge cast includes:

Terry Porter: CEO and owner of Country Auto Parts, an auto junkyard, Terry is the fast-talking, shirtless, wild man in charge of the most legendary business on the Ridge. Having spent his entire life on the Ridge, he fancies himself the true leader of this backwoods clan but often times proves that he’s not suited to lead much beyond a scrapyard negotiation. For Terry Porter, it’s all about the next race, the next repo, the next get rich quick idea and whatever it takes to beat his longtime rivals from over on Dog Killer Ridge.

The folks of Porter Ridge are a tight-knit community of colorful characters that are unlike any other on Discovery channel
The folks of Porter Ridge are a tight-knit community of colorful characters that are unlike any other on Discovery channel

Jeff Watson: The Bear Man, has lived on the Ridge almost 20-years with a backyard full of bears. He has eight, truffle hunting, Brown Bears as companions. Jeff Watson treats his bears like family, and has a genuine affection for these powerful animals. Unfortunately, the other guys on the Ridge don’t always have the same love for these 1,500-pound beasts.

Dirty Andy: The scrappy scrapper, Dirty Andy is a renowned hustler on the ridge. Always looking for a way to make a buck, he and Terry Porter don’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to doing deals. Whether it’s an old lawnmower or a rusty trampoline, there is nothing that Dirty Andy can’t turn to cash. He may look like Santa Claus, but this heavy-set hilljack definitely doesn’t smell like Christmas.

Kayla Wood: A local ridge girl herself, this country calendar model may look like the girl next door but she is as feisty as they come and negotiates with the best of them. While she’s supposed to be selling parts, Kayla Wood ends up spending most of her days trying to keep Terry Porter from sinking his business like the Titanic.

Danny Bob: The most longstanding employee of Country Auto, a whiz with a blowtorch, and one of Terry Porter’s closest friends. He’s a no-nonsense, wisecracking, ex-Army, guy who can fix just about anything with an engine. Danny Bob also has a handful of ex-wives in his past, including one he married twice – which he says is the definition of “stupid.”

Elvis Larry: The local garbage man, and jack-of-all-trades on the ridge, this Elvis look-alike is a good-natured momma’s boy and an unlikely source of wisdom at times. He will clean your gutters or fix your tractor, and knows all the gossip that’s fit to tell.

Barry Moore: A former tree-climbing and national clogging champion, Barry Moore is everyone’s buddy. He’s a cool character who rarely gets ruffled, and prides himself on his quick wit and first class mullet.

Rusty Porter: Rusty learned from the best, since he’s the 13-year old son of Terry Porter and around these parts he’s the face of trouble as he’s often up to no good. He has every kid’s dream life where instead of Matchbox cars, he gets to drive a full size lifter and crush actual automobiles.

Dog Killer Ridge: The rivals from the next ridge over, the men of Dog Killer Ridge only have one thing in common with what they feel are their inferior neighbors on Porter Ridge, the need for speed in a hunk of junk. They might only live a few miles away, but they are worlds apart. They feel it’s their God-given responsibility to let the Porter Ridge clan know at every opportunity just who is top dog around these parts – DKR (Dog Killer Ridge).

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Pirates of the Caribbean 5 release delayed beyond 2015

The 5th installment of Pirates of the Caribbean has been delayed beyond its planned 2015 release.

Disney’s Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which sees Johnny Depp returning for his fifth appearance as Captain Jack Sparrow, was expected to go into production next year.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer told the Hollywood Reporter issues with the script and budget caused the delay.

Jerry Bruckheimer said he was now targeting a summer 2016 release.

“We have an outline everyone loves but the script is not done,” he said.

The 5th installment of Pirates of the Caribbean has been delayed beyond its planned 2015 release.
The 5th installment of Pirates of the Caribbean has been delayed beyond its planned 2015 release.

The producer added: “We want a script that everyone’s signed off on and a budget that everyone’s signed off on.”

The delay follows the poor performance by Disney’s much anticipated summer film The Lone Ranger, also starring Johnny Depp, which earned just $29 million in its opening weekend in the US.

The film, which reportedly cost $215 million to make, has grossed $243 million worldwide to date.

Disney warned the film would amount to losses of between $160 million-$190 million after heavy spending on promotion failed to bring returns.

Jerry Bruckheimer said coming up with a great script was “always hard,” and after this summer – which saw several blockbuster films perform poorly – “everybody’s more cautious”.

The most recent Pirates installments, At World’s End and On Stranger Tides, were both released in time for Memorial Day weekend in September 2007 and 2011.

Disney previously announced the fifth Pirates film will be directed by Kon-Tiki filmmakers Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg.

The four films in the franchise have grossed a combined total of $3.7 billion worldwide, making Pirates Of The Caribbean the fifth biggest film franchise ever.

Doctor Who 50th anniversary schedule

A raft of programmes to mark the 50th anniversary of the first episode of Doctor Who has been announced by BBC.

A 75-minute special episode called The Day Of The Doctor will star the soon-to-leave Matt Smith and David Tennant.

Matt Smith said: “Hope you all enjoy. There’s lots more coming your way.”

Other highlights include a BBC2 lecture by Professor Brian Cox on the science behind the hit show and the drama An Adventure In Space and Time, written by Mark Gatiss.

The one-off programme stars David Bradley – known to millions for his role as Filch in the Harry Potter films – as William Hartnell, who played the first Doctor in 1963.

BBC 4 will introduce new audiences to William Hartnell, with a re-run of the first ever story. The four episodes are being shown in a restored format, not previously broadcast in the UK.

A raft of programmes will mark the 50th anniversary of the first episode of Doctor Who
A raft of programmes will mark the 50th anniversary of the first episode of Doctor Who

BBC 2’s flagship arts programme The Culture Show is to present Me, You and Doctor Who, with lifelong fan Matthew Sweet exploring the cultural significance of the BBC’s longest running TV drama.

A 90-minute documentary on BBC Radio 2 will ask “Who Is The Doctor?” – using newly-recorded interviews and exclusive archive material to find an answer.

For those less familiar with the show, Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide will provide a handy primer.

Matt Smith has already started filming his final scenes as the Doctor, which are due to air in this year’s Christmas episode. His replacement, Peter Capaldi, was announced in August.

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer on Doctor Who, said: “50 years has turned Doctor Who from a television show into a cultural landmark. Personally I can’t wait to see what it becomes after a hundred.”

CBBC will broadcast a show, 12 Again, bringing together stars to share their memories of Doctor Who.

They include the seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, Tommy Knight, who played Luke Smith in The Sarah Jane Adventures, Warwick Davis, who played Porridge in a Doctor Who episode and Louise Jameson, who was the fourth Doctor Tom Baker’s companion Leela.

Blue Peter is launching a competition giving viewers aged between six and 14 the opportunity to design a new gadget that will become part of the series and Matt Smith will appear on the Blue Peter sofa to answer viewers’ questions.

BBC 3 audiences will be encouraged to get involved and vote in Doctor Who: Monsters and Villains Weekend.

Vladimir Putin makes personal appeal to American people over Syrian crisis

Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people over the Syrian crisis.

In an opinion article in the New York Times, Vladimir Putin warns that a US military strike against Syria could unleash a new wave of terrorism.

The Russian president says millions of people see the US not as a model of democracy but as relying on brute force.

The US and Russia are due to hold talks in Geneva later over Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal.

Moscow, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has proposed putting the weapons under international control before destroying them.

Damascus has agreed, at least partially, to the proposal, and President Barack Obama to put military action against Syria on hold.

The US blames the Syrian government for a chemical weapons attack near Damascus last month that killed hundreds. Syria blames the attack on rebels.

As the diplomatic efforts continue, the Syrian army has been trying to retake the Christian town of Maaloula which was overrun by rebel forces – including members of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front – at the weekend.

Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people over the Syrian crisis
Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people over the Syrian crisis

In the New York Times article, Vladimir Putin says recent events “have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders”.

He warned that the UN could suffer the same fate as its precursor, the League of Nations, if “influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization”.

“The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the Pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders,” Vladimir Putin says.

“A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.”

Vladimir Putin said Russia was not protecting the Syrian government “but international law”.

He reiterated Russia’s opinion that the gas attack of August 21 was probably carried out by opposition forces “to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons”.

“Reports that militants are preparing another attack – this time against Israel – cannot be ignored,” he adds.

“It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force.”

The article comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva to discuss Moscow’s proposal.

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Tina Brown to leave The Daily Beast at the end of 2013

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Tina Brown has announced she is leaving the online news magazine The Daily Beast.

Former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, who founded the site in 2008 with Barry Diller, said she would focus on a conference business, in particular her annual Women in the World summit.

Tina Brown will leave the site when her contract expires at the end of this year.

Her tenure at The Daily Beast was marked by the website’s unsuccessful merger with Newsweek in 2010.

Tina Brown and her team struggled to turn around the storied print magazine, and advertising revenue continued to plunge as circulation lagged.

She defended her attempt to revive Newsweek, saying she was proud of “the battle we waged to save it from the overwhelming forces of media change”.

Newsweek was sold to IBT Media in August after ceasing publication of its print edition.

Tina Brown has announced she is leaving the online news magazine The Daily Beast.
Tina Brown has announced she is leaving the online news magazine The Daily Beast.

Tina Brown’s new venture, Tina Brown Live Media, will continue her successful yearly conference, Women in the World, launched in 2010. Luminaries such as Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton have attended in the past.

She co-founded The Daily Beast in October 2008 with Barry Diller after a successful track record running print magazines in the US and the UK.

At age 25 Tina Brown was editor-in-chief of UK society magazine Tatler. She then went on to be the first female editor of The New Yorker magazine, and edit Vanity Fair and the short-lived Talk magazine.

Named after the fictional newspaper in Evelyn Waugh’s satirical novel Scoop, The Daily Beast aimed to prove that online news could be made profitable.

The site was backed by Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActivCorp, which also owns properties such as the dating websites Match.com and OkCupid and other websites such Ask.com and Dictionary.com.

Although the Daily Beast has reported strong web traffic numbers – with an audience of between six million and 16 million monthly visitors – it has had difficulty generating meaningful ad revenue.

The November 2010 merger with Newsweek – which had been purchased by audio magnate Sidney Harman for $1 from the Washington Post Company – added more pressure.

After struggling to contain losses and generate buzz, Tina Brown announced that the venerable magazine would cease print publication on 31 December 2012.

Barry Diller later called the Newsweek acquisition “a mistake”.

IAC will continue to operate The Daily Beast, according to an article posted on the site.

It will be run by executive editor John Avlon and managing editor Deidre Depke.

Yongbyon nuclear reactor restarted in North Korea

According to a US institute, steam has been seen rising from North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear facility, suggesting that the reactor has been restarted.

The color and volume of the steam indicated that the reactor was in or nearing operation, the institute said.

Pyongyang vowed to restart facilities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex in April, amid high regional tensions.

The reactor can produce plutonium, which North Korea could use to make nuclear weapons.

Analysts believe North Korea already possesses between 4 and 10 nuclear weapons, based on plutonium produced at the Yongbyon reactor prior to mid-2007, when the facility was closed down.

The report, which was published on the 38 North website on Wednesday, was written by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University. The institute uses satellite imagery to monitor developments in North Korea.

Pyongyang vowed to restart facilities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex in April, amid high regional tensions
Pyongyang vowed to restart facilities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex in April, amid high regional tensions

The reactor uses steam turbines to generate electricity, and the steam seen in satellite imagery from August 31 indicated that the electrical system was about to come online, the report said.

“The reactor looks like it either is or will within a matter of days be fully operational, and as soon as that happens, it will start producing plutonium,” said report author Jeffrey Lewis.

“They really are putting themselves in a position to increase the amount of material they have for nuclear weapons, which I think gives them a little bit of leverage in negotiations, and adds a sense of urgency on our part,” he added.

The five megawatt reactor can produce spent fuel rods that can be made into plutonium, which experts believe North Korea used for its nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. North Korea conducted its third, most-recent test in February, but it is not clear whether plutonium or uranium was used.

In a November 2010 reportfollowing a visit to Yongbyon, US scientist Siegfried Hecker said that based on what he saw he believed North Korea could “resume all plutonium operations within approximately six months” at Yongbyon, then shut down, if so inclined.

Analysts at the Institution for Science and International Security, a think tank, said it would take a considerable amount of time before North Korea could use any new plutonium in nuclear weapons.

“Given that North Korea will likely need two-three years before it discharges irradiated fuel containing plutonium and another six to 12 months to separate the plutonium, there remains time to negotiate a shutdown of the reactor before North Korea can use any of this new plutonium in nuclear weapons,” it said in a report.

Analysts say the reactor can produce six kg (13 lbs) of plutonium a year – enough to make one to two nuclear bombs.

Both the US State Department and South Korea’s National Intelligence Service have declined to comment directly on the report, saying they do not comment on intelligence matters, AP news agency reported.

North Korea closed the Yongbyon reactor in July 2007 as part of a disarmament-for-aid deal.

The cooling tower at the facility was later destroyed, but then the disarmament deal stalled, partly because the US did not believe Pyongyang was fully disclosing all of its nuclear facilities.

In 2010, North Korea unveiled a uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon to Siegfried Hecker.

Siegfried Hecker said that while the facilities appeared to be for electricity generation purposes, it could be readily converted to produce highly-enriched uranium for bombs.

Apple shares drop more than 5% after iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C launches

Apple shares fell more than 5% as investors worried that its latest iPhone models may not help it increase its share in emerging markets.

Apple launched two models on Tuesday, the iPhone 5S and a cheaper iPhone 5C.

But the basic 5C model, with 16 gigabytes of storage, has been priced at $740, which analysts said was still expensive for emerging markets.

Apple has found it tough to boost its share those markets against competition from firms such as Samsung and Huawei.

“Investors were put off that Apple’s price point didn’t go low enough to attract a new market,” said Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott.

“It doesn’t have the same range in price that Apple’s competitors have,” he added.

Apple shares fell more than 5 percent as investors worried that its latest iPhone models may not help it increase its share in emerging markets
Apple shares fell more than 5 percent as investors worried that its latest iPhone models may not help it increase its share in emerging markets

Apple shares closed at $467.7 on Wednesday, down by 5.4%.

The company has enjoyed tremendous success in developed markets with its iPhone models.

However, Apple has not been able to repeat that in emerging economies such as China and India, not least because its products are relatively more expensive.

One of the key reasons has been that unlike the developed markets, many mobile carriers do not subsidize phones in these countries.

That makes low-cost phones a much more affordable option for consumers. Many had hoped that Apple would launch a low-end phone to try to lure those buyers.

“The pricing on the iPhone 5C is simply not low enough to adequately address the significant global growth opportunity that we believe exists with unsubsidized prepaid customers that have not yet bought a smartphone,” said Walter Piecyk, an analyst with BTIG Research.

“We believe Apple is foregoing a valuable and relatively easy way to return to earnings growth.

“The real question is whether Apple plans to ever go after these markets or rather just remain a high-end phone maker.”

Investors had also been hoping for an announcement of a deal with China Mobile, the world’s biggest phone company with nearly 700 million subscribers – who could be potential customers of Apple’s phones.

Analysts said that the lack of any announcement also hurt investor sentiment.

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Porter Ridge cast: Kayla Wood

Kayla Wood stars in the Discovery Channel new reality docu-series Porter Ridge.

Kayla Wood, a local ridge girl herself, is described as a country calendar model who works at Terry Porter’s Country Auto Parts.

Kayla Wood, a local ridge girl herself, is described as a country calendar model who works at Terry Porter's Country Auto Parts
Kayla Wood, a local ridge girl herself, is described as a country calendar model who works at Terry Porter’s Country Auto Parts

While she’s supposed to be selling parts, Kayla Wood ends up spending most of her days trying to keep Terry Porter from sinking his business like the Titanic.

Meet the folks of Porter Ridge, a tight-knit community of colorful characters that are unlike any other on Discovery Tuesdays at 10:30 PM ET/PT.

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Ariel Castro’s guards Caleb Ackley and Ryan Murphy placed on leave after his suicide

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Two corrections officers who were in charge of watching Ariel Castro in prison were put on paid leave following his suicide.

Department of Rehabilitation and Correction spokeswoman JoEllen Smith says the two guards Caleb Ackley, 26, and 27-year-old Ryan Murphy were on duty in the Orient, Ohio prison unit where Ariel Castro hanged himself on September 3.

The two men are on paid administrative leave until internal investigations by the department and a criminal investigation by the state highway patrol are completed. Neither have any previous disciplinary notes in their files.

Two corrections officers who were in charge of watching Ariel Castro in prison were put on paid leave following his suicide
Two corrections officers who were in charge of watching Ariel Castro in prison were put on paid leave following his suicide

The officers haven’t been found guilty of any wrong doing but are on leave pending the review board’s decision, according to 19 Action News

Ariel Castro, 53, hanged himself with a bed sheet earlier this month, a few weeks into a life sentence for imprisoning three women in his home for a decade.

He was serving a life sentence plus 1,000 years for abducting, raping, and holding hostage Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus.

Ariel Castro was being housed alone in an isolation unit for his protection, where he would be checked every 30 minutes.

Prison officials said Ariel Castro hanged himself with a sheet during a break between inspections.

Initially, Ariel Castro was being checked on every ten minutes, but this stopped in June after he was deemed not to be a risk to himself and taken off suicide watch.

An autopsy confirmed his death was suicide by hanging.

Ariel Castro’s attorneys tried unsuccessfully to have an independent psychological examination of the 53-year-old done at the Cuyahoga County Jail before he was turned over to state authorities following his conviction.

A full investigation is underway as to how Ariel Castro was able to take his own life while under the watchful eye of prison guards – who said he was always calm and cooperative with them.

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Amanda Berry relieved that Ariel Castro is dead

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Amanda Berry’s father has spoken about his daughter’s reaction to Ariel Castro’s suicide for the first time, saying that she is “relieved that the monster is dead”.

Before Ariel Castro’s death, Amanda Berry fought to insure that he would not have legal visitation rights to see Jocelyn, the six-year-old daughter that she gave birth to while being held by Castro.

Her father Johnny Berry said that she “has been living in constant fear that Jocelyn may someday have to see Castro, and she didn’t want that ever to happen”.

Amanda Berry's father revealed his daughter is relieved that Ariel Castro is dead
Amanda Berry’s father revealed his daughter is relieved that Ariel Castro is dead

 

Amanda Berry’s thoughts were revealed just hours after two corrections officers who were in charge of watching Ariel Castro were put on paid leave following the incident.

Ariel Castro, 53, was serving a life sentence plus 1,000 years for abducting, raping, and holding hostage Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus.

He was being housed alone in an isolation unit for his protection, where he would be checked every 30 minutes. 

Prison officials said Ariel Castro hanged himself with a sheet during a break between inspections.

Sinead O’Connor displays face tattoos while onstage at Bestival

Sinead O’Connor displayed the initials “B” and “Q” on her cheeks while onstage at Bestival music festival.

It appears the initials stand for Brendan Quinlan, a mystery man Sinead O’Connor, 46, alludes to on her website when vaguely discussing her new tattoos.

Written in red calligraphy, Sinead O’Connor showed them off as she performed at the 10th anniversary of Rob Da Bank’s music festival, in the Big Top on Friday night.

Sinead O'Connor displayed the initials “B” and “Q” on her cheeks while onstage at Bestival music festival
Sinead O’Connor displayed the initials “B” and “Q” on her cheeks while onstage at Bestival music festival

On her website, Sinead O’Connor wrote: “It’s what it is … un ange passé 😉 There’s a bottle of Agent Provocateur in someone’s room that belongs to me.”

Using the French phrase for “an awkward silence” does nothing to make the tattoo’s meaning more clear, but the Irish Sun claims the inkings were done after a falling out with a man, reportedly bearing those initials.

Earlier this year, at Glastonbury, Sinead O’Connor debuted another new addition to her tattoo collection – a tribute to her Rastafri beliefs on her right hand.

The design features the lyrics “The Lion of Judah shall break every chain”, from Bob Marley’s track Lion Of Judah.

In swirling script, the tattoo takes up the majority of the back of Sinead O’Connor’s hand.

US marks 9/11 attacks 12th anniversary in series of memorials

America is remembering the victims of the 9/11 attacks in a series of memorials marking the 12th anniversary.

The 9/11 attacks killed 2,977 people in New York, the Washington DC area and Pennsylvania.

In New York, families of the victims read the names of each person who died at the World Trade Center.

President Barack Obama was set to attend a memorial outside the Pentagon, but no speeches have been planned by politicians.

The attacks led to a long war in Afghanistan and created an expansion of government surveillance powers that have recently been the subject of intense debate.

A separate memorial was held outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, honoring the passengers and crew of United Flight 93. They struggled with the hijackers of the plane, preventing it from hitting its intended target, believed to be the White House or the US Capitol building.

All 33 passengers and seven crew members on the flight were killed after the plane crashed into a field about 75 miles south-east of Pittsburgh.

“No matter how many years pass, this time comes around each year, and it’s always the same,” Karen Hinson, who lost her brother, Michael Wittenstein, in New York, told the Associated Press news agency. His body was never found.

America is remembering the victims of the 9-11 attacks in a series of memorials marking the 12th anniversary
America is remembering the victims of the 9-11 attacks in a series of memorials marking the 12th anniversary

More than 1,000 people gathered on Wednesday at the National September 11 memorial plaza in New York City to read the names of all those killed in the 2001 and 1993 attacks on the building.

Bagpipes and a youth choir began the proceedings, held around two reflecting pools that stand in the footprint of the destroyed towers.

“To my nephew Michael Joseph Mullin, we miss you and think of you every single day,” said one of the 250 people chosen to read names, many of them family members of the victims.

“You’re gone but not forgotten,” another woman said of her lost cousin.

The reading was paused for several moments of silence, including 8:46 local time, when the first plane hit the North Tower; when the second plane hit the South Tower; when each building fell; and when the third and fourth planes hit the Pentagon and the field outside Shanksville.

A number of other cities held memorial services on Wednesday.

Builders are meanwhile putting the finishing touches to the new World Trade Center tower and a museum dedicated to the attacks.

One World Trade Center is now the tallest building in the Western hemisphere, its spire reaching to 1,776ft, a symbolic number alluding to the year of the US Declaration of Independence.

On Tuesday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for what will be a visitor centre on the site of the Flight 93 national memorial park.

The building, expected to open in late 2015, will be broken in two where the plane flew overhead. Visitors have already left 35,000 tributes at the site.

Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the 9/11 attacks, in which 19 hijackers also died when they seized control of four planes, crashing three of them into their intended targets.

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Russia hands Syria chemical weapon plans to US

Russia has handed over to the US its plans for making Syria’s chemical weapons safe, Russian media say.

Russia announced its plans for placing Syria’s stockpile under international control on Monday and Syria said it welcomed the initiative.

The proposal led US President Barack Obama to put military action against Syria on hold in favor of diplomacy.

Tense negotiations will now follow at the United Nations on the nature of any Security Council resolution.

The UN envoys of the permanent council members – the UK, US, France, China and Russia – will meet in New York later on Wednesday, diplomats say.

More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in 2011.

Russia has handed over to the US its plans for making Syria's chemical weapons safe
Russia has handed over to the US its plans for making Syria’s chemical weapons safe

Russian news agencies quoted one Russian source as saying: “We handed over to the Americans a plan to place chemical weapons in Syria under international control. We expect to discuss it in Geneva.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry are scheduled to meet in the Swiss city on Thursday to discuss the proposal.

One Russian source told the Itar-Tass news agency the meeting would be bilateral and not involve the UN.

The source added: “It appears that the meeting should start on Thursday and end on Friday, although it is not ruled out that it may last until Saturday.”

No further details of the proposal have been made public.

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Sadie Robertson makes modeling debut at New York Fashion Week

Duck Dynasty’s Sadie Robertson made her New York Fashion Week debut on Monday, walking the runway at the Evening By Sherri Hill Spring 2014 show at Trump Tower.

Sherri Hill dressed the aspiring model in a black and white prom gown with a full-length, polka-dot skirt and a sleeveless sequined bodice topped off with sheer material.

Sadie Robertson admitted to E! News backstage before showtime that she was “a little nervous -but more excited than anything.”

Sadie Robertson made her New York Fashion Week debut, walking the runway at the Evening By Sherri Hill Spring 2014 show
Sadie Robertson made her New York Fashion Week debut, walking the runway at the Evening By Sherri Hill Spring 2014 show

“I’ve done small [fashion-related] things in Louisiana, but this is New York Fashion Week,” she said.

“This is a whole new ball game!”

Sadie’s great-uncle, Si Robertson, also told E! News that this was definitely his first-ever fashion show – “and it’ll probably be the last”.

And though Sadie Robertson’s Sherri Hill prom dress will be the envy of any girl from any corner of the US, it had to get a very particular seal of approval before she could show it off in front of hundreds of people

The dresses Sadie Robertson models are, of course, “daddy-approved”, Willie Robertson said.

“They have to make it once by me to make sure I give ’em the thumbs-up.”

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How Phil Robertson thought Duck Dynasty reality show was a bad idea

Duck Dynasty’s Willie, Jep and Si Robertson stopped by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Monday and shared which Robertson didn’t have faith in their future.

“We always thought there may be something there,” Willie Robertson said of the enthusiasm he and his brothers had about the family business making it on the boob tube one day.

“We just got an email out of the blue that said, <<Hey, I think you guys may have a big show>>. So I went to talk to dad. I said, <<Dad, we could do a big show on a network>>.”

Willie Robertson revealed his father responded: “Nah. That won’t work.”

Duck Dynasty’s Willie, Jep and Si Robertson stopped by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Monday
Duck Dynasty’s Willie, Jep and Si Robertson stopped by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Monday

“I remind him of that every week,” Willie Robertson said with a laugh.

But if anyone deserves credit for the show’s success, it’s Uncle Si Robertson.

“I’m the most important part of this whole thing!” he insisted.

Si Robertson proved how important he is elsewhere in New York on Monday when he and his nephews sat in the front row at the Sherri Hill Fashion Week runway show.

The show also featured another Roberston, Si Robertson’s model niece Sadie.

Duck Dynasty airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on A&E.

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Tumbledown Trails Golf Course forced to close after offering 9/11 promotion

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Tumbledown Trails Golf Course in Verona, Wisconsin, could be forced to close after offering a promotion for nine holes for $9.11 on the 12th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Tumbledown Trails Golf Course posted an ad in the Wisconsin State Journal on Monday offering “9 holes with cart for only $9.11 per person or 18 holes with cart for only $19.11!”.

The company was immediately lambasted online as distasteful and was forced to apologize on its Facebook page. It said it is now considering closing on September 11, as staff fear a backlash.

“Please stay tuned to see if we will be open on Weds 9/11,” the posting read.

Tumbledown Trails Golf Course in Verona could be forced to close after offering a promotion for nine holes for $9.11 on the 12th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks
Tumbledown Trails Golf Course in Verona could be forced to close after offering a promotion for nine holes for $9.11 on the 12th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks

“We are now worried about what people will do/say to our staff & do not want anything to happen or get out of control. Sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused anyone.”

Club owner and general manager Marc Watts told The Associated Press that no disrespect was intended with the advert.

Marc Watts said people are even calling the club with death threats, adding that a sheriff’s deputy has now been stationed there.

The course officials said that booked tee times for Wednesday will be honored and that other golfers will pay the normal rate. The difference between the rates will be donated to the 9/11 Memorial.

“We hope that everyone will now see this as a positive as we really meant it to be,” the Facebook post read.

“Again, we do sincerely apologize for offending anyone & hope that you do accept our sincere apology.”

Nine holes usually costs $18 at the course, while 18 holes with a cart usually costs $43.

Nearly 3,000 people died in the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and in a hijacked flight that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.