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Geoffrey Holder dies aged 84

Sonia Pantiss
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Geoffrey Holder dies aged 84

Actor, dancer and choreographer Geoffrey Holder, known as Baron Samedi in Bond movie Live and Let Die, has died at 84.

Born in Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, Geoffrey Holder was also a composer, a designer and a celebrated painter.

Geoffrey Holder will be best remembered to many as the cackling Voodoo villain who dogged Roger Moore’s footsteps in his first outing as secret agent James Bond.

His other films included 1982 musical Annie, in which he played Punjab.

Often cast in exotic roles, Geoffrey Holder played a tribal chieftain in 1967 film Doctor Dolittle and a sorcerer in Woody Allen’s Everything You Always Wanted to Know About S** (But Were Afraid to Ask).

Geoffrey Holder is known as Baron Samedi in Bond movie Live and Let Die
Geoffrey Holder is known as Baron Samedi in Bond movie Live and Let Die

More recently, his distinctive bass voice was heard narrating Tim Burton’s 2005 film version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Geoffrey Holder, one of four children, was taught to dance by his older brother Boscoe, joining his dance company at the age of seven.

He became director of the company in the late 1940s after Boscoe moved to London, before moving to the US in 1954.

Geoffrey Holder made his Broadway debut that same year in House of Flowers, a Caribbean-themed musical in which he first played Baron Samedi.

A top-hated spirit of death in Haitian Voodoo culture, the character made full use of the actor’s imposing physique and physical dexterity.

Geoffrey Holder won two Tony Awards for best costume design and musical direction in the original Broadway production of The Wiz, an all-black version of The Wizard of Oz. He also appeared in an all-black version of Waiting for Godot.

According to a family spokesman, Geoffrey Holder died on Sunday, October 4, in New York from complications caused by pneumonia, He is survived by his wife, Carmen de Lavallade, and their son Leo.

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BB King cancels remaining tour dates after being diagnosed with dehydration and exhaustion

Sonia Pantiss
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BB King cancels remaining tour dates after being diagnosed with dehydration and exhaustion

BB King has canceled the remaining eight performances of his current US tour after being diagnosed with dehydration and exhaustion.

According to his website, BB King, 89, was taken ill during a performance in Chicago on October 3.

The tour was to have included two shows at BB King’s own blues club in New York.

BB King has canceled the remaining eight performances of his current US tour after being diagnosed with dehydration and exhaustion
BB King has canceled the remaining eight performances of his current US tour after being diagnosed with dehydration and exhaustion

The veteran bluesman has diabetes and was briefly in hospital in 2007.

Earlier this year, BB King issued a public apology to fans after a performance in St Louis that led to audience catcalls and walkouts.

BB King’s publicists called it “a bad night for one of America’s living blues legends” that had fallen short of King’s “usual standard of excellence”.

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Waldorf Astoria NYC sold to Chinese company

Clyde K. Valle
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Waldorf Astoria NYC sold to Chinese company

Waldorf Astoria hotel has been sold by Hilton Worldwide to Chinese insurance company Anbang Insurance Group for $1.95 billion.

However, Hilton will continue to operate the New York property “for the next 100 years”, including renovating the property in the coming months.

Shares in Hilton jumped 3% on news of the sale, before later declining.

Hilton said it will use the proceeds from the sale to invest in other hotels and assets in the US.

Waldorf-Astoria has been the scene of many films and was briefly the residence of Marilyn Monroe after she left Hollywood
Waldorf-Astoria has been the scene of many films and was briefly the residence of Marilyn Monroe after she left Hollywood

“This relationship represents a unique opportunity for our organizations to work together to finally maximize the full value of this iconic asset on a full city block in midtown Manhattan,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer of Hilton Worldwide, in a statement.

Conrad Hilton, the eponymous founder of the hotel firm, bought the Waldorf in 1949, 18 years after it opened.

Waldorf-Astoria has been the scene of many films, such as Weekend at the Waldorf, and was briefly the residence of Marilyn Monroe after she left Hollywood.

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Michael Bloomberg knighted for prodigious entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors

Nancy Clayson
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Michael Bloomberg knighted for prodigious entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, founder of the eponymous financial information company, has been given an honorary knighthood in the UK.

Michael Bloomberg, 72, was knighted in honor of his “prodigious entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors”.

As an American citizen he cannot be called “Sir Mike”, but can add KBE (Knight Commander) to the end of his name.

Michael Bloomberg said he was “deeply honored”.

“[It] is especially meaningful to me because of my close personal, business and philanthropic ties to London and Britain, which stretch back four decades,” he added.

Michael Bloomberg was knighted in honor of his prodigious entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors
Michael Bloomberg was knighted in honor of his prodigious entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors

British ambassador to the US Sir Peter Westmacott, who announced the honorary award, said Michael Bloomberg had “played a key role in forging transatlantic diplomatic, economic and cultural ties”.

Peter Westmacott said he had made a “significant contribution” to British business life through Bloomberg, and his “considerable philanthropic endeavors in the arts and education is felt by Britons every day”.

During his time as New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg renewed a tourism partnership between New York and London to boost travel between the two cities.

The British Embassy said Michael Bloomberg was also a “great supporter of the arts and education in the UK”.

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Ebola outbreak: Spanish nurse tests positive for virus in Madrid

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola outbreak: Spanish nurse tests positive for virus in Madrid

A Spanish nurse, who treated a victim of Ebola in Madrid, has tested positive for the disease, the health minister has confirmed.

The nurse is said to be the first person in the current outbreak known to have contracted Ebola outside Africa.

Health Minister Ana Mato said the woman was part of the team that treated Spanish priest Manuel Garcia Viejo, who died of the virus on September 25.

Some 3,400 people have died in the outbreak – mostly in West Africa.

The nurse is in a stable condition, Reuters quoted health officials as saying. She started to feel ill last week when she was on holiday.

She was admitted to hospital in Alcorcon, near Madrid, on Monday morning with a high fever, Ana Mato said.

Doctors isolated the emergency treatment room.

The infection was confirmed by two tests, the minister said.

The Spanish nurse is said to be the first person in the current outbreak known to have contracted Ebola outside Africa
The Spanish nurse is said to be the first person in the current outbreak known to have contracted Ebola outside Africa

Manuel Garcia Viejo died in the hospital Carlos III de Madrid after catching Ebola in Sierra Leone.

Another Spanish priest, Miguel Pajares, died in August after contracting the virus in Liberia.

Ebola spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of someone who has the virus and the only way to stop an outbreak is to isolate those who are infected.

There have been nearly 7,500 confirmed infections worldwide, with officials saying the figure is likely to be much higher in reality.

Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have been hardest hit.

Celebrations in West Africa for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha are being badly affected by the Ebola outbreak, with many public places deserted this weekend.

Earlier, US health officials said passengers arriving in the US from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa could be subject to extra screening at airports.

But the White House said on Monday it was not considering a ban on passengers from such countries, according to Reuters news agency.

It comes as the US tries to limit the spread from its first confirmed case, a Liberian national, Thomas Eric Duncan, in Dallas.

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Extra Ebola screening at US airports

Kathryn R. Bown
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Extra Ebola screening at US airports

Health officials have announced that passengers arriving in the US from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa could be subject to extra screening at airports.

Extra checks at entry is one of the options under consideration as the US tries to limit the spread of its first confirmed case, a Liberian in Dallas.

President Barack Obama is to be briefed on the Ebola crisis later on Monday, October 6.

The Ebola outbreak is the world’s deadliest, killing more than 3,400 people, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Celebrations in West Africa for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha have been badly affected, with public places used for prayers deserted.

One of the US president’s advisers on the issue, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said “discussion is underway right now” regarding all options to contain the virus.

Passengers arriving in the US from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa could be subject to extra screening at airports
Passengers arriving in the US from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa could be subject to extra screening at airports

On airport checks, Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN the question was whether “the extra level of screening is going to be worth the resources you need to put into it”.

Passengers leaving affected countries already have their temperatures checked, but people do not become infectious until they display symptoms.

The infected Liberian in Dallas, Thomas Eric Duncan, was monitored for symptoms when he left Liberia but they did not develop until four days later, when he was in the US.

Thomas Eric Duncan is now in a critical condition in hospital.

Ten people who came into direct contact with him are being closely monitored but no-one has yet displayed any Ebola symptoms.

When asked about screening, Dr. Thomas Frieden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said: “We are looking at all options to protect Americans.”

However, he ruled out banning flights to the US because isolating these countries would only increase the outbreak within Africa and would deny them crucial aid, he said.

On the White House meeting later on Monday, Thomas Frieden said: “We’re going to be covering many aspects and figure out what we can do” to protect Americans and stop the outbreaks.”

But he repeated that he did not believe it would spread in the US.

“We can stop it in its tracks here, which we are doing,” he said.

A national survey by the Pew Research Center, suggests most Americans trust the government to prevent a major outbreak – 20% have a “great deal” of confidence, while another 38% said they have a “fair amount” of confidence.

A plane carrying American journalist Ashoka Mukpo, who contracted Ebola while working in Liberia, landed on Monday in Nebraska, where he will undergo treatment for the deadly disease.

Other US aid workers who have been flown home are now recovering after treatment.

A French nurse who contracted the virus in Liberia has recovered after having experimental medication in Paris.

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Uhuru Kenyatta confirms ICC appearance on October 8

Diane A. Wade
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Uhuru Kenyatta confirms ICC appearance on October 8

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed during a speech in front of the parliament that he will be appearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on October 8.

Uhuru Kenyatta told parliament that his deputy, William Ruto, would be in charge during his absence.

The president faces charges of organizing ethnic massacres that killed 1,200 people after the 2007 elections – something he denies.

The October 8 hearing is due to set a date for his trial to begin.

The ICC had summoned Uhuru Kenyatta to appear to explain allegations that evidence against him had been withheld.

In September, the court postponed the trial after prosecutors said the Kenyan government had failed to deliver key documents. Witnesses for the prosecution have withdrawn from the case.

Dozens of Kenyan lawmakers are expected to travel to The Hague to back Uhuru Kenyatta at the status hearing.

Uhuru Kenyatta said he would be going to The Hague in a personal capacity – not as president – so as not to compromise the sovereignty of Kenya’s 40 million people.

“To protect the sovereignty of the Kenyan republic, I now take the extraordinary and unprecedented step of evoking article 1473 of the constitution and I will shortly issue the legal notice necessary to appoint honourable William Ruto, the deputy president, as acting president while I attend the status conference at The Hague in the Netherlands,” he said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed during a speech in front of the parliament that he will be appearing at the ICC in The Hague on October 8
President Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed during a speech in front of the parliament that he will be appearing at the ICC in The Hague on October 8

Uhuru Kenyatta again stressed his innocence: “I wish to reiterate here for all that my conscience is clear, has been clear and will remain forever clear that I am innocent of all the accusations that have been leveled against me.

“After all this, the prosecutor of the ICC has since last December and as recently as last month, admitted to the judges that the available evidence is insufficient to prove alleged criminal responsibility beyond reasonable doubt.”

There had been growing doubts as to whether Uhuru Kenyatta would become the first sitting president to attend the court. He had already been to the ICC before becoming president in 2013.

Uhuru Kenyatta was a close ally of President Mwai Kibaki, who was declared the winner of the 2007 election. Mwai Kibaki’s rival, Raila Odinga, claimed the poll was marred by fraud.

The dispute took on an ethnic dimension, pitting members of the Kikuyu ethnic group of Uhuru Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki against other communities. Uhuru Kenyatta is accused of organising an ethnic Kikuyu gang, the Mungiki sect, to attack rival groups.

Uhuru Kenyatta faces five charges relating to the ethnic massacres – the worst violence in Kenya since independence in 1963. Tens of thousands of people were displaced and Kenya’s reputation for stability was tarnished.

Vice-President WSilliam Ruto also faces charges at The Hague, but he was on Raila Odinga’s side during the violence. He also denies the charges.

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Putin toilet paper criticized in Crimea

Nancy Clayson
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Putin toilet paper criticized in Crimea

A Ukrainian brand of toilet paper is causing a stir in Crimea because its name has the same initials as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The V.V. brand toilet paper has been criticized by customers in Simferopol because it alludes to “Vladimir Vladimirovich”, the first two names of Russian President Putin, Radio Free Europe (RFE) says.

Russia caused international anger earlier this year by annexing Crimea after Ukraine’s pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted from power.

Toilet paper printed with the picture of Vladimir Putin are a popular novelty in Ukraine
Toilet paper printed with the picture of Vladimir Putin are a popular novelty in Ukraine

Crimea’s Russian majority are fiercely loyal to Moscow, and customers found the perceived link to Vladimir Putin’s name difficult to take, RFE reported.

The Sevastopol News newspaper said that one user was “outraged” at the fact that the maker of the product – the Simferopol Paper Mill – had included an outline of the Crimean peninsula on the roll, the implication being that the map would be put to a potentially disrespectful purpose. However, the toilet roll may just be the result of local patriotism – the packing also says “Buy Crimean!” in large letters.

Toilet paper printed with the picture of Vladimir Putin are a popular novelty in Ukraine.

John Galliano announced as Maison Martin Margiela’s new creative director

Lisa.Felice
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John Galliano announced as Maison Martin Margiela’s new creative director

John Galliano is returning to high-end fashion as creative director of Maison Martin Margiela.

John Galliano, 53, had been keeping a low profile since he was sacked from Christian Dior in 2011, after a video of him using anti-Semitic language in a drunken tirade was released.

The British designer is currently creative director at Russian perfumery chain L’Etoile.

He also spent a three-week stint at designer Oscar de La Renta last year.

John Galliano is returning to high-end fashion as creative director of Maison Martin Margiela
John Galliano is returning to high-end fashion as creative director of Maison Martin Margiela

“Margiela is ready for a new charismatic, creative soul,” Renzo Rosso, whose OTB group controls the house, told industry journal Women’s Wear Daily.

“John Galliano is one of the greatest undisputed talents of all time. I look forward to his return to create that fashion dream that only he can create,” he added.

John Galliano is considered to be one of the most influential designers of his age and has been awarded the title of British Fashion Designer of the Year four times.

He spent 15 years at Dior, but was sacked after footage of his drunken tirade was released.

A Paris criminal court found John Galliano guilty of proffering anti-Semitic insults in public, an offence under French law, on two occasions in February 2011 and October 2010.

John Galliano apologized and blamed his actions on drink and drugs.

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Virgin Atlantic to stop running Little Red flight network in 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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Virgin Atlantic to stop running Little Red flight network in 2015

Virgin Atlantic will stop running Little Red in 2015 after just 18 months in operation.

Virgin Atlantic launched its UK domestic flight network in March 2013.

The flights between London Heathrow and Manchester will stop in March 2015, while those between Heathrow and Edinburgh and Aberdeen will end in September.

Little Red was intended to act as a feeder airline for trans-Atlantic routes. The service was designed to challenge British Airways.

The aim was to help long-haul Virgin customers connect with other parts of the UK, but Virgin said most passengers were using it as a standalone service.

Virgin Atlantic will stop running Little Red in 2015 after just 18 months in operation
Virgin Atlantic will stop running Little Red in 2015 after just 18 months in operation

At its launch, the company pledged the airline would deliver “Virgin Atlantic’s rock-and-roll spirit as well as real value for money”.

Virgin said that bookings “grew steadily” in the early part of this year, but few of these were passengers connecting with long-haul Virgin flights.

“Little Red has unfortunately not been able to make a positive contribution to Virgin Atlantic’s network,” the company said.

Virgin Atlantic added that a scarcity of available slots and the speed with which the new service was launched had hampered its success.

Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic’s president, said: “When the competition authorities allowed British Airways to take over British Midland and all of its slots, we feared there was little we could do to challenge BA’s huge domestic and European network built through decades of dominance.

“To remedy this, we were offered a meagre package of slots with a number of constraints on how to use them and we decided to lease a few planes on a short-term basis to give it our best shot.

“The odds were stacked against us and sadly we just couldn’t attract enough corporate business on these routes.”

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Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2014: John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser share award

James J. Williams
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Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2014: John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser share award

This year’s Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine has been awarded to three scientists who discovered the brain’s “GPS system”.

Prof. John O’Keefe as well as May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser share the award.

They discovered how the brain knows where we are and is able to navigate from one place to another.

Their findings may help explain why Alzheimer’s disease patients cannot recognize their surroundings.

“The discoveries have solved a problem that has occupied philosophers and scientists for centuries,” the Nobel Assembly said.

Prof. John O’Keefe, from University College London, discovered the first part of the brain’s internal positioning system in 1971.

On hearing about winning the prize, he said: “I’m totally delighted and thrilled, I’m still in a state of shock, it’s the highest accolade you can get.”

John O'Keefe as well as May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser share the award for the discovery of brain’s GPS system
John O’Keefe as well as May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser share the award for the discovery of brain’s GPS system

His work showed that a set of nerve cells became activated whenever a rat was in one location in a room.

A different set of cells were active when the rat was in a different area.

Prof. John O’Keefe argued these “place cells” – located in the hippocampus – formed a map within the brain.

In 2005, husband and wife team, May-Britt and Edvard, discovered a different part of the brain which acts more like a nautical chart.

These “grid cells” are akin to lines of longitude and latitude, helping the brain to judge distance and navigate.

The work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.

The Nobel committee said the combination of grid and place cells “constitutes a comprehensive positioning system, an inner GPS, in the brain”.

They added: “[This system is] affected in several brain disorders, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“A better understanding of neural mechanisms underlying spatial memory is therefore important and the discoveries of place and grid cells have been a major leap forward to advance this endeavor.”

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MH370: Search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight resumes in Indian Ocean

Diane A. Wade
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MH370: Search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight resumes in Indian Ocean

The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has resumed in the southern Indian Ocean.

A ship equipped with specialized sonar technology has arrived in a remote stretch of ocean where the plane is believed to have ended its flight.

The Boeing 777, with 239 people on board, went missing after it veered radically off course on March 8.

Its whereabouts are still unknown despite a massive international air-and-sea search operation.

Australian officials believe the plane was flying on autopilot when it crashed.

Using satellite data, officials have concluded that the airliner ended its journey in the Indian Ocean, north-west of the Australian city of Perth.

The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has resumed in the southern Indian Ocean
The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has resumed in the southern Indian Ocean

On October 6, a vessel contracted by Malaysia, the GO Phoenix, began its work in the seas about 1,100 miles off western Australia.

It will tow underwater sensors over the sea floor scanning for traces of jet fuel and using sonar and video to try to locate the plane.

The Phoenix will be joined later this month by two ships sent by Dutch contractor Fugro. The operation could last at least a year.

The head of Australia’s transport safety agency, which is leading the underwater search, said he was “cautiously optimistic” the next phase – jointly funded by Malaysia and Australia – would eventually locate the plane.

“Cautious because of all the technical and other challenges we’ve got, but optimistic because we’re confident in the analysis,” Martin Dolan, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“But it’s just a very big area that we’re looking at.”

The previous search was suspended four months ago to allow for detailed mapping of a 44,000 sq mile area of sea bed.

That survey uncovered previously unknown extinct volcanoes and depressions up to 1,400m deep.

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Peter Kassig: Parents release letter from captive son

Roy Siemens
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Peter Kassig: Parents release letter from captive son

Peter Kassig’s parents have released a letter he has written in captivity.

Peter Edward Kassig, 26, is an American hostage who is being held by Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Syria.

He converted to Islam in 2013, changing his name to Abdul-Rahman Kassig.

Abdul-Rahman Kassig wrote in June 2014 that he was “scared to die” and saddened by the pain his ordeal was causing to the family.

Last week ISIS posted a video showing the killing of British hostage Alan Henning. The video ended with a threat to kill Peter Kassig.

It was the fourth such video released by ISIS, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq.

Previous victims were American reporter James Foley, American-Israeli journalist Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines.

ISIS said they were killed in retaliation for US-led air strikes on the group’s targets.

Peter Edward Kassig is being held by ISIS militants in Syria
Peter Edward Kassig is being held by ISIS militants in Syria

Peter Kassig’s parents, Ed and Paula Kassig, said they had decided to release excerpts from their son’s letter “so the world can understand why we and so many people care for him and admire him”.

“We want to send our heartfelt thanks to the many people around the world who have offered their prayers and support to our family at this difficult time, and especially to those who know our son and worked with him in Lebanon, Turkey or Syria. We are overwhelmed by the response from those who consider Abdul-Rahman a hero for the work he was doing before he was taken captive.”

In the letter, Abdul-Rahman Kassig wrote: “I am obviously pretty scared to die but the hardest part is not knowing, wondering, hoping, and wondering if I should even hope at all.

“I am very sad that all this has happened and for what all of you back home are going through.

“If I do die, I figure that at least you and I can seek refuge and comfort in knowing that I went out as a result of trying to alleviate suffering and helping those in need.

“In terms of my faith, I pray every day and I am not angry about my situation in that sense.”

The letter – which the parents received on June 2 – ends with the words: “I love you.”

Peter Kassig’s parents said he had been working for the relief organization he founded, Special Emergency Response and Assistance (SERA), when he was captured on his way to Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria in 2013.

In a statement they said their son’s “journey toward Islam” had begun before he was taken captive but they understood he had converted voluntarily late last year while sharing a cell with a devout Muslim.

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Gone Girl tops US box office on its opening weekend

Sonia Pantiss
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Gone Girl tops US box office on its opening weekend

Gone Girl has topped the US box office on its debut weekend, taking $38 million, according to early estimates.

Ben Affleck’s thriller, which also stars Rosamund Pike, is about a man who comes under suspicion when his wife mysteriously disappears.

Annabelle, featuring the creepy doll from 2013 horror The Conjuring, was a close second with $37.2 million.

Gone Girl has topped the US box office on its debut weekend, taking $38 million
Gone Girl has topped the US box office on its debut weekend, taking $38 million

Gone Girl is based on the best-selling novel by author Gillian Flynn and is directed by David Fincher, the film-maker behind The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Published in 2012, Gillian Flynn’s novel has sold more than six million copies. Earlier this year, she was commissioned by the Hogarth Shakespeare project to rewrite The Bard’s tragedy Hamlet.

Last week’s number one, The Equalizer, starring Denzel Washington, slipped to third place with $19 million.

Animation The Boxtrolls and young adult movie Maze Runner rounded out the top five.

North American box office Top five films:

  1. Gone Girl – $38 million
  2. Annabelle – $37.2 million
  3. The Equalizer – $19 million
  4. The Boxtrolls – $12.4 million
  5. The Maze Runner – $12 million

Source: Rentrak

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Brenda Leyland: Madeleine McCann parents Twitter troll found dead in hotel room

Nancy Clayson
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Brenda Leyland: Madeleine McCann parents Twitter troll found dead in hotel room

Brenda Leyland, who was accused of targeting internet abuse at the family of Madeleine McCann, has been found dead in a room at Marriott Hotel in Leicester, UK.

Brenda Leyland, 63, was accused of being one of the so-called “trolls” directing abusive messages at the McCanns.

Her body was found days after she was confronted outside her home by a Sky News reporter.

Madeleine McCann disappeared while on holiday In Portugal in 2007.

Brenda Leyland was confronted by the reporter who put to her she had posted messages attacking the family on Twitter via the handle @sweepyface.

Brenda Leyland was accused of targeting internet abuse at the family of Madeleine McCann
Brenda Leyland was accused of targeting internet abuse at the family of Madeleine McCann (photo Sky News)

She replied: “I’m entitled to do that.”

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: “Police were called at 13:42 on Saturday 4 October to reports of a body of a woman in a hotel room in Smith Way, Grove Park [in Leicester].

“Officers have attended the scene and a file is being prepared for the coroner. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Sky issued a statement saying: “We were saddened to hear of the death of Brenda Leyland. It would be inappropriate to speculate or comment further at this time.”

A statement released by the Marriott Hotel read: “We are very sad to confirm the death of a guest at the Leicester Marriott Hotel and our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the deceased.”

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Jules Bianchi in serious condition after Japanese Grand Prix crash

Clyde K. Valle
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Jules Bianchi in serious condition after Japanese Grand Prix crash

Jules Bianchi has undergone surgery after suffering a severe head injury in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Earlier, governing body the FIA said the Marussia driver would be operated on before being moved to intensive care.

Jules Bianchi, 25, was unconscious when he was taken to hospital from Suzuka.

He was injured after hitting a recovery vehicle, prompting the stoppage of the rain-affected race in Suzuka after 44 laps.

Jules Bianchi has undergone surgery after suffering a severe head injury in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix
Jules Bianchi has undergone surgery after suffering a severe head injury in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix

Earlier reports in the French media said Jules Bianchi was breathing on his own following surgery. However there are now conflicting accounts.

Jules Bianchi lost control close to where Sauber driver Adrian Sutil had spun and hit the tire barrier.

As a recovery vehicle was lifting Sutil’s car, Jules Bianchi travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the race ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg, but said: “It is obviously a real anti-climax to hear one of our colleagues is seriously injured. That is the main worry.”

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Yahoo set to invest in Snapchat

Nancy Clayson
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Yahoo set to invest in Snapchat

Yahoo is planning to invest millions of dollars in mobile messaging service Snapchat, which may value the start-up at about $10 billion, reports say.

Snapchat allows users to send images and videos that “disappear” seconds after being viewed.

The company is said to have rejected a $3 billion takeover offer from Facebook and other tech behemoths, including China’s Alibaba and Tencent groups in recent years.

Yahoo and Snapchat refused to comment.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Yahoo may invest about $20 million in Snapchat’s next funding round after cashing in from its stake in e-commerce giant Alibaba.

In 2005, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang bought a 40% stake in Alibaba for about $1 billion. It sold part of that stake during last month’s initial public offering, earning more than $9 billion before taxes.

Yahoo has been on an acquisition spree under chief executive Marissa Mayer, who has been looking to move it away from its reliance on search and make it more of a content provider.

Since joining in 2012, Marissa Mayer has overseen more than two dozen deals aimed at turning the company around.

Yahoo is planning to invest millions of dollars in mobile messaging service Snapchat
Yahoo is planning to invest millions of dollars in mobile messaging service Snapchat

However, she has recently come under pressure from activist investor Starboard Value.

Starboard Value has been calling on Yahoo to halt its spending and consider combining with online rival AOL.

Last week, Yahoo bought mobile-chat application MessageMe, which allows users to ping one or many friends on their smartphone using emoticons and stickers.

Marissa Mayer also acquired blogging service Tumblr for about $1 billion last year.

MessageMe has said it will shut down in November, so that its eight-person team can work on mobile products for Yahoo.

Snapchat was created by a group of students at Stanford University in 2011 and quickly became popular among teens.

Facebook is now testing a similar feature that allows users to schedule the automatic deletion of their posts ranging from one hour to seven days.

Snapchat, which has little to no revenue, reportedly rejected Facebook’s $3 billion offer last year for being too low.

However, a tech boom in Silicon Valley has seen several privately owned start-ups receive eleven-digit valuations, including house-sharing company Airbnb and private car-booking application Uber.

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Typhoon Phanfone closes schools and suspends flights in Japan

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Phanfone closes schools and suspends flights in Japan

Powerful Typhoon Phanfone is bringing many parts of Japan to a standstill with heavy wind and rain as it heads towards Tokyo.

Thousands of households have lost power and Japan’s two largest airlines have suspended many flights.

The adverse weather has also forced the suspension of a search operation for missing people after a volcanic eruption in central Japan last week.

Japan averages 11 typhoons a year, according to its weather agency.

Typhoon Phanfone was downgraded from an earlier status of a super typhoon, but the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that it was still a dangerous storm with winds gusting to 135mph.

The typhoon is moving at a speed of 12.5 mph from off Japan’s south-western coast and is expected to make landfall and approach the capital Tokyo on Monday, October 6.

Typhoon Phanfone is bringing many parts of Japan to a standstill with heavy wind and rain as it heads towards Tokyo
Typhoon Phanfone is bringing many parts of Japan to a standstill with heavy wind and rain as it heads towards Tokyo

The storm is expected to deposit about 100mm of rain on Tokyo over 24 hours, according to the Transport Ministry website.

Many schools will close on October 6 and two car companies in Japan have halted production at some plants ahead of the storm.

More than 174 domestic flights were affected nationwide, NHK state broadcaster said on Sunday, October 5.

Twelve people are still missing following the eruption of Mount Ontake in central Japan.

The volcano, about 125 miles west of Tokyo, erupted last Saturday killing 51 people, mostly hikers. It is still emitting poisonous fumes.

Heavy rain delayed the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday, and French driver Jules Bianchi was rushed to hospital after losing control and crashing in the wet conditions.

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Dallas remake canceled after three seasons

Lisa.Felice
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Dallas remake canceled after three seasons

TNT has decided to cancel the remake of classic 1980s Dallas after three seasons.

The network said: “TNT has decided not to renew Dallas”, adding it “defied expectations by standing as a worthy continuation of the Ewing saga”.

TNT thanked “everyone involved in the show” and the people of Dallas “for their warm and generous hospitality”.

The series followed the fortunes of Texan oil family the Ewings.

The original Dallas aired from 1978 to 1991 and centered on a long and bitter rivalry between brothers JR Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, and Bobby Ewing, played by Patrick Duffy.

TNT has decided to cancel the remake of classic 1980s Dallas after three seasons
TNT has decided to cancel the remake of classic 1980s Dallas after three seasons (photo TNT)

It began as a mini series in 1978 and went on to become one of the most-watched television shows around the world for 13 years.

The 356 episodes were seen by an estimated 300 million people in 57 countries.

The new version followed the power struggles within two feuding Texan oil and cattle-ranching families, focusing on John Ross and Christopher Ewing as they clashed over the future of the family dynasty.

Josh Henderson, who appeared as a child in the original series, played John Ross, son of JR Ewing, while Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe was Christopher, son of Bobby Ewing.

Original cast members Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray also returned to Southfork ranch as JR, Bobby and Sue Ellen.

In November 2012 Larry Hagman died at the age of 81 from cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.

The series was rewritten to reflect this, incorporating his death into the storyline.

Chechnya suicide attack: At least five police officers killed in Grozny

Roy Siemens
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Chechnya suicide attack: At least five police officers killed in Grozny

At least 5 police officers have been killed and 12 others injured in a suicide attack in the Chechen capital, Grozny, Russia’s interior ministry says.

The attack took place outside a hall where a concert marking Grozny’s City Day was about to take place.

A statement from the ministry said police were searching a “suspicious” young man when he detonated a device.

Grozny was ravaged by two wars between Russia and Chechen separatists but has been relatively calm in recent years.

At least 5 police officers have been killed and 12 others injured in a suicide attack in the Chechen capital, Grozny
At least 5 police officers have been killed and 12 others injured in a suicide attack in the Chechen capital, Grozny (photo AP)

The Russian statement said that police officers on duty at the event “noticed a suspicious young man near metal detectors set up at the concert hall”.

“When the police decided to search him and establish his identity, the man blew himself up,” it said.

There has been no information about any civilian casualties.

The ministry added that Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev was preparing to decorate the police involved for preventing what it described as a major terrorist act.

“They gave their lives to save thousands of people who had come to the concert,” ITAR-TASS news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

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Pope Francis opens Vatican’s Family Synod

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis opens Vatican’s Family Synod

Pope Francis has opened the extraordinary general session of the Synod of Bishops on family life at the Vatican.

The pontiff and more than 200 senior bishops will be joined by lay Catholics to discuss some of the most controversial issues affecting the Catholic Church: abortion, contraception, homos**uality and divorce.

The extraordinary Synod lasts two weeks and a follow-up meeting will be held next year.

Pope Francis said on October 4 that he wanted bishops to really listen to the Catholic community.

Pope Francis has opened the extraordinary general session of the Synod of Bishops on family life at the Vatican
Pope Francis has opened the extraordinary general session of the Synod of Bishops on family life at the Vatican (photo Reuters)

The pontiff said he hoped they would have a “sincere, open and fraternal” discussion that would respond to the “epochal changes” that families were living through.

Last year, a global survey launched by Pope Francis suggested that the majority of Catholics reject Church teaching on issues such as s** and contraception.

As one of the world’s oldest religious institutions, the Catholic Church is in no hurry to change its teachings.

No-one should expect rapid results from this Synod, but many Catholics are hoping that it will bring some change.

After these two weeks of debate, the Synod will gather again in a year’s time to continue its review.

The Catholic Church has more than one billion members around the world.

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Glastonbury 2015: All 15,000 pre-sale tickets sell out in 14 minutes

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2015: All 15,000 pre-sale tickets sell out in 14 minutes

The pre-sale tickets for Glastonbury 2015 have sold out in just 14 minutes on Friday, October 3.

A total of 15,000 coach and admission packages for the next year’s festival were snapped up in less than a quarter of an hour.

Emily Eavis, who organises the event with her father Michael, said on Twitter: “Wow, all 15,000 coach + ticket packages went in 14 minutes! That’s amazing.”

Revellers have not missed their chance to attend next year’s event, however.

The pre-sale tickets for Glastonbury 2015 have sold out in just 14 minutes
The pre-sale tickets for Glastonbury 2015 have sold out in just 14 minutes

Standard weekend tickets will go on sale on October 5, with tens of thousands expected to attempt to secure their place at the Somerset festival.

Tickets for Glastonbury 2014, which starred Dolly Parton, Metallica and Arcade Fire, sold out in a record time of one hour and 27 minutes last year.

The full price of a Glastonbury 2015 ticket is £220 ($350) plus a £5 ($8) booking fee.

Bookmakers William Hill have installed Fleetwood Mac as favorites to headline next year’s festival, with odds of 4/6.

Others being linked to a performance on the Pyramid Stage include AC/DC, Elton John and Prince.

The line-up will not be announced by organisers until spring 2015.

Glastonbury 2015 will run from June 24 to June 28.

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Nick Cannon covers up Mariah Carey tattoo on his back

Lisa.Felice
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Nick Cannon covers up Mariah Carey tattoo on his back

Nick Cannon has altered the Mariah Carey tattoo on his back.

Nick Cannon, who recently announced he and Mariah Carey secretly separated a few months ago, got his estranged wife’s first name inked across his shoulders in large letters shortly before they tied the knot in 2008.

According to new reports, Nick Cannon recently had the tattoo transformed into an elaborate image of Jesus Christ.

Nick Cannon got his Mariah Carey's first name inked across his shoulders in large letters shortly before they tied the knot in 2008
Nick Cannon got his Mariah Carey’s first name inked across his shoulders in large letters shortly before they tied the knot in 2008 (photo Getty Images)

Nick Cannon, who has three-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan with the 44-year-old singer, debuted his new artwork as he celebrated his upcoming 34th birthday on October 8 with friends, including Amber Rose, at the Playhouse nightclub in Hollywood on October 2.

According to TMZ.com, Nick Cannon’s new tattoo shows Jesus Christ on the cross with angel wings coming off the end the crucifix.

It is not yet known whether Mariah, who got Mrs. Cannon inked on her back before their wedding, plans to change or remove her tattoo.

Nick Cannon announced his split from Mariah Carey in August, saying: “There is trouble in paradise. We have been living in separate houses for a few months. My main focus is my kids.”

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Hajj 2014: Two million Muslim pilgrims gather at Grand Mosque in Mecca

Diane A. Wade
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Hajj 2014: Two million Muslim pilgrims gather at Grand Mosque in Mecca

About two million Muslim pilgrims gathered at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on October 4 as they took part in one of the final rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims completed a five-day religious journey that is considered one of the Muslim faith’s greatest acts of worship.

Wearing unstitched folds of white cloth, the pilgrims gathered around the cube-shaped Kaaba – the holiest site in Islam.

Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the greatest religious observances in Islam.

About two million Muslim pilgrims gathered at the Grand Mosque in Mecca as they took part in one of the final rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
About two million Muslim pilgrims gathered at the Grand Mosque in Mecca as they took part in one of the final rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia (photo AP)

The exact dates of Islamic holidays cannot be determined in advance, due to the nature of the Islamic lunar calendar. Estimates are based on expected visibility of the hilal (waxing crescent moon following a new moon) and may vary according to location.

Hajj is one of the largest gatherings of people in the world and every adult Muslim is required to complete the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime as long as they are physically and financially capable of making the expensive and difficult journey.

Every year, Muslim faithful from about 160 countries converge on the Islamic city of Mecca and other locations in western Saudi Arabia to complete the holy journey.

The week of Hajj occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar and it requires pilgrims to perform a number of services or rituals before arriving in Mecca.

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Steve Martin to be honored with AFI Life Achievement Award

Sonia Pantiss
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Steve Martin to be honored with AFI Life Achievement Award

Steve Martin will be honored with this year’s Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute (AFI).

The AFI announced on October 3 that Steve Martin would be getting its highest award for a career in film.

The award will be given at a tribute in Los Angeles in June 2015. The gala ceremony will be aired for a third year on the TNT network and by its sister channel, Turner Classic Movies.

Steve Martin will be honored with this year's Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute
Steve Martin will be honored with this year’s Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute

Steve Martin, 69, followed initial stardom as a stand-up and TV performer with his debut feature film, The Jerk, in 1979.

Steve Martin’s many other films include Pennies from Heaven, Three Amigos!, Little Shop of Horrors, All of Me, Roxanne and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Previous award recipients of the AFI award include Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, Mel Brooks and Jane Fonda.

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