Maria Bello has revealed she’s been in a long-term relationship with her best female friend in a column that was published in the New York Times.
In the heartfelt passage titled Coming Out as a Modern Family, Maria Bello, 46, shared the first time she opened up about her love life to her 12-year-old son Jackson.
At the time, her young son had been getting suspicious, and wondered if she wasn’t telling him something – and he was right.
“This was the moment I had been anticipating and dreading for months,” the actress wrote.
“I took a deep breath, knowing that my answer, and his response, would have an impact on our lives for a very long time.”
Maria Bello has revealed she’s been in a long-term relationship with her best female friend
“I was with someone romantically and I hadn’t told him,” Maria Bello admitted.
“I had become involved with a woman who was my best friend, and, as it happens, a person who is like a godmother to my son.”
One year earlier, Maria Bello decided to give a relationship with her best friend a try. The realization happened when she was reading through her old journals in her California garden.
“I read about the handful of men and the one woman I had been in romantic relationships with, passages rife with pain and angst. It seemed when I was physically attracted to someone, I would put them in the box of being my ‘soul mate’ and then be crushed when things didn’t turn out as I had hoped,” the actress wrote.
“As I continued to look through photos, I came across a black-and-white one of my best friend and me taken on New Year’s Eve. We looked so happy, I couldn’t help but smile,” Maria Bello added.
“It didn’t occur to me, until that soul-searching moment in my garden, that we could perhaps choose to love each other romantically.”
Kim Kardashian’s 5-month-old daughter North West tried out swimming for the first time on Saturday.
But what began as a happy family day with baby North and fiancé Kanye West, devolved into a Twitter feud with an “ignorant” tweeter.
“We took our baby girl swimming today for the 1st time, she loved it so much! #BestDayEver,” Kim Kardashian wrote.
Kim Kardashian’s 5-month-old daughter North West tried out swimming for the first time
Shortly after posting the message, a commenter apparently replied that it was nice that the baby girl “got to see her parents for a change!”
That snarky quip elicited a quick response from Kim Kardashian: “[You] sound so ignorant. Bc I don’t tweet or instagram my every move w my daughter means I am not with her 247? We share what we want.”
“Or is it bc I go support my fiance at every show & I post pix? When the baby goes down 4 bed or a nap, parents are allowed 2 work & support each other.”
Kim Kardashian, 33, added: “Maybe even have fun too.”
UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has said an inquiry has produced evidence that war crimes were authorized in Syria at the “highest level”, including by President Bashar al-Assad.
It is the first time the UN’s human rights office has so directly implicated Bashar al-Assad.
Navi Pillay said her office held a list of others implicated by the inquiry.
The UN estimates more than 100,000 people have died in the conflict.
UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has said an inquiry has produced evidence that war crimes were authorized in Syria at the “highest level”, including by President Bashar al-Assad
The UN’s commission of inquiry into Syria has produced “massive evidence… [of] very serious crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity,” Navi Pillay said.
The evidence indicated responsibility “at the highest level of government, including the head of state”, she added.
The inquiry has also previously reported it has evidence that rebel forces in Syria have been guilty of human rights abuses.
Navi Pillay said the UN commission of inquiry had compiled a list of those believed to be directly responsible for serious human rights violations.
It is assumed that senior figures in the Syrian military and government are on that list.
However, the names and specific evidence relating to them remain confidential pending a possible prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Authorities have begun an investigation into the causes of Sunday’s train crash in the Bronx area of New York City in which four people were killed and more than 60 injured.
The 05:54 from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station derailed as it went into a bend in the railway line near Spuyten Duyvil station.
Reports say it was travelling faster than the speed limit in the area.
The train’s event recorder, similar to a flight recorder, has been recovered.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent investigators to the site with instructions to inspect the overturned cars and interpret information from the recorder.
The Federal Railroad Administration has also sent their own team of investigators.
Officials have identified the deceased as Donna Smith, 54, James Lovell, 58, James Ferrari, 59, and Ahn Kisook, 35. Three of the dead were found outside the train, and one was found inside.
NTSB board member Earl Weener said his teams would be on site for several days documenting evidence.
“Our mission is not just to understand what happened, but why it happened, with the intent of preventing it happening again,” he said.
On Monday, a second data recorder was found in the train’s rear locomotive. Earl Weener said investigators hoped to download information on the speed and settings of the train from that recorder.
The Metro-North train from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station derailed as it went into a bend in the railway line near Spuyten Duyvil station
Some 26,000 weekday riders on the railroad were warned to brace for crowded trains during the first morning commute after the derailment.
Train service south of Spuyten Duyvil is “suspended until further notice”, the train’s operator, Metro-North, said on Monday morning. Buses were being provided to the New York subway system.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said the bend where the derailment occurred was in a slow-speed area.
The train appeared to be going “a lot faster” than normal as it approached the bend coming into the station, passenger Frank Tatulli told WABC-TV.
The speed limit on the curve is 30 mph, compared with 70 mph in the area approaching it, Earl Weener said.
An official from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is quoted by the New York Times as saying that the train operator had reported that it was going into the turn too fast and that he had performed an emergency braking maneuver.
The operator told the first rescuers to reach the scene that he had “dumped” the brakes, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Dumping the brakes is said to be a last-resort move that has the effect of slamming on the emergency brakes on all the cars of a train at once. It is usually done to avert a collision with another train or a vehicle at a grade-level crossing, the New York Times reports.
A 2008 federal rail-safety law requires commuter and freight rail lines to install systems to prevent derailing caused by excessive speed, known as positive train control, by the end of 2015.
Metro-North is in the process of installing the technology.
A section of line between the Bronx and part of Westchester County could be closed for a week or more and New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo warned commuters to expect long delays.
Metro-North serves commuters from New York City’s northern suburbs. It is not part of the New York City subway system.
The accident was the second passenger train derailment this year for the rail service, which, until Sunday, had never experienced a passenger death in an accident in its 31-year history.
Malta has won this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Gaia Cauchi, 11, scored 130 points at the song contest in Kiev with her ballad, The Start, which she also helped compose and write.
She beat 11 other countries to win the trophy, with Ukraine and Belarus finishing second and third.
It is the first time Malta has won the contest, after returning to compete following a three-year break.
Gaia Cauchi, who lives in the small rural village of Mgarr, is no stranger to winning talent shows.
Gaia Cauchi has won this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev
She finished first in the international selection of the San Remo Junior song contest and was honored with an achievement award at the 2013 Malta Music Awards.
She has also had success on a number of Italian television talent shows.
The Junior version of the Eurovision Song contest has been running since 2003.
Other countries that participated this year included Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, The Netherlands, Sweden, San Marino, Moldova and FYR Macedonia.
This year’s Eurovision winner, Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest, also performed during the show.
Paul Walker died in a car crash at Valencia, north of Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon.
Paul Walker, 40, was on his way to attend a charity event for his non-profit organization “Reach Out Worldwide”, when the accident took place. He was not driving the car.
His latest film Hours is due for release this Christmas Eve and his forthcoming Fast & Furious 7 is still in production.
Paul Walker filmography:
1986 Monster in the Closet, “Professor” Bennett
1987 Programmed to Kill, Jason
1994 Tammy and the T-Rex, Michael
1998 Meet the Deedles, Phil Deedle
1998 Pleasantville, Skip Martin
1999 Varsity Blues, Lance Harbor
1999 She’s All That, Dean Sampson
1999 Brokedown Palace, Jason Uncredited
2000 The Skulls, Caleb Mandrake
2001 The Fast and the Furious, Brian O’Conner
2001 Joy Ride, Lewis Thomas
2002 Life Makes Sense If You’re Famous, Mikey
2003 Turbo-Charged Prelude, Brian O’Conner 6 minute short film introductory film for 2 Fast 2 Furious
Paul Walker died in a car crash at Valencia
2003 2 Fast 2 Furious, Brian O’Conner
2003 Timeline, Chris Johnston
2004 Noel, Mike Riley
2005 Into the Blue, Jared Cole
2006 Eight Below, Jerry Shepard
2006 Running Scared, Joey Gazelle
2006 Flags of Our Fathers, Hank Hansen
2007 Stories USA, Mikey
2007 The Death and Life of Bobby Z, Tim Kearney
2008 The Lazarus Project, Ben Garvey
2009 Fast & Furious 4, Brian O’Conner
2010 Takers, John Rahway
2011 Fast & Furious 5, Brian O’Conner
2013 Vehicle 19, Michael Woods
2013 Fast & Furious 6, Brian O’Conner
2013 Hours, Nolan
2013 Pawn Shop Chronicles, Raw Dog
2014 Brick Mansions, Damien Post-production
2014 Fast & Furious 7, Brian O’Conner Post-production
Television:
1985 Highway to Heaven, Eric Travers 1 episode
1986 Highway to Heaven, Todd Bryant 2 episodes
1986–7 Throb, Jeremy Beatty 23 episodes
1988 I’m Telling! Contestant 1 episode.
1990 Charles in Charge, Russell Davis 1 episode
1991 Who’s the Boss? Michael Haynes 1 episode
1992–3 The Young and the Restless, Brandon Collins
1994 CBS Schoolbreak Special, Dill 1 episode
1994 The Boys Are Back, Jesse Hansen Pilot episode
1996 Touched by an Angel, Jonathan 1 episode
2013 Shark Week, Himself 1 episode
Nowadays, the environment is never far from people’s minds, and a more natural and eco-friendly look for your home is becoming ever more appealing, benefitting you both aesthetically and financially. The eco-friendly home will be the next great step in interior design, with the need for sustainable materials and less energy usage being what the future group of designers emerging from an interior design course will have to focus on if they want to meet their customer’s needs. So, why not swathe your rooms in the finest that the environment has to offer, with some of these great tips for a greener home?
Decorate your home with plants
Plants and other types of flora are a fantastic way to give a more natural look to your house or apartment, oxygenating your home and removing harmful toxins from the room. And, the great thing about plants is that you can populate your rooms with ones that suit its style. So, try to find a plant that will match your décor to gain a brighter, fresher feel in your ho
It’s important to be using environmentally sustainable materials when redecorating your place, meaning that you should avoid all plastic, particleboard and chromed metal when refurbishing. Although the use of more sustainable products is more expensive, it really is the optimal choice if you’re looking for a home that will aid the environment. The use of wood, marble or stone blocks can be a more eco-friendly alternative if you’re after tables, flooring or kitchen counters and, while it might dent your wallet, it certainly won’t compromise your style.
Use energy-efficient windows and lighting
The use of more energy efficient windows and lighting in your home can benefit you in a vast number of ways. If you use special coatings on your windows, for example, you can insulate your house far more effectively and save on your heating bills. Also, if you’re looking to cut down on heating bills even further, be sure to insulate your walls with environmentally conscious fillings. This is also the case with your light fixtures, with the use of lighting specifically designed to cut down on power creating a cheaper to run and more eco-friendly system.
Make your paint that little bit greener
While you don’t have to cover your walls in a literal sea of green if you don’t want to, it will be necessary to invest in a low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint to really give you that eco-edge on your walls. This will contribute to global warming far less. You can also try recycled or biodegradable paints, which will give you the same coating but be far kinder to mother earth.
Let in the sunlight
If you can populate your home with enough windows, including skylights, it will be possible to use far less electrical light fittings during the day, saving both your budget and the planet. It’s a case of the bigger the window the better, with more natural sunlight creating a healthier looking and feeling home.
Call in an eco-designer
If you’re renovating your home to become more environmentally friendly, then there are now a number of specialist interior designers who can help you out, and many more who will work with sustainable materials at your request. Designers such as Eco Nest, for example, will do their best to try to make your New York apartment a markedly greener environment, making sure that you get a home that won’t pollute the environment. So, if you’re looking to make your home more natural looking and more efficient, you know who to call.
World’s largest online retailer Amazon has announced it is testing unmanned drones to deliver goods to customers.
The drones, called Octocopters, could deliver packages weighing up to 5 lbs to customers within 30 minutes of them placing the order, Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said.
However, Jeff Bezos added that it could take up to five years for the service to start.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is yet to approve the use of unmanned drones for civilian purposes.
“I know this looks like science fiction, but it’s not,” Jeff Bezos told CBS’ 60 Minutes.
“We can do half-hour delivery… and we can carry objects, we think, up to five pounds, which covers 86% of the items that we deliver.”
The service will be called Prime Air and comes as Amazon is looking to improve its efficiency to boost growth.
Amazon also posted a video on its website showing a drone picking up a package from one of its warehouses and delivering it to the doorstep of a customer’s house.
However, it still has to wait for permission from US regulators.
Amazon has announced it is testing unmanned drones to deliver goods to customers
The FAA has approved the use of drones for police and government agencies, issuing about 1,400 permits over the past several years.
Civilian air space is expected to be opened up to all kinds of drones in the US by 2015 and in Europe by 2016.
Existing regulations are in place to minimise the risk of injury to people on the ground, said Dr Darren Ansell, an expert on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from the University of Central Lancashire.
“The UAVs do not currently have the awareness of their environment to be able to avoid flying into people. To deliver goods to people’s homes for example in residential areas, the UAVs must overfly densely populated towns and cities, something that today’s regulations prevent.
“Other things to consider are security of the goods during the transit. With no one to guard them the aircraft and package could be captured and stolen,” he said.
Amazon said: “From a technology point of view, we’ll be ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place.”
The FAA was “actively working on rules for unmanned aerial vehicles”, the company said, adding that it hoped the green light would be given as early as 2015.
“One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today.”
Zookal, an Australian textbook rental company, announced earlier this year that it would start using drones to make deliveries from 2015 if approved by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Australian law allows the use of unmanned aircraft for commercial use.
Hunger Games: Catching Fire has topped the US box office for a second week, while Disney’s Frozen opening has come at number two.
According to early estimates, the Hunger Games sequel took $110.2 million while Frozen took $93 million.
That figure made Frozen the biggest Thanksgiving opening ever.
Catching Fire and Frozen both beat the Thanksgiving box office record of $82.4 million set by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001.
Dave Hollis, Walt Disney executive vice president for distribution, said: “This was much more than we ever could have thought,” adding that it was the biggest-ever opening for one of its releases.
Disney’s Tangled opened during the Thanksgiving period in 2010, taking $68.7 million.
Frozen tells the story of a Scandinavian princess who tries to save her kingdom after the queen – her sister – accidentally uses her magic powers to freeze the country.
Disney’s action film Thor came in third with $15.5 million.
Hunger Games: Catching Fire has topped the US box office for a second week
Ensemble movie The Best Man Holiday took $11.1 million to claim fourth spot, while Homefront, written by Sylvester Stallone and starring Jason Statham, was the second highest new entry at five with $9.8 million.
But Spike Lee’s latest offering, Oldboy, failed to make a big dent on the chart, taking just $850,000.
Nelson Mandela biopic, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, took $100,306 – but that will be considered a solid return given it only opened in four cinemas in New York and Los Angeles.
The North American box office took $294 million in total, another record, just beating last year’s five-day Thanksgiving takings of $290 million.
Saab has announced it will restart production on Monday as the company’s new owners look to get the carmaker back on track.
Saab went bankrupt in December 2011 and was bought by a Chinese-Swedish investment group, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), last year.
The carmaker will restart production of its 9-3 sedan model at its Trollhattan factory in western Sweden.
The firm will initially make a petrol-powered version of the car with the aim of launching an electric version later.
“It’s very similar, you can’t change or develop very much in a year. We acquired the assets in August last year,” Mikael Oestlund, a spokesman for NEVS was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
Saab has announced it will restart production on Monday as the company’s new owners look to get the carmaker back on track
“Our focus has been to get the co-operation up and running with 400 suppliers and ensure the facilities were working.”
Saab has seen mixed fortunes over the past few years.
General Motors (GM) bought a 50% stake and management control of Saab in 1989, and gained full ownership in 2000.
The Swedish company’s car sales peaked at 133,000 cars in 2006. But then it saw its fortunes dwindle with sales falling to 93,000 cars in 2008 and just 27,000 in 2009.
To make matters worse, GM itself sought bankruptcy protection as the global financial crisis unfolded, forcing the US company to dispose of assets.
GM sold Saab to Dutch group Spyker, which in turn eventually sold the firm to NEVS in June last year. The new owners have said they want to focus on electric cars as they look to revive the brand.
A new research found that energy drinks packed with caffeine can change the way the heart beats.
The research team from the University of Bonn in Germany imaged the hearts of 17 people an hour after they had an energy drink.
The study showed contractions were more forceful after the drink.
The team told the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America that children and people with some health conditions should avoid the drinks.
Researcher Dr. Jonas Dorner said: “Until now, we haven’t known exactly what effect these energy drinks have on the function of the heart.
“The amount of caffeine is up to three times higher than in other caffeinated beverages like coffee or cola.
A new research found that energy drinks packed with caffeine can change the way the heart beats
“There are many side effects known to be associated with a high intake of caffeine, including rapid heart rate, palpitations, rise in blood pressure and, in the most severe cases, seizures or sudden death.”
The researchers gave the participants a drink containing 32 mg per 100 ml of caffeine and 400 mg per 100 ml of another chemical, taurine.
They showed the chamber of the heart that pumps blood around the body, the left ventricle, was contracting harder an hour after the energy drink was taken than at the start of the study.
Dr. Jonas Dorner added: “We’ve shown that energy drink consumption has a short-term impact on cardiac contractility.
“We don’t know exactly how or if this greater contractility of the heart impacts daily activities or athletic performance.”
The impact on people with heart disease is also unknown.
However, the research team advises that children and people with an irregular heartbeat should avoid the drinks.
The Thalidomide lawsuit filed by more than 100 people in Australia and New Zealand who suffered birth defects caused by the drug has been settled.
British company Diageo, which did not distribute the drug but now owns the firm that did, agreed to pay $81 million, lawyers of claimants say.
Thalidomide, sold in the 1950s as a cure for morning sickness, was linked to birth defects and withdrawn in 1961.
The case is one of many lawsuits filed against the drug over the years.
Thalidomide was sold worldwide before it was pulled out after thousands of babies were born with deformities.
Lawyers representing the victims praised the company Diageo for agreeing to pay compensation as it has also done in the UK.
But there was anger towards the drug’s German manufacturer Grunenthal, which was also being sued but refused to pay out as part of the settlement.
Thalidomide was sold worldwide before it was pulled out after thousands of babies were born with deformities
The settlement ends the case, which means the lawsuit against Grunenthal will be dropped, according to reports.
Peter Gordon, a lawyer for the claimants, said the litigation was “difficult and challenging”.
“The result we have achieved today is a vindication of their [claimants] courage,” he said.
The court will still have to approve the settlement.
Monica McGhie, one of the claimants, was born without limbs after her mother took Thalidomide during pregnancy 50 years ago.
“This settlement will not take that hardship away but it means I can look to the future with more confidence, knowing I can afford the support and care I need,” she said.
Distillers Company, now owned by Diageo, distributed Thalidomide in Australia.
A spokesman for Diageo, Ian Wright, said he believed a fair settlement has been reached.
“We hope this settlement will bring some relief to the people who have been affected and we hope it will allow them to approach the rest of their lives with some degree of hope and more comfort,” he added.
Thalidomide is still being used today to treat illnesses like leprosy and multiple myeloma.
What is Thalidomide?
Thalidomide was developed by German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal
The product was launched on October 1st, 1957
First marketed as a sedative it was then given to pregnant women to combat morning sickness
As many as 10,000 babies were born worldwide with deformities
Thalidomide is still used today to treat the complications of leprosy and multiple myeloma
Thailand’s PM Yingluck Shinawatra has rejected protesters’ demands that she step down, amid ongoing clashes in Bangkok.
Yingluck Shinawatra said the demands were not possible under the constitution, but that she remained open to talks.
More clashes broke out on Monday as protesters tried to storm the prime minister’s office, Government House.
Four people have died in Thailand’s worst political turmoil since the 2010 rallies that ended in violence.
PM Yingluck Shinawatra has rejected protesters’ demands that she step down, amid ongoing clashes in Bangkok
“Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do… but as prime minister, what I can do must be under the constitution,” Yingluck Shinawatra said in a televised address.
Anti-government demonstrators have been calling on Yingluck Shinawatra to step down, with protest leader and former opposition politician Suthep Thaugsuban saying on Sunday that Yingluck Shinawatra should resign within the next “two days”.
The protesters want to replace the government with an unelected “People’s Council”, alleging Yingluck Shinawatra’s government is controlled by her brother, ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
The protests, which began on November 24, had been largely peaceful until Saturday, when they became violent.
Over the weekend demonstrators tried to break apart police barricades and storm the prime minister’s office, with police using tear gas and water cannons to repel them.
On Monday, protesters returned to the streets again and more clashes occurred, although correspondents said that demonstrator numbers appeared lower than before.
Yingluck Shinawatra has said that she would not authorize the use of force against protesters.
“The military has positioned itself as neutral and it wants to see a peaceful way out,” Yingluck Shinawatra added in Monday’s address.
Ukrainian activists are blockading the government buildings in Kiev, as they prepare for fresh demonstrations demanding the resignation of the government.
Hundreds of protesters spent the night in Independence Square while others were barricaded inside city hall.
The unrest was triggered in November by President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign a deal on closer EU ties.
Parliamentary speaker Vlodymyr Rybak said talks between the government and the opposition would be held on Monday.
Vlodymyr Rybak said all sides would have an opportunity to express their opinions.
Ukrainian activists are blockading the government buildings in Kiev
About 1,000 protesters camped out on Independence Square overnight, as activists prepare for round-the-clock demonstrations.
The protesters are blocking off the government’s main headquarters. Opposition leaders have called for a national strike and fresh street protests.
On Sunday between 100,000 and 500,000 took part in a march, defying a ban on rallies.
There were clashes near the presidential building, with demonstrators firing flares and riot police using tear gas, batons and stun grenades.
Some protesters stormed the city hall. One of them is the Russian opposition activist Pyotr Verzilov – husband of Pussy Riot punk group member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who is in jail in Russia.
Protests started more than a week ago after Viktor Yanukovych suspended preparations for signing an EU association agreement that would have opened borders to goods and set the stage for an easing of travel restrictions.
Cyber Monday on December 2 kicks off Cyber Week 2013 at Wal-Mart.
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Cyber Monday kicks off Cyber Week 2013 at Wal-Mart
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Bryce Brites became world’s youngest professional football player at only 20 months.
Bryce Brites signed this week with Belgian club FC Racing Boxberg, based near his home city of Genk, after impressing coaches with his “highly unusual” talent and “incredible” ball control. The precocious toddler was invited to train with the club’s Under-5 team and was signed and issued his very own Belgian FA membership card the very same day.
Bryce Brites became world’s youngest professional football player at only 20 months
The toddler misses out on the all-time record for youngest-ever professional by two months. That record apparently belongs to Dutch footballer Baerke van der Meij, who signed a 10-year deal with VVV-Venlo when he was 18 months old.
Racing Boxberg club secretary Dany Vodnik raved about the young prodigy, who is still in diapers, to Dutch newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws: “Bryce kicks a ball in a way you do not even see when playing drills with four or five-year-olds. His ball control is incredible for his age. The way he dribbles with the ball at his feet between the cones, he can give a pass to the left or right.
“You ask him to kick a ball three or five meters and he does so, but he may not play with the five and six-year-old boys yet. We must remain cautious.“
Bryce Brites might just live up to the hype in about 15 years or so. But for the meantime, the toddler will likely enjoy instant celebrity status on his neighborhood playgrounds.
CNN anchor Erin Burnett and husband David Rubulotta have welcomed a baby boy, her rep confirms to Us Weekly.
Erin Burnett, 37, gave birth one day after Thanksgiving.
The couple welcomed their first child at 9:47 p.m. on Friday, November 29. The baby boy weighed in at 8 lbs and 10 oz.
Erin Burnett and husband David Rubulotta have welcomed a baby boy
“Seeing him for the first time was the most awe-inspiring, joyful moment of our lives,” Erin Burnett told Us Weekly.
A CNN rep first confirmed that the Erin Burnett Outfront host was expecting in June.
“I can confirm that Erin Burnett and her husband David Rubulotta are expecting their first child in November,” the rep told Us Weekly at the time.
Erin Burnett and David Rubulotta – a managing director for Citigroup – announced their engagement in September 2011. They married last December in a ceremony at New York City’s City Hall.
China has launched its first lunar rover mission to space.
The Chang’e-3 mission blasted off from Xichang in the south at 01:30 Monday local time (17:30 GMT Sunday).
The Long March rocket’s payload includes a landing module and a six-wheeled robotic rover Yutu (Jade Rabbit).
The mission should land in the Moon’s northern hemisphere in mid-December.
Chinese state TV carried live pictures of the launch of the Chinese-developed Long March 3B rocket carrying the lunar probe.
This will be the third robotic rover mission to land on the lunar surface, but the Chinese vehicle carries a more sophisticated payload, including ground-penetrating radar which will gather measurements of the lunar soil and crust.
The 260lb Jade Rabbit rover can climb slopes of up to 30 degrees and travel at 660ft per hour
The 260lb Jade Rabbit rover can climb slopes of up to 30 degrees and travel at 660ft per hour, according to its designer the Shanghai Aerospace Systems Engineering Research Institute.
Its name – chosen in an online poll of 3.4 million voters – derives from an ancient Chinese myth about a rabbit living on the moon as the pet of the lunar goddess Chang’e.
The lander’s target is Sinus Iridum (Latin for Bay of Rainbows) a flat volcanic plain thought to be relatively clear of large rocks. It is part of a larger feature known as Mare Imbrium that forms the right eye of the “Man in the Moon”.
Other details of the mission are sketchy; the rover and lander are powered by solar panels but other sources suggest they also carry radioisotope heating units (RHUs) containing plutonium-238 to keep them warm during the cold lunar night.
Chang’e 3 is “the most complicated and difficult task yet in China’s exploration of space” and incorporates lots of new technology, Xinhua reported Wu Zhijian, a spokesman with the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, as saying.
The launch comes at a time when the Asian superpower is asserting itself in other areas, such as control of airspace over the East China Sea. China considers its space programme a symbol of its rising global stature and technological advancement, as well as of the Communist Party’s success in reversing the fortunes of the once impoverished nation.
Thailand’s protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban says he has met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and given her two days to “return power to the people”.
Suthep Thaugsuban said the meeting had been held under the auspices of the military and there was no compromise.
He did not say what action would follow if the ultimatum were not heeded.
On the eighth day of action to unseat PM Yingluck Shinawatra, police fended off protesters who descended on key sites in Bangkok. Four people have died in the unrest.
Dozens have been injured.
The protesters had declared Sunday the decisive “V-Day” of what they termed a “people’s coup”.
The worst violence occurred when Thai students attacked vehicles bringing pro-government activists to a Bangkok stadium
They say Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration is controlled by her brother, exiled ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and they want to replace it with a “People’s Council”.
Suthep Thaugsuban said he had met the prime minister in a secret location in the presence of the army, navy and air force commanders.
“There was no negotiation and no compromise,” Suthep Thaugsuban was quoted as saying.
“I told Yingluck that this is the only and last time I see her until power is handed over to the people.
“There will be no bargaining and it must be finished in two days.”
Some 30,000 protesters had gathered earlier at about eight sites, police said, including Government House, television stations and the police headquarters.
Protesters did enter several TV stations to ensure a message from Suthep Thaugsuban was aired. It was broadcast by almost all of Thailand’s channels.
Suthep Thaugsuban called a general strike for government employees for Monday.
Yingluck Shinawatra had intended to give media interviews on Sunday at a Bangkok police complex but was forced to leave when protesters tried to break in.
Deputy PM Pracha Promnok urged people in the capital to stay indoors from 22:00 to 05:00 local time “so they will not become victims of provocateurs”.
The worst violence occurred when students attacked vehicles bringing pro-government activists to a Bangkok stadium on Saturday.
Paul Walker has been killed in a car crash in Los Angeles.
Paul Walker, 40, was a passenger in a Porsche sports car driven by a friend – who also died – when it crashed north of Los Angeles.
The actor was said to be attending a charity event at the time.
He starred in all but one of the films in the Fast & Furious franchise, the sixth of which opened in May.
Paul Walker also starred in the suspense drama Hours, a movie that is set for release this month.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department said the crash happened in the community of Valencia.
Paul Walker has been killed in a car crash in Los Angeles
The stars reacted to Paul Walker’s death:
“Brother I will miss you very much. I am absolutely speechless. Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace,” Vin Diesel posted to his Instagram page.
“My heart is hurting so bad no one can make me believe this is real Father God I pray that you send clarity over this cause I just don’t understand My heart hurts it’s broken no one can convince me that this is real…. Prayer warriors please pray real hard for his only child, his daughter and family… #HeartOfAnAngel13YrsFamilyForeverWeJustCelebreatedYour40thBirthday….. My God… My God… I can’t believe I’m writing this,” Tyrese posted, along with this photo, to his Instagram page.
“All my strength, love & faith to the Walker family during this heartbreaking time. We find our strength.. in his light. Love you brother,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson tweeted.
“Your humble spirit was felt from the start, wherever you blessed your presence you always left a mark, we were like brothers & our birthdays are only 1 day apart, now You will forever hold a place in all of our hearts @paulwalker legacy will live on forever. R.I.P.,” Ludacris wrote.
“Paul was pure light. I cannot believe he is gone,” -Jordana Brewster tweeted.
At least four people have been killed and 63 injured in a passenger train crash in the Bronx area of New York City.
Eleven of the injured are believed to be in a critical condition in hospital.
The Metro-North train’s locomotive and carriages derailed as the train went into a bend in the railway line near Spuyten Duyvil station.
At least one eyewitness said the train – the 05:54 from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station – was travelling much faster than normal at the time.
None of the carriages went into the adjacent Hudson or Harlem rivers – although pictures from the scene suggest this nearly happened.
The train appeared to be going “a lot faster” than normal as it approached the curve coming into the station, passenger Frank Tatulli told WABC-TV.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said the curve where the derailment occurred was in a slow speed area, and that the train’s black box recorder should be able to tell how fast the train was travelling.
The Metro-North train’s locomotive and carriages derailed as the train went into a bend in the railway line near Spuyten Duyvil station
Joel Zaritsky was travelling on the train to attend a dental convention in New York City.
“I was asleep and I woke up when the car started rolling several times,” he told the Associated Press news agency.
“Then I saw the gravel coming at me, and I heard people screaming. There was smoke everywhere and debris. People were thrown to the other side of the train.”
Speaking to the media near the scene, New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed the casualty figures, adding that the authorities believed everyone at the site has been accounted for and that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was en route to the area to begin an investigation.
“It’s obviously a very tragic situation,” he said.
“The first order of business is to care for the people who were on the train… we’ll wait to see what the NTSB says before speculating as to any causes.”
Metro-North is a rail service that serves commuters from New York City’s northern suburbs. It is not part of the New York City subway system.
Sunday’s accident is the second passenger train derailment this year for the rail service.
Gary Arthur has been named by Scottish police as one of the eight people who died after a helicopter crashed into a busy Glasgow pub.
Gary Arthur, 48, was from the Paisley area, Police Scotland said.
Three occupants of the Police Scotland aircraft died when it hit The Clutha at about 22:25 GMT on Friday. A further five people inside the pub also died.
Emergency services are continuing the operation to recover any remaining bodies. Prayers will be offered at Glasgow Cathedral later.
A further 14 people are being treated for serious injuries.
Police Scotland said in a statement that “the body of a male has been recovered from the scene”.
Gary Arthur has been named by Scottish police as one of the eight people who died after a helicopter crashed into a busy Glasgow pub
“The male has now been identified as Gary Arthur, aged 48, from the Paisley area. His family have been informed.
“Extensive efforts continue to recover the remaining bodies from the scene but, due to ongoing safety constraints, this is likely to take some time.”
Gary Arthur’s daughter Chloe, 18, who has played for the Scotland women’s football team and for Celtic women, took to Twitter to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and to pledge that she would make her much-loved father proud.
Chloe Arthur tweeted: “RIP dad. You’ll always mean the world to me, I promise to do you proud, I love you with all my heart.
“Thanks to everyone who has tweeted me, text me etc, means so much, I have the most amazing friends ever.”
Gary Arthur was a regular on the sidelines watching his daughter play at matches, according to Celtic women’s manager David Haley.
A minute’s silence will be held before Celtic’s Scottish Cup tie against Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Celtic FC and the Scottish Football Association also sent their condolences.
Emergency teams working through the wreckage had two main purposes.
They wanted to be sure they had located everyone who might have been trapped inside and they wanted to recover as much of the police helicopter as they could to help find out what went wrong.
Thailand’s government has decided to deploy troops in Bangkok to support riot police shielding official buildings from anti-government protesters.
Tear gas and water cannon were fired as protesters tried to breach barricades outside Government House.
Activists have threatened to enter key government buildings, including the headquarters of PM Yingluck Shinawatra.
Sunday is the eighth day of protests aimed at unseating Yingluck Shinawatra.
Protest leaders had said it would be the decisive day. They declared it “V-Day” of what they are calling a “people’s coup”.
Two people were killed and dozens more wounded on Saturday as pro- and anti-government groups clashed.
Troops have been deployed in Bangkok to support riot police shielding official buildings from anti-government protesters
The anti-government Civil Movement for Democracy has announced an all-out assault on the heart of the government, with the aim of replacing it with a “People’s Council”.
It says Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration is controlled by her brother, exiled ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Bangkok Post reported that a group of anti-government protesters had taken control of the Thai PBS television station. They told PBS officials to televise speeches made by the protest leaders, the report said.
Police drove back another set of demonstrators at the police headquarters.
Officials denied rumors Yingluck Shinawatra had left the country, but her whereabouts are unknown.
Yingluck Shinawatra had earlier said the government would use minimum force to hold back the protesters.
