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Ukraine: Thousands gathered in Kiev for new mass protests

Diane A. Wade
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Ukraine: Thousands gathered in Kiev for new mass protests

New mass protests against Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich’s refusal to sign a trade deal with the EU are planned for Sunday at noon.

They are demanding new elections, and the impeachment of the president.

Rallies continued through the night, with thousands gathered on the main square in the capital Kiev.

Police violently dispersed an opposition camp on Saturday, injuring dozens of people.

New mass protests against Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich's refusal to sign a trade deal with the EU are planned for Sunday at noon
New mass protests against Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich’s refusal to sign a trade deal with the EU are planned for Sunday at noon

President Viktor Yanukovich said he was “outraged” by the police action.

The new rally is planned for Sunday at 12:00.

Jailed opposition leader and ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians “not to leave the authorities’ actions unanswered”.

In a message read by her daughter on Saturday, Yulia Tymoshenko urged Ukrainians: “Fly, drive, walk to Kiev from all parts of Ukraine, but gather everyone on 1 December.”

“We can and should remove these authorities,” an opposition party leader Vitali Klitschko told thousands of demonstrators outside Kiev’s St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.

“We should come out and show that we will not allow them to humiliate us, we will stand up for our rights.”

Vitali Klitschko said that supporters were travelling from the western city of Lviv and other Ukrainian cities to take part in Sunday’s rally.

Meanwhile, a court in Kiev has banned protested in Independence Square, European Square and at other locations in the city centre until January 7, 2014.

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ObamaCare: Deadline to fix HealthCare.gov passes

Clyde K. Valle
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ObamaCare: Deadline to fix HealthCare.gov passes

The deadline to overhaul the website of ObamaCare reform law has passed but it is unclear if all the glitches have been fixed.

Technicians worked around the clock to meet the midnight deadline but the site was due to go offline for maintenance early on Sunday.

The test will probably come as people return from Thanksgiving holidays.

Problems with the website have led to a drop in President Barack Obama’s approval ratings.

White House officials said the HealthCare.gov site was working well on Saturday after overnight hardware upgrades to boost its capacity.

Software fixes to improve speed and reduce errors were planned for overnight Saturday into Sunday morning.

An update on the website’s progress is due to be released later on Sunday by Jeff Zients, the site’s chief troubleshooter.

The deadline to overhaul the website of ObamaCare reform law has passed but it is unclear if all the glitches have been fixed
The deadline to overhaul the website of ObamaCare reform law has passed but it is unclear if all the glitches have been fixed

HealthCare.gov is a key element of Barack Obama’s flagship 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – also known as ObamaCare – which aims to provide affordable health insurance to the estimated 15% of US citizens who lack it.

But since its October 1st launch, the site has been plagued by errors, outages and slow speeds.

Despite the setbacks, Barack Obama has described his healthcare reform law as a legacy to be proud of.

In an interview with ABC News, Barack Obama said he still believed his Affordable Care Act would make good on his manifesto promise to deliver affordable health care to Americans.

ObamaCare has been strongly criticized by Republican party politicians and many private health providers, who say it is too expensive and an unwarranted intrusion into the affairs of private businesses and individuals.

Their opposition intensified after the troubled launch of HealthCare.gov in October.

The website, which services 36 states, signed up just 27,000 people in the first month while the 14 states that run their own websites enrolled 79,000.

The total of around 106,000 was far off the administration’s estimate that nearly 500,000 people would enroll within the first month.

The White House promised a “smooth experience” for the “vast majority” of website users by the end of November.

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North Korea urged to release US citizens Merrill Newman and Kenneth Bae

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea urged to release US citizens Merrill Newman and Kenneth Bae

The US has urged North Korea to release American citizen Merrill Newman, who is detained in Pyongyang for more than a month.

On Saturday, state media in North Korea said Merrill Newman, 85, had confessed to “indelible crimes” against the state during the 1950-53 Korean War.

It published what it described as a “statement of apology” by Merrill Newman.

The US also called on North Korea to release another American, Kenneth Bae, who is held since November 2012 and sentenced in May to 15 years’ hard labor.

The US has urged North Korea to release American citizen Merrill Newman
The US has urged North Korea to release American citizen Merrill Newman

“We remain deeply concerned about the welfare of the US citizens held in custody in the DPRK [North Korea]” said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.

“Given Mr. Newman’s advanced age and health conditions, we urge the DPRK to release Mr. Newman so he may return home and reunite with his family,” she went on.

Regarding Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American, Caitlin Hayden said: “We continue to urge the DPRK authorities to grant him amnesty and immediate release.”

Pyongyang accused Kenneth Bae – described as both a tour operator and Christian missionary – of using his tourism business to plot sedition.

The official Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday that Merrill Newman had ordered the deaths of North Korean soldiers and civilians in the Korean War.

Although Merrill Newman did serve during the Korean War, his family says he is the victim of mistaken identity.

Pyongyang’s state media have routinely publicized alleged apologies from previous US detainees, which cannot be independently verified.

Authorities have previously been accused of coercing confessions from detainees.

Some observers say Merrill Newman’s alleged confession could allow North Korea to release him without formal legal proceedings.

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Paul Walker dead: Fast & Furious actor dies in LA car crash

Lisa.Felice
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Paul Walker dead: Fast & Furious actor dies in LA car crash

Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker has been killed in a car crash in California.

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.

Paul Walker starred in all but one of the films in the Fast & Furious franchise, the sixth of which opened in May.

He 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 was a passenger in a Porsche sports car driven by a friend
Paul Walker was a passenger in a Porsche sports car driven by a friend

It said deputies found a car engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision. Two people found in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.

Images showed the burned-out wreckage of a red Porsche by the side of the road.

“It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide,” the statement on Paul Walker’s Facebook page said.

“He was a passenger in a friend’s car, in which both lost their lives. We… are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news.”

Universal Pictures also issued a statement, saying studio staff were “heartbroken” by Paul Walker’s death.

“Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the Fast & Furious films, and to countless fans.

“We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Paul’s family.”

Paul Walker played undercover agent Brian O’Conner in the Fast & Furious movies.

The first film of the franchise was released in 2001 and the seventh is in development.

Paul Walker was one of the leading protagonists, along with Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez.

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Comet ISON survives Sun passage

James J. Williams
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Comet ISON survives Sun passage

According to some specialists, Comet ISON appears to have survived a close encounter with the Sun that had threatened to vaporize it.

The remnant could now go on to be visible from Earth in December, but astronomers do not know how bright it might become.

Travelling at more than 200 miles per second, ISON passed 730,000 miles above the sun’s 6,000C surface on Thursday evening. This would have heated the comet to almost 3,000°C, enough to vaporize rock as well as ice.

The hope was that the comet would remain sufficiently bright to be visible with the unaided eye throughout December. However, as ISON sped towards the sun, it faded dramatically from view. This led some experts to assume it had disintegrated.

“I’m not seeing anything that emerged from behind the solar disc. That could be the nail in the coffin,” said astrophysicist Karl Battams, from the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, during a live broadcast on NASA TV.

Yet, rumors of the comet’s demise may have been greatly exaggerated. Overnight, something following ISON’s orbit re-emerged on the opposite side of the sun. Now it is brightening as it plunges back into deep space.

Comet ISON appears to have survived a close encounter with the Sun that had threatened to vaporize it
Comet ISON appears to have survived a close encounter with the Sun that had threatened to vaporize it

“To all intents and purposes it looked like it had gone, and then amazingly this thing appears out the other side,” said Professor Tim O’Brien, associate director of the University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank observatory.

“What we don’t know is whether the whole thing fell apart and whether the dust that was embedded within the ice is just basically in a big cloud and that is continuing to orbit,” he explained.

“The question is, is it just a cloud of dust … or is there still either one or more remnants of the nucleus.”

The nucleus, a huge lump of rock and ice, was several miles wide on its approach to the sun, and brightened as the sun heated it to create an atmosphere, or coma, of ice and dust which was blown away from the sun to form a tail.

But radiation pressure, extreme heat and gravitational forces could have ripped the comet apart.

If the remnant is a cloud of dust it will rapidly dissipate. If it is solid the sunlight will continue to vaporize its ice, creating a tail that may be visible from Earth.

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Evelyn Lozada pregnant with baby No 2

Lisa.Felice
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Evelyn Lozada pregnant with baby No 2

Evelyn Lozada is pregnant with her second child, the Basketball Wives star confirmed via Twitter.

According to TMZ, which was first to break the news, Evelyn Lozada is around six months along. The pregnancy was reportedly planned, and the father is her boyfriend, whom she has apparently been dating for almost a year now.

Evelyn Lozada, 37, is keeping her boyfriend’s identity under wraps for now.

Evelyn Lozada is pregnant with her second child
Evelyn Lozada is pregnant with her second child

She showed off her growing baby bump on vacation with her 20-year-old daughter, Shaniece Hairston, in Hawaii, on Thanksgiving Day.

“You deserve everything that GOD sends your way. I am so excited to meet my new sibling!” Shaniece Hairston wrote via Instagram. She included a photo of the two walking on the beach, her hand on her mom’s growing baby bump.

“#YouJustKeepWinning #BabySwag #JOY”

Evelyn Lozada was previously married to Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson for a brief time in 2012. The couple wed in July but split just a little over a month later, after the NFL player was arrested on a domestic violence charge for allegedly head-butting his then-wife. They finalized their divorce in September of that same year.

Yvette Prieto pregnant: Michael Jordan and his second wife are expecting their first child

Lisa.Felice
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Yvette Prieto pregnant: Michael Jordan and his second wife are expecting their first child

Michael Jordan and his second wife Yvette Prieto are expecting their first child, according to Us Weekly.

Michael Jordan and his second wife Yvette Prieto are expecting their first child
Michael Jordan and his second wife Yvette Prieto are expecting their first child

Yvette Prieto, 34, and Michael Jordan, 50, were married seven months ago in Florida. Michael Jordan has three adult children — Jeffrey, Marcus and Jasmine — from his previous marriage to Juanita Vanoy.

Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy divorced in 2006.

Cuba: Heavy rain kills two people in Havana

Nancy Clayson
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Cuba: Heavy rain kills two people in Havana

Heavy rain has lashed Cuba since Friday, flooding streets and leaving at least two people dead.

A number of buildings have collapsed in the capital, Havana, authorities say.

A 54-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman are reported to have died as a house crumbled in central Havana.

Up to 7.8in of rain fell overnight and the Cuban meteorological service has forecast more heavy rain for Saturday, particularly in the western and central regions.

Heavy rain has lashed Cuba since Friday, flooding streets and leaving at least two people dead
Heavy rain has lashed Cuba since Friday, flooding streets and leaving at least two people dead

Yunior Amesa, the nephew of the two victims of the building collapse, told Associated Press news agency: “It was raining very hard and there was a lot of weight [from the water] up there. They went to bed.”

He says he narrowly escaped because he had to leave the house to go to work.

Many streets in Havana remain submerged, as the authorities assess the damage to other derelict buildings in the city.

Bad weather also led to the closure of the picturesque Malecon seaside boulevard, lashed by stormy waves, AP reported.

The torrential rain is expected to bring flooding to coastal areas in western Cuba and the central region.

Elvis Presley record player to be auctioned at Penzance Auction House on December 12

Sonia Pantiss
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Elvis Presley record player to be auctioned at Penzance Auction House on December 12

A record player once belonging to Elvis Presley is expected to fetch up to £2,000 ($3,000) at a Cornwall auction in the UK.

Elvis Presley gave the record player to a German woman as a wedding present more than 50 years ago.

Ellen Marschhauser met Elvis Presley when she attended a party at the Hotel Grunewald in Bad Nauheim in 1959.

The record player was a gift for her wedding to Jim Jenkins, with whom she later moved to the UK.

David Lay, the proprietor of the Penzance Auction House, said the sale was creating “so much excitement”.

Elvis Presley gave the record player to Ellen Marschhauser after she had helped his father, Vernon, with some translation work.

Elvis Presley gave the record player to a German woman as a wedding present more than 50 years ago
Elvis Presley gave the record player to a German woman as a wedding present more than 50 years ago

The singer had been carrying out his National Service when he met Ellen Marschhauser, who died in 2010.

The record player, a Perpetuum Ebner Musical 5v Luxus, remained in the Jenkins’ loft in Cornwall until Jim Jenkins saw a similar model in a newspaper article.

There has already been interest from Elvis Presley fan clubs around the world. An estimate of £2,000 ($3,000) has been placed on the item.

David Lay said: “I’m nervous to suggest it’s going to make some huge figure. It is an unknown quantity. Nothing like it has come on the market before.

“Normally, it’s costumes, or something signed by him, so I am being cautious. It is early days.

“I have never come across anything that has created so much excitement. It’s a unique experience for me. We are getting a lot of interest from Germany.”

The record players, which were manufactured from the mid 1950s onwards, had three record speeds and a built-in amplifier.

Jim Jenkins said: “We used it at parties. It had a great sound. But the needle broke so I put it away in the loft, thinking I would fix it one day.”

The record player will be auctioned at the Penzance Auction House on December 12.

Bangkok protests: At least one killed and three wounded by gunfire

Diane A. Wade
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Bangkok protests: At least one killed and three wounded by gunfire

Clashes broke out in Bangkok between rival protesters killing at least one person and wounding other three.

People heading to a pro-government rally were attacked by students, and later shots were fired.

Saturday is the seventh day of protests aiming to unseat the government of PM Yingluck Shinawatra.

Protesters claim her government is controlled by her brother, exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a coup following protests in 2006 and now lives in self-imposed exile overseas.

Clashes broke out in Bangkok between rival protesters killing at least one person and wounding other three
Clashes broke out in Bangkok between rival protesters killing at least one person and wounding other three

He is one of the most polarizing figures in Thai politics – he remains popular with many rural voters, while his opponents tend to be urban and middle class voters.

A group of students attacked vehicles bringing government supporters to the stadium – windows were smashed, and some minor injuries reported.

Later, shots were fired, but it is not clear yet by whom.

Police reinforcements were sent to the area and roads blocked, but skirmishes between the two sides continued for several hours.

Police have called for military backup to reinforce security in the city.

National police spokesman Piya Utayo said on Thai television that some 2,730 military personnel from the army, navy and air force will be deployed, AFP reports.

The government has been reluctant to risk deploying the military, which ousted Yingluck  Shinawatra ‘s brother in a coup seven years ago, but may no longer have a choice, our correspondent reports.

Tension is now rising in Bangkok as the anti-government movement prepares for what it calls a “people’s revolt” – a mass occupation of government buildings.

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Willie Robertson: Duck Dynasty stars thrilled to be part of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013

Sonia Pantiss
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Willie Robertson: Duck Dynasty stars thrilled to be part of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013

Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson revealed he was thrilled to be a part of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

He told FOX411 that watching the annual extravaganza is something the Robertson family has done every year.

“It’s something we watched together as a family,” the Louisiana man said.

“It’s an honor to be up here, we’re real excited so we brought the whole crew.”

Duck Dynasty stars were thrilled to be a part of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York
Duck Dynasty stars were thrilled to be a part of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York

Willie Robertson said that the Robertson clan waving to crowds down Broadway might not to be so strange after all.

“After the year we’ve had I’m starting to believe all kinds of weird things,” Willie Robertson admitted.

“It’s been quite a year, the good Lord’s been good to us, blessed us a bunch so we hope we can continue on the path we’re on, staying positive and keeping it real and moving forward with our faith and family. That’s the recipe that’s gotten us here so we’re going to stick with that.”

So, the Robertson clan didn’t stick around New York City to feast on turkey. Instead they hightailed it right back to Monroe, Louisiana.

“We’ve already celebrated Thanksgiving early so I’m going home,” Willie Robertson explained.

“[After the parade] we’re jumping on a plane. We got to get home and get some things back done at home.”

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2014 MTV Brand New list announced

Sonia Pantiss
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2014 MTV Brand New list announced

MTV has announced its nominations for the 2014 Brand New poll.

Sam Smith, The Vamps and Ella Eyre, who sings on Rudimental’s Waiting All Night, all appear in the list of acts predicted to be successful in the next 12 months.

Joel Compass, George Ezra and Kwabs also made the rundown.

MTV has announced its nominations for the 2014 Brand New poll
MTV has announced its nominations for the 2014 Brand New poll

The artists will go head-to-head in a public vote from December 16, with the winner being announced in February.

Electronic singer-songwriter Banks, Brighton duo Royal Blood and London-based pop singer Elyar Fox also feature on the list of British musicians set for big things in 2014.

Marie Naffah beat hundreds of other applicants to become the third unsigned competition winner to complete the MTV Brand New shortlist.

The 21-year-old singer has been compared to Florence Welch and Laura Marling.

Last year’s unsigned act, Ebony Day, topped the 2013 MTV Brand New poll.

Ebony Day beat the likes of Angel Haze, Tom Odell, Kodaline and Gabrielle Aplin to claim the prize.

Past nominees include Haim, Lay Gaga, Justin Bieber and Tinie Tempah.

Jean Kent dies at the age of 92

Sonia Pantiss
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Jean Kent dies at the age of 92

Jean Kent, one of the UK’s biggest stars in the 1940s and 1950s, has died at the age of 92.

The actress was injured in a fall at her home in Westhorpe, Suffolk, and died at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

Jean Kent’s death was announced by a close family friend, author and former film critic Michael Thornton.

Her last public appearance was in 2011 when she was honored by the British Film Institute on her 90th birthday.

Michael Thornton said: “I knew Jean for more than 50 years. She was a feisty, funny, outspoken character who never took herself too seriously.

“She knew what it meant to be a star and regarded it as her job to live up to that position and never to disappoint the public.”

Jean Kent's career included regular appearances in Gainsborough melodramas
Jean Kent’s career included regular appearances in Gainsborough melodramas

Jean Kent’s career included regular appearances in Gainsborough melodramas, which were popular with large numbers of newly-independent women following the outbreak of the Second World War.

She made 45 films and during her career starred alongside Marilyn Monroe, Michael Redgrave and Laurence Olivier.

Born in Brixton, south London on 29 June, 1921, Jean Kent was the only child of variety performers Norman Field and Nina Norre. As a 13-year-old she performed at the Windmill Theatre in London’s West End.

Jean Kent met her husband Josef Ramart on the set of Caravan and they married four months later in 1946, with Stuart Granger as best man.

They bought a farm near Sudbury, Suffolk in the 1950s and stayed there for 20 years until they moved to Westhorpe. Her husband died in 1989.

Jean Kent also had a television career, which started in the mid-1930s in a musical called The Ship In The Bay which was broadcast live.

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US civilian aircrafts to observe China’s rules in air defense zone

Roy Siemens
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US civilian aircrafts to observe China’s rules in air defense zone

The US civilian aircrafts are expected to observe China’s rules in its newly-declared air defense zone in the East China Sea.

A statement said this did not mean the US accepted China’s requirements in the zone covering territory claimed by China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

China wants all aircraft there to file flight plans and identify themselves.

The US, Japan and South Korea say they have flown military aircraft in the area unannounced. But China said it scrambled fighter jets on Friday.

The move was to monitor US and Japanese aircraft in the zone.

The US civilian aircrafts are expected to observe China's rules in its newly-declared air defense zone in the East China Sea
The US civilian aircrafts are expected to observe China’s rules in its newly-declared air defense zone in the East China Sea

The air defense identification zone (ADIZ) covers a vast area of the East China Sea, including a group of islands claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan.

South Korea claims a submerged rock, known as Ieodo, also within the zone.

The establishment of the ADIZ has caused widespread anger, with the US state department calling it “an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea” which will “raise regional tensions and increase the risk of miscalculation, confrontation and accidents”.

However, on Friday, the state department said the US government “generally expects that US carriers operating internationally will operate consistent with Notams [Notices to Airmen] issued by foreign countries”.

It added: “Our expectation of operations by US carriers consistent with NOTAMs does not indicate US government acceptance of China’s requirements for operating in the newly declared ADIZ.”

Japan has instructed its aircraft not to observe China’s rules. But a number of regional commercial airlines – including Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Korean Air – have said they will comply.

China announced on Thursday it was deploying warplanes in the area for surveillance and defense.

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Danielle Schreiber granted one-year restraining order against Jason Patric

Lisa.Felice
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Danielle Schreiber granted one-year restraining order against Jason Patric

Jason Patric’s ex-girlfriend Danielle Schreiber has been granted a one-year restraining order against the actor.

Jason Patric, 47, has been locked in a battle with Danielle Schreiber over access to their 3-year-old son Gus.

The actor dated Danielle Schreiber off and on for approximately 10 years. During the relationship they conceived their son through in vitro fertilization.

In 2012, Jason Patric had to file for joint custody after the couple split.

Jason Patric's ex-girlfriend Danielle Schreiber has been granted a one-year restraining order against the actor
Jason Patric’s ex-girlfriend Danielle Schreiber has been granted a one-year restraining order against the actor

The actor lost his bid earlier this year as the US law considers him as a donor father, and he has since filed an appeal and is awaiting a decision.

Meanwhile, Danielle Schreiber attained a restraining order on Thursday against Jason Patric, prohibiting any contact from him.

“For 10 months I’ve been emailing her lawyers letters, texts, anything to see my son,” Jason Patric told The View.

“I’ve been sending her articles about what happens when a father is absent from a child’s life … She found that harassing and lecturing to her. She goes to a judge and those are unwanted communications, so I am not now allowed to communicate with the mother of my child.”

Jason Patric isn’t alone in his paternity battle; Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Mel Gibson recently joined the star at the inaugural Stand Up For Gus fundraiser in LA and donated money to his cause.

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Natalya Gorbanevskaya dies in Paris at 77

Diane A. Wade
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Natalya Gorbanevskaya dies in Paris at 77

Russian dissident from Soviet-era Natalya Gorbanevskaya has died in Paris aged 77.

Natalya Gorbanevskaya was arrested for taking part in a 1968 protest in Moscow’s Red Square against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.

She was held in a psychiatric hospital until 1972 and later emigrated to the West.

Earlier this year Natalya Gorbanevskaya and others held another protest in Red Square making the 45th anniversary of the invasion.

They were briefly detained by authorities for holding an unauthorized protest.

Natalya Gorbanevskaya was arrested for taking part in a 1968 protest in Moscow's Red Square against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
Natalya Gorbanevskaya was arrested for taking part in a 1968 protest in Moscow’s Red Square against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia

Natalya Gorbanevskaya, a poet and translator, was a founding member of the underground publication The Chronicle of Current Events, which documented human rights abuses in the Soviet Union.

In August 1968 Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops and tanks poured into Czechoslovakia to crush its government’s liberal reforms known as the “Prague Spring”.

Natalya Gorbanevskaya was one of eight dissidents who took to Red Square in protest at the invasion but they were quickly rounded up by security forces.

A mother of two children, Natalya Gorbanevskaya was later “diagnosed” with schizophrenia and subjected to forcible psychiatric treatment at Moscow’s then-notorious Serbsky Institute, Russian news agency Ria Novosti reported.

On her release, Natalya Gorbanevskaya emigrated to Paris and worked as a journalist.

In 1976, Joan Baez released a song, Natalia, dedicated to Natalya Gorbanevskaya.

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Cyber Monday 2013: Best tech deals

Nancy Clayson
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Cyber Monday 2013: Best tech deals

As Black Friday’s deals tend to be steepest when it comes to technology and electronics, they also involve crazy crowds and long lines, you can take advantage of all the best Cyber Monday deals.

Amazon will surely be offering deep discounts but are keeping mum so far on the items. Bookmark Amazon’s Cyber Monday page to keep checking back for details and be set for the big day.

Best Buy will be offering a wide variety of slashed prices and doorbusters on all the tech items you want most: laptops, mobile phones, digital camera, HDTVs, and more. To stay on top of the deals, sign up for Best Buy’s Deal of the Day email to be among the first to find out about Best Buy’s great Cyber Monday 2013 deals.

Cyber Monday 2013
Cyber Monday 2013

Target will be having an entire Cyber Week complete with daily doorbusters. While all the details haven’t been revealed, discounts on items like iPads, PS4, Xbox One, Blu-rays, and more will be on sale. To be one of the first to know about Target’s Cyber Week deals, make sure to sign up for Target’s special offers.

Wal-Mart is known for their insane Black Friday deals and while they have yet to reveal all their Cyber Monday deals, are bet is that they’re pretty sweet.

Sears typically offers an extra 5% to 15% off during its Cyber Monday sale. Sears will be offering a “Build-Your-Own” Play Station 4 Bundle for Shop Your Way Members. The sweet deal includes a console, controller, and a choice of four different games for $519.97. The purchase also comes with 10,000 points which is the equivalent of a $100 Sears/Kmart gift card.

Black Friday violence 2013: Stun gun brawl between two women at Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia

Nancy Clayson
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Black Friday violence 2013: Stun gun brawl between two women at Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia

Two women got into a stun gun brawl inside of the Franklin Mills Mall in Northeast Philadelphia during Black Friday shopping.

Mike Napolitano, who videotaped the women, said on the fight: “It started out, one couple was fighting with another couple. They had words, the guys got into a fight and then the girls.”

“One couple, they were like a family and all, with a young child in a stroller.”

The video shows the two women punching each other and someone in the crowd yelling: “No, stop.”

Two women got into a stun gun brawl inside of the Franklin Mills Mall in Northeast Philadelphia during Black Friday shopping
Two women got into a stun gun brawl inside of the Franklin Mills Mall in Northeast Philadelphia during Black Friday shopping

After the two hit the ground, fighting, you can hear the crackle of what sounds like a stun gun and see fluorescent-colored sparks.

At that point, several people run up and pry the two women apart.

“Then security came over and I kinda left, you know, I was thinking, <<God forbid if somebody has a gun or something>>,” Mike Napolitano said.

Mall security confirmed that a fight did break out in the mall around 2:30 a.m.

The Franklin Mills Mall opened at midnight on Black Friday and remained open for 18 hours.

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Black Friday 2013: Several outbreaks of violence as 97 million Americans hit stores

Nancy Clayson
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Black Friday 2013: Several outbreaks of violence as 97 million Americans hit stores

Outbreaks of violence have marred Black Friday shopping frenzy, as bargain-hunters besieged malls across the US.

In Chicago, police shot an alleged shoplifter; a robber shot a shopper in Las Vegas; and a California police officer was injured in a fight.

Black Friday, the day following the Thanksgiving holiday, is the biggest shopping day of the year in the US.

This year it began even earlier amid a trend for Thanksgiving openings.

Twelve national chains opened their doors on Thursday, advertising aggressive discounts.

Some 15,000 shoppers stormed the flagship Macy’s in New York City as it opened for the first time ever on Thanksgiving evening.

There were several incidents of retail-related disorder across the US:

  • In Chicago, a police officer shot a suspected shoplifter driving a car that was dragging a fellow officer at a Kohl’s department store. The suspect and the dragged officer were treated in hospital for shoulder injuries. Three people were arrested, reports the Chicago Tribune
  • A shopper in Las Vegas who was carrying a big-screen TV home from a Target store on Thanksgiving was shot in the leg as he tried to wrestle the item back from a robber who had just stolen it from him at gunpoint, reports the Las Vegas Sun
  • At a southern California Wal-Mart store, a police officer’s wrist was broken as he tried to break up a fight between two men in the queue outside; there were two more fights over goods inside, reports the San Bernadino Sun
  • A 23-year-old man was doused with pepper spray and arrested after he allegedly attacked a police officer responding to an argument over a television at a Wal-Mart in Garfield, New Jersey, reports the Star-Ledger
  • Despite Wal-Mart’s pledge to overhaul its crowd-control measures, scenes of mayhem such as this one were apparently filmed at a store in Forth Worth, Texas
  • Two arrests were made after a man was stabbed in an argument over a parking space at a Wal-Mart in Virginia, reports local TV station WVVA

    Outbreaks of violence have marred Black Friday shopping frenzy, as bargain-hunters besieged malls across the US
    Outbreaks of violence have marred Black Friday shopping frenzy, as bargain-hunters besieged malls across the US

Workers’ groups have protested that the trend towards Thursday opening means retail employees can no longer spend the day at home with their families, which is supposed to be the point of Thanksgiving Day.

Some retail analysts have begun to dub the holiday Black Thanksgiving, or Grey Thursday.

Workers held demonstrations on Friday outside Wal-Mart stores in the city of Ontario, California, and in Elgin, Illinois, demanding better pay and conditions.

There was anecdotal evidence that the Thursday openings have led to an easing off in consumer footfall on Black Friday itself, though the increased popularity of online shopping could be another factor.

By late Friday morning, the number of shoppers in many stores was more typical of a normal Saturday than the usual frenetic start to the holiday season.

Some 97 million Americans hit the shops on Black Friday, according to the National Retail Federation.

In 2012, Americans spent $11.2 billion on Black Friday.

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Major blaze at Oscar Niemeyer’s Latin America Memorial building in Sao Paulo

Nancy Clayson
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Major blaze at Oscar Niemeyer’s Latin America Memorial building in Sao Paulo

Brazilian firefighters have fought a major blaze at Sao Paulo’s landmark building designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer.

A large plume of smoke billowed from the Latin America Memorial, a cultural centre which hosts an art gallery, an auditorium and other facilities.

At least 15 firefighters were injured as dozens of crews went to the scene.

Oscar Niemeyer, who was behind some of the 20th Century’s best known modernist buildings, died a year ago aged 104.

He designed the main government buildings in the futuristic capital, Brasilia, developing a style defined by sweeping curves and stark concrete.

A large plume of smoke billowed from the Latin America Memorial, a cultural centre which hosts an art gallery, an auditorium and other facilities
A large plume of smoke billowed from the Latin America Memorial, a cultural centre which hosts an art gallery, an auditorium and other facilities

The Latin America Memorial, built in the west of Sao Paulo in 1989, was empty at the time of the fire and authorities say no members of the public were hurt. The cause of the fire is unclear.

Fire first swept through the 1,600-seat Simon Bolivar auditorium at the complex at around 15:00 local.

While the extent of the damage was unclear, there were fears for some of the art works at the complex.

A spokesperson told reporters that a giant tapestry by Brazilian artist Tomie Ohtake may have been partially destroyed.

Another building in the complex hosted the Latin American Parliament from 1992 to 2007. The parliament is now based in Panama.

The Latin America Memorial comprises several buildings in an area of more than 84,480 sq m (101,376 sq yards) and was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and conceived by the anthropologist Darcy Ribeiro.

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Kiev protests: Riot police use force to disperse hundreds of EU-deal protesters

Diane A. Wade
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Kiev protests: Riot police use force to disperse hundreds of EU-deal protesters

Ukrainian riot police have forcefully dispersed hundreds of EU-deal protesters in Kiev, beating some with truncheons, witnesses say.

Protest organizer Sergei Milnichenko said tear gas had also been used as police moved in at about 04:30 on Saturday.

It followed fresh rallies against President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign an EU association agreement.

Unconfirmed reports said a number of people had been hurt.

Ukrainian riot police have forcefully dispersed hundreds of EU-deal protesters in Kiev
Ukrainian riot police have forcefully dispersed hundreds of EU-deal protesters in Kiev

Police said they had decided to clear Independence Square after “a number of incidents”, Interfax Ukraine news agency reported.

It was not clear what incidents they were referring to.

More than 1,000 people, most of them students, were in the square when police moved in, activists said.

Witnesses said ambulances were on the scene and some demonstrators were seen bleeding from their heads and arms.

Opposition MP Andriy Shevchenko tweeted that dozens of people had been hurt and at least 33 taken into police custody.

Reuters news agency said the injured included one of its cameramen and a photographer, who was left bloodied by blows to the head.

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Merrill Newman confesses North Korea crimes

Roy Siemens
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Merrill Newman confesses North Korea crimes

US citizen Merrill Newman, who is detained for more than a month in North Korea, has confessed to committing “indelible crimes” against the state, say North Korean state media.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Merrill Newman had ordered the deaths of North Korean soldiers and civilians in the 1950-53 Korean War.

The agency published what it described as a “statement of apology” by Merrill Newman.

Merrill Newman, now 85, did serve during the Korean War but his family says he is the victim of mistaken identity.

Pyongyang’s state media has routinely publicized alleged apologies from previous American detainees, which cannot be independently verified.

Authorities have previously been accused of coercing confessions from detainees.

Merrill Newman, who is detained for more than a month in North Korea, has confessed to committing "indelible crimes" against the state
Merrill Newman, who is detained for more than a month in North Korea, has confessed to committing “indelible crimes” against the state

Some observers say Merrill Newman’s alleged confession could allow North Korea to release him without formal legal proceedings.

Merrill Newman – a retiree from Palo Alto, California – has been held in North Korea since being taken off a plane as he prepared to leave the country on October 26, following a 10-day tourist visit.

In video released by North Korean authorities, Merril Newman is shown reading his alleged apology, dated November 9.

“During the Korean War, I have been guilty of a long list of indelible crimes against DPRK government and Korean people,” the 4-page statement reads, referring to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The statement also claims Merrill Newman was an “adviser of the Kuwol Unit of the UN Korea 6th Partisan Regiment part of the Intelligence Bureau of the Far East Command” – an apparent reference to one of the special operations units acting against the North.

Merrill Newman apparently confesses to trying to contact surviving soldiers during his trip as a tourist.

The statement adds: “Please forgive me.”

However, Merrill Newman’s family has said there must have been “some dreadful misunderstanding” and have appealed for his release, saying he may need medication.

Another veteran, also named Merrill Newman, was awarded a Silver Star medal for his efforts during the Korean War.

He has previously told Reuters news agency he thought it was possible there had been “a case of mistaken identity”.

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Glasgow: Police helicopter crashes into The Clutha pub killing 8 people

Nancy Clayson
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Glasgow: Police helicopter crashes into The Clutha pub killing 8 people

A police helicopter crashed into a busy pub in Glasgow city centre killing at least eight people.

Three people inside the helicopter and five people inside The Clutha pub were killed after the Police Scotland aircraft came down at 22:30 on Friday.

Other 14 people are being treated for “very serious injuries” in hospitals across the city.

A major investigation is under way and the Air Accidents Investigations Branch will conduct an inquiry into the crash.

Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, medical director at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said that of the 32 people taken to local hospitals after the crash, 18 had now been treated and discharged.

She confirmed that 14 people were still being treated for serious injuries.

“The main injuries we have seen include chest injuries, head injuries, long-bone fractures and lacerations,” she said.

It is thought that about 120 people were in the pub at the time of the crash.

Many were rescued or escaped but others were trapped by a collapse on the left-hand side of the building.

Three people inside the helicopter and five people inside The Clutha pub were killed after the Police Scotland aircraft came down
Three people inside the helicopter and five people inside The Clutha pub were killed after the Police Scotland aircraft came down

The three occupants of the helicopter who died were two police officers and a civilian pilot.

A significant number of personnel from Police Scotland, The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Ambulance Service are still at the scene.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House told a news conference on Saturday afternoon that they would remain there for some time.

Chief Constable House said the operation would go on “for many days yet”.

He paid tribute to the emergency service personnel who were working at the scene and the people of Glasgow who disregarded their own personal safety to help survivors in the aftermath of the crash.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the same news conference that the increased death toll from the crash was “news that everybody today has been both dreading and expecting”.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond earlier described it as a “black day for Scotland.”

UK’s PM David Cameron paid tribute to the bravery of the “ordinary Glaswegians” who rushed to help.

Queen Elizabeth II has said her thoughts and prayers are with the victims of crash.

The Police Scotland helicopter which crashed was a twin-engine Eurocopter EC135 T2.

In a statement, Eurocopter said its experts were “on standby to support the investigation in every way possible”.

“An accident investigation team from Eurocopter is on its way to Scotland to assist the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch and the BFU (German AAIB) in its efforts to investigate the cause of the accident,” the statement said.

Helicopter operator Bond Air Services said it was working with the police and emergency services.

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Camo Sunday: Duck Dynasty inspires Pennsylvania church to go camo

Sonia Pantiss
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Camo Sunday: Duck Dynasty inspires Pennsylvania church to go camo

Duck Dynasty reality show has inspired Reverend Chris Terbush in northwestern Pennsylvania to encourage his congregation to come to church in camouflage clothing on Sunday.

Reverend Chris Terbush told the Bradford Era he’s hoping to attract new members to The First Wesleyan Church of Bradford, and to celebrate the state’s outdoors heritage before deer-hunting season opens Monday.

“Ultimately, the major goal is to draw new parishioners,” Chris Terbush said.

“I thought it’d be neat if nothing else to show the community who we are.”

Duck Dynasty has inspired Reverend Chris Terbush in northwestern Pennsylvania to encourage his congregation to come to church in camouflage clothing on Sunday
Duck Dynasty has inspired Reverend Chris Terbush in northwestern Pennsylvania to encourage his congregation to come to church in camouflage clothing on Sunday

The 30-year-old pastor and outdoor enthusiast is a native of Indiana and a life-long hunter. He plans to dress in his hunting clothes, as the evangelical Protestant denomination doesn’t require that he wear a clerical collar or other garb to preside at church services.

“There are a lot of hunters in our congregation,” Chris Terbush said.

“I know we live in a hunting community and we’re open to all people including hunters.”

The church is located about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, not far from the border of New York.

Chris Terbush said he’s still working on a sermon that “could very well deal with the subject of camouflage itself.”

“Camo Sunday” might even become a regular event if it proves popular.

Si, Willie and Jase Robertson at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013

Sonia Pantiss
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Si, Willie and Jase Robertson at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013

Duck Dynasty’s Si, Willie and Jase Robertson went to New York City on Thursday where they took part in the prestigious Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Uncle Si, Willie and Jase Robertson were sporting their favorite hats, bandannas and warm coats as they stand on their float.

At times, the Duck Dynasty stars looked a little bemused as their boat-like float Marion Carole made its way along the route lined by a reported 3.5 million spectators.

Duck Dynasty stars looked a little bemused as their boat-like float Marion Carole made its way along the route lined by 3.5 million spectators
Duck Dynasty stars looked a little bemused as their boat-like float Marion Carole made its way along the route lined by 3.5 million spectators

Jase Robertson, sporting his trademark beanie hat, sunglasses and sheepskin fleece, was joined by his wife Missy who looked a lot more seasonal in red coat and black hat.

Duck Dynasty has just completed the fourth season with the premiere attracting a whopping 11.8 million, making it the most-watched nonfiction cable telecast in history.

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