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Black Beauty: Sahara rock identified as oldest Martian meteorite ever found

James J. Williams
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Black Beauty: Sahara rock identified as oldest Martian meteorite ever found

Black Beauty, a rock discovered in the Sahara Desert, has been identified as the oldest Martian meteorite ever found, scientists say.

Earlier research had suggested Black Beauty was about 2 billion-year old, but new tests indicate the rock actually dates to 4.4 billion years ago.

The dark and glossy meteorite would have formed when the Red Planet was in its infancy.

The research is published in the journal Nature.

Lead author Prof. Munir Humayan, from Florida State University, US, said: “This [rock] tells us about one of the most important epochs in the history of Mars.”

There are about 100 Martian meteorites, but almost all of them are younger, dating to between 150 million and 600 million years old.

They would have fallen to the Earth after asteroid or comet impacts had dislodged them, setting the rocks free to travel through space before eventually crash landing here.

This particular Martian meteorite, which is formed of five fragments, is much older.

Black Beauty rock has been identified as the oldest Martian meteorite ever found
Black Beauty rock has been identified as the oldest Martian meteorite ever found

An earlier analysis of one piece, called NWA 7034, put the age at 2 billion years.

But this latest research has found that another piece, NWA 7533, dates to 4.4 billion years ago, which suggests that NWA 7034 also must be older.

The team said it would have formed when Mars was just 100 million years old.

“It is almost certainly coming from the southern highlands – the cratered terrain that makes up the southern hemisphere of Mars,” said Prof. Munir Humayan.

This would have been a turbulent period of Martian history, when volcanoes were erupting all over the surface.

Prof. Munir Humayan explained: “The crust of Mars must have differentiated really quickly, rather than gradually over time. There was a big volcanic episode all over the surface, which then crusted up, and after that the volcanism dropped dramatically.

“When it did this it also must have out-gassed water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and other gases to produce a primordial atmosphere… and also a primordial ocean.”

He added: “This is a very exciting period of time – if there were to be life on Mars, it would have originated at this particular time.”

Prof. Munir Humayan said that team now plans to study the rock to see if there were any signs of past life. But he added that while the rock was lying in the Sahara Desert, living organisms probably would have occupied it, masking potential evidence.

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Fed to cut stimulus efforts in coming months

Clyde K. Valle
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Fed to cut stimulus efforts in coming months

Federal Reserve’s stimulus efforts will be cut in “the coming months”, the central bank’s officials confirmed.

They believe that the US recovery is strengthening, according to minutes from their October meeting.

The Fed is currently engaged in an $8 billion a month bond buying programme to lower interest rates and boost the US economy.

US markets fell on the news of a potential slowing of easy money.

In the meeting minutes, released on Wednesday, policy makers said they “generally expected that the data would prove consistent with the Committee’s outlook for ongoing improvement in labor market conditions and would thus warrant trimming the pace of purchases in coming months”.

Federal Reserve's stimulus efforts will be cut in the coming months
Federal Reserve’s stimulus efforts will be cut in the coming months

However, they also stressed that investors should be assured that short-term interest rates will remain low for an extended period of time – perhaps even after the unemployment rate drops below 6.5% benchmark.

Many meeting participants indicated a desire to better coordinate the Fed’s communication policy regarding the easing back of bond purchases, and of interest rates setting.

Mortgages rates spiked over the summer, after outgoing Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated the central bank was considering a slowing of its easy money policy.

They only declined after the Fed, in a surprise move, decided to maintain the programme – known as quantitative easing – after its September meeting.

The last Federal Open Market Committee meeting under Ben Bernanke’s leadership is scheduled to take place from December 17 – 18.

The minutes also note that Fed policymakers had an unscheduled conference call on October 16 – just before the US was set to breach the so-called debt ceiling and potentially default on its debt obligations.

According to the minutes, policymakers agreed that had Congress been unable to come to an agreement, the situation would have been “potentially catastrophic”.

Star Wars R2-D2 set for return in Episode VII

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Wars R2-D2 set for return in Episode VII

Iconic Star Wars character R2-D2 is to make an appearance in the next outing, Episode VII, LucasFilm have confirmed.

The squat, squeaking android is being created at Pinewood Studios by two British men who are members of a Star Wars robot-building group.

Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples say they feel “very privileged” to be working on the film.

Star Wars: Episode VII is currently in pre-production and filming is due to begin in the spring.

The new outing is being directed by JJ Abrams and is set for release in December 2015.

The two robot builders have previously employed their skills on Star Wars-themed commercials, but it was a visit of LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy to a convention in Germany that got their work noticed – and landed them jobs on the new film.

R2-D2 is to make an appearance in Star Wars Episode VII
R2-D2 is to make an appearance in Star Wars Episode VII

“I mentioned that the R2-D2 Builders in the UK were available if required, as a semi-joke. When I was contacted to work on the film by executive producer Jason McGatlin, it was on her recommendation,” said Oliver Steeples.

“It’s a dream come true,” he added.

“I hope I can live up to the expectations of the thousands of R2-D2 builders around the world, let alone the millions of Star Wars fans.”

The pair, who have been constructing R2-D2 units for some years, will be responsible for maintaining the robots during the making of the film, and will try to improve on its design.

The robot is a mesh of gears, lights and electronics which need to be kept in excellent condition throughout the production of the movie.

British actor Kenny Baker was inside the machine for the first six Star Wars films. It has not been revealed whether he will rejoin the series for Episode VII.

R2-D2, an astromech android, is best known as a companion to the human heroes of the Star Wars franchise, including Luke and Anakin Skywalker, using its resources to rescue them from perilous situations.

He built up an endearing partnership with his fussy fellow android C-3PO, who is able to understand R2-D2’s language and interprets it for humans.

The droid’s name is an abbreviation of “reel 2, dialogue 2” – which Star Wars creator George Lucas overheard in the editing suite for his second film, American Graffiti.

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Forbes World’s Highest-Paid Musicians List 2013

Sonia Pantiss
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Forbes World’s Highest-Paid Musicians List 2013

Madonna tops Forbes magazine’s World’s Highest-Paid Musicians List in 2013 with $125 million, beating Lady Gaga.

Madonna, 55, made $125 million from June 2012 to June 2013, according to Forbes magazine.

The singer made her money through her MDNA world tour, merchandise sales, a clothing line and a brand of perfume.

Lady Gaga, 27, earned $80 million in the same period with Bon Jovi, Toby Keith and Coldplay in third, fourth and fifth spots.

She made most of her money though her Born This Way Ball tour before she injured her hip and cancelled the remaining dates.

Hip-hop artist Sean “Diddy” Combs is 11th on the list because of his vodka business while rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z is in 18th spot.

DJs Calvin Harris and Tiesto are in 13th and 25th.

Madonna tops Forbes magazine’s World's Highest-Paid Musicians List in 2013 with $125 million
Madonna tops Forbes magazine’s World’s Highest-Paid Musicians List in 2013 with $125 million

Hip-hop artist Dr Dre topped Forbes‘ highest-paid musicians list last year but is down to 20th place this time.

The top 25 is put together by using data from Pollstar, the RIAA, Nielsen SoundScan, managers, lawyers and artists.

Concert ticket sales, royalties for recorded music and publishing, merchandise sales, endorsement deals and other business ventures are also taken into account.

Estimates reflect pre-tax income before fees for agents, managers and lawyers are deducted and ranges from 1 June 2012 to 1 June 2013.

Only living artists are eligible for the list.

Top 10 highest-paid musicians

  1. Madonna – $125 million
  2. Lady Gaga – $80 million
  3. Bon Jovi – $79 million
  4. Toby Keith – $65 million
  5. Coldplay – $64 million
  6. Justin Bieber – $58 million
  7. Taylor Swift – $55 million
  8. Elton John – $54 million
  9. Beyonce – $53 million    9. Kenny Chesney – $53 million

Chris Brown ordered to return to rehab for three months

Lisa.Felice
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Chris Brown ordered to return to rehab for three months

Chris Brown has been ordered by LA judge to return to rehab for three months to deal with anger management issues.

LA Superior Court Judge James Brandlin also said Chris Brown must do at least 24 hours of community service a week and be tested for drugs.

Chris Brown, 24, agreed to the terms, which were suggested by probation officers overseeing his sentence for beating Rihanna in 2009.

The singer left rehab earlier this month after throwing a rock through a window.

After a joint counseling session with his mother on November 10, where she suggested he needed to remain in treatment, Chris Brown threw the stone through the window of her car.

Chris Brown was kicked out of the rehab centre because he had signed a contract agreeing to refrain from violence while in treatment.

He had gone to the facility voluntarily on October 29 having been arrested in Washington DC days earlier. A man accused Chris Brown of punching him after he tried to get in a photo with the singer.

Chris Brown has been ordered by LA judge to return to rehab for three months to deal with anger management issues
Chris Brown has been ordered by LA judge to return to rehab for three months to deal with anger management issues

The event could still be considered a probation violation and result in further punishment for the singer. Chris Brown is due to appear in court in Washington DC on Monday.

Judge James Brandlin ordered probation officers to get more information on the arrest in Washington for a hearing on December 16.

He also said Chris Brown’s focus should be on his treatment and community service, where he will have to do tasks like litter picking or cleaning graffiti.

In his probation report it says the singer has said he wants treatment for his anger management issues.

Chris Brown said he was depressed after being ordered to re-do 1,000 hours of community service earlier this year after a hit-and-run incident.

He has performed 20 hours so far, according to the report. An officer said Chris Brown wouldn’t complete his assignment if he was not required to perform at least 25 hours of work per week.

Chris Brown appeared in court on Wednesday with his girlfriend Karrueche Tran and only spoke once to acknowledge he agreed to the terms given by the judge.

His mother, who has been to many of her son’s court hearings, was not there.

Chris Brown’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, said that the musician was also ordered to take any medications his doctor prescribed.

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Abdelhakim Dekhar: Paris gun suspect named by French police

Roy Siemens
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Abdelhakim Dekhar: Paris gun suspect named by French police

Abdelhakim Dekhar has been identified by the French authorities as the man arrested on suspicion of carrying out recent gun attacks in Paris.

Abdelhakim Dekhar was taken into custody at about 19:00 from a vehicle in a car park in Bois-Colombes, north-west of Paris.

Authorities said the gunman had been jailed in 1998 for his role in a string of fatal shootings in Paris.

Last Friday a gunman threatened a Paris TV station and on Monday attacked Liberation newspaper office and Societe Generale HQ.

Prosecutors said late on Wednesday that samples of Abdelhakim Dekhar’s DNA matched that from the crime scenes.

They said he was not yet in a position to be questioned and the reading of his rights had been postponed.

Abdelhakim Dekhar was arrested in a stationary car in an underground car park following a tip-off from a member of the public.

French authorities have named the man arrested on suspicion of carrying out recent gun attacks in Paris as Abdelhakim Dekhar
French authorities have named the man arrested on suspicion of carrying out recent gun attacks in Paris as Abdelhakim Dekhar

Police union official Christophe Crepin said: “My colleagues noticed he was not very lucid. They deduced that he had taken medicines, because of the capsules nearby.”

Some media sources have suggested he may have attempted suicide.

Abdelhakim Dekhar is believed to have been the third man in the so-called Rey-Maupin affair, named after a young couple with links to anarchist groups who bungled an attempt to steal weapons from guards and then hijacked a taxi.

In the subsequent chase and shootout, three policemen and the taxi driver were killed, as well as Audry Maupin.

Audry Maupin’s girlfriend, Florence Rey, was released from jail a few years ago.

Their story was compared to the controversial American film, Natural Born Killers.

At his trial in 1998, Abdelhakim Dekhar protested his innocence, claiming he had been recruited by the Algerian secret service to infiltrate the French far-left. He served four years.

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Thanksgiving Recipe: Rich and Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin

Kathryn R. Bown
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Thanksgiving Recipe: Rich and Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin

Rich and Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin

Ingredients (8 serves):

3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and very thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 teaspoon salt

Rich and Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin
Rich and Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin

1 cup heavy cream, divided

freshly ground black pepper to taste

freshly grated nutmeg to taste

2 cups freshly shredded Gruyere cheese, divided

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
  2. Place potatoes, garlic, and salt into a large pot, fill with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer the potatoes until tender but not mushy, 8 to 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer about half the potatoes to a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  3. Pour half of the cream over the potatoes, season with black pepper and nutmeg, and sprinkle half of the Gruyere cheese onto the mixture. Top with the remaining potatoes; sprinkle again with black pepper and nutmeg. Pour on the remaining cream, and sprinkle with remaining Gruyere cheese.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese topping is crisp and brown on top, about 1 hour.

Oscar Pistorius served with two more gun charges unrelated to Reeva Steenkamp’s death

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius served with two more gun charges unrelated to Reeva Steenkamp’s death

Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was served with new indictment papers Wednesday containing two extra charges believed to allege that he recklessly shot his gun out the open sunroof of a car last year and fired someone else’s handgun at a restaurant weeks before he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Oscar Pistorius has already been indicted on a main charge of murder for the February 14 shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp and another firearm charge for illegal possession of ammunition in his home.

The double-amputee Olympian now faces the two additional charges relating to firing guns in public.

Oscar Pistorius will likely face all four charges at his trial starting in March, although his lawyers can argue against the new gun charges being added to his current indictment as the offenses are alleged to have taken place in Johannesburg, in a different court jurisdiction to the fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp at his upscale villa in the South African capital, Pretoria, in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine’s Day.

Oscar Pistorius faces two additional charges relating to firing guns in public
Oscar Pistorius faces two additional charges relating to firing guns in public

His lawyers were served with the new papers, South Africa’s national prosecution spokesman Nathi Mncube told The Associated Press.

“What happened today is: Mr. Pistorius was served with a new indictment,” Nathi Mncube said.

“We have to advise him [of the extra charges] to accord him with enough time to prepare his defense.”

Nathi Mncube declined to give the exact details of the new charges, only saying they “relate to the contravention of the firearms act.”

He also said there had been no indication from Oscar Pistorius’ lawyers if they would challenge the adding of the charges to his indictment for the trial.

Prosecutors sought special permission to include the two gun charges against Oscar Pistorius on the indictment because they did not fall in the same jurisdiction. Permission was granted by South Africa’s director of public prosecutions last month.

It’s reported in South Africa that the new charges relate to two alleged incidents where Oscar Pistorius recklessly shot a gun in public: The first when the Paralympic is alleged to have fired his own licensed 9mm handgun – the gun used to kill Reeva Steenkamp – out the open sunroof of a car in Johannesburg while traveling with friends last year.

Medal of Freedom 2013: Barack Obama honors 16 people with US highest award

Diane A. Wade
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Medal of Freedom 2013: Barack Obama honors 16 people with US highest award

President Barack Obama paid tribute to the legacy of the past and the politics of the present by awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor – to 16 people.

Among those receiving Presidential Medal of Freedom in Wednesday ceremony are former President Bill Clinton, iconic talk show host Oprah Winfrey and late astronaut Sally Ride.

Barack also paid tribute to the memory of President John F. Kennedy.

“This is one of my favorite events every year,” said Barack Obama.

“This year it’s just a little more special, because this marks the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy establishing this award.”

Former President Bill Clinton was among those receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Former President Bill Clinton was among those receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Barack Obama noted that members of the Kennedy clan were in attendance: Robert Kennedy’s widow, Ethel Kennedy, and JFK’s grandson and son of Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is “presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” says the White House.

Later in the day, presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton – and first ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton – pay another tribute to JFK with a visit to his grave site at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

The Obamas and Clintons will lay a wreath near the eternal flame that marks JFK’s final resting place.

The 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination is Friday, November 22.

Barack Obama will again speak about JFK’s legacy during a dinner for the Medal of Freedom honorees at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

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Sean Penn yells at fan in San Francisco hotel bar

Lisa.Felice
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Sean Penn yells at fan in San Francisco hotel bar

Sean Penn screamed at a fan in a San Francisco hotel bar on Tuesday night.

Sean Penn – who served 33 days in 1987 for assaulting a photographer, and allegedly beat up two shutterbugs in 2009 – was taken by surprise by a fan who apparently tried to take his picture with a cell phone at the St. Regis hotel bar in San Francisco.

Sean Penn screamed at a fan in a San Francisco hotel bar
Sean Penn screamed at a fan in a San Francisco hotel bar

“Do we look like f***ing zoo animals?” Sean Penn screamed as he approached the man, who TMZ reports had attended the same conference the actor had been at that day.

According to the gossip website’s video footage of the incident, Sean Penn then grabbed the man’s phone and chucked it on the ground, yelling: “I’ll make you eat the phone … get the f*** out of here!”

Sean Penn later suggested to someone who worked for the hotel: “You should do something about that.”

Paris gunman captured and taken into custody

Roy Siemens
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Paris gunman captured and taken into custody

The Paris gunman has been captured and taken into custody on suspicion of carrying out recent attacks on the Liberation office and Societe Generale HQ, prosecutors say.

French police said the man bore a strong resemblance to the person shown in surveillance camera footage.

He was taken into custody at about 19:00 local time from a vehicle in a car park in Bois-Colombes, west of Paris.

The suspect threatened a TV station last Friday, and attacked the Liberation office and Societe Generale HQ on Monday.

He was apprehended from a stationary car in an underground car park.

The Paris gunman was taken into custody from a vehicle in a car park in Bois-Colombes
The Paris gunman was taken into custody from a vehicle in a car park in Bois-Colombes

Prosecutors said the reading of the man’s rights had been postponed and he was not yet in a position to be questioned. They gave no further explanation and have not yet given the man’s identity nor any motive.

Hundreds of police were involved in an intensive manhunt since Monday and security was stepped up at all media outlets.

An appeal for information generated almost 700 calls.

The first incident – last Friday – was at the offices of the BFMTV television channel.

The intruder emptied the chamber of his gun in the reception area without firing, saying: “Next time, I will not miss you.”

CCTV showed that he spent only a few seconds in reception, before hurrying out.

On Monday, the suspect attacked the offices of the Liberation newspaper, firing twice and critically injuring a 23-year-old photography assistant.

Two hours later, the same man fired shots outside the headquarters of the bank Societe Generale, in the western business district of La Defense. No-one was hurt.

A car was then hijacked and the driver was forced to drop the suspect off near the Avenue des Champs Elysees, where he disappeared.

George W. Bush presents his paintings on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Lisa.Felice
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George W. Bush presents his paintings on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

George W. Bush revealed his painting hobby, talked about his granddaughter and poked fun at his post-White House years on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night.

The former president said that he was inspired to take up painting after reading a Winston Churchill essay.

When he hired an instructor for weekly lessons, the 43rd president said he told her: “There’s a Rembrandt trapped in this body. Your job is to find it.”

George W. Bush, 67, shared paintings of his dog Barney and a stray cat that he adopted and named Bob said painting has changed his life.

George W. Bush presented Jay Leno with a portrait of the comedian
George W. Bush presented Jay Leno with a portrait of the comedian

He presented Jay Leno with a portrait of the comedian, prompting him to say: “I can’t make fun of him now.”

When asked what caused a blocked artery that led to his hospitalization in August, George W. Bush joked that it was because he “didn’t behave that well when I was younger and I might have smoked some”.

George W. Bush has kept a mostly low profile since exiting office in early 2009 while the country was in two wars and struggling with an economic crisis.

“It’s hard for some to believe, but I think eight years in the spotlight’s enough,” he said.

Former First Lady Laura Bush also appeared on Jay Leno’s show to discuss the couple’s charitable causes. They also showed the strand of pearls George W. Bush gave her for their 36th wedding anniversary and a video clip of their first grandchild, nicknamed Mila.

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IKEA France directors investigated over snooping allegations

Clyde K. Valle
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IKEA France directors investigated over snooping allegations

IKEA France directors are being investigated by French prosecutors over allegations that they snooped on employees and customers.

Chief executive Stefan Vanoverbeke, his predecessor Jean-Louis Baillo, and chief financial officer Dariusz Rychert were arrested on Monday.

They are accused of trying to obtain information on employees and customers from police files.

Similar legal action has been taken against at least two police officers.

The IKEA bosses face accusations of “complicity to collect personal data” and “complicity to violate professional secrecy”.

The move comes after police searched the company’s premises earlier this month.

The scandal first came to light last year after an IKEA insider leaked emails between the company and a security company to the satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchaine.

IKEA France directors are being investigated by French prosecutors over allegations that they snooped on employees and customers
IKEA France directors are being investigated by French prosecutors over allegations that they snooped on employees and customers

The emails suggested that the firm was seeking access to records about its staff and customers from a police database holding millions of names and the personal information of criminals, victims and even witnesses.

Two unions have filed complaints against IKEA, accusing them of spying on hundreds of employees and customers over a period of five years.

Since January, 10 people have been placed under formal investigation including four police officers and the company’s former head of security.

Stefan Vanoverbek’s lawyer, Alexis Gulbin, said his “client totally disputes his involvement in this matter”.

“He’s calmly awaiting the next steps in the process. He was the one who took corrective measures as soon as the problems were discovered,” said Alexis Gulbin.

Last year IKEA France suspended and later fired its head of risk management and three of its senior directors.

Since then the company has also put in place a new code of conduct.

A spokeswoman for IKEA France said the firm was aware of the latest developments and would continue to assist the authorities.

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FCV: Toyota to start commercial sales of fuel cell-powered cars by 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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FCV: Toyota to start commercial sales of fuel cell-powered cars by 2015

Toyota has announced it is looking to start commercial sales of fuel cell-powered cars by 2015.

The Japanese carmaker set the target as it unveiled a concept fuel cell powered car, called the FCV, at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Its cells can be recharged within minutes and it can cover about 300 miles on a single charge, according to the firm.

Earlier this week, rival Hyundai said it plans to start mass production of such cars as early as next year.

The South Korean company has announced plans to start commercial sales of a fuel cell-powered version of its sports utility vehicle, the Tucson, in the US market.

Toyota is looking to start commercial sales of fuel cell-powered cars by 2015
Toyota is looking to start commercial sales of fuel cell-powered cars by 2015

Honda Motor is also expected to unveil its latest concept version of a fuel cell-powered vehicle later this week.

Many carmakers have been looking to develop the fuel cell technology further and bring it to mass production.

One of the main reasons is that it is emission-free.

The technology uses hydrogen to generate electricity to power the engine and the waste products are heat and harmless water.

At the same time, fuel cells charge much faster and travel a longer distance after being charged, compared with battery-operated electric cars.

However, there are concerns over the demand for such vehicles, not least because there are not enough hydrogen filling stations.

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Wendi Deng and Rupert Murdoch reach amicable divorce settlement

Lisa.Felice
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Wendi Deng and Rupert Murdoch reach amicable divorce settlement

Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng have reached an “amicable” divorce settlement to end their 14-year marriage.

The News Corp boss and his estranged wife told a New York court they would move forward with “mutual respect” and a shared interest in their daughters’ welfare.

The details of the settlement have not been disclosed publicly.

Rupert Murdoch, 82, filed for divorce from Wendi Deng in June saying his marriage had “irretrievably broken down”.

Wendi Deng and Rupert Murdoch have a pre-nuptial agreement and are holding shares in trust for their children.

Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng have reached an "amicable" divorce settlement to end their 14-year marriage
Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng have reached an “amicable” divorce settlement to end their 14-year marriage

They have two school-age daughters together, Grace and Chloe.

Wendi Deng, 44, is 38 years younger than the Australian-born media mogul, who is said by Forbes to be worth $9.4 billion.

Rupert Murdoch met his Chinese-born wife in 1997 at a cocktail party in Hong Kong. They were married two years later, weeks after his second divorce.

His global media portfolio includes the Wall Street Journal, Times Newspaper Ltd, as well as television channels such as Fox News and Sky, and the 20th Century Fox movie studio.

Rupert Murdoch filed for divorce just days before News Corp was split into two companies, one for its entertainment assets and the other for its publishing business. He is chairman of both firms.

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Porter Ridge: Bear Fair and Car Crush Party

Sonia Pantiss
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Porter Ridge: Bear Fair and Car Crush Party

Discovery’ Porter Ridge presented two new episodes last night, November 19.

Porter Ridge Bear Fair

When Kayla Wood was forced to quit Country Auto, Jeff The Bear Man decided to throw a big fundraising event over at Bear Country.

When Kayla Wood was forced to quit Country Auto, Jeff The Bear Man decided to throw a big fundraising event over at Bear Country
When Kayla Wood was forced to quit Country Auto, Jeff The Bear Man decided to throw a big fundraising event over at Bear Country

Car Crush Party

Terry Porter has a chance to buy his dream car, a legendary ’72 Cutlass.

In an attempt to raise some quick cash Terry Porter gets a car crusher to agree to come that day, only if he can provide fifty cars to crush.

Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise captain and other two activists released on bail by Russian court

Diane A. Wade
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Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise captain and other two activists released on bail by Russian court

The detained captain of Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and other two British activists have been granted bail by a court in northern Russia.

Peter Willcox previously captained Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior ship when it was blown up by French agents in harbor in New Zealand in 1985.

Britons Alex Harris and Kieron Bryan were also bailed along with Dutch national Faiza Oulahsen.

Nine other foreign detainees and three Russians were granted bail earlier.

A third Briton, Anthony Perrett, is also hoping for a decision on Wednesday while three other British activists will have their bail hearings later this week.

Of the 13 detainees who appeared in court earlier this week all but one were given bail.

Peter Willcox, the captain the seized Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, has been granted bail by a court in northern Russia
Peter Willcox, the captain the seized Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, has been granted bail by a court in northern Russia

Australian activist Colin Russell, 59, who acted as the ship’s radio operator, was ordered to remain in pre-trial detention until February 24.

Greenpeace said it was “baffled” why he had been kept in custody for another three months while a spokesperson for Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said she was concerned about his case and monitoring it closely, the Canberra Times reports.

The detainees have been held on charges of hooliganism after taking part in a protest at an Arctic offshore oil rig operated by the Russian company Gazprom.

If found guilty they face up to seven years in prison.

Kieron Bryan was on the ship as a freelance journalist and videographer.

Alex Harris, 27, acted as communications officer on the ship.

In a letter from prison to a fellow Greenpeace activist in October, quoted by the Torquay Herald Express, the activist wrote: “I dream of the outside world a lot. When I wake I’m sleeping with steel bars digging into my back, facing the same four green walls I’ve faced for 25 days. That’s the hardest time of the day.

“Despite everything that has happened I don’t hate Russia, I just want to go home.”

The Dutch foreign ministry says the bail ruling for Faiza Oulahsen was a positive development.

Nine people bailed on Tuesday were named as: Miguel Orsi (Argentina), Camila Speziale (Argentina), Ana Paula Maciel (Brazil), Paul Ruzycki (Canada), Sini Saarela (Finland), Francesco Pisanu (France), Cristian D’Alessandro (Italy), David Haussman (New Zealand) and Tomasz Dziemianczuk (Poland).

On Monday, Russian national Yekaterina Zaspa, who served as medical crew on the ship, was bailed along with photographer Denis Sinyakov and activist Andrey Allakhverdov.

Bail of 2 million roubles ($61,000) was stipulated for each detainee.

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Joseph Paul Franklin executed in Missouri

Nancy Clayson
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Joseph Paul Franklin executed in Missouri

White supremacist serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin, who targeted black and Jewish people in a nationwide killing spree, has been put to death in Missouri.

Joseph Paul Franklin, 63, was executed for shooting dead a man and wounding two others outside a synagogue in 1977.

He was convicted of seven other racially motivated murders. He claimed to have committed 20 in total.

Joseph Paul Franklin’s execution came after the Supreme Court upheld an appeal court’s decision to lift a stay of execution.

In 1978, Joseph Paul Franklin shot Larry Flynt, leaving him partially paralyzed, after seeing a picture of a mixed-race couple in one of his magazines.

However, Larry Flynt – who opposes the death penalty – had sued to prevent Joseph Paul Franklin’s execution.

In a recent interview with the St Louis Post-Dispatch, Joseph Paul Franklin said he had renounced his racist views.

Joseph Paul Franklin was executed for shooting dead a man and wounding two others outside a synagogue in 1977
Joseph Paul Franklin was executed for shooting dead a man and wounding two others outside a synagogue in 1977

He said his motivation had been “illogical” and was partly a consequence of an abusive upbringing.

Joseph Paul Franklin said he had interacted with black people in jail, adding: “I saw they were people just like us.”

His lawyers’ appeal focused on a dispute over the type of lethal injections that Missouri uses in its executions.

US and EU manufacturers have been cutting off the supply of drugs used for lethal injections in recent years in an attempt to distance themselves from executions.

As a result, Missouri, which long used a lethal three-drug cocktail for executions, has changed the drugs it uses three times in as many months.

The single drug used in the execution of Joseph Paul Franklin was pentobarbital, a short-acting barbiturate that can induce death in high doses.

On Tuesday, Joseph Paul Franklin’s lawyers won a stay of execution when they argued in federal court that using this drug would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

However, early on Wednesday, a federal appeals court overturned the stay of execution. Its ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court, sealing Joseph Paul Franklin’s fate.

An anti-capital punishment group, Supporters of Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, attended a candlelight vigil for Joseph Paul Franklin outside a church in the city of St Louis.

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Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric in Venus in Fur’s first trailer

Sonia Pantiss
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Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric in Venus in Fur’s first trailer

Roman Polanski’s latest film, Venus in Fur, opened in France this month, with a likely 2014 release coming from Sundance Selects.

Venus in Fur (La Venus a la Fourrure) -a second stage-to-screen adaptation – premiered at the Cannes Film Festival a few months ago.

Venus in Fur premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013
Venus in Fur premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013

Taking over the roles made famous by Hugh Dancy and Nina Arianda (the latter winning a Tony for best actress), Roman Polanski brought on his wife, Emmanuelle Seigner, and her own Diving Bell and the Butterfly co-star, Mathieu Amalric.

Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric play a duo thrown into a game of cat and mouse centered on a young actress determined to book the lead role in a new play.

Venus in Fur’s first French trailer (without subtitles) and the first poster are now available.

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Malala Yousafzai receives Sakharov human rights prize at Strasbourg ceremony

Diane A. Wade
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Malala Yousafzai receives Sakharov human rights prize at Strasbourg ceremony

Malala Yousafzai has received the EU’s Sakharov human rights prize at a ceremony in Strasbourg.

In a speech, the Pakistani schoolgirl and campaigner, who was shot in the head by the Taliban, dedicated the award to “the unsung heroes of Pakistan” and to human rights campaigners worldwide.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz presented the award.

Malala Yousafzai, 16, was shot a year ago after campaigning for better rights for girls in Pakistan.

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

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

“I am hopeful the European Parliament will look beyond Europe to the suffering countries where people are still deprived of their basic rights, their freedom of thought is suppressed, freedom of speech is enchained,” Malala Yousafzai said.

Malala Yousafzai has received the EU's Sakharov human rights prize at a ceremony in Strasbourg
Malala Yousafzai has received the EU’s Sakharov human rights prize at a ceremony in Strasbourg

“Many children have no food to eat, no water to drink and children are starving for education. It is alarming that 57 million children are deprived of education… this must shake our conscience.”

Malala Yousafzai began her speech with a famous quote often attributed to the 18th Century French philosopher Voltaire: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

She said children in countries such as Pakistan “do not want an iPhone, a PlayStation or chocolates, they just want a book and a pen”.

MEPs gave her a standing ovation.

More than 20 former laureates attended the ceremony, a parliament spokesman said. Malala Yousafzai is the 25th laureate.

Martin Schulz called her “a global icon” and told her “you have given hope to millions of children”.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that your dream becomes a reality,” he said, referring to her ambition to spread free education to boys and girls everywhere.

Martin Schulz also praised her father for “not locking her away, and giving her freedom”.

Mala Yousafzai joins a distinguished list of winners of the Sakharov Prize that includes Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi.

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Si Robertson meets fans at Sam’s Club in Las Vegas for book signing session

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson meets fans at Sam’s Club in Las Vegas for book signing session

Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson met 600 of his loyal fans at Sam’s Club in Las Vegas for a book signing session.

Si Robertson met 600 of his loyal fans at Sam’s Club in Las Vegas for a book signing session
Si Robertson met 600 of his loyal fans at Sam’s Club in Las Vegas for a book signing session

Si Robertson, 65, came to Las Vegas last week to autograph copies of his New York Times bestselling book Si-cology 1: Tales and Wisdom From Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle.

Duck The Halls becomes biggest debut country holiday album in last decade

Sonia Pantiss
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Duck The Halls becomes biggest debut country holiday album in last decade

Duck Dynasty’s recently released Christmas album, Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, featuring several top country stars, is reaching No 1 in Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

Duck The Halls debuted on October 29 and sold nearly 70,000 albums in its first week.

Now, three weeks in, it is the biggest debut country holiday album in the last decade, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Phil, Si, Willie, Jase, Korie, Missy, Sadie and the rest of the Robertson family show off their singing talents in the CD, include a few classics such as I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Silent Night as well as originals like Have a Hairy Christmas and a Happy Happy Happy New Year and Ragin’ Cajun Redneck Christmas, which Willie wrote with Dallas Davidson.

Although none of them had vocal experience except for Missy Robertson, Willie said they weren’t concerned.

“We’ve all sung in church our whole lives,” the Duck Commander CEO said, “and we do lots of karaoke.”   

“There are funny parts, serious parts, a little prayer, some of our antics,” he said.

“It’s got us all over it.” 

The Robertson family has invited special guests George Strait, Alison Krauss, Luke Bryan and Josh Turner to join them on the 13-track album, which was produced by Buddy Cannon.

Duck The Halls debuted on October 29 and sold nearly 70,000 albums in its first week
Duck The Halls debuted on October 29 and sold nearly 70,000 albums in its first week

Duck The Halls is available for purchase on Target, Barnes & Noble and Christianbook.com.

The Duck Dynasty Christmas Special will air on A&E December 11, at 9/10 C.

Duck The Halls song list: 

1. Ragin’ Cajun Redneck Christmas (Willie Robertson) Written by Willie Robertson and Dallas Davidson

2. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Missy Robertson) Written by Walter Kent, Kim Gannon and Buck Ram

3. You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Si Robertson) Words by Theodor S. Geisel and Music by Albert Hague

4. Christmas Cookies (Phil Robertson and George Strait with Miss Kay) Written by Aaron Barker

5. Away In A Manger (Sadie Robertson with Alison Krauss, Luke 2: 8-14 Scripture Reading by Mia) Arranged by Buddy Cannon, Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, Korie Robertson and Missy Robertson

6. Hairy Christmas (Willie Robertson and Luke Bryan with Phil, Uncle Si, Jase, Jep) Written by Chancie Neal, Jimmy Melton and Michael Mobley

7. Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Missy and Jase Robertson) Written by Frank Loesser

8. Duck The Halls (Robertson Family) Arranged by Buddy Cannon, Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, Korie Robertson and Missy Robertson

9. Camouflage And Christmas Lights (Reed Robertson) Written by Michael Logen and Andrew Dorff

10. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Sadie Robertson and Robertson kids with Uncle Si) Written by Johnny Marks

11. Night Before Christmas (Si Robertson) Written by Willie Robertson

12. Why I Love Christmas (Missy Robertson with Josh Turner) Written by Josh Turner

13. Silent Night (Robertson family) Arranged by Buddy Cannon, Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, Korie Robertson and Missy Robertson

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Egypt: At least 10 soldiers killed in Sinai car bomb attack

Roy Siemens
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Egypt: At least 10 soldiers killed in Sinai car bomb attack

At least ten Egyptian soldiers are reported killed and dozens more wounded in a car bomb attack near the North Sinai city of el-Arish.

Al-Masri al-Youm newspaper said a convoy of buses carrying infantry soldiers was hit by a roadside bomb as it moved through the Kharouba area.

The death toll was likely to rise, a security source said.

Attacks on security forces in the Sinai have increased since Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was ousted in July.

No group has admitted carrying out Wednesday’s bombing, but the peninsula has grown increasingly unstable in recent years, triggered by the fall of President Hosni Mubarak.

His overthrow in February 2011 left the northern Sinai prone to groups of jihadists, some with links to the Gaza Strip.

Ten Egyptian soldiers are reported killed and dozens more wounded in a car bomb attack near the North Sinai city of el-Arish
Ten Egyptian soldiers are reported killed and dozens more wounded in a car bomb attack near the North Sinai city of el-Arish

In September security forces launched an offensive against Islamist militants in the Sinai, but have suffered a spate of deadly bombings. In recent months some 100 members of the security forces have been killed.

Wednesday’s attack, which took place at around 07:45 local time on the road from Rafah to el-Arish, is thought to be the bloodiest against the military since Mohamed Morsi was deposed.

Among the 10 who died were six soldiers, three security officers and the driver, the military said.

Another 35 soldiers were wounded in the explosion which was said to have hit one of the two buses in the convoy.

The attack is reported to have targeted Egypt’s Second Field Army, which has been deployed in Sinai and has been involved in an operation to destroy tunnels along Egypt’s border with Gaza.

The soldiers were on their way back to Cairo on leave, reports said. Some of the most seriously wounded victims were being airlifted to hospital in the capital.

Barack Obama urges senators to hold off more sanctions against Iran

Roy Siemens
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Barack Obama urges senators to hold off more sanctions against Iran

President Barack Obama has urged senators to hold off from proposing more sanctions against Iran to allow time for world powers to complete a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme.

A White House spokesman warned that if a deal with Tehran was not agreed, Iran would continue enriching uranium.

Envoys from the P5+1 group of nations will begin a new round of negotiations with Iran in Geneva on Wednesday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javid Zarif said he believed issues could be resolved.

In a message on the video-sharing site YouTube, Javid Zarif said: “We expect and demand respect for our dignity. For us Iranians, nuclear energy is not about joining a club or threatening others. Nuclear energy is about a leap, a jump toward deciding our own destiny rather than allowing others to decide for us.”

Barack Obama has urged senators to hold off from proposing more sanctions against Iran
Barack Obama has urged senators to hold off from proposing more sanctions against Iran

Barack Obama held two hours of talks with senators at the White House on Tuesday, along with Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Adviser Susan Rice.

In recent days some legislators have expressed concern that the White House is moving too fast and should take a harder line with Tehran.

“We have the opportunity to halt the progress of the Iranian programme and roll it back in key respects, while testing whether a comprehensive resolution can be achieved,” the White House said in a statement.

It said that if there was not an initial agreement, Iran would grow its stockpiles of enriched uranium, install new centrifuges and develop a plutonium reactor in the city of Arak.

Press secretary Jay Carney said President Obama had told the senators new sanctions would be most effective as a consequence if Iran refused to accept the deal now on the table or agreed and then failed to comply.

The president also rejected reports that Iran would receive at least $40 billion in sanctions relief.

Since 2006 the UN Security Council has imposed a series of sanctions on entities and people involved in Iran’s nuclear programme.

Separate US and EU sanctions have targeted Iran’s energy and banking sectors, crippling its oil-based economy.

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Si and Jase Robertson feature State Farm Turkey Fryer Safety video

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Si and Jase Robertson feature State Farm Turkey Fryer Safety video

Duck Dynasty’s Si and Jase Robertson have teamed up with insurer State Farm to reinforce the importance of turkey fryer and cooking safety this holiday season with a brand-new video titled Hang on a Minute with Jase and Si Robertson.

The video captures the importance of turkey frying safety in a humorous yet educational way by cautioning viewers to “hang on a minute and think before you fry”. Regardless if the person frying the bird is experienced or a novice, everyone should take appropriate safety precautions prior to frying.

Si and Jase Robertson have teamed up with insurer State Farm to reinforce the importance of turkey fryer and cooking safety this holiday season
Si and Jase Robertson have teamed up with insurer State Farm to reinforce the importance of turkey fryer and cooking safety this holiday season

Jase Robertson and Uncle Si have been frying turkey for years without incident because they recognize the dangers and take the proper safety measures to reduce their risk of a fire.

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. Based on data from State Farm, more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. The good news is that State Farm cooking fire claims on Thanksgiving Day have been reduced from 66 claims in 2010 to 29 claims in 2012, the lowest number of claims in a decade.

While the reduction is significant, the fact remains there are still injuries and damage to property as a result of turkey frying or cooking fires each year.

November is the number one month for grease and cooking related fire and December is the second highest month.

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