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Typhoon Haiyan kills more than 120 people in Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Haiyan kills more than 120 people in Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan has killed more than 120 people in the Philippines, after it passed through the country on Friday.

Aviation officials said 100 bodies were lying in the streets of the city of Tacloban. Local journalists reported 20 bodies in a church in a nearby town.

The massive storm destroyed buildings and triggered landslides. The military has begun relief efforts.

Video from the city showed it engulfed by water when the typhoon struck.

It was one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall.

Aid agencies are struggling to reach Tacloban, as its airport has been badly damaged but military flights are able to operate.

Communications to some of the worst-hit areas were cut off when the storm hit and it may be days before the final death toll is known.

So far, only four people have been confirmed dead and another four are missing.

“We have reports of collapsed buildings, houses flattened to the ground, storm surges and landslides,” Philippine Red Cross chief Gwendolyn Pang told AFP news agency.

Typhoon Haiyan has killed more than 120 people in the Philippines
Typhoon Haiyan has killed more than 120 people in the Philippines

“But we don’t know really, we can’t say how bad the damage is… hopefully today we can get a better picture as to the effects of the super typhoon.”

Typhoon Haiyan made landfall on the Philippines shortly before dawn on Friday, bringing gusts that reached 235 mph, with waves as high as 45ft, bringing up to 15.75 inches of rain in places.

Meteorologists had earlier warned that the storm could be as devastating as Typhoon Bopha in 2012, which ravaged parts of the southern Philippines and left at least 1,000 people dead.

Schools and offices were closed, while ferry services and local flights were suspended. Hospitals and soldiers were on stand-by for rescue and relief operations.

Power and communication lines were also cut to some areas.

Typhoon Haiyan raged across Leyte and Samar, turning roads into rivers, and battered Cebu city, the country’s second largest with a population of 2.5 million.

The eye of the storm – known locally as Yolanda – passed well to the south of the capital Manila, but the city still felt its force.

In the typhoon’s path were areas already struggling to recover from a deadly 7.3-magnitude earthquake last month, including the worst-hit island of Bohol where about 5,000 people are still living in tents.

The head of the EU’s delegation to the Philippines, Guy Ledoux, had earlier told local media that the EU was sending a humanitarian aid team.

Officials had said more than 12 million people were at risk.

Typhoon Haiyan is now heading for Vietnam, and is expected to make landfall on Sunday.

Vietnamese authorities have begun the mass evacuation of more than 100,000 people.

State media in Vietnam report that schools are being closed and people living in low lying coastal areas are being moved to temporary typhoon shelters on higher ground. Shipping has also been ordered back to port.

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UNESCO suspends US voting rights

Diane A. Wade
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UNESCO suspends US voting rights

UNESCO has suspended US voting rights after Washington skipped a deadline for paying its dues.

The US stopped its contributions – which made up about a fifth of the agency’s funding- when UNESCO gave the Palestinians membership in 2011.

Israel, which halted its dues at the same time, has also had its UNESCO voting rights suspended.

The US and Israel said admitting the Palestinians was a misguided attempt to bypass the Middle East peace process.

UNESCO’s loss of $80 million a year in US funding has forced it to pare back American-led initiatives, including Holocaust education and a project to restore water facilities in Iraq.

Paris-based UNESCO is charged with designating World Heritage sites, promoting education and supporting press freedom, as well as countering extremism.

UNESCO has suspended US voting rights after Washington skipped a deadline for paying its dues
UNESCO has suspended US voting rights after Washington skipped a deadline for paying its dues

The American ambassador to UNESCO, David Killion, told Reuters news agency: “We intend to continue our engagement with UNESCO in every possible way.”

The US, however, has said it cannot legally contribute to a UN agency that implies recognition of a Palestinian state.

Israel’s ambassador to UNESCO, Nimrod Barkan, told the Associated Press news agency that his country supported the US decision, “objecting to the politicization of UNESCO, or any international organization, with the accession of a non-existing country like Palestine”.

The Palestinian ambassador to UNESCO, Elias Sanbar, said other countries were beginning to make up for the funding vacuum left by the US.

But he added: “Is this in the interest of the US, to be replaced?”

The US suspension comes amid attempts by Washington to broker peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The talks have hit a stumbling block in the last week over the continued Israeli expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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LSU Tigers reveal Duck Dynasty helmet

Sonia Pantiss
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LSU Tigers reveal Duck Dynasty helmet

Louisiana State University Tigers put together a helmet in honor of the popular A&E reality show Duck Dynasty.

ESPN reporter Kaylee Hartung got a glimpse of Duck Dynasty-inspired helmet during an all-access tour of LSU on Tuesday.

LSU Tigers put together a helmet in honor of Duck Dynasty
LSU Tigers put together a helmet in honor of Duck Dynasty

While it’s one of the most unique helmets this season, don’t expect to see the Tigers sporting them against No. 1 Alabama on Saturday or any time soon.

Regardless, the Duck Dynasty crew is happy to be getting some love from LSU.

Phil Robertson celebrates 1 millionth duck call of the year

Sonia Pantiss
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Phil Robertson celebrates 1 millionth duck call of the year

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson assembled the Duck Commander’s 1 millionth call of the year at the company’s retail store on Kings Lane in West Monroe.

Phil Robertson put the call — fittingly his wooden Classic Commander with cedar insert and poplar barrel — and blew a few mallard notes.

“Not bad for the 1 millionth duck call,” said the Duck Commander, who said it was his first time in the store.

The Robertson family, whose Duck Commander business has exploded following their Duck Dynasty fame, is auctioning off the duck call with proceeds to benefit the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Association for its Wounded Warrior hunts.

“This has been the best thing to ever happen to the Warrior hunt,” said veteran John Nolan, who coordinates the hunts in northeastern Louisiana, including an upcoming event with 24 disabled veterans.

“For the (men and women) who have sacrificed with their lives and limbs … the least I can do is try to help out,” Phil Robinson said.

More than 100 fans, among them a tour busload from Oklahoma, packed the Duck Commander store to cheer the milestone, a far cry from the reaction Phil Robertson received when he presented his first duck call to his family in the early 1970s.

The Duck Dynasty patriarch said he walked into the house and presented the duck call to his parents, his wife Miss Kay and the couple’s two young sons Al and Jase as they were playing dominoes.

“I walked in and said we’re going to sell a million dollars worth of these before it’s over,” Phil Robertson recalled.

Phil Robertson assembled the Duck Commander’s 1 millionth call of the year at the company’s retail store
Phil Robertson assembled the Duck Commander’s 1 millionth call of the year at the company’s retail store

He said the family never looked up and continued the domino game.

“They said nothing,” Phil Robertson said.

“Little did I know 40 years later I would be erroneous,” he said.

Instead of $1 million worth of calls, “we literally sold 1 million in just a year.”

The Robertsons aren’t revealing annual revenue generated by the company, but consider that Duck Commander calls sell from a low of $19.95 to a high of $179.95 for the Cold Blooded series calls made of acrylic that look like snakeskin. Phil’s Classic Commander goes for $44.95.

“It’s a momentous occasion,” Al Robertson said while introducing his father to the crowd.

“Who’d have thought from one duck call this empire would emerge?”

Duck Commander call sales have surged from 60,000 in 2011 to 1 million and counting this year. Robertson said he sold 2,000 his first year.

Phil Robertson, with his Classic Commander in one hand and the Bible, credited God for his and the family’s success.

“I’m a C-plus man, so I can’t attribute it to intellect,” he said.

“God has poured out his blessing toward us.”

He recounted his story of redemption to fans Thursday.

“I repented at 28 and turned to God,” said Phil Robertson, who often uses the stage of fame to profess his Christian faith.

“There’s no down side to loving God and loving your neighbor.”

But even with that faith Phil Robertson said he could have never predicted the company’s current success.

“I didn’t think it possible,” he said.

“But I’m still the same dude. The only difference is I’ve sold a million duck calls.”

Lover Spy: Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara makes FBI most wanted list

Nancy Clayson
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Lover Spy: Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara makes FBI most wanted list

Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara, who allegedly created malware purporting to catch out cheating lovers, has made it on to the FBI’s “most wanted” list of cybercriminals.

The FBI says Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara ran a website offering customers a way to “catch a cheating lover” by sending spyware masquerading as a greeting card.

Opening the card downloaded the malware on to the recipient’s computer and recorded keystrokes and messages.

The “Lover Spy” program cost $89.

Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara was indicted in July 2005 but has avoided capture ever since, only now making it on to the FBI’s most wanted list.

He ran the operation from his San Diego home in 2003, the FBI says, while he was in the US on a student travel visa.

Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara allegedly created malware purporting to catch out cheating lovers
Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara allegedly created malware purporting to catch out cheating lovers

The charges against Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara, 33, included making, sending and advertising an interception device, and unlawfully intercepting electronic communications.

The indictment said Lover Spy was designed “with stealth in mind, claiming that it would be impossible to detect by 99.9% of users”.

But Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara has avoided the authorities ever since and his last known location was San Salvador, the FBI said.

The agency appears to have added the hacker to its list partly out of frustration at his elusiveness.

“These are sophisticated folks who know how to hide themselves on the internet,” said John Brown, who oversees the FBI’s cyber-division.

The agency has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

According to the 2005 indictment, Carlos Enrique Perez-Melara sold the malware to 1,000 customers, who then used it to infect the computers of about 2,000 victims.

Victims took the bait about half the time, the government said.

People who bought the spyware were charged with illegally intercepting electronic communications.

Patrick Stewart explains story behind Halloween lobster costume

Lisa.Felice
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Patrick Stewart explains story behind Halloween lobster costume

Patrick Stewart shared the story behind his Halloween lobster costume on The Daily Show.

Patrick Stewart, 73, has become something of a social media sensation of late – especially when it comes to posting wacky things on his Twitter account.

The veteran actor caused a stir when he shared a picture of himself dressed as a lobster to wish his followers a happy Halloween.

Patrick Stewart has become something of a social media sensation with his Halloween lobster costume
Patrick Stewart has become something of a social media sensation with his Halloween lobster costume

Patrick Stewart opened with a poignant line about the Rob Ford and Rand Paul scandals that knocked Jon Stewart back. Jon Stewart quickly turned the conversation away from world politics because he wanted to know everything about the lobster costume.

Patrick Stewart’s Halloween getup has a sweet story behind it, but it still managed to earn him some blowback from the hardcore crustacean fanboy community on Twitter.

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Bonnie Disick dies following long illness

Lisa.Felice
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Bonnie Disick dies following long illness

Scott Disick’s mother, Bonnie Disick, died at the age of 63.

Bonnie Disick died Monday, October 28, following a long illness, sources confirm to Us Weekly.

A source told the magazine that Scott  Disick, 30, flew from Los Angeles to New York with longtime girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian, 34, to attend the wake on October 30.

Bonnie Disick died Monday, October 28, following a long illness
Bonnie Disick died Monday, October 28, following a long illness

Scott Disick grew up as an only child in Eastport, Long Island, New York, with parents Bonnie and Jeff Disick.

During his mother’s final days, Scott Disick was noticeably absent at several Kardashian-Jenner family gatherings, including Kanye West’s over-the-top October 21 proposal to Kim Kardashian at San Francisco’s AT&T Stadium.

Scott Disick was also missing from a recent family trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, to celebrate Kendall Jenner’s 18th birthday on October 29. The Kardashians rented out the entire park to celebrate Kendall Jenner’s special day.

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Spain frees nine Eta militants

Roy Siemens
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Spain frees nine Eta militants

Spain’s top criminal court has ordered the release of nine jailed militants from the ETA Basque separatist group.

The Audiencia Nacional’s decision follows a European court ruling which overturned Spain’s extension of Eta prisoners’ sentences.

Last month there was bitterness among relatives of ETA victims when Eta member Ines del Rio was released.

A violent 40-year campaign by ETA killed more than 800 people. The group declared a ceasefire in 2011.

Spain and some of its Western allies, including France and the UK, consider Eta a “terrorist” organization.

On October 21, the European Court of Human Rights upheld its 2012 ruling against Spain which opposed a legal practice known as the “Parot doctrine” – that allowed prison terms to be extended for people convicted of terrorist offences.

Spain's top criminal court has ordered the release of nine jailed militants from the ETA Basque separatist group
Spain’s top criminal court has ordered the release of nine jailed militants from the ETA Basque separatist group

The next day, Spain released Ines del Rio, who was serving a 30-year prison sentence for her role in bomb attacks in the 1980s.

The court decision on Friday was narrowly in favor of releasing nine prisoners and keeping two others behind bars. Nine judges were in favor, and eight were against.

The nine militants to be freed include Domingo Troitino, jailed for a 1987 attack on a supermarket in Barcelona which killed 21 people.

Domingo Troitino is the brother of Antonio Troitino, who was released from custody in London last month in line with the European court ruling.

The other eight are: Jokin Mirena Sancho, Isidro Maria Garalde, Jose Ignacio Urdiain, Jon Koldo Aginagalde, Joseba Koldobika, Elias Fernandez Castanares, Juan Francisco Gomez Lopez and Luis Maria Azkargorta.

A Spanish ruling in March 2006 meant that the most serious criminals in Spain could not qualify for early release.

But the European Court in Strasbourg said the ruling must not apply retroactively and so, it argued, dozens of Eta prisoners and other criminals convicted before that date should be released.

The Strasbourg ruling has been condemned by organizations in Spain representing the victims of Eta bombings and murders.

US economy added 204,000 jobs in October 2013

Clyde K. Valle
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US economy added 204,000 jobs in October 2013

According to the latest figures from the Labor Department, the US economy added a better-than-expected 204,000 jobs in October.

There had been fears that the 16-day shutdown of government services last month could have hit jobs growth.

The monthly non-farm payroll figure is taken as a key indicator of the health of the world’s biggest economy.

However, the latest figures also showed that the unemployment rate edged up to 7.3% from 7.2% in September.

The Labor Department said that this was likely to be because many federal workers were counted as unemployed during the shutdown.

The report also said that employers added 60,000 more jobs in September and August than earlier estimates had suggested.

The US economy added a better-than-expected 204,000 jobs in October 2013
The US economy added a better-than-expected 204,000 jobs in October 2013

The latest figures add to a positive week for US economic data.

On Thursday, it was announced that the US economy grew at a better-than-expected annual pace of 2.8% in the third quarter.

Investors are watching closely the health of the US economy, with signs of growing strength likely to raise expectations that the US Federal Reserve will begin to scale back its massive economic stimulus programme.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at the researchers Markit, said that the jobs figure had “defied” expectations of a slump in jobs creation due to the shutdown.

“Analysts were expecting a mere 125,000 rise,” he said.

“The data will add to the view that the Federal Reserve is gearing towards a tapering of its asset purchases, but policymakers will most likely wait for clearer signs that the economy is capable of growing at a faster rate than seen in recent months, hoping to see a pace of economic growth that will eat into unemployment.”

In Thursday’s GDP figure, the Commerce Department said that growth had been lifted by rising exports and a pick-up in construction of homes.

However, it also said that the pace of growth in consumer spending – which accounts for about two-thirds of US economic activity – had slowed from the previous quarter.

Chris Williamson said: “The jobs report follows yesterday’s GDP numbers, and together the data suggest that the US economy continues to expand at a reasonable pace, but that the underlying rate of expansion has cooled since earlier in the year, when policymakers began talking in earnest about scaling back monetary stimulus.”

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$1 million Bitcoin theft from Australian website

Nancy Clayson
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$1 million Bitcoin theft from Australian website

An Australian man who ran an online “wallet service” for storing Bitcoins has claimed hackers stole virtual currency from his site worth more than one million Australian dollars.

The Australian man said 4,100 Bitcoins (US$1.04 million) were taken in two separate attacks.

He said he would not report the theft to police as Bitcoin transactions are virtually impossible to trace.

This has led some users to speculate whether it was an “inside job”.

An Australian man claimed hackers stole Bitcoin from his site worth more than one million dollars
An Australian man claimed hackers stole Bitcoin from his site worth more than one million dollars

In a radio interview with ABC News the man, who only used his online name TradeFortress, denied being involved.

The Bitcoin virtual currency is increasingly used to pay for things online.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the theft occurred on October 27 but users were only alerted this week via a message he posted on the wallet service’s website.

“I know this doesn’t mean much, but I’m sorry, and saying that I’m very sad that this has happened is an understatement.

“Please don’t store Bitcoins on an internet-connected device, regardless if it is your own or a service’s.”

Bitcoin is the most well known of a handful of virtual currencies. The currencies are developed through a computer process called “mining” and can be traded on exchanges or privately between users.

Johnny Depp cake baked for Cake International competition in Birmingham

Nancy Clayson
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Johnny Depp cake baked for Cake International competition in Birmingham

Lara Clarke, an amateur baker from Brownhills, West Midlands, UK, has baked an “almost life-sized” Johnny Depp cake for a competition.

Lara Clarke made the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired creation for the Cake International competition in Birmingham.

She said: “The judges are probably more used to seeing three-tier wedding cakes than giant Jack Sparrows.”

A competition spokesperson said entrants’ creativity was “surprising”.

Lara Clarke, who is entering the 5ft 5 in cake in the large decorative exhibit section of the competition, said she had only started baking two years ago.

“All I’d really made before was some bog-standard banana cake in home economics,” she said.

Lara Clarke made the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired creation for the Cake International competition in Birmingham
Lara Clarke made the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired creation for the Cake International competition in Birmingham

“The first time I baked a decorated cake was for my mother-in-law’s 25th wedding anniversary. I thought it was rubbish but everybody else seemed to like it.”

Since then, Lara Clarke has baked cakes for family and friends.

Previous efforts have included a 4ft Grinch cake, a motorbike and a cake replica of her mother-in-law.

Lara Clarke, who works for a bingo website, said she learned her skills from watching YouTube videos.

The Johnny Depp cake is the first time Lara Clarke has attempted anything on such a large scale.

“One of my friends was on the phone and said I should enter Cake International,” she said.

“At the time I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean. I was watching Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, and I thought he would make the perfect cake.

“He wears all these different fabrics, so he has lots of different textures to him.

“He’s just shy of life-size because I was worried we wouldn’t be able to get him out of the door.

“It took me 90 hours to make. We live with my fiancé’s parents and I think they will be pleased to get rid of it.

“When my father-in-law first saw him, he leapt about 10ft in the air thinking we had burglars.”

Lara Clarke has hired a minibus to take Johnny to the competition. The results will be known on Sunday.

She said: “The competition is like the Crufts of the baking world. People like Mary Berry will be there.”

A spokesperson for Cake International said: “There really is no limit to the talent and ingenuity of the competitors.”

Jonathan Martin endured harassment from Miami Dolphins teammates, says new attorney

Clyde K. Valle
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Jonathan Martin endured harassment from Miami Dolphins teammates, says new attorney

Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin endured harassment from teammates that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing, including a malicious physical attack and daily vulgar comments, his new attorney David Cornwell has said.

The allegations were made in a statement Thursday night by David Cornwell, hired this week as Jonathan Martin’s attorney.

“These facts are not in dispute,” David Cornwell said.

Jonathan Martin, upset by treatment he considered abusive, left the Dolphins last week. His agent then complained to the Dolphins, who suspended guard Richie Incognito.

The NFL is investigating whether Richie Incognito harassed or bullied Jonathan Martin, and whether their teammates and the organization mishandled the matter.

David Cornwell is a lawyer who has represented the NFL and several prominent players, including Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He was a candidate in 2009 to become executive director of the NFL Players Association, a job that went to DeMaurice Smith.

“For the entire season and a half that he was with the Dolphins, he attempted to befriend the same teammates who subjected him to the abuse with the hope that doing so would end the harassment,” the statement said.

“This is a textbook reaction of victims of bullying. Despite these efforts, the taunting continued. …

“Eventually, Jonathan made a difficult choice. Despite his love for football, Jonathan left the Dolphins. Jonathan looks forward to getting back to playing football. In the meantime, he will cooperate fully with the NFL investigation.”

Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin endured harassment from teammates that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing
Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin endured harassment from teammates that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing

The Dolphins and Richie Incognito’s agent didn’t respond to requests for comment on David Cornwell’s statement.

Some say Jonathan Martin, a Stanford graduate who went about his business quietly, handled the situation well. But pro football is a macho world, and some players believe Jonathan Martin should have responded more firmly.

“Is Incognito wrong? Absolutely. He’s 100 percent wrong,” New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle said.

 “No individual should have to go through that, especially in their workplace.

“But at the same time, Jonathan Martin is a 6-4, 320-pound man. I mean, at some point and time you need to stand your ground as an individual. Am I saying go attack, go fight him? No. I think we all understand we can stand our ground without anything being physical.”

David Cornwell disagreed.

“Jonathan Martin’s toughness is not at issue,” David Cornwell said.

“The issue is Jonathan’s treatment by his teammates.”

Dolphins players have robustly defended Richie Incognito, long considered among the NFL’s dirtiest players. He’s now a notorious national villain, but teammates praise his leadership and loyalty.

They’ve been less passionate in their support of Jonathan Martin, saying he and Incognito behaved like best friends.

Jonathan Martin is with his family in California to undergo counseling for emotional issues.

A senior partner in a New York law firm was appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to investigate possible misconduct and prepare a report.

The alleged bullying saga engulfing the Dolphins has shed a light on how damaging perceptions can be in the violent world of the NFL.

A Pittsburgh native, Jonathan Martin is the son of Harvard graduates and his great grandfather also graduated from the school in 1924. At Stanford, he protected Andrew Luck’s blind side, and also majored in the classics.

Taken in the second round of the 2012 draft, Jonathan Martin has what it takes physically to be an NFL player: size, skill, athleticism, intelligence. He won praise from the Dolphins for his diligent study of game and practice video.

But while he has been a starter since the first game of his rookie season, Jonathan Martin developed a reputation in the NFL for lacking toughness. That impression might have been reinforced by the way he handled his issues with Incognito, current and former teammates acknowledge.

“A lot of people might look at Jonathan Martin and think that he’s soft because he stepped away from the game, and say, <<Why don’t you just fight him?>>” said Seattle Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin, who played with Jonathan Martin at Stanford.

“Well, if you look at it with common sense and being logical, what options did Jonathan Martin have?

“He could fight Richie Incognito. He could go and tell on the players, which we know in the football locker room doesn’t go over too well. Or he could remove himself from the situation and let the proper channels take care of itself. And I think he made the intelligent, smart choice without putting himself or Richie Incognito’s physical abilities in danger.”

Richie Incognito’s harassment of Jonathan Martin included text messages that were racist and threatening, two people familiar with the situation have told The Associated Press. Richie Incognito is white, while Jonathan Martin is biracial.

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US government shutdown cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion

Clyde K. Valle
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US government shutdown cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion

The Obama administration revealed on Thursday that last month’s 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion for work that furloughed federal employees never got a chance to do.

At the peak of the furloughs, about 850,000 workers – 40% of the civilian federal workforce – were not at work, President Barack Obama’s budget chief Sylvia Mathews Burwell said, although that number dropped once Congress passed the Pay Our Military Act, and 400,000 workers returned to their jobs.

A report from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found that federal employees were furloughed for a combined total of 6.6 million work days.

“The cost of pay due to federal employees furloughed during the shutdown is roughly $2.0 billion; total compensation costs are about 30% larger [about $2.5 billion],” the report said.

On a conference call with reporters, Sylvia Mathews Burwell pushed back at one reporter who wondered whether the Obama administration was releasing the report because the effects of the shutdown were underappreciated since Americans had seen the economy keep running during the 16-day work hiatus.

The Obama administration revealed that last month’s 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion
The Obama administration revealed that last month’s 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion

“One thing that did come out of the shutdown is a greater appreciation” for services that the federal government provides, Sylvia Mathews Burwell said.

The OMB report cited specific disruptions to regulations and other federal operations. For example, it said, “banks and other lenders could not access government income and Social Security Number verification services. Two weeks into the shutdown, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had an inventory of 1.2 million verification requests that could not be processed, potentially delaying approval of mortgages and other loans.”

Since the shutdown ended three weeks ago it has been eclipsed by news coverage of the botched debut of the Affordable Care Act website. But taking note of the damage done to their party by the shutdown, some Republicans are eager to avert another interruption of funding which would trigger another government shutdown. The current spending bill ends its funding on January 15, 2014.

A House-Senate budget committee is now meeting to try to devise a budget plan for Fiscal Year 2014 which began on October 1.

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Star Wars Episode VII release date set for December 2015

Sonia Pantiss
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Star Wars Episode VII release date set for December 2015

Star Wars Episode VII release date will be December 18, 2015, the Walt Disney Company has announced.

Disney bought Lucasfilm, the company behind Star Wars, from creator George Lucas last year for $4 billion.

It has committed to making at least three new films in the series, one of the most successful franchises ever.

Disney announced the release date as it reported a better-than-expected 12% jump in net profit for the three months to 28 September.

It made a net profit of $1.39 billion during the quarter, up from $1.24 billion during the same period last year.

Star Wars Episode VII release date will be December 18, 2015
Star Wars Episode VII release date will be December 18, 2015

The company also reported that its net income for the financial year to September 28 jumped 8% from a year ago to $6.1 billion.

“We’re extremely pleased with our results for Fiscal 2013, delivering record revenue, net income and earnings per share for the third year in a row,” Robert Iger, chief executive of the firm, said in a statement.

Disney’s movie studio business saw a 7% jump in revenues during the fourth quarter.

Revenues rose to $1.5 billion during the period, helped mainly by the strong performance of Monsters University, which Disney said “partially offset” the weak showing of The Lone Ranger.

However, operating income at Disney’s cable network unit, which includes the ESPN sports channel, fell by 7% to $1.3 billion in the last quarter, which the firm said was due to the timing of some ESPN affiliate fee revenues.

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Standard and Poor’s downgrades France’s credit rating to AA

Clyde K. Valle
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Standard and Poor’s downgrades France’s credit rating to AA

S&P has cut France’s credit rating to AA from AA+.

The move comes almost two years after France lost its top-rated AAA status.

S&P said it downgraded France because high unemployment in the country was making it hard for the government to make important reforms which would boost growth.

S&P has cut France's credit rating to AA from AA+
S&P has cut France’s credit rating to AA from AA+

The French government responded by saying that its debt rating was one of the safest in the eurozone.

The country’s Finance Minister, Pierre Moscovici, said S&P had made “inaccurate criticisms” of his country.

Pierre Moscovici said in a statement: “During the last 18 months the government has implemented major reforms aimed at improving the French economic situation, restoring its public finances, and its competitiveness.”

In theory, a lower credit rating makes borrowing more expensive.

Typhoon Haiyan hits central Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Haiyan hits central Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan has hit the central Philippines with sustained winds of 146 mph.

Meteorologists say that if initial estimates based on satellite images are borne out, it could be the most powerful storm ever to make landfall.

The storm has forced millions in vulnerable areas to seek shelter across 20 provinces, officials say.

The region was already struggling to recover from a powerful earthquake last month.

The authorities have warned that more than 12 million people are at risk from the category-five storm, including in Cebu, the country’s second largest city with a population of 2.5 million.

The storm – known locally as Yolanda – was not expected to directly hit the capital Manila, further north.

Schools and offices closed, while ferry services and local flights were suspended. Hospitals and soldiers are on stand-by for rescue and relief operations.

The extent of the damage remains unclear, with authorities saying phone-lines are down in many areas.

The governor of the Southern Leyte province, Roger Mercado, tweeted on Friday morning that fallen trees were blocking roads, hampering the emergency effort.

A spokesperson for the British Red Cross, Nichola Jones, who is in Tagbilaran in Bohol, says the typhoon passed by in the past hour.

Typhoon Haiyan has hit the central Philippines with sustained winds of 146 mph
Typhoon Haiyan has hit the central Philippines with sustained winds of 146 mph

“We’ve lost power and a few roof-tiles but it’s not too bad. But I think to the North – that’s the area that has borne the brunt. Those were the areas worst hit by the earthquake last month.”

In the worst-hit areas of Samar and Leyte, she says there are reports of collapsed buildings, including a hotel.

“In Cebu they have had quite a battering and I spoke to our colleagues and they’ve had quite strong winds and are locked down in their hotels. They are waiting to see what the situation is.”

Jeff Masters, meteorology director at the private firm Weather Underground, said in a blog post that the damage from Haiyan’s winds must have been “perhaps the greatest wind damage any city on Earth has endured from a tropical cyclone in the past century”.

State meteorologist Romeo Cajulis told AFP news agency Typhoon Haiyan had made landfall over Guiuan at 04:40.

The typhoon arrived with gusts of up to 170 mph, the Philippines’ weather service said in its bulletin, issued at 05:00 local time.

The US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, which typically gives higher readings as they are based on a shorter period of time, said shortly before Haiyan’s landfall that its maximum sustained winds were 195 mph, with gusts up to 235 mph.

Waves as high as 15ft could be seen from the islands of Leyte and Samar, Reuters news agency reported.

The storm is forecast to move over to the South China Sea north of Palawan Island on Saturday, meteorologists say.

In its path are areas already struggling to recover from a 7.3-magnitude earthquake last month, including the worst-hit island of Bohol.

About 5,000 people are still living in tents in Bohol after losing their homes in the quake, which killed more than 200 people.

Earlier, President Benigno Aquino warned people to leave storm-prone areas and urged seafarers to stay in port.

“No typhoon can bring Filipinos to their knees if we’ll be united,” he said in a televised address.

Meteorologists in the Philippines warned that Haiyan could be as devastating as Typhoon Bopha in 2012.

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ObamaCare: Barack Obama apologizes for Americans losing health coverage

Diane A. Wade
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ObamaCare: Barack Obama apologizes for Americans losing health coverage

President Barack Obama has apologized to Americans whose health insurance plans have been cancelled as a result of his signature health law.

In recent weeks, insurance companies have reportedly cancelled policies that do not meet strict requirements under Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul.

“We didn’t do a good enough job in terms of how we crafted the law,” the president said in an interview with NBC News.

But a senior Republican labeled his remarks a “half-hearted apology”.

During his campaign for the passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, Barack Obama repeatedly insisted that people who liked their health insurance policies would be able to keep them.

But it now appears that millions of people who purchased plans on the private individual market rather than receive health coverage from the government or their employers may in fact have to buy new, possibly more expensive plans.

“I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me,” Barack Obama said.

“We’ve got to work hard to make sure that they know we hear them, and we are going to do everything we can to deal with folks who find themselves in a tough position as a consequence of this.”

Barack Obama has apologized to Americans whose health insurance plans have been cancelled as a result of his signature health law
Barack Obama has apologized to Americans whose health insurance plans have been cancelled as a result of his signature health law

The health law’s supporters have said most people thrown off their health plans will be able to buy better insurance policies at better prices, especially those eligible for subsidies provided under the health law.

The opposition Republicans, who have fought the president’s healthcare law at every turn, have seized on the reports of the policy cancellations. Some have gone so far as to accuse Barack Obama of lying to the public during his campaign for the law’s passage.

Even some of Barack Obama’s fellow Democrats have suggested the administration delay parts of the law’s implementation, including a requirement that people carry health insurance or face a penalty.

Barack Obama’s remarks on Thursday came after weeks of serious problems with healthcare.gov, a website established under the law that is akin to a shopping site for private health insurance plans.

Among other issues, it has been plagued by long wait times to sign up for an insurance plan and serious flaws on the back end where customers’ data are processed and sent to insurance companies.

Barack Obama has vowed the website will be repaired.

The Republican response to Barack Obama’s remarks was swift, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying “if the president is truly sorry for breaking his promises to the American people, he’ll do more than just issue a half-hearted apology on TV”.

Thursday’s television interview was the latest effort by Barack Obama to win public support for the embattled healthcare law.

On Wednesday Barack Obama travelled into the heart of Republican territory to seek cross-party support for the measure.

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Yasser Arafat polonium poisoning confirmed

Roy Siemens
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Yasser Arafat polonium poisoning confirmed

Late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had high levels of radioactive polonium in his body, Swiss scientists have confirmed.

However, they could not say whether polonium poisoning had caused his death in 2004.

Their report concluded that Yasser Arafat’s remains showed levels of polonium 18 times higher than normal.

Many Palestinians have long believed that Israel poisoned Yasser Arafat. There have also been allegations that he had AIDS or cancer. Israel has consistently denied any involvement.

The scientists – from the Vaudois University Hospital Centre (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland – had carried out a detailed examination of Arafat’s medical records, samples taken from his remains and items he had taken into the hospital in Paris where he died in 2004.

The biological materials included pieces of Yasser Arafat’s bones and soil samples from around his corpse.

Yasser Arafat had high levels of radioactive polonium in his body
Yasser Arafat had high levels of radioactive polonium in his body

Professor Francois Bochud told a news conference on Thursday that the high level of polonium detected “by definition… indicates third party involvement… Our results offer moderate backing for the theory of poisoning.”

But he went on to say: “Was polonium the cause of the death for certain? The answer is no, we cannot show categorically that hypothesis that the poisoning caused was this or that.”

In their report, the scientists had stressed that they had been unable to reach a more definitive conclusion because of the time that had lapsed since Yasser Arafat’s death, the limited samples available and the confused “chain of custody” of some of the specimens.

Polonium-210 is a highly radioactive substance. It is found naturally in low doses in food and in the body, but can be fatal if ingested in high doses.

Yasser Arafat, who led the Palestine Liberation Organization for 35 years and became the first president of the Palestinian Authority in 1996, fell violently ill in October 2004 at his compound in the West Bank.

Two weeks later Yasser Arafat was flown to a French military hospital in Paris, where he died on November 11, 2004, aged 75.

His official medical records say he died from a stroke resulting from a blood disorder.

France began a murder inquiry in August 2012 after the preliminary findings of polonium by the Lausanne scientists, who have been working with an al-Jazeera documentary crew.

Parallel investigations are being carried out by French and Russian experts – one Russian official said last month that no traces of polonium had been found.

Ysser Arafat’s widow, Suha Arafat, who had objected to a post-mortem at the time of his death, agreed for his body to be exhumed a year ago “to reveal the truth”.

Welcoming the Swiss report, Suha Arafat said she had no doubt that her husband had been assassinated but refused to point the finger at Israel.

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Sadie and John Luke Robertson in Louisiana high school’s homecoming court

Sonia Pantiss
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Sadie and John Luke Robertson in Louisiana high school’s homecoming court

Duck Dynasty’s Sadie Robertson was part of her Louisiana high school’s homecoming court this fall along with her older brother John Luke.

John Luke Robertson stuck to a traditional black tuxedo and his sister Sadie enjoyed a few wardrobe changes, picking a strapless dress embroidered with bright flowers and cinched with a skinny black belt for the dance and wearing a chic red and black coat and a black wide-brim hat for her appearance on the field.

Sadie Robertson was part of her Louisiana high school's homecoming court this fall along with her older brother John Luke
Sadie Robertson was part of her Louisiana high school’s homecoming court this fall along with her older brother John Luke

Homecoming weekend was a family affair for the close-knit Robertsons: father Willie escorted Sadie out on the field, a buouttionere tucked into his sport coat and a stars-and-stripes band around his head, and mom Korie and grandma Chrys helped design Sadie’s sophomore class float.

Sadie Robertson, who is also class vice president, served as a sophomore maid and John Luke was a junior escort.

“It’s fun to have my dad walk me across the field and see that he’s proud to be my escort,” Sadie Robertson said.

“My best friend, Anna Catherine, was a sophomore maid, too. We pretty much have done everything together since preschool, so loved getting to be on the court with her.”

Twitter IPO: Shares jump to $45.1 each in first minutes of NYSE trading

Clyde K. Valle
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Twitter IPO: Shares jump to $45.1 each in first minutes of NYSE trading

Twitter’s shares opened at $45.10 each in the first minutes of trading on the NYSE.

That is a 73% jump from the initial asking price of $26 a share, and it means the company is now valued at a little over $31 billion.

More than 13 million shares were traded once they became available an hour after the stock exchange opened.

It is the biggest technology listing since Facebook in 2012.

Twitter floated on the NYSE and not, as some initially expected, the technology-rich Nasdaq exchange, where the likes of Facebook are listed.

It was a big win for the NYSE, which decorated its exterior with banners promoting the offering on Thursday.

Twitter has more than 230 million users, but is yet to make a profit.

Shares in newly-listed companies are often volatile on their first day of trading.

Twitter’s shares opened at $45.10 each in the first minutes of trading on the NYSE
Twitter’s shares opened at $45.10 each in the first minutes of trading on the NYSE

Within minutes, Twitter’s stock price soared more than 80% before falling below its opening price by midday.

When Facebook launched on Nasdaq, its shares were priced initially at $38 each. The stock soared within hours of its debut to a high of $45. But its price later slumped.

It only recovered those losses by September 11, 2013, when shares again touched $45.

Its initial public offering (IPO) was also marred by technological glitches and delays.

To prevent Twitter’s stock sale from having a similar fate, the NYSE ran tests on October 26 using larger-than-normal share volumes.

Twitter is selling 70 million shares, which will raise more than $1.82 billion.

The company, which invites users to send tweets in 140 characters or less, has 232 million active users. According to its IPO documents, these users send 500 million tweets a day.

Twitter’s financials have been under greater scrutiny since it announced its plan to float, especially given that the company is still loss-making.

It lost $69 million in the first six months of 2013, on revenues of $254 million. About 85% of revenues come from advertising on its site, and more than 75% of Twitter users access the site from their mobile phone.

Mary Jo White, head of US regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission, recently warned investors to be cautious of the metrics used by technology companies like Twitter, nothing that investors have become overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of data.

“In the absence of a clear description, it can be hard not to think that these big numbers will inevitably translate into big profits for the company,” Mary Jo White said in a speech.

“But the connection may not necessarily be there.”

Twitter’s founders saw their paper wealth soar to $4 billion in the wake of the stock surge early this morning, although boss Dick Costolo said that none of the founders would immediately be selling their shares.

The company’s co-founder Evan Williams has a 10% stake in Twitter, making him its biggest shareholder. That stake is now worth a little over $2 billion.

Jack Dorsey, another co-founder, also stands to make a fortune from the IPO. His 4% stake is worth more than a billion dollars.

Another co-founder, Biz Stone, is thought to have made millions of dollars by selling share stakes over the last few years.

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CMA Awards 2013: Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood mock ObamaCare

Sonia Pantiss
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CMA Awards 2013: Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood mock ObamaCare

Viewers watching the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards, held Wednesday night in Nashville, might have confused the show with a roast of ObamaCare.

Country music’s hottest stars had a bone to pick with the faulty Healthcare.gov website.

CMA Awards host Brad Paisley jokingly told his co-host Carrie Underwood that his back hurt and he needed to see a doctor.

Carrie Underwood asked the singer if he had signed up for ObamaCare.

CMA Awards host Brad Paisley and his co-host Carrie Underwood mocked ObamaCare
CMA Awards host Brad Paisley and his co-host Carrie Underwood mocked ObamaCare

“ObamaCare, what’s that?” Brad Paisley asked Carrie Underwood.

“Oh, it’s great!” Carrie Underwood quipped.

“I started signing up last Thursday and I’m almost done!” The Blown Away singer proceeded to help her co-host sign up for ObamaCare and “join the six other people” who have reportedly signed up successfully for the healthcare service.

The routine had the Nashville audience clapping their hands to the tune of newly crowned entertainer of the year George Strait’s Amarillo by Morning, but with the words changed to: “ObamaCare by morning/ Why’s this taking so long?/ I’m going to end up with hemorrhoids/If I sit here ’til dawn.”

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Willie and Jase Robertson perform at CMA Awards 2013

Sonia Pantiss
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Willie and Jase Robertson perform at CMA Awards 2013

Viewers watching the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards – held Wednesday night in Nashville – were surprised with Duck Dynasty stars appearance.

Willie and Jase Robertson were joined by their wives Korie and Missy to perform a redneckified version of Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines.

While the Robertson clan twerked on stage, CMA Awards hosts, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, switched up the words of Robin Thicke’s song.

Viewers watching the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards were surprised with Duck Dynasty stars appearance
Viewers watching the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards were surprised with Duck Dynasty stars appearance

“I’m going to grow a beard and go out hunting… <<Duck Dynasty>> guys dance to Robin Thicke/We tried to get nasty talking <<Duck Dynasty>.”

The Robertsons weren’t just onstage to show off their lack of dancing skills; they also gave out the first award of the night to duo Florida Georgia Line for single of the year for their hit song Cruise.

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Pope Francis kisses and holds disfigured man at his weekly general audience

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis kisses and holds disfigured man at his weekly general audience

Pope Francis touched the nearly 50,000 attendees at Wednesday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square by embracing an ailing man who suffers from a disfiguring genetic disorder.

In a series of photos that have since gone viral, Pope Francis is seen praying, then placing his hands on the unnamed man, who then proceeds to bury his head in the pope’s chest.

Pope Francis touched the nearly 50,000 attendees at Wednesday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square by embracing an ailing man who suffers from a disfiguring genetic disorder
Pope Francis touched the nearly 50,000 attendees at Wednesday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square by embracing an ailing man who suffers from a disfiguring genetic disorder

According to the Catholic News Agency, the man suffers from neurofibromatosis, a disease that causes pain and tumors throughout the body, as well as a host of other hearing, vision, heart and nerve complications.

Pope Francis has previously encouraged increased interaction with people from all walks of life, especially the poor, weak and sick.

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Anterolateral Ligament: New human body part discovered

Kathryn R. Bown
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Anterolateral Ligament: New human body part discovered

Two surgeons at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium have found and named a new ligament in the knee, which they dubbed the anterolateral ligament, or ALL.

Dr. Steven Claes and Dr. Johan Bellemans have spent four years researching knee injuries, specifically those to the anterior cruciate ligament, using an 1879 article that talked about an additional – but as yet unseen – back-of-the-knee ligament.

Two surgeons at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium have found and named a new ligament in the knee
Two surgeons at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium have found and named a new ligament in the knee

After dissecting countless cadavers, Dr. Steven Claes and Dr. Johan Bellemans surmised that the ALL ligament is present in 97% of people and that tears to the ALL are connected to serious ACL injuries.

Dr. Steven Claes and Dr. Johan Bellemans’ research has been praised by the Anatomical Society as “very refreshing.”

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Jennifer Aniston debuts her new bob-like haircut

Lisa.Felice
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Jennifer Aniston debuts her new bob-like haircut

Jennifer Aniston debuted her bob-like hairdo while running errands in Los Angeles on Monday, November 4, wearing a black top, brown blazer, jeans and shades, and a neutral expression.

Jennifer Aniston, 44, had more than six inches lopped off of her famous head of dirty-blond hair last Thursday.

Chatting with Vogue.com before the new photos emerged, Jennifer Aniston explained that her longtime hairstylist Chris McMillan (who created the now-iconic, hated-by-Aniston “Rachel” cut back in the ’90s) did the honors: “Chris McMillan actually chopped all my hair off!”

Jennifer Aniston debuted her bob-like hairdo while running errands in Los Angeles
Jennifer Aniston debuted her bob-like hairdo while running errands in Los Angeles

Jennifer Aniston clarified to the style bible’s site that there was no master plan behind the latest cut.

“I actually don’t have any red carpets coming up,” she said.

“This is truly just for me!”

“It’s right at my jaw line, maybe a little longer,” she mused.

“It was kind of spur-of-the-moment,” she continued, explaining that the ‘do sported by Vogue stylist Lawren Howell, whom Aniston noticed on TV, was the inspiration. And the famously coiffed star is happy with the results.

“I don’t know, man. I did it! I feel great. I feel lighter. It’s simple, it’s really simple, that’s for sure,” Jennifer Aniston said.

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