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Michelle Knight on Dr Phil: Cleveland kidnapping victim shares her story

Nancy Clayson
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Michelle Knight on Dr Phil: Cleveland kidnapping victim shares her story

Michelle Knight, one of the three Cleveland victims held captive for about a decade by kidnapper Ariel Castro, will speak on the Dr. Phil show this week about her experiences inside the house of horrors.

Michelle Knight, now 32, was kidnapped in 2002 and held there for 11 years.

She escaped along with Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry May 6 after Amanda kicked out a screen door and called to a neighbor for help.

In a statement released by the Dr. Phil show says that during the segments, which will air November 5 and 6, Michelle Knight  “describes the horrible conditions in the house” and reveals her physical, mental and s**ual abuse. Michelle Knight also discusses being “tied up like a fish” and spending weeks chained and tortured in the basement.

“Was he afraid you would yell out?” television host Phil McGraw asks the woman in the episode, shown in a preview on the Dr. Phil website.

“Yeah, that’s the reason why he taped my mouth shut,” Michelle Knight said.

Michelle Knight spoke on the Dr. Phil show about her experiences inside Cleveland house of horrors
Michelle Knight spoke on the Dr. Phil show about her experiences inside Cleveland house of horrors

When Phil McGraw asked what Ariel Castro used, Michelle Knight replied: “Duct tape.”

“I picked the lock and I tried to escape,” she said.

“And [Ariel Castro] says, <<Now you’re going to be punished>>.”

Ariel Castro pleaded guilty to more than 900 counts, including kidnapping, torture and rape, and was sentenced to life in prison in a plea deal that spared him the death penalty.

He was found hanging in his prison cell on September 3, just three weeks into his sentence.

At Ariel Castro’s sentencing, Michelle Knight said capital punishment would have been “so much easier” than a life sentence for the 53-year-old.

Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, have signed a book deal, according to CBS News.

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Blackbird SR-72: US to build hypersonic spy plane

James J. Williams
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Blackbird SR-72: US to build hypersonic spy plane

Lockheed Martin has begun work on Blackbird SR-72, a successor to the supersonic SR-71 spy plane.

The unmanned SR-72 will use an engine that combines a turbine and a ramjet to reach its top speed of Mach 6 – about 3,600 mph.

Like its predecessor, the SR-72 will be designed for high-altitude surveillance but might also be fitted with weapons to strike targets.

Lockheed said the aircraft should be operational by 2030.

The SR-72 is being developed at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works R&D centre in California that designed and built the original Blackbird.

That aircraft first flew in 1964 and was a mainstay of US Air Force spying and surveillance work until 1998. It typically flew at altitudes of 80,000ft and could reach speeds of Mach 3.

The unmanned SR-72 will use an engine that combines a turbine and a ramjet to reach its top speed of Mach 6
The unmanned SR-72 will use an engine that combines a turbine and a ramjet to reach its top speed of Mach 6

In a blogpost about the SR-72, Lockheed Martin said the aircraft would operate at similar altitudes but would fly far faster. At Mach 6 the plane could travel the 3,500 miles from New York to London in less than an hour.

While spy satellites can photograph enemy territory, the relatively long time it takes for them to be moved to a new orbit so they pass over a target can limit their usefulness.

By contrast, wrote Lockheed Martin, the SR-72 “would be so fast, an adversary would have no time to react or hide”.

For the SR-72, Lockheed Martin is drawing on work done on the Falcon HTV-2 hypersonic technology vehicle. This is a test-bed for the futuristic technologies needed to support safe hypersonic flight and cope with the extreme conditions encountered by any object flying at such a speed.

For instance, on one test flight of the HTV-2, the aircraft hit a top speed of Mach 20 and its flight surfaces reached 3,500F.

To reach Mach 6, the SR-72 will use an engine that acts like a normal jet turbine until speeds of Mach 3 are reached but which then operates like a ramjet to accelerate beyond that.

“Speed is the next aviation advancement to counter emerging threats in the next several decades,” said Brad Leland, Lockheed Martin’s hypersonic programme manager on the blog.

“The technology would be a game-changer in theatre, similar to how stealth is changing the battlespace today.”

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Inaki Urdangarin’s properties impounded amid corruption scandal

Diane A. Wade
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Inaki Urdangarin’s properties impounded amid corruption scandal

A judge in Spain has ordered properties belonging to King Juan Carlos’ son-in-law Inaki Urdangarin to be impounded amid a corruption scandal that has embarrassed the royal family.

Inaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma, is suspected of misusing millions of euros in public funds that were given to a charitable foundation he ran.

The judge ordered the seizure to cover a 6.1 million euro ($8.2 million) bond for the duke’s liability in the case.

Inaki Urdangarin has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime.

The former Olympic handball player is married to King Juan Carlos’s second child, the Infanta Cristina.

Inaki Urdangarin is married to King Juan Carlos's second child, the Infanta Cristina
Inaki Urdangarin is married to King Juan Carlos’s second child, the Infanta Cristina

One of the properties targeted by the judge is a large luxury house on the outskirts of Barcelona belonging to the duke and Princess Cristina.

Several other properties belonging to them in the Balearic Islands and in north-east Spain have also been seized.

Inaki Urdangarin and his former business partner Diego Torres are suspected of siphoning off money given by regional governments to the Noos Institute to organize sporting events.

It is alleged that some of the money ended up in companies controlled by the duke and in offshore bank accounts.

The events allegedly happened between 2004 and 2006, when the duke stepped down as head of the institute.

Diego Torres has also denied any wrongdoing.

Inaki Urdangarin was suspended from official royal engagements in December last year.

Infanta Cristina, who is seventh in line to the throne and also denies any wrongdoing, recently moved to Switzerland in the hope of shielding the couple’s children from unwanted media attention.

King Juan Carlos is credited with guiding Spain’s transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.

Conrad Murray sues Texas for stripping his right to practice medicine

Lisa.Felice
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Conrad Murray sues Texas for stripping his right to practice medicine

Conrad Murray, who was convicted in the death of Michael Jackson, is suing the state of Texas for stripping his right to practice medicine.

Conrad Murray’s attorney said Thursday that the cardiologist has former patients eager for him to work again.

The doctor, who was released from a California jail this week after serving less than two years for involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson’s death, accuses the Texas Medical Board of prematurely revoking his license.

Conrad Murray claims in his lawsuit filed in Austin that his 2011 conviction isn’t final in California until his appeals are exhausted.

He states in an affidavit that he’s more than $400,000 in debt and can’t afford to pay court costs.

Conrad Murray, who was convicted in the death of Michael Jackson, is suing the state of Texas for stripping his right to practice medicine
Conrad Murray, who was convicted in the death of Michael Jackson, is suing the state of Texas for stripping his right to practice medicine

“Anybody who wants to work in this country ought to be able to have the right to do so. Dr. Murray is like everyone else, in that he needs to be able to do his line of work,” said Charles Peckham, Conrad Murray’s attorney.

Texas Medical Board spokesman Jarrett Schneider said the agency cannot comment on pending litigation.

Conrad Murray was convicted of causing Michael Jackson’s death in June 2009 by providing him with the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid. Michael Jackson was in the midst of preparations for a series of comeback concerts and Conrad Murray was serving as his physician.

The doctor filed the lawsuit Friday, three days before he was freed after serving half of a maximum four-year sentence.

Conrad Murray previously maintained clinics in Houston and Las Vegas. His medical license is currently suspended in California.

In court papers filed in Texas, Conrad Murray expresses concern that the revocation of his Texas license could give California reason to take the same action.

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Duck Dynasty Christmas album set for top 10 on Billboard 200

Sonia Pantiss
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Duck Dynasty Christmas album set for top 10 on Billboard 200

Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas album, which was released this week, features the bearded Louisiana clan singing traditional Christmas carols and duck-themed songs in the latest addition to their stable of merchandise.

The album, in which the family showcase their work on the squawking duck calls that have made their Duck Commander company leaders in the hunting industry, will also be a test of how the unlikely TV stars can compete head-to-head against Christmas albums by country music’s perennial million-sellers Kelly Clarkson and Trace Adkins.

Willie Robertson, Duck Commander’s chief executive, is not counting on music being a full-time gig for the Duck Dynasty crew, who have also parlayed the A&E Network’s series into a merchandise lines sold at big-box retailers like Wal-Mart and Sears.

“We’re not aspiring to be country music stars,” Willie Robertson said in an interview about the album, which was produced by Nashville hitmaker Buddy Cannon.

“When we first went in the studio with Buddy we didn’t know what was going to happen, but we are very proud of the album,” he said.

Critics ascribe its success to fact that the Robertsons are seen as a regular family, and viewers can compare their quirks and eccentricities to their own family members.

Duck the Halls features the bearded Louisiana clan singing traditional Christmas carols and duck-themed songs in the latest addition to their stable of merchandise
Duck the Halls features the bearded Louisiana clan singing traditional Christmas carols and duck-themed songs in the latest addition to their stable of merchandise

Duck Dynasty reality show has also spawned diverse merchandise, from sporting goods and apparel to the unusual antibacterial bandages and camouflage reclining furniture. A&E’s online store has more than 300 Duck Dynasty products.

The Robertson family also got a little help on the album from country stars such as Luke Bryan, George Strait and Alison Krauss, who lent their voices to some tracks.

The album includes a few novelties from the long-bearded, camouflage-wearing hunting enthusiasts from West Monroe, Louisiana, along with traditionals, including I’ll Be Home for Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

“It is definitely from our perspective of a down-home middle-America Christmas,” Willie Robertson said.

“There is some funny stuff and then there is some serious stuff.”

Willie Robertson even had a hand in writing a few of the songs, including Ragin’ Cajun Redneck Christmas with top Nashville songwriter Dallas Davidson.

Led by Phil Robertson, his sons and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, wife Miss Kay and brother Si, sing and toot their duck calls on songs like Duck the Halls and Camouflage and Christmas Lights.

Although a strong starting position on the Billboard 200 album chart next week would cement the national appeal of the family’s personas, do not expect them to be quacking about the album after November 23.

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BlackBerry abandons plan to sell itself to Fairfax Financial Holdings

Clyde K. Valle
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BlackBerry abandons plan to sell itself to Fairfax Financial Holdings

BlackBerry has decided to abandon a plan to sell itself to its biggest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings.

Instead, BlackBerry intends to raise $1 billion in fresh financing.

Chief executive Thorsten Heins will step down and former Sybase chief executive John Chen will serve as interim chief executive.

Last month, BlackBerry reported a second-quarter net loss of $965 million.

Those losses were blamed on poor sales of its new smartphone, the Z10.

BlackBerry has decided to abandon a plan to sell itself to its biggest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings
BlackBerry has decided to abandon a plan to sell itself to its biggest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings

Fairfax was planning to lead a consortium of firms in a takeover of BlackBerry worth $4.7 billion.

But that plan, announced last month, has fallen through.

Last week, Reuters reported that Fairfax was struggling to raise the financing needed for the deal.

Instead, Fairfax, which owns a 10% stake in BlackBerry, is contributing $250 million to the new fund-raising.

“This financing provides an immediate cash injection on terms favorable to BlackBerry, enhancing our substantial cash position,” said Barbara Stymiest, chair of BlackBerry’s board of directors.

In September, BlackBerry announced a plan to cut 4,500 jobs, or 40% of its workforce, to reverse giant losses.

The interim chief executive, John Chen, acknowledged the challenge ahead: “BlackBerry is an iconic brand with enormous potential – but it’s going to take time, discipline and tough decisions to reclaim our success.”

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HSBC announces 30% profit rise in Q3 2013

Clyde K. Valle
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HSBC announces 30% profit rise in Q3 2013

HSBC has announced a 30% profit rise in Q3 2013, boosted by a strong performance in the UK and Hong Kong.

Reported pre-tax profit was $4.5 billion, compared with $3.4 billion for the same period a year ago, the bank said.

HSBC’s home markets of the UK and Hong Kong were responsible for more than half of the group’s profits.

The bank also confirmed it was being investigated as part of a global probe into currency trading manipulation.

Barclays, RBS, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and UBS have already confirmed that regulators, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, have been in contact with them in relation to suggestions that currency markets could have been rigged.

HSBC has announced a 30 percent profit rise in Q3 2013
HSBC has announced a 30 percent profit rise in Q3 2013

“We see reasons for optimism with some evidence of a broadening recovery,” group chief executive Stuart Gulliver said on the outlook for the bank.

Operating expenses fell by $700 million to $9.6 billion during the period, but the bank said that was mainly due to the absence of one-off costs from last year.

Underlying costs were up on the year, which HSBC blamed on investments, wage inflation and regulatory-related costs.

Stuart Gulliver is aiming to streamline the bank’s operations by focusing on high-growth markets in Asia. In October, it sold its Panama business for an estimated $1.1 billion gain.

HSBC has closed or sold 12 non-core businesses since the start of the year.

“Hong Kong continues to benefit from its close economic relationship with mainland China. We remain well positioned to capitalize on improving economic conditions in these markets,” added Stuart Gulliver.

Four men charged over Nairobi’s Westgate mall attack

Roy Siemens
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Four men charged over Nairobi’s Westgate mall attack

Four men have been charged over Nairobi’s Westgate mall attack, in which more than 60 people were killed, police say.

The four foreigners have been charged with aiding terrorist groups in Kenya and being in Kenya illegally.

Their nationalities have not been disclosed, but they are said to be ethnic Somalis.

These are the first charges to be brought in relation to the September siege.

Four men have been charged over Nairobi’s Westgate mall attack, in which more than 60 people were killed
Four men have been charged over Nairobi’s Westgate mall attack, in which more than 60 people were killed

The four have been named as Adnan Ibrahim, Liban Abdullah, Mohammed Ahmed Abdi and Hussein Hassan.

“The accused persons carried out a terrorist attack at Westgate Shopping Mall on 21 September by supporting a terrorist group,” the charge sheet read.

All four men have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also included obtaining false identification documents.

None of them is accused of being the gunmen in Westgate shopping centre.

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Pervez Musharraf’s bail approved by Pakistani court

Diane A. Wade
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Pervez Musharraf’s bail approved by Pakistani court

Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s bail over the 2007 army operation to oust militants from Islamabad’s Red Mosque has been approved by a Pakistani court.

The court approved bail on condition Pervez Musharraf pay bonds totaling $2,000.

But the former general remains on a government exit control list and cannot leave the country.

Speaking outside the court in the capital, his lawyer said Pervez Musharraf had no intention of leaving Pakistan.

The operation ordered by General Pervez Musharraf on the besieged Red Mosque left a cleric and more than 100 others dead, and fuelled a deadly militant insurgency inside Pakistan which rages to this day.

Earlier this year, he returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile to fight elections – which were won by Nawaz Sharif, the man he ousted in his 1999 coup – but swiftly ran into trouble.

Pervez Musharraf's bail over the 2007 army operation to oust militants from Islamabad's Red Mosque has been approved by a Pakistani court
Pervez Musharraf’s bail over the 2007 army operation to oust militants from Islamabad’s Red Mosque has been approved by a Pakistani court

Pervez Musharraf was barred from running in the general election, and was placed under house arrest in April in the first of a series of cases relating to his time in power from 1999-2008.

He faces murder trials over the assassination of former PM Benazir Bhutto and Baloch tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. He has also been charged over his attempt to sack the higher judiciary in 2007.

Pervez Musharraf has been bailed in all three of those cases.

Separately, the Sharif government said in June that it planned to try him for treason – but a formal complaint in that case has still to be lodged.

Pervez Musharraf insists all the charges against him are politically motivated.

His house arrest is unprecedented in a country which has been ruled by the military for more than half of its history.

The latest bail ruling means Pervez Musharraf could soon be free to move around Pakistan.

However, Pervez Musharraf is likely to remain under guard at his villa on the outskirts of Islamabad because of threats to his life.

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Ender’s Game tops US box office in its opening weekend

Sonia Pantiss
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Ender’s Game tops US box office in its opening weekend

Ender’s Game has topped the US box office chart in its opening weekend.

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, about an 86-year-old and his 8-year-old grandson, was shunted into second after hitting the number one spot last week.

Sci-Fi adventure Ender’s Game, a story about children forced to fight an enemy race, took $28 million according to estimates.

The film stars Harrison Ford as a commander who manipulates a young boy (Asa Butterfield) into leading a war.

Double Oscar nominee Viola Davis plays Harrison Ford’s second in command.

Ender's Game has topped the US box office chart in its opening weekend
Ender’s Game has topped the US box office chart in its opening weekend

Based on the best-selling 1985 novel of the same name, Ender’s Game was in line with box office forecasts which predicted it would take between $25 million and $30 million in its debut weekend.

This was despite calls by some to boycott the film after the book’s author, Orson Scott Card, made some comments expressing his opposition to gay marriage.

But with the highly anticipated Thor: The Dark World opening next week, box office analyst Jeff Bock said: “It looks like Ender’s Game is one-and-done… (next weekend) there won’t be much of the box office pie left for Ender’s Game.”

Last Vegas, featuring an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline, opened in third place with $16.5 million.

Children’s animation Free Birds, which features the voices of Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler, debuted in fourth spot with takings of $16.2 million.

Gravity, now in its fifth week, rounded out the top five.

US Box Office Top Five

1. Ender’s Game – $28 million

2. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $20.5 million

3. Last Vegas – $16.5 million

4. Free Birds – $16.2 million

5. Gravity – $13.1 million

Source: Hollywood.com

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Marcia Wallace remembered in The Simpsons’ latest episode

Sonia Pantiss
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Marcia Wallace remembered in The Simpsons’ latest episode

Marcia Wallace has been remembered in The Simpsons’ latest episode.

The late actress provided the voice of schoolteacher Edna Krabappel in The Simpsons.

Sunday’s edition of the series began with Bart Simpson at the blackboard, standing beneath the poignant message: “We’ll really miss you Mrs. K.”

Marcia Wallace has been remembered in The Simpsons’ latest episode
Marcia Wallace has been remembered in The Simpsons’ latest episode

Marcia Wallace died of complications from pneumonia on October 25 at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 70.

The actress won an Emmy in 1992 for her work on The Simpsons.

Sunday’s edition of The Simpsons was preceded on the Fox channel by a re-run of 2011 episode The Ned-liest Catch.

Marcia Wallace appeared in 178 episodes in all, voicing grumpy fourth-grade teacher Edna in all but three of them.

Her death was confirmed on October 26 by The Simpsons‘ executive producer Al Jean, who said Marcia Wallace had been “brilliant and gracious”.

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YouTube Music Awards 2013: Eminem wins Artist of the Year

Sonia Pantiss
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YouTube Music Awards 2013: Eminem wins Artist of the Year

The first ever YouTube awards were held in New York and presided by Jason Schwartzman and Reggie Watts.

The event featured Eminem, Lady Gaga and M.I.A making live music videos directed by the awards’ creator, Spike Jonze, and others.

Eminem won Artist of the Year, while Taylor Swift’s I Knew You Were Trouble took the YouTube Phenomenon award.

The ceremony was streamed live online.

The inaugural YouTube awards reflect an increasing trend for people to turn to the internet, rather than television and radio, for music and video
The inaugural YouTube awards reflect an increasing trend for people to turn to the internet, rather than television and radio, for music and video

Nominees were chosen by taking into account the YouTube views, likes, comments and subscription figures for different artists.

Indie actress Greta Gerwig kicked off proceedings at the sprawling Pier 36 venue, performing in a live video for Arcade Fire and their new song Afterlife.

Lady Gaga was up next, tears rolling down her cheeks as she performed her single Dope for the first time wearing a baseball cap and flannel shirt.

The coveted Video of the Year award went to South Korean group Girls’ Generation for their song I Got A Boy, while Innovation of the Year went to DeStorm Power, the YouTube user whose 250 videos on the website have been watched more than 200 million times.

The inaugural YouTube awards reflect an increasing trend for people to turn to the internet, rather than television and radio, for music and video.

In August last year, the Nielsen rating agency published a survey in which 64% of American adolescents said they listened to music on YouTube, compared with 56% who listened to radio.

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US Congress and White House reject clemency for Edward Snowden

Diane A. Wade
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US Congress and White House reject clemency for Edward Snowden

The US Congress and the White House have rejected clemency for former NSA analyst Edward Snowden.

“Mr. Snowden violated US law. He should return to the US and face justice,” said White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer.

Edward Snowden, 30, asked for international help to persuade the US to drop spying charges against him in a letter given to a German politician.

He fled to Russia in June after leaking details of far-reaching US telephone and internet espionage.

Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum, allowing him to live in Russia until July 2014.

In a surprise move last week, German Green MP Hans-Christian Stroebele met Edward Snowden in Moscow and revealed the former intelligence contractor’s readiness to brief the German government on NSA’s spying.

Edward Snowden set out his position in a letter, which Hans-Christian Stroebele showed to reporters at a news conference in Berlin on Friday.

The US Congress and the White House have rejected clemency for former NSA analyst Edward Snowden
The US Congress and the White House have rejected clemency for former NSA analyst Edward Snowden

“Speaking the truth is not a crime,” Edward Snowden wrote. He claimed that the US government was persecuting him by charging him with espionage.

On Sunday, the White House said that no offers for clemency were being discussed.

This view was echoed by the Republican Congressman Mike Rogers and Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein.

Dianne Feinstein said that if Edward Snowden had been a true whistleblower, he could have reported privately to her committee, but had chosen not to.

“We would have seen him and we would have looked at that information. That didn’t happen, and now he’s done this enormous disservice to our country,” Senator Dianne Feinstein said in an interview on CBS television.

“I think the answer is no clemency,” she said.

The scale of the alleged US espionage has provoked international concern and calls for tighter supervision.

Reports that the US bugged German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone for years have caused a diplomatic rift.

The head of US intelligence has defended the monitoring of foreign leaders as a key goal of operations but the US is facing growing anger over reports it spied on its allies abroad.

It has also been reported that the NSA monitored French diplomats in Washington and at the UN, and that it conducted surveillance on millions of French and Spanish telephone calls, among other operations against US allies.

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Mohamed Morsi trial begins in Cairo

Roy Siemens
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Mohamed Morsi trial begins in Cairo

Egypt’s ousted President Mohamed Morsi has arrived in court in Cairo where he is due to go on trial, state media say.

Mohamed Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures face charges of inciting the killing of protesters in clashes outside the presidential palace.

Security services are on high alert after supporters of the former president called for major protests.

Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the military in July after protests against his rule.

According to state TV, Mohamed Morsi arrived at the courtroom, inside the Police Academy in Cairo. Other key Brotherhood figures, Essam el-Erian, Mohammed al-Beltagi and Ahmed Abdel Aati are also there.

While Mohamed Morsi was airlifted into the compound by helicopter, other defendants were said to have been brought in by armoured personnel carriers.

Mohamed Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures face charges of inciting the killing of protesters in clashes outside the presidential palace
Mohamed Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures face charges of inciting the killing of protesters in clashes outside the presidential palace

The ousted president was seen from a distance in civilian clothes, Egyptian radio reported. This is his first appearance in public since he was ousted on July 3.

The trial had been due to take place at Tora prison on the other side of Cairo but had been switched late on Sunday, apparently to deter protesters.

Shortly after Mohamed Morsi’s arrival, a small crowd arrived and began chanting outside the sprawling police compound more than one hour’s drive from the centre of the city. The crowd soon grew to number some 200.

Although Mohamed Morsi won the presidency in a democratic election, during his 13 months in power he fell out with key institutions.

The ex-president is accused of “incitement to murder and violence” over the deaths of at least 10 people during intense clashes in December 2012 which followed a decree that gave him wide-ranging powers.

After he was ousted, a sit-in protest in Cairo by Mohamed Morsi’s supporters was violently broken up by the military, leading to the deaths of hundreds of people.

The interim government has also cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Mohamed Morsi hails, banning the Islamist organization and arresting dozens of senior figures.

His supporters say he was removed in a coup and is now facing a politicized trial. Human rights groups accuse the security services of acting without accountability.

Mohamed Morsi and his co-defendants are expected to use the trial to underline what they see as the illegitimacy of their ousting. There is considerable interest in Egypt in whether the authorities decide to televise the former leader’s appearance in court.

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Gary Kubiak collapses on field at halftime at Reliant Stadium

Clyde K. Valle
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Gary Kubiak collapses on field at halftime at Reliant Stadium

Texans coach Gary Kubiak was in stable condition after he collapsed as he was running off the field at halftime at Reliant Stadium Sunday night, the team said.

Gary Kubiak, 52, was evaluated for stroke-like symptoms, a person close to the situation said. Kubiak did not suffer a stroke, the person said, but is undergoing further evaluation, including an MRI.

As the Houston Texans trickled into the locker room at halftime and learned that coach Gary Kubiak had collapsed leaving the field, their excitement over a big first half quickly disintegrated into dread.

They were soon informed that he was in stable condition, but the rattled team unraveled in the second half as Indianapolis rallied for a 27-24 victory Sunday night.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak collapsed as he was running off the field at halftime at Reliant Stadium Sunday night
Texans coach Gary Kubiak collapsed as he was running off the field at halftime at Reliant Stadium Sunday night

Gary Kubiak hunched over and dropped to his knees at the 24-yard line and was immediately surrounded by medical personnel. He was lifted off the field on a stretcher and taken by cart to the ambulance.

The Texans said Gary Kubiak didn’t have a heart attack. The team said the coach, a former NFL quarterback who calls the team’s plays, was conscious and was with his family as he was taken to the hospital.

“He had an episode; he was light-headed and dizzy,” Houston general manager Rick Smith said in an interview on NBC.

“He was evaluated by a number of specialists . . . he is awake and coherent.

We have to assess . . . obviously, there’s a lot of info. Hopefully, Gary will be back with us tomorrow.”

Up 21-3 when Gary Kubiak collapsed, the Texans struggled after halftime for their sixth straight loss after opening the season 2-0 with Super Bowl hopes.

Gary Kubiak’s collapse came a day after Denver Broncos coach John Fox was hospitalized in North Carolina as he awaits aortic value replacement surgery. The 58-year-old Fox will have surgery in a few days and will miss several weeks while recuperating.

Gary Kubiak has long been known as a top offensive coach, mentoring quarterbacks in Denver under Mike Shanahan and now Matt Schaub — and Case Keenum — in Houston. He has had no publicly known health problems.

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John Kerry in first Egypt visit since Mohamed Morsi was ousted

Roy Siemens
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John Kerry in first Egypt visit since Mohamed Morsi was ousted

Secretary of State John Kerry has called for an end to all violence in Egypt and urged moves to full democracy on his first visit to the country since President Mohamed Morsi was ousted.

“History has demonstrated that democracies are more stable, viable and prosperous than any alternative,” John Kerry told a news conference.

“With stability comes tourism and investment, and with both come jobs.”

John Kerry said the US was committed to working with Egypt’s military-backed rulers.

John Kerry on his first visit to Egypt since President Mohamed Morsi was ousted
John Kerry on his first visit to Egypt since President Mohamed Morsi was ousted

His visit to Cairo was not disclosed by US officials until he landed. It is the first time a US secretary of state has travelled to Egypt on a visit that is unannounced for security reasons.

On his six-hour stop John Kerry was meeting the interim leaders that assumed control following Mohamed Morsi’s removal in July – President Adly Mahmud Mansour, PM Hazem el-Beblawi, Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy and army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Egypt is the first stage of a nine-day tour that John Kerry will take in Middle Eastern and North African countries, as well as Poland.

Former President Mohamed Morsi goes on trial on Monday.

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Hybrid Solar Eclipse 2013: Rare celestial event visible from US, Europe and Africa

James J. Williams
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Hybrid Solar Eclipse 2013: Rare celestial event visible from US, Europe and Africa

A rare solar eclipse that began as a “ring of fire” and transformed into a spectacular total eclipse of the sun amazed skywatchers from North America to Africa on Sunday, November 3.

The celestial event was a rare hybrid solar eclipse, which began over the Atlantic Ocean as an annular eclipse and transitioned into a full total solar eclipse for observers along the narrow path of totality in the eastern Atlantic and over parts of Africa.

The rare solar eclipse that began as a ring of fire and transformed into a spectacular total eclipse of the sun amazed skywatchers from North America to Africa
The rare solar eclipse that began as a ring of fire and transformed into a spectacular total eclipse of the sun amazed skywatchers from North America to Africa

Observers along the US East Coast and parts of Canada, meanwhile, awoke to a partial solar eclipse at sunrise.

People watched the rare solar eclipse showing the Sun partially blocked by the Moon passing in front, as seen in Estoril near Lisbon, Portugal.

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Jimmy Kimmel Halloween prank 2013: “I ate all your Halloween candy”

Lisa.Felice
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Jimmy Kimmel Halloween prank 2013: “I ate all your Halloween candy”

Jimmy Kimmel continued his Halloween prank on kids and issued a new YouTube challenge to their parents: “Tell your children you ate all of their Halloween candy.”

Jimmy Kimmel continued his Halloween candy prank on kids
Jimmy Kimmel continued his Halloween candy prank on kids

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Paul Anthony Ciancia charged with murder following LAX shooting

Nancy Clayson
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Paul Anthony Ciancia charged with murder following LAX shooting

Paul Anthony Ciancia – the man suspected of carrying out Friday’s gun attack at LA Airport – has been charged with murder.

Prosecutors say the death penalty could be sought if 23-year-old Paul Anthony Ciancia is convicted. He is in hospital after being shot by police.

A federal US security agent was killed and others wounded in the attack. Police are attempting to establish a motive for the assault.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has now reopened fully.

About 1,550 flights with 167,000 passengers were affected, airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said.

US Attorney Andre Birotte said Paul Anthony Ciancia was also charged with commission of violence at an international airport.

Andre Birotte said the gunman had pulled a “.223-calibre M&P-15 assault rifle out of his bag and fired multiple rounds at point-blank range” at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer Gerardo Hernandez, 39.

Paul Anthony Ciancia has been charged with murder after carrying out Friday's gun attack at LA Airport
Paul Anthony Ciancia has been charged with murder after carrying out Friday’s gun attack at LA Airport

The attorney said the shots did not kill the officer, but the gunman returned to “shoot the wounded officer again”.

Gerardo Hernandez’s widow, Ana, said he was “a joyful person, always smiling and took pride in his duty to the American public”.

The FBI has also given more details of a note found on the suspect.

David Bowdich, the head of the FBI’s LA office, said: “In the note that was handwritten by the defendant, that was signed by the defendant, we found a statement where he made a conscious decision to kill multiple TSA employees.

“He addressed them at one point in the letter, and stated that he wanted to <<instill fear into their traitorous minds>>.”

David Bowdich said investigators had not yet been able to interview Paul Anthony Ciancia.

The gunman appeared to target agents of the TSA, which manages security at US airports.

He pushed through screening gates and walked more than 100 yards into the secure area of the terminal before law enforcement officers caught up with him in a food court.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press news agency that Paul Anthony Ciancia was shot in the mouth and leg by two airport police officers.

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Ellen DeGeneres pays tribute to Nicki Minaj on Halloween episode

Lisa.Felice
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Ellen DeGeneres pays tribute to Nicki Minaj on Halloween episode

Ellen DeGeneres decided to pay tribute to Nicki Minaj on her Halloween episode of her talk show.

The outfit made headlines during Nicki Minaj’s guest appearance in September.

Ellen DeGeneres decided to pay tribute to Nicki Minaj on her Halloween episode of her talk show
Ellen DeGeneres decided to pay tribute to Nicki Minaj on her Halloween episode of her talk show

Ellen DeGeneres: “This year I decided to go as something really scary … Nicki was on the show a few weeks ago and her shirt was not … she took our show from PG to double D, that’s what she did!”

 

Jimmy Kimmel dressed as Snow White for Halloween

Lisa.Felice
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Jimmy Kimmel dressed as Snow White for Halloween

Jimmy Kimmel decided to try Snow White costume for his Halloween show.

His Snow White costume was his best Jimmy Kimmel Live getup since he dressed up as Jay Leno in 2010.

Jimmy Kimmel decided to try Snow White costume for his Halloween show
Jimmy Kimmel decided to try Snow White costume for his Halloween show

Jimmy Kimmel’s guest, Mindy Kaling, meanwhile, turned up as Peter Pan’s nemesis — though Kimmel initially took her for Prince.

The two sat down to talk about their childhood Halloween costumes.

Jimmy Kimmel seems to know where his bread is buttered: His show airs on Disney-owned ABC, and his theater is owned by the Walt Disney Company. So no one will poison his apple at this year’s company Christmas party.

Belgrade encourages Kosovo’s Serb population to take part in municipal elections

Diane A. Wade
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Belgrade encourages Kosovo’s Serb population to take part in municipal elections

Ethnic Serb communities are encouraged to go to the polls for the first time as the votes are being cast in Kosovo’s municipal elections.

The governments of both Serbia and Kosovo have been promoting a strong turnout, but many people in the north are likely to boycott the vote.

Kosovar Serbs are concerned that if they vote, it will legitimize the independent state of Kosovo.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

Ethnic Serb communities are encouraged to go to the polls for the first time as the votes are being cast in Kosovo's municipal elections
Ethnic Serb communities are encouraged to go to the polls for the first time as the votes are being cast in Kosovo’s municipal elections

The move had the support of Kosovo’s majority Albanian population, but not the small Serbian minority, which refuses to recognize the country’s independence.

For the first time, the government in Belgrade is putting pressure on Kosovo’s Serb population to take part in the municipal elections.

The change is down to a new agreement between Serbia and Kosovo to normalize relations, as Serbia seeks membership of the European Union.

Polling stations opened at 07:00 and will close at 19:00 local time.

Calls for independence from ethnic Albanians in Kosovo after the break-up of the former Yugoslavia led Serbia to stage a violent crackdown in the territory, which was bought to an end by a NATO military intervention in 1999.

Until it declared independence in 2008, Kosovo was administered by the United Nations.

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Jay Leno on David Letterman during “Plead The Fifth” with Andy Cohen on Tonight Show

Lisa.Felice
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Jay Leno on David Letterman during “Plead The Fifth” with Andy Cohen on Tonight Show

Jay Leno told his guest Andy Cohen during Friday’s Tonight Show that the assumed beef between him and David Letterman is a tabloid creation.

Jay Leno said he and David Letterman actually like each other: “We started out together, he still makes me laugh as much as anybody.”

He added: “Brilliant wordsmith, very funny guy.”

Jay Leno said the two spoke a month ago, talking about “things in TV and what was going on here” – presumably meaning Leno’s second Tonight Show exit.

Jay Leno told his guest Andy Cohen during Friday’s Tonight Show that the assumed beef between he and David Letterman is a tabloid creation
Jay Leno told his guest Andy Cohen during Friday’s Tonight Show that the assumed beef between he and David Letterman is a tabloid creation

The candid conversation occurred when Andy Cohen turned the tables on Jay Leno, asking him to play “Plead the Fifth” from Cohen’s own talk show, Watch What Happens Live.

Andy Cohen asks a celebrity three questions, they can “plead the fifth” to one, but must answer the other two honestly. The question that prompted the open answer was his first one to Jay Leno: “What is the misconception about you that irritates you the most?”

After the explanation, Andy Cohen also asked Jay Leno what he would say to Johnny Carson if he had the chance. Jay Leno answered: “Thank You.”

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Walt Bellamy dies aged 74

Clyde K. Valle
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Walt Bellamy dies aged 74

NBA legend Walt Bellamy, who averaged 20.1 points and 13.7 rebounds in 14 seasons, died Saturday at the age of 74.

The Atlanta Hawks confirmed the death, but didn’t provide details.

The Hawks said Walt Bellamy attended the team’s home opener Friday night.

”Walt Bellamy was an enormously gifted Hall of Fame player who had a tremendous impact on our game,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement released by the league.

”Off the court, he was an even more extraordinary person. Walt is going to be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. On behalf of the entire NBA family, our condolences and thoughts go out to Walt’s family.”

Walt Bellamy, a former Indiana University star, won an Olympic gold medal in 1960 and was the first overall pick by the Chicago Packers in 1961. He was the rookie of the year with Chicago, averaging 31.6 points and 19.0 rebounds, and also played for the Baltimore Bullets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta and New Orleans Jazz. He played in four All-Star games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Walt Bellamy won an Olympic gold medal in 1960 and was the first overall pick by the Chicago Packers in 1961
Walt Bellamy won an Olympic gold medal in 1960 and was the first overall pick by the Chicago Packers in 1961

”The Atlanta Hawks family is saddened to learn of the death of Walt Bellamy at the age of 74 earlier today,” the Hawks said in a statement.

‘’The Hawks and the National Basketball Association have lost a giant. As an Olympic gold medalist, the first overall pick in 1961, Rookie of the Year in 1962, a four-time All-Star and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, his on-court accomplishments were overwhelming. Off the court, he was equally impactful as a family man, leader in the community, mentor and friend to many.’’

Walt Bellamy was traded three times, going from the Bullets to the Knicks in November 1965 for Jim Barnes, Johnny Egan, Johnny Green and cash, then to Detroit along with Howard Komives in December 1968 in the deal that brought star forward Dave DeBusschere to New York. Detroit sent Walt Bellamy to Atlanta in February 1970 for John Arthurs.

In three seasons at Indiana, the 6-foot-11 former New Bern, N.C., Walt Bellamy averaged 20.6 points and 15.5 rebounds.

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Cirque De Soleil acrobat fell during Zarkana show in Las Vegas

Sonia Pantiss
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Cirque De Soleil acrobat fell during Zarkana show in Las Vegas

A Cirque De Soleil artist slipped and fell during a performance in Las Vegas on Friday night, according to the organization.

The incident came just a few days after Cirque du Soleil was told it would be fined in the death of another performer.

The Cirque De Soleil acrobat was performing in an act known as the “Wheel of Death” during the 7 p.m. showing of the Zarkana stage production at the Aria Resort and Casino when he slipped and fell off the wheel, according to a statement on the group’s official Facebook page.

The Cirque De Soleil acrobat was performing in an act known as the "Wheel of Death" during showing of the Zarkana stage production at the Aria Resort and Casino when he slipped and fell off the wheel
The Cirque De Soleil acrobat was performing in an act known as the “Wheel of Death” during showing of the Zarkana stage production at the Aria Resort and Casino when he slipped and fell off the wheel

The performance was stopped and the artist was taken by ambulance to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas, according to Cirque de Soleil spokesman Ann Paladie. He was in stable condition Saturday and was expected to be released in the next few days.

Ann Paladie said the acrobat was previously a performer in the group’s production KOOZA prior to performing in Zarkana.

The Clark County Fire Department confirmed it responded to a call that someone had fallen about 20 feet.

Zarkana includes Cirque du Soleil’s signature acrobatics far above the stage.

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