Mick Jagger has denied Katy Perry’s claims that he made a pass at her when she was 18.
Katy Perry made the comments during an interview on Australian radio this week, while promoting new album Prism.
The singer said the incident took place when she sang backing vocals for Mick Jagger’s 2004 song Old Habits Die Hard.
But a statement from the 70-year-old Rolling Stones frontman said he “categorically denies that he has ever made a pass at Katy Perry”.
Mick Jagger has denied Katy Perry’s claims that he made a pass at her when she was 18
The statement continued: “Perhaps she is confusing him with someone else.”
Katy Perry, 29, told her interviewer: “I actually went to dinner with him one time and he hit on me one time when I was like 18.
“But that was a long time ago and since then he’s been very kind and I got to sing Beast Of Burden on his stage on their tour,” she added.
Katy Perry was one of several singers to make a guest appearance on the Rolling Stones’ tour earlier this year.
When Katy Perry was asked during the interview how she turned down an advance from a star such as Mick Jagger, she responded: “Well, you bring a friend and they do them. You sacrifice your friend.”
Germany is keen to hear directly from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden about the US spy agency’s activities.
“If the message is that Mr. Snowden wants to give us information then we’ll gladly accept that,” said German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich.
Edward Snowden’s lawyer said a meeting could occur in Moscow, but not Germany.
Edward Snowden, 30, fled to Russia in June after leaking details of far-reaching US telephone espionage. He has temporary asylum, allowing him to live in Russia until next June.
In a surprise move, a German Green MP, Hans-Christian Stroebele, has met Edward Snowden in Moscow and revealed the former intelligence contractor’s readiness to brief the German government on NSA spying.
Edward Snowden set out his position in a letter, which Hans-Christian Stroebele showed to reporters at a news conference on Friday.
The scale of the alleged US espionage has provoked international concern and calls for tighter supervision.
Asian countries have protested at claims that Australia was involved in a US-led spy network.
China has demanded an explanation of the reports, while Indonesia has summoned the Australian ambassador to Jakarta.
German Green MP Hans-Christian Stroebele has met Edward Snowden in Moscow
Reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone was bugged by US spies for years overshadowed last week’s EU summit and she remarked with irritation that spying on friends is “really not on”.
According to Hans-Christian Stroebele, Edward Snowden is not keen on German investigators going to see him in Moscow, but would be ready to go to Germany if it could be guaranteed that he would not be extradited to the United States.
It is not clear whether Edward Snowden would get legal protection in Germany. The US authorities want to get him extradited to stand trial for revealing official secrets.
But the German government says it would welcome a meeting with the whistleblower.
“We will find a way, if Mr. Snowden is willing to talk,” Hans-Peter Friedrich said.
“Any clarification, any information and facts that we can get, is good.”
Edward Snowden “will not go to Germany”, his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said.
“This is not possible because he has no right to cross Russian borders.
“Within the framework of international agreements Snowden can give testimony in Russia but this should be decided by the German authorities.”
The Bundestag – the lower house of parliament – has the power to decree that someone addressing it has immunity.
Speaking to German ARD television, Hans-Christian Stroebele said that Edward Snowden “is fundamentally ready to help bring things to light”.
“The conditions for that have to be established. We had a long discussion about that.”
The MP said he had suggested that investigators could question Edward Snowden in Moscow about the NSA.
Edward Snowden “made it clear that he knows a very great deal,” he went on.
Hans-Christian Stroebele described the former intelligence contractor as “amazingly talkative – he has a mission, an urge to communicate, he wants things to be put back on a legal basis”.
Edward Snowden is starting work on Friday for a major private website in Russia, his lawyer has said.
Anatoly Kucherena would not disclose which site has employed Edward Snowden, citing security concerns.
Nissan has cut its earnings forecast, saying it is feeling the pinch of tougher market conditions and recent recalls.
The Japanese car-maker now expects to make a net profit of 355 billion yen ($3.6 billion) for the year to March 31, 2014, down from its earlier forecast of a 420 billion yen profit.
The cut comes despite a rise in profit for the April-to-September period.
Nissan said that conditions in Europe remained “sluggish” while demand in emerging markets had been “volatile”.
Nissan expects to make a net profit of 355 bn yen for the year to March 31, 2014, down from its earlier forecast of a 420 bn yen profit
“Nissan’s results reflect improved demand for our new products in Japan and the Americas,” Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of Nissan said in a statement.
“This was offset by difficult conditions in Europe, volatile demand in several emerging markets and higher expenses related to recalls.”
Nissan’s net profit for the six months to the end of September rose 6.5% from a year ago to 189.8bn yen.
The company also announced management changes, which it said were “designed to enhance Nissan’s performance and ensure the company will deliver the 8% operating profit margin target set out in the Power 88 mid-term plan”.
Under the changes, Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga will become a vice chairman with responsibility for external affairs, asset management and corporate governance.
The office and functions of the COO will be reorganized among three senior executives, Nissan has said.
Día De Los Muertosis one of Mexico’s traditional holidays reuniting and honoring beloved ancestors, family and friends.
The holiday is celebrated over two days, on November 1 and 2. The roots of this celebration go back 3,000 years to pre-Hispanic cultures like the Aztecs, Mayans and Toltecas. When the Spaniards conquered Mexico, this indigenous custom was rooted so deeply that it survived centuries of European colonization.
For these ancient cultures, death wasn’t something to be feared. It was as much part of life as life itself.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)reflects this perspective. It is a happy celebration. Death is represented in whimsical, colorful ways. There is no place for weeping for this could be interpreted as offensive by the a dead relatives who are visiting gladly.
People build altars at home and at cemeteries to honor dead relatives and friends. To entice their souls to an earthly visit, they make offerings of their favorite foods and beverages. Photos of happy times and personal memorabilia of the deceased are also placed close by. The celebrations often turn humorous as family members remember funny anecdotes involving the deceased and leave items at the altar meant to remind them of such times.
Día De Los Muertos is one of Mexico’s traditional holidays reuniting and honoring beloved ancestors, family and friends
Calaveras, or sugar skulls, are offered as a gift to both the dead and the alive. The sweet treat can be store-bought or homemade, in which case it becomes a family activity with children and adults decorating the skulls in bright colors.
Toy Coffins. These are made to delight the returning spirits of children, also referred to as ”angelitos‘ (little angels). There are usually enough of these at any given celebration to also be offered as party favors to the children who attend.
Marigolds.Bright and sunny, these yellow flowers are as emblematic of Día de los Muertos as poinsettias are of Christmas. They are used to decorate intricate arches, wreaths and crosses adorning altars, or are simply spinkled all over them. Some people make trails of marigold petals that lead to their houses from the cemetery to help the spirits of loved ones find their way home. These trails are sometimes lit with candles that offer a soft, comforting glow.
Mezcal and Tequila.A nice tequila is smooth like a fine cognac. Living beings aren’t the only ones who enjoy it. During Día de los Muertos, tequila, mezcal and other spirits are placed at the altars. The belief is that, after such a long treck from the other side, the spirits are likely to crave a drink.
Pan de Muertos.This sweet bread is a staple of the celebrations. Children dunk it in hot chocolate and adults in café con leche. In Mexico, street vendors have it readily available during the festivities although many families make it at home following individual family recipes.
Bright colors, but especially yellow, dominate the decor at Día de los Muertos.
Skulls were powerful symbols for the Aztecs. The head was believed to be a source of power and energy. The skull decorations and costumes that abound in the Día de los Muertos celebrations aren’t meant to be spooky. They are a symbol of strength, intelligence and even vitality.
Díade Los Muertos is a time of joyful celebration and remembrance. It is also a time to come to terms with our mortality and the cycle of life and death. Rather than fear death, this ancient celebration teaches to accept our mortality while enjoying life to its fullest.
Secretary of State John Kerry has admitted that in some cases, US spying has gone too far.
John Kerry is the most senior Obama administration official to have commented directly on an issue that has upset America’s European allies.
The US secretary of state said he will work with President Barack Obama to prevent further inappropriate acts by the National Security Agency (NSA).
John Kerry’s comments come as Asian countries have protested at claims that Australia was involved in a US-led spy network.
China has demanded an explanation of the reports, while Indonesia has summoned the Australian ambassador to Jakarta.
Secretary of State John Kerry has admitted that in some cases, US spying has gone too far
In his comments, John Kerry also defended the need for increased surveillance, saying it had thwarted terrorist attacks.
“We have actually prevented airplanes from going down, buildings from being blown up, and people from being assassinated because we’ve been able to learn ahead of time of the plans,” he told a conference in London via video link.
“I assure you, innocent people are not being abused in this process, but there’s an effort to try to gather information. And yes, in some cases, it has reached too far inappropriately.
“And the president, our president, is determined to try to clarify and make clear for people, and is now doing a thorough review in order that nobody will have the sense of abuse… we are going to make sure that does not happen in the future.”
John Kerry, in his remarks to a conference organized by the Open Government Partnership, said that while some surveillance may have been excessive, claims that up to 70 million were being monitored were an “exaggeration”.
Claims about the extent of US surveillance of targets such as European leaders have strained Washington’s diplomatic relations with some of its key allies.
Homer and his family travel to Middle-Earth in search of the Comfy Couch in this Hobbit spoof, the latest couch from the episode Four Regrettings and a Funeral.
Four Springfielders are prompted to try to right past regrets following the funeral of a beloved neighbor. Homer regrets selling his Apple stock to buy a bowling ball, Marge worries she caused Bart’s rebellious streak, Mr. Burns reminisces about a romance he gave up with a beautiful Parisian woman.
The Simpsons travel to Middle-Earth in search of the Comfy Couch
Kent Brockman admits he was too afraid to leave local news and follow his former partner, Rachel Maddow (guest voicing as herself), to cable news in the all-new The Simpson’s Four Regrettings and a Funeral episode airing Sunday, November 3, at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX.
Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band will perform in South Africa for the first time, almost three decades after the group campaigned against apartheid.
Two shows are scheduled for Cape Town on January 28 and 29, 2014, with a third in Johannesburg on February 1st.
“Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said a message on Bruce Springsteen’s website.
Guitarist Steven Van Zandt founded the protest movement Artists United Against Apartheid in 1985.
As part of the campaign, Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis and various other influential musicians recorded the protest song Sun City.
Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band will perform in South Africa for the first time, almost three decades after the group campaigned against apartheid
Its target was the gambling resort in the nominally independent homeland of Bophuthatswana, which attracted less politically minded acts to perform there by paying them large sums of money.
Apartheid ended in 1994 following Nelson Mandela’s election as the country’s first black president.
The three concerts in South Africa are part of Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball tour, which began in 2012.
The tour has seen the veteran rocker play a series of gigs in the US, Europe and Latin America over the past 18 months.
“After 24 years it’s a dream come true to promote Bruce Springsteen in South Africa,” South Africa’s Channel 24 entertainment website quoted Attie Van Wyk, chief executive of promoter Big Concerts, as saying.
“It’s definitely a personal highlight to confirm The Boss.”
Bruce Springsteen last toured in 2009 with his Working on a Dream tour.
E Street Band will move on to Australia and New Zealand after their South African dates.
Israel has carried out a strike near the Syrian coastal city of Latakia, a US official says.
The official said the strike targeted Russian-made missiles intended for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Latakia is a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an important port city where the Alawite community to which he belongs is concentrated.
Israel is widely reported to have carried out at least three air strikes in Syria so far this year.
While Israel rarely comments on specific operations, it has repeatedly said it would act if it felt Syrian weapons, conventional or chemical, were being transferred to militant groups in the region, especially Hezbollah.
Reports of the strike came as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said all Syria’s declared equipment for making chemical weapons had been destroyed, one day before a deadline.
Israel has carried out a strike near the Syrian coastal city of Latakia
Action by the OPCW was agreed following allegations, denied by the Syrian government, that its forces had used chemical weapons in civilian areas – and after the US and France threatened military intervention.
A US official said the Israeli strike took place overnight from Wednesday into Thursday.
Reports circulated on Thursday of explosions near Latakia, but the cause was not clear.
“Several explosions were heard in an air defense base in the Snubar Jableh area,” said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist network.
Neither Israel nor Syria have commented on the reports.
One unnamed US official told the Associated Press that the missiles targeted by Israel were Russian-made SA-125s.
Russia has been a key backer of President Bashar al-Assad’s, continuing to supply his government with weapons during the conflict in Syria.
Bashar al-Assad had promised to respond to any future strikes by Israel.
Australia’s ambassador has been summoned in Indonesia amid reports that Australian embassies have been used as part of a US-led spying network in Asia.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), diplomatic posts in Asia were being used to intercept phone calls and data.
China has also demanded an explanation from the US over the allegations.
The reports were based on an NSA document leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The document, which was originally published by German newspaper Der Spiegel, describes a signals intelligence programme called Stateroom which involves the interception of radio, telecommunications and internet traffic using equipment in US, British, Australian and Canadian diplomatic missions.
Diplomatic posts involved included those in Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi, Beijing and Kuala Lumpur, amongst others, SMH reported on Thursday.
Australia’s ambassador has been summoned in Indonesia amid reports that Australian embassies have been used as part of a US-led spying network in Asia
A former Australian intelligence officer, who was not named, told SMH that the Australian embassies in Jakarta and Bali were used to collect signals.
In a statement, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said: “[The government] cannot accept and strongly protests the news of the existence of wiretapping facilities at the US embassy in Jakarta.”
“If confirmed, such action is not only a breach of security, but also a serious breach of diplomatic norms and ethics.”
“The reported activities absolutely do not reflect the spirit of a close and friendly relationship between the two neighbors and are considered unacceptable by the government of Indonesia,” the foreign ministry added in a statement.
Australian ambassador Greg Moriarty was summoned to the foreign ministry on Monday.
He described the talks, which reportedly took less than half an hour, as “a good meeting”.
Australia and Indonesia are key allies and trading partners. Australia requires Indonesia’s co-operation on the asylum issue, as many asylum seekers travel via Indonesia to Australia by boat.
Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing was “extremely concerned” about the report.
“[China] demands that the US offer a clarification and explanation,” she said.
“We demand that foreign embassies in China and their staff respect the Vienna Convention.”
Malaysia’s foreign ministry, in a statement, said it had sought clarification on the issue from the US envoy in Kuala Lumpur, adding that Malaysia’s “security and sovereignty” remained the priority.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to comment on the reports. PM Tony Abbott said: “Every Australian governmental agency, every Australian official… operates in accordance with the law.”
The reports are the latest in a series of documents leaked by Edward Snowden, who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia and is wanted in the US in connection with the unauthorized disclosures.
The US is facing growing anger over reports it spied on its allies abroad.
However, correspondents say that in reality most governments conduct surveillance or espionage operations against other countries whose activities matter to them.
The US Congress has cut food aid benefits for poor from Friday as an extension of the government programme expires, while legislators fight over further cuts.
Benefits to the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) will be lowered by $36 a month for a family of four, officials say.
Some 47 million low income Americans will be affected by the cuts.
Food aid in the US has grown to $80 billion a year due to higher unemployment and rising food costs.
Congress has cut food aid benefits for poor from Friday as an extension of the government programme expires
About one in seven Americans relies on SNAP, also known as food stamps.
The benefits were originally expanded during the recent economic recession to stimulate the economy and help the poorest Americans.
Republicans in Congress are seeking further reductions to the programme and say it should be better targeted at the most needy.
Retailers and grocers around the US are concerned about the possible negative impact the reduction will have on consumer spending.
Google has launched Nexus 5 – the latest incarnation of its flagship Nexus smartphone.
Made by LG, Google’s Nexus 5 is smaller, slimmer and lighter than the Nexus 4 but its 4.96 in touchscreen is bigger.
The Nexus 5 has been developed to show off the capabilities of the new version of the Android operating system.
Called Kitkat, the software has been designed to work well on both high-end smartphones and cheaper feature phones.
The alliance with Google has helped bolster LG’s fortunes even though, according to statistics from Gartner, it is still a long way behind rivals Samsung and Apple.
In the April-to-June quarter, the consultancy indicated 3.8% of all smartphones sold were LG handsets putting the South Korean firm in third place.
Made by LG, Google’s Nexus 5 is smaller, slimmer and lighter than the Nexus 4 but its 4.96 in touchscreen is bigger
By contrast, Apple accounted for 18.8% of all sales and Samsung 29.7%.
The specifications for the new phone were widely leaked before it was announced on the official Google blog.
The Nexus 5 shares some of the hardware from LG’s G2 handset and can record and play back HD video at the full 1080p resolution. Its camera also has a rapid burst system that captures several photographs at the same time so owners can pick the best shot.
The handset is due to go on sale on November 1st in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea.
Google said a base 16GB version of the device would cost $349 in the US, unlocked and without a contract. The 32GB version should cost $399.
With Android Kitkat, Google said it had made the software use less memory so it could be used on handsets with much lower specifications than top end smartphones.
In addition, Google has begun moving some services off Android’s core software and onto its app store. Many see this as a way for it to maintain more control over the security of the software and its associated applications.
Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a law which makes it a crime to insult the president.
Prosecutors should not be overzealous about charging people who comment about President Robert Mugabe “in drinking halls and other social places”, the highest court said.
At least 80 cases have reportedly been filed in recent years under the law.
In May, opposition activist Solomon Madzore was arrested for allegedly calling Robert Mugabe a “limping donkey”.
Robert Mugabe denied a charge of insulting the president.
Under Section 33 of Zimbabwe’s Criminal Codification and Reform Act, a person could be jailed for up to a year or fined $100 for insulting the president’s office.
Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a law which makes it a crime to insult President Robert Mugabe
The law was challenged by several Zimbabweans, including a resident of the southern city of Bulawayo, Tendai Danga, who was arrested two years ago for allegedly insulting Robert Mugabe during a row with a policeman in a bar.
The court’s nine judges were unanimous in ruling that the law undermined freedom of expression, making it unlikely that the government will appeal against it.
However, the court gave Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa until November 20 to file an appeal.
In August, a court acquitted a 26-year old man, Takura Mufumisi, charged with intending to use a poster of President Robert Mugabe as toilet paper in a bar.
Zimbabwe approved a new constitution which expands civil liberties in a referendum in March.
Many Zimbabweans have welcomed the court’s ruling, believing the law had insulated the president from criticism.
Robert Mugabe, 89, extended his 33-year rule in elections in July.
His rival Morgan Tsvangirai rejected the result, alleging it was marred by widespread fraud.
The court also declared unconstitutional a law curtailing media freedom, following a challenge by a privately owned financial publication, Zimbabwe Independent.
The state should not “penalize people who make false statements in good faith about a matter of public concern”, Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malala said.
Zimbabwean law currently states that a person can be sentenced to 20 years in prison for publishing falsehoods.
Lindsey Gort is playing a young Samantha Jones in CW’s The Carrie Diaries.
The new series airs Friday, 8 p.m. EDT.
“When the part came up, my manager was like, <<Hey, remember when you said she was a young Kim Cattrall-type? Well, you’re looking for that right now so you should come see her>>,” Lindsey Gort said in a recent interview.
Lindsey Gort is playing a young Samantha Jones in CW’s The Carrie Diaries
“It’s such an iconic character, and I’m such a huge fan of the show,” the actress said.
Set in the 1980s, The Carrie Diaries stars AnnaSophia Robb as teen Carrie Bradshaw, who lives in Connecticut with her widowed father and younger sister. The show is based on novels by Candace Bushnell, as was Sex and the City.
Lindsey Gort’s version of Samantha Jones is a lot like the one in the ’90s HBO series and the two movies that followed.
The big difference, Lindsey Gort says, is that Samantha is “in her early 20s and is not a career woman yet, so she doesn’t have her Birkin bags and her Manolos yet. She’s figuring herself out, trying to figure out where she belongs in this world and having a good time while doing that.”
For the first time since 1999, four Turkish women MPs have appeared in parliament in Ankara wearing headscarves.
The lawmakers are members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has roots in political Islam.
Last month, Turkey lifted the headscarf ban in a number of state institutions.
The ban was one of the most contentious laws in Turkey, pitting backers of the secular constitution against those who favour Islamic rights.
“I will no longer take off my headscarf,” Gonul Bekin Sahkulubey, one of the four MPs, was quoted as saying by Turkey’s Milliyet newspaper.
Last month, Turkey lifted the headscarf ban in a number of state institutions
“I expect everyone to respect my decision.”
A number of fellow MPs gathered around their colleague to take pictures.
Supporters of the women said their move was yet another step towards normalizing the wearing of headscarves.
However, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) accused the governing party of PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan of undermining the country’s secular traditions.
The CHP also said the move was an election gimmick ahead of municipal polls next March.
This is the first time MPs have worn the headscarf in parliament since an abortive attempt in 1999.
Back then, lawmaker Merve Kavakci arrived in the assembly in a headscarf for her swearing-in ceremony – only to be booed out of the building.
The reversal of the ban was part of major political reforms – including new Kurdish rights – announced last month by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the move as “a historic moment”.
The US aviation authority has announced the use of portable electronic devices will soon be allowed on US planes during all phases of flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will now permit passengers to use gadgets such as tablet computers and e-readers during take-off and landing.
Many airlines are expected to adopt the new guidelines by the end of the year.
Aviation and mobile technology experts had advised the FAA the rule change would be safe.
“These guidelines reflect input from passengers, pilots, manufacturers, and flight attendants,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx wrote in a statement.
“We believe today’s decision honors both our commitment to safety and consumer’s increasing desire to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flights.”
The FAA will now permit passengers to use gadgets such as tablet computers and e-readers during take-off and landing
A review committee recently determined that most commercial aircraft can tolerate radio interference signals from such devices, the FAA said.
Covered under the rule change are lightweight, electrically powered devices including music players, gaming consoles and smart phones – with the mobile telephone service disabled.
Phone calls from mobile phones remain prohibited throughout flights under separate regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.
Individual airlines will have to assess whether their planes can handle the additional radio interference from the devices.
“There is one thing that won’t change,” FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington DC on Thursday.
“Passengers must take a break from their devices, their reading material, their music, whatever they are doing, and listen to the safety briefing before each flight. It is information that can save your life.”
After being bullied and called fat throughout her pregnancy with baby North West, newly svelte Kim Kardashian was proudly flaunting her famous curves during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.
Speaking with Jay Leno about the fat-shaming she endured while pregnant, Kim Kardashian, 33, said she took the criticism to heart.
“It really hurt my soul,” she confessed.
“It changed how I am in public. I’ve tried to live more of a private life.”
Kim Kardashian and her fiancé Kanye West kept a low profile after the June birth of their baby daughter. But now that the new mom has shed 50 lbs via the Atkins diet she’s feeling more confident.
Last week, on her 33rd birthday, Kanye West surprised her with an elaborate marriage proposal and a huge cushion-cut diamond ring.
“I’m very happy right now,” Kim Kardashian told Jay Leno.
Kim Kardashian was proudly flaunting her famous curves during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
“[The proposal] was the most magical night of my life.”
“I want [Kanye West] to have whatever he wants,” Kim Kardashian told Jay Leno of her fiancé, noting that “someplace Parisian” might be nice for their wedding.
The couple are “hoping for next summer,” the reality star added, but they “haven’t had time to sit down and talk about it.”
One thing they have talked about is whether she will change her famous name. As Kanye West revealed earlier this week, Kim Kardashian plans to take her husband’s last name though she’ll keep Kardashian as her middle name.
“It’ll definitely be West,” Kim Kardashian said of the name change.
“My daughter’s name is West, and we’re a family.”
Speaking of little North, nicknamed “Nori,” Kim Kardashian couldn’t help but gush.
“She’s the sweetest little girl. She never cries,” the proud mom bragged of her 4-month-old daughter.
“She’s a perfect little angel. I hope she grows up to be smart and opinionated like her dad,” Kim Kardashian added.
Edward Snowden, who is now living off scant donations under Russia asylum since July, will be starting a job at an undisclosed but large Russian website.
Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden has found a job working for a website in Russia, where he was granted asylum after fleeing the United States, a Russian lawyer who is helping him said on Thursday.
“Edward starts work in November,” lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said, according to state-run news agency RIA.
“He will provide support for a large Russian site,” he said, adding that he would not name the site “for security reasons.”
Edward Snowden, 30, a former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed secret U.S. internet telephone surveillance programs, fled to Hong Kong and then to Russia in June.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected U.S. pleas to send Edward Snowden home to face charges including espionage, and the temporary asylum he was granted in early August can be extended annually.
Edward Snowden will be starting a job at an undisclosed but large Russian website
Edward Snowden’s location in Russia has not been disclosed and since July he has appeared only in a handful of photographs and video clips from a meeting this month with visiting former US national security officials who support his cause.
Vladimir Putin, a former KGB spy, said repeatedly that Russia would only shelter Edward Snowden if he stopped harming the US.
But state media have treated him as a whistleblower and the decision to grant him asylum seemed to underscore Vladimir Putin’s accusations that the US government preaches to the world about rights and freedoms it does not uphold at home.
Vladimir Putin has dismissed the widespread assumption that Russian intelligence officers had grilled Edward Snowden for information after he arrived, and Anqatoly Kucherena has portrayed him as trying to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.
He said earlier that he hoped Edward Snowden would find a job because he was living on scant funds, mostly from donations.
A tabloid news site on Thursday published what it said was a photo of Edward Snowden on a Moscow river cruise this summer, and the same site earlier published a photo of a man who looked like Snowden pushing a shopping cart in a supermarket parking lot.
A massive storm system could make for a rainy Halloween for trick-or-treaters across the US from New England to Texas.
The ferocious storm system was hurtling from Texas to the northeast early Thursday, threatening to lash a long arm of the US with buckets of rain and high winds as officials in three states postponed trick-or-treating to Friday.
Meteorologists warned people in the Ohio Valley, the lower Mississippi Valley and western Gulf Coast to brace for harsh gusts of wind, hail and even tornadoes – a scary forecast just in time for Halloween revelry.
Trick-or-treating has been pushed to Friday in scores of cities in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio – states expected to bear the brunt of the severe storm system, according to Weather.com.
The trouble was already brewing near Austin, Texas, early Thursday, where heavy train triggered flash floods, forcing scores of people from their homes amid evacuation advisories and prompting helicopter rescues, officials said.
Some areas surrounding the city were slammed by as much as 15 inches of rain, according to Austin-Travis County’s Emergency Medical Service (EMS). Meanwhile, emergency crews staged 15 water rescues across Austin and Travis counties throughout the early morning, EMS spokesman Warren Hassinger said.
A massive storm system could make for a rainy Halloween for trick-or-treaters across the US from New England to Texas
There was no reported deaths and only minor injuries early Thursday, although Warren Hassinger said there were reports from neighboring Hays and Comal Counties of people calling for help who were trapped in vehicles or clinging to trees.
The Texas Department for Public Safety said there were no firm numbers yet for the four worst affected counties of Williamson, Hays, Comel and Travis, but that there were at least 20 homes affected in Hutto, a town of more than 18,000 in Williamson County.
Austin Energy reported upwards of 12,000 customers without electric power Thursday morning, according to the Associated Press, while Wimberley Independent School District called off classes due to “extreme weather conditions,” according to its website. Schools in nearby San Marcos and Lockhart also cancelled classes amid the nasty weather and snarled traffic, the wire service reported.
The worst of the rain is over for the region, with the storm moving from west to east, according to the department.
“It will have hopefully abated by about 2 p.m. this afternoon,” a data collector at the department said.
“But the run-off is what we worry about – there’s always that danger.”
As the massive weather system barrels eastward, officials are warning people in the Midwest and Northeast to take precautions ahead of the storm.
The Indianapolis Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that locals should stay away from big trees and clear their sidewalks so any flooding can cut a clear path.
Heavy rain may pound the Northeast on Friday, with high wind watches posted for the Great Lakes as well as areas of southern New England and Long Island, according to the National Wather Service.
Officials have warned coastal residents to brace for possible power outages as well as felled trees and power lines, according to Weather.com.
Sony has slashed its full-year profit forecast by 40 percent as it continues to struggle.
The Japanese electronics giant now expects to make a net profit of 30 billion yen ($305 million) in the financial year to March 31, 2014, down from its earlier projection of 50 billion yen.
The cut came as Sony said its loss in the July-to-September quarter widened 25 percent from a year ago to 19.3 billion yen.
One of the big drags on its earnings was its Pictures division which made a loss due to some high profile flops.
The division, which also includes production of movies as well as TV shows, recorded an operating loss of 17.8 billion yen during the period, compared to an operating profit of 7.9 billion a year earlier.
“The current quarter reflects the theatrical underperformance of White House Down, while the previous fiscal year included the strong theatrical performance of the Amazing Spider-Man,” Sony said in a statement.
Sony has slashed its full-year profit forecast by 40 percent as it continues to struggle
There was also a decline in television licensing revenue due to fewer movies being licensed year-on-year.
Sony has also been hurt by increased competition and slowing global demand for TVs.
A decline in TV prices has further hurt the profitability of the sector.
Sony’s TV division posted an operating loss of 9.3 billion yen for the three months to the end of September.
At the same time, its gaming division which makes the PlayStation consoles also reported an operating loss during the period.
The firm said that the division’s earnings were hurt after it cut the price of its PlayStation Vita consoles.
Sony cut the prices of the original PS Vita earlier this year in a bid to boost sales, which have been affected by an increasing number of users playing games on their smartphones and tablet PCs.
Sony’s Game division made an operating loss of 800 million yen during the period, compared to an operating profit of 2.3 billion yen during the same quarter a last year.
Sony’s results are in contrast to rivals Sharp and Panasonic who reported profits for the July-to-September quarter.
A bronze statue of French footballer Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt has been taken down from the Corniche in Doha, Qatar.
The 16 ft sculpture was removed just weeks after being installed, having prompted strong reactions on social media.
It generated criticism from religious conservatives who believe it encourages idolatry; others thought it promoted violence or was in bad taste.
It portrays Zinedine Zidane headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup.
The bronze statue of Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt has been taken down from the Corniche in Doha
Created by Algerian-born French artist Adel Abdessemed in 2012, it had previously been on show at the Pompidou Centre in Paris. It was bought by the Qatari Museum Authority.
Local reports say the statue – known as Coup de Tete or headbutt – is going to be housed along with other works by Abdessemed in the Arab Museum of Modern Art.
The Arabic hashtag “Zidane’s statue in Qatar” triggered a “massive” reaction from dismayed conservatives on Twitter, said AFP, with one user sarcastically posting: “Congratulations for having new idols.”
“It is sad that our youth see in this art and modernity. Our children do not differentiate between the right and the wrong, or the haram [prohibited] and the halal [permissible],” said another tweeter.
The statue’s craftsmanship and symbolism were earlier praised as “timeless as Greek mythological works of art” by the Jean-Paul Engelen, director of Public Art at the Qatari Museum Authority.
According to a new report produced annually by the Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, global emissions of carbon dioxide may be showing the first signs of a “permanent slowdown” in the rate of increase.
According to the report, emissions in 2012 increased at less than half the average over the past decade.
Key factors included the shift to shale gas for energy in the US while China increased its use of hydropower by 23%.
However, the use of cheap coal continues to be an issue, with UK consumption up by almost a quarter.
The report finds that emissions of carbon dioxide reached a new record in 2012 of 34.5 billion tonnes.
But the rate of increase in CO2 was 1.4%, despite the global economy growing by 3.5%.
Global emissions of carbon dioxide may be showing the first signs of a permanent slowdown in the rate of increase
This decoupling of emissions from economic growth is said to be down to the use of less fossil fuels, more renewable energy and increased energy savings.
The main emitters, accounting for 55% of the global total, were China, the US and the EU. All three saw changes that were described as “remarkable” by the report’s authors.
Emissions from China increased by 3% but this was a significant slowdown compared to annual increases of around 10% over the past decade.
There were two important factors in reducing China’s CO2. The first was the ending of a large economic stimulus package. As a result electricity and energy prices increased at half the rate of GDP.
China also achieved exceptional growth in the use of hydropower for the generation of electricity, increasing capacity and output by 23% in 2012. This alone had the effect of curbing the country’s emissions by 1.5%.
In the US, the shale revolution continues to make waves. Overall emissions were down by 4% in the year mainly because of a continuing shift from coal to gas in the generation of electricity. Shale is now responsible for one third of US gas production and almost one quarter of total oil production.
The other major decline came in the EU where economic recession in the 27 nation bloc saw emissions decline by 1.3%. This was down to a decrease in energy consumption of oil and gas, with a 4% decline in road transport.
Renewable energy also continued its upward trend, at accelerating speed. It took 15 years for the renewable global share to increase 0.5% to 1.1% – but it took only six years for it to double again, to 2.4% in 2012.
Looking ahead, the report suggests that if the push for shale continues in the US, if China sticks to its published plans and if renewables continue to grow – particularly in Europe – global emissions might slow down permanently.
The bodies of 87 people who died of thirst after their vehicles broke down as they tried to cross the Sahara have been found by rescue workers in Niger.
Rescue worker Almoustapha Alhacen said the corpses were in a severe state of decomposition and had been partly eaten, probably by jackals.
Those found are thought to be migrant workers and their families. Most were women and children.
Niger lies on a major migrant route between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.
But among those who make it across the desert, many end up working in North African countries.
According to Almoustapha Alhacen, one of the vehicles that the migrants were travelling in broke down some time after they left Arlit at the end of September or beginning of October.
About 80,000 migrants cross the Sahara desert through Niger
It appears that some of the group set out on foot, including up to 10 people who made it back to Arlit and raised the alarm, he said.
It was reported on Monday that five bodies had been found.
On Wednesday, volunteers and soldiers working in searing heat found other corpses about 6 miles from the Algerian border.
Speaking from Arlit, a centre for uranium mining north of Agadez, Almoustapha Alhacen said he had experienced the worst day of his life when he found the bodies.
They were given Muslim burials where they were found, he said.
Given that at least 48 of those found were children or teenagers, Almoustapha Alhacen said it was possible they were on their way to low-paid jobs in neighboring Algeria.
It is not clear which countries the migrants came from.
“There were no clues. My guess is that the children were madrassa [Islamic school] children, being taken to Algeria to work. That is the only explanation that I and others can find for such a large number of children having travelled together,” Almoustapha Alhacen said.
About 80,000 migrants cross the Sahara desert through Niger, according to John Ging, director of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Biographer Dr. Paula Byrne has criticized the Bank of England for selecting an “airbrushed” portrait of Jane Austen for its new £10 note.
Oxford University fellow Dr. Paula Byrne said the 1870 image was a “makeover” of an earlier portrait composed by the novelist’s sister Cassandra.
Halloween, the Jane Austen Society, which was consulted by the Bank of England, felt it was a good choice.
Jane Austen was chosen to replace Charles Darwin on the £10 note.
It is expected to come into circulation from 2017.
Dr. Paula Byrne, author of The Real Jane Austen, said the chosen image made the writer look like “a pretty doll with big doe eyes”.
“It’s a 19th Century airbrushed makeover,” said the fellow.
Biographer Paula Byrne has criticized the Bank of England for selecting an airbrushed portrait of Jane Austen for its new £10 note
“It makes me quite angry as it’s been prettied up for the Victorian era when Jane Austen was very much a woman of Georgian character.
“The costume is wrong and the image creates a myth Austen was a demure spinster and not a deep-thinking author.
“She was edgy for her time and the portrait by her sister Cassandra depicts an intelligent, determined woman.”
Elizabeth Proudman, chairman of the Jane Austen Society, said the Bank of England had done the best it could.
“There is only one authentic image available of Jane Austen and that is the pencil sketching by her sister that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.
“It’s an amateur portrait and, at the time, nobody particularly liked it.
“But, Jane Austen’s fame and popularity grew after her death and an engraving of Cassandra’s portrait was produced by [William Home] Lizars to go inside her memoirs.
“The family chose it, feeling it was a strong resemblance and that is more or less the image which has been chosen.”
In a statement, the Bank of England said the banknote portrait was an 1870 engraving commissioned by Jane Austen’s nephew, James Edward Austen Leigh, adapted from the original Cassandra sketch.
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 in the village of Steventon in Hampshire. She died in Winchester on July 18, 1817.
The selection of Jane Austen for the £10 note removed the prospect of having no women, besides the Queen, on the UK’s currency.
Halloween is all about the candy! Almost every child in the US will have candy on Halloween, and about half of the adults will eat some.
Test your knowledge of the world’s candies and check out some of our favorites here.
1. Bounty, UK
Mounds lovers will appreciate Bounty, a coconut-filled bar enrobed with milk chocolate.
2. Cheong Woo, Korea
Leave it to South Korea to come up with pumpkin candy — a mellow, slightly salty candy with a prominent squash-like flavor and the texture of Starburst. If you can track it down, it’s perfect for this time of year.
3. Baci, Italy
Hershey’s isn’t the only one with kisses — Italy has its own version, Perugina’s Baci. These chocolate bonbons are filled with hazelnut chocolate cream, topped with a whole hazelnut, and wrapped in a love note.
4. Yorkie, UK
The Yorkie bar — originally titled so because it was made by Rowntrees of York — was created in the 1970s as a larger chocolate bar alternative to Cadbury’s Dairy-Milk. To this day, the chocolate stays true to its original branding with the slogan: “It’s not for girls!”
Perugina’s Baci chocolate bonbons are filled with hazelnut chocolate cream, topped with a whole hazelnut, and wrapped in a love note
5. Chimes Mango Ginger Chews, Indonesia
These individually-wrapped Indonesian ginger candies in the quaint tin have a latent heat and spiciness to them, thanks to ginger that’s grown on volcanic soil in East Java.
6. ToffeeCrisp, UK
Nestlé makes a number of chocolate bars in Europe that aren’t readily available in the US. One of them is ToffeeCrisp, a staple in the UK. The long, slender milk chocolate bar is filled with crackling puffed rice and caramel. Its motto is: “Somebody, somewhere, is eating a ToffeeCrisp.”
7. Kinder Country, Germany
Kinder Country is described on the wrapper as “milk chocolate with rich milk filling.” It’s a creamy, milky white center, made crunchy with puffed rice and then doused in milk chocolate.
8. Peko Milky Candy, Japan
Peko-chan Milk Candy is commonplace among children in Japan. The individually-wrapped candies are firm yet chewy and have a distinctive sweet milk flavor.
9. Lion, UK
Another chocolate confection that hails from the UK. It was similar to a ToffeeCrisp, with caramel, crisp cereal, and a wafer enrobed in milk chocolate and reminded me of an even heartier 100 Grand.
10. Botan Rice Candy, Japan
Even if you’ve never been to Japan, you may have come across Botan Rice Candy in Asian supermarkets. Botan, which means “peony,” is a prominent brand in Japan and makes a sticky rice candy with a slightly citrusy flavor.
McDonald’s has announced it will test selling a variety of packaged ground and whole-bean coffee at supermarkets and other retail outlets starting next year.
The test will also include single-cup servings.
McDonald’s, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, did not disclose any other details. But the company already started selling McCafe packaged coffee in Canada late last year. Those bags weighed about 12 ounces and cost about $7.
McDonald’s will test selling a variety of packaged ground and whole-bean coffee at supermarkets and other retail outlets starting next year
The company is teaming up with Kraft Foods Group Inc. to distribute the coffee.
McDonald’s did not say how widespread the test would be.
