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Australia: Tony Abbott sworn in as prime minister

Diane A. Wade
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Australia: Tony Abbott sworn in as prime minister

Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia’s prime minister after his Liberal-National coalition ended six years of Labor government.

Tony Abbott, 55, took the oath at Government House in Canberra in front of Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

His conservative coalition won a comfortable lower house majority in the 7 September polls.

It plans to scrap a tax on carbon emissions introduced by Labor and further toughen asylum policy.

Ahead of Wednesday’s ceremony, Tony Abbott said his government would get to work immediately.

“Today is not just a ceremonial day, it’s an action day,” he said.

“The Australian people expect us to get straight down to business and that’s exactly what this government will do.”

The new ministers were also being sworn in during the day. His 19-member cabinet line-up has caused debate because it contains only one woman, new Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Tony Abbott, however, says his cabinet is “one of the most experienced incoming ministries in our history”.

The new prime minister said on Tuesday that the carbon tax would be his first task.

“As soon as I return to Parliament House from the swearing-in ceremony, I will instruct the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to prepare the carbon tax repeal legislation,” he said in a statement.

Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia's prime minister
Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia’s prime minister

He says the carbon tax – which makes Australia’s biggest polluters pay for emissions over a certain amount – cost jobs and forced energy prices up.

Instead of the tax, he plans to introduce a “direct action” plan under which subsidies will be given to farmers and businesses to reduce their emissions.

The position of science minister and a fund providing loans for green technologies are to be scrapped. Two official bodies related to climate change are also expected to be closed, local reports say.

The moves that has prompted criticism from Australia’s chief scientist, Professor Ian Chubb. “These sorts of issues are not going away just because we ignore them,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The new prime minister also says tough new policies to end the flow of asylum-seekers arriving in Australia via Indonesia will come into effect today.

Under a Labor policy, all asylum-seekers arriving by boat are being sent to Papua New Guinea for processing and resettlement if found to be refugees.

Tony Abbott is maintaining this policy and has promised to “stop the boats” – turning them back to Indonesia where safe to do so, a policy over which Indonesia has voiced concern.

He is expected to place the deputy chief of the army in charge of combating people smugglers, and his government will also restrict refugees already in Australia to temporary protection visas which must be regularly renewed.

Rights groups have criticized both the previous and incoming governments’ policies on asylum.

But – with some votes still to be counted from the September 7 election – it appears that the coalition will not control the Senate, meaning it may struggle to pass key legislation.

It is expected that the new government will have to work with several minor parties to get bills passed in the upper house.

The Labor Party, meanwhile, is in the process of choosing a new leader, with both former deputy prime minister Anthony Albanese and powerbroker Bill Shorten vying to replace Kevin Rudd, who is stepping down.

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Foss Lake discovery: Oklahoma deputies find six bodies inside two submerged cars

Nancy Clayson
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Foss Lake discovery: Oklahoma deputies find six bodies inside two submerged cars

The discovery of two rusting vintage cars containing six bodies under Foss Lake in Oklahoma has reignited the mystery of how three teenagers and three other people vanished in 1970.

Highway patrol officers testing their sonar equipment Foss Lake near Elk City, Oklahoma on Friday stumbled upon the rusting 1969 Camaro and a Chevrolet dating back to the 1950s.

Inside the Camaro were three bodies believed to be of local teenagers who vanished after going out for a drive in 1970. Inside the Chevrolet were three more bodies – thought to be a 69-year-old man and his two friends who went missing in the state in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

Police say the Camaro matches the vehicle associated with the three missing teenagers who disappeared on November 10 1970.

They say they have confirmed the identity of at least one of the victims however details are yet to be released.

Authorities have not formally identified all of the remains belong to but the local paper has made a clear connection between the discovered Camaro and the teens.

The latest reports by local station KFOR states that one of the victims in the car thought to have belonged to the teenager has been identified but they are waiting to notify all of the relatives of the victims involved before releasing any names.

Jimmy Allen Williams 16, Thomas Michael Rios, 18, and Leah Gail Johnson, 18, all went missing after going for a drive in Jimmy’s blue 1969 Camaro on November 20, 1970.

They are still listed as missing persons and were thought to have been headed to a football game in nearby Elk City but also could have detoured to go hunting at Foss Lake.

“It’s just been under water for 40 years. It’s a mucky mess,” Custer County Sheriff Bruce Peoples told KWEY radio.

The discovery of two rusting vintage cars containing six bodies under Foss Lake in Oklahoma has reignited the mystery of how three teenagers and three other people vanished in 1970
The discovery of two rusting vintage cars containing six bodies under Foss Lake in Oklahoma has reignited the mystery of how three teenagers and three other people vanished in 1970

In addition to the Custer County Sheriff’s Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, and the state medical examiner’s office were on scene Tuesday.

Authorities discovered the accidentally as Betsy Randolph, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said dive teams were at Foss Lake conducting training with sonar when they came upon the vehicles last week.

“So they went back and did a scheduled dive today and were going to recover the cars. When they pulled the cars out of the water, the first one that came out they found bones in the car,” she said.

When they pulled the second car out, another set of bones was discovered. The divers then went back in the water and searched around and found a skull, she said.

The remains were turned over to the medical examiner’s office who are expected to use DNA from surviving family members to identify the skeletons.

“We thought it was just going to be stolen vehicles and that’s not what it turned out to be, obviously,” Betsy Randolph said.

Custer County Sheriff Bruce Peoples said he believes the bodies found in the Camaro are those of the three teens who went missing in 1970.

He said: “The decomposed nature of the cars makes it difficult to positively identify here at the scene.”

Local woman Kim Carmichael was a friend of the Camaro’s owner, 16-year-old Jimmy Williams.

She told Oklahoma’s Newsnine.com: “I just remember how devastated everybody was.

“We lived in a little town … Nothing like that ever happened in Sayre.”

At the time of the disappearance, Kim Carmichael’s father was the undersheriff in nearby Beckham County where the teens were last seen.  He died in 2003 never knowing what happened.

Kim Carmichael added: “He said there was nothing … There were no leads, no nothing. He said it was just like they vanished into thin air.

“I can’t imagine what [Williams’] family was going through if I could see what my dad was going through.”

Oklahoma Highway Patrol said they are hoping the discovery will offer some relief to families who may have gone decades wondering where a missing loved one was.

Spokesman Betsy Randolph added: “We’re hoping these individuals, that this is going to bring some sort of closure to some families out there who have been waiting to hear about missing people.”

“If that’s the case, then we’re thrilled we were able to bring some sort of closure to those families.”

The medical examiner had called a number of relatives of possible victims to the scene, many of whom said that they never lost hope.

“We never gave up. We always wanted some clue that somebody knew someone,” said Debbie McManaman, a possible victim’s granddaughter.

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World’s smallest printed book on display at National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh

Sonia Pantiss
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World’s smallest printed book on display at National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh

World’s smallest printed book, no bigger than a grain of rice, is part of a new exhibition of miniature books at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Old King Cole, published in 1985 by the Gleniffer Press in Paisley, measures only 0.9 mm in height.

It held the world record for the smallest printed book, for 20 years.

It is one of about 85 miniature books from the library’s collections which will be displayed to the public for free until November 17.

Exhibition curator James Mitchell said: “Many are works of art or miracles of technology and are highly collectable.”

A miniature book is generally defined as one that is less than 7.5 cm (3in) in height and width.

World’s smallest printed book, no bigger than a grain of rice, is part of a new exhibition of miniature books at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh
World’s smallest printed book, no bigger than a grain of rice, is part of a new exhibition of miniature books at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh

The first printed miniature book on record is an Officium Beatae Virginis Maria (5.2 cm x 4.5 cm) that was printed in 1475.

Scotland has been an important centre of miniature book production since the 19th century.

From the 1870s to World War I, Glasgow firm of David Bryce & Son became one of the most successful miniature book publishers in the world.

Early in his career, Bryce produced a full-size edition of the works of Robert Burns that only sold 5,000 copies in three years. He reformatted it into two miniature books and before long sold more than 100,000 copies.

In the latter part of the 20th century, the Gleniffer Press carried on the tradition of producing miniature books in Scotland.

The press was founded in 1967 by Helen and Ian Macdonald as a hobby private press, producing home and business stationery.

By the early 1970s, it became noted throughout the world for making miniature books and was active in this field until 2007, when it closed after 40 years, having produced 57 different titles.

James Mitchell said: “This display celebrates the miniature book and the worldwide contribution that Scotland has made to this highly skilled form of publishing.”

Mexico floods: More than 2,000 tourists airlifted from Acapulco

Diane A. Wade
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Mexico floods: More than 2,000 tourists airlifted from Acapulco

More than 2,000 tourists have been airlifted by the Mexican army from Acapulco resort, following deadly floods caused by Tropical Storm Manuel.

Many more tourists and local residents remain stranded in the city and along the west coast after landslides blocked main roads.

Manuel was almost immediately followed by Hurricane Ingrid, causing widespread devastation in eastern Mexico.

At least 47 people are now known to have died in flooding and landslides.

It was the first time since 1958 that two powerful storms hit Mexico within 24 hours.

More than 2,000 tourists have been airlifted by the Mexican army from Acapulco resort
More than 2,000 tourists have been airlifted by the Mexican army from Acapulco resort

In Acapulco, the army – helped by local airlines – is continuing to fly stranded tourists, Mexicans and foreigners, to the capital Mexico City.

Passengers are being taken directly from shelters to the runway because the main airport terminal remains closed.

“I see everybody helping,” said Canadian tourist Michael Paliti, adding that he was “trying to get home as best as possible”.

More than 2,000 tourists have already been evacuated, but another 40,000 are believed to have been marooned in Acapulco.

“We’re desperate because we cannot return to our city or jobs. But for now, there’s still no hope of returning,” Isabel Duarte, another tourist, said.

Dozens of other towns in the south-western Guerrero state have also been hit by Manuel since it made landfall on Sunday.

There are fears that remote hillside communities may be particularly affected. Manuel has now dissipated over south-western Mexico.

In the east, Hurricane Ingrid was downgraded to a tropical storm shortly before it made landfall on Monday near the town of La Pesca.

More than 20,000 people have since been evacuated in the state of Veracruz.

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Miss Kay Robertson’s banana pudding recipe

Kathryn R. Bown
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Miss Kay Robertson’s banana pudding recipe

Duck Dynasty published few of Miss Kay Robertson’s famous recipes like banana pudding, quick biscuits, and Swiss steak.

Miss Kay Robertson shared her banana pudding recipe, one of the Robertsons’ favorite desserts.

Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter

2 cups of sugar

1 teaspoon of salt

3/4 cup of all-purpose flour

1 12-ounce can of evaporated milk

Miss Kay Robertson shared her banana pudding recipe, one of the Robertsons' favorite desserts
Miss Kay Robertson shared her banana pudding recipe, one of the Robertsons’ favorite desserts

3/4 cup of milk

6 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 bag vanilla wafers

2 bananas, sliced

Directions:

In a large double boiler, melt the butter and then add the sugar, salt, flour, evaporated milk and regular milk. Stir with a whisk. Add the egg yolks to the mixture, constantly stirring until thick. Add the vanilla extract. Place the vanilla wafers and bananas into a 9-inch-by-13-inch dish. Then pour in the mixture. Chill before serving.

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Dilma Rousseff cancels US trip over NSA espionage row

Diane A. Wade
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Dilma Rousseff cancels US trip over NSA espionage row

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has called off a state visit to the US next month in a row over allegations of American espionage.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) has been accused of intercepting emails and messages from Dilma Rousseff, her aides and state oil company, Petrobras.

The allegations were based on documents leaked by fugitive former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

President Barack Obama had promised to investigate the incident.

The White House said he had telephoned Dilma Rousseff on Monday to discuss the matter.

The allegations of widespread espionage against Brazilian citizens were first published in July by Rio de Janeiro-based journalist Glenn Greenwald, a reporter for the Guardian newspaper.

Glenn Greenwald alleged that the NSA accessed all internet content that Dilma Rousseff had visited online.

The documents, according to the report, were part of an NSA case study showing how data could be intelligently filtered.

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has called off a state visit to the US next month in a row over allegations of American espionage
Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has called off a state visit to the US next month in a row over allegations of American espionage

Earlier this month, another report by Glenn Greenwald on Globo Television alleged that the NSA had illegally accessed data from oil company Petrobras.

The company is due next month to carry out an important auction for exploration rights of an oil field off the Rio de Janeiro state coast.

Dilma Rousseff has said that if the accusations are proven it means the NSA was involved in “industrial espionage”.

Her US state visit, starting on October 23, was to be the first by a Brazilian president since 1995.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Brazilian government said that “given the proximity of the scheduled state visit to Washington – and in the absence of a timely investigation of the incident, with corresponding explanations and the commitment to cease the interception activities” it could not go ahead as planned.

The statement said Brazil hoped the visit would take place “as soon as possible”, once the issue had been “resolved properly”.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said that the postponement had been a joint decision between Dilma Rousseff and Barack Obama, who agreed it “should not be overshadowed by any bilateral issue”.

The White House said in a statement: “The president has said that he understands and regrets the concerns [that] disclosures of alleged US intelligence activities have generated in Brazil and made clear that he is committed to working together with President Rousseff and her government in diplomatic channels to move beyond this issue as a source of tension in our bilateral relationship.”

The NSA has been accused of looking into electronic communications from what the US sees as hostile Latin American governments, such as Venezuela and Ecuador, as well as traditional allies, including Mexico.

At the G20 meeting in Russia earlier this month, Barack Obama promised to investigate the allegations of espionage against Dilma Rousseff and her Mexican counterpart, Henrique Pena Nieto.

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Washington Navy Yard shooting victims revealed

Nancy Clayson
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Washington Navy Yard shooting victims revealed

Ex-US Navy reservist Aaron Alexis killed 12 people and wounded eight at Washington DC Navy installation.

The victims of Washington Navy Yard are:

Aaron Alexis killed 12 people and wounded eight at Washington DC Navy installation
Aaron Alexis killed 12 people and wounded eight at Washington DC Navy installation
  • Michael Arnold, 59
  • Sylvia Frasier, 53
  • Kathleen Gaarde, 62
  • John Roger Johnson, 73
  • Frank Kohler, 50
  • Kenneth Proctor, 46
  • Vishnu Pandit, 61
  • Martin Bodrog, 54
  • Arthur Daniels, 51
  • Mary Francis Knight, 51
  • Gerald Read, 58
  • Richard Michael Ridgell, 52 [youtube lkwtzFrIvdQ]

Aaron Alexis treated for mental health issues before Navy Yard rampage

Nancy Clayson
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Aaron Alexis treated for mental health issues before Navy Yard rampage

Ex-US Navy reservist Aaron Alexis, who killed 12 people and wounded eight at a Washington DC Navy base, had received treatment for mental health issues, US media have reported.

Aaron Alexis, 34, was treated for paranoia, trouble sleeping and hearing voices, the Associated Press reported.

A contractor for the Navy, Aaron Alexis had a valid pass for the secure site at the Washington Navy Yard, authorities said.

Aaron Alexis was shot and killed by police during the attack.

On Tuesday, the US capital remained in a state of shock and mourning.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel laid a wreath at US Navy Memorial Plaza in honor of the Navy Yard victims.

A Washington Nationals baseball game originally scheduled for Monday night was rescheduled to Tuesday afternoon – the baseball stadium is just blocks from the Navy Yard.

The flag flew at half-mast over the White House, where hours after the attack President Barack Obama mourned “yet another mass shooting”.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has ordered a physical security review of all Navy and Marine Corps installations.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Barack Obama would continue to push for tighter gun control laws in the wake of Monday’s shooting.

The shooting began about 8:20 local time on Monday, when a gunman apparently shot his way into the heavily guarded Building 197, headquarters for Naval Sea Systems Command, which builds and maintains ships and submarines for the Navy.

Aaron Alexis was treated for paranoia, trouble sleeping and hearing voices
Aaron Alexis was treated for paranoia, trouble sleeping and hearing voices

Witnesses said the gunman sprayed bullets in a hallway and fired from a balcony down on to workers in an atrium at the heavily secured installation in the US capital.

Aaron Alexis was armed with a shotgun legally purchased in Virginia, as well as one handgun authorities say may have been obtained inside the naval installation.

The attack only ended when police stormed the building and shot him dead, police said.

“There is no question he would have kept shooting,” Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier told reporters on Monday.

On Tuesday, authorities said they believed Aaron Alexis had acted alone and that all victims – ranging in age from 46 to 73 – had been identified.

Authorities have revealed no motive for the attack, and have begun combing the US for hints about Aaron Alexis’ past.

As an employee of an IT contractor, Aaron Alexis apparently had a card granting him access to the building – even though he had had several run-ins with the law and had been discharged from the Navy under a cloud, authorities said.

“It really is hard to believe that someone with a record as chequered as this man could conceivably get, you know, clearance to get… credentials to be able to get on the base,” Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray told CNN.

Aaron Alexis left the Navy as a petty officer 3rd class, after serving full-time in the naval reserve from 2007-11.

He received two routine medals for his service in the Navy: the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Aaron Alexis separated from the Navy reserves under what is called a general discharge, a status that suggests misconduct.

He had been cited for misconduct – including insubordination, disorderly conduct and excessive absences from work – at least eight times during his Navy career, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

According to media reports, Aaron Alexis was a Buddhist convert who had had two previous gun-related brushes with the law.

In 2004 he was arrested in Seattle for shooting a construction worker’s car tyres, in what he described as an enraged “black-out”.

Aaron Alexis was questioned by Fort Worth police in 2010 after firing his gun through the floor of an upstairs apartment. He said it was an accidental discharge.

Also, in August 2008, Aaron Alexis was arrested for disorderly conduct in the state of Georgia, according to the Smoking Gun, a website that collects police and court documents. Details on the incident were not available.

On Tuesday, Aaron Alexis’ employer said the military should have made his record known.

“Anything that suggests criminal problems or mental health issues, that would be a flag. We would not have hired him,” Thomas Hoshko, chief executive officer of The Experts, told the Washington Post.

The IT contractor confirmed Aaron Alexis had worked since July at six different military installations and had only been at the Navy Yard for a few days before the shooting.

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Carlos Santana crashes into parked car

Lisa.Felice
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Carlos Santana crashes into parked car

Carlos Santana got into a small fender bender on Friday after hitting a parked car while cruising through an upscale Las Vegas neighborhood.

The Las Vegas Metro Police Department commented that there was no one inside the parked car at the time of the accident and no injuries to report.

Carlos Santana, 66, was unharmed in the incident.
“He hit a parked car,” Police Lt. Ken Roman commented to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

“It was a minor accident, is all.”

Carlos Santana hit a parked car while cruising through an upscale Las Vegas neighborhood
Carlos Santana hit a parked car while cruising through an upscale Las Vegas neighborhood

Carlos Santana was not driving under the influence at the time. Roman further stated that the accident was “minor”.

The guitarist was in Vegas at the time for a handful of shows at the House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino on the Strip.

Carlos Santana has been a major influence on the music scene since the ’60s. Over the spam of his career, Carlos Santana has won 15 Grammys. His best-selling album to date is Supernatural, which sold over 25 million copies and won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2000.

Carlos Santana’s 22nd studio album, Shape Shifter, was release in May 2012.

Rihanna shares make-up free selfie

Lisa.Felice
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Rihanna shares make-up free selfie

Rihanna posted a make-up free selfie on Instagram.

The accompanying caption reads: “What now?”

Rihanna’s appearance in the new shot is in stark contrast to her recent visit to the UK – ostensibly to unveil her latest River Island collection at the high-street chain’s London flagship store.

Rihanna posted make-up free selfie on Instagram two days after opening a new cosmetics store in Hong Kong
Rihanna posted make-up free selfie on Instagram two days after opening a new cosmetics store in Hong Kong

After launching the distinctive new line Rihanna partied late into the night with close pal Cara Delevingne – but with her mammoth Diamonds world tour set to resume in South East Asia the star had no time to watch her friend parade down the runway at London Fashion Week.

Indeed, Rihanna kicked off the latest leg of her tour in Macau on September 13 before moving on to Manila – where she is scheduled to perform at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday.

Rihanna, 25, has also been busy launching a new M.A.C cosmetics store in Hong Kong.

Rihanna’s Diamonds tour will take in further shows across Australia and the United Arab Emirates before returning to the US in November.

Kendall and Kylie Jenner earned $100,000 each for lending their name to OPI nail polish line

Lisa.Felice
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Kendall and Kylie Jenner earned $100,000 each for lending their name to OPI nail polish line

New documents reveal that Kendall and Kylie Jenner earned a whopping $100,000 to lend their name to a line of OPI nail polishes last year.

The paycheck was part of a deal to promote the line along with their sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe, all throughout 2012.

All five girls were paid a reported $600,000 collectively for the gig, with the two teens each getting an equal share of the profits, and, of course, a cut for their mother and manager Kris Jenner who also represented the brand.

According to the contract, which was obtained by Radaronline, the deal was signed off by Kris Jenner when Kendall was just 15-years-old and Kylie 13.

Kris Jenner, 57, was given control of the deal and was allowed to “approve or disapprove all materials on their behalf”, after OPI agreed to “provide copies of all materials for which it seeks approval to Kris Jenner”.

Kendall and Kylie Jenner made $100,000 each to lend their name to OPI nail polishes last year
Kendall and Kylie Jenner made $100,000 each to lend their name to OPI nail polishes last year

In addition to their pay, Kendall and Kylie Jenner also received a huge supply of nail polishes, every teenage girl’s dream.

The documents stated that OPI supplied both girls with “up to 100 of each color of the products for the celebrities to use for personal consumption or giveaway”.

And to earn their $100,000, Kendall and Kylie Jenner were only required to attend just one press day as well as a photo shoot.

They were also asked to promote the product via Twitter and other social-networking mediums on a mere two occasions during the year, which would clearly not be a problem for the Instagram and Twitter-loving teens.

If you’re looking for more great products by PacSun and want to save money then you should definitely checkout PacSun coupons at TeenScreen.

Kendall and Kylie Jenner are rising stars in the Keeping Up With The Kardashians clan.

And with Kim Kardashian currently out of the spotlight as she concentrates on motherhood following the birth of her baby daughter North, the pair are set to be in the limelight even more.

Especially Kendall Jenner, who was signed by the prestigious Wilhelmina modeling agency when she was just 14, has already racked up an impressive number of modeling jobs, including assignments for Forever 21 and Teen Vogue.

Alexei Pushkov: Russian politician mocks Washington Navy Yard tragedy

Nancy Clayson
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Alexei Pushkov: Russian politician mocks Washington Navy Yard tragedy

Russian politician Alexei Pushkov shocked America by mocking the Washington Navy Yard tragedy before a death toll had even been tallied.

Alexei Pushkov took to Twitter Monday morning and used Barack Obama’s words from a speech on the Syria crisis to ridicule Americans in the wake of the tragedy in Washington D.C.

“A new shootout at Navy headquarters in Washington – a lone gunman and 7 corpses. Nobody’s even surprised anymore,” Alexei Pushkov tweeted two hours after shots first rang out.

“A clear confirmation of American exceptionalism.”

As the New York Post points out, Alexei Pushkov, a member of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee was likely referencing a comment made by the president last week.

“That’s what makes us exceptional,” Barack Obama said.

“With humility, but with resolve, let us never lose sight of that essential truth.”

Barack Obama was urging Americans to support a strike on Syria as a means of halting its human rights violations.

Alexei Pushkov shocked America by mocking the Washington Navy Yard tragedy before a death toll had even been tallied
Alexei Pushkov shocked America by mocking the Washington Navy Yard tragedy before a death toll had even been tallied

But the Russian politician used the words to mock Americans

“The USA should part with the notion of American exceptionalism,” Alexei Pushkov tweeted about an hour later.

“It contradicts the principles of equal rights and smells of political racism.”

This is not Alexei Pushkov’s first swipe at America, nor is it his first foray onto the international stage, though his timing and methods leave him more wide open for criticism than ever before.

Alexei Pushkov, who is seen as especially close with the Kremlin, was among the most vocal in Russia during NSA leaker Edward Snowden’s prolonged stay at a Moscow airport.

Edward Snowden was eventually granted asylum in Russia, but not before Alexei Pushkov got in his jabs – at Snowden and America.

Alexei Pushkov at one point became annoyed with Edward Snowden’s prolonged citizenship limbo.

He joked that if Edward Snowden does not find shelter in Venezuela, “he will have to stay and marry Anna Chapman”, the redheaded Russian spy who was among 10 sleeper agents deported from the United States in 2010.

At another point in the saga, reports mistakenly suggested Edward Snowden has left Russia and the U.S. demanded to know his whereabouts.

“Why should the United States expect restraint and understanding from Russia,” Alexei Pushkov mocked at the time.

On Monday, Alexei Pushkov again showed no restraint when he used the occasion of a deadly shooting to make a political point.

The death count at the Washington Navy Yard continued to rise after the Parliamentarian’s comments. As of Monday afternoon, the death count was 12.

Ron Shaich: Panera Bread CEO attempts to live on $4.50 a day

Clyde K. Valle
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Ron Shaich: Panera Bread CEO attempts to live on $4.50 a day

Ron Shaich – the millionaire founder and CEO of the Panera Bread chain – is currently attempting to live on just $4.50 a day as part of a campaign to show what it’s like for the millions of Americans who depend on food stamps.

Ron Shaich, a keen advocate of large corporate giving back, started his low budget food shopping challenge on Saturday and has committed to doing to for an entire week.

His effort is part of the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Challenge, designed to raise awareness that “nearly 48 million people receive food stamps and 16 million children go to bed hungry”.

As well as the millionaire businessman, 26 members of Congress – all democrats – are also trying to live on $4.50 per day.

Blogging about the challenge on LinkedIn, Ron Shaich wrote about the difficulties of trying to buy healthy food on a weekly budget of $31.50.

To make his money stretch as far as possible, he visited an NSA Supermarket in Dorchester, Massachusetts, to pick up food in preparation for the challenge.

Ron Shaich writes that he soon learned he was going to have to forgo meat, fruit, vegetables and his favorite granola and instead load up on filling, carb-heavy foods.

Ron Shaich is currently attempting to live on just $4.50 a day as part of a campaign to show what it’s like for the millions of Americans who depend on food stamps
Ron Shaich is currently attempting to live on just $4.50 a day as part of a campaign to show what it’s like for the millions of Americans who depend on food stamps

In total, Ron Shaich spent $25.95 – mainly on pasta, lentils and chickpeas – leaving him with just $6 for the rest of the week. He admitted there’s a good chance he’ll use his remaining amount on a sugar fix at some point during the week.

“This isn’t going to be easy. In fact, it’s going to be incredibly hard,” he wrote last Friday.

“I haven’t even felt the first pangs of hunger, and I’m already gaining a whole new perspective into challenges that so many people in this country face in dealing with food insecurity – from the embarrassment of having to leave items at the register to the diligence and ongoing calculation required to constantly prioritize and rank every purchase and potential purchase, big and small.”

The House of Representatives could vote this week to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, by 5.2%. That would mean up to six million Americans would be forced off of food assistance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Ron Shaich says his intention is not to “trivialize anyone else’s experience” but merely to help spread a deeper awareness of America’s growing food instability problem.

His restaurant chain is a $3 billion-a-year business with some 1,600 outlets in the U.S. but at five of those cafes customers are able to pay whatever they choose for what they eat.

The unusual concept is part of an initiative by the company to help some of the millions of Americans who can’t afford to eat on a regular basis.

The five special restaurants operate under the “Panera Cares Café” brand and instead of cash registers, donation boxes sit on the counter, with signs telling customers: “Take what you need; leave your fair share.”

When the cashiers take meal orders, they hand receipts to customers which show how much the food would normally cost, and then the customer decides how much to leave in the box or to take off their credit card.

The first cafe opened in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton in May 2010 and since then four others have opened in Dearborn, Portland, Chicago and Boston.

Between then, these five cafes are expected to serve more than a million people in 2013.

The concept of a pay-what-you-can restaurant isn’t new, but Panera is the first major corporation to do it.

Ron Shaich thinks other major companies should start to do the same.

“Home Depot has the capability of helping after major storms. The Gap could run thrift stores,” he told Quartz earlier this year.

“It’s a challenge to view your business as not just extracting profit from society.”

A healthy lifestyle could reverse ageing process

Kathryn R. Bown
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A healthy lifestyle could reverse ageing process

A new research has found that a healthy lifestyle may do more than simply slow the ageing process – it could actually reverse it.

Keeping physically fit, having a plant-based diet and practicing stress-reduction techniques such as yoga could extend the lifespan of cells, researchers say.

They studied the effect of healthy living on lengths of DNA called telomeres – tiny “caps” on the ends of chromosomes that protect against the ageing process.

Just as the tips of shoelaces prevent fraying, telomeres keep chromosomes stable and prevent deterioration when the cells containing them divide.

Dubbed the “chromosomal clock”, they shorten as we age. This process is associated with a greater risk of early death and of conditions such as heart disease, dementia, diabetes and cancers, as well as with increased vulnerability to infection.

Scientists believe the shortening process may even place an unextendable limit on the human lifespan.

Healthy lifestyle may do more than simply slow the ageing process
Healthy lifestyle may do more than simply slow the ageing process

The pilot study, published in The Lancet Oncology, compared two groups of men with early non-aggressive prostate cancer who had not undergone surgery or radiotherapy but were having regular checks.

One group of 25 men continued without making any changes. Ten others underwent a radical lifestyle transformation supervised by doctors, nutritionists and psychologists.

Their diet was switched to one high in plant proteins, fruits, vegetables and unrefined grains while low in fat and processed carbohydrates. They were taught stress reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation, and were given counseling. They also took moderate levels of exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes, six days a week.

After five years, blood tests showed that the telomeres of the healthy-lifestyle group had lengthened by an average of 10%, effectively reversing the natural ageing process.  But the telomeres of the group who continued with their previous lifestyle shortened by an average of 3%.

The study found no significant difference between the groups in the progress of prostate cancer.

But the scientists believe that their findings carry an important health message with wider implications.

The team’s leader, Prof. Dean Ornish, from the Preventive Medicine Research Institute at the University of California in San Francisco, said: “The implications of this relatively small pilot study may go beyond men with prostate cancer.

“If validated by large-scale randomized controlled trials, these comprehensive lifestyle changes may significantly reduce the risk of a wide variety of diseases and premature mortality. Our genes, and our telomeres, are a predisposition, but they are not necessarily our fate.”

Costa Concordia UPDATE: Search teams move in to recover two missing bodies

Nancy Clayson
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Costa Concordia UPDATE: Search teams move in to recover two missing bodies

Costa Concordia cruise ship was finally pulled upright after a dramatic 19-hour salvage operation.

Salvage officials believe the bodies of waiter Russel Rebello and passenger Maria Grazia Trecarichi could be found in a lifeboat beneath the ship’s hull.

It was hoped remains would become visible as the complex system of cables and hydraulics hauled the vessel – on which 32 lives were lost – from its side.

Salvage teams worked through the night for 19 hours – and decks eventually became visible after being underwater for 20 months since it went down.

The vessel is covered in rust and stained by the sea, while all the windows which were submerged in Giglio harbor, Italy, have been shattered.

Kevin Rebello, the waiter’s brother, and Elio Vincenzi, passenger Maria Grazia Trecarichi’s husband, were expected to arrive on the island today.

“I haven’t slept since yesterday,” Kevin Rebello said in an interview in Rome.

“It’s taken 20 months. If it takes another 20 hours, for me it’s worth the wait.”

Elio Vincenzi said: “I am still hoping to find my wife. This is a tense wait for me and for my daughter.”

Despite fears the ship may break apart before it reached the crucial angle of 65 degrees, the operation has gone smoothly, but slower than expected.

Costa Concordia cruise ship was finally pulled upright after a dramatic 19-hour salvage operation
Costa Concordia cruise ship was finally pulled upright after a dramatic 19-hour salvage operation

The $800 million salvage effort is said to be the largest in maritime history, but there will be no saving the $575 million liner – destined for the scrapyard.

Local residents and survivors said that there was an eerie feeling as the ship rose – and some said the sight reminded them of the tragedy.

“Seeing it re-emerge is emotional for me,” said survivor Luciano Castro.

“I could not miss it. That ship could have been my end and instead I am here.”

The operation will not be complete until the vessel is towed away from the island – probably by next spring, after a full survey is done on the wreckage.

Shortly after 4 a.m. today, a foghorn wailed on Giglio island and the head of Italy’s Civil Protection agency announced that the ship had reached vertical.

Franco Gabrielli added that the operation to rotate the cruise liner – known in nautical terms as parbuckling – was complete.

Some 36 giant cables were put across the hull to drag up the ship – and enormous tanks were welded onto its side and filled with water to act as ballast.

“We completed the parbuckling operation a few minutes ago the way we thought it would happen and the way we hoped it would happen,” said Franco Porcellacchia, project manager for the Concordia’s owner, Costa Crociere Spa.

“A perfect operation, I must say.”

No environmental spill has been detected so far, he said. Applause rang out among firefighters in the tent where the engineers made the announcement.

An hour later, Nick Sloane, the South African chief salvage master, received a hero’s welcome as he came ashore from the barge that had served as the floating command control room for the operation.

“Brilliant! Perfetto,” Nick Sloane said, using some of the Italian he has learned over the past year on Giglio preparing for Tuesday’s operation.

“It was a struggle, a bit of a roller coaster. But for the whole team it was fantastic.”

Costa Concordia slammed into a reef off Giglio Island on January 13, 2012, after the captain brought it too close to shore.

Costa Concordia cruise ship drifted, listed and capsized just off the island’s port, killing 32 people.

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Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth confirm split

Lisa.Felice
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0
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth confirm split

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have officially announced that they have ended their engagement on Monday.

Representatives for both Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth confirmed that the relationship was over to People magazine.

The announcement comes after Miley Cyrus, 20, and Liam Hemsworth, 23, have endure several split rumors since getting engaged last year after dating for two years.

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have officially announced that they have ended their engagement
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have officially announced that they have ended their engagement

Liam Hemsworth proposed to Miley Cyrus with a 3.5 carat Neil Lane engagement ring in May 2012, and at the time the Hannah Montana star gushed about her future with the hunky Aussie star.

“I’m so happy to be engaged and look forward to a life of happiness with Liam,” she told People magazine.

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth first met on the set of the 2010 romantic drama The Last Song, and began dating not long after.

But in the last year, they have seemingly struggled with their relationship, breaking up and getting back together several times as each one continues in different directions of their careers.

And now as news of the split emerges, it seems that Liam Hemsworth may have already moved on.

Liam Hemsworth was seen getting very close to Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez, also 23, as he partied at VIP club Bungalow in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

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Navy Yard shooting: Budget cuts reduced security measures at Washington base before shooting

Diane A. Wade
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Navy Yard shooting: Budget cuts reduced security measures at Washington base before shooting

A government audit has found that budget cuts may have been the cause for lax security at the Washington D.C. Navy Yards where 12 people were shot dead and eight others were injured on Monday morning.

According to a yet-to-be-released government audit, federal oversight investigators concluded that the reduced security measures at the base left security risks unaddressed.

A report by the Department of Defense Inspector General’s office shows that they were concerned about the access that would be granted to outside contractors – like that of Aaron Alexis, the suspect who was killed by police during the Monday morning shooting.

The report states that the Navy “did not effectively mitigate access control risks associated with contractor installation access” to the Navy Yards.

Time Magazine published excerpts from the report after having been read portions by an unidentified federal official who had access to the Inspector General’s findings.

The security risks are placed squarely on the Navy administrators who were trying “to reduce access control costs”.

The process of gaining access to the administrative facility- where about 3,000 people work- is under severe scrutiny.

In a Monday night press conference, FBI assistant D.C. director in charge Valerie Parlave said that they concluded Aaron Alexis had legitimately accessed the building as his status as a contractor would have given him sufficient credentials to enter unquestioned.

Budget cuts may have been the cause for lax security at the Washington D.C. Navy Yards where 12 people were shot dead and eight others were injured
Budget cuts may have been the cause for lax security at the Washington D.C. Navy Yards where 12 people were shot dead and eight others were injured

“He utilized a valid pass,” Valerie Parlave said during the press conference.

Aaron Alexis, 34, became a full-time Navy reservist in 2007 but was dismissed in 2011 following a series of ‘misconduct’ violations.

As a contractor for a group working for a subcontractor used by Hewlett-Packard, Aaron Alexis had the proper identification to be allowed into Navy Yard’s Building 179 where he began shooting.

“He did have a secret clearance. And he did have a CAC [common access card],” said Thomas Hoshko, CEO of subcontracting group The Experts Inc who employed Aaron Alexis.

Asked when Aaron Alexis was supposed to start work, Thomas Hoshko told Reuters that it was unclear when Alexis was supposed to start his latest stint in the government facility: “That’s what I got to find out, if he was supposed to start today … It’s not clear to me.”

“We had just recently re-hired him. Another background investigation was re-run and cleared through the defense security service in July 2013.”

Another problem with Aaron Alexis that should have been flagged up by the security access system is that he had two prior arrests- one in 2004 for shooting someone’s tires in an anger-fueled “blackout” and another in 2010 when he said that he accidentally fired into a neighbor’s apartment while cleaning his gun.

The security assessment report cites the fact that a number of people with criminal histories were able to bypass the Navy Yard’s security without any alarm.

Time reports that the audit cited 52 instances where “convicted felons received routine unauthorized installation access, placing military personnel, attendants, civilians in installations at an increased security risk”.

The research into the security inefficiencies at Navy Yard began in September 2012 and carried on through August of this year. The final report will be published within the next 30 days.

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Aaron Alexis converted to Buddhism before Navy Yard shooting

Diane A. Wade
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Aaron Alexis converted to Buddhism before Navy Yard shooting

Aaron Alexis’ family is “distraught” to learn that he carried the massacre, relatives said today.

A family member said that the mother and sister of the Washington Navy Yard shooter were also “shocked” that he could have done this.

While some neighbors and acquaintances described Aaron Alexis as “nice”, his father once told detectives in Seattle that his son had anger management problems related to post-traumatic stress brought on by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

He also complained about the Navy and being a victim of discrimination during his time as a Navy reservist from 2007 to 2011.

At the time of the shootings, Aaron Alexis worked for The Experts, a subcontractor on a Hewlett Packard contract to refresh equipment used on the Navy Marine Corps Intranet network.

After leaving the reserves, Aaron Alexis worked as a waiter and delivery driver at the Happy Bowl Thai restaurant in White Settlement, a suburb of Fort Worth, according to Afton Bradley, a former co-worker. The two overlapped for about eight months before Aaron Alexis left in May, Bradley said.

Having traveled to Thailand, Aaron Alexis learned some Thai and could speak to Thai customers in their native language.

A former acquaintance, Oui Suthametewakul, said Aaron Alexis lived with him and his wife from August 2012 to May 2013 in Fort Worth, but that they had to part ways because he wasn’t paying his bills.

Aaron Alexis was a “nice guy”, Oui Suthametewakul said, though he sometimes carried a gun and would frequently complain about being the victim of discrimination.

Oui Suthametewakul said Alexis had converted to Buddhism and prayed at a local Buddhist temple.

Aaron Alexis’ family is distraught to learn that he carried the Navy Yard massacre
Aaron Alexis’ family is distraught to learn that he carried the Navy Yard massacre

The shooter’s family lives in a run-down area of Brooklyn called Bedford-Stuyvesant, which was known in the 1980s for being at the center of New York’s crack epidemic.

His mother Cathleen, 60, lives in a fourth floor walk up apartment worth $130,000 with other relatives.

The street was then sealed off by police and FBI agents who stood guard outside and refused to let anybody onto the side of the street where the house is.

Later the gunman’s brother-in-law Anthony Little, who is married to Aaron Alexis’ sister Naomi, 31, arrived and said: “The family are distraught…They’re shocked.”

Anthony Little said it had been several years since had Aaron Alexis spoken with his family in Brooklyn.

He added: “He is not as close as the normal person with his family.”

Monday at around 5 p.m. two FBI agents arrived and questioned neighbors and workmen who were inside the apartment doing renovations but left after 15 minutes and refused to answer questions.

Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old civilian contractor from Fort Worth, Texas, was confirmed dead on Monday after the mass shooting which also left at least 15 people injured in the nation’s capital.

Friends of the gunman today described Aaron Alexis, who worked as a waiter at a Thai restaurant, as “friendly and polite”.

He shot dead 12 people at the Navy Yard in Washington DC today, but was described by friends as a fan of meditation and Buddhism “who didn’t seem aggressive”.

Two different portraits of Aaron Alexis have emerged, as his criminal record runs in contrast to the reports of friends and family.

He was arrested for gun-related incidents in 2004 and 2010, while he was also kept in jail in Georgia for two nights in 2008 for disorderly conduct.

Aaron Alexis had joined the Navy in 2007 but was kicked out in 2011, the year after the second gun arrest. In both gun cases, charges were never filed

He was a Petty Officer Third Class in the Navy prior to his dismissal.

Aaron Alexis was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal prior to his discharge.

He was stationed at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth. His LinkedIn profile reveals that he attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and worked as a network technician at SinglePoint Technologies.

Aaron Alexis received a general discharge from the Navy Reserve in 2011 after a series of misconduct issues, a Navy official said.

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Abdul Kader Mullah: Bangladeshi Islamist leader gets death penalty for war crimes

Roy Siemens
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Abdul Kader Mullah: Bangladeshi Islamist leader gets death penalty for war crimes

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Islamist leader Abdul Kader Mullah against his jail term for war crimes and sentenced him to death.

In February Abdul Kader Mullah, of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was convicted by a special tribunal of crimes during the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.

The life sentence imposed at the time sparked angry street protests.

Abdul Kader Mullah’s supporters said the charges were politically motivated but his opponents said that sentence was too lenient.

Thousands staged protests around the country demanding the death penalty for Abdul Kader Mullah, who had been convicted of charges which included overseeing massacres during the bloody struggle for independence.

The protests prompted parliament to amend a law which allowed the state to appeal against any verdict reached by the war crimes tribunal.

This meant that alongside Abdul Kader Mullah’s appeal against his verdict the Supreme Court also heard an appeal from the government which wanted a tougher sentence handed down.

Prosecutor Ziad Al Malum told AFP news agency that the decision to increase the sentence was approved by four to one at the court.

Defense lawyer Tajul Islam told the agency he was “stunned” by the verdict.

Bangladesh's Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Abdul Kader Mullah against his jail term for war crimes and sentenced him to death
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Abdul Kader Mullah against his jail term for war crimes and sentenced him to death

“This is the first time in South Asian judicial history that a trial court sentence has been enhanced by a Supreme Court,” he said.

Local media reports cite Abdul Kader Mullah’s lawyers saying they will petition for this harsher sentence to be reviewed, but the attorney general has said there can be no appeal against a Supreme Court verdict.

Correspondents say the only option left for Abdul Kader Mullah would be to seek a presidential pardon.

Abdul Kader Mullah’s conviction and subsequent sentences handed down to other Islamist leaders by the tribunal over the last few months have unleashed a wave of unrest, pitting supporters of Jamaat, who accuse the government of pursuing a political vendetta, against pro-government groups.

More than 100 people have been killed since January in the violence.

This is just the first of a series of appeals against convictions handed down by the tribunal. Several other high-profile Islamist leaders have been sentenced by it including 90-year-old Ghulam Azam, the former leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, who was jailed for 90 years in July.

Abdul Kader Mullah, 65, was the assistant secretary-general of Jamaat and the war crimes tribunal found him guilty of five out of six charges, including murder.

He was accused of being behind a series of killings including large-scale massacres in the Mirpur area of Dhaka, which earned him the nickname of “koshai” or butcher of Mirpur, and made him one of the more feared Jamaat leaders.

The special court was set up in 2010 by the current Bangladeshi government to deal with those accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces who attempted to stop East Pakistan (as Bangladesh was then) from becoming an independent country.

But human rights groups have said the tribunal falls short of international standards.

Bangladesh government figures estimate more than three million people were killed during the independence war. Other researchers put the figure at between 300,000 and 500,000.

Dumex: Danone baby food unit accused of bribery in China

Clyde K. Valle
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Dumex: Danone baby food unit accused of bribery in China

Dumex – Danone baby food unit – said it is investigating claims the company bribed hospital staff in China to use its products.

According to China Central Television, Dumex allegedly paid doctors and nurses in the northern city of Tianjin to promote its baby formula products.

The report, which cited an unidentified former sales manager, comes amid an anti-corruption drive by Beijing.

Dumex said it was “extremely shocked” by the allegations.

“Dumex Baby Food Co strictly adheres to Chinese laws and regulations,” a company spokeswoman said in a statement.

The latest allegations against Danone come amid a government-led crackdown on corruption in its $350 billion healthcare market.

Dumex allegedly paid doctors and nurses in the northern city of Tianjin to promote its baby formula products
Dumex allegedly paid doctors and nurses in the northern city of Tianjin to promote its baby formula products

Some inquiries have targeted foreign firms, including British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, which is being investigated for allegedly using inducements to promote the sale of its medicines.

In the CCTV report, Danone’s Dumex brand is accused of giving “sponsorship fees” or payments of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,632) to hospital staff.

The French food giant has faced numerous problems in China this year.

Danone cut prices for its infant milk formula products by as much as 20% after China’s top economic planning body fined it in August for price-fixing.

The firm also had to issue a precautionary recall of its milk formula products last month after one of its suppliers, Fonterra, said some items may have been contaminated.

China is an important market for companies such as Danone, which is the country’s third-largest baby formula provider.

Danone’s baby nutrition unit also makes more than 20% of its overall sales from China.

Demand for foreign brands has surged in China, after tainted milk scandals in recent years led to a distrust of local producers.

According to some estimates, foreign brands now account for about half of all infant milk sales in China.

Costa Concordia cruise ship set upright

Diane A. Wade
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Costa Concordia cruise ship set upright

Engineers have succeeded in setting the cruise ship Costa Concordia upright, 20 months after it ran aground off the island of Giglio in Italy.

They said that the unprecedented salvage effort “reached degree zero [vertical], which was our target”.

In the operation that took all of Monday and most of the night, they used cables and metal boxes filled with water to roll the ship onto a platform.

The Costa Concordia capsized in January 2012, killing 32 people.

The bodies of two of the victims of the disaster, by the island of Giglio, have never been found. There are hopes that they may be located during the operation.

The ship was declared completely upright shortly after 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Tuesday.

Franco Gabrielli, the head of Italy’s Civil Protection Authority, said the vessel was now sitting on a platform built on the sea bed.

“A perfect operation, I must say,” said Franco Porcellacchia, leader of the technical team for Costa Cruise, the owner of the ship.

He added that no environmental spill was detected so far.

Engineers have succeeded in setting the cruise ship Costa Concordia upright
Engineers have succeeded in setting the cruise ship Costa Concordia upright

“I think the whole team is proud of what they achieved because a lot of people didn’t think it could be done,” said salvage master Nick Sloane – but he added “it’s not over yet”.

As daylight broke, the now-upright, brown hulk of the ship was visible – its hull muddy and crushed from 20 months spent submerged on its side.

Booms and nets were put in place before the operation started – to combat any pollution threat in what is a marine national park.

The 114,000-gross tonnage ship – twice as heavy as the Titanic – was on Monday raised from rocks on which it had been lying and roll up onto her keel.

More than 50 enormous chains and winches were used to break the ship away from the reef – the process known as parbuckling.

During the marathon operation, the ship could be seen slowly emerging from the water.

The engineers had originally planned to complete the operation by Monday evening, but it had to be delayed by three hours because of a storm.

The procedure was carried out very slowly to prevent further damage to the hull, which spent months partially submerged in 50ft of water and fully exposed to the elements.

Officials now plan to fully inspect the vessel and begin to prepare the next stage – the effort to repair and refloat it and eventually tow it away to be destroyed.

Engineers have never tried to lift such a huge ship – over 951 feet long – before.

Five people have been convicted of manslaughter over the disaster. Costa Concordia Captain Francesco Schettino is currently on trial accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship.

Giglio mayor Sergio Ortelli earlier said that the removal of the Costa Concordia would bring an end to “a huge problem that we have in our port and that we want to solve as soon as we can”.

“Islanders can’t wait to see the back of it,” he said.

The small island’s economy depends hugely on tourism and the presence of the wreck has discouraged visitors.

Costa Concordia salvage has so far cost more than 600 million euros ($800 million) and is expected to cost much more before the operation is complete.

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Aaron Alexis dies in gun battle with police during Washington Navy Yard rampage

Diane A. Wade
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Aaron Alexis dies in gun battle with police during Washington Navy Yard rampage

Gunman Aaron Alexis, who died after killing 12 people at a naval installation in Washington DC, has been identified as a former Navy serviceman.

Aaron Alexis, 34, of Fort Worth, Texas, died in a gun battle with police during the rampage at Washington Navy Yard.

Eight others were injured in the attack, which began at around 8:20 local time on Monday.

President Barack Obama ordered flags be lowered to half mast at the White House and on Capitol Hill.

He said he mourned “yet another mass shooting” and condemned the “cowardly act”.

No motive is known for the attack, whose dozen victims ranged in age from 46 to 73, said the authorities.

Police initially responded to reports of two other armed suspects, but after exhaustive searches Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier said on Monday night they were all but certain that Aaron Alexis was the only gunman.

Witnesses said suspect Aaron Alexis sprayed bullets in a hallway and fired from a balcony down on to workers in an atrium at the heavily secured installation in the US capital.

Aaron Alexis was reportedly armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun and a handgun that he took from a police officer at the scene.

Chief Cathy Lanier told reporters that the attacker “was engaged in shooting with police officers” when he died.

Aaron Alexis died in a gun battle with police during the rampage at Washington Navy Yard
Aaron Alexis died in a gun battle with police during the rampage at Washington Navy Yard

“There is no question he would have kept shooting,” she added.

Valerie Parlave of the FBI said that the suspect, who was employed by a subcontractor that was working on a US Navy intranet network, had a valid pass to enter Washington Navy Yard.

Aaron Alexis was formerly a petty officer 3rd class who served full-time in the naval reserve from 2007-11, said the US Navy.

It was not immediately clear why he left the military, but unnamed military officers told US media there had been a series of misconduct issues during his service.

According to media reports, Aaron Alexis was a Buddhist convert who had had two previous gun-related brushes with the law.

In 2004 Aaron Alexis was arrested in Seattle for shooting a construction worker’s car tyres, in what he described as an enraged “black-out”.

And he was questioned by Fort Worth police in 2010 after firing his gun through the floor of an upstairs apartment. He said it was an accidental discharge.

In addition to those killed in Monday’s rampage, one police officer was shot in the legs, a female civilian was shot in the head and hand, and another woman was treated for a shoulder wound.

All three were expected to recover, said Washington Hospital Center officials.

Five others required medical treatment, mostly for minor injuries, said Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray.

As news of the shooting emerged, emergency vehicles and police surrounded the complex, while helicopters hovered overhead.

The US Senate buildings and six nearby schools were temporarily placed on lockdown as a precaution, while flight departures were briefly suspended at Reagan National Airport.

Patricia Ward, who works at Washington Navy Yard, said she had heard three shots, a pause, and then four more.

“Everybody was panicking and trying to decide which way to get out,” she told reporters.

The Washington Nationals baseball team called off their game against the Atlanta Braves on Monday night at Nationals Park, not far from Navy Yard.

Monday’s mass shooting occurred at a building that serves as the headquarters for the Naval Sea Systems Command, which builds and maintains ships and submarines for the Navy.

Washington Navy Yard is the US Navy’s oldest shore installation, first opened in the early 19th Century, according to the Navy.

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Si Robertson introduces wife Christine on GMA

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson introduces wife Christine on GMA

Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson introduced his wife Christine in a special video on Good Morning America, along with the release of his new book, Si-Cology 1: Tales and Wisdom From Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle.

Silas is younger brother to Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the popular reality television family and founder of the Duck Commander.

Si Robertson began working for the family business in the 1990s, after retiring from 25 years of service in the military. He is a Vietnam veteran, and still carries around the plastic cups that his mother had sent him when he was away at war.

Si Robertson introduced his wife Christine in a special video on Good Morning America
Si Robertson introduced his wife Christine in a special video on Good Morning America

While the show may portray Uncle Si as being single, he has been married for 43 years and has two grown children, Scott and Trasa.

Si Robertson said that readers of Si-cology 1 might be surprised to learn that “one woman’s got my heart, and we’ve been married for 43 years. Her name is Miss Christine.”

Christine and Si Robertson still seem to be very much in love, hugging each other sweetly in the video message. He said he had asked his wife to marry him about a hundred times.

“It was about 75,” Christine Robertson joked.

Christine makes Uncle Si two gallons of unsweetened tea per day, “the old-fashioned way,” he says.

“Put three bags in a pot of water, turn the heat on the water and let it boil, put a saucer over it and let it seep. Then pour it into a gallon jug and then I drink.”

Si Robertson biography

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson biography

Silas Merritt Robertson, aka Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si, has just published his first book Si-Cology 1 this month.

Si Robertson often gets blamed for things and sometimes thinks he’s seen a black panther roaming around close to the home and business.

He is married to Christine, which many viewers were unaware of until he introduced his wife a few weeks ago for an episode of Good Morning America.

Si Robertson, the younger brother to Phil Robertson, has been married to Christine for 43 years and happily so, as they hugged affectionately in the video clipped.

He said he had asked his wife to marry him about a hundred times.

“It was about 75,” says Christine Robertson.

Si Robertson told Parade magazine that Christine was not set to join the family in the reality show.

“She’s got better sense than all the rest of us,” he said.

Si Robertson with wife Christine and their daughter Trasa Cobern
Si Robertson with wife Christine and their daughter Trasa Cobern

Si Robertson is also a big tea drinker – but he likes it straight, no sugar.

“Put three bags in a pot of water, turn the heat on the water and let it boil, put a saucer over it and let it seep. Then pour it into a gallon jug and then I drink it.”

Si Robertson was born in Vivian, Louisiana, on 27 April 1948, and he shares some of the highlights from his eventful life in Si-cology, from fishing with his brothers and skipping classes at Louisiana Tech, to his time serving in the Vietnam War, to falling in love with Christine and having their two children, Trasa and Scott.

He actually served in the military for 25 years and told The Christian Post that it was this that made him feel that he hadn’t been there enough for his kids.

“I was in the military, so I told my wife that I was never there for the kids when they were growing up. And she said, <<oh yeah you were. Let me go get a photo album>>. And she was showing me dressed as a bunny rabbit for Easter and Santa Claus during Christmas time. Personally, I didn’t feel that I was there enough,” he said in the interview.

It was after retiring from the military in 1993 that Si Robertson joined the family Duck Commander business.  With the show becoming a phenomenal success, Si Robertson has his own fan base – he told of one woman who drove 450 miles to a signing in Arkansas and told him she was ready to marry him, at which point he had to break the bad news that she was already spoken for.

But when he does sign things for people, Si Robertson has two Bible verses he likes to jot down along with his signature.

In the interview with The Christian Post, Si Robertson had this to say: “When I sign people’s stuff I put down John 3:16 and 17. Most people can tell you what 16 says, OK. <<For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son>>. But they don’t know nothin’ about 17. It says Jesus didn’t come to condemn us. If anybody had a right to condemn someone, it would be the son of God. If he didn’t do it, then hey, we definitely are not qualified to do it.”

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Navy Yard shooting: Twelve die and up to 15 are wounded in rampage

Nancy Clayson
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Navy Yard shooting: Twelve die and up to 15 are wounded in rampage

At least one heavily armed gunman opened fire inside a building at the Washington Navy Yard killing at least 11 people and injuring at least 12.

Named as 34-year-old civilian contractor Aaron Alexis, the Fort Worth resident entered the cafeteria in the Washington military base brandishing an AR-15 rifle, shotgun and handgun and began shooting.

The FBI have said that Aaron Alexis died after launching his rampage, during which witnesses said he appeared to fire at selected targets and not randomly, but they have not disclosed how he perished.

Washington D.C.’s FBI field office reportedly said that they have “all assets out” as they search for one other possible shooter they described as a black man in his 40s or his 50s.

Washington D.C. police Chief Cathy Lanier said the other potential gunman were wearing a military-style uniform and has greying sideburns.

“It appears that we have at least 12 fatalities … it doesn’t get much more serious than that, obviously,” said Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray.

“We have no known motive at this stage. We will continue the investigation to try and figure out what that motive is.”

Previously, Cathy Lanier said that law enforcement were searching for two individuals, one white and one black.

However, police have said they have identified the white individual and he’s not a suspect or person of interest.

“The big concern for us right now is that we have potentially two other shooters that we have not located at this point,” Cathy Lanier said earlier this afternoon.

At least one heavily armed gunman opened fire inside a building at the Washington Navy Yard killing at least 11 people and injuring at least 12
At least one heavily armed gunman opened fire inside a building at the Washington Navy Yard killing at least 11 people and injuring at least 12

Witnesses reported one man described as an African-American male in his 50s dressed in military fatigues and armed with an AR-15 assault rifle opening fire upon entering the base at the Naval Sea System Command HQ.

The attacks came three days after al-Qaeda used the 12th anniversary of 9/11 to call for strikes on America.

Hundreds of SWAT and FBI rapid response units descended on the nation’s capital to deal with the situation which unfolded just before 8.30 a.m. this morning.

Initial reports from the scene are that one of the suspects walked up to the facility, opened fire and then ran inside the building.

“There was three gunshots straight in a row,” said Patricia Ward, who works at the Navy Yard, describing how she first heard the gunfire while having breakfast at the headquarters building.

A few seconds later, Patricia Ward said she heard four more gunshots. Security guards rushed in and got people out as fast as they could.

NBC News, citing a senior naval officer at the Navy Yard, said at least 12 people had been shot.

“We saw him hold the rifle, and we saw him aim it in our direction,” said one witness to Fox News.

Another Navy official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than one gunman may have been involved. The Washington Post reported that there were several gunmen.

The Navy said in a statement the shooting took place at the heavily guarded headquarters, where about 3,000 people work.

The shooting hit the military establishment less than three week after U.S. Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death for murdering 13 people in 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas, where he gunned down unarmed soldiers in what he later called retaliation for U.S. wars in Muslim countries.

The Navy Yard is believed to have tight security.

Visitors without military ID must have a valid reason for entry and provide some other civilian identification.

The gates are protected by U.S. Marines and civilian security guards.

The National Museum of the U.S. Navy is in the grounds of the Navy Yard – and open to the public. However, they must show ID to enter.

One victim was reported to have been shot on the roof of a building, reported News4′s Tony Tull.

A U.S. Park Police helicopter lowered a basket to a building and lifted what appeared to be a shooting victim from the roof just before 10 a.m.

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