A caring cat named Sonya plays surrogate mother to an adorable litter of orphaned hedgehogs.
Sonya, the ginger cat from central Russia, only had one kitten of her own meaning there was plenty of milk to spare, so she readily adopted the four baby hedgehogs into the family.
She treats them, exactly as if they were her own, allowing them to suckle to their hearts content and then snuggle up to sleep in her fur when they’re full.
It is common practice for abandoned animal babies to be placed with surrogate mother’s of the same species to avoid re-abandonment at a later date – but sometime a mother of the same species just isn’t available.
There are cases of cats adopting rabbits, racoons, squirrels and even, in the case of a cat named Smaigel from Jordan – puppies as their own children, but this is the first time we’ve heard of one adopting hedgehogs.
Mother dogs, in particular, are well known for taking on all sorts of unruly youngsters including lions and tigers.
Sonya, the ginger cat from central Russia, only had one kitten of her own meaning there was plenty of milk to spare, so she readily adopted the four baby hedgehogs into the family
As the milk from mammals is very similar, it is a better option than bottle feeding. The youngsters are provided with all what they need, and suckling means they are less likely to be rejected in later life.
One of the weirdest cases of animal adoption is that of Sai Mai The Tiger from Thailand’s Sriracha Tiger Zoo who adopted and a group of orphaned piglets.
And perhaps one of the most heartwarming is that of Owen the baby Hippopotamus who was rescued after being swept into the Indian Ocean in the 2005 tsunami and adopted a giant male Aldabran tortoise as his “mother”.
These kitties are surely risking one of their nine lives in a hilarious skydving stunt to promote Swedish insurance firm Folksam.
Despite its convincing appearance, it has emerged that the commercial was produced using green screen technology.
The advert is for customer owned Swedish insurance company Folksam in honor of one of its customers, Eva Leijonmark, who has her beloved cat covered by the firm.
Folksam had asked its customers for advertising ideas, but probably didn’t bargain on Eva’s wacky concept.
The video shows the cats appearing to freefall with squinted eyes and the wind rushing through their fur.
The group then join up in formation linking paws in an adorable attempt to spell out the word Eva across the sky.
Set to R Kelly’s 1996 hit I Believe I Can Fly, the ad then shows the moggies parachutes opening as they begin the slow descent back down to earth.
The advert is for customer owned Swedish insurance company Folksam in honor of one of its customers, Eva Leijonmark, who has her beloved cat covered by the firm
Produced by advertising agency Akestam.holst, the 40 second video has gone viral with almost 500,000 hits on YouTube.
While most viewers appear to see the funny side of the clip, some seem to be fooled into thinking that the cats involved were actually thrown from a plane.
The company has said that it followed animal welfare laws to ensure that the animals were unhurt in during the filming.
Folksam is one of Sweden’s oldest insurance firms and the advert is, of course, designed to promote its pet insurance policies.
The French conservative UMP party has chosen Jean-Francois Cope as its next leader after a tight election marred by claims of fraud and ballot-stuffing.
Jean-Francois Cope, an ally of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, won 50.03% of the vote, defeating ex-PM Francois Fillon, who polled 49.97%, by just 98 votes.
The final result was delayed for more than 24 hours.
Jean-Francois Cope, the UMP secretary general, is on the right of the party, while Francois Fillon is seen as more of a centrist.
Party grandees had urged the two candidates to end their war of words, warning that the UMP had been damaged.
Jean-Francois Cope, 48, said he had telephoned Francois Fillon, 58, to ask him to join him at the heart of the UMP “because our opponents are on the left”.
“My hands and my arms are wide open,” he told supporters after the result was announced.
“It is in that state of mind that I telephoned Francois Fillon this evening, it is in that state of mind that I asked him to join me.”
Francois Fillon, speaking after his rival’s victory speech, mentioned “many irregularities” in the electoral process but stopped short of rejecting the result.
He also warned of a deepening split in the UMP.
“What strikes me is the rift at the heart of our political camp, a political and moral fracture,” he said.
The French conservative UMP party has chosen Jean-Francois Cope as its next leader after a tight election marred by claims of fraud and ballot-stuffing
Opinion polls had consistently given Francois Fillon the edge, but initial results on Sunday showed a narrow lead for Jean-Francois Cope.
The UMP held the presidency of France for 17 years, until May, when Socialist candidate Francois Hollande defeated Nicolas Sarkozy’s bid for a second term.
The two candidates have different visions for the party.
Jean-Francois Cope is considered more right-wing. Last month he produced “A Manifesto for an Uninhibited Right” in which he claimed that gangs in the city suburbs were fostering “anti-white racism”.
Francois Fillon is seen as sober and more restrained.
The winner will inherit a party in difficult financial straits, after a series of electoral setbacks over the past five years, culminating in Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential defeat to Socialist rival Francois Hollande.
Jean-Francois Cope
Secretary-general of the UMP since November 2010
Aged 48 – born 5 May 1964 in Paris to Jewish parents of Romanian and Algerian origin
Croatia’s former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has be sentenced to 10 years in prison for taking bribes, in a case closely watched by the EU.
Ivo Sanader, in office from 2003 to 2009, was convicted of taking millions of dollars in bribes from a Hungarian energy company and an Austrian bank.
The former prime minister denied wrongdoing at his trial.
Croatia, which hopes to join the EU in July of next year, is under pressure to tackle widespread corruption.
Correspondents say the EU is taking a harder line with the Balkan state than with Romania and Bulgaria, which were allowed to join the bloc despite struggling to address their problems with corruption.
Ivo Sanader, 59, is the most senior official to have been convicted of corruption in Croatia.
He was found guilty of accepting a bribe of $12.8 million (10 million euros) from the Hungarian oil company MOL in return for securing it controlling rights in Croatia’s state oil company Ina.
Croatia’s former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has be sentenced to 10 years in prison for taking bribes
Unless Tuesday’s verdict is overturned on appeal, Croatia may review MOL’s shareholder agreement with Ina, Reuters news agency says.
In 1995, when Ivo Sanader was a deputy foreign minister, he received $695,000 in bribes for a credit deal with the Hypo Alpe Adria Group, which gave the Austrian bank a leading position in Croatia.
At the time, Croatia was still fighting its war of independence from Yugoslavia, meaning it had trouble accessing the international markets.
Prosecutors described Ivo Sanader’s action as “war profiteering”.
Ivo Sanader argued that the case against him was politically motivated.
He is also on trial, separately, for allegedly creating slush funds for his political party, the conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), by skimming off profits from state companies and manipulating public tenders.
The HDZ ruled the country for eight years until its defeat in elections in December 2011.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s classic novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich was published 50 years ago this month.
A short, simply-told tale about a prisoner trying to survive the Gulag – the Soviet labor camp system – it is now regarded as one of the most significant books of the 20th Century.
“It was still dark, although a greenish light was brightening in the east. A thin, treacherous breeze was creeping in from the same direction. There is no worse moment than when you turn out for work parade in the morning. In the dark, in the freezing cold, with a hungry belly, and the whole day ahead of you. You lose the power of speech…”
In November 1962, one story shook the Soviet Union.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn described a day in the life of a prison camp inmate, Ivan Denisovich Shukhov.
The character was fictional. But there were millions like him – innocent citizens who, like Alexander Solzhenitsyn himself, had been sent to the Gulag in Joseph Stalin’s wave of terror.
Censorship and fear had prevented the truth about the camps from being published, but this story made it into print. The USSR would never be the same again.
“We were absolutely isolated from information, and he started to open our eyes,” remembers writer and journalist Vitaly Korotich.
Life in the camps was something “it was impossible even to think about” he says.
“I read it and re-read it and I simply thought about how brave he was. We had a lot of writers but we never had such a brave writer.”
It was Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev who had sanctioned publication of Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s novel nearly a decade after Stalin’s death. Allowing a book on the Gulag, he thought, would help debunk Stalin’s personality cult. However, one story sparked many more.
“After it was published, it was impossible to stop it,” Vitaly Korotich recalls.
“Immediately we received a lot of illegal publications. A lot of people who were in prison started to remember how it was.
“It was not the time of computers and printers. Books were printed on cigarette paper, it was the only way to make more copies. The Soviet Union was destroyed by information, only information. And this wave started from Solzhenitsyn’s One Day,” he said.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s classic novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich was published 50 years ago this month
“According to his dossier, Shukhov was in for treason. He’d admitted it under investigation – yes, he had surrendered in order to betray his country and returned from a POW camp to carry out a mission for German intelligence. What the mission could be, neither Shukhov himself nor his interrogator could imagine. They left it at that – just <<a mission>>. The counter-espionage boys had beaten the hell out of him. The choice was simple enough: don’t sign and wear a wooden overcoat, or sign and live a bit longer…”
Hardline communists tried to put the genie back into the bottle. Nikita Khrushchev was deposed, de-Stalinization halted, and in 1974 Alexander Solzhenitsyn was arrested and expelled.
But that didn’t save the Soviet Union. And once the USSR had fallen apart, the full scale of Stalin’s crimes became clear.
On the edge of Moscow, Anatoly Mordashev shows me 13 mass graves stretching 1km (0.6 miles) around a field.
What happened here on the Butovo firing range was kept secret for more than half a century.
Between August 1937 and October 1938, 20,760 prisoners were brought to this place and executed by Stalin’s secret police. People living nearby were told the gunshots were just shooting practice.
Murdered here were Soviet workers and peasants, scientists and sportsmen, engineers and office clerks. They had been declared enemies of the people. And this was just one of many Stalin-era killing fields across the USSR.
Anatoly Mordashev tells me that now Russia knows the truth, it must never lose sight of what happened.
And yet Russia has already started to forget.
According to a recent survey, 48% of Russians today believe that Stalin had a positive influence on their country. Only 22% consider it was negative.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s widow, Natalya Dmitrievna, blames the leaders of modern Russia, including Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin, for failing to make the country face up to its past.
“They didn’t carry out any de-Stalinization,” she said.
“On a state level, no-one ever declared communism to be criminal, or Stalin a tyrant who waged war on his own people. Now it’s too late for words.”
“All Eastern Europe after the end of the Soviet Union tried to finish with the communist way of life, in Poland, in Germany, everywhere,” recalls Vitaly Korotich.
“But not here. We needed our Nuremberg, like in Germany. But we never had it. And until we start discussing the problem of communism on the level Solzhenitsyn started 50 years ago, we’ll still live in this half-Soviet country which wants to be part of mankind, but is afraid of information about its own history.”
*If using a frozen pie crust, do not thaw; preheat a baking sheet in the oven and place the pie on the cookie sheet to bake.
In small bowl, combine one egg, pumpkin, 1/3 cup sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Spread in pie crust.
In medium bowl, beat remaining two eggs slightly. Stir in corn syrup and remaining 2/3 cup sugar, the butter and vanilla; stir until well blended. Stir in pecans. Carefully spoon over pumpkin mixture.
Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until filling is set around edge. Cool pie completely on wire rack.
Donald Trump plans to spend his eternity in New Jersey, if the residents of the rural town of Bedminster will let him.
Donald Trump has decided to build a cemetery for himself, his family members, as well as lifetime members of his country club at his Trump National Golf Course in New Jersey’s Bedminster Township, according to the NJ.com.
His plans include two cemetery lots, one containing 82 plots and the other containing 942 plots, that would cover nearly three acres of the 516-acre course.
The Bedminster Township Committee, a board of local officials in the sprawling rural town, was scheduled to meet and discuss Donald Trump’s plans on Monday evening. The committee has previously rejected a former request from Trump to build a cemetery on his golf course.
The denied request included a blueprint for a giant family mausoleum located at the course’s first hole, which could be seen from the road.
The mausoleum would have included a 19-foot tall stone structure with four imposing obelisks surrounding its exteriors and a small altar with six vaults inside.
Donald Trump has decided to build a cemetery for himself, his family members, as well as lifetime members of his country club at his Trump National Golf Course in New Jersey’s Bedminster Township
Bedminster objected to the original plans, for fear that it would be too gaudy and out of taste with the town’s character, according to the Star-Ledger.
“If he wants a mausoleum and he wants to do it for himself, and he wants to put that on the golf club proper, I don’t have a problem with that,” former town council member Sally Rubin told New Jersey Public Radio.
“It’s a large piece of property and he has a lot more flexibility there. But I did not want it on a scenic rural road in our community.”
Donald Trump’s attorneys insist that the new plans are tamer.
If the plans are approved, members of the Trump National Golf Club – each of whom pays $200,000 to join and at least $20,000 in annual dues – will have the opportunity to be buried alongside the Donald.
But why would Donald Trump want to be buried at Bedminster and not any of his other golf courses across the world?
The New Jersey course has long been Donald Trump’s favorite and he has been trying for years to lure the U.S. open there.
“I wanted to build this course to the absolute highest standards in golf,” Donald Trump said at a press conference at the course in May.
“If the choice is ever made to [hold the U.S. open here], I know it would do fantastically well. If that should happen, it would be a great honor.”
US Attorney General Eric Holder is reportedly staying on in his position for at least another year past President Barack Obama’s first term, according to Fox News.
Barack Obama had previously asked Eric Holder to continue in his role beyond January and Holder accepted his request, but they did not specify a timeline, the Wall Street Journal had reported earlier.
There was some uncertainty as to whether Eric Holder would stay on in the administration after he told a college audience in Baltimore earlier this month that he had not made up his mind on the matter.
“Do I think that there are things that I still want to do? Do I have some gas left in the tank?” Eric Holder mused.
Eric Holder was under fire last week as questions emerged over why he did not tell Barack Obama that ex-CIA Director David Petraeus was having an affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell.
He was told by the FBI that they were investigating the relationship between the director of the CIA and Paula Broadwell in late summer, but he appears not to have shared the information with anyone else.
Barack Obama did not find out about the scandal until after the election, just two days before David Petraeus resigned, even though senior officials had apparently been aware of it for months.
Attorney General Eric Holder is reportedly staying on in his position for at least another year past President Barack Obama’s first term
Eric Holder was also under fire in July, when the Republican-controlled House of Representatives charged him with contempt of Congress over the “Fast and Furious” gun-running scandal.
The charges were a reaction to Eric Holder’s refusal to turn over to lawmakers all of the Justice Department documents they demanded on the botched gun-tracking operation.
Republicans questioned how much the Justice Department – and the White House – knew about the operation, which allowed U.S. guns to be moved into Mexico in hopes of tracking them to drug traffickers.
The operation backfired when at least one of those guns was used to kill a U.S. Border Patrol agent in 2010.
The White House denied any involvement in the program.
Natalie Khawam, Jill Kelley’s twin sister, has reportedly enlisted Gloria Allred’s help, more than a week after her involvement in the cheating scandal that has led to his downfall of CIA Director David Petraeus.
Gloria Allred and Natalie Khawam are holding a press conference on Tuesday morning.
Natalie Khawam is the twin sister of Jill Kelley, the Florida socialite who blew the lid off the secret relationship between David Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell, after Broadwell sent Kelley threatening emails.
The twins’ brother, David Khawam, confirmed to ABC News that Natalie Khawam had hired Gloria Allred.
On Friday, Gloria Allred blasted the media coverage surrounding the women involved in the David Petraeus scandal.
Gloria Allred told the Daily Caller: “[M]y personal feeling on this matter is that women are being depicted in a negative and stereotypical manner which appears to be very unfair to all of them.”
But it’s unclear exactly what Gloria Allred would be representing Natalie Khawam for, but she has had legal issues in the past.
One was a brutal child custody dispute with ex-husband Grayson Wolfe.
Natalie Khawam has enlisted Gloria Allred’s help, more than a week after her involvement in the David Petraeus cheating scandal
Natalie Khawam suffered defeat in that case despite letters written on her behalf by David Petraeus and General John Allen, who was later revealed to be exchanging thousands of “flirtatious” emails with Jill Kelley.
The judge had resoundingly denied custody to Natalie Khawam, saying he had serious concerns and reservations over her mental stability and her grasp on reality.
He also cited her with “outrageous conduct”, “bad faith litigation tactics”, and “illogical thinking” before awarding full custody to the father – who had been unable to see his child for more than a year.
The New York Post claimed her estranged husband, Grayson Wolfe, won sole custody of the boy after the judge found out Natalie Khawam, a lawyer, repeatedly lied under oath and filed false domestic-violence and child-abuse claims against her husband.
Natalie Khawam was also accused of defying court orders to allow her estranged husband access to their son and sent emails to his friends and colleagues telling them he was a “horrible father and husband”.
But her troubles don’t just end there. Natalie Khawam is also currently being sued in Montgomery County for failing to pay the lawyer’s fees in her divorce – believed to be in the region of $100,000.
The case has been on the court docket for nearly a-year-and-a-half but took a backward step in April when she filed for bankruptcy.
On the bankruptcy filing, Natalie Khawam lists $3.2 million in unpaid debt, plus $53,000 she owes the Internal Revenue Service.
A Santa Claus was left dangling from the ceiling after his beard became trapped while abseiling inside Broad Street Mall in Reading, UK, as part of a Christmas lights switch-on show.
Santa was stuck for about 30 minutes about 15 ft off the ground in the Broad Street Mall on Saturday afternoon.
Eyewitness Ryan Gaudreau said: “Everyone was laughing at him – he didn’t really know what to do.”
Stephanie Maynard, marketing manager at the centre, said Santa was not hurt.
Santa Claus was left dangling from the ceiling after his beard became trapped while abseiling inside Broad Street Mall in Reading
“He could have just taken his beard off and let himself down but he was such a professional and he didn’t want to let the children down,” she said.
“He lost his footing as he came through the hole in the ceiling and there was a sudden jolt and he got caught in the clip on the rope.
“Some people were absolutely mortified while others thought it was the funniest thing ever.
“They had to let another rope down and get him down and there was such a roar from the crowd.
“Usually after the lights switch-on the centre empties but there were so many people still there waiting to see if Father Christmas was going to get down.”
Since 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has kicked off the holiday season in New York City. More than 2.5 million people line the streets every year to see giant balloons, floats, marching bands, and waving celebrities (while 44 million more tune in to the NBC TV broadcast).
This year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will continue an 85-year tradition with new giant helium character balloons, spectacular new floats, and special performances.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by the numbers: The parade will feature more than 10,000 participants; 28 floats; 16 giant character balloons; 40 novelty balloons, balloonicles and balloonheads; 1,600 cheerleaders, dancers and performance group members; 900 clowns; 11 marching bands; a troupe of celebrity performers; and the man of the season, Santa Claus.
New Macy’s Parade Balloons and Floats for 2012
For the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, some spectacular new giant balloons will take to the skies over New York City. New balloons will include The Elf on the Shelf, Hello Kitty flying high in her new airplane, and Papa Smurf.
New Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade floats will feature tributes to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, March Madness, the Gibson “Les Paul” guitar, Pepperidge Farms goldfish, and a giant cookie dough bowl.
Celebrities Join the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Stars participating in the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade festivities will include Carly Rae Jepson, Flo Rida, The Wanted, Karmin, Neon Trees, Cody Simpson, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Jennette McCurdy, Chris Isaak, the U.S. Olympic gold medalist gymnastics team, the Muppets, the Rockettes, and more.
See the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will start at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 24th, 2011 and end at approximately noon.
Planning to view the parade in person this year? Here’s what you need to know.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Route:
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin at 77th Street and Central Park West, march south on Central Park West, then turn onto Central Park South and march down a new path via 6gh Avenue to 34th Street. At 34th Street, the Parade will turn west and march to 7th Avenue in front of Macy’s Herald Square. See a map of the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade continues an 85-year tradition with new giant helium character balloons, spectacular new floats, and special performances
Best Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Viewing Locations:
Organizers say you’ll have the best views on Central Park West between 61st and 72nd Streets.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Viewing Tips
You can’t buy tickets for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s free and open to the public, but you won’t be able to see much unless you plan ahead.
Make sure you get there early if you want a good view. The crowd starts to form as early as 6:30AM for a sort of informal pre-parade street party. Stop for donuts and coffee and have breakfast al fresco while you wait.
Macy’s advises people to leave folding chairs at home. They become cumbersome when the crowds start filling up the sidewalk.
Don’t forget to dress warmly. November in New York gets pretty chilly after a couple of hours outside. Layers are always a good bet.
If you would rather stay inside, you can watch the parade live on NBC’s Today Show from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Getting to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:
The New York City subway system is your easiest option for getting to the parade.
Take the D to 34 St./Herald Square or 59 St./Columbus Circle.
Take the C to 42 St./Times Square, 50 St./8th Ave., 59 St./Columbus Circle, 72 St./Central Park West, or 81 St./Central Park West.
Take the 1,2,3 to 42 St./Times Square or 72 St./Broadway. The 1 local will also stop at 50 St./Broadway and 59 St./Columbus Circle.
For More Information About the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Visit the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeR site or call the Parade hotline at (212) 494-4495.
Thanksgiving weekend has become the official kick-off of the holiday shopping season with stores offering major sales and Black Friday deals to lure shoppers.
The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday to retailers because it puts them “in the black” profit-wise. It is the busiest shopping day of the year in terms of traffic (though more money is spent on the weekend before Christmas).
Serious shoppers know they can score serious deals on Thanksgiving weekend. But it takes some savvy to find the best deals and fight the crowds. Desperate shoppers have been known to camp out overnight to be first in line for major deals on hot items (now that’s dedication).
Black Friday Sale Events in New York City
Best Buy
Best Buy is promoting daily deals during the countdown to Thanksgiving. You can sign up to be alerted when new deals are revealed.
Burlington Coat Factory
See what’s on sale at Burlington Coat Factory on Black Friday – more than just coats.
Ikea
Take a trip to Brooklyn or New Jersey for Black Friday deals at IKEA.
JC Penney
Check out the many in-store deals at JC Penney on Black Friday. Shop at JC Penney on Black Friday and you can also win prizes including 100 great American vacations.
Macy’s
Brave the crowds to score major Black Friday bargains at Macy’s.
Old Navy
At Old Navy, the doors open at midnight on Black Friday and there will be three rounds of doorbuster deals. Some early-bird shoppers will get free copies of the new Super Mario Bros. U game and Old Navy will be giving away 1,000 Wii systems.
Staples
Staples is advertising early bird deals starting at 5am on Black Friday.
Toys R Us
Get a sneak peek at the Toys R Us Black Friday ad featuring more than 200 doorbusters and “our lowest prices ever.”
What Else Is On Sale
Most stores keep their Black Friday sales under wraps until a few days before. However, we are usually able to track down some hot outlet and electronics store deals that have already been announced, along with some sites that will email you with updates as new info becomes available.
Some of the biggest Black Friday deals are usually found on hot electronics purchases (think iPad, video game systems, TVs, DVD players), so also keep an eye out for sales circulars from stores like Best Buy, J&R and Circuit City.
Thanksgiving weekend has become the official kick-off of the holiday shopping season with stores offering major sales and Black Friday deals to lure shoppers
Black Friday Holiday Shopping – Outlets
Woodbury Common Outlets
After-Thanksgiving Black Friday Weekend Sale
Midnight, November 23rd through 9pm on November 25th, 2012
Venture out of the city to save big on major brands at this holiday weekend sale event at the Woodbury Common outlets. It’s a short trip by car or public transportation. Outlet stores will be offering additional savings on their everyday low outlet prices. There will be added bargains for early shoppers when selected stores open at midnight on Black Friday for a full weekend of shopping madness. Santa and Victorian carolers will be strolling around to entertain you between purchases.
Extended sale hours for all stores: Fri Midnight-10 p.m., Sat 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. Crossings Outlets (Poconos)
It may be worth a trip to Pennsylvania for this holiday weekend sale event. Stores will be offering additional savings above and beyond their everyday low outlet prices. You’ll need a car for the 1.5 hour trip to Tannersville in the Poconos.
Extended sale hours for all stores: Fri Midnight-10 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Black Friday Holiday Shopping – Electronics
Best Buy
The Best Buy Black Friday sale starts at 5AM Friday morning at select locations.
Apple
Rumor has it that Apple will once again be offering major Black Friday 2012 deals and once again will not reveal all of the sale detail until the week of Thanksgiving.
Black Friday Holiday Shopping – Department Stores
Check out what’s on sale on Black Friday at your favorite New York City department stores (you can see the famous holiday window displays while you’re there).
The following sites have advance information on sales and discounts at big online and chain stores like Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Toys R Us, Staples, Radio Shack, Express, and more. Sign up for email alerts when new sale information is posted.
Black Friday Ads: See scans of Black Friday Sale ads and circulars from big-name stores.
Black Friday @ Gotta Deal: Advance info and sales circulars for major Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales at chain stores.
Deals of America: Deals of America also features hot online shopping deals, including free shipping offers and more.
A week after the nation learned of Paula Broadwell’s months-long affair with CIA boss David Petraeus, it appears as if her husband, Dr. Scott Broadwell, is getting the support he needs.
Dr. Scott Broadwell has been pictured embracing a friend in the doorway of his Charlotte, North Carolina home a day after he returned with his shamed wife and their two sons.
Paula Broadwell, who was photographed on the school run and carrying out errands on Monday as she struggled to get back to normality, has told friends she deeply regrets the damage to her family.
A close friend has revealed Paula Broadwell is desperately trying to repair the damage and move forward.
After the scandal broke more than a week ago following David Petraeus’ resignation as director of the CIA, she stayed with her brother at his home in Washington D.C. but returned to North Carolina yesterday.
Dr. Scott Broadwell has been pictured at his Charlotte, North Carolina home a day after he returned with his shamed wife and their two sons
The family was welcomed by a group of friends and neighbors on her return, and a friend – who did not want to be named – said that Paula Broadwell was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
Paula Broadwell maintained her stony silence after being confronted by a number of reporters when she pulled up in an SUV, according to WSOC-TV.
Dr. Scott Broadwellrefused to comment, but appeared happy to joke about the media circus which has surrounded his family since November 9 – the day David Petraeus resigned.
Stephen Kranz, brother of David Petraeus’ biographer-turned-mistress, Paula Broadwell, has revealed how she is “incredibly sorry” for hurting her family and has acknowledged she made a mistake.
Stephen Kranz spoke out after his sister returned to her home in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband Scott and their young sons after hiding out at his Washington D.C. mansion for a week.
“She’s been devastated by this,” Stephen Kranz told People Magazine.
“She is filled with guilt and shame for what she’s done and she’s incredibly sorry for the pain she’s caused her husband, her family, Petraeus’s family. She accepts responsibility for her actions and knows she made a mistake.”
Stephen Kranz added that Paula Broadwell is now committed to repairing the damage to her family and protecting her children from the furor following the months-long affair and David Petraeus’ resignation.
It comes as her husband, Dr. Scott Broadwell, was pictured embracing a friend in the doorway of their home the day after returning with his shamed wife – in a sign he is getting much-needed support from loved ones.
Paula Broadwell was also pictured on Monday during the school run and as she carried out errands, suggesting she is attempting to get back to normality after the massive military scandal.
Paula Broadwell is now committed to repairing the damage to her family and protecting her children from the furor following the months-long affair and David Petraeus’ resignation
As the family returned home on Sunday, they were welcomed by a group of friends and neighbors, and a close friend – who did not want to be named – said Paula Broadwell was overwhelmed by the support.
Paula Broadwell maintained her stony silence after being confronted by a number of reporters when she pulled up in an SUV, according to WSOC-TV.
Dr. Scott Broadwell refused to comment, but appeared happy to joke about the media circus which has surrounded his family since November 9 – the day David Petraeus resigned.
Paula Broadwell was wearing large sunglasses and showed no emotion as she tried to hide her face from waiting photographers.
Dr. Scott Broadwell revealed that the family would be releasing a statement soon, but did not elaborate on when it would be.
Enjoy a traditional Southern feast this year with the Thanksgiving dinner menu suggestions below.
Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
Herb Roasted Turkey Turkey is roasted with a mixture of herbs and olive oil under the skin and all over the bird. Use small amounts of dried herbs along with the fresh herbs for more flavor. Use fresh dill, rosemary, and chives, along with about 1/2 teaspoon each of dried leaf marjoram and thyme.
Southern Cornbread Dressing This home-style cornbread recipe is made with fresh cornbread crumbs and optional diced chicken.
Cranberry Salad This delicious salad makes a great fruit salad to serve alongside turkey or ham.
Boursin and Parsley Mashed Potatoes These mashed potatoes get extra flavor from the boursin cheese with garlic and herbs. This recipe is easily doubled for a big dinner.
Seven Layer Salad This delicious salad almost always makes an appearance at our family gatherings and holiday dinners.
Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Ideas
Sweet Potato Casserole A sweet potato casserole recipe, made with mashed sweet potatoes and a crunchy pecan topping. Scroll down to see more sweet potato recipes.
Broccoli Pudding This tasty broccoli casserole is the perfect side dish for a holiday dinner or everday family meal.
Green Bean Casserole This is a delicious green bean casserole, perfect for a holiday feast or Sunday family dinner.
Extra-Creamy Macaroni and Cheese American cheese and Cheddar, along with a little cream make this a super creamy macaroni and cheese, and buttery croissant crumbs top it all off in a great way.
Angel Biscuits Yeast in the dough makes this biscuit recipe lighter than most.
Fresh Coconut Layer Cake This is a delicious and moist fresh coconut cake with fluffy frosting. Make this cake as a very special dessert for Thanksgiving, Easter, or other special dinner or family gathering.
Classic Pumpkin Pecan Pie A classic pumpkin pecan pie recipe, the best of both worlds!
This turkey is roasted with a mixture of herbs and olive oil under the skin and all over the bird.
Use small amounts of dried herbs along with the fresh herbs for more flavor. Use fresh dill, rosemary, and chives, along with about 1/2 teaspoon each of dried leaf marjoram and thyme.
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours
Ingredients:
1 turkey, about 14 pounds
3 to 4 tablespoons mixed chopped herbs, such as chives, dill, tarragon, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram
3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
1 orange, cut in 2-inch pieces
1 apple, cut in 2-inch pieces
1 onion, quartered
sprigs of fresh herbs
Herb Roasted Turkey
Preparation:
Heat oven to 450°.
Wash turkey inside and out; pat dry. Combine the chopped herbs with olive oil. Gently separate the skin from the breast and rub a few tablespoons of the herb mixture under the skin as far back as you can reach. Rub the remaining mixture all over the bird. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Put orange, apple, onion chunks, and herb sprigs in the stuffing cavity. Cover wing tips with small pieces of foil. Roast for 10 minutes. Tent foil loosely over the top of the turkey and reduce heat to 325° and continue roasting for about 3 1/2 hours longer, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°. Serves 8.
Christina Aguilera burst onto the AMA’s on Sunday evening showing an unapologetic air of defiance to the skinny as she embraced her fuller figure.
It was all about the curves for Christina Aguilera in two jaw-dropping, clinging outfits, from a tighter than ever lilac dress to a dazzling black corset onstage covered in outlandish stars and spangles.
Christina Aguilera, 31, flung herself into an energetic performance onstage in her tiny black corset after showing off her demure style in her generously gathered lilac gown.
She put her sexy twist on patriotism with a star-spangled bodysuit, and managed to get a few pulses racing in the over-the-top ensemble.
Christina Aguilera may have displayed far too much cleavage in the plunging neckline piece which featured a sheer black train at the back, which gathered over her ample figure.
She teamed her rocky style by The Blonds New York with fishnet tights and knee high heeled black boots.
Christina Aguilera burst onto the AMA’s on Sunday evening showing an unapologetic air of defiance to the skinny as she embraced her fuller figure
Despite the risky attire, curvy Christina Aguilera gave it her all on stage as she performed, later joining Pitbull for track Feel This Moment.
The energetic routine included plenty of moving around shaking her blonde locks as she moved around performers with torture bags labeled the words “Freak” and “Queen” over their heads.
Christina Aguilera had stripped down from a pink kimono style item to match the body paint on her dancers who emulated a lotus flower from which she emerged to match the image on her new album.
Her fashion on the night was somewhat of a train wreck as she was one of the worst dressed celebrities on the red carpet too.
Sporting a very orange fake tan, squeezed her generous curves into a tight-fitting purple wrap-around dress, split to the thigh.
Christina Aguilera completed her look with what appeared to be a blonde bobbed wig and purple eye-shadow.
Other performers on the night included Ke$ha, Justin Bieber, Pink, Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, the final installment in the vampire fantasy films, has debuted at the top of the US box office with estimated takings of $141.3 million.
The second film, New Moon, took $142.8m in its first three days in 2009.
Breaking Dawn – Part 2, which is the fifth Twilight film, now ranks eighth in the list of US domestic debuts.
It also took just under $200 million internationally between Thursday and Sunday in 61 countries.
Breaking Dawn – Part 2 joins New Moon, which sits in seventh place, and the fourth film – Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – at number nine.
Batman is the only other franchise with more than one top-10 opening, with The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight at number three and number four respectively.
Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box officer tracker Hollywood.com, described Twilight as “one of the most consistently performing franchises of all time”.
“I thought that for the final installment, it might eclipse the franchise record, but to look at $141.3 million and say that’s a disappointment, that’s kind of crazy,” he said.
The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn – Part 2 has debuted at the top of the US box office with estimated takings of $141.3 million
The Twilight films, based on Stephanie Meyer’s best-selling novels, star Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
Breaking Dawn – Part 2 knocked Bond film Skyfall off the top of the chart, which fell into second place with $41.5 million.
Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln was released nationwide following a limited release last week, taking $21 million to secure third position.
Disney animation Wreck-It Ralph and Denzel Washington drama Flight rounded out the top five.
US box office top five:
1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 $141.3 million
Investigation Discovery documentary claims that OJ Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown was the victim of known serial killer Glen Rogers and not her famous football star ex-husband.
Glen Rogers, who was convicted of killing two women in 1995, is on death row in Florida. He reportedly confessed to the brutal stabbings of Nicole and her friends Ron Goldman.
The theory, floated by filmmakers for Investigation Discovery, marks only the second time an alternate suspect has been suggested in the 1994 murder.
The nine-month trial of millionaire OJ Simpson, defended by some of the top attorneys in the nation, remains the most explosive court case in modern American history.
The acquittal of OJ Simpson on the murder charges is still a deeply divisive topic.
Investigation Discovery, an offshoot of the Discovery Channel, reports that Rogers boasted that he befriended Nicole Brown shortly after he moved to Los Angeles from Ohio.
He is said to have bragged about partying with her and, more ominously, warning that she was rich and he was “going to take her down”.
The New York Post reports that Glen Rogers confessed to the crime years after he was already jailed for the murders of the two other women, even giving police a few receipts as evidence that he was in the area at the time of the double-homicide in June 1994.
The documentary explains that the reason why Glen Rogers’ name has never come up before is because OJ Simpson was purposefully keeping his connection to Rogers under wraps.
Glen Rogers, who at one point boasted about having killed up to 70 women in a cross-country serial spree, alleges that OJ Simpson hired him to break into his ex wife’s home to steal a pair of $20,000 earrings.
He also says that while the original intention of the partnership was to get the earrings, OJ Simpson gave Glen Rogers permission to kill “the b****” if necessary.
The documentary does not feature Glen Rogers himself, who is serving time on death row in Florida, but it comes close to home as it is based largely on interviews with his brother Clay who was the person to tip police off to Glen’s whereabouts.
Investigation Discovery documentary claims that OJ Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown was the victim of known serial killer Glen Rogers
Glen Rogers allegedly told Clay about the Brown-Goldman murder but he did not believe it. Later on, Glen Rogers spoke to a criminal investigator and went through step-by-step details of how the murder took place.
He is suspected of being a prolific murderer who used his charm and good looks to pick up women at bars.
Glen Rogers is currently on death row in Florida for the 1995 murder of Tina Marie Cribbs in Tampa. He and Tina Marie Cribbs reportedly had sex at a motel after meeting at a bar. He then stabbed her multiple times and left her to bleed to death in the bathtub.
He was later convicted of murdering Sandra Gallagher, a mother of three, in Los Angeles in 1995, as well. Her body was found in her burning pickup truck.
Glen Rogers is also suspected in the deaths of women in Mississippi and Louisiana.
California authorities suspect he was behind four other murders in that state, as well.
At one point, Glen Rogers boasted her murdered 70 people, though later recanted and said he was only joking.
The truth behind the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman has gotten murkier, not clearer in the 17 years since OJ’s acquittal.
The timeline of the crime has long been a point of contention as OJ Simpson infamously signed a deal to pen a book called If I Did It which was ultimately cancelled.
Numerous friends and acquaintance have come forward, claiming firsthand or secondhand knowledge of OJ Simpson confessing to the crime. However, the former football star and actor has publicly maintained his innocence.
Despite being found not guilty at the criminal trial, the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman sued OJ in civil court.
Several pieces of evidence were introduced that had been excluded from the criminal case. The jury found OJ Simpson legally liable for the wrongful deaths of the two victims. Their families were awarded more than $33 million in damages.
Earlier this year, private investigator William Dear floated a theory that OJ Simpson’s son Jason Simpson committed the murders.
In a book, William Dear claimed that OJ Simpson stood trial to deflect attention away from his son, who he says was mentally unstable at the time.
The theory has been called ‘absolutely absurd’ by some legal analysts.
One of the key witnesses in the case, Kato Kaelin, a small-time actor who testified for several days at the trial, has flipped-and-flopped back and forth on whether he believes OJ Simpson committed the crimes.
Most recently, he said he had no direct knowledge of OJ Simpson admitting to the crimes.
OJ Simpson is now serving 33 years in prison for a recent armed robbery in Las Vegas.
In 2007, two sports memorabilia dealers say OJ Simpson and four other men reportedly broke into their hotel room and robbed them at gunpoint.
OJ Simpson denies that he used weapons and claims he was only taking back property that was rightfully his from his days as a college football and NFL star.
Jonathan Trappe, a cluster-balloonist who became the first person to fly the English Channel, has launched a house into the sky just like in the Disney movie Up.
Intrepid Jonathan Trappe, 38, took off just like the 78-year-old character Carl Frederickson in the hit movie.
Jonathan Trappe, from Raleigh, North Carolina, stepped into the cartoon themed home before soaring above the Leon International Balloon festival in Mexico yesterday.
He was using the event as a warm-up for his planned trans-Atlantic flight scheduled for next summer.
Jonathan Trappe aims to complete the 2,500 mile journey across the pond in a seven foot lifeboat carried by 365 huge helium balloons.
He has invested $170,000 into his Atlantic dream, for which he’s been training his whole career, and now he’s launching a site so ordinary people can play their part this amazing adventure.
Jonathan Trappe is learning to sail a lifeboat, in case he needs to ditch into the ocean during the danger-filled mission.
The unique gondola will have an open roof for take-off but a canopy to protect Trappe from high-altitude winds and frost bite during the crossing.
The daredevil will fly at between 18,000ft and 25,000ft, beating his previous world altitude record of 21,600ft, and must fly uninterrupted a distance ten times longer than his previous world record of 230 miles in order to succeed.
Jonathan Trappe, a cluster-balloonist who became the first person to fly the English Channel, has launched a house into the sky just like in the Disney movie Up
Jonathan Trappe, who holds records for crossing the Alps, flying the most cluster balloons, and the longest distance, has spent his entire career building up to the momentous expedition.
He said: “I didn’t wake up one day and think: <<I’m going to fly across the Atlantic>>.
“Every attempt before this was geared towards this flight. I’ve been training for a long time.”
In May 2010, Jonathan Trappe became famous worldwide when flew from England to Belgium dangling from scores of helium balloons.
Now he is ready to take on the Atlantic, a challenge which has called to balloonists for decades, although five others have died in the process, and none have crossed attached to cluster-balloons.
“It’s about living an interesting life – for me as the pilot and those watching,” said Jonathan Trappe.
“So, one day we can look back and say: <<Humankind were able to pull this off. They did it>>.”
Charlize Theron was known for her trademark long blonde locks prior to shaving her head earlier this year for her role in upcoming movie, Mad Max: Fury Road.
But it would seem Charlize Theron has had a little help along the way in the form of a bottle of hair dye.
Showcasing her seemingly natural brunette roots, Charlize Theron, 37, showed off her dramatic buzz cut as she enjoyed a lunch date with her mother, Gerda.
With her locks cropped close to her head, Charlize Theron looked happy and relaxed as she chatted to her relative over a bottle of rose champagne.
The actress looked thrilled to be back in her native South Africa as the mother-daughter duo enjoyed a bite to eat at Cafe Caprice in Cape Town, South Africa.
Although Charlize Theron was without her usual flowing locks, it wasn’t long before she was recognized by a group of fans, and happily posed alongside them for photographs.
Charlize Theron looked her typically effortlessly chic self as she stepped out for the day, showing off her slim legs in a pair of indigo skinny jeans, which she teamed with a bright yellow off-shoulder jumper and a white vest.
The actress completed her look with a pair of RayBan aviator sunglasses, pretty tan sandals and a matching handbag.
Charlize Theron shaved head reveals she is actually brunette
Charlize Theron chopped of her trademark long blonde locks in June to play Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, the fourth film in the post apocalyptic series.
She will feature opposite Tom Hardy, who fills the role made famous by Mel Gibson, and she said she cannot wait for the cameras to roll.
Charlize Theron recently said: “I feel like the original Mad Max created such a vivid world, that to go back and re-imagine it and kind of replay in that sandbox sounds like fun to me.
“George [Miller] really created a female character that I’ve never read anything like this. I mean, I’m scared!
“I’m very excited about it; I’m dying! It’s been three years; it’s time to skin this cat already!”
Barack Obama said Burma is on a “remarkable journey” of reform that has much further to go, on his first visit to the South East Asian nation by a serving US president.
A desire for change had been met by an agenda of reform, he said, and he was there to extend a “hand of friendship”.
But, in a speech at Rangoon University, Barack Obama urged Burmese people to accept Muslim Rohingyas after recent violence.
Crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined the streets as he arrived.
The visit was intended to show support for the reforms put in place by Thein Sein’s government since the end of military rule in November 2010.
Activists have warned that the visit may be too hasty – political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts in border areas are unresolved.
On Monday another prisoner amnesty was announced, with about 50 of the 66 inmates freed reportedly political detainees. About 200 political prisoners remain behind bars, activists say.
Barack Obama spent about six hours in Burma and did not visit the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
The highlight of his visit was a speech at Rangoon University, which was at the heart of pro-democracy protests in 1988 that were violently suppressed by the military regime.
Addressing students, he said America would help to rebuild Burma’s economy and could be a partner on its journey forward.
Referring to his 20 January 2009 inauguration speech in which he pledged the US would extend a hand to any country that was willing to unclench its fist, he said: “Today I’ve come to keep my promise and extend the hand of friendship.
“But this remarkable journey has just begun, and has much further to go.
“Reforms launched from the top of society must meet the aspirations of citizens who form its foundation. The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished.”
He called for an end to communal violence between Muslims and Buddhists in the western state of Rakhine that has left more than 100,000 people displaced. They are mostly Muslim Rohingyas who are stateless and face severe discrimination in Burma.
“National reconciliation will take time, but for the sake of our common humanity, and for the sake of this country’s future, it is necessary to stop the incitement and to stop violence,” he said.
Earlier Barack Obama met Thein Sein, saying the reform process “here in Myanmar… is one that can lead to incredible development opportunities”.
He used the country name preferred by the government – US officials described the move as a “diplomatic courtesy” but not a policy shift.
Barack Obama met Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the lakeside home where she spent years under house arrest
Barack Obama then met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the lakeside home where she spent years under house arrest. She thanked the US for its support but warned that difficult times could lie ahead.
“The most difficult time in any transition is when we think that success is in sight,” she said, saying people should not be “lured by a mirage of success”.
The US president and his team also made a brief stop at Shwedagon Pagoda, the Rangoon landmark that has been at the heart of many key moments in the country’s history.
Barack Obama was accompanied by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – who was returning to Burma almost a year after her first visit.
Thein Sein’s government came to power after widely criticized polls in November 2010 that saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government.
Since then – to the surprise of many – his administration has embarked on a reform process. Many – but not all – political prisoners have been freed, censorship has been relaxed and some economic reforms enacted.
Aung San Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest shortly after the polls. Her NLD party, which boycotted the elections, has since rejoined the political process. It now has a small presence in parliament after a landslide win in by-elections deemed generally free and fair in April.
In response to the reforms, many Western nations have relaxed sanctions against Burma and begun a process of engagement.
But rights groups have cautioned against a rush to embrace the South East Asian nation, warning that political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts are unresolved.
After visiting Burma, Barack Obama headed to Cambodia to join a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations, in a trip that underlines the shift in US foreign policy focus to the Asia-Pacific region.
At least 26 people have died in the Gaza Strip as Israeli forces kept up air strikes they say are aimed at stopping rocket attacks into Israel.
Fewer rockets have been launched, but Israeli towns are still being hit.
Ninety-five Palestinians and three Israelis have died in six days of violence, the latest including a militant group commander.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire continue, with a senior Egyptian official saying there are “encouraging signs”.
Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of the Islamist movement Hamas which controls Gaza, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had requested a ceasefire but that it was up to Israel to stop the war that, he said, it had started.
Israel immediately denied making any such request, Reuters news agency reported.
Khaled Meshaal said that a truce was possible in Gaza, as was further escalation of the conflict.
Morale in Gaza was high and anyone who attacked the Palestinians would be “buried”, he added.
Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has said an Israeli ground invasion would have “serious repercussions”, saying Egypt would never accept it “and neither will the free world”.
At least 26 people have died in the Gaza Strip as Israeli forces kept up air strikes
Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he was ready to expand the operation, after Israel authorized the mobilization of up to 75,000 army reservists.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they targeted about 80 sites overnight into Monday alone, including militant-owned buildings, weapons storage facilities and police stations, bringing its total to 1,350 sites targeted since Wednesday.
Strikes continued on Monday, with a leading figure in the militant group Islamic Jihad, named as Ramez Harb, killed as a building housing media workers was targeted.
One of the overnight blasts destroyed a Hamas police headquarters.
Gaza militants launched 32 missiles into Israel on Monday, of which four were intercepted, said the IDF. One hit a school in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. Classes had already been cancelled. Another hit a house. There are no reports of casualties.
At least nine children were killed in Gaza on Sunday – the bloodiest day so far – and TV reports showing horrific images of their burned and bloodied bodies have been fuelling Palestinian anger.
In one strike, nine members of the family of Hamas policeman Mohamed Dalou were killed – four of them children.
The army’s chief military spokesman, Yoav Mordechai, told Israel’s Channel 2 TV that the intended target of the strike had been Yehiya Rabiyah, the head of Hamas’s rocket-launching unit, but that there had been “civilian casualties”.
Later, the IDF said the house had been targeted because it was thought Yehiya Rabiyah might be hiding there but officials did not know whether he was inside at the time of the attack.
Egypt has been leading efforts to broker a peace deal, with both senior Israeli and Hamas officials in Cairo for talks. An Egyptian official said he hoped to be able to make an announcement on Monday or Tuesday.
Since the conflict began, 877 rockets were fired towards Israel – 570 hit Israel and 307 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system, the IDF says.
Before the recent offensive, Israel had repeatedly carried out air strikes on Gaza as Palestinian militants fired rockets across the border.
But the aerial and naval bombardment is its most intense assault on the territory since Israel launched a full-scale invasion four years ago.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after winning a decisive victory in general elections. Israel withdrew from the strip in 2005 but maintains a blockade around it.
Israel, as well as the United States and the European Union, regards Hamas as a terrorist organization.
