Officials identify four firefighter killed in West fertilizer plant explosion

The names of four volunteer firefighters, who were killed in a massive explosion at West fertilizer plant in Texas, were released at a news conference outside city hall in West. The dead were among 14 people, nearly all of them emergency responders, died when the blast flattened the fertilizer plant and destroyed as many as 75 homes and buildings on Wednesday night (April 17, 2013). Among the firefighter killed were brothers Doug and Robert Snokhous, who lived half a mile from each other and worked together at an ironworks in nearby Waco. They are survived by their wives, children and grandchildren. Another man was killed in the blast was Jerry Chapman while officials identified a fourth firefighter, Kevin Sanders.

Booming baritone George Beverly Shea dies at the age of 104

George Beverly Shea, a member of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, died in Asheville at the age of 104 after a brief illness on Tuesday (April 16, 2013). He is survived by his wife, Karlene, and his children from his first marriage, Ronald and Elaine. Born in Winchester, the Canadian emigrant, whose booming baritone voice echoed through squares, stadiums and souls during his decades-long career, joined evangelist Billy Graham’s crusade team in 1947. However, George Beverly Shea was well-known as a gospel soloist before he met Graham in the early 1940s. He then became one of America's most-recognized gospel soloists, himself summing up his career with his inspirational "The Wonder of It All" and his trademark rendition of "How Great Thou Art.”

Photo: Opera.
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Vietnam unveils giant steel Dragon Bridge that breathes huge balls of fire

Giant steel Dragon Bridge, the world's largest dragon bridge, has been unveiled on the 38th anniversary of of the end of the Vietnam War in the Vietnamese city of Da Nang. The six-lane bridge, which literally shoots fire from its mouth, was opened by Vietnam's deputy prime minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. The 1,864-foot-long bridge is designed with steel arches that serve as the body of the dragon and features more than 2,500 energy-efficient Philips LED lights. The whole construction extends to 666m in length and weighs 8,164-tonnes. The Dragon Bridge is modelled on the dragon of the Lý Dynasty, a symbolic creature that is part of Vietnam folklore. The structure cost a reported $85 million since it began construction in April 2009. Let's share this post on Twitter if you find the story interesting.

A Foreign Service Officer killed in a suicide bomb attack in Zabul, Afghanistan

Anne Smedinghoff, a 25-year-old Foreign Service Officer, was killed in a car bomb blast in Qalat, Zabul on Saturday (April 6, 2013). She is the first U.S. diplomat to die on the job since last year’s attack in Benghazi, Libya that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens. According to Davis, Anne Smedinghoff is among five Americans killed in the suicide bomb attack in southern Afghanistan. The other victims included three U.S. troops and a civilian working for the Defense Department. Four State Department officials were among the 10 injured in the attack. Anne Smedinghoff joined the Foreign Service after graduating from Johns Hopkins University in 2009 with a degree in international studies. She then volunteered to serve in Afghanistan and arrived last July. Anne Smedinghoff was described as a positive, hard-working and dependable young woman.

Israeli troops shoot and kill a Palestinian boy in the occupied West Bank

Samir Awad, a 17-year-old boy was killed by Israeli soldiers in a confrontation near a West Bank separation barrier on Tuesday (April 2, 2013). The high school student was to Ramallah hospital in critical condition and died shortly afterward. He was shot in the back, head and leg. Samir Awad was the second Palestinian killed in four days by Israeli troops in the West Bank, where few clashes have ended with fatalities in recent years. Samir’s classmates said that they were leaving school on the last day of their mid-year exams when clashes broke out between demonstrators and Israeli soldiers. Samir Awad was alleged to approach a fence in the barrier and try to breach it. The troops warned him to stop and when he did not, they opened fire. Please share this story on Twitter so people will know about the crime of Israeli troops.

Teachers suspended after leaving a 4-year-old boy outside in the cold

Three teachers at the Y Learning Center were suspended after they left a 4-year-old boy outside in the cold as punishment on Monday (April 1, 2013). The teachers were said to take the kid and his clothes outside the center, having him stand on his snowsuit after they had trouble getting him to put on his outdoor apparel. A parent spotted the boy without his coat and called police when the boy allegedly said that he was being punished. The child was then brought inside and properly dressed by another staff member. The Y Learning Center is now reviewing policies with its staff while letters also went out Monday to parents to explain what had happened.
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Police searching a man after he is thrown from his plane

Police in Collegedale and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office were searching the ground for a man after he was thrown from an experimental aircraft on Friday (March 29, 2013). The unidentified man was being trained by an instructor in his Zodiac 601 plane at about 2,500 feet when the canopy came off. His seat belt was not fastened and he fell from the aircraft over the East Brainerd and Apison areas of the county. Meanwhile, the instructor landed the plane and was not physically hurt. According to Collegedale Municipal Airport employee Lowell Sterchi, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified. If you know anything about the man or the instructor, please share your information with me on Twitter or just drop a comment here.

A paraplegic man gets $8,000 from Disneyland after being stuck on the ride for 30 minutes

Jose Martinez, a disabled man, got $8,000 from Disneyland after becoming stuck for 30 minutes on the “It’s A Small World” ride. The incident took place on November 27th 2009 when the paraplegic man and his wife Christina Buchanan-Martinez went to the amusement park for the first time. While they were having a great time, the "It's A Small World" ride broke down, stranding him for a half of hour. Jose Martinez, who suffers from chronic problems with diabetes, hypertension and anxiety disorder, didn't medically stabilize for three hours after he became stuck. The 52-year-old man then sued Disneyland in 2011 and has been awarded $8,000. According to his attorney David Geffen, Jose was awarded $4,000 for “pain and suffering” and the rest was for a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

It's a Small World ride at Disneyland

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A teenage girl stabbed critically and other three people hurt inside a Target store

At least four people were stabbed inside a store in Target on Monday (March 25, 2013). The victims included one teenage girl, who was taken to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in critical condition. Meanwhile, a police officer was treated for exposure to pepper spray from this incident. Three other people were also stabbed multiple times, but none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening. According to Opera, the suspect was arrested at the scene after officers were called to the store in the East Liberty section of the city. Details of who this suspect is or the motive for this stabbing have not been released as of yet.

An 86-year-old man shoots his wife and kills himself at Lehigh Valley Hospital

Elwood Osman, an 86-year-old man, shot his 83-year-old wife and then killed himself at the hospice inpatient unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, in eastern Pennsylvania on Tuesday (March 19, 2013). According to Mr What Is, the murder-suicide took place shortly after 1 p.m when staff members heard gunshots on the fourth floor of the hospital. When they entered the room, they found the woman dead in her bed with the body of her husband. There were no witnesses to the incident at the hospital because all of the rooms are private. No other patients or staff were injured and the hospital wasn't evacuated.

A man sentenced to two years' probation after waterboarding 4 children

A 42-year-old man in Montana pleaded guilty on Friday (March 8, 2013) to four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child after being accused of waterboarding four children as a learning experience for them in December last year. The boys were his 9- and 12-year-old sons and two neighbor kids, ages 13 and 15. According to Search Dave, the Jefferson County man straddled each boy with his hands over the child's face and mouth, dumping water on their faces to simulate drowning. Poor the boy! The man was arrested in December at the Helena airport after returning on a flight from Alaska. He was sentenced to two years' probation.

French mother on trial for dressing her boy with ‘9/11 Bomb’ T-Shirt to school

A woman in southern France was in court on Wednesday (March 6, 2013) after being arrested for sending her son named Jihad to school wearing a T-shirt with the words "I am a bomb" printed on it. 35 year-old Bouchra Bagour was charged with glorifying crime after being reported to police by the teachers and local mayor last September. It is reported that the words "I am a bomb" were inscribed on the front, and the words "Jihad, born September 11" on the back of the controversial clothing, which was a gift from Bagour’s 29-year-old brother, Zeyad Bagour. According to Best Searching, both Ms Bagour and her brother were summoned to appear before the court after the school and local mayor complained. Mr Bagour told the court he "had no intention to provoke or shock". The mother also admitted the move was tactless but insisted it was not meant as a provocation. She said she simply wanted to make note of her son’s birthday and did not intend to reference the 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001.

Maldives police arrest former President Mohamed Nasheed

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed was arrested on Tuesday (March 5, 2013) on charges of abuse of power during his tenure after months of political tension. A court had ordered police in the Maldives capital, Male, to arrest Nasheed after he avoided two warrants last month by taking refuge at the Indian Embassy for 10 days. The veteran human rights campaigner is involved in a case relating to accusations that he illegally detained a judge during the last days of his rule. A police spokesman said the ex-president will be produced in court on Wednesday. The 45-year-old former leader was picked up from his house by several dozen police wearing balaclavas and black riot gear with some armed with rubber bullet guns. An unconfirmed report spoke of clashes between his supporters and police when they came to arrest him. Nasheed's supporters turned violent soon after the arrest, attacking police and burning a motorbike. India has been informed that Nasheed's lawyers and family are going to meet him as allowed by the authorities. Follow me on Google+ to know who is talking about this story.

A Baltimore County woman without driver's license saves bus after driver becomes ill

Janai Stafford, a Baltimore County woman, saved a Maryland Transit Administration bus from crashing when the bus driver became ill while behind the wheel on Tuesday afternoon (February 26, 2013). The woman, who doesn't have a driver's license, reportedly boarded the bus outside a Giant supermarket and the vehicle was full of kids. So she stayed up front, near the driver. However, the bus driver didn’t feel good a short time later and he passed out all over the wheel. That's when Janai Stafford said she knew she had to take control of the bus. She placed her foot on top of the driver's foot, slowed down the bus, and pulled it over to the side of the road. According to Witty Sparks, the bus driver, whose condition was not immediately known, was then taken to Northwest Hospital.

Ammar Harris arrested one week after allegedly opening fire on a Maserati in Las Vegas

Ammar Harris, who allegedly opened fire on a Maserati in Las Vegas a week ago, was arrested in North Hollywood on Thursday (February 28, 2013). The 26-year-old man was found in an apartment after a woman answered the door. His surrender ended a manhunt across several US states that began after a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting and spectacular, fiery crash last Thursday. Ammar Harris allegedly opened fire on the Maserati driven by aspiring rapper Kenneth Cherry when it headed north on Las Vegas Boulevard. Cherry was shot in the chest and arm while his vehicle sped forward and crashed into a taxi, killing the driver and a passenger. Don't forget to share this news on Twitter or Google+ if you like my post.

A man killed by a long shark at Muriwai Beach in New Zealand

Muriwai Beach near Auckland has been closed after a long shark killed a swimmer on Wednesday (February 27, 2013). Other beaches nearby have been also closed until further notice. The attack took place around 13:30 (00:30 GMT) when the 47-year-old man was swimming, about 200 meters (650 feet) offshore. Police went out in inflatable surf-lifesaving boats and shot at the shark before it disappeared. The creature is estimated to be 12 to 14 feet long. This is the latest attack since the shark fatality took place in the Bay of Plenty, south-east of Auckland in 1976. Please visit Topsy for more news on shark attacks.

NASCAR fans injured in Daytona International Speedway Crash

At least 28 fans and one driver have been injured by flying debris from a fiery multi-car crash during a Nascar race at Daytona in the US state of Florida on Saturday (February 23, 2013). The 12-car crash happened moments before the end of the Nationwide race. Debris from crash flew into the spectator area and amid chaotic scenes, some fans were taken away on stretchers. According to Ask UK, the wreck occurred when several closely packed cars were jostling for position at top speeds of about 175 mph. They got tangled up, setting off a dangerous chain reaction that ensnared a number of vehicles. At least 14 of the injured were transported to hospitals and more than a dozen others were treated at the speedway, Daytona president Joie Chitwood III said. Track workers finished repairs about 2 a.m. Sunday, having installed a new fence post, new metal meshing and part of the concrete wall.

The NBC.com site is now safe to visit after being hacked

U.S. media company NBC Universal said that its website NBC.com is now safe to visit after it was hacked on Thursday (February 21, 2013). "A problem was identified and it has been fixed," an NBC spokeswoman said. "Users who go on there now are safe." Earlier in the day, security researchers said that the site was tainted with viruses the Citadel and ZeroAccess, which are used for banking fraud, cyber espionage and other computer crimes. They cautioned that visitors should avoid the website altogether. Meanwhile, social network sites such as Facebook and Pinterest also blocked users from accessing the NBC.com site following reports that it was infected with a computer virus.

4 dead, including shooter, in southern California shooting spree

A gunman killed three people before killing himself at the end of a 25-minute shooting spree and carjacking rampage on a freeway in Southern California's Orange County on Tuesday morning (February 19, 2013). The shootings began at 4.45am, when deputies responding to a call found a woman shot multiple times in a house in Ladera Ranch. At least two other people were reportedly wounded during the chaotic rampage, which involves at least three attempted carjackings and six crime scenes. Those victims were receiving treatment at a local hospital. The motive for the shootings is still unclear. It was also unclear if the victims knew each other or the shooter. Police have identified the gunman as Ali Syed, a 20-year-old unemployed part-time student, who lived with his parents at the Ladera Ranch residence where the first victim was slain. Authorities said Syed was taking one course at Saddleback College, a two-year community college. Follow me on Opera and TweetBuzz for more information about the gunman.

Country star Mindy McCready found dead by self-inflicted gunshot wound

US country singer Mindy McCready has died in a suspected suicide on Sunday afternoon (February 17, 2013) at the age of 37. The police said in a statement that she died apparently of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound. An autopsy is pending. The 37-year-old singer, who was noted for a turbulent personal life and her struggles with addiction, was found on the same porch where her boyfriend David Wilson is believed to have shot himself last month. McCready also appears to have shot and killed a dog that belonged to her record-producer man, before shooting herself. The hot-rod blonde woman leaves behind two sons, 6-year-old Zander and 10-month-old Zayne. McCready found fame in 1996 with a series of hits from her first album, Ten Thousand Angels. Her best known track, Guys Do It All the Time, reached number one in the US country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career. Please share this news on social network sites like Google+ or Tumblr if you are her fan.

Frank Lampard signs deal to write books for little Chelsea fans

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has signed a deal with publisher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers to write books for kids over five. The first book, Frankie Versus The Pirate Pillagers, will debut this summer followed by two more this year and another two in 2014. Lampard revealed in a press release that he came up with the idea for the books while reading to his two daughters. The vice-captain of Chelsea FC, Lampard is out of contract at the west London club at the end of this season. The handsome British soccer player is not the first footballer to write fiction - Arsenal star Theo Walcott has written a series of children's books and former England coach Terry Venables co-wrote a series of crime novels. Please drop a comment here if you want to ask me more about the books.

A Fairfield, Connecticut pair recognized as the longest-married couple in the U.S

Connecticut couple John and Ann Betar are set to be honored as the “longest-married” couple in the United States by the group Worldwide Marriage Encounter and local officials on Saturday (February 9, 2013). The pair were chosen out of hundreds of couples nominated during the project's submission period, which ran from October of last year to January. They will receive a plaque and other gifts from the group at their granddaughter’s home in Fairfield. John and Ann Betar have been happily married for 80 years and this year will mark their 81st wedding anniversary. The Betars tied the knot on November 25, 1932 after they met as children and John often drove Ann to school. The duo now have five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Follow me on Opera for more breaking news.

Tsunami warning for South Pacific after huge earthquake

Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issues alert for south Pacific islands after magnitude 8.0 quake undersea, which hit the Solomon Islands Wednesday. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 0112 UTC GMT near the Santa Cruz Islands in the Solomons at a depth of about 6 kilometers. The region has been affected by tremors during the past week. Solomon Islands Police Commissioner John Lansley said local police patrols had reported that several people were presumed dead, though the reports were still being verified. Smaller waves were recorded in Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said tsunami watches were also placed as far afield as Hawaii, and New Zealand was also on guard. But early reports said no threat to Australia was seen. According to You Doze, the waves could be destructive near the epicenter and threaten more distant coasts.

Pakistani school-girl shot by the Taliban is recovering after two successful operations

Malala Yousufzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban, has successfully undergone two surgeries in a British hospital and is making good progress in her recovery. The schoolgirl criticized Islamists on her blog and defended the right of girls to education. Because of this, she became an enemy of the Taliban militants. The symbol of women's rights had two procedures at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, on Sunday, February 3, 2013, a skull reconstruction and hearing surgery. Doctor staff told Malala is recovering well and will remain in the hospital until she is well enough to be discharged. The teenager drew the world's attention when she was shot by Taliban militants on October 9 on her way home on a school bus in northwestern Pakistan. Four gunmen stormed the school-bus she was on and opened fire. Three other girls also were wounded in that chaos. According to College Slackers, the Pakistani authorities sent her to the United Kingdom for treatment and paid all the costs.

Fireworks truck explosion causes five deaths and highway collapse in China

A truck carrying fireworks before the Chinese New Year celebrations has exploded on an elevated highway in central China, killing at least five people as it sent vehicles plummeting to the ground and causing part of the road to collapse. The explosion occurred on national expressway G30 near the city of Sanmenxia in central Henan Province at about 8:52am. The huge blast destroyed an 80-meter (80-yard) stretch of highway outside the city, and was powerful enough to shatter windows of a nearby truck stop. China National Radio had put the number of dead at 26 but the report appeared to have been removed from websites. Six vehicles were retrieved from the wreckage, Xinhua News agency reported, while search and rescue efforts were continuing at the site. Eight people had been injured. There was no immediate word on the cause of the explosion. The government said it was reconsidering its traffic policies. Please follow me on Jeqq if you want to know more about the accident.

A group of buildings swallowed by a massive sinkhole in China

A sinkhole totally swallowed a group of buildings in Guangzhou, one of China's biggest cities. The first building collapsed at 1620 local time and the other three buildings fell into the ten metre hole later that evening. Police evacuated more than 300 residents from the surrounding area and nearby roads were closed off. "Gas could be smelt from over 30 metres away, and deafening noises could be heard as the land continued to crack and sink," the Shanghaiist reports. The massive sinkhole is about 3,230 square feet and plenty deep. No one was injured in the incident and an investigation was launched into what caused the hole to appear. Let's share this post on TweetBuzz and warn your friends so they do not become a victim of careless Chinese workers.

Two people are rescued after their plane crashes into the icy Hudson River off Yonkers

Two people including a 39-year-old New Jersey woman and her 43-year-old male passenger were rescued from their single-engine plane that went down into the Hudson River off Yonkers. After leaving the Trenton/Robbinsville airport, the duo were flying under visual flight rules and contact with air traffic control when their plane went down. However, the pair were wearing life vests and were able to get out of the plane before it sank. They left the hospital and were back at their homes on Monday night (January 28, 2013). Their identities were also learnt. The pilot was identified as Deniece Depriester Kok, a certified flight instructor. Her passenger was 43-year-old Christopher Smidt. Both of them are from New Jersey. If you know any thing about the plane crash, please share it with me on Opera or just leave a comment here.

More than 230 people died in a nightclub fire in Brazil

More than 230 people were killed in a crowded nightclub in south Brazil early Sunday morning. The fast-moving fire roared through the windowless nightclub. Many of them were caught in a stampede to escape. Inspectors believe the blaze in the university town of Santa Maria began when a band member or someone from its production team igniting a flare, which then set fire to the ceiling.
The vast majority of the victims, most of them university students, died from smoke inhalation rather than burns in what appeared to be the world's deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade. More than 90 people were hospitalized, including 14 patients with severe burns.
The disaster recalls other incidents including a Buenos Aires nightclub blaze in 2004 that killed at least 194 people, a 2003 fire at a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, that killed 100 people, and a 2009 explosion at a nightclub in Russia that left more than 100 dead. Follow me on Google+ and Twitter to know more about the fire.

Queensland on alert for flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Oswald

One man is dead and two other people were reported missing in Queensland's unfolding weather crisis, as Ipswich and Brisbane residents brace for flooding for the second time in as many years. Hundreds of people have been evacuated as heavy rain continued to fall on Sunday, with the towns of Gladstone and Bundaberg preparing for the possibility of major floods. Forecasters are expecting conditions "comparable to a high category one cyclone" with wind gusts of 60 knots, or 125kph, in the southeast corner over the next day. Brisbane is expecting a 2.6 metre flood peak, nearly half of the 4.46 metre peak in 2011. There will likely be two flood peaks in Brisbane at noon on Tuesday and again at noon the following day. Residents of north Bundaberg are being ordered to leave their houses immediately, the ABC reported at midday, with fears 300 houses will be inundated and those that don't to be left isolated. Follow me on Scoop for latest updates on the flood.

Thailand magazine editor jailed for 11 years for articles insulting monarchy

Somyot, a Thai magazine editor has been sentenced to 11 years in jail for defaming the the royal family under the country's draconian lese-majesty law. The criminal court in Bangkok convicted the 51-year-old guy in connection with two articles deemed offensive to the monarchy. The articles in question were published under pseudonyms in Somyot's now-defunct Voice of Taksin magazine in 2010 and the verdict was issued on Wednesday. More than 100 observers, including Thai and international scholars and journalists, diplomats and Somyot's supporters, were in court to hear the verdict. The court handed the editor five-year terms for each magazine article, with an additional year added from a suspended defamation case from three years ago. The editor is the third person convicted in the last month for insulting the royal family as calls grow within Thailand to change laws used to shield the monarchy from criticism. Please share your opinion about the scandal with me on Tumblr and let your friends know about this story.

Five teenage boys wounded in New Orleans shooting

A shooting occurred in New Orleans about 30 minutes after a parade honoring Martin Luther King Jr. passed through the Central City neighborhood on Monday (January 21, 2013). Five people, who were all between 17 and 18 years old, were wounded in the gun violence. Luckily, none of their wounds was life-threatening. Police said that when the victims were gathering outside a small grocery store near LaSalle Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a white car drove up to them and a passenger fired a weapon from the vehicle's sunroof. The car then sped off in the direction of the Mississippi River. Officers rushed to the area after the shooting, which did not appear to be related to the parade, and quickly brought the situation under control. Besides this blog, you can also follow me on Opera for more breaking news.

Girl killed in icy Ohio highway pileup

A 12-year-old girl was killed and at least 20 people were injured on Monday in a crash involving at least 86 vehicles on an Ohio highway after a burst of snow hit the area. The accident shut down the highway, Interstate 275 near the Cincinnati suburb of Colerain Township for seven hours. This was one of at least four throughout the state on Monday. Parts of the state saw scattered snow showers, with isolated pockets of heavier snowfall. The little girl, whose name was not released, had gotten out of a damaged vehicle and was standing in the median near a cable barrier, a type of fencing made of ropelike steel wire cables. Another vehicle hit the barrier, snapping a cable, which then struck the girl and killed her. At least 20 people with undetermined injuries were taken to the local hospitals, though their injuries were not expected to be life-threatening and dozens of others with minor injuries were treated at the crash. If you know the name of the girl, please share it with us on Opera and other social networking sites.

Investment bank Gordian Group hired by Hostess union in asset sale

Gordian Group was hired by the union and pension fund for Hostess Brands Inc (HTBRS.UL) to help preserve jobs and workers' benefits as the maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread sells off its brands. A source close to Gordian Group says the investment bank was selected in part because of its experience working on behalf of employees in other restructurings. New York-based Gordian Group, which specializes in distressed cases, will represent more than 5,000 Hostess workers. It will provide conflict-free advice for the welfare of the company's workers as well. “We aim to be directly involved in the M&A process in a way the union hasn’t been to date,” Peter Kaufman, Gordian Group’s president, said in an interview on January 21, 2013. “We’re open to working with Flowers as well as other bidders for the brands, the assets and the company.”

Actor Johnny Depp dumped by Amber Heard

 Johnny Depp is back on the market as the actor has been dumped by Amber Heard. The couple reportedly snapped up a $16 million mansion only last month. However, Amber Heard  ended their seven-month romance and headed straight for the arms of a woman. The beautiful actress jetted off on holiday with French model Marie de Villepin, the daughter of ex-French premier Dominique. Johnny Depp has signed on return as Captain Jack Sparrow in a fifth instalment of the Hollywood film franchise Pirates of the Caribbean. The movie is expected to be released in July 2015.

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Rand Paul endorses the idea of arming school teachers and principals

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said on Thursday (January 17, 2013) that teachers and principals should be armed to prevent tragedies such as the Dec. 14 shootings at a Connecticut school from happening. "If my kids were at that school, I would have preferred that the teacher had concealed-carry and had a gun in her desk," the Kentucky Republican told a group of business leaders in Oldham County, Ky. "Is it perfect? No. Would they always get the killer? No. Would an accident sometimes happen in a melee? Maybe. But nobody (at the Connecticut school) had any defense, and he just kept shooting until he was tired and he decided to shoot himself." Rand Paul also said he planned to file legislation that would block President Barack Obama's executive orders. They include directing the Centers for Disease Control to study its causes as well as forcing federal agencies to share more information with the background check system that is used before gun purchases. What do you think about Rand Paul's idea? Share with me your thoughts on Jeqq or just drop a comment here.

Website creates fake Facebook girlfriend for just $39

Facebook has radically altered the dating scene. Valentine's Day is approaching and it's just not the time of year to be alone. That’s why an innovative Brazil-based website has come up with the creative (or creepy) idea of selling fake Facebook girlfriends. For $39.00 NamoroFake will generate a fake Facebook profile for your made-up “girlfriend”, which includes various interactions with your own accounts such as comments and likes, as well the all-important "relationship status" change for thirty days. The website has plenty of plans that come with different details relating to the timeline for which the fake facebook girlfriend will be active, amongst other things. If you want to ask for more, you can get the ultimate $99 plan which is valid for 30 days. Or, for those on a budget, $19.00 will buy you a fake ex-girlfriend. Without revealing numbers, the website says it has "a lot" of male clients who use its services to make former girlfriends jealous and show them they are dating again. I think this service is very interesting. Do you agree with me?

It's amazing! Mom and daughter reunite after 36 years

A Hobart Indiana woman and her daughter are back together after 36 years of separation. Jenny Hadley was only 15 years old when she was pregnant with Elaine Harman. She gave her baby up for adoption and what she knew would be a better life. However the pair never stopped searching for each other through adoptee reunion websites. Now decades later, they finally found each other online just after Christmas and have been exchanging phone calls, e-mails and photos ever since. After an hour of waiting, the train pulled in and life suddenly changed for Jenny and Elaine Harman. They kissed and embraced for what seemed like minutes. Elaine brought a gift for her mother from Virginia, where she lives now. It was two photos of both them as young children. It’s hard to tell them apart. Harman’s adoptive parents have also welcomed Hadley, who has an open invitation to every Christmas dinner from now on. I think this story is very interesting and worth sharing on Tumblr or Facebook. Do you agree with me?

Good news from Wal-Mart

Guys, I have good news for you. Global retailing giant Wal-Mart announced Tuesday that, starting Memorial Day, it hire more than 100,000 veterans. This is definitely a good news as the unemployment rate in our country has been higher than 7 percent for more than four years. The hiring pledge covers veterans within a year of coming off active duty. The moves are likely to receive a cool reception from critics who claim the nation's largest retailer does not pay its workers enough and should be taken to task for selling too many goods made overseas in lower-cost countries such as China. Wal-Mart which also operates Sam's Clubs, employs more than 1.4 million employees in the U.S. Most of the jobs will be in Wal-Mart's stores or its Sam's club locations. Let's prepare you CV and share this good news with your friends on BuzzFeed or Opera and other social networks.

Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz dies at the age of 26

I don't use Reddit. I think Google+ and TweetBuzz are much cooler. However, I was so sad when I heard the news. Aaron Swartz, a hacker-activist and a committed liberator of information, was found dead in the New York City borough of Brooklyn on Friday evening. The 26-year-old committed suicide in his apartment as he was facing federal charges, a possible sentence of 35 years in prison and a $1 million fine, for downloading subscription-only academic papers with the intent to distribute them. Aaron Swartz, whose death has sparked grief and anger from online rights advocates, was a co-author of the specifications for the Web feed format RSS 1.0 at the age of 14. The Internet savant then helped develop Reddit and co-founded Demand Progress, a political action group that campaigns against Internet censorship. In 2011, Aaron Swartz was arrested for alleged computer fraud and illegally obtaining documents from protected computers in Boston. R.I.P Aaron Swartz.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is recovering in Cuba

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is not in a coma as some cruel people have rumored, his brother, Adan Chavez, said after his trip to Havana. Chavez's brother, Adan Chavez, who is governor of Chavez's home state of Barinas, said the 58-year-old socialist leader is responding well to cancer treatment and making progress on a daily basis. His brother also said foreign media were in league with local opposition activists to promote lies about the president. Venezuela’s leader Hugo Chavez is still fighting against complications that emerged in the wake of his cancer surgery. He missed his scheduled inauguration for a new, six-year term last week and he rarely appears in public since stepping aside as president of the communist country six years ago.
If you know anything about his health condition, please share your stories with us on Google+ and Twitter. Have a nice weekend.

Dog mistaken for lion leads to 911 calls in Norfolk, Virginia

Charles the Monarch, an adorable 3-year-old Labrador-poodle groomed to look like a lion, caused a bit of a scare to Norfolk, Virginia locals who called 911 to report the faux baby king of the forest. The 911 caller reported that the baby lion was walking down Colley Avenue, possibly looking for food, near 50th Street. So police called the Virginia Zoo around 10:15 a.m. to make sure their two lions were in their cages, said Winfield Danielson, a zoo spokesman. The owner, Daniel Painter, who owns a garden shop on Colley Avenue where the dog is regularly seen, told the newspaper this isn't the first time Charles has been mistaken for the real thing. He had his pet shaved to look like the mascot of Old Dominican University. "He has a thousand-and-200-some friends on Facebook," Daniel told The Pilot on Tuesday. The cute dog also loves children and tailgating at ODU football games, as well as the occasional slice at University Pizza.
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“California's Gold” host Huell Howser dies at his home at the age of 67

“California's Gold” host Huell Howser died from natural causes at his home Sunday night (January 5, 2013). The seasoned TV man, who wrote, produced and edited most of his programs, was dead at the age of 67 after announcing his retirement in late November. Huell Howser began his TV career at WSM-TV in Nashville. He also hosted a magazine-style series at WCBS-TV in New York City before going to Los Angeles to work as a reporter for KCBS-TV. In addition to “California's Gold,” which is aired by PBS stations all over California, Oregon, Nevada and Tennessee, Huell Howser was also behind the shows including “Road Trip With Huell Howser,” “California's Golden Parks,” “Visiting…With Huell Howser.” Please share this story on Google+ and Facebook with your friends.