The Year in Royals The "parachuting Queen," Prince Harry's Las Vegas party and more.

  The Official Diamond Jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth II photographed in the Centre Room of Buckingham Palace, overlooking The Victoria Memorial Statue, which commemorates the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), the only other monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. WATCH 'THE YEAR WITH KATIE COURIC' WED. DEC. 19 at 9:30.


 
  Prince Charles read the weather in the Six O'Clock studio while on a tour of the BBC Scotland Headquarters in Glasgow to celebrate 60 years of BBC Scotland Television.


 
  A television screen grab image taken on July 29, 2012, shows footage featured during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games starring British actor Daniel Craig, left, playing James Bond and escorting Queen Elizabeth II through the corridors of Buckingham Palace.



  A performer dressed as the Queen parachutes above the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in Stratford, England.

 
  Queen Elizabeth meets ABC News' Katie Couric, right, at the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the summer, in Central London

Stowaways Stopped By Calais Border Officials

         The stowaways were found inside lorries

Dozens of would-be illegal immigrants have been stopped from entering the UK after they were found hiding inside four lorries at the Port of Calais. Sniffer dogs led border officials to 18 Albanians, three Iranians, two Pakistanis, one Afghan and one Syrian. 

Six of the stowaways were found among boxes of nappies on a Czech-registered lorry bound for Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire. Officers using heartbeat monitors also discovered six Afghans inside a Polish-registered vehicle heading to Accrington, Lancashire, with its load of sofas. All four lorries were searched within the space of a few hours on Wednesday.

Paul Morgan, director of Border Force South East and Europe, said: "This incident shows why we base Border Force staff in France - to stop would-be illegal immigrants before they reach our shores. "Our strong presence in French ports like Calais and close collaboration with the French authorities helps protect the whole of the UK from people attempting to enter the country illegally."

All 31 stowaways were handed over to French border police and the vehicles were allowed to continue on their journeys.


Skynews

Newcastle Nightclub Tycoon's Ex-Wife Used Tongue To Call Police

A nightclub tycoon's ex-wife dialled 999 using her tongue after she was tied up and doused in petrol by raiders at her home.

Sheila Quadrini, 69, was tied up at her home in Gosforth, Newcastle, on Thursday night as the three attackers plundered cash and jewellery before fleeing.

The ex-wife of north east businessman Michael Quadrini, who set up the famous floating nightclub the Tuxedo Princess, was left bruised and shocked but was not seriously injured.
As she entered the house she was bundled inside by the three raiders who tied her up before pouring petrol on her. They had waited until she had opened the door before forcing their way in.

Her former millionaire husband said: "She was tied up for an hour and a half and had petrol poured on her and she had to dial the police with her tongue. "She's totally distressed, she's in a state of shock and she doesn't want to go back to the house."

After tying her up, and pouring petrol over her, the raiders then ripped off the jewellery she was wearing and searched the house for anything else of value. Mr Quadirini, also 69, said: "She had just left the office and went home.

"I think they watched her coming in."She must have just turned the alarm off. "They must have brought the petrol with them and they poured it on her and threatened her. "And it happened as she was going in the door, she was left tied up for an hour and a half.

"She had to ring the police with her tongue on the phone."They took all the jewellery she had on her and her watch, but we still don't know what else is gone."She's too shaken to go back."

The raiders fled before police, firefighters and an ambulance arrived at around 8pm. Northumbria Police have been carrying out door to door enquiries and patrols in the area have been stepped up.
Anyone with any information about the burglary should contact Northumbria Police.


Skynews

Justin Bieber: Murder And Castration Plot Foiled

          Justin bieber

Justin Bieber was to be strangled and castrated as part of a gruesome kidnap plot ordered by an obsessed jailed killer, according to a bizarre court case in the US. Mark Staake, 41, and his 23-year-old nephew Tanner Ruane from New Mexico were allegedly commissioned by convicted killer Dana Martin to murder four men, including the pop superstar and his bodyguard. 

Martin, who met Staake in prison, apparently gave exact details as to how the plot was to play out.
It included the use of a paisley tie - his old calling card - to strangle the victims and the offer of a $2,500 (£1,600) bounty for each of the men's testicles.

But Staake was arrested in Vermont on November 19 on outstanding warrants for previous offences before any murders could take place, KRQE-13 TV in New Mexico reported. A day later he was secretly recorded by police on the phone to Ruane, talking about the alleged plot.     



   Alleged plotters Mark Staake and Tanner Ruane


The younger man was picked up in upstate New York, as Bieber prepared for performances at Madison Square Garden.
According to court documents, he was found with a pair of pruning shears and documents including the identities of the intended victims.



 
   Dana Martin reportedly has a tattoo of Justin Bieber on his leg


The 18-year-old star's management team issued a short statement on Wednesday night. "We take every precaution to protect and insure the safety of Justin and his fans,” it said.
Ruane's mother, Kristin Cashman, told the New York Post the whole case was ridiculous.
"My son was not planning to kidnap or hurt anyone. He has nothing to do with any of this," she said.
"This has got to be some crazy thing Dana Martin made up. Everything about it is made up."
Martin, who is described as being obsessed with the Canadian singer, is also reported to have told the authorities about the alleged plot.
Staake and Ruane face two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery.


Skynews

Eva Rausing Died Of Drugs Dependency

 
  Eva Rausing, one of Britain's richest women, died as a result of a dependency on drugs, a coroner has ruled.

Multi-millionairess Eva Rausing died as a result of dependent drug abuse, an inquest has ruled.

The 48-year-old's body lay undiscovered for two months before she was found at the £5m west London home she shared with her husband Hans, heir to the Tetra Pak fortune.

 
     Hans and Eva Rausing on their wedding day

She was discovered in a fly-filled room hidden under a pile of bedding with a foil pipe in her hand, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.
Police found the mother-of-four's body in an advanced state of decomposition after they had arrested Hans Rausing on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on July 9.
He was given two suspended sentences in August after admitting preventing the lawful and decent burial of his wife's body.
A post-mortem found his wife had died on May 7 and had drugs in her system, including cocaine.
Deputy coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe said Mrs Rausing died as a result of cocaine intoxication contributed to by a heart condition - tricuspid valve disease.
Delivering her verdict, she said: "Mrs Rausing's death was as a result of the dependent abuse of drugs."




            Eva Rausing as a teenager

The inquest heard that her pacemaker recorded heartbeats up to 384 beats per minute on the calculated day of her death. The normal rate is 65.
Pathologists found no signs of violence on Mrs Rausing's body.
An investigating officer told the court how Hans Rausing lied to his housekeepers after his wife died, saying she was in the US.


 
     Mrs Rausing was caught with drugs at the US Embassy in London


The couple lived a reclusive life on the second floor of their home. Housemaids were not allowed into certain areas. The hearing was told that staff noticed Hans Rausing had stopped sleeping in his bedroom and had started eating downstairs.

The couple had fought a public battle against addiction to drugs. In 2008 police launched an investigation after Mrs Rausing was caught with drugs as she tried to enter the US Embassy in London for a function.
Subsequent searches of her car and the couple's Georgian townhouse uncovered huge quantities of class A drugs.

They faced drug charges but were given conditional cautions instead, meaning the hearings did not go ahead.
Hans Rausing's parents and siblings said then they were supporting the pair as they fought to overcome drug addiction.


Skynews

Missing Girl: Police Say Fears Are Growing.

             Shelley has gone missing before but not for so long

  

Police are appealing for information about a teenage girl who has been missing for five weeks. They say concern is growing for the safety of 14-year-old Shelley Pratt from Croydon in Surrey. Detectives have released new CCTV images which show her walking with a young black man along Croydon High Street just after midnight on Friday, November 9.

She is wearing her school uniform trousers and a hooded jumper with the slogan 'I love (heart symbol) London'. Minutes later, police believe Shelly's Oyster card was used to board a route 60 bus heading towards Coulsdon.

The day before Shelley got off a 196 bus outside Harris Academy in South Norwood, Croydon, and walked south with a girl and a boy. She was later spotted around 9.30pm on CCTV at George Street tram stop in Croydon town centre.

 

     CCTV image of Shelley in Croydon High Street

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne said: "It has now been five weeks since Shelley went missing and concerns for her safety and welfare, especially in this extremely cold weather, are heightened. "Shelley has had absolutely no contact with friends or family since her disappearance and it is possible that she may be with someone, perhaps in a house or a flat.

"I am encouraging people, particularly Croydon residents, to look closely at the image of the young man seen next to her. "Do you recognise him or see him moments before approaching Shelley, talking to a number of passing girls on the opposite pavement, clearly trying to get their attention?"



        Shelley's parents have urged her to get in touch

Shelley, who is described as white and around 5ft 6in or 5ft 7in tall with long brown hair, has gone missing twice before but not for so long. Her parents, Lisa and Tony Pratt, have begged her to come home in time for Christmas.

They said: "Shellz, please get in touch with us, we are desperate to hear your voice and know that you are safe and well. "You're not in trouble. We love you and we miss you and just want you home, without you there will be no Christmas.

"Your presents are under the tree waiting for you. We are all missing you like mad. We love you - please, please come home." Anyone with information is urged to call the Metropolitan Police incident room on 020 8721 4906.


Skynews

Nicola Payne: New Appeal For Missing Teen Mum

  Nicola Payne was 18 when she vanished in December 1991 - and her heartbroken parents say they cannot rest until she is found.

  Police have launched a fresh appeal for information on Nicola Payne, 21 years after her disappearance. Two men were seen acting suspiciously by a metallic blue Ford Capri - similar to this one - near where she was last seen in 1991.


 
              Evans joined Miss Payne's parents to launch the new appeal


A young actor has joined the parents of a teenage mother who went missing 21 years ago to launch a new police appeal for information on the anniversary of her disappearance. Nicola Payne, 18, vanished after leaving her home in the Wood End area of Coventry in December 1991. She was heading to her parents' home a short walk away, but they never saw her again.

Marilyn and John Payne said they hoped the appeal would encourage people to come forward with information so they could finally find out what happened to their daughter, who had a six-month-old son.
Mrs Payne said: "I have a special time of the day where I sit and I think about Nicola. I even talk to her picture and I always think about her.

"It's very difficult yet people keep saying to me you're so strong. "If they could see inside I'm completely broken. I get this awful pain and it just doesn't go away. "That will never lift until she is found. If she's found then we can lay her to rest and then we've got an ending."

Actor George Evans is supporting the appeal after speaking to Mr and Mrs Payne while researching his role in a play called The Missing. Police hope the involvement of the former Hollyoaks star, who at 21 is the same age as Miss Payne's son Owen is now, will encourage younger members of the local community to come forward with any information they may have heard while growing up.


West Midlands Police want to trace two men who were seen near where the teenager was last seen.
The men were by a parked car near Cardinal Wiseman School playing field, next to an area of wasteland called the Black Pad, between 12.15pm and 12.30pm on December 14, 1991. Miss Payne had left her home in Winston Avenue at around midday that day to walk across the Black Pad to her parents' home.

Both men are described as white. One was 6ft tall, well-built and wearing a brown leather jacket.
The second is described as being 6ft 3in, thin, with short brown hair with a left side parting. He was wearing a brown bomber-style leather jacket, light hooded sweatshirt and light blue denim jeans. The men were standing next to a metallic blue Ford Capri, thought to be a 1980 or V registration with a black spoiler and dirty wheels.

Detective Inspector Martin Slevin said: "These men have never been eliminated from this inquiry and we are keen to trace anyone who may have seen them, who knows them or knows anything about them."

He added that a reward of £10,000 is available for information leading to the whereabouts of Miss Payne.
Mr Payne said: "The new appeal has given us hope that we're going to find something. We've always believed someone local knows something. We're not getting any younger and we just want answers."
Two men, aged 45 and 74, arrested earlier this year have been eliminated from police inquiries.

:: Anyone with information should contact police in Coventry on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Posts can also be left on the local police Facebook and Twitter pages at www.facebook.com/coventrypolice and @Coventry_Police.

Please Share, you could help solve this mystery

Skynews

Meet Lady Gaga’s Little Sister, Natali Germanotta

 Abcnews

Looks like Lady Gaga isn’t the only monster in her family with talent. Gaga’s little sister, Natali Germanotta, struck her fiercest poses in a photo shoot for ViralFashion.com. The 20-year-old modeled big hair, bright red lips and looks from J. Mendel, Givenchy, Azzedine Alaia and Lanvin for the shoot at her parents’ New York City restaurant, Joanne Trattoria.

Germanotta, a fashion student at Parsons The New School for Design, has had few flashes in the spotlight alongside her famous sister. She had a cameo in Gaga’s “Telephone” music video in 2010 and walked the red carpet at last year’s CFDA Fashion Awards.




But Germanotta’s real passion lies in fashion and she plans to finish school, she told Teen Vogue last year. While she hasn’t completely disregarded the idea of working with her sister, Germanotta said she’s not ready to be her stylist. “She changes 50 times a day,” Germanotta said.

One thing she does like about her sister’s over-the-top fashion is that it gives her ammo against her father.
“Whenever I wear something crazy and my dad gives me a hard time, I say, ‘Well, at least I’m not walking out on the street with red pasties,’ and he’ll be like, ‘Good point,’” she said.

Owner of Rivera Plane Being Investigated by DEA.

   Abcnews


The company that owns a luxury jet that crashed and killed Mexican pop superstar Jenni Rivera is under investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the agency seized two of its planes earlier this year as part of the ongoing probe.

DEA spokeswoman Lisa Webb Johnson confirmed Thursday the planes owned by Las Vegas-based Starwood Management were seized in Texas and Arizona, but she declined to discuss details of the case. The agency also has subpoenaed all the company's records, including any correspondence it has had with a former Tijuana mayor who U.S. law enforcement officials have long suspected has ties to organized crime.

The man widely believed to be behind the aviation company is an ex-convict named Christian Esquino, 50, who has a long and checkered legal past. Corporate records list his sister-in-law as the company's only officer, but insurance companies that cover some of the firm's planes say in court documents that the woman is merely a front and that Esquino is the one in charge.

Esquino's legal woes date back decades. He pleaded guilty to a fraud charge that stemmed from a major drug investigation in Florida in the early 1990s and most recently was sentenced to two years in federal prison in a California aviation fraud case. Esquino, a Mexican citizen, was deported upon his release. Esquino and various other companies he has either been involved with or owns have also been sued for failing to pay millions of dollars in loans, according to court records.


The 43-year-old California-born Rivera died at the peak of her career when the plane she was traveling in nose-dived into the ground while flying from the northern Mexican city of Monterrey to the central city of Toluca early Sunday morning. She was perhaps the most successful female singer in grupero, a male-dominated Mexico regional style, and had branched out into acting and reality television.

It remained unclear Thursday exactly what caused the crash and why Rivera was on Esquino's plane. The 78-year-old pilot and five other people were also killed. Esquino was not on the plane.
The late singer's brother, Pedro Rivera Jr., said that he didn't know anything about the owner or why or how she ended up in his plane.

Esquino told the Los Angeles Times in a telephone interview from Mexico City that the singer was considering buying the aircraft from Starwood for $250,000 and the flight was offered as a test ride. He disputed reports that he owns Starwood, maintaining that he is merely the company's operations manager "with the expertise."

Esquino is no stranger to tangles with the law. He was indicted in the early 1990s along with 12 other defendants in a major federal drug investigation that claimed the suspects planned to sell more than 480 kilograms of cocaine, according to court records. He eventually pleaded guilty to conspiring to conceal money from the IRS and was sentenced to five years in prison, but much of the term was suspended for reasons that weren't immediately clear.

He served about five months in prison before being released. Cynthia Hawkins, a former assistant U.S. attorney who handled the case and is now in private practice in Orlando, remembered the investigation well.
"It was huge," Hawkins said Thursday. "This was an international smuggling group."

Two-Inch Feather Emerges From Baby’s Neck.

 Abcnews

No one knew what was bothering 7-month-old Mya Whittington. Her discomfort stumped her parents and doctors. She was finally hospitalized — and a 2-inch feather eventually poked its way out of her neck, shocking everyone.

“We were just pretty much in disbelief,” Mya’s dad, Aaron Whittington, 26, said. The mystery of Mya’s pain started on Saturday. “I was at work and my wife noticed that the left side of her neck had started to swell, and she called me at work and asked if we should take her to the emergency room,” Whittington said.

The couple decided to wait, thinking that Mya just had a swollen gland. They changed their minds the next morning. “Sunday morning, when we woke up, it had doubled in size and there was a pimple-looking thing on the end of it,” he said. “We’re looking at it and going, ‘There’s no way this is a swollen gland.’”
Mya was admitted to a hospital near the family’s home in Hutchinson, Kansas. Doctors thought she had a staph infection of her lymph nodes. But when they tried to drain the bump, nothing came out. Hours later, Aaron Whittington and his wife Emma noticed what appeared to be a “half-inch string” protruding from Mya’s face.

“[The pediatrician] threw on gloves and she pulled out a 2-inch feather and she’s like, ‘It’s a feather.’ And we’re like, ‘What do you mean it’s a feather?’ And she showed us,” Whittington said, still in disbelief.
“As far as how the feather got into the side of the neck, our doctor says we’ll probably never really know,” he said. “But her best guess is that she either inhaled it or tried swallowing it and it got lodged in the throat somewhere, and the body, just being crazy, just started to reject it and force it out the side of her neck.”

The parents now remember Mya crying and puling at the area under her left ear over the past few weeks, but they thought she might be getting an ear infection or teething. The little girl is now “almost 100 percent recovered,” according to Whittington. Doctors have checked her out and determined that she will not need surgery. They say her body will heal on its own. The Whittingtons say they are grateful for Mya’s health and have been shocked that the story has gone global.

“We’ve been extremely, extremely surprised,” Aaron Whittington said. “We’ve gotten stories in Kenya, India, the U.K. It’s really crazy.”

Thank God she is ok now. what a brave baby she is.

Texas Dad Carves Pentagram in 6-Year-Old Son's Back.

  Abcnews

A Texas man called 911 and claimed he had "spilled innocent blood," telling police he had carved a pentagram into the back of his 6-year-old son with a box cutter. Police in Richland Hills, Texas say Brent Troy Bartel, 39, told them that he had cut up his son because "it's a holy day."

The alleged attack took place yesterday, Dec. 12, or 12/12/12, a day to which some have ascribed mystical significance. As for Bartel, though, police said they "don't know exactly what he meant." Bartel cut an image of the five-pointed star on the boy's back, which Richland Hills police spokesman Nathan Stringer described as being as large as a basketball and "encompassing most of his back." "This is a bizarre case," Stringer told ABC News.

Bartel then smeared the boy's blood along the front door casing of the family's home, Stringer said.
Police said the boy's mother saw what Bartel was doing and fled to a neighbor's home, where she also called 911. Officers arriving at the scene reported they found the boy wearing only pajama bottoms and his father standing over him. Bartel was ordered outside and police went to treat the boy. The father showed "little, just flat emotion," Stringer said, and did not appear under the influence of any drugs.

Cops had been called to the family's home in the past, but only after minor verbal altercations. The boy was taken to a nearby hospital, police said, and later released. Bartel was charged today with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second degree felony that can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, the spokeswoman for the Tarrant County district attorney told ABCNews.com. He remains in jail and was unavailable for comment. Authorities said they did not know if Bartel had yet obtained legal counsel.

When will abuse against children end? i think any parent found wanting should be hanged.

Susan Rice Withdraws From Secretary of State Consideration; Kerry Emerges as Top Contender.

 Abc news

UN Ambassador Susan Rice has withdrawn her name from consideration for secretary of state, saying the criticism surrounding her comments on Benghazi had become an “irresponsible distraction.”
“I am fully confident that I could serve our country ably and effectively in that role,” Rice wrote in a letter to President Obama today. “However, if nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly – to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities.”
“That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country,” she added.

Rice has been criticized by Republicans for her response to questions on the Sunday talk shows shortly after the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi killed four Americans. “The position of secretary of state should never be politicized,” Rice wrote. “As someone who grew up in an era of comparative bipartisanship and as a sitting U.S. national security official who has served in two U.S. administrations, I am saddened that we have reached this point, even before you have decided whom to nominate. We cannot afford such an irresponsible distraction from the most pressing issues facing the American people.”

Sources told ABC News that even before Rice withdrew her name from consideration to be secretary of state earlier today, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., had emerged as the leading contender, with the president convinced he would be the better secretary of state. The president is all but certain to nominate Kerry, sources said, though no official decision has been made.

The position of secretary of defense is not as far along in the process, but sources said former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., seemed to have an edge over other possible candidates such as former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michelle Flournoy and Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.
The CIA director slot, sources said, will go to either acting director Michael Morrell or White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan.

President Obama, who publicly defended Rice on several occasions, has accepted her decision to remove her name from the running. “I have every confidence that Susan has limitless capability to serve our country now and in the years to come, and know that I will continue to rely on her as an advisor and friend,” Obama said in a written statement.

“While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character, and an admirable commitment to rise above the politics of the moment to put our national interests first,” he said. “The American people can be proud to have a public servant of her caliber and character representing our country.” Two Republican members of Congress who had adamantly opposed Rice’s potential nomination both reacted quickly. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., tweeted, “I respect Ambassador Rice’s decision.”

A spokesperson for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., wrote, “Senator McCain thanks Ambassador Rice for her service to the country and wishes her well. He will continue to seek all the facts surrounding the attack on our consulate in Benghazi that killed four brave Americans.” The current secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, released a statement filled with praise for Rice, saying she “has been an indispensable partner over the past four years. We worked closely together to secure tough new sanctions on Iran and North Korea, build an international coalition in Libya, and support the independence of South Sudan.  From the National Security Council to the State Department to the United Nations, Susan has worked tirelessly to advance our nation’s interests and values.  I am confident that she will continue to represent the United States with strength and skill.”

Oregon Mall Shooting: Gunman 'Tentatively' Identified.

  More than a hundred armed police officers responded to the Clackamas Town Center mall after reports of a shooting, Clackamas, Oregon, Dec. 11, 2012

A masked gunman who opened fire in the crowded Clackamas Town Center mall in suburban Portland, Ore., killing two individuals and seriously injuring a third before killing himself, has been "tentatively" identified by police, though they have not yet released his name. The shooter, wearing a white hockey mask, black clothing, and a bullet proof vest, tore through the mall around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, entering through a Macy's store and proceeding to the food court and public areas spraying bullets, according to witness reports.

Police have not released the names of the deceased. Clackamas County Sheriff's Department Lt. James Rhodes said authorities are in the process of notifying victims' families.
The injured victim has been transported to a local hospital, according to Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts.


Nadia Telguz, who said she was a friend of the injured victim, told ABC News affiliate KATU-TV in Portland that the woman was expected to recover. "My friend's sister got shot," Teleguz told KATU. "She's on her way to (Oregon Health and Science University hospital). They're saying she got shot in her side and so it's not life-threatening, so she'll be OK."

Witnesses from the shooting rampage said that a young man who appeared to be a teenager ran through the upper level of Macy's to the mall food court, firing multiple shots, one right after the other, with what is believed to be a black, semi-automatic rifle.

More than 10,000 shoppers were at the mall during the day, police said. Roberts said that officers responded to the scene of the shooting within minutes, and four SWAT teams swept the 1.4 million-square-foot building searching for the shooter. He was eventually found dead, an apparent suicide.
"I can confirm the shooter is dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound," Rhodes said. "By all accounts there were no rounds fired by law enforcement today in the mall."

Roberts said more than 100 law enforcement officers responded to the shooting, and at least four local agencies were working on the investigation, including the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which is working to trace the shooter's weapon.


"For all of us, the mall is supposed to be a place where we can take our families, especially during the holiday season," Roberts said. "Things like this are not supposed to happen."Roberts also said that shoppers, including two emergency room nurses and one physician who happened to be at the mall, provided medical assistance to victims who had been shot. Other shoppers helped escort individuals out of the mall and out of harm's way, he said.

"There were a huge amount of people running in different directions, and it was chaos for a lot of citizens, but true heroes were stepping up in this time of high stress," Roberts said. "E.R. nurses on the scene were providing medical care to those injured, a physician on the scene was helping provide care to the wounded."

Mall shopper Daniel Martinez told KATU that he had just sat down at a Jamba Juice inside the mall when he heard rapid gunfire. He turned and saw the masked gunman, dressed in all black, about 10 feet away from him."I just saw him (the gunman) and thought, 'I need to go somewhere,'" Martinez said. "It was so fast, and at that time, everyone was moving around."

Martinez said he ran to the nearest clothing store. As he ran, he motioned for another woman to follow; several others ran to the store as well, hiding in a fitting room. They stayed there for an hour and a half until SWAT teams told them it was safe to leave the mall.

Abcnews

Rivers state is broke – Amaechi.

                  Gov Rotimi Ameachi

The Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum; Chibuike Amaechi, has declared that the ‘oil rich state’ moniker used for oil producing states is now false because a  number of the state’s oil wells have been transferred to other states by the Nigerian Boundary commission (NBC). 

According to the governor, “Rivers State is the only state in Nigeria whose boundaries are changed every month by the NBC.”
The governor who was a guest on a special edition of our breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily in Port Harcourt, again affirmed his position against the call for the local government autonomy as he also denied any endorsement for vice-presidential ambition in the 2015 general elections.
He insisted that LGAs should remain under the state government as a federating unit.
The governor who is on his second term as the Governor of Rivers State also downplayed his rumoured plan to run as a Vice-Presidential candidate in the next general elections. Some posters of Mr Amaechi are currently being posted across some cities in the northern region of the country ahead of the next general elections.

Channels.

Two-Time Cancer Survivor Builds Carousel in Race Against Time.

  Vean Woodbrey, 69, works on his 1930s carousel in his Petersboro, Utah, workshop.


Abcnews  (Vean Woodbrey's carousel will hold 20 different kinds of animals on board, including a giraffe, camel and tigers)

 Vean Woodbrey, 69, has worn many different hats in his life.

He’s worked as a grocery store clerk, an aircraft electrician at Hill Air Force Base, and has volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America and 4-H.

Now retired, Woodbrey, who has survived two bouts of cancer, has spent the better part of two years surrounded by drills, saws, sanders and paint cans as he refurbishes a late 1930s Allan Herschell carousel. It sits in pieces in the upstairs workshop of his Petersboro, Utah, home.

When he found the rusted remnants of  the 1930s carousel, he called the National Carousel Association to verify its authenticity. The association examined Woodbrey’s photographs and realized it was one of only two Herschell carousels left.

“It’s the type of story that inspires us in the organization to do what we do,” said Bette Largent, the president of the National Carousel Association. “I’d love to see this one up and running and entertain all the children that come through this small town.”

His wife, Tonya Woodbrey, told ABCNews.com, “He devotes every day to that carousel. He’d probably go crazy if he didn’t have that to do. It’s his dream.”“I burned out another sander yesterday,” said Woodbrey. “I’m on my third sander, second drill.”

That’s not Woodbrey’s biggest worry. He’s also trying to complete the carousel project before time runs out on his health. “Anyone can enjoy a carousel,” he said. “Now that I’ve had cancer a couple of times, I feel a need to get this carousel done before I can’t work.”

His wife believes the carousel undertaking keeps him busy and focused. “I decided to it after I was diagnosed with cancer. A lot of times when you have cancer, you think about it,” said Woodbrey. “This takes my mind off the pain I’ve gone through, and it gives me a goal.”  Woodbrey found the antique carousel rusting in pieces in the back of a garage. He estimates it’d been there about 20 years.

Soccer Player Found Dead in Mich. University Pool.

      Abcnews

Michigan police are investigating the drowning of a college soccer player at her school’s swimming pool after a team workout.
Arianna Alioto, 18, of Columbia, Mo., was found dead in Northern Michigan University’s pool at 5:30 Friday afternoon, about 30 minutes after her soccer team finished working out in the Marquette, Mich., pool.
“A student who was working out in the area that overlooks the pool reported to the recreational desk staff that it appeared someone was in the pool,” Mike Bath, director of the NMU Public Safety and Police Services said in a press conference Monday. “The staff immediately entered the pool area to find a female in the water, unresponsive. 911 was contacted and the staff began to administer CPR.”

Alioto was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy was performed this morning, but results won’t be available for another two to four weeks. There was no obvious physical trauma to Alioto’s body when she was taken out of the pool, and authorities are looking into any medical condition she might have had.

The investigation is being conducted by the NMU police, who were  interviewing players, teammates and other possible witnesses, including the student who saw Alioto in the pool. There is still confusion over if or when her teammates noticed she was missing. Authorities don’t yet know if she left the pool area with them, or was left behind when their workout was over. She was wearing her swimsuit when she was found.

Investigators are trying to determine when the lifeguard, also a university student, who was present for the team workout, left the pool area. The lifeguard who was on duty was gone by the time Alioto was spotted.
Alioto was a freshman at Northern Michigan University, and played forward and mid-field for the soccer team. She redshirted this season following a knee injury.

A group of about 200 students gathered Saturday for a vigil in Alioto’s memory, organized by some of her teammates,  The Mining Journal reports. In a statement, her coach said the team was shocked by her sudden death.

“It’s hard to grasp that Arianna was with us one moment and gone the next. It just doesn’t seem real. Her death is devastating,” Matt Granstrand said. “We will be grieving for her loss for a long time.”
A funeral is planned for Saturday, December 8. The Physical Education Instructional Facility, where the pool is located, was reopened Sunday.

Nigerian Fashion in London: Has its Time Come?

 

Selfridges’ new collection of West African-influenced fashion shows that UK shoppers and the international fashion industry – are broadening their style horizon “Milan, London, New York, Paris. Why not Lagos?” asks Penny McDonald, organiser of the Arise showcase for up-and-coming African designers. Nigerian fashion labels move one step closer to that ambition this week with the launch of Ndani (AKA the Nigerian Fashion Project) at Selfridges in London. The pop-up boutique will offer a one-stop shop for burgeoning designers from the continent, and signifies a marked change in attitudes towards African fashion. 

“Coming to Selfridges and bringing my collection to a wider audience is a dream come true,” says designer Lanre Da Silva Ajayi. “It gives my brand key positioning that strategically places us at the centre of the world’s retail fashion industry.” All the Nigerian designers taking part in Ndani share a common passion for prints and patterns. Ankara – the boldly printed West African fabric – is everyday wear in Nigeria. However, traditional influences have been reappropriated: Eki Orleans creates silk empire-line dresses with blownup prints that create shades of colour, rather than discernible imagery. Jewel by Lisa, on the other hand, goes all-out on embellishment, emphasising the traditional hand-beading skills of Nigerian couture.

Western designers have traditionally taken a lofty, generalised view of Africa as a source of “tribal” or even animal prints. Michael Kors, Gucci and Roberto Cavalli are just three brands that recently used West Africa as a source of inspiration, while Vivienne Westwood’s Ethical Fashion Africa Collection, which promoted clothes made in Nairobi, was a rare exception to the rule.

Style House Files, an industry body focused on making fashion a viable business model for designers in Nigeria and beyond, believes that the Selfridges project could be hugely influential in changing the way the industry regards African designers. For the collections to hang metres away from those of Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs represents an important vote of confidence. “The designers from Lagos are drawing on inspiration which is unique, and ultimately offering our customers the opportunity to discover new ways to experience luxury fashion,” says Judd Crane, Selfridges’ director of womenswear.

“We have been taking note of the development of the fashion scene over there [Nigeria] for the past couple of years and have been thinking of bringing them to London for a while,” says Crane. “With a strong resurgence of prints, patterns and Africana in recent collections from more established international brands, it felt right this year to demonstrate the power and originality of Africa itself.”

Lagos has one of the biggest growing economies in Africa but, until recently, the Nigerian government had a ban on importing materials. In lifting it, the threadbare textile industry was able to slowly rebuild itself, although for some cotton mills it was too late: many no longer exist. In a country that suffers the frustrations of erratic electricity supply, often averaging four hours a day with power, designers face serious challenges with the production of clothes or keeping shop. For Orleans, Selfridges is “the first bricks-and-mortar shop to sell our pieces and I’m thrilled to debut in such fabulous surroundings!”

 The Arise showcase will take place in March 2013. The designers available at Selfridges as part of the Nigerian Fashion Project are: Lisa Folawyio with her label Jewel by Lisa, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Eki Orleans, Odio Mimonet and Tiffany Amber. Edited collections from two up-and-coming young designers, Agu Anumudu with his label Agu and Jennifer Adighije’s label, House of Silk.

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Nigeria’s Lola Rae Emerges on UK TV Talent Show.

 
  Lola Rae
 

Nigerian singer Lola Rae, 21, is enjoying success with not one, but two singles at the moment.

Watch My Ting Go is a dance track which celebrates the different shapes and sizes of African women, and the way they move.

“The feedback has been amazing from across Africa,” says the diminutive Nigerian, whose other single entitled High, has had more positive feedback from the UK and US markets.

She came to London at 16 and joined a dance group called Mr. Cool. The troupe also sang, and Lola’s voice was singled out when they appeared on the TV talent show, Britain’s Got Talent.

She told BBC Africa’s Jenny Horrocks that she loves the Afro-pop genre and wants to create a new fresh sound which appeals to younger women.

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Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen Welcome Baby Girl.

Abcnews

Christmas has come early for Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen. “We feel so lucky to have been able to experience the miracle of birth once again and are forever grateful for the opportunity to be the parents of another little angel,”  Bündchen wrote on Facebook today. “Vivian Lake was born at home on December 5. She is healthy and full of life.”

“Thank you all for your support and well wishes. We wish you and your families many blessings,” she added, alongside a photo of her holding the baby’s hand. The Brazilian supermodel, 32, and New England Patriots quarterback welcomed a their daughter Wednesday night, the Boston Globe reported. It’s the first girl for the couple.   Vivian joins brothers Benjamin Reid, 2, and half-brother John Edward, 5, whom Brady had with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan. Vivian was born a few days shy of Benjamin’s birthday, Dec. 8.



Brady, 35, and Bündchen confirmed they were expecting in August after months of media speculation about her swelling stomach. Bündchen keeps her fans updated on her Facebook page, where she recently posted a picture  showing off her yoga moves. She also tends to keep a positive attitude and wrote to her followers in a post, “Children are our most valuable resource. We need to cherish them.”


Bündchen was named the top earner on Forbes’ annual list of highest-paid models of 2012, a title she’s held for six consecutive years. Bündchen is best known for her role as a Victoria’s Secret model. She and Leonardo DiCaprio ended their high-profile, five-year relationship in 2005.

Bündchen and Brady were also named the world’s highest-paid celebrity couple of 2011. Brady played college football at the University of Michigan and was drafted by the Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft. As a Patriot, Brady has led his team to three Super Bowl wins, earned two Super Bowl MVP awards and became the first quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to 10 division titles. In 2010, Brady signed a four-year, $72 million contract extension.

The Patriots are preparing for Monday night’s game against the Houston Texans; no word yet on whether the new father will play in the game. The power couple tied the knot in 2009.

Applauding Mortein’s Safety Initiative.

       Governor  Henry Seriake Dickson



The decision of the promoters of Mortein to embark on awareness creation is attracting commendation from stakeholders, who considered it an ideal Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, Raheem Akingbolu reports.
 

Stakeholders, including Bayelsa State Government and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) have endorsed the health, safety and potency of handlers of Mortein, an insecticide, in the fight against malaria scourge.

According to recent findings, available statistics shows that malaria is still a burden as cause of maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria, accounting for about 11 per cent of maternal deaths, especially in first-time mothers. The statistics also revealed that malaria  accounts for about 25 per cent of deaths in infants and 30 per cent of deaths in young children in Nigeria.

The stakeholders, who spoke at the just-ended NANNM’s 6th Biennial/5th Quadrennial Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said the high prevalence of malaria in Africa and Nigeria in particular called for an all-inclusive proactive step to stem the menace. Hence, they commended Reckitt Benckiser’s Mortein insecticide-led anti-malaria awareness and sensitisation programme through which the company is spearheading a malaria-free Nigeria. Mortein and the association for nurses and midwives in the country are partnering on the campaign.


Speaking at the conference, which was attended by over 5,000 delegates from across Nigeria, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, who unveiled the Mortein product as the sponsor brand for the conference, said the partnership between NANNM and the leading insecticide brand would go a long way in the fight against malaria in this country.

Represented by a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Emelah Gentle, the governor said it was a demonstration of love and commitment not just to the people of Bayelsa, but to Nigeria as a whole.

‘‘Complementary efforts of this nature are not only needed but deeply appreciated by the Government of Bayelsa State. This will certainly go a long way in ensuring that our children and mothers are free from the scourge of malaria’’, he said.

National President of the association, Mr. Lawal Dutsinma lamented that malaria was a major health concern at the moment because of the alarming statistics on its prevalence in the country. He noted that being the most common cause of maternal and infant mortality, it was imperative to involve all relevant stakeholders in the ongoing effort to stem the trend.

He described the Reckitt Benckiser’s Mortein-inspired initiative on malaria as a right step in the right direction, stating that NANNM was delight to associate with the programme in particular for targeting children and mothers who are the most vulnerable groups as far as malaria disease is concerned. He also expressed optimism that the malaria challenge would become history as more Nigerians become well informed about the steps they need to take so that they and members of their families are protected against malaria parasite carrier-mosquitoes.


Dutsinma advocated constant adoption of simple protection habits by Nigerians which include maintaining clean environment, keeping the surrounding free of stagnant water, sleeping under Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets and spraying of the rooms with the World Health Organisation (WHO) - recommended insecticides like Mortein. ‘‘Reckitt Benckiser’s Mortein insecticide has been certified to be safe on everybody especially mothers and children. The brand meets the recommended standard by the WHO, and we are confident of its health safety and potency to help curb malaria’’, he said.

During her presentation, Brand Manager (Mortein), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Yusuf, said due to the high prevalence of malaria in Nigeria including riverine communities, it was important to intensify awareness on the promotion of cleaner and healthier environment in order to win the fight against malaria. 

According to her, malaria is one of the major killer diseases in sub-Sahara Africa and Nigeria is key in the effort to rid the continent of this challenge.

“ At Reckitt Benckiser, we are committed to this worthy cause, and this underpins our partnership with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives and other professional bodies in the health sector,” she said.


While urging Nigerians to be more concerned about their health and the environment, Yusuf cautioned pregnant and nursing mothers in particular against exposure to insecticides that contain toxic ingredients because of their adverse effects on vital body organs such as the lung, skin and eyes.

‘‘Nigerians should be sure of the products they are buying. It is not enough to buy any product because you want to kill mosquitoes and cockroaches as there are a lot of insecticides in the market that are not safe for our health especially children,’’ she added.


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