Nigeria Massacre

Gunmen kill at least 26 students at Nigerian college.

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All 18 children confirmed dead in China landslide

The bodies of all 18 schoolchildren buried in a landslide in China have been recovered, officials said Friday, as authorities defended returning them to school following recent deadly earthquakes. The landslip, triggered by sustained rains, buried the school and three farmhouses on Thursday in southwestern China's Yunnan province, where two quakes last month killed 81 people and injured hundreds. Any last hopes for survivors among the children in Zhenhe village, where the landslide struck, vanished early Friday when local officials said rescuers had pulled the body of the last missing child from the debris. The disaster is likely to raise questions over why the pupils had been brought back into the school, located in a deep mountain valley, when China was on a week-long national holiday. School safety is a sensitive issue in China after thousands of students died when an 8.0-magnitude tremor centred in Sichuan province rocked the southwest of the country in 2008. China has a highly competitive education system built around cramming for high-stress testing that determines entry into good schools later. Local officials in Yiliang county, which includes Zhenhe, have said the dead children needed to make up lessons lost due to disruptions stemming from the September earthquakes in the area. The state-run Xinhua news agency said they had been brought in to study from another school which was badly damaged in those tremors, which had magnitudes of 5.6 and left more than 800 people injured and 201,000 displaced. "The mountains around the school are covered with dense vegetation, and there were no signs of potential landslides during investigations after the earthquake," said Xiao Shunxing, deputy county chief, according to the Yunnan Information news website. But domestic media quoted nearby residents saying they had been concerned about children walking long distances to school over muddy mountain paths so soon after last month's earthquakes. "If the students were off for holidays, there wouldn't be this tragedy," said a user of Sina.com's micro-blogging service, one of many outraged postings. "Couldn't they just take time making up the missed classes? Officials, schools, and teachers are too eager for quick success and instant benefits. They are the biggest killers." The body of a villager who had also been buried under the rubble was recovered later Friday, bringing the final toll to 19, according to a statement by the county government. Like many schools and homes in the poor and rugged region, the disaster-hit primary school was located at the base of steep slopes. Mountainous southwestern China is prone to deadly landslides, a threat worsened by frequent seismic activity. The 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which killed more than 80,000 people, triggered giant landslides that left whole mountainsides scarred. Many schools collapsed in that disaster, triggering accusations of shoddy construction, corner-cutting and possible corruption, especially as many other buildings near such schools held firm. There have so far been no such allegations in the Yunnan landslide, but government experts were sent Friday to investigate the disaster along with local authorities, Xinhua reported. The experts from the Ministry of Land and Resources are to conduct surveys on slopes, cliffs and valleys in the area for further hazards. Families who lost children will receive compensation payments of 20,000 yuan ($3,200), media reports said. State media reports initially identified the school as the Youfang Primary School, but subsequent reports have said its official name is the Tiantou Primary School.

U.N. Security Council condemns Syrian attack on Turkey

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Thursday condemned a Syrian mortar attack on a Turkish border town that killed five people and demanded that "such violations of international law stop immediately and are not repeated." The rare agreement on a Syria statement condemned the attack "in the strongest terms" and came after Russia rejected an initial text on Wednesday's incident and proposed a diluted version calling on both Turkey and Syria to exercise restraint. Western council members objected to Moscow's text but revised the original draft to accommodate some Russian concerns. Consensus within the council on anything related to Syria is unusual and it has been deadlocked on the issue of the country's 18-month-long conflict for more than a year, with Russia and China rejecting calls to sanction the Damascus government. The text of the final statement from the 15-member Security Council "called on the Syrian Government to fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors" and "demanded that such violations of international law stop immediately and are not repeated." "The members of the Security Council underscored that this incident highlighted the grave impact the crisis in Syria has on the security of its neighbors and on regional peace and stability," it said. The mortar attack happened on Wednesday and Turkey responded by striking targets in Syria later the same day and on Thursday. Instead of explicitly calling on both Turkey and Syria to exercise restraint, the final sentence of the declaration read: "The members of the Security Council called for restraint." Russia insisted on removing a sentence in the original draft calling the Syrian attack "a serious threat to international peace and security." The compromise text referred instead to concerns as to the impact of the crisis in Syria on "the security of its neighbors and on regional peace and stability." Russia and China have vetoed three resolutions condemning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government and diplomats say it is unlikely the Security Council will take further action on Syria for the time being. 'ATROCIOUS TERRORIST BOMBINGS' About 30,000 people have been killed across Syria in an escalating conflict between Assad's forces and rebels seeking to oust him, opposition activists say. The war has seen growing sectarian overtones which threaten to draw in regional Sunni Muslim and Shi'ite powers. Earlier on Thursday, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "alarmed by escalating tensions along the Syrian-Turkish border" and worried that the risk of a wider regional conflict was growing. Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said his government had urged the Security Council to include in any statement on the border attacks a reaction to "suicide terrorist attacks that struck the city of Aleppo" on Wednesday. Aleppo was not mentioned in the council statement but Russia's delegation said it would circulate a separate draft text condemning the Aleppo attack to the council later on Thursday, which it hopes will be adopted on Friday. Ban described the bombings in the northern Syrian city, which killed 48 people, as "atrocious terrorist bombings," while Ja'afari accused some Security Council members of blocking for the third time a condemnation of "terrorist" attacks in Syria. "The Syrian government is not seeking any escalation (of the conflict) with any of its neighbors, including Turkey," Ja'afari told reporters. "We reiterate our call to the Turkish government to help us in controlling the border, preventing armed groups from infiltrating through these borders." Syria has accused Turkey, the United States, France, Qatar and Saudi Arabia of supporting "terrorism" by funneling arms, money and foreign fighters to rebels. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have denied aiding the rebels. The United States and France say they are providing "non-lethal" support, not weapons. The council statement came in response to a request from Turkey, which asked council members to take the "necessary action" to stop Syrian aggression and ensure that the government there respects Turkish territorial integrity. Syria wrote to the council offering condolences for the deaths of Turkish civilians and calling for restraint and rationality.

Outspoken gay marriage foe installed as San Francisco archbishop

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Catholic Church on Thursday installed Salvatore Cordileone, a leader in the fight against same-sex marriage, as archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Following his installation as the religious leader of more than 500,000 Catholics in the largely gay-friendly Bay Area, Cordileone, 56, delivered a sermon and spoke about his recent arrest after failing a sobriety test at a police checkpoint. "God has always had a way of putting me in my place," he said. "With the last episode in my life, God has outdone Himself." Cordileone spent about 11 hours in a San Diego jail cell in August after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to driving with alcohol in his system, said Gina Coburn, spokeswoman for the San Diego City Attorney. Cordileone has been particularly outspoken in Church opposition to same-sex matrimony as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, a role that has put him at odds with many Bay Area Catholics. He also led Church support for the 2008 voter-approved California state constitutional amendment, Proposition 8, that banned gay marriage. While taking his place as the archbishop of San Francisco and two other area counties, Cordileone called the drunken driving incident a "regrettable mistake." Pope Benedict appointed Cordileone to preside over the Archdiocese of San Francisco in July. "The archbishop is an advocate for immigrants and an opponent of the death penalty, but he comes here perceived as a one-issue bishop," Brian Cahill, former San Francisco Catholic Charities executive director, wrote in an editorial published in the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday. "He can continue to be the aggressive, outspoken leader of the American Catholic bishops in their effort to prevent civil gay marriage, or he can be the shepherd of his flock. He can't be both, and if he tries, he will fail." Cordileone said his grandfather settled in San Francisco 100 years ago. "If someone had told him that his grandson would become the archbishop of this place, I'm sure he would think they were out of their mind," he said. "I'm sure there are people who think that today." About 2,000 people, including 40 bishops, attended the installation and mass in the Cathedral of St. Mary. Outside the church, dozens of supporters carrying welcoming banners mixed with protesters, including the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence - a group of gay male activists who dress as nuns.

a kiss on internet

Simulator kisses on internet The Japanese have created a simulator kisses on inernet. This gadget will allow lovers or people who want to know more, feel physical intimacy online. "Through our each device can have the feeling of kissing. This gadget will be helpful to those who want to keep close relationships with the distance, for example to lovers, "announced the creators of the simulator kisses University of Electronic and Communication Tokyo. To make communication more effective inernet, developers have relied on kissing because "it is tactile sensations expressing deep emotions that deepen relationships." Kisses The machine looks like a simple box with a small pipe . To proceed, you must insert the tube into the mouth, and can be run using the language, which is due to rotate the pipe in the partner language "at the other end of the wire." Skeptics say it is far from being an exciting kiss. The inventors accept criticism and promise to work to improve the system - side taste, and moisture.

NYSE stocks posting largest volume increases

NEW YORK (AP) — A look at the 10 biggest volume gainers on New York Stock Exchange at the close of trading: Boardwalk Pipeline Partners L.P. : Approximately 7,737,000 shares changed hands, a 1,311.7 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares fell $1.29 or 4.6 percent to $26.75. Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. : Approximately 283,600 shares changed hands, a 482.1 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares rose $.07 or 1.8 percent to $3.89. Cabela's Inc. : Approximately 5,099,200 shares changed hands, a 852.4 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares rose $1.00 or 1.8 percent to $55.97. Luxfer Holdings PLC : Approximately 195,100 shares changed hands, a 468.7 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares rose $.28 or 2.5 percent to $11.28. Media General Inc. : Approximately 588,800 shares changed hands, a 470.6 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares rose $.12 or 2.3 percent to $5.33. MetroPCS Inc. : Approximately 83,995,800 shares changed hands, a 907.3 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares rose $.45 or 3.7 percent to $12.69. Starwood Property Trust Inc. : Approximately 8,006,200 shares changed hands, a 1,027.7 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares fell $.40 or 1.7 percent to $23.23. Sunoco Inc. : Approximately 24,086,100 shares changed hands, a 1,226.2 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares fell $.05 or .1 percent to $46.75. WP Carey Inc. : Approximately 1,406,800 shares changed hands, a 838.3 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares rose $.15 or .3 percent to $50.25. WageWorks Inc. : Approximately 3,021,400 shares changed hands, a 8,179.8 percent increase over its 65-day average volume. The shares fell $.21 or 1.2 percent to $18.03.

U.S. jobless rate tumbles to near four-year low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 7.8 percent in September and reached its lowest level since President Barack Obama took office, providing a boost to his re-election bid. The Labor Department said on Friday that employers added 114,000 workers to their payrolls last month, a moderate number, but it said a combined 86,000 more jobs were created in the prior two months than it had previously thought. Other aspects of the report also were strong. In particular, a separate survey of households found a big surge in hiring. That pushed the jobless rate down by 0.3 percentage point to its lowest level since January 2009. "It's a good report. The picture is still not a great one, but it's not so bad given the unusual headwinds that we have been faced with," said Ray Stone, an economist at Stone & McCarthy Research Associates in Princeton, New Jersey. Obama said the report showed the economy was making progress while his Republican challenger Mitt Romney said the labor market was not healing fast enough. Businesses have been hesitant to hire out of concern the U.S. recovery could take a hit from a sharp tightening of the federal budget next year, any worsening of the debt crisis in Europe and a slowdown in the global economy. So far this year, job gains have averaged 146,000 per month, compared with 153,000 per month in 2011. Economists had expected the unemployment rate to rise to 8.2 percent in September. The drop last month came even as Americans returned to the labor force to resume the hunt for work. The workforce had shrunk in the prior two months. The household survey, which can be very volatile month-to-month, showed employment increased 873,000 -- the first rise in three months and the biggest since June 1983. But two-thirds of those were Americans who took a part time job even though they wanted full-time work, a fact that took a bit of the shine off the report. Economists generally pay the most attention to the job growth figures from the much larger survey of employers. Over time, the surveys track each other, although many economists say the household survey sometimes takes the lead when trends shift. Taken together, economists said the report broadly signaled a healthier labor market. The employment-to-population ratio, or the proportion of the working-age population with a job, increased to its highest level since May 2010. Stocks on Wall Street initially rose, with the Dow Jones industrial average touching its highest point in almost five years, but they later retreated to close little changed as investors took profits. The dollar hit a two-week high against the yen, while U.S. Treasury debt prices fell. U.S. interest rate futures also slipped as traders bet an improving jobs market could lead the Federal Reserve to back off its monetary stimulus earlier than had been expected. A Reuters poll of top bond dealers, however, showed expectations holding firm that the Fed would end up buying $600 billion under a new stimulus program announced last month. SPIN DOCTORS There now remains only one more employment report before the November 6 election, and that comes just four days before voters go to the polls. "We are moving forward," Obama said as he plead his case during a campaign rally in a Washington suburb. "After losing about 800,000 jobs a month when I took office, our businesses have now added 5.2 million new jobs over the past 2-1/2 years." "This country has come too far to turn back now." Despite the progress, the economy is still about 4.5 million jobs short of where it stood when the 2007-09 recession started and Romney sought to remind voters that the labor market was still far from healthy. "There were fewer new jobs created this month than last month and the unemployment rate, you know, this year has come down very, very slowly," Romney told a large crowd of supporters in Abingdon, Virginia. "The reason it has come down this year is primarily due to the fact that more and more people have just stopped looking for work." A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday showed Romney narrowing the gap with Obama to only two points since Wednesday's presidential debate, but analysts said Obama was due to get a lift from the jobs numbers. "Good economic news is good political news. President Obama needed that after the debate and it gives him numerical evidence that his policies are working," said Julian Zelizer of Princeton University. The surprise drop in the jobless rate led former General Electric CEO Jack Welch to suggest in a tweet that the numbers had somehow been doctored. "These Chicago guys will do anything," he said in a reference to Obama's campaign operation. Welch is a Reuters columnist. Alan Krueger, a top economic adviser to Obama, said it was irresponsible to question the credibility of the numbers. "That's a ludicrous comment. No serious person believes that the Bureau of Labor Statistics manipulates its statistics," he told Reuters Insider television. Economists and the BLS also dismissed the conspiracy theory. FED LIKELY TO KEEP FOOT ON THE GAS Persistently poor labor market conditions led the Fed in September to announce a plan to buy $40 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities each month until it sees a sustained turnaround in employment. Despite the brighter signs on the jobs market, analysts said the central bank is unlikely to back off its stimulus anytime soon. After its last meeting, it said it planned to keep policy easy for "a considerable time" even after the recovery strengthened. "This will be welcome news for the Fed, but given that the unemployment rate remains well above levels deemed consistent with full employment, their policy stance is unlikely to change," said Millan Mulraine, a senior economist at TD Securities in New York. The Fed's ultra-easy stance has started to free up credit. A report from the Fed showed consumer credit rebounded strongly in August after posting its first decline in nearly a year in July. Easier credit is supporting retail sales and home construction. Retail employment rose by 9,400, while construction added 5,000 jobs. There we also gains in transportation and warehousing jobs, which increased 17,100. Financial services employment increased 13,000, and education and health payrolls surged 49,000. Government payrolls rose 10,000 after increasing 45,000 in August. The gains last month largely reflected state and local government teaching jobs. However, temporary help jobs, which are often seen as a harbinger of permanent hiring, fell 2,000, and manufacturing payrolls dropped 16,000, a second straight monthly decline. Job losses in the computer and electronics and the transportation sectors led the manufacturing decline. Average hourly earnings rose 7 cents last month, the largest increase since June, which could support consumer spending, and the length of the average work week also increased slightly, another sign of strength.

Ahead of the Bell: Natural gas supplies

NEW YORK (AP) — The Energy Department is expected to report on Thursday that the nation's natural gas supplies grew by 70 billion to 74 billion cubic feet in the week ended Sept. 28, according to a survey of analysts by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos. A build of that size would be below the 101 billion cubic feet put in storage in the comparable week a year ago and below the five-year average addition of 78 billion cubic feet. The nation's gas reserves remain well above average levels for this time of year. The Energy Information Administration releases its weekly report at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

10 Things to Know for Today

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Friday: 1. US JOBLESS RATE TAKES UNEXPECTED TURN The U.S. unemployment rate falls to 7.8 percent last month, dropping below 8 percent for the first time in nearly four years. 2. TURKISH RETALIATION INCREASES REGIONAL VOLATILITY The battle to oust Syria's Assad has deepened sectarian rifts in Lebanon and Iraq, raised tensions along the frontier with Israel and emboldened Kurdish separatists in Turkey. 3. SEARCH IS ON FOR MENINGITIS VICTIMS Clinics and medical centers around the U.S. rush to contact perhaps thousands of patients who might have received tainted injections for back pain. 4. HOW THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES FACTOR IN ELECTION Gary Johnson and Virgil Goode are blips in the presidential race. Yet in a tight race that likely will be won or lost at the margins, even blips can be a big deal. 5. SAFETY OF PARASAILING COMES INTO FOCUS Victims' families say tougher regulation and penalties might make it safer, but operators say equipment upgrades and basic maintenance would do the trick. 6. THE MYSTERY BEHIND "REBECCA" A planned Broadway musical of the psychological thriller based on a 1938 novel collapses amid questions of financial backing, a plot twist that prompts an FBI inquiry. 7. SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY GETTING LITTLE SUPPORT As 34 states fail to meet the law's conditions, some say it costs too much to implement and others have doubts about how it works. 8. STUDY: FREE BIRTH CONTROL LOWERS ABORTIONS, TEEN BIRTHS The finding comes as millions of women are beginning to get access to contraception without copays under Obama's health care law. 9. JAY-Z LAUNCHING YOUTUBE CHANNEL The rapper will debut Life and Times with the live-streaming of the last of his eight concerts at New York City's Barclays Center. 10. NFL LOSES ANOTHER UNDEFEATED TEAM Robert Quinn has three of the Rams' nine sacks and St. Louis sends the Arizona Cardinals to the ranks of the beaten with a 17-3 victory.

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Daring Skydiver to Attempt Record-Breaking Supersonic Freefall Monday

On Monday morning (Oct. 8), Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner will attempt to break the world record for highest-ever skydive, leaping from a balloon nearly 23 miles above Earth’s surface. If all goes according to plan, Baumgartner will step into the void 120,000 feet (36,576 meters) above southeastern New Mexico early Monday, then plummet to Earth in a harrowing freefall that will see him become the first skydiver to break the sound barrier. After Baumgartner deploys his parachute and floats safely to the desert floor, he and the other architects of his mission — which is known as Red Bull Stratos — can celebrate breaking a skydiving record that has stood for more than 50 years. One of those congratulating Baumgartner will likely be Joe Kittinger, who set the current record of 102,800 feet (31,333 m) back in 1960 while a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Kittinger serves as a Red Bull Stratos adviser. [Extreme Skydive From 120,000 Feet (Video)] If everything works out on Monday, Baumgartner will also shatter the marks for fastest freefall, longest-duration freefall and highest manned balloon flight. But the daredevil says his leap is about more than just etching his name in the record books. "Red Bull Stratos is an opportunity to gather information that could contribute to the development of life-saving measures for astronauts and pilots — and maybe for the space tourists of tomorrow," Baumgartner said in a statement. "Proving that a human can break the speed of sound in the stratosphere and return to Earth would be a step toward creating near-space bailout procedures that currently don’t exist." Baumgartner's 55-story-high balloon is slated to launch from Roswell, N.M. at dawn Monday, weather permitting. Winds must not exceed 2 mph (3.2 kph) at liftoff to ensure that the balloon — whose material is 10 times thinner than a plastic sandwich bag — isn't damaged, Red Bull Stratos officials said. Baumgartner will ride aboard a custom-built pressurized capsule that weighs about 2,900 pounds (1,315 kilograms). A hard landing during a July 25 practice jump from 97,146 feet (29,610 m) damaged the capsule, and the daredevil's record-breaking attempt was delayed while his team made the necessary repairs. During the July 25 jump, Baumgartner reached a top freefall speed of 537 mph (864 kph) — about as fast as a commercial airliner. But while his capsule got knocked around a bit, the skydiver landed safe and sound. Baumgartner said he is nervous about Monday's leap from the stratosphere. But the 43-year-old daredevil — who has jumped from some of the world's tallest buildings and soared across the English Channel in freefall using a carbon wing — regards a tinge of fear as a good thing. "Having been involved in extreme endeavors for so long, I’ve learned to use my fear to my advantage," Baumgartner said. "Fear has become a friend of mine. It’s what prevents me from stepping too far over the line." Red Bull Stratos has described the Oct. 8 attempt as a jump from the edge of space. However, space is generally considered to begin at an altitude of 62 miles (100 km), or 327,000 feet.

Drink Up! 6 Reasons Hydrating is Important for Fertility and Pregnancy

1.Needed for Body's Expansion as Blood Volume Increases Your body obviously expands during pregnancy, but did you know your blood volume does too? Drinking enough water ensures that your blood is flowing well throughout your growing body. 2.Cushions & Lubricates All Tissues and Organs When you become pregnant, the endometrium becomes a thick cushion of tissue that nourishes the growing embryo. Water keeps this whole process moving smoothly. 3.Ensures Adequate Breast Milk Production Proper hydration is essential for adequate breast milk production and flow, so staying hydrated during your pregnancy gives you a leg-up when it comes time to breastfeeding. 4.Helps Liver & Kidney Functions Keeping these organs functioning properly during pregnancy is crucial to avoiding renal disease and liver disorders, both of which can threaten your pregnancy. 5.nsufficient Intake Can Lead to Adverse Effects Not getting enough water during pregnancy can lead to constipation, preterm labor, and even miscarriage. Be careful of drinks you think are hydrating, like high-sugar beverages (sodas) and caffeinated drinks - both actually dehydrate you. 6.Water Actually DE-swells You People often think that drinking lots of water leads to water-weight gain, but that's simply not the case. In fact, drinking lots of water helps keep excess water retention under control - and away from your ankles.

5 Things Every Woman Should Know About Sex

#1 Embrace Pillow Talk "It's hard enough to talk about sex when you're in the middle of making love. Instead, discuss positions you'd like to try, things you like, things you don't like, while you're in a relaxed setting to take any judgment out of the conversation." #2 Work for Your Orgasm "The women who are able to orgasm from sex, alone, have learned how to put just the right amount of pressure on the clitoris. It's completely normal to need added stimulation from oral sex, masturbation, or sex toys to fully orgasm." #3 He Can't Always Get It Up "After ejaculation, most men experience a period of time where they're psychically incapable of achieving an erection, no matter how much they're stimulated." #4 Some Old Wives' Tales Might Be True "While there's no solid evidence to support the myth that certain positions during and after sex will help you conceive, it does make logistical sense to choose positions that optimize the amount of time sperm spend near the cervix." #5 It Will Always Smell Down There "Every vagina has its own smell and certain things can alter that scent. Bacterial overgrowth can make it smell like fish. Working out also increases the funk, because your girly parts are full of sweat glands, just like your armpits."

Dressing For Your Age

When it comes to style, 47-year-old Cherie Gil says that women should know well enough what makes them feel comfortable at the moment. "I think it's also what is more true to yourself at that point of time in your life. Regardless of what age you are in, if you feel comfortable, you can spin off or carry anything. Style doesn't have to be age-specific. If you're confident, you can carry anything," she shares. As for Agot Isidro, minimalism is key. "Sa akin, less is always more—from makeup to accessories, and prints. I've always leaned towards classic lines. It doesn't have to be boring though. You can incorporate trends as an accent to what you're wearing. You can dress up trendy but just don't overdo it," the 46-year-old actress explains. But for 32-year-old Shalani Soledad-Romulo, other than feeling comfortable in whatever you're going to wear, it is also about wearing what is appropriate for the occasion. "At least get to know kung anong event ka pupunta at kung saan. Pwedeng hindi ka naman naka gown to an all-jeans party," she says. When it comes to age-appropriate dressing, there are no fixed rules according to these ladies. Just always remember to update your closet with the changes in your body, your lifestyle, and the kind of person you are at that point in your life.

Nancy moves on from Hayden issue

Months after her alleged involvement in the controversial breakup of Hayden Kho and Vicki Belo, Nancy Castiglione insists she has moved on. “Hindi totoo! Asan ba siya? Kung totoo ‘di sana nandito kami,” she teased members of media at the Esquire Ball at Makati Shangri-La Hotel last Oct. 12. Nancy came sans her husband, who she said allowed her to have fun that night while he watched over their twin sons at home. “Nagulat ako nung narinig ko yung issue na 'yun, super nagulat ako. Hindi ko alam kung san galing or whatever… Napaisip ako kung ano talagang nangyari. Until now, hindi ko talaga alam,” she added. Was she offended Vicki tweeted about her dating Hayden? “I wasn’t offended. Everyone has their own emotions, and handle things differently. You know, I’m past that. Medyo hindi na‘ko bata,” Nancy replied.

Judy Ann wants twins

Although actress-TV host Judy Ann Santos and husband Ryan Agoncillo are open to having another baby, she admits it is hard to raise a child. “Napapag-usapan, pero hanggang usap pa lang,” Judy Ann told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! and some members of the press during her photoshoot for “MasterChef” on Wednesday, October 3. She adds that despite hers and Ryan’s successful careers, ensuring a bright future for the children is still a challenge. “Madaling gumawa ng bagets pero mahirap magpalaki ng bata sa totoong buhay. Kahit na sabihin pa nating artista ka at madaling pumasok ang trabaho sa iyo, matatakot ka pa rin eh kung hanggang saan ang kaya mong ibigay para sa magandang buhay ng anak mo.” Hoping for twins The couple doesn’t mind having twins as their next children after Yohan and Lucho. “Ngayon kasi perfect balance, tig-isa kami. Kung sakaling magkakaron kami ng anak, gusto naming kambal. Magkakampi yung kambal, magkakampi si Lucho and Yohan. Kasi kapag isa lang yung madadagdag, may isang maiiwan palagi. Nakakaawa naman. Tsaka kung magdadagdag ka, eh di damihan mo na,” Judy Ann said. She is busy with her upcoming project “MasterChef Pinoy Edition” and will return to primetime drama with “Against All Odds.” After hosting the junior edition of “MasterChef,” Judy Ann said she is excited for the adult edition as the challenges will be tougher. Will she change her hosting style for the adult edition? “Siguro, mas kelangan lang magpakita ng kaunting tapang at pagiging prangka. Pero kung minsan kasi, emotional akong tao,” Judy Ann replied. She is also prepping for her new TV drama, where Judy Ann stars with Sam Milby, KC Concepcion and Jessy Mendiola. Judy Ann’s co-stars predict that they believe “Against All Odds” will be a success because of Judy Ann. “Naniniwala kasi ako ang isang teleserye hindi iyan magwo-work kung isa lang ang papanoorin. Siyempre magbi-blend ka sa co-stars mo. Hindi naman pwedeng ikaw lang ang magpapagana ng barko. Tulong-tulong kayo. May conscious effort iyon sa lahat ng artista kaya sila ang napili doon kasi kaya nila,” she said.

Daniel Matsunaga ready for new love

Several months after his emotional break-up with Heart Evangelista, the still-single Daniel Matsunaga said he’s ready to find a new love. “I’m ready already. I’m waiting for the opportunity. In God’s time, it will be coming, the perfect girl for my life,” the Kapatid actor told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! and other members of the press during the Berocca Night on Full Blast event at the Maxims Hotel in Pasay City on Wednesday, October 3. The model turned actor reiterated that while there are rumors regarding his love life, Daniel said he’s “very single.” “I’m just waiting for the opportunity talaga.” Just co-actors One of the women being linked to the 23-year-old hunk is Kapatid actress Eula Caballero, his co-star in the TV5 weekly horror show “Third Eye.” But Daniel said the rumors are false. “We’re just friends. Eula, she’s so young,” he shared. “We’re just co-actors. We have to enjoy our work. I treat her as a sister. She’s very nice, she’s super mabait. And we work together and we enjoy our work.” Daniel added, “Not because we make some jokes doesn’t mean we are a couple.” Would he be open to dating a co-star? Heart was Daniel’s co-star in the 2010 GMA-7 soap opera “Langit sa Piling Mo” before they became a couple. “Of course, why not? It’s just that right now, I’m really focused on my job,” he replied. Big opportunity But dating may have to wait, as Daniel has a packed schedule as a Kapatid artist. He is part of three shows in the Kapatid network: the weekly show “Third Eye,” Sunday game show “Game ‘N’ Go” and the daily soap opera “Enchanted Garden,” “I’m very happy. They gave me a big opportunity. Work has been very good to me,” he said. “We feel like a family. I know a lot of people already. I’m already working with them for six months and I’m very happy.” Daniel is also a member of the Philippine National Futsal Team. He also plays for the United Football League. “I also try to enjoy life because it’s also important, otherwise I’ll go crazy with work.” Daniel added, “When I get home, I just want to watch a movie or hangout with some friends. That’s my personal life right now.”

Chiz finally admits relationship with Heart

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero finally admits that actress Heart Evangelista is his girlfriend. During his last day as a special “Kris TV” guest co-host, the senator said he and Heart are already a couple, after much prodding from host Kris Aquino. “We’re seeing each other. As far as I know, she’s not seeing someone else and neither am I,” Chiz said. To make his statement clear, Kris further asked, “Is Heart Evangelista your girlfriend?” Chiz then replied, “I would like to think so, yes.” The senator clarifies that he did not look for love but his new relationship came unexpectedly. “Hindi ako naghanap. Dumating lang, siguro mas maganda yung ganoon. Kasi may kasabihan na kapag mas lalo mong hinanap, mas lalo mong hindi makikita. At kung hihintayin mong maging handa ka, hindi ring mangyayari iyon. Dumating na lang, hindi inaasahan,” Chiz said. Chiz finds his relationship with Heart “very refreshing” because they come from different worlds - politics and showbiz. It was Senator Miriam Santiago who introduced them to each other. “Walang kinalaman sa pinanggalingan ko, sa mundo kong ginagalawan ko ngayon, that’s very refreshing. Mahirap yung kakilala mo lahat. Maganda yung bago, walang kinalaman sa nakaraan mo, wala ka ring kinalaman sa nakaraan niya,” he said. Chiz also sees Heart as his “sanctuary.” “Walang kinalaman yung mundo niya sa mundo ko. Kaya kapag tuwing nagkikita kami, parang sanctuary siya. Hindi niya kailangang awayin yung mga umaway sa iyo, hiwalay iyon,” he said. In a separate interview with Heart, she did not say anything about their relationship, but she said good things about the senator. “Nakakatawa siya. He’s a very funny person. Pag dating sa mga serious matters, seryoso siya. Pero kapag walang nakatingin, normal siyang tao, very down-to-earth, cowboy,” Heart said.

Arrest warrant served on GMA at QC hospital

MANILA, Philippines - Back in a government hospital where she sought confinement yesterday, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo again ended up a detainee after being served an arrest warrant for plunder – a non-bailable offense. The arrest order was in connection with her alleged misuse of more than P360 million in intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Members of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) served the Sandiganbayan-issued arrest warrant shortly after 3 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center where Arroyo was being examined for “generalized body weakness, numbness of hands and dehydration,” according to VMMC director Nona Legaspi. Also ordered arrested were nine former officials of the PCSO and the Commission on Audit (COA). Arroyo had been staying in her La Vista, Quezon City home since July after being allowed to post P1-million bail for her temporary release. She had been under hospital arrest at the VMMC for eight months for electoral sabotage before a Pasay court allowed her to post bail. When asked whether the former president would be staying for the night despite the arrest order, Legaspi said: “Yes, she is not discharged yet.” CIDG-National Capital Region head Senior Superintendent Jigs Coronel said Arroyo was “very cooperative” when the police team arrived to serve the arrest warrant at the presidential suite. The team found her lying in bed and hooked to intravenous fluids. It was in December last year when the former president was transferred to VMMC from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City on orders of the Pasay City court. A source said the processing and documentation of Arroyo included taking her “mug shots” and her fingerprints. The processing took about 40 minutes. The same source said the presidential suite where she had stayed for months was also being prepared for her possible extended stay. Coronel said doctors advised the arresting team that Arroyo’s “transfer and physical movement is not feasible at this time.” “She will remain in confinement and is undergoing medical treatment. We will be going to return the warrant (to the Sandiganbayan). We will leave it up to the court on whether to issue an order for her transfer,” Coronel told reporters. Coronel said no immediate member of the Arroyo family was present when the warrant was served. He said only her lawyer Anacleto Diaz and spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn witnessed the serving of warrant. Legaspi said the former president had again complained of choking and neck pains but she stressed there would be no new medication for the congresswoman. Palace welcomes order At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said they were leaving it up to the Office of the Ombudsman to prosecute the case. “It’s a decision rendered by the Sandiganbayan. We respect whatever decision they issued. It just shows that the government through the PCSO has presented a case, which has probable cause. And so, we leave it with the Ombudsman to prosecute the case,” Lacierda said. “They themselves have found a prima facie case against the former president and the officials of the PCSO,” Lacierda said. Asked if the PCSO case could be considered stronger than the electoral sabotage charges against Arroyo, Lacierda said: “I am not familiar with the details of the case. But I think there is evidence – I think marginal notes, on the basis of the marginal notes, which the former President was impeded.” On Arroyo’s seeking reelection, Lacierda said: “We leave that entirely with the former president as to the state of her health, if she’s capable of campaigning on a daily basis. We cannot speculate on the condition of the former president.” He dismissed insinuations that recent developments in her plunder case were related to her seeking reelection in Pampanga. “I think when it comes to the case before the Sandiganbayan, it will be litigated based on the evidence that the government would be presenting through the PCSO. So I think it should be free from politics and should be solely based on the evidence that will be submitted,” Lacierda said. ‘Inhuman’ Opposition lawmakers assailed the arrest warrant on Arroyo with one of them, Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua, even calling it “inhuman.” “The pronouncements of President Aquino may have gone into the spines of the Sandiganbayan justices that she should not be allowed to seek medical treatment abroad,” Fua said. “However you sweeten your campaign to incarcerate GMA, it will still be persecution, especially the passionate effort to eliminate her from the scene,” Fua said in a telephone interview. “What is happening is inhuman. The Aquino administration’s campaign is to destroy and convict GMA in the eyes of the public, a frail old woman at that,” he said. “There was hardly any hope that she would be able to acquit herself because of vindictiveness,” he said. He recalled the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos allowed President Aquino’s late father and namesake to seek medical treatment abroad, even after he was convicted. “Even abroad, GMA cannot do any harm. He (Aquino) would be congratulated for his conscience for his humanitarian act in spite of his crusade to rid the government of corruption,” Fua said. House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said they were surprised by the issuance of the arrest warrant, citing lack of evidence to charge Arroyo with plunder. “But there’s really not much we can do, that’s a legal procedure,” Suarez said in a telephone interview. He said he last saw Arroyo last week in her house in La Vista and they did not discuss her case. “We just talked about the coming elections and other simple stuff. I just visited her,” Suarez said. He called on his colleagues to help her press her request for medical treatment abroad. Suarez also asked the House leadership to defend Arroyo from “persecution.” Appeal for compassion At the Senate, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. called on the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its arrest order on Arroyo, considering her serious health condition. “I believe that CGMA is not a flight risk and is in fact facing all the charges leveled against her in the proper courts. She is currently battling a serious ailment that threatens her life. I believe that these alone should merit the court’s attention,” Revilla, Lakas-CMD president, said. “She is very sick. What she’s going through is no laughing matter,” he said in Filipino. Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, for his part, welcomed the issuance of the arrest warrant. “One can never escape the wheels of justice. The release of arrest warrant against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for plunder charges in relation to the PCSO fund scam only proves that the evidences presented in the Senate Blue Ribbon committee report on the PCSO fund scam are strong, concrete and sufficient,” Guingona said. It was the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Guingona which looked into the alleged misuse of PCSO funds during the previous administration. “This case should be a strong warning against those who are mishandling the people’s money,” Guingona said. He pointed out that Arroyo never denied her participation in the approval of the realignment and release of huge amounts of money by the PCSO. “The former president herself has not denied her participation in the release of huge funds… in the guise of intelligence funds. In Section 13 of our Bill of Rights, when evidence of guilt is strong in offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua, bail cannot be granted,” Guingona said. “I am hoping that the truth will come out and the justice be served immediately. In order for the Filipinos to move forward, it is only fitting that we correct the mistakes of the past,” he added. Earlier yesterday, Arroyo’s lawyers led by Diaz tried to stop the implementation of the arrest order by insisting there was no evidence to prove the allegations against Arroyo. “Not one evidence was presented to show that Mrs. Arroyo received the money. The Ombudsman even conceded that GMA did not receive a single cent,” Diaz said during oral arguments on the case. “So how could there be plunder if there is no showing that GMA amassed, accumulated or acquired ill-gotten wealth?” Sandiganbayan First Division magistrates, after hearing Diaz and the counter-arguments of Ombudsman prosecutors headed by Director Diosdado Calonge, said they would “take a second look” at their decision finding probable cause for the issuance of warrants of arrest. But Associate Justices Efren de la Cruz, Rodolfo Ponferrada, and Rafael Lagos did not recall the arrest orders, which had already been sent to the PNP and the NBI. Also ordered arrested were former PCSO general manager and vice chairman Rosario Uriarte; former chairman of the board of directors Sergio Valencia; former budget and accounts manager Benigno Aguas; former board members Manuel Morato, Jose Taruc V, Raymundo Roquero, and Ma. Fatima A.S. Valdez; former COA chairman Reynaldo Villar; and Nilda Palaras of COA’s Intelligence Confidential Funds Fraud Audit Unit. Prosecutors said the accused took “undue advantage of their respective official positions, authority, relationships, connections or influence” to commit plunder. Arroyo’s lawyers, hours after yesterday’s hearing, filed two urgent motions including one seeking to defer the implementation of the warrant of arrest, arguing that their motion for judicial determination of probable cause is still under appeal and that the former president is ill. But just minutes after the pleadings were filed, the Sandiganbayan issued another one-page ruling denying finally in writing the motion for reconsideration of the finding of probable cause. “After evaluating the oral arguments raised by the parties as well as the document submitted by Atty. Diaz in support of his aforesaid motion, the court sees no cogent reason to modify or disturb its aforesaid Resolution,” the First Division said. “Wherefore, the oral motion made by Atty. Diaz this morning is hereby denied for lack of merit,” the Sandiganbayan said.

Tresses to treasure for Vietnamese hair trader

Hailed as a hero in his native Vietnamese village, Do Van Thu has become rich and transformed the lives of hundreds of families through the sale of a precious and unorthodox crop -- hair. "We were very poor because we had hardly any farmland. This work has saved our lives," said Thu, as women from Binh An village washed and sorted piles of tresses in a workshop at his opulent home. The hair mogul, seen as something of a visionary among local people, said exports of Vietnamese locks sustain some 500 families -- or 80 percent of the population in his area. They have also made him one of the richest men in Bac Ninh province, around 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of the capital Hanoi. Globally, hair has become big business. In addition to wigs and hair pieces, demand for hair extensions from fashion-conscious young women has exploded over the last decade. "Each year, my family exports between 50 and 60 tons of hair to China. We buy it from all corners of the country, as well as from Laos and Cambodia," the 50-year-old entrepreneur told AFP, surrounded by sacks of carefully sorted hair. The price per kilo varies between $45 and $250 depending on the quality of the hair -- with long, natural hair being the most prized for hair extensions, according to Nguyen Van Tam, a 60-year-old villager. "Our hair is 100 percent natural... hair that is 70 or 80 centimeters long is more expensive than hair that is 50 to 60 centimeters in length," Tam told AFP, while sorting long hair into neat bunches secured by elastic bands. "This is from an elderly woman so we have to buy a product to dye the grey hair black," he said, waving a silvery thatch. Demand is rising more quickly than hair can grow back and the Binh An hair collectors are forced to search for uncut locks -- and owners willing to part with them -- in ever more remote areas, he said. "Sometimes, my children travel 200 to 300 kilometers every day to collect just a few kilograms of hair... We Vietnamese are very hard working -- if it brings in money," he said. Hair collectors set off on annual pilgrimages, travelling around the country searching for women willing to part with their locks for cash -- they must often spend substantial chunks of time outside the village. Thu, who has become a millionaire in the 13 years since starting his first workshop, indicates the brick houses which have sprung up in the rural area as a sign of the prosperity that hair has brought to Binh An. "Each employee at my business is earning three million dong a month ($140)," he said, three times what the average rural wage is in Vietnam. Local people say their lives have been vastly improved by Thu's hair enterprise. "Looking at the huge profits it earns, a large number of farmers have engaged in this work and their life has considerably improved in recent years," Nguyen Van Kien, Binh An's village head told AFP. Thu is eyeing expansion, citing major regional opportunities as demand for hair extensions and wigs rises in countries such as South Korea and Thailand. Vietnam is well-positioned to cash in on this trend, said Thu, who has a number of local competitors in the region. Business is thriving -- "it is getting harder to buy good hair but we can sell everything we get," he said. But the hair business has a darker side as sources of luscious locks grow ever scarcer. Unscrupulous hair hunters reportedly attacked female students at a school in Lang Son province, near the Chinese border and forcibly hacked off their flowing tresses, according to the state-run Tin Tuc Vietnam. At the start of September, another official newspaper, Tuoi Tre, reported that a 15-year-old student Vo Nguyen Hoang Chi from central Danang province sold her hair for just 24 dollars to pay for her studies. "As my family is very poor, I had no choice but to sacrifice my hair to pay my tuition fees -- I want to do my best at school," she said. "But after selling my hair I couldn't sleep. I cried when I put hands on my short hair."

Leni Robredo eyes Congress seat

Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, widow of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, has answered clamors for her to follow in her late husband's footsteps. Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy for Camarines Sur third district representative at the local Commission on Elections office, reports on Friday said. "[K]ami po ng mga anak ko nagulat sa mga pangyayari. Para kaming naitulak sa isang corner na wala kaming choice. Sana divine intervention na yun (My children and I were surprised by this turn of events. It's as if we were caught in a corner and we had no choice. I hope that was divine intervention)," Robredo said in a press briefing broadcast over the radio. Supporters flocked to their Naga City home Friday morning, most of them tearful as they urged her to seek Rep. Luis Villafuerte Sr.'s seat in Congress, she added. Villafuerte is serving out his last term and will be running for Camarines Sur governor against his grandson Miguel Villafuerte. "Parang leap of faith na... Kung hindi naman po nagkaroon ng gulo, talaga naman pong hindi ako kandidato (I consider it a leap of faith... Without the confusion, I really wouldn't be running)," the lawyer said. Reports earlier floated the possibility that Robredo will be pushed to run under the admistration coalition's Senate slate congressional following the highly publicized death of her husband. Jesse Robredo died in a plane crash off the island of Masbate Aug. 18, along with two pilots. When she finally decided to run, Robredo she was shocked that supporters have already prepared her certificate of candidacy. "Pagdating ko, magta-thumbmark na lang ako (When I arrived, I only had to place my thumbmark)," Robredo said. Robredo also admitted that she was not able to think her decision through thoroughly. "Talagang binase ko na lang siya sa faith ng supporters namin (I only based it on our supporters' faith)," she said. "Sana mas maraming oras po para pag-isipan ito (I hope I had more time to think this through)," she said. Earlier Friday, the Robredo widow posted via her Twitter account: "Can't believe this is happening." Her eldest daughter Aika replied: "Me also, pero ganda lang (Me also, but it's great!) Robredo has earlier agreed to head the Liberal Party in Camarines Sur at the prodding of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and newly appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas.